WASTE SCOOP
A waste removal scoop for sifting and removing waste is disclosed herein. The scoop provides a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head includes a receptacle and a front segment joined to the receptacle. The front segment includes a flexible hinge that flexes as the front segment is pressed against a surface.
1 . A waste removal scoop comprising:
a handle;
a receptacle affixed to the handle;
a front segment joined to the receptacle; and
a flexible hinge of thinner cross-section than the receptacle, the flexible hinge joining the front segment to the receptacle.
2 . The waste removal scoop of claim 1 , wherein the front segment comprises:
an extension of a first material adjacent the flexible hinge; and
an elastomeric material overlying the extension, the elastomeric material different from the first material.
3 . The waste removal scoop of claim 2 , wherein:
the extension defines at least one aperture; and
the elastomeric material fills the at least one aperture.
4 . The waste removal scoop of claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric material and extension are co-molded to form the front segment.
5 . The waste removal scoop of claim 4 , wherein:
a thickness of the extension is equal to a thickness of the flexible hinge; and
a thickness of the front segment is greater than a thickness of the flexible hinge.
6 . The waste removal scoop of claim 4 , wherein a thickness of the extension plus the elastomeric material is approximately equal to a thickness of the receptacle.
7 . The waste removal scoop of claim 1 , wherein:
the receptacle comprises a base and at least one side wall; and
the at least one side wall bends in response to a flexing of the flexible hinge.
8 . The waste removal scoop of claim 2 , wherein the coating material comprises a polymeric material.
9 . The waste removal scoop of claim 2 , wherein the coating material comprises a silicon material.
10 . A litter scoop comprising:
a handle portion; and
a head coupled the handle portion and having a receptacle and a flexible edge, wherein at least a portion of the flexible edge has a material thickness less than a material thickness of the receptacle.
11 . The litter scoop of claim 10 , wherein the flexible edge comprises a hinge portion configured to flex as the flexible edge forcibly contacts a surface.
12 . The litter scoop of claim 11 , wherein the hinge portion connects the flexible edge to the receptacle.
13 . The litter scoop of claim 11 , wherein the flexible edge comprises:
an extension adjacent the hinge portion; and
an elastomeric material co-molded with the extension.
14 . A method of making a waste removal scoop, comprising:
forming a handle;
forming a receptacle extending from one end of the handle; and
forming a front segment extending from the receptacle, wherein the front segment includes a flexible hinge and an extension adjacent the flexible hinge; and
co-molding an elastomeric material about the extension.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein making the front segment further comprises making an edge portion with a material thickness greater than a material thickness of the flexible hinge.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
molding the extension with at least one aperture defined therein; and
the operation of co-molding the elastomeric material about the extension comprises filling the aperture with the elastomeric material.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the material is configured to allow the front segment to slide in a smooth manner while traveling across a surface.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises a polymer.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises a silicon.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the operation of coating the handle with the elastomeric material.