Litter containment apparatus for kittens and cats

• US 5,361,725 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Baillie, Suzanne M. Baillie
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Baillie, Suzanne M. Baillie
• Inventors: Baillie, Suzanne M., Baillie, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/178,410
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 119/165, 119/161, 119/706, 119/15, 119/17, 119/19
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets

Abstract

A carryable enclosure having front, back and opposing side walls, at least one of which is provided with an entry opening to admit a kitten or cat to access a litter box supported within by a floor panel. Removable, and preferably, reversible dividers are provided to guide the kitten or cat to, and from, the litter box from the entry opening, over a course designed to trap and gather any litter accumulating on its fur and/or paws following from its use of the litter box. At least one of the walls, and/or an included top cover for the enclosure, is of a see-through construction to allow a breeder to observe the well being of the kittens and cats within the enclosure and the general sanitary conditions there.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a carryable enclosure having a bottom floor panel, and also having front, back and opposing side walls;

a litter box in said enclosure supported by said bottom floor panel;

a first entry opening in at least one of said front, back and opposing side walls to admit a kitten or cat into said enclosure;

first and second divider walls in said enclosure between said entry opening and said litter box;

an entry opening in each of said first and second divider walls for guiding the kitten or cat from said first entry opening to, and from, said litter box over a predetermined path; and

means, in said predetermined path, for trapping there any litter accumulations on said kitten or cat resulting from its use of said litter box.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said walls is of a see-through construction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least one of said walls is of an acrylic construction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure also includes a top cover, and wherein at least one of said walls and said cover is of a see-through construction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said divider walls is removable from said enclosure and reinsertable into said enclosure with its associated entry opening reversed.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the entry opening of each of said first and second divider walls includes a plurality of bristles for removing litter accumulations on the fur of said kitten or cat.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means includes a raised floor material of predetermined perforation and an underlying collector pan supported by said bottom floor panel, wherein said first and second divider walls constrain the kitten or cat to walk across said raised floor material, and wherein said collector pan gathers litter falling through said perforations as said kitten or car exits said enclosure through said first entry opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is also included a pair of handles for carrying about said enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pair of handles include a pair of openings within said opposing side walls of said enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure additionally includes a pair of slots for seating said first and second divider walls, and wherein said top cover holds said divider walls in place.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said first entry opening and said entry openings of said first and second divider walls incorporate a lower-most portion, and wherein said raised floor material is at an elevation with respect to said bottom floor panel substantially less than the elevation with respect to said bottom floor panel of the lower-most portion of said divider wall closer to said litter box.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said raised floor material is also at an elevation with respect to said bottom floor panel substantially equal to the elevation with respect to said bottom floor panel of the lower-most portion of said divider wall closer to said first opening.