Pet litter container

• US 6,332,429 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Theodore International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Theodore International Corporation
• Inventors: Gramlich, Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/262,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 119/161, 119/162, 119/165, 119/166, 119/167, 119/168
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0107 Cat trays; Dog urinals; Toilets for pets

Abstract

This application relates to an improved container for holding pet litter. The container has a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom surface. The container also has an inner wall coupled to or seated on the outer wall and supported above the bottom surface. The container is partially filled with pet litter to a level below the bottom edge of the inner wall. The inner wall extends adjacent to and inwardly of the outer wall and functions as a urine splashguard, thereby preventing litter clumps from sticking to the outer wall and fouling it. This eliminates the need to dump the entire contents of the container in order to clean the outer wall. In one embodiment of the invention, the inner wall is pivotably and removably coupled to the outer wall. In another embodiment the inner wall has an upper rim which is supported on an upper edge of the outer wall.

Claims

1. A pet litter container comprising:

(a) an enclosure for holding pet litter having a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface; and

(b) an inner wall coupled to said outer wall and defining an opening, said opening being sufficiently large in size to permit a pet using said container to pass through said opening to a position supported within said enclosure below said inner wall, wherein said inner wall is supported in an upright position within said enclosure laterally inwardly of said outer wall at a location above said bottom surface.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said inner wall is subdivided into a plurality of separate inner wall sections and wherein each of said sections is pivotably coupled to a portion of said outer wall for movement between said upright position and a folded position.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein each of said inner wall sections is removably coupled to said outer wall.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the height of said inner wall above said bottom surface is selectively adjustable.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the shape of said inner wall conforms generally to the shape of said outer wall.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein said inner wall comprises a first panel which extends vertically in said upright position and a second panel which flares outwardly and upwardly in said upright position.

7. The container of claim 2, further comprising coupling means for pivotably coupling one of said inner wall sections to said outer wall, wherein said coupling means comprises:

(a) a latch having a first end and a second end;

(b) a fastener on said one of said inner wall sections, said fastener having a plurality of spaced-apart catches for removably engaging said first end of said latch at a selected vertical position; and

(c) a slot formed on said outer wall for removably receiving said second end of said latch.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said catches comprise a plurality of elongated ribs extending in parallel.

9. The container of claim 1, further comprising a hood for covering said enclosure, wherein said hood is removably connectable to said outer wall.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein said hood comprises an opening in a side wall thereof to provide access to the interior of said container.

11. The container of claim 2, wherein said inner wall sections are positioned outwardly of said enclosure in said folded position.

19. The container of claim 1, wherein an axis passing through a lower portion of said inner wall in a direction perpendicular to said inner wall intersects said outer wall.

20. The container of claim 1, wherein said inner wall defines an inner enclosure having open top and bottom ends.

12. A pet litter container comprising;

(a) an enclosure for holding pet litter having a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface; and

(b) an inner wall supportable by said outer wall and having a wall surface positionable in an upright position at a location laterally inwardly of said outer wall and above said bottom surface, said inner wall defining an opening sufficiently large in size to permit a pet using said container to pass through said opening to a position supported within said enclosure below said inner wall.

13. The container on claim 12, further comprising a hood for covering said enclosure, wherein said hood is connectable to an outer portion of said enclosure.

14. The container of claim 12, wherein said inner wall is supportable on said outer wall such that said wall surface extends in a generally vertical plane above said bottom surface.

15. A pet litter container comprising:

(a) an enclosure for holding pet litter having a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface; and

(b) an inner wall coupled to said enclosure, wherein said inner wall is supported in an upright position within said enclosure at a location spaced laterally inwardly of said outer wall and above said bottom surface, said inner wall defining an opening sufficiently large in size to permit a pet using said container to pass through said opening to a position supported within said enclosure below said inner wall.

16. A pet litter container comprising:

(a) an enclosure for holding pet litter having a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface;

said outer wall having an inward facing first wall surface and an upper edge; and

(b) an inner wall having an upper rim and a second wall surface, wherein said rim is positionable on said upper edge of said outer wall to support said second wall surface laterally inwardly of and adjacent to said first wall surface at a location above and not contacting said bottom surface, said inner wall defining an opening sufficiently large in size to permit a pet using said container to pass through said opening to a position supported within said enclosure below said inner wall.

17. The container of claim 16, further comprising a hood for covering said enclosure, wherein said hood is removably connectable to said upper rim.

18. The container of claim 16, wherein said inner wall comprises a first panel which extends generally vertically and a second panel which flares outwardly and upwardly to meet said upper rim.

21. A pet litter container comprising:

(a) an outer enclosure for holding pet litter having a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface; and

(b) an inner wall coupled to said outer wall, wherein said inner wall is supported in an upright position within said enclosure laterally inwardly and adjacent to said outer wall at a location above said bottom surface, wherein said inner wall defines an inner enclosure having an open top end and an open bottom end, said open bottom end being sufficiently large in size to permit a pet using said container to pass from said inner enclosure to a position within said outer enclosure below said inner wall.

22. A pet litter container comprising;

(a) an enclosure for holding pet litter having a bottom surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface; and

(b) an inner wall coupled to said outer wall, wherein said inner wall is supported in an upright position within said enclosure laterally inwardly of said outer wall at a location above said bottom surface, and wherein said inner wall is subdivided into a plurality of separate inner wall sections each of said sections being pivotably coupled to a portion of said outer wall for movement between said upright position and a folded position.