Pet waste collection device and method of use

Abstract

A pet waste collection device for suctioning up pet waste includes a receptacle, which has a pair of ports positioned therein proximate to a top of the receptacle. An adapter is attachable by a first end to one of the ports and by a second end to an intake port of an air mover. The receptacle thus is in fluidic communication with the air mover. A suction tube is selectively attachable by a first terminus to the other port so that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle. The suction tube directs a partial pressure produced by the air mover to suction up pet waste from a surface. The pet waste enters a second terminus of the suction tube and is deposited into the receptacle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pet waste collection device comprising:
 a receptacle having a pair of ports positioned therein proximate to a top of the receptacle;   an adapter attachable by a first end to one of the ports of the pair of ports and having a second end configured for attachment to an intake port of an air mover, such that the receptacle is in fluidic communication with the air mover; and   a suction tube selectively attachable by a first terminus to the other port of the pair of ports, such that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle, wherein the suction tube is configured to direct a partial pressure produced by the air mover to suction up pet waste from a surface through a second terminus of the suction tube, such that the pet waste is deposited into the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , further including:
 the top of the receptacle being open; and   a lid selectively attachable to the receptacle to close the top, wherein the lid is configured for removal from the receptacle to empty pet waste from the receptacle.   
     
     
         3 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 2 , further including:
 the receptacle being substantially cylindrical;   a first fastener attached to the receptacle; and   a second fastener attached to the lid, the second fastener being complementary to the first fastener, such that the second fastener is selectively couplable to the first fastener to removably attach the lid to the receptacle.   
     
     
         4 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the second fastener comprises a lock pin attached to and extending radially from an outer circumference of the lid; and   the first fastener comprises a pin slot extending into an inner circumference a sidewall of the receptacle from the top, such that the lock pin is insertable into the pin slot and such that, with a twisting motion being imparted to one or both of the lid and the receptacle, the lock pin slides into the pin slot to attach the lid to the receptacle.   
     
     
         5 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the pin slot comprises:
 a first segment extending arcuately from the top; and   a second segment extending substantially linearly from the first segment and angularly toward a bottom of the receptacle, such that the further the lock pin travels into the pin slot the tighter the lid is attached to the receptacle.   
     
     
         6 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 2 , further including a handle attached to the lid, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user to detach the lid from the receptacle and to attach the lid to the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the ports of the pair of ports are substantially opposingly positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein each port of the pair of ports comprises a connecting tube attached to the receptacle and protruding into and from the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 8 , further including:
 a pair of first couplers attached singly to the adapter, proximate to the first end of the adapter, and to the suction tube, proximate to the first terminus of the suction tube; and   a pair of second couplers attached singly to the connecting tubes externally of the receptacle, the second couplers being complementary to the first couplers, such that each second coupler is selectively couplable to a respective first coupler to removably attach the adapter and the suction tube to the connecting tubes.   
     
     
         10 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each second coupler comprises a locking pin attached to and extending radially from either the adapter or the suction tube; and   each first coupler comprises a grove extending arcuately into an inner perimeter of a respective connecting tube, such that the locking pin is insertable into the grove and such that, with a twisting motion being imparted to the adapter or to the suction tube, the locking pin slides into the grove to attach either the adapter or the suction tube to the respective connecting tube.   
     
     
         11 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , further including a damper attached to the receptacle and positioned over a respective one of the ports of the pair of ports, such that, upon connection of the adapter to the respective one of the ports, the damper decreases a partial pressure in the receptacle that is imparted by the air mover and reduces a probability of the pet waste passing through the adapter to the air mover. 
     
     
         12 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 11 , wherein the damper is substantially cuboid and has opposed sides, the opposed sides being open, such that air passing through the receptacle passes around the damper and into the opposed sides through the adapter to the air mover. 
     
     
         13 . The pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , further including a screen attached to or attachable to a respective connecting tube to which the adapter is to be attached, wherein the screen is configured for excluding particles of the pet waste from passing through the adapter to the air mover. 
     
     
         14 . A pet waste collection system comprising:
 an air mover;   a receptacle having a pair of ports positioned therein proximate to a top of the receptacle;   an adapter attached by a first end to one of the ports of the pair of ports and attached by a second end to an intake port of the air mover, such that the receptacle is in fluidic communication with the air mover;   a suction tube attached by a first terminus to the other port of the pair of ports, such that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle; and   wherein the suction tube directs a partial pressure produced by the air mover for suctioning up pet waste from a surface, such that the pet waste is deposited into the receptacle.   
     
     
         15 . A method of collecting pet waste, the method comprising providing the pet waste collection device of  claim 1 , and:
 attaching the adapter to an intake port of an air mover;   attaching the adapter to one of the ports of the pair of ports in the receptacle;   attaching the suction tube to the other port of the pair of ports, such that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle; and   positioning the second terminus of the suction tube proximate to pet waste on a surface to suction up the pet waste through the suction tube and into the receptacle.