Ventilation system adapted for use with litter boxes

• US 5,655,478 A
• Filed: 03/13/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heiko-Roberto Kiera
• Original Assignee: Heiko-Roberto Kiera
• Inventors: Kiera, Heiko-Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/402,851
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 119/165, 119/418, 119/419, 119/493, 119/500
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0047 Air-conditioning, e.g. ventilation, of animal housings
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets

Abstract

An adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box having an upper vent location, this adapter device comprising a housing member of generally rectangular configuration having a lower portion, an interior portion, and an upper portion. An external duct fitting is mounted upon the upper portion, and a downwardly dependent skirt member extends continuously around the lower portion. An internal duct extends upwardly through the lower portion of the housing member, through the interior portion, being connected to the external duct fitting located on the upper portion. An electric fan is located in the interior portion and operatively mounted in the internal duct, with electric current being supplied to the fan, so that it can selectively be caused to rotate and cause air from the litter box to be pumped upwardly through the internal duct to the external duct fitting located on the upper portion. A flexible hose is connected to the external duct fitting for delivering the air to a remote location. This adapter device, when the downwardly dependent skirt is placed over the upper vent location of the litter box, causes air to be removed from the litter box and to be delivered through the flexible hose to the remote location.

Claims

1. An adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container having an upper vent location, said adapter device comprising an essentially flat housing member having a width substantially greater than its thickness, said housing member having upper and lower portions as well as an interior portion, with a downwardly dependent skirt member extending around said lower portion, and an external duct fitting located upon said upper portion, an internal duct extending upwardly through said lower portion, through said interior portion and being connected to said external duct fitting located on said upper portion, an electric fan operatively mounted in said internal duct, means for supplying electric current to said fan, so that said fan can be caused to rotate and cause air from the container to be pumped upwardly through said internal duct to said external duct fitting, and means connected to said external duct fitting for delivering the air pumped by said fan to a remote location, said adapter device, when said downwardly dependent skirt is placed over the upper vent location of the container, causing air to be removed from the container and to be delivered by said means to the remote location.

2. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container as recited in claim 1 in which said skirt member is of essentially constant height.

3. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container as recited in claim 1 in which said skirt member is of readily deformable material.

4. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container as recited in claim 1 in which said means connected to said external duct fitting for delivering the air to a remote location is an elongate flexible tube.

5. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container as recited in claim 4 in which the end of said flexible tube remote from said external duct fitting is connected to an outlet located on an adjacent wall.

6. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container having an upper vent location as recited in claim 4 in which the end of said flexible tube remote from said external duct fitting is equipped with a fitting enabling it to be removably connected to an outlet duct disposed in one of the walls of a room, which outlet duct is connected to deliver the air from the container to an out-of-doors location.

7. An adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box having an upper vent location, said adapter device comprising an essentially flat housing member of generally rectangular configuration, said housing member having a width substantially greater than its thickness, said housing member having a lower portion, an interior portion, and an upper portion, with an external duct fitting mounted upon said upper portion, and a downwardly dependent skirt member extending continuously around said lower portion, an internal duct extending upwardly through said lower portion of said housing member, through said interior portion and being connected to said external duct fitting located on said upper portion, an electric fan located in said interior portion and operatively mounted in said internal duct, means for supplying electric current to said fan, so that said fan can be caused to rotate and cause air from the litter box to be pumped upwardly through said internal duct to said external duct fitting located on said upper portion, and means connected to said external duct fitting for delivering the air pumped by the fan to a remote location, said adapter device, when said downwardly dependent skirt is placed over the upper vent location of the litter box, causing air to be removed from the litter box and to be delivered through said means connected to said external duct fitting, to the remote location.

8. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 7 in which said skirt member is of essentially constant height, and slightly larger in size than the upper vent located in the litter box.

9. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 7 in which said skirt member is of readily deformable material.

10. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 7 in which said upper and lower housing portions interfit tightly together.

11. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 7 in which said electric fan is supported between said upper and lower housing portions.

12. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 7 in which said means connected to said external duct fitting for delivering the air to a remote location is an elongate flexible tube.

13. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a container box having an upper vent location as recited in claim 12 in which the end of said flexible tube remote from said external duct fitting is equipped with a fitting enabling it to be removably connected to an outlet duct disposed in one of the walls of a room, which outlet duct is connected to deliver the air from the container to an out-of-doors location.

14. An adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box having an upper vent location, said adapter device comprising a housing member of generally rectangular configuration, said housing member being substantially flat and having a width substantially greater than its thickness, said housing member having a lower portion, an interior portion, and an upper portion, with the thickness of said upper and lower portions being similar, an external duct fitting mounted upon said upper portion, and a downwardly dependent skirt member extending continuously around said lower portion, an internal duct extending upwardly through said lower portion of said housing member, through said interior portion and being connected to said external duct fitting located on said upper portion, an electric fan disposed in said interior portion and operatively mounted in said internal duct, means for supplying electric current to said fan, so that said fan can be caused to rotate and cause air to be pumped upwardly through said internal duct to said external duct fitting located on said upper portion, said external duct fitting having fastening means thereon for removably engaging the end of a flexible tube, said flexible tube serving to deliver to a remote location, the air pumped from the litter box by said fan, said adapter device, when said downwardly dependent skirt is placed over the upper vent location of the litter box, causing air to be removed from the litter box and to be delivered through said flexible tube to the remote location.

15. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box having an upper vent location as recited in claim 14 in which the end of said flexible tube remote from said external duct fitting is equipped with a fitting enabling it to be removably connected to an outlet duct disposed in one of the walls of a room, which outlet duct is connected to deliver the air from the litter box to an out-of-doors location.

16. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 14 in which said skirt member is of essentially constant height, and slightly larger in size than the upper vent located in the litter box.

17. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 14 in which said skirt member is of readily deformable material.

18. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 14 in which said upper and lower housing portions interfit tightly together.

19. The adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box as recited in claim 14 in which said electric fan is supported between said upper and lower housing portion.