Animal husbandry – Waste toilet or related device – Walled receptacle; e.g. – litter box – etc. – containing...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-03
2001-10-16
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Waste toilet or related device
Walled receptacle; e.g., litter box, etc., containing...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302060
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pet litter collection devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pet litter system which collects particulate pet litter by magnetic attraction.
2. Background of the Invention
Pets such as cats that use litter boxes always seem to scatter particles of litter outside the litter box, which leaves an unsanitary mess for the pet owner to clean. This typically happens when, upon exiting the box, the pet scatters litter with its feet. A number of different types of devices are available to help reduce the mess. For example, one general approach has been to provide specially textured rugs, mats, or gratings placed outside the litter box. As the pet steps on the rug upon exiting the litter box, the rug is intended to spread the animal's paws, thereby allowing the litter to release from the pet's feet. These and other devices desire improvement.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved devices and methods to avoid messes associated with the use of litter boxes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention eliminates the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art by the use of magnetically attractable litter particles with an apparatus for collecting particles of the pet litter brought outside a litter containment area by a pet. The apparatus includes one or more magnets external to the litter containment area for attracting particles of the magnetically attractable litter which have been tracked or otherwise brought outside the litter containment area by the pet. An overlay, such as a mat or disposable paper covering, may also be positioned adjacent to the magnet(s) to receive and collect litter particles attracted by the magnet(s).
The magnetically attractable pet litter includes a material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, gadolinium, and alloys containing one or more such materials capable of being attracted to the magnet(s). The magnetically attractable materials are blended or embedded with a desiccating material, such as sodium bentonite clay, so as to form a particulate pet litter containing five percent or more by weight of the magnetically attractable material.
The magnet(s) may take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, the magnet(s) includes a permanent magnet which is preferably flexible so as to conform to uneven surfaces on which it may be placed. Fasteners can be provided to attach the overlay to the magnet(s) to prevent slippage of the overlay which may occur, for example, as the pet moves across the overlay. Clean up of litter particles collected onto the overlay requires little effort. The overlay is separated from the magnet(s) and the collected litter is discarded.
In another embodiment, the magnet(s) includes an electromagnet connected to a source of electrical power. Removal of electrical power to the electromagnet enables the pet owner to easily discard litter particles collected by the electromagnet. Power can be removed by unplugging the electromagnet from its source of power. Alternatively, a pet activated switch is provided to turn the electromagnet on and off.
The invention also provides a pet litter collection apparatus which includes a pet litter box or other litter containment structure. Pet litter contained in the litter box includes a material capable of being electrically charged to a first polarity. A mat positioned external to the litter box is capable of being charged to a second polarity opposite to that of the pet litter. A charge generator provides electrical charging of the pet litter and the mat to maintain an electrical charge differential between the two, whereby particles of the pet litter brought outside the litter box are attracted to the mat by the electrical charge differential.
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Luedeka Neely & Graham P.C.
Price Thomas
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