CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/990,832, filed on Nov. 28, 2007, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to an apparatus for collecting and disposing of litter, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to an improved apparatus for collecting and disposing of litter in the form of animal waste. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Millions of people in the United States and abroad have pets, such as dogs, that frequently drop excrement on lawns, sidewalks, in the home, and various other environments occupied and traversed by these animals. Consequently, there is a need for a device to aid the pet owner in quickly and sanitarily collecting and disposing of their pet&#39;s waste. The present invention is directed to address this need. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for collecting animal waste constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a fragmental, sectional view of the apparatus for collecting animal waste. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   d  depict alternative embodiments of the apparatus for collecting animal waste. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing the preferred embodiments, like or identical reference numerals are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features in certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         [0010]    Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , shown therein and designated by reference numeral  10  is an apparatus for collecting animal waste constructed in accordance with the present invention. In general, the apparatus  10  includes a handle  12 , a tubular head  14  connected to one end of the handle  12 , a bag  16  disposed through and detachably connected to the tubular head  14 , and a retaining member  18  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for selectively securing the bag  16  to the tubular head  14 . 
         [0011]    The handle  12  includes an elongated member  22  having a first end  26  and a second end  30 . The elongated member  22  may be constructed of various rigid and elastic materials, for example, and not by way of limitation, metal, wood, composite material, plastic, and rubber. The elongated member  22  may also be straight, curved, or telescopic in configuration, and constructed of various lengths. Preferably, the handle  12  has a grip  34  disposed on the first end  26  of the elongated member  22 . The grip  34  can be constructed of any material suitable for gripping the apparatus  10 , including, but not limited to, rubber, plastic, or composite material. 
         [0012]    The first end  26  of the elongated member  22  may be constructed to receive a hanging member  38  to facilitate storage of the apparatus  10  when the device is not in use. The hanging member  38  can be any suitable structure or construction capable of interacting with a hanging structure, such as, but not limited to, a hook, nail, or peg. The hanging member  38  can be constructed of various rigid and elastic materials, including, but not by way of limitation, metal, rubber, plastic, or composite material. The hanging member  38  and the elongated member  22  may also be unitary in structure. 
         [0013]    The second end  30  of the elongated member  22  is constructed to be connected to the tubular head  14 . In one embodiment, the second end  30  of the elongated member  22  is shaped to be slidably received in a portion of the tubular head  14 . In another embodiment, the second end  30  of the elongated member  22  may be threaded so that it may be threadably connected to the tubular head  14 . The elongated member  22  and the tubular head  14  may also be unitary in structure. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG.2 , the apparatus  10 , and more specifically, the tubular head  14 , is shown in more detail. In general, the tubular head  14  is provided with a tubular body  50  and a connection portion  54 . The tubular head  14  can be constructed of various rigid and elastic materials, including, but not by way of limitation, metal, rubber, plastic, or composite material. The tubular head  14  can be a variety of geometric shapes, including, but not limited to, circular, semi-circular, square, rectangular, and triangularshapes (shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d ). 
         [0015]    The tubular body  50  of the tubular head  14  has a leading end  58 , a trailing end  62 , and a bore  64  extending from the leading end  58  to the trailing end  62 . The bore  64  is identical in shape to a cross-sectional piece of the tubular body  50 , which can be a number of geometrical shapes, for example, but not by way of limitation, circular, semi-circular, square, rectangular, or triangular. The leading end  58  of the tubular body  50  defines a lead edge which is preferably tapered to facilitate the sanitary and efficient collection of animal waste from a surface. 
         [0016]    The tubular body  50  is further characterized as having an exterior surface  66  and an interior surface  68 . Moreover, the tubular body  50  is provided with an annular bag-receiving groove  70  on the exterior surface  66  of the tubular body  50 , preferably near the leading end  58  of the tubular body  50 . Alternatively, the groove  70  can be located along any portion of the exterior surface  66  of the tubular body  50  forward of the connection portion  54 . Additionally, the groove  70  may extend about only a portion of the exterior surface  66  of the tubular body  50 . While it is preferable for the groove  70  to be located on the exterior surface  66  of the tubular body  50 , it should be understood that the groove  70  can be shaped in any structural configuration and be located on any portion of the tubular body  50  to facilitate the securing of the bag  16  in a manner to be described below. 
         [0017]    The connection portion  54  of the tubular head  14  connects the tubular head  14  to the second end  30  of the elongated member  22  of the handle  12 . The connection portion  54  may be constructed as a separate piece from the tubular head  14 , and can be constructed from various materials, including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, wood, or composite material. Alternatively, the connection portion  54  and tubular body  50  may be unitary in structure. Preferably, the connection portion  54  defines a recess capable of slidably receiving the second end  30  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the elongated member  22 . It will be appreciated that the handle  12  may be secured to the connection portion  54  with any suitable adhesive or cohesive. In another embodiment, the connection portion  54  of the tubular head  14  may be threaded to threadably connect the connection portion  54  to the second end  30  of the elongated member  22 . 
         [0018]    The bag  16  of the apparatus  10  forms a disposable receptacle for the collection of animal waste. The bag  16  may be constructed from various materials, including, but not limited to, paper or plastic. In general, the bag  16  has an open end  82  and a closed end  86 . The open end  82  of the bag  16  is secured to the leading end  58  of the tubular body  50  by positioning the open end  82  of the bag  16  over the groove  70  and securing the bag  16  in the groove  70  with the retaining member  18 . The retaining member  18  can be a number of securing materials, including, but not limited to, an elastic cord, a rubber-band, or a spring. The retaining member  18  may be internal to the bag  16 , located, for example, within the open end  82  of the bag  16 . Alternatively, the retaining member  18  may be a separate piece of securing material capable of securing the bag  16  to the tubular head  14 . 
         [0019]    Once secured to the groove  70 , the bag  16  covers the lip of the leading end  58  of the tubular head  14  and the interior surface  68  of the tubular body  50  as it extends through the bore  64 . This configuration can be accomplished in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the bag  16  is secured in the groove  70  by the retaining member  18  and pushed through the leading end  58  of the tubular body  50  and disposed through the bore  64  to form a receptacle for collecting animal waste. Alternatively, the bag may be pushed through the trailing end  62  of the tubular body  50  and disposed through the bore  64  and then secured in the groove  70  with the retaining member  18 . While it is preferable for the bag  16  to be secured in the groove  70  with the retaining member  18 , it should be understood that the bag  16  can be secured to any portion of the tubular head  14  to form a receptacle to collect animal waste. By placing the bag  16  over the lip of the leading end  58  and interior surface  68  of the tubular body  50  and through the bore  68 , the apparatus  10  offers the advantage of sanitarily collecting animal waste by preventing the waste from contacting any portion of the apparatus  10 . 
         [0020]    The apparatus  10  allows a user to sanitarily and efficiently collect animal waste. The animal waste-collecting function is preferably accomplished in the following manner; however, it should be understood that the animal waste-collecting function of the apparatus  10  is not limited to the following example. First, the user secures the open end  82  of the bag  16  to the groove  70  on the tubular body  50  with the retaining member  18 . Once the bag  16  is secured, the user disposes the bag  16  through the bore  64  and over the lip of the leading end  58  of the tubular body  50 . Next, the user, while holding the grip  34  on the handle  12  of the apparatus  10 , utilizes a scooping, swing-like motion so as to dispose the animal waste in the bag  16 . 
         [0021]    After the animal waste is contained within the bag  16 , the user can sanitarily detach the bag  16  from the groove  70  on the tubular body  50  by gripping the closed end  86  of the bag  16  and pulling the bag  16 . This pulling action allows the bag  16  to be pulled through the bore  64  and the trailing end  62  of the tubular body  50 , preventing the animal waste from coming into contact with either the apparatus  10  or the user. Once the bag  16  containing animal waste is detached from the apparatus  10 , the user can dispose of the bag  16  in an appropriate trash-collecting receptacle. 
         [0022]    From the above description, it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed.
The present invention contemplates an apparatus for collecting animal waste. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. The apparatus further includes a tubular head that is operatively associated to one end of the elongated member, the tubular head having a leading end and an opposed trailing end and defining a bore extending between the leading end and the opposed trailing end of the tubular head. The apparatus also includes a bag positioned within the bore and selectively connected to the leading end of the tubular head and extending through the bore and the trailing end of the tubular head to define a receptacle for collecting litter, in particular, animal waste.