Nested Pooper Scooper Leaves for Hygienic Waste Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pooper scooper devices are either cumbersome, expensive to manufacture, or ineffective in collecting large or less solid faecal deposits, often requiring direct contact with the faeces, which is unsanitary and unpleasant.
Innovation Solution
A pooper scooper device with two opposing leaves and intermediate leaves that maximize the contact surface area of a collection bag with the faeces, utilizing the natural adhesive properties of the faeces for effective collection, and optionally featuring a base for storing disposable bags and a retractable dog leash assembly for convenient use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a long handle with a scoop is used to collect faeces, then the user is distanced from direct contact with faeces, but the device becomes cumbersome and awkward to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The pooper scooper device is nested within the collection bag, which itself is contained within the holder. The leaves are stored inside the bag when not in use, creating a compact nested structure that eliminates the need to carry a separate long-handled device while maintaining hygiene through the bag barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The essential scooping function is extracted from a traditional long-handled device and implemented through the leaves mechanism that works in conjunction with the collection bag. This extraction allows the device to be compact yet effective, removing the need for a long handle while preserving the core function of faeces collection without direct contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable bags are used to manually pick up faeces, then the user avoids direct contact with faeces, but the method is ineffective for large or less solid faecal deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device is segmented into multiple functional components: the holder for storage, the collection bag for containment, and the leaves for mechanical scooping action. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the leaves providing the mechanical force needed to collect various types of faecal deposits while the bag maintains the hygiene barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the protective function of disposable bags with the mechanical scooping capability of leaves. By combining these two approaches - the bag for hygiene and the leaves for effective collection - the device achieves both protection from direct contact and reliability in collecting various types of faecal deposits including large or less solid ones.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate items (pooper scooper, bags, leash) are carried, then each item can be optimized for its function, but the user carries more items than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The holder serves multiple functions: it stores the collection bag, contains the leaves mechanism, and can be attached to a leash. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally be separate items into a single integrated device, reducing the number of items the user needs to carry while maintaining functional optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the pooper scooper mechanism, collection bags, and leash attachment into a single integrated holder device. This merging eliminates the need to carry separate scoopers, bags, and leash attachments, reducing the total number of items while allowing each component to remain optimized for its specific function within the integrated system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively collects faeces without direct contact, is easy to operate, and reduces the number of items a user needs to carry, while being cost-effectively manufactured and suitable for various surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
maximize the contact surface area of a collection bag with the faeces, utilizing the natural adhesive properties of the faeces for effective collection
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
A re-usable pooper scooper device, dog leash comprising said pooper scooper device and methods for making same are disclosed. The pooper scooper device is easily manufactured, compact and less cumbersome to carry than those of the prior art.