Waste pick-up and storage device

Abstract

The present invention is a waste pick-up and storage device for scooping solid and semi-solid pet waste. The device includes a bag portion and a scoop portion. In an embodiment, two scoops scoop the pet waste into the bag. In an embodiment, a portion of the scoop is detachable, and another portion is secured to the bag for providing support. The scoop is used to sweep the pet waste into the bag. The scoop portions can serve as handles of the device. In an embodiment, the device can be single-handed. The device can have a receptacle, a cover rotatably attached to the receptacle, and wherein the cover has a handle attached to a surface opposite the base of the receptacle. The waste pick-up and storage device is foldable to be flat, and can be made from a combination of flexible materials for the bag, and inflexible materials for the scoop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waste pick-up and storage device comprising:
 a flexible receptacle having an opening, an inner surface, and an outer surface;   a panel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being detachably attached to each other;   wherein the first portion of the panel is attached to the inner surface of the receptacle such that it provides a support for the flexible receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the panel is not attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the panel is removably attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 3 , wherein the panel is removably attached to the receptacle by an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive remains on the receptacle, such that the adhesive can be used to seal the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . A waste pick-up and storage device comprising:
 a receptacle having:
 an opening, 
 a first side, 
 a second side opposite the first side and joined to the first side by a seam, 
 a third side that is shorter than the first side and the second side, the third side having creasing such that the receptacle is foldable, and 
 a fourth side that is shorter than the first side and the second side, the fourth side having creasing such that the receptacle is foldable; and 
   a panel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being detachably connected to each other, the first portion of the panel being attached to the inner surface of the first side such that it provides support for the receptacle.   
     
     
         7 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the panel is not attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the panel is removably attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the panel is removably attached to the receptacle by an adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive remains on the receptacle, such that the adhesive can be used to seal the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the device is capable of being folded flat. 
     
     
         12 . A waste pick-up and storage device comprising:
 a flexible receptacle having a four-sided opening, a first wing extending from a first side of the opening, a second wing extending from a second side of the opening;   a panel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being detachably connected to each other;   wherein the first portion of the panel is attached to the inner surface of the first side such that it provides support for the flexible receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the device is capable of being folded flat. 
     
     
         14 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the panel is not attached to the inner surface of the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the second portion of the panel coincides at least in part with the first wing. 
     
     
         16 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the panel is removably attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the panel is removably attached to the receptacle by an adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The waste pick-up and storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive remains on the receptacle, such that the adhesive can be used to seal the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . A method for picking up and storing an object without coming into contact with the object using a device having a receptacle and at least one panel having a portion detachably connected to the receptacle, the method comprising:
 detaching the portion of the panel;   placing the panel at least one of: underneath and to the side, of the object; and   moving the object into the receptacle using the force of the detached portion of the panel such that the entirety of the object is into the receptacle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising at least one of: closing and sealing the receptacle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a drawstring is movably attached to the receptacle for closing and sealing the receptacle.