Animal husbandry – Exercise or amusement device – Climbing or claw scratching device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-03-27
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Exercise or amusement device
Climbing or claw scratching device
C119S165000, C119S174000, C132S076500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205955
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
The subject invention is in the field of apparatus and equipment used to improve living conditions for animals such as cats and for their keepers by facilitating the care of the animals. Specifically, it is in the fields of equipment and fixtures which (1) help an animal rid its feet of litter picked up in a litter box, to minimize the irritation of the animal by the litter and to minimize tracking of litter outside of the litter box, and (2) helping the animal meet its need to dull its claws and prevent overgrowth of its claws.
2. Prior Art
The patents listed below constitute patented prior art known to the inventor of the subject invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,019
U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,523
U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,430
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,464
U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,365
These patents show (1) abrasive surfaces on which cats and other animals with claws can relieve the urge to dull their claws, and (2) grate-like surfaces on which cats walk when entering and leaving litter boxes. The intent is that when cats walk on these surfaces their feet will release litter entrapped in their claws.
It can be concluded from reviewing this patented prior art and non-patented equipment intended to serve the same purposes that for a keeper to provide a cat with the means to dull its claws and to rid its claws of litter after using a litter box, the keeper must provide two pieces of equipment. Also, while the “Litter Box With Abrasive Surfaces” of U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,365 takes advantage of a cats natural urge to scratch both horizontal and vertical surfaces, the devices for dislodging litter from claws do not and are therefore believed to not be optimally effective. Also, animals clawing on unprotected abrasive surfaces tend to irritate the flesh of the paws.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the subject invention is to provide apparatus which facilitates simultaneous conditioning of an animals claws and efficiently ridding the claws of litter while protecting the flesh of the paws from irritation. Other objectives are that the apparatus be suitable to animals in a range of sizes, be easily maintained and convenient to use for the animals and the keepers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is apparatus for cleaning and dulling the claws of animals, particularly cats. The apparatus comprises three parts. One is a sheet of material having an abrasive surface abrasive enough to effectively dull a cat's claws and the second part has approximately the same shape as the first part but is a screen or grid material. Such material, when made of wire, is termed hardware cloth and is made of wires uniformly spaced apart in both directions, forming square openings. For example, in {fraction (1/4 )} inch hardware cloth the openings are about {fraction (1/4 )} inch square. In {fraction (1/2 )} inch cloth the openings are about {fraction (1/2 )} inch square. The third part is a base and the apparatus is an assembly of the three parts with the abrasive surface facing the hardware cloth and with part of the edge of one part about {fraction (1/8 )} inch from the corresponding part of the edge of the other and other corresponding edges a greater distance apart, such as {fraction (1/4 )} inch. In a preferred use the apparatus is installed on the inside of the wall of a covered litter box, with the closer together edges a few inches above the surface of the litter. The apparatus is sized and shaped (not necessarily rectangular) to cover a significant portion of a side of a litter box cover. It may also be supported on a frame used in conjunction with a non-covered litter box. Apparatuses may be mounted on both sides of a litter box and/or at an end.
It has been observed that after cats use an enclosed litter box, they consistently scratch at the walls of the cover, presumably in attempts to free their claws of litter particles and to dull their claws. The subject apparatus greatly facilitates this process. Smaller cats reach the thinner portion of the apparatus, near its lower edge. Larger cats reach the thicker upper portion. The apparatus is made so that the abrasive sheet can be easily replaced.
The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2504282 (1950-04-01), Tobias
patent: 3273537 (1966-09-01), Orr
patent: 5042430 (1991-08-01), Casmira
patent: 5176155 (1993-01-01), Rudolph, Jr.
patent: 5218930 (1993-06-01), Casmira
patent: 5275181 (1994-01-01), Rudolph, Jr.
patent: 5377617 (1995-01-01), Harwich
patent: 5564365 (1996-10-01), Kacic
patent: 5579720 (1996-12-01), Udelle et al.
patent: 5816195 (1998-10-01), Flynn
patent: 5924383 (1999-07-01), Smith
patent: 6109212 (2000-08-01), Schacherbauer
Bergin James S.
Jenny Robert W.
Poon Peter M.
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