A device for removing animal excrement from a surface. The device has a cylindrical member, and a hollow outer member. The cylindrical member acts as a handle, one end of which terminates in a collar to which is attached a plurality of outwardly-biased gripping members. The hollow outer member is ad
A device for removing animal excrement from a surface. The device has a cylindrical member, and a hollow outer member. The cylindrical member acts as a handle, one end of which terminates in a collar to which is attached a plurality of outwardly-biased gripping members. The hollow outer member is adapted to move over a tubular portion of the handle from a first position in which the gripping members are enclosed within the outer member to a second position in which the gripping members are exposed to enable them to deploy for use. A compression spring incorporated in the tubular portion of the handle is adapted to bear on the outer member to urge the outer member from the position at which the gripping members are exposed to that at which they are enclosed within the outer member.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A device for removing animal excrement from a surface, said device comprising: a cylindrical inner member adapted to act as a handle, said cylindrical inner member having end portions with one of said end portions being tubular; a collar attachable to said tubular end p
The invention claimed is: 1. A device for removing animal excrement from a surface, said device comprising: a cylindrical inner member adapted to act as a handle, said cylindrical inner member having end portions with one of said end portions being tubular; a collar attachable to said tubular end portion of said cylindrical inner member; a plurality of gripping members each being pivotably attachable to said collar; a torsion spring engagable with each of said gripping members and said collar and positioned to provide an outwardly-biased force on said gripping members respectively; a hollow outer member adapted to move over said cylindrical inner member from a first position to at least one second position, said first position being in which said gripping members are enclosed within said outer member, said second position being in which said gripping members are exposed from said outer member; a coil compression spring incorporated in said tubular end portion of said cylindrical inner member, said compression spring being adapted to bear on said outer member so as to urge said outer member from said second position to said first position; a means for compressing said compression spring as said outer member is moved initially from said first position to said second position; and a trigger means for releasably retaining said outer member in said second position; wherein a distal end of said outer member has a diameter which is greater than that of a proximal end of said outer member and there is included a damping means adapted to restrain the rate of relaxation of said compression spring when said trigger means is operated so as to release said compression spring from its compressed state. 2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dampening means further comprising a longitudinally extending leaf spring positionable within said cylindrical inner member, said leaf spring being adapted to bear on coils of said compression spring when said trigger means is operated so as to release said compression spring from its compressed state. 3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical inner member further comprising at least two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots defined along a lower portion of said cylindrical inner member. 4. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said slots of said cylindrical inner member features an upper end adapted to provide an upper stop for the movement of said outer member along said cylindrical inner member, and wherein said collar being adapted to provide a stop to retain said outer member at a lower end of its travel over said cylindrical inner member opposite said upper stop. 5. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said outer member has a substantially frusto-conical shape, and wherein said outer member further comprising an upper end, an internal axially-extending collar located in said upper end, and at least two webs projecting inwardly from said internal axially-extending collar. 6. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said webs of said outer member being adapted to project through said slots of said cylindrical inner member respectively, said webs being adapted to provide bearing surfaces for a lower end of said compression spring. 7. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said cylindrical inner member further comprising at least one outwardly-directed leaf spring portion formed by a U-shaped slit defined in said cylindrical inner member, said U-shaped slit being adapted to allow said leaf spring portion to move relative to the remainder of said cylindrical inner member. 8. The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said leaf spring portion of said cylindrical inner member further comprising a projection located on an outer surface of said leaf spring portion, said projection has an upwardly-directed edge which is adapted to removably engage with said internal collar of said outer member thereby producing a releasable latch adapted to removably secure said outer member at an upper limit of its travel over said cylindrical inner member. 9. The device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said leaf spring portion of said cylindrical inner member further comprising a button adapted to deflect inwardly said leaf spring portion thereby disengaging said upwardly-directed edge of said projection of said leaf spring portion from said internal collar of said outer member. 10. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cylindrical inner member comprising two longitudinal sections adapted to removably fit together to form said cylindrical inner member, and wherein said diametrically opposed longitudinal slots of said cylindrical inner member are form by reliefs defined in each of said longitudinal sections when said longitudinal sections are assembled to form said cylindrical inner member. 11. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical inner member further comprising a lug located at said end portion of said cylindrical inner member attachable to said collar, wherein said lug is adapted to removably engage with said collar. 12. The device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an end cap removably engagable with a lug of said cylindrical inner member located at an end opposite said end portion attachable to said collar. 13. An animal excrement removal device comprising: a cylindrical inner member adapted to act as a handle, said cylindrical inner member comprising an upper end portion, a lower end portion, at least two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots defined along a portion of said cylindrical inner member, and at least one outwardly-directed leaf spring portion featuring an edge projection on an outer surface thereof; a collar attachable to said upper end portion of said cylindrical inner member; a plurality of gripping members each being pivotably attachable to said collar; a torsion spring engagable with each of said gripping members and said collar and positioned to provide an outwardly-biased force on said gripping members respectively; a hollow outer member movable over said cylindrical inner member from a first position to at least one second position, said outer member having a substantially frusto-conical shape and comprising an upper end, and an internal axially-extending collar located in said upper end, said first position being in which said gripping members are enclosed within said outer member, said second position being in which said gripping members are exposed from said outer member, said internal axially-extending collar being adapted to receivably engage with said edge projection of said outwardly-directed leaf spring portion of said cylindrical inner; and a compression spring incorporated in said tubular portion of said cylindrical inner member, said compression spring being adapted to bear on said outer member so as to urge said outer member from said second position to said first position. 14. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said cylindrical inner member further comprising at least two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots defined along a lower portion of said cylindrical inner member. 15. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said cylindrical inner member comprising two longitudinal sections adapted to removably fit together to form said cylindrical inner member, and wherein said diametrically opposed longitudinal slots of said cylindrical inner member are form by reliefs defined in each of said longitudinal sections when said longitudinal sections are assembled to form said cylindrical inner member. 16. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein each of said slots of said cylindrical inner member features an upper end adapted to provide an upper stop for the movement of said outer member along said cylindrical inner member, and wherein said collar being adapted to provide a stop to retain said outer member at a lower end of its travel over said cylindrical inner member opposite said upper stop. 17. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said outer member further comprising at least two webs projecting inwardly from said internal axially-extending collar, wherein said webs of said outer member being adapted to project through said slots of said cylindrical inner member respectively, said webs being adapted to provide bearing surfaces for a lower end of said compression spring. 18. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said cylindrical inner member further comprising a longitudinally extending leaf spring positionable within said cylindrical inner member, said leaf spring being adapted to bear on coils of said compression spring and act as a friction damper in relation to the longitudinal movement of said compression spring when it is released from its compressed state. 19. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said cylindrical inner member further comprising a lug located at said upper end portion and said lower end portion, said lug of said upper end portion is adapted to removably engage with said collar, said lug of said lower end portion is adapted to removably engage with an end cap. 20. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said outwardly-directed leaf spring portion of said cylindrical inner member being formed by a U-shaped slit defined in said cylindrical inner member, said U-shaped slit being adapted to allow said leaf spring portion to move relative to the remainder of said cylindrical inner member, and wherein said leaf spring portion of said cylindrical inner member further comprising a button adapted to deflect inwardly said leaf spring portion thereby disengaging said edge projection of said leaf spring portion from said internal axially-extending collar of said outer member.
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McCloy ; Jr. Alvin D., Device for retrieving items.
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