Animal husbandry – Waste toilet or related device – Walled receptacle; e.g. – litter box – etc. – containing...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-08-07
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Waste toilet or related device
Walled receptacle; e.g., litter box, etc., containing...
C119S168000, C220S004230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269772
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a litter box for a household pet or other animal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a litter box which is optimized for cleaning and reusing litter material.
A litter box, such as a cat litter box, is typically a plastic or other material container having an opening. The litter box is filled with litter material such as a clumping cat litter type or a sand type material (e.g. clumping type material. A pet, such as a cat, can provide waste through the opening of the container and into the litter material. The waste can include excrement as well as urine.
The litter material reduces the aroma of the waste and absorbs the more liquefied forms of the waste. The litter box is emptied into a refuse container to remove the used litter material which is often unsightly and can have an offensive smell.
Typically, the removal of cat litter material from a litter box is an undesirable task due to the smell associated with the waste from the animal. Often, the pet owner can come in contact with excrement and used litter material as the litter material is dumped into the garbage. Additionally, a large amount of unused litter material is often wasted as the pet owner throws away the entire contents of the litter box, feces and clumped litter material associated with urination. Alternatively, the pet owner must scoop out the used litter material manually to save the remaining unused portions of the litter material.
Thus, there is a need for a litter box which allows a user to efficiently throw away only the used litter material. Additionally, there is a need for a litter box which does not require the homeowner to contact used litter material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a litter box including a first section, a screen and a second section, litter material can be contained in the first section or the second section. When changing the litter material, the screen is applied over the section which includes the litter material. The first section is then placed onto the second section and rotated so the litter material falls through the screen into the opposite section. The screen is designed so clumped cat litter associated with urination and feces remain on top of the screen while the unused cat litter falls to the other side. The section which originally contained the cat litter can then be rotated so that the feces and clumped litter material falls into it and the first section can be utilized to throw away the feces and clumped litter material. This process can then be repeated wherein the second section is utilized to throw away the used litter material.
The present invention relates to a litter box system comprising a first section, a second section and a screen. The screen has apertures which allow unused litter material to pass through it. The screen is disposed between the first section and the second section. The first section is capable of covering the second section. Used litter material in the first section is prevented from entering the second section by the screen, and unused litter material enters the second section when the system is rotated.
The present invention further relates to a method of changing litter material in a litter box system. The litter box system includes a first section, a second section and a screen. The method includes placing a screen over an opening of the first section, covering the screen with the second section, rotating the litter box system so unused litter material falls through the screen to the second section, and uncovering the first section. The first section includes used litter material and unused litter material.
The present invention still further relates to a litter box comprising a first section means for holding used and unused litter material, a second section means for receiving the unused litter material, and a screen means for screening the used litter material. The first section means is covered by the second section means. The unused litter enters the second section means when the box is rotated. According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, unused litter material can be recycled without requiring a pet owner to manually remove the used litter material. The box system is preferably hingeably coupled together by a hook hinge. The screen includes holes for a rod which can engage the hooked hinges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4325822 (1982-04-01), Miller
patent: 4646684 (1987-03-01), Embry
patent: 5012765 (1991-05-01), Naso et al.
patent: 5032254 (1991-07-01), Deboer et al.
patent: 5168834 (1992-12-01), Buschur
patent: 5211133 (1993-05-01), Foley
patent: 5375734 (1994-12-01), Tiramani
patent: 5402751 (1995-04-01), Chevrotiere
patent: 5531186 (1996-07-01), Flood et al.
patent: 5577462 (1996-11-01), Korth
patent: 5598810 (1997-02-01), Lawton, III
patent: 5727691 (1998-03-01), Vittrup
patent: 6095088 (2000-08-01), Savicki
Abbott Yvonne R.
Jordan Charles T.
LandOfFree
Litter box optimized for recycling litter material does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Litter box optimized for recycling litter material, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Litter box optimized for recycling litter material will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2471482