Exterior mounted housing for animal litter box

• US 5,975,017 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eddie M. Cameron
• Original Assignee: Eddie M. Cameron
• Inventors: Cameron, Eddie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ELIZABETH ANNE
• Application Number:
  US08/991,153
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 119/163, 119/165, 119/484, 119/485
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/033 Cat or dog houses

Abstract

A housing is mounted on the exterior side of a dwelling having a storage compartment for removeably holding a litter box. A hollow open-ended tunnel interconnects the interiors of the dwelling and housing respectively. The tunnel is rigid in a cantilevered position. A pivotal door in the side of the housing or enclosure permits access for insertion or removal of the litter box. A platform panel with a central hole separates a lower compartment of the litter box from an upper compartment.

Claims

1. An exterior mounted housing for an animal litter box comprising:

an enclosure having a flat backwall;

an opening in said flat backwall;

an open-ended tunnel having a selected end disposed in said opening so as to outwardly project from said flat backwall and further having an open-ended passageway communicating with the interior of said enclosure;

said enclosure includes a bottom and said tunnel is disposed above said bottom in fixed spaced-apart relationship;

said housing having opposite side walls joined by said bottom and said tunnel being disposed midway between said side walls in fixed spaced-apart relationship and said housing having an internal storage compartment defined between said side walls;

a litter box removably disposed in said storage compartment in communication with said tunnel;

said tunnel is a tube having a mounting flange carried on its end opposite from said selected end;

a selected side wall includes a pivotal door with an open position providing access into said interior storage compartment permitting passage of said litterbox; and

said enclosure includes a lower compartment removably enclosing said litterbox and an upper compartment; and

a panel separating said upper compartment and said lower compartment with a hole in said panel intercommunicating said upper compartment with said lower compartment.

2. The enclosure defined in claim 1 including:

ventilation means provided on said side walls of said enclosure communicating with said upper compartment.

3. The enclosure defined in claim 2 wherein:

said tubular tunnel supports said enclosure in a cantilevered position externally of and outwardly from a dwelling.

4. The enclosure defined in claim 3 wherein:

said enclosure is composed of a transparent material.

5. A housing for a litterbox mountable on the side of a dwelling wall comprising:

an enclosure;

means interconnecting said enclosure with said dwelling for supporting said enclosure in a cantilevered position outward from said dwelling;

said dwelling having a support wall with a hole communicating with the interior of said dwelling;

said enclosure having a hole in alignment with said hole in said dwelling wall;

said interconnecting means includes a tubular tunnel having open-ended opposite ends communicating the interior of said dwelling with the interior of said enclosure;

said enclosure is solely supported in said cantilevered position by said tubular tunnel; and

said tubular tunnel includes a circular mounting flange on a selected end disposed in the interior of said dwelling for mounting to said support wall.

6. The housing defined in claim 5 wherein:

said enclosure includes a lower compartment removeably enclosing said litter box and and upper compartment; and

a panel separating said upper compartment and said lower compartment with a hole in said panel intercommunicating said upper compartment with said lower compartment.