Rake With Rearward Leading Edge for Animal Waste Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet waste removal tools often require coordinated two-handed operation, damage turf, break up or smear waste, and struggle to efficiently collect waste without penetrating the ground surface.
Innovation Solution
A rake designed for pulling motion with a rearward-facing leading edge and tines that allow waste to enter from the base, preventing it from falling off and ensuring efficient collection without damaging surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a common rake with downward pointing flexible tines is used to pull waste into a tray, then the rake can be easily operated, but the waste often rolls under the tines and is broken up or smeared
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rake design by positioning the leading edge at the rear of the tines rather than at the front. This reversal changes the waste engagement mechanism from pulling waste under the tines to sweeping waste onto the top side of the tines, preventing waste breakdown while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The rearward facing leading edge performs preliminary action by making initial contact with and sweeping the waste onto the tines before the waste can roll underneath. This preliminary sweeping action positions the waste correctly on the tines for efficient collection without smearing
2Productivity
If pitchfork style tines are pushed forward through the grass, then the tines can engage the waste, but the operator must attempt to direct the tines beneath the waste without penetrating or catching on the ground surface
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pushing the rake forward with tines leading, the patent inverts the approach by having the rearward facing leading edge make first contact and sweeping waste backward onto the tines. This eliminates the coordination problem of directing tines beneath waste without ground penetration
Solution Approach 2:
The rearward facing leading edge automatically performs the function of directing waste onto the tines through the pulling motion itself, eliminating the need for operator coordination to manually direct tines beneath the waste
3Productivity
If a tray or bin is used to collect waste, then waste can be contained for disposal, but the tray may pivot about the lower end of the handle causing waste to fall further into the tray
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separate tray collection mechanism and integrates the collection function directly into the rake body through the receptacle formed by the bow and tines. This integration eliminates the pivoting motion that causes waste to fall and smear, while maintaining effective waste containment
Data Source
AI summary
A Rake for Picking up Animal Waste includes a bow connected to a handle. A waste receiving structure is connected to the bow. The waste receiving structure has a rearward facing leading edge. The bow describes an opening above the rearward facing leading edge through which animal waste may pass. The waste receiving structure may be embodied as multiple tines, or as a receptacle. The rake is configured so that waste is propelled onto the upper surface of the waste receiving structure as the rake is pulled rearwardly by a user in a sweeping motion. In an embodiment having tines, the tines may be provided with a recurve to prevent waste from falling off the tines. In an embodiment having a receptacle, the receptacle may be provided with a weighted plate to assist in penetrating deeply into turf.