Granted Patent B2

US 12,644,240 · App. 17/929,715 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventor: Khachatur Balbabyan (Freehold, NJ)

E01H1/1206E01H2001/1226E01H2001/1286

Abstract

Claims (81)

1 . A device for picking, storing, and disposing waste, the device comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a through-hole extending therebetween;

a handle extending upwardly from the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a user during operation of a pull system;

a plurality of gripping elements radially hinged to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the gripping elements extend downwardly from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing;

the pull system disposed axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing and operably coupled to the gripping elements, wherein the pull system is configured to move axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing, and wherein the pull system comprises:

a pull lever disposed external to the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the pull lever is configured to be operated axially in opposing directions to facilitate opening and closing of the gripping elements for picking the waste;

a hollow chamber detachably connected to a lower end of the pull lever and disposed axially within the through-hole extending between the first end and the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the hollow chamber is configured to store a continuous roll of disposable bags therewithin;

a plurality of braces radially hinged to a lower end of the hollow chamber in a one-to-one correspondence to the gripping elements, wherein each of the braces comprises:

a first end hinged to the lower end of the hollow chamber; and

a second end operably hinged to a pair of flanges configured substantially on a mid-section of a corresponding one of the gripping elements for facilitating the opening and the closing of the gripping elements; and

a bag dispenser disposed proximal to the lower end of the hollow chamber and to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing for supporting the continuous roll of disposable bags, wherein the bag dispenser comprises an external opening configured to dispense one of the disposable bags stored in the hollow chamber for containing and disposing the waste, and wherein the dispensed one of the disposable bags is configured to be wrapped around the gripping elements to protect the gripping elements from directly contacting the waste, and wherein, when the pull lever is operated axially in the opposing directions, the lower end of the hollow chamber with the bag dispenser moves axially within an internal space defined by the gripping elements, and via the braces, causes the wrapped gripping elements to open and close for picking, encapsulating, and storing the waste within the dispensed one of the disposable bags for subsequent disposal;

spring members supported at the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, on opposing sides of the hollow chamber of the pull system, wherein the spring members are configured to facilitate an upward movement and a downward movement of the pull system; and

an end cap detachably attachable to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the end cap is configured to enclose and conceal the gripping elements with and without the encapsulated waste.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the lower end of the pull lever of the pull system is substantially larger than a diameter of the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical housing further comprises:

a first cylindrical member extending downwardly from the first end of the generally cylindrical housing;

a second cylindrical member disposed on an outer wall of the first cylindrical member, wherein the second cylindrical member is removably fixed in an axial direction and is rotatable about the outer wall of the first cylindrical member in a circumferential direction for one of allowing and restricting axial movement of the hollow chamber of the pull system; and

a third cylindrical member removably connected to the first cylindrical member and extending upwardly from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the third cylindrical member is internally connected to the first cylindrical member along the axial direction to define the through-hole for accommodating the pull system.

4 . The device of claim 3 , further comprising:

a pair of grooves configured diametrically opposite each other on an inner wall of the first cylindrical member of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the grooves extend along the axial direction; and

a pair of sliding blocks configured diametrically opposite each other on an outer wall of the hollow chamber of the pull system, wherein the sliding blocks of the hollow chamber are configured to match and slide within the grooves of the first cylindrical member to facilitate the movement of the pull system axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the first cylindrical member of the generally cylindrical housing comprises a slot corresponding to one of the grooves, wherein the slot is configured to accommodate a stopper configured on an inner wall of the second cylindrical member, and wherein the slot is configured to allow the stopper to move therewithin in the circumferential direction for one of blocking and opening the one of the grooves during rotation of the second cylindrical member about the outer wall of the first cylindrical member.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the first cylindrical member further comprises a slide rail extending circumferentially on the outer wall of the first cylindrical member, wherein the slide rail is configured to slidably accommodate a protruding element configured on the inner wall of the second cylindrical member, and wherein each end of the slide rail comprises a notch matching the protruding element and configured to accommodate the protruding element when the stopper is positioned to one of block and open the one of the grooves during the rotation of the second cylindrical member about the outer wall of the first cylindrical member.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the pull system further comprises a mounting rod disposed axially within an internal space of the hollow chamber, wherein the mounting rod comprises a first end detachably connected to the lower end of the pull lever, and a second end attached to the bag dispenser, wherein the mounting rod is configured to accommodate the continuous roll of disposable bags thereon within the internal space of the hollow chamber, and wherein the pull lever is detached from the first end of the mounting rod for loading the continuous roll of disposable bags onto the mounting rod.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the handle is disposed a predetermined distance away from the pull lever of the pull system for allowing movement of the pull lever within a space defined between the handle and the first end of the generally cylindrical housing.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, operating the pull lever of the pull system in a first direction opens the gripping elements to facilitate ready picking of the waste, and wherein operating the pull lever in a second direction opposing the first direction, closes the gripping elements for storage thereof and for encapsulating and storing the picked waste.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the end cap comprises:

a generally cylindrical, hollow upper section detachably attachable to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing; and

a generally semi-spherical, hollow lower section with a closed end extending downwardly from the generally cylindrical, hollow upper section, wherein the generally cylindrical, hollow upper section and the generally semi-spherical, hollow lower section are together configured to enclose the gripping elements, and wherein the device is configured to form a capsule when the end cap is attached to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing.

11 . A device for picking, storing, and disposing waste, the device comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a through-hole extending therebetween;

a plurality of gripping elements radially hinged to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the gripping elements extend downwardly from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing;

a pull system disposed axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing and operably coupled to the gripping elements, wherein the pull system is configured to move axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing, and wherein the pull system comprises:

a pull lever disposed external to the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the pull lever is configured to be operated axially in opposing directions to facilitate opening and closing of the gripping elements for picking the waste;

a hollow chamber detachably connected to a lower end of the pull lever and disposed axially within the through-hole extending between the first end and the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the hollow chamber is configured to store a continuous roll of disposable bags therewithin;

a plurality of braces radially hinged to a lower end of the hollow chamber in a one-to-one correspondence to the gripping elements, wherein each of the braces comprises:

a first end hinged to the lower end of the hollow chamber; and

a second end operably coupled to a pair of flanges configured substantially on a mid-section of a corresponding one of the gripping elements for facilitating the opening and the closing of the gripping elements; and

a bag dispenser disposed proximal to the lower end of the hollow chamber and to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing for supporting the continuous roll of disposable bags, wherein the bag dispenser comprises an external opening configured to dispense one of the disposable bags stored in the hollow chamber for containing and disposing the waste, and wherein the dispensed one of the disposable bags is configured to be wrapped around the gripping elements to protect the gripping elements from directly contacting the waste; and

spring members supported at the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, on opposing sides of the hollow chamber of the pull system, wherein the spring members are configured to facilitate an upward movement and a downward movement of the pull system; and

wherein, when the pull lever is operated axially in the opposing directions, the lower end of the hollow chamber with the bag dispenser moves axially within an internal space defined by the gripping elements, and via the braces, causes the wrapped gripping elements to open and close for picking, encapsulating, and storing the waste within the dispensed one of the disposable bags for subsequent disposal.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the generally cylindrical housing further comprises:

a first cylindrical member extending downwardly from the first end of the generally cylindrical housing;

a second cylindrical member disposed on an outer wall of the first cylindrical member, wherein the second cylindrical member is removably fixed in an axial direction and is rotatable about the outer wall of the first cylindrical member in a circumferential direction for one of allowing and restricting axial movement of the hollow chamber of the pull system; and

a third cylindrical member removably connected to the first cylindrical member and extending upwardly from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the third cylindrical member is internally connected to the first cylindrical member along the axial direction to define the through-hole for accommodating the pull system.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the first cylindrical member of the generally cylindrical housing comprises:

a pair of grooves configured diametrically opposite each other on an inner wall of the first cylindrical member and extending along the axial direction, wherein an outer wall of the hollow chamber of the pull system comprises a pair of sliding blocks configured diametrically opposite each other and matching the grooves of the first cylindrical member, wherein the sliding blocks of the hollow chamber are configured to slide within the grooves of the first cylindrical member to facilitate the movement of the pull system axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing;

a slot corresponding to one of the grooves, wherein the slot is configured to accommodate a stopper configured on an inner wall of the second cylindrical member, and wherein the slot is configured to allow the stopper to move therewithin in the circumferential direction for one of blocking and opening the one of the grooves during rotation of the second cylindrical member about the outer wall of the first cylindrical member; and

a slide rail extending circumferentially on the outer wall of the first cylindrical member, wherein the slide rail is configured to slidably accommodate a protruding element configured on the inner wall of the second cylindrical member, and wherein each end of the slide rail comprises a notch matching the protruding element and configured to accommodate the protruding element when the stopper is positioned to one of block and open the one of the grooves during the rotation of the second cylindrical member about the outer wall of the first cylindrical member.

14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the pull system further comprises a mounting rod disposed axially within an internal space of the hollow chamber, wherein the mounting rod comprises a first end detachably connected to the lower end of the pull lever, and a second end attached to the bag dispenser, wherein the mounting rod is configured to accommodate the continuous roll of disposable bags thereon within the internal space of the hollow chamber, and wherein the pull lever is detached from the first end of the mounting rod for loading the continuous roll of disposable bags onto the mounting rod.

15 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a handle extending upwardly from the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a user during operation of the pull system, and wherein the handle is disposed a predetermined distance away from the pull lever of the pull system for allowing movement of the pull lever within a space defined between the handle and the first end of the generally cylindrical housing.

16 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising an end cap detachably attachable to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the end cap is configured to enclose and conceal the gripping elements with and without the encapsulated waste, and wherein the end cap comprises:

a generally cylindrical, hollow upper section detachably attachable to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing; and

a generally semi-spherical, hollow lower section with a closed end extending downwardly from the generally cylindrical, hollow upper section, wherein the generally cylindrical, hollow upper section and the generally semi-spherical, hollow lower section are together configured to enclose the gripping elements, and wherein the device is configured to form a capsule when the end cap is attached to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing.

17 . A method for picking, storing, and disposing waste, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a through-hole extending therebetween;

a handle extending upwardly from the first end of the generally cylindrical housing;

a plurality of gripping elements radially hinged to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the gripping elements extend downwardly from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing;

a pull system disposed axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing and operably coupled to the gripping elements, wherein the pull system is configured to move axially within the through-hole of the generally cylindrical housing, and wherein the pull system comprises:

a pull lever disposed external to the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the pull lever is configured to be operated axially in opposing directions to facilitate opening and closing of the gripping elements for picking the waste;

a hollow chamber detachably connected to a lower end of the pull lever and disposed axially within the through-hole extending between the first end and the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the hollow chamber is configured to store a continuous roll of disposable bags therewithin;

a plurality of braces radially hinged to a lower end of the hollow chamber in a one-to-one correspondence to the gripping elements, wherein each of the braces comprises:

a first end hinged to the lower end of the hollow chamber; and

a second end operably hinged to a pair of flanges configured substantially on a mid-section of a corresponding one of the gripping elements for facilitating the opening and the closing of the gripping elements; and

a bag dispenser disposed proximal to the lower end of the hollow chamber and to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing for supporting the continuous roll of disposable bags, wherein the bag dispenser comprises an external opening configured to dispense one of the disposable bags stored in the hollow chamber for containing and disposing the waste;

spring members supported at the first end of the generally cylindrical housing, on opposing sides of the hollow chamber of the pull system, wherein the spring members are configured to facilitate an upward movement and a downward movement of the pull system; and

an end cap detachably attachable to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing, wherein the end cap is configured to enclose and conceal the gripping elements;

gripping the handle of the device and holding up the pull lever attached to the hollow chamber of the pull system, causing the spring members to compress, while detaching the end cap of the device from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing of the device to expose the gripping elements of the device in a closed position;

releasing the pull lever, causing the spring members to decompress and the braces of the pull system to expand and open the gripping elements;

manually pulling one of the disposable bags out through the external opening of the bag dispenser of the pull system and wrapping the one of the disposable bags around the opened gripping elements to protect the opened gripping elements from directly contacting the waste;

positioning the wrapped gripping elements of the device over the waste;

gripping the handle and pulling the pull lever, causing the spring members to compress and the braces to retract and close the wrapped gripping elements over the waste for picking and storing the waste within the one of the disposable bags;

unwrapping the closed gripping elements and twisting and closing an open end of the one of the disposable bags for encapsulating the waste within the one of the disposable bags; and

attaching the end cap to the second end of the generally cylindrical housing for enclosing and concealing the closed gripping elements with the encapsulated waste and thereafter transporting the encapsulated waste within the device to a disposal location for subsequent disposal of the one of the disposable bags with the encapsulated waste at the disposal location.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the subsequent disposal of the one of the disposable bags with the encapsulated waste comprises:

detaching the end cap from the second end of the generally cylindrical housing of the device to expose the closed gripping elements with the encapsulated waste;

releasing the pull lever, causing the spring members to decompress and the braces to expand and open the closed gripping elements for releasing the one of the disposable bags with the encapsulated waste, wherein the releasing of the one of the disposable bags with the encapsulated waste from the opened gripping elements dispenses another one of the disposable bags from the external opening of the bag dispenser of the pull system for subsequent picking, storing, and disposal of other waste; and

disposing the released one of the disposable bags with the encapsulated waste at the disposal location.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising locking the pull system by restricting axial movement of the hollow chamber of the pull system using a stopper configured in the generally cylindrical housing of the device.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising loading the continuous roll of disposable bags into the hollow chamber of the pull system by detaching the pull lever of the pull system from an upper end of the hollow chamber.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (18)