Pet litter box

• US 5,094,188 A
• Filed: 09/24/1990
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald G. Wolak
• Original Assignee: Ronald G. Wolak
• Inventors: Wolak, Ronald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US07/587,518
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 119/168, 119/169, 119/170, 119/165, 229/122
• US Class Current: 119/168
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0125 Foldable or collapsible litter boxes

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a waste disposal system which includes a generally rigid support skeleton defining an interior space configured to receive refuse and a flexible, bag-like member supported by, and enclosing therewithin the support skeleton. The waste disposal system may be advantageously configured to provide a litter box for felines and the like.

Claims

1. A litter box for felines and the like comprising:

a generally boxlike member including a rectangular base, said base having first and second short edges and first and second long edges;

a rear wall, which is generally rectangular and which is disposed at right angles to, and coextensive with, the first short edge of the base;

a front wall which is generally rectangular and of the same dimensions of the rear wall, said front wall including an opening therethrough, said front wall disposed at right angles to the base at a location between, and parallel to, the first and second short edges so that a projecting portion of the base is defined between the front wall and the second short edge of the base;

first and second side walls, each wall being a trapezoid having two right angles and each having a bottom edge with a length equal to the length of the long edge of the base and a top edge, which is generally parallel to the bottom edge and equal in length to the spacing of the front and rear walls, said side walls being disposed at right angles to the base with the bottom edges thereof aligned with the long edges of the base so that a right triangular portion of each side wall projects past the front wall;

a top member which is generally rectangular and disposed at right angles to said side walls, the top member having a width equal to the spacing of the side walls and a length equal to the spacing of the front and back walls, said boxlike member being configured so that the projecting triangular portions of the walls and the projecting portion of the base cooperate to define a vestibule disposed proximate the front wall thereof.

2. A litter box as in claim 1, further including a front vestibule wall disposed between said triangular portions of the first and second side walls and generally coextensive with the second short edge of the base.

3. A litter box as in claim 2 further including a flexible, bag-like member enclosing and supporting by the boxlike member, said bag having an opening therein which is generally aligned with the opening in the front wall.

4. A pet litter box assembly for felines and the like comprising:

I. a box having;

a generally rectangular base having a first and a second short edge and a first and a second long edge;

a rear wall disposed at right angles to the first short edge of the base and having a preselected height;

a generally rectangular top member spaced from and in a plane parallel with the base, said top member having a width equal to the short edge of the base and a length which is less than the length of a long edge of the base;

first and second side walls of pentagonal configuration each including;

a bottom edge equal to the length of a long edge of the base, a rear edge disposed at right angles to the bottom edge and equal to the height of the rear wall and a top edge disposed at right angles to the rear edge and equal in length to the length of the top member, each side member further including a lower front edge and an upper front edge, said first and second side members disposed in a spaced apart, plane parallel relationship such that the bottom edges thereof are each coextensive with one of said long edges of the base and said side members are perpendicular to the rear wall and the top member;

a front wall of generally rectangular configuration having a first edge thereof generally coextensive with, and of a length equal to the second short edge of the base, said front wall disposed in a perpendicular relationship with each of said first and second side members;

said base, first and second side members, rear wall, top and front wall cooperate to substantially enclose an interior volume and to define an opening bounded by the upper front edges of said first and second side members, an edge of said top member and an edge of said front wall; and

II. a flexible, bag-like member enclosing and supported by said box, said bag-like member including an opening therein generally aligned and communicating with said opening.