Animal carrier with detachable litter box

• US 5,471,950 A
• Filed: 10/25/1993
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elizabeth S. White
• Original Assignee: Elizabeth S. White
• Inventors: White, Elizabeth S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US08/142,514
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 119/19, 119/165
• US Class Current: 119/497
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0245 Boxes or cages

Abstract

An animal litter container (20) which is constructed so that it may be attached to a conventional animal carrier (22). The litter box has an opening (30) in its front wall (28) which meets an opening (34) cut or manufactured into the rear wall (32) of an animal carrier. Access is therefore provided for movement between the litter box and the carrier. A method is provided for attaching the litter box securely to the carrier. A latch is provided to secure the opening in the rear carrier wall when the litter box is detached from the carrier, so that the escape-proof integrity of the animal carrier is completely restorable for times when it is to be used alone (see FIG. 3A). A seal (122) is provided to contain the litter box'"'"'s contents and odors when the litter box is not in active use.

Claims

1. An animal litter container, comprising:

a) a physically discrete enclosed box able to effectively contain litter while said litter is actively being used by an animal, said enclosed box having a plurality of sidewalls, each of said sidewalls being substantially solid,

b) an aperture sized to allow the passage therethrough of said animal into said enclosed box, said aperture being provided in one of said sidewalls of said enclosed box and substantially entirely in the upper half of said one of said sidewalls, and

c) attaching means in or closely adjacent to said one of said sidewalls for removably securing said enclosed box to one substantially solid sidewall of a physically discrete animal carrier having an aperture therein, such that said aperture in said enclosed box can mate with said aperture in said animal carrier,

d) whereby said animal can move from said animal carrier to said enclosed box for eliminating bodily wastes within said enclosed box and can thereafter return to said animal carrier.

2. The invention of claim 1, further including means for enabling said enclosed box to stand stably on its own.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said enclosed box is made of an upper section and a lower section, said upper and lower sections being attached together.

4. The invention of claim 1, further including means for selectively sealing said aperture in said enclosed box, thereby preventing litter and odors from escaping said enclosed box when said enclosed box is temporarily stored.

5. In an animal carrier comprising an enclosure having (a) a plurality of sidewalls, all of said sidewalls having enclosing means and at least two of said sidewalls being substantially solid, (b) ventilation means, and (c) means for allowing the insertion of an animal into or the removal of said animal from said enclosure, the improvement comprising an aperture in one of said substantially solid sidewalls, said aperture being located substantially entirely in the upper half of said one of said sidewalls, said aperture having a predetermined size for allowing the passage therethrough of an animal of a predetermined size, said aperture being placed to allow the passage therethrough of said animal from said enclosure to a mateable opening in a physically discrete enclosed box able to effectively contain litter, said enclosure also having attaching means for removably securing said enclosed box to said enclosure, said attaching means being located substantially outwardly from said aperture and in or closely adjacent to said one of said sidewalls of said enclosure, whereby said animal can move from said animal carrier to said enclosed box for eliminating bodily wastes within said enclosed box and can thereafter return to said animal carrier.

6. The invention of claim 5, further including means on said enclosure for securely and selectively closing said aperture to prevent the escape of an animal.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said animal carrier is made of an upper section and a lower section, said upper and lower sections being attached together.

8. A combined litter container and animal carrier, comprising:

(a) a physically discrete enclosed box able to effectively contain litter while said litter is actively being used by an animal, said enclosed box having a plurality of sidewalls, all of said sidewalls being substantially solid, said enclosed box having an aperture sized to allow the passage of said animal therethrough into said enclosed box, said aperture being located in one of said substantially solid sidewalls, said aperture further being located substantially entirely in the upper half of said one of said sidewalls,

(b) a physically discrete animal carrier sized for the convenient transport of domestic companion animals, said animal carrier having a plurality of sidewalls, at least two of said sidewalls being substantially solid, one of said substantially solid sidewalls having an opening therethrough, said opening being sized to allow an animal to pass therethrough, said opening being located substantially entirely in the upper half of said one of said sidewalls, said opening being placed to allow the passage of said animal from said animal carrier into said aperture on said enclosed box, and

c) attaching means in or adjacent to said one of said sidewalls of said enclosed box, and attaching means in or adjacent to said one of said sidewalls of said animal carrier, said attaching means on said enclosed box and said attaching means on said animal carrier being securely and releasably interconnected together such that said aperture on said enclosed box closely aligns with said opening on said animal carrier,

(d) whereby said animal can move from said animal carrier to said enclosed box to eliminate bodily waste within said enclosed box and can thereafter return to said animal carrier.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said enclosed box has a recessed lip circumjacent to said aperture in said enclosed box, and said animal carrier has a projecting lip circumjacent to said opening in said animal carrier, said recessed lip of said enclosed box being sized to fit around said projecting lip of said animal carrier.

10. The invention of claim 8, further including means for selectively sealing said aperture in said enclosed box, thereby preventing litter and odors from escaping said enclosed box when said enclosed box is temporarily stored.

11. The invention of claim 8, further including means on said animal carrier for selectively and securely closing said opening in said animal carrier to prevent the escape of said animal.

12. The invention of claim 8 wherein said enclosed box is made of an upper section and a lower section, said upper and lower sections being attached together.

13. The invention of claim 8 wherein said animal carrier is made of an upper section and a lower section, said upper and lower sections being attached together.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said enclosed box is made of an upper section and a lower section, said upper and lower sections being attached together.

15. The invention of claim 8, further including means for enabling said enclosed box to stand stably on its own.