초록 ▼

A collector device (1) includes an elongate handle portion (2) having a loop portion (4) attached at one end. The loop portion (4) supports a receptacle (12) which comprises an upwardly facing, in use, deposition surface (16). The handle (2) and loop portions (4) are of a self supporting sheet mater

A collector device (1) includes an elongate handle portion (2) having a loop portion (4) attached at one end. The loop portion (4) supports a receptacle (12) which comprises an upwardly facing, in use, deposition surface (16). The handle (2) and loop portions (4) are of a self supporting sheet material and have a longitudinal fold in the sheet material (8) running along the length of the handle portion (2) and continuing across the whole loop portion (4). The device (1) may be deployed with the handle (2) and loop portions (4) both held partially folded along the longitudinal fold (8) in a V or inverted V conformation to provide increased rigidity and increased load bearing capacity, in cantilever, in comparison with a device where the handle and loop portions are held horizontally planar.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collector device comprising: an elongate handle portion having at one end a loop portion attached thereto, said loop portion supporting a receptacle which comprises an upwardly facing, in use, deposition surface; wherein said handle and loop portions are of a self supporting sheet material, hav

1. A collector device comprising: an elongate handle portion having at one end a loop portion attached thereto, said loop portion supporting a receptacle which comprises an upwardly facing, in use, deposition surface; wherein said handle and loop portions are of a self supporting sheet material, having a longitudinal fold in the sheet material running along the length of the handle portion and continuing across the whole loop portion; whereby, in use, the device may be deployed with said handle and loop portions both held partially folded along said longitudinal fold in a V or inverted V conformation to provide increased rigidity and increased load bearing capacity, in cantilever, in comparison with a device where the handle and loop portions are held horizontally planar. 2. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is suitable for use in collecting animal or human faeces or urine. 3. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal fold runs along the centre of the elongate handle portion. 4. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the handle portion and the loop portion attached to it are of one piece in construction. 5. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the self supporting sheet material is selected from card, corrugated card, plastics, corrugated plastics, and wax coated or plastic coated card or cardboard. 6. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the handle portion and the loop portion are made of a self supporting sheet material that has holes distributed across the sheet to reduce its weight and the total quantity of material used in its manufacture. 7. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle takes the form of a bag sized and shaped for the chosen application. 8. A collector device according to claim 7 wherein the bag is of a water resistant flexible material. 9. A collector device according to claim 8 wherein the receptacle is a flexible bag of a liquid resistant material and the rim of the bag overlays the upper, in use, surface of the loop portion. 10. A collector device according to claim 7 wherein the receptacle is formed by first bonding a sheet of a liquid resistant plastics material onto the upper, in use, surface of the loop portion and then creating the desired receptacle shape by carrying out a vacuum forming process on the portion of the sheet of plastic lying across the inside of the loop portion. 11. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is sealingly attached all around the loop portion. 12. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is supplied as a replaceable, disposable item which clips onto the loop portion. 13. A collector device according to claim 1 further comprising a strap or tie, fixable transversely across at least one of the handle portion and the loop portion to prevent unfolding about the longitudinal fold. 14. A collector device according to claim 1 further comprising a sleeve portion, or a loop or loops, disposed transversely along the handle portion. 15. A collector device according to claim 1 further comprising a first transverse fold, across the width of the device at or near the junction between the handle portion and the loop portion. 16. A collector device according to claim 15 wherein the first transverse fold is an angle fold comprising two fold portions each running diagonally across the sheet from opposed edges of the handle portion in a direction towards the loop portion and meeting to form an angle, with its apex on the longitudinal fold. 17. A collector device according to claim 16 wherein the sheet material has a perforation at the apex of the angle fold. 18. A collector device according to claim 15 further comprising a second transverse fold running across the width of the loop portion at right angles to the longitudinal fold. 19. A collector device according to claim 18 wherein the second transverse fold is at right angles to the longitudinal fold and divides the loop portion approximately in half. 20. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the handle portion has a length corresponding to approximately half the diameter of the loop portion. 21. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the handle portion is provided with a handle extension portion, distal from the loop portion and including a continuation of the longitudinal fold of the handle portion; and connecting, at a third transverse fold, to the end of the handle portion. 22. A collector device according to claim 21 wherein the third transverse fold comprises multiple perforations along the fold line, to allow the handle extension portion to be easily torn off. 23. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the loop portion has the form of a rhombus or a square with an apex adjacent the handle portion. 24. A collector device according to claim 1 further comprising a releasable closure means when in a folded state before deployment. 25. A collector device according to claim 1 further comprising a receptacle closure means for closing a loaded receptacle following use. 26. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle closure means comprises an adhesive surface running around at least one half of the loop portion. 27. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is perforated or in the form of a mesh. 28. A collector device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is in the form of a bag with a flat base formed for sitting on a surface.