Animal housing furniture apparatus

• US 6,286,458 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Barbara J. Rawson
• Original Assignee: Barbara J. Rawson
• Inventors: Rawson, Barbara J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Judith A.
• Application Number:
  US09/415,709
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 119/165, 119/161, 119/479, 119/166, 119/167, 119/453, D30/161
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets

Abstract

Housing for a domestic animal is in the configuration of furniture. Within the housing or enclosure is a litter box. A shelf support may be used to hold the litter box or the litter box may be disposed below the shelf support. The use of the shelf support prevents litter from being thrown out of the enclosure during use. A flap covers an opening at one end of the enclosure and the animal moves into and out of the enclosure through the flap covered opening. This hides the contents of the litter box and helps to eliminate odor. This furniture provides a more sanitary approach to the litter box problem for indoor cats and their owners. Also within the enclosure is a storage area for items which pertain to the animal.

Claims

1. Housing apparatus for a pet comprising in combination:

a bottom wall;

a top wall spaced apart from the bottom wall;

a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other and secured to the top and bottom walls;

a back wall secured to the bottom, top, and pair of side walls;

a shelf spaced apart downwardly from the top panel and secured to the back panel and to the pair of side panels;

a side partition extending upwardly from the shelf to define a pair of storage chambers above the shelf;

a front wall spaced apart from the back wall and secured to the bottom, top, and pair of side walls;

an opening in the front wall;

a door hingedly secured to the front wall for closing the opening in the front wall;

a shelf support spaced upwardly from the bottom wall and secured to the rear wall and to the pair of side walls;

an opening in the shelf support; and

a litter box selectively disposed on or under the shelf support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes an opening in one of the side panels above the shelf support.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 which further includes a flap for the opening in one of the side panels.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes a front partition secured to the side partition and extending to an adjacent one of the side panels, and an opening in the front partition.