Waste collection glove

Abstract

An eversible waste collection glove for collecting animal solid waste or excrement. The glove has a dimpled palm-side surface, so that the tactile sensation and thermal sensation of collecting animal solid waste or excrement is substantially diminished. The invention can be made with both a left- and right-handed thumb on the same glove, so that either hand may be used to collect animal solid waste. The glove may be constructed with a heavy ply on the palm-facing surface, so as to further reduce both tactile and thermal sensation.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to the field sanitary handlers for pet droppings. Specifically, this invention is a textured glove or mitten to dispose pet waste, while diminishing or eliminating tactile sensation.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]According to the American Humane Society, in the United States in 2015, over 54 million households have at least one dog. This means that approximately 44% of the United States households have at least one pet dog. In total, there are an estimated 78 million pet dogs in the United States, indicating a significant number of multi-dog households. The American Pet Products Association (“APPA”) estimates an even higher number of dogs in the United States: 83.3 million.[0003]On an annual basis, these dogs produce over 10 million tons of solid waste per year, or approximately 250 pounds per hound per year. Most urban and suburban dog owners have to clean up their dog's waste. Many municipalities have ordinances that require immediate r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The present invention is a waste collection glove that is impermeable, sanitary, flexible, inexpensive, eversible, sealable and insulates the user from both thermal and tactile sensation.

[0015]The glove can be made out of any common, useful plastic, such as HDPE, LDPE, or, polypropylene. Additionally, Oxo-biodegradable versions of both polyethylene and polypropylene can be used, as long as the formulation does not react too quickly with fecal moisture.

[0016]In its first embodiment, the present invention is made from two sheets of material, one for the top side and one for the palm side. The top side sheet is relatively thin, in the 1-2 mil range (0.001″-0.002″). The palm side sheet is made with a relatively thick ply, in the 5-6 mil range. The palm side sheet is dimpled, to reduce tactile and thermal sensation. The top and bottom sheets are trimmed in a glove-like shape bonded using common processes such as heat sealing. The overall profile is large enough that the glove can be everted, after collecting waste. A drawstring is attached to the inside of the the glove, so that, when everted, the drawstring is on the outside. The drawstring opening is accessible from the top of the glove.

[0017]In a second embodiment of the glove, the palm-side is fabricated from two-plies, one of which is of 5-6 mil material, and the other of which is of 1-2 mil material. The thicker ply is dimpled: The thinner ply is not. The smooth, thinner ply is placed on the inside of the glove, next to the user's hand. This configuration further reduces tactile sensation at the cost of an extra, thin ply of material.

Problems solved by technology

None of the current solutions in the prior art are ideal.

Surplus '670 is a relatively expensive solution, in that it has a substantial amount of excess material.

It is not an inexpensive solution.

Also, even though it is designed to be everted, the glove connected to the inside of the bag would substantially tend to hamper everting.

The mitt is not cheap, because the paper-towel-like surface would have to be glued or added to the glove as an after-process.

May '766 is not an ideal solution, because it relies on pads to be adhered to the palm and side of the glove.

It also does not minimize tactile sensation.

Jacobs '251 is relatively expensive, due to its redundant materials and complexity.

None of these inventions have met with any type of substantial market acceptance, an indictment of the prior art considering the substantial annual spending on pets in the United States.

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