Bag dispenser attachable to a leash having lighting mechanism and optional scoop

1. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bags therein, including a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, wherein the scooper is movable relative to the housing between a storage position and an operative position and wherein the scooper is disposed about the housing in the storage position, and extends outwardly from the housing in the operative position;

a lamp associated with the housing for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a battery associated with the lamp;

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the lamp.

2. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bans therein, including a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, wherein the housing includes means for retaining the scooper in a storage position and wherein the storage position retaining means includes an interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame;

a lamp associated with the housing for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a battery associated with the lamp;

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the lamp.

3. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bags therein, including a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, wherein the housing includes means for retaining the scooper in an operative position and wherein the operative position retaining means includes at least one interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame;

a lamp associated with the housing for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a battery associated with the lamp;

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the lamp.

4. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bags therein, including a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, wherein the frame defines a central aperture, and wherein placement of the bag over the frame allows waste positioned on a portion of the bag over the central aperture to bear down on the bag and cause the bag to invert as the bag moves through the central aperture;

a lamp associated with the housing for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a battery associated with the lamp;

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the lamp.

5. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bans therein;

a removable closure for enclosing an open end of the housing, the closure including means for retaining a scooper in a storage position, and the retaining means including a detent associated with the housing for receiving a portion of the scooper in friction-fit engagement;

a lamp associated with the housing for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a battery associated with the lamp;

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the lamp.

6. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bags therein and an aperture which permits access to the inner cavity, the bags being individually removable from the housing through the aperture;

a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, the scooper moving relative to the housing between a storage position and an operative position, wherein the frame defines a central aperture, and wherein placement of the bag over the frame in the operative position allows waste positioned on a portion of the bag over the central aperture to bear down on the bag and cause the bag to invert as the bag moves through the central aperture;

a lamp for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a battery associated with the lamp; and

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the lamp.

7. The bag dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the scooper pivots relative to the housing between the storage position and the operative position, the scooper being disposed about the housing in the storage position and extending outwardly from the housing in the operative position.

8. The bag dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the housing includes means for retaining the scooper in the storage position that includes an interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame, and means for retaining the scooper in the operative position that includes at least one interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame.

9. The bag dispenser of claim 6 , including means for folding the frame into two portions, the frame pivoting relative to the housing and being pivotable to an intermediate position between the storage position and the operative position, the folding means providing pivot movement of the frame between the intermediate and operative positions, and wherein the housing includes means for retaining the frame in the intermediate position.

10. The bag dispenser of claim 6 , including a removable closure for enclosing an open end of the housing that includes an attachment means extending outwardly therefrom for connecting the dispenser to a leash and means for retaining the scooper in a storage position that includes a detent associated with the housing for receiving a portion of the scooper in friction-fit engagement.

11. The bag dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the battery is disposed within the housing.

12. The bag dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the housing includes means for retaining the lamp in a storage position within the recess.

13. The bag dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the lamp comprises a flashlight engaging the housing in the storage position.

14. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bags therein and an aperture which permits access to the inner cavity, the bags being individually removable from the housing through the aperture;

a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, the scooper pivoting relative to the housing between a storage position and an operative position, the scooper being disposed about the housing in the storage position and extending outwardly from the housing in the operative position, wherein the frame defines a central aperture, and wherein placement of the bag over the frame in the operative position allows waste positioned on a portion of the bag over the central aperture to bear down on the bag and cause the bag to invert as the bag moves through the central aperture;

an interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame in the storage position;

an interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame in the operative position;

a battery disposed within the housing;

a lamp for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

a switch for controlling electrical connection between the lamp and battery;

means for folding the frame into two portions, the frame pivoting relative to the housing and being pivotable to an intermediate position between the storage position and the operative position, the folding means providing pivot movement of the frame between the intermediate and operative positions;

means for retaining the frame in the intermediate position; and

means for attaching the bag dispenser to a leash.

15. A pet refuse bag dispenser, comprising:

a housing having an inner cavity for storing a plurality of bags therein and an aperture which permits access to the inner cavity, the bags being individually removable from the housing through the aperture;

a scooper associated with the housing and configured to provide a frame with which a bag is associated to facilitate the collection of pet refuse within the bag, the scooper pivoting relative to the housing between a storage position and an operative position, the scooper being disposed about the housing in the storage position and extending outwardly from the housing in the operative position, wherein the frame defines a central aperture, and wherein placement of the bag over the frame in the operative position allows waste positioned on a portion of the bag over the central aperture to bear down on the bag and cause the bag to invert as the bag moves through the central aperture;

an interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame in the storage position;

an interference-fit detent on the housing for receiving a portion of the frame in the operative position;

a flashlight for providing light to an area from which pet refuse is collected;

means for folding the frame into two portions, the frame pivoting relative to the housing and being pivotable to an intermediate position between the storage position and the operative position, the folding means providing pivot movement of the frame between the intermediate and operative positions;

means for retaining the frame in the intermediate position;

means for attaching the bag dispenser to a leash; and

means for attaching the flashlight in a storage position engaging the housing.