Disposable commode for animals

• US 4,967,692 A
• Filed: 05/17/1988
• Issued: 11/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bio-Lite Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alan D. Mills
• Inventors: Mills, Alan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US07/195,122
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 119/1, 229/165, 229/169, 229/175
• US Class Current: 119/168
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0125 Foldable or collapsible litter boxes

Abstract

A disposable animal commode comprising a six-sided structure having a bottom wall, four side walls and an articulating top wall which is attached to one of the side walls and which may be rotated between a closed position and an open position. When in the closed position, the commode seals so as to substantially retain a litter material and animal waste within the commode. Positioned within the six-sided structure is a height extender which sufficiently extends the height of the side walls of the commode to substantially retain litter material within the commode when in use by an animal. The height extender comprises flaps which rotate between a vertical position and a horizontal position, the edges of the flaps being connected as to form corners which reverse inward upon themselves when the height extender is rotated to the horizontal position.

Claims

1. A disposable commode for animals comprising:

(a) a six-sided structure having a bottom wall, four side walls and an articulating top wall which is attached to one of the side walls and which may be rotated between a closed position and an open position;

(b) a sealing means for sealing the six-sided structure when the articulating top wall is in the closed position so as to substantially retain a litter material and animal waste within the six-sided structure; and

(c) a height extender which is positioned inside of the six-sided structure, the height extender having four walls which are adjacent to the four walls of the six-sided structure when the height extender is positioned inside of the six-sided structure, and having an articulating extension flap associated with each of the walls of the height extender which, rotates from a folded horizontal position to an extended vertical position such that the height of the side walls of the six-sided structure is sufficiently extended by the extension flaps to substantially retain a litter material within the commode when in use by an animal and such that when the flaps are rotated to the folded horizontal position the height extender is retained within the six-sided structure when the articulating top wall is in the closed position, and each of the extension flaps being connected at their edges to form corners which reverse inward upon themselves when the extension flaps are in the folded horizontal position.

2. A commode for animals as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing means is resealable and comprises a plurality of sealing flaps attached to the articulating top wall which associate with the four walls of the six-sided structure to substantially retain a litter material within the six-sided structure when the articulating top wall is in the closed position.

3. A commode for animals as claimed in claim 2 wherein the six-sided structure is constructed of a moisture resistant material.

4. A commode for animals as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a litter material which is a blend of clinoptilolite and high quality diatomaceous earth.

5. A commode for animals as claimed in claim 4 wherein the blend of clinoptilolite and high quality diatomaceous earth is in the approximate dry volume ratio of one-third clinoptilolite and two-thirds diatomaceous earth.

6. A commode for animals as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a litter material which is a blend of clinoptilolite and high quality diatomaceous earth.

7. A commode for animals as claimed in claim 6 wherein the blend of clinoptilolite and high quality diatomaceous earth is in the approximate dry volume ratio of one-third clinoptilolite and two-thirds diatomaceous earth.