PARTITIONED CAT LITTER BOX

• US 20040244707A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martti Johannes Sannikka
• Original Assignee: Martti Johannes Sannikka
• Inventors: Sannikka, Martti Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 6,837,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 23/005 Manure or urine collecting devices used independently from the animal, i.e. not worn by the animal but operated by a person

Abstract

A base 12 supports small disposable containers 18 in an array. Each container holds a portion of litter 20. Containers are preferably transparent or translucent. In preferred embodiments a hinged grille 14 assists in the locating of containers within the base and serves to conceal the upper rims of the containers. A containment rim 16 is optionally provided for better keeping litter within the box. Container may be reused, or sealed with a snap-on lid 26 and disposed of without cleaning. Veterinary urine samples can be collected at home without stress to the cats. Amount of urine can also be determined even when litter has absorbed it completely by weighing the individual used container before and after soiling.

Claims

1. A cat litter box comprising:

a base, the base having side walls surrounding a floor and a peripheral rim; and

a grille, the grille having a plurality of openings formed in it, the openings comprising a grille array, and a peripheral rim which cooperates with the peripheral rim of the base, each opening having a downwardly facing rim;

the sidewalls of the base being high enough that one or more litter containers with upper rims may be positioned between the grille and the floor;

the downward facing rim of each opening defining a single aperture, the downward facing rim adapted to fit within and thereby conceal the upper rim of a container.

2. The cat litter box of claim 1, wherein:

the floor of the base further comprises an array of mounds which are formed in registry with the grille array.

3. The cat litter box of claim 2, wherein:

the base and grille, adapted to retain a plurality of disposable containers, each container having an upper rim defining a container mouth, each upper rim being in registry with and concealed by the grille.

4. The cat litter box of claim 3, wherein:

the grille further comprises grille partitions having downwardly facing rims which are adapted to enter the mouths of each of the containers.

5. The cat litter box of claim 1, wherein:

a peripheral rim of the grille forms a step which is adapted to receive the peripheral edge of a containment rim, the containment rim having an inward curving lip which defines a central entrance.

6. The cat litter box of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more containers sized to fit under an opening and be retained between the grille and the floor of the base.

7. The cat litter box of claim 4, further comprising:

one or more containers sized to fit under an opening and be retained between the grille and the floor of the base.

8. The cat litter box of claim 6, wherein:

the one or more containers are translucent or transparent.

9. The cat litter box of claim 7, wherein:

the base further comprises a raised central longitudinal partition.

10. The cat litter box of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one container having a bottom which is configured to cooperate and interlock with at least one mound.

11. The cat litter box of claim 1, wherein:

the floor of the base further comprises an array of raised mounds which define locations under the openings, for receiving individual containers.

12. The cat litter box of claim 1, wherein:

the base and grille are hinged to one another, there being provided a removable hinge pin about which the grille may rotate relative to the base when they are attached.

13. The cat litter box of claim 9, wherein:

the height of the raised partition permits a finger to be inserted between an upper edge of a container and the raised partition when a container is on a mound.

14. The cat litter box of claim 2, wherein:

the mounds support a container, when a container is fitted, above the floor of the base sufficiently high for decoy cat litter to be positioned between the bottom of the container and the floor.

15. The cat litter box of claim 4, wherein:

the mounds support a container, when a container is fitted, above the floor of the base sufficiently high for decoy cat litter to be positioned between the bottom of the container and the floor.

16. The cat litter box of claim 1, wherein:

the base and grille are hinged together and the grille has a handle.

20. In combination, a cat litter box of claim 1 and a number of containers, each container having a disposable plastic body and lid, the number of containers being at least equal to the number of openings.

17. A container for a cat litter box, the container comprising:

a disposable plastic body and lid, the body having a bottom in which is formed one or more raised portions which are adapted to interlock with a like number of cooperating mounds formed on a floor of a cat litter box so that the container is positioned by the mounds below a grille of the cat litter box;

a pre-packaged charge of cat litter contained in the body and retained by the lid.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein:

the raised portions are such that the bottom of the container is positioned vertically above the floor of the cat litter box when the container is installed, the vertical position being high enough for decoy litter to be positioned between the floor and the bottom of the container.

21. The container of claim 17, wherein:

the raised portions are two in number.

19. (cancelled)