Animal Waste Scooper

Abstract

A device for picking up animal waste. The animal waste scooper includes a loop member formed by a rim and an open central area, wherein the open central area receives a disposable bag therethrough. A handle extends from the loop member, wherein the loop member and the handle member are disposed on a same plane. A bag roll opening is disposed on the handle and comprises a spool oriented perpendicular to the handle, wherein the spool is adapted to support a roll of bags thereon. The handle includes a depressed thumb area to guide placement of an open bag around the loop member when loading a new bag. A tapered aperture having a keyhole shape is disposed on the handle and can support a knotted bag therein for hands-free use and contact of the animal waste scooper.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An animal waste scooper, comprising:
 a loop member having a rim and an open central area configured to receive a bag therethrough;   a handle extending from the loop member, wherein the loop member and the handle member are disposed on a same plane;   a bag roll holder forming a bag roll opening on the handle, wherein the bag roll holder is configured to receive a bag roll to rotatably dispense bags from within the bag roll opening;   a tapered aperture disposed on the handle configured to receive a knot of the bag therethrough and support the bag hands-free;   wherein the bag roll holder is disposed between the tapered aperture and the loop member.   
     
     
         2 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap extending from a distal end of the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered aperture comprises a keyhole shape having a slot extending from an opening of the tapered aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 3 , wherein the opening of the tapered aperture comprises a larger width than a width of the slot. 
     
     
         5 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 4 , wherein lateral sides of the slot are parallel to lateral sides of the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 5 , wherein the slot is disposed between the opening of the tapered aperture and the loop member. 
     
     
         7 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 1 , wherein the open central area of the loop member comprises a semi-circular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is rigid. 
     
     
         9 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 1 , further comprising a depressed thumb area disposed between the bag roll holder and the tapered aperture, wherein the depressed thumb area is configured to receive a fingertip. 
     
     
         10 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 7 , further comprising a depressed thumb area disposed between the bag roll holder and the tapered aperture, wherein the depressed thumb area is configured to receive a fingertip. 
     
     
         11 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 10 , wherein the depressed thumb area comprises a smooth, concave surface. 
     
     
         12 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 1 , wherein the bag roll holder comprises a first side and an opposing second side each having a protrusion extending within the bag roll opening, wherein the protrusions are configured to insert within a central channel of the bag roll. 
     
     
         13 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 12 , wherein the protrusion of the first side comprises greater flexibility than the protrusion disposed on the second side. 
     
     
         14 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 13 , wherein the first side of the bag roll holder comprises a flexible arm extending from an interior wall of the handle, wherein the protrusion of the first side extends from the flexible arm. 
     
     
         15 . The animal waste scooper of  claim 14 , wherein a gap is formed between the interior wall of the handle and the arm. 
     
     
         16 . A method for scooping animal waste, comprising:
 providing an animal waste scooper having:
 a loop member having a rim and an open central area configured to receive a bag therethrough; 
 a handle extending from the loop member, wherein the loop member and the handle member are disposed on a same plane; 
 a bag roll holder forming a bag roll opening on the handle, wherein the bag roll holder is configured to rotatably receive a bag roll within the bag roll opening; 
 a tapered aperture disposed on the handle configured to receive the bag therethrough and support the bag hands-free; 
 wherein the bag roll holder is disposed between the tapered aperture and the loop member; 
   placing a bag in the loop member and folding a lip of the bag around the rim of the loop member;   scooping the animal waste by dragging the loop member on a ground surface to fill the bag disposed therein.   
     
     
         17 . The method for scooping animal waste of  claim 16 , further comprising unrolling a bag from the bag roll disposed within the bag roll holder. 
     
     
         18 . The method for scooping animal waste of  claim 16 , placing a thumb on a depressed thumb area of the handle, such that an edge of the bag is positioned between the thumb and the depressed thumb area of the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The method for scooping animal waste of  claim 16 , further comprising tying an upper end of the bag in a knot to close the bag and inserting the knot through the tapered aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The method for scooping animal waste of  claim 19 , sliding the knot towards a narrower end of the tapered aperture to secure the bag to the animal waste scooper.