Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A refuse collecting device comprising an open-ended tubular body having a planar, normally horizontal scoop-forming bottom wall, upstanding trapezoidal side walls with upwardly and rearwardly inclined front edges, and a top wall, the rear portion of said body being designed for removable reception of the rim region of a disposable bag whereby, upon upending of the body, material which has entered the body will fall by gravity into the bag, a combined closure plate and paddle member hingedly connected to the forward edge portion of said top wall and capable of swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a closed position wherein it extends substantially vertically and is straddled by said side walls, while its lower edge passes across the bottom wall inwardly of the forward edge of the latter, thus closing the open front end portion of the body, and an open forwardly extending position wherein it exposes the interior of the body for scooping purposes, spring means yieldingly biasing said combined closure plate and paddle member to its closed position, a manually graspable handle secured to said body and overlaping said top wall, and a thumb piece having its proximate end secured to said combined closure plate and paddle member and its distal end region disposed in such overlying relation with respect to the handle that depression thereof by the thumb of the user will effect swinging movement of said combined closure plate and paddle member to its open position, and subsequent releases of said handle will cause said spring means to swing the paddle member to its closed position, thus impelling refuse material rearwardly and into the tubular body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
A refuse collecting device comprising an open-ended tubular body having a planar, normally horizontal scoop-forming bottom wall, upstanding trapezoidal side walls with upwardly and rearwardly inclined front edges, and a top wall, the rear portion of said body being designed for removable reception of the rim region of a disposable bag whereby, upon upending of the body, material which has entered the body will fall by gravity into the bag, a combined closure plate and paddle member hingedly connected to the forward edge portion of said top wall and capable of swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a closed position wherein it extends substantially vertically and is straddled by said side walls, while its lower edge passes across the bottom wall inwardly of the forward edge of the latter, thus closing the open front end portion of the body, and an open forwardly extending position wherein it exposes the interior of the body for scooping purposes, spring means yieldingly biasing said combined closure plate and paddle member to its closed position, a manually graspable handle secured to said body and overlaping said top wall, and a thumb piece having its proximate end secured to said combined closure plate and paddle member and its distal end region disposed in such overlying relation with respect to the handle that depression thereof by the thumb of the user will effect swinging movement of said combined closure plate and paddle member to its open position, and subsequent releases of said handle will cause said spring means to swing the paddle member to its closed position, thus impelling refuse material rearwardly and into the tubular body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A refuse collecting device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said handle extends substantially parallel to and immediately overlies said top wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A refuse collecting device as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the forward edge of the top wall of the body is provided with an upstanding flange to which the extreme forward end of the handle is fixedly secured.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A refuse collecting device as set forth in claim 3 and wherein the thumb piece arches upwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the combined closure plate and paddle member and has its distal end designed for substantial abutment with said handle in order to establish the extreme open position of said combined closure plate and paddle member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A refuse collecting device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the forward edge of said bottom wall is provided with a coextensive series of comb-like teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A refuse collecting device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the lower edge of said combined closure plate and paddle member is provided with a rearwardly turned lateral flange which, when said member is in its closed position, closely overlies the bottom wall of the body immediately rearwardly of said series of teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A refuse collecing device as set forth in claim 6 and wherein the upper edge region of the combined closure plate and paddle member engages the upstanding flange on the forward edge of said top wall when said member is in its closed position so that such flange determines the fully closed position of the member.