Pet Waste Disposal Apparatus

Abstract

According to one embodiment a pet waste disposal apparatus is formed by panels of flexible material to define a primary pouch to receive waste and a secondary pouch for a roll of pet waste bags. A cover panel encloses both pouches when closed while a dispensing aperture of the secondary pouch remains accessible for dispensing individual waste bags from the roll even when the cover panel is closed. In a second embodiment of the apparatus a container defines a first receptacle for storing waste. A flexible sheet partially surrounds the receptacle to define a pocket area receiving the roll of pet waste bags therein. A dispensing aperture in the flexible sheet again permits individual waste bags to be dispensed while the receptacle remains closed.

1 . A pet waste disposal apparatus for use with a roll of pet waste bags, the apparatus comprising:
 a container including a receptacle portion having a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly about a full periphery of the bottom wall to an upper edge surrounding an upper opening in the receptacle and a lid arranged to be supported on the receptacle portion for movement between a closed position spanning the upper opening of the receptacle to fully enclose an interior of the receptacle portion and an open position in which the upper opening is substantially unobstructed by the lid; and   a bag dispenser comprising a sheet of flexible material which is arranged to at least partially surround the receptacle portion of the container so as to define a pocket area arranged to receive the roll of pet waste bags therein;   the sheet of flexible material including a dispensing aperture formed therein in communication with the pocket area so as to be arranged to dispense waste bags from the roll of waste bags therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible material defining the pocket area comprises a stretchable, elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible material defining the pocket area comprises a gripping material having a high coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the flexible material comprises a synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a sleeve member formed of flexible material which is arranged to receive the receptacle portion of the container therein, the sheet of flexible material defining the pocket area being supported on the sleeve member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  further comprising a strap member secured to the sleeve member such that the sleeve member and the container received therein are arranged to be suspended from the strap member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the sheet of flexible material defining the pocket area is secured to the sleeve member along two side edges and along a bottom edge such that the pocket area is defined between the sheet of flexible material and a portion of the sleeve member and such that a top edge of the pocket area defines an opening arranged to receive the roll of pet waste bags therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the flexible material of the sleeve comprises a stretchable, elastic material arranged to be supported about the container under tension. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the receptacle portion and the lid of the container are elongate in a first lateral direction and wherein there is provided a hinge connecting the lid to one of the side walls of the container so as to be arranged for relative pivotal movement between the open and closed positions about a hinge axis oriented in the first lateral direction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the receptacle portion includes an annular seat portion about the upper opening within which the lid is arranged to be seated in the closed position and wherein the lid includes an upper portion overlapping an upwardly facing portion of the annular seat portion in the closed position and a lower portion of reduced diameter which is arranged to extend downwardly below the upwardly facing portion, one of the annular seat portion and the lower portion supporting an annular sealing member of resilient material thereon such that the sealing member is arranged for sealing engagement between the lower portion of the lid and the annular seat portion in the closed position of the lid. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the receptacle portion and the lid of the container are elongate in a first lateral direction between opposing ends of the container and wherein the apparatus further comprises a strap member supported at opposing ends adjacent to the opposing ends of the container respectively such that the container is arranged to be suspended from the strap member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the receptacle portion and the lid of the container are elongate in a first lateral direction between opposing ends of the container and wherein the apparatus further comprises a strap member supported adjacent to lid of the container at a central location between the opposing ends such that the container is arranged to be suspended from the strap member. 
     
     
         13 . A pet waste disposal apparatus for use with a roll of pet waste bags, the apparatus comprising:
 a front panel and a rear panel of flexible material coupled to one another along respective bottom edges and along opposing side edges of the front and rear panels so as to define a primary pouch between the front and rear panels which is accessible through a primary pouch opening between respective top edges of the front panel and rear panel;   a pocket panel of flexible material joined to the front panel along a bottom edge and along two opposing side edges of the pocket panel so as to define a secondary pouch between the pocket panel and the front panel which is accessible through a secondary pouch opening between a top edge of the pocket panel and the front panel, the secondary pouch and secondary pouch opening being suitably sized to receive the roll of pet waste bags in the secondary pouch through the secondary pouch opening;   a dispensing aperture formed in the pocket panel at a location spaced below the top edge of the pocket panel, the dispensing aperture being suitable sized so as to be arranged to dispense an individual waste bag from the roll of waste bags therethrough while retaining a remainder of the roll of waste bags in the secondary pouch;   a cover panel joined along a first edge to the rear panel adjacent the top edge of the rear panel and spanning outwardly to a second edge opposite the first edge, the cover panel being flexible between a closed position spanning generally downwardly from the first edge adjacent the top edge of the rear panel to the second edge below the top edge of the pocket panel so as to span across both the primary pouch opening and the secondary pouch opening and an open position in which both the primary pouch opening and the secondary pouch opening are substantially unobstructed by the cover panel; and   a cover closure comprising a first portion supported on the pocket panel above the dispensing aperture and a second portion supported on the cover panel so as to be arranged for mating connection with the first portion in a latched position of the closure and the cover panel being in the closed position;   the cover panel having a prescribed length between the first edge and the second edge such that the second edge is located above the dispensing aperture in the closed position of the cover panel with the closure in the latched position.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  further comprising a primary pouch closure independent of the cover closure, the primary pouch closure comprising a first portion supported on the rear panel adjacent the top edge of the rear panel and a second portion supported on the front panel adjacent the top edge of the front panel so as to be arranged for mating connection with the first portion in a closed position of the primary pouch. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second portions of the primary pouch closure span a full width of the primary pouch opening between the opposing side edges of the front and rear panels. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second portions of the primary pouch closure comprise magnetic members arranged to be magnetically attracted to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the prescribed length of the cover panel between the first and second edges is less than a height of the front panel between the top and bottom edges thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein there is provided an auxiliary panel joined to the rear panel along a bottom edge and along two opposing sides edges of the auxiliary panel so as to define an auxiliary pouch between the auxiliary panel and the rear panel which is accessible through an auxiliary pouch opening between a top edge of the auxiliary panel and the rear panel, the opening of the auxiliary pouch remaining substantially unobstructed by the cover panel in the closed position of the cover panel. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  further comprising:
 a pair of strap members coupled at respective first ends at spaced apart positions adjacent the top edge of the rear panel to extend outwardly towards respective second ends; 
 a primary male connector supported on the second end of one of the strap members; 
 a primary female connector supported on the second end of the other one of the strap members and arranged for mating connection with the primary male connector in a first strap configuration in which the strap members are directly connected in series with one another to form a first closed loop having a first prescribed circumference; and 
 an auxiliary strap spanning between a second male connector and a second female connector at opposing ends thereof, the second male connector being arranged to mate with the first female connector and the second female connector being arranged to mate the first male connector in a second strap configuration in which the auxiliary strap is connected in series between the strap members to form a second closed loop having a second prescribed circumference which is greater than the first prescribed circumference. 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein at least the front panel and the rear panel comprise a plastic coated woven fabric material.