Pet Waste Disposal Apparatus

Abstract

A waste disposal apparatus having a handle, an elongated shaft, a base, and a disposable cartridge. The handle includes a cutout for manual gripping and a ring for attachment to a belt loop or other support. The cartridge provides a first side with a nub thereon and a second side with a plurality of tines disposed thereon and extending therefrom. The base provides a plate having a well with an open end and interior volume in which the nub of the cartridge engages therewith for removable securement. In operation, the user can place a bag over the base and push the nub into the open end of the well of the base for attachment thereto and impale animal waste using the tines. The user can then fold the bag over the cartridge and detach the bag from the plate enclosing the cartridge therein for disposal.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A pet waste disposal apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a first end and a second end;   a handle disposed on the first end of the elongated shaft;   a base disposed on the second end of the elongated shaft, the base comprising a plate having a well centrally disposed thereon;   a removable cartridge having a first side and a second side, the first side comprising a nub extending upwardly therefrom and the second side comprising a plurality of tines extending downwardly therefrom;   wherein the nub is configured to removably engage with the well of the base so as to removably secure the cartridge to the base.   
     
     
         2 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a plurality of tubular sections disposed along its linear length that are extendable from one another forming a telescopic arrangement. 
     
     
         3 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tubular sections have decreasing cross-sectional areas. 
     
     
         4 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of tubular sections comprises:
 at least one hole disposed thereon; and   at least one protuberance disposed thereon;   wherein a protuberance of a tubular section having a smaller cross-sectional area is configured to engage with a hole of a tubular section having a larger cross-sectional area, thereby enabling the length of the elongated shaft to be adjustable.   
     
     
         5 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is oblong-shape. 
     
     
         6 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a circular cut-out portion disposed on the handle, the circular cut-out portion sized to receive one or more fingers therethrough. 
     
     
         7 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nub of the cartridge and the well of the base each comprise a magnetic material configured to removably engage with one another. 
     
     
         8 ) The pet waste disposal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the well comprises one or more teeth therein for securing the nub of the cartridge therein.