Pet waste collection apparatus

• US 7,096,823 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Smeltzer
• Original Assignee: Michael Smeltzer
• Inventors: Smeltzer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Kimberly S.
• Application Number:
  US10/928,960
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 119/161, 119/165, 119/166, 119168-170
• US Class Current: 119/166
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0114 Litter boxes with screens for separating excrement from litter

Abstract

A portable apparatus for collecting pet feces includes a basin having oppositely spaced edge portions, a planar bottom surface and a pair of oppositely disposed flange portions protruding outwardly. A housing is mounted on top of the basin and includes integral and opaque sidewalls protruding upwardly from the basin. One sidewall has a passageway formed therein. The housing further includes a grass-like top layer positionable on a mesh-like bottom layer. The apparatus further includes wire handles having lower end portions positionable below the top layer and engageable therewith and top end portions protruding upwardly from the sidewalls. The sidewalls allow a user to maintain a substantially stable grip of the top layer when removing the solid feces during non-operating conditions. The handle lower end portions have generally L-shapes for traversing upwardly and rearwardly through the bottom layer.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for collecting pet feces, said apparatus comprising:

a basin having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced edge portions extending substantially parallel thereto, said basin further having a planar bottom surface for receiving and storing fluid feces therein, said basin including a pair of oppositely disposed flange portions integral therewith and protruding outwardly along a horizontal plane so that a user can readily transport said basin between remote locations; and

a housing removably mounted on top of said basin and being sized and shaped for being intermediately situated along the axis, said housing including a plurality of integral sidewalls protruding upwardly from said basin and terminating vertically thereabove at a predetermined height, one said sidewalls having a passageway formed therein for allowing a pet to access said apparatus as desired, said housing comprising

a mesh-like bottom layer defining a plurality of symmetrically oriented partitions for allowing fluid feces to pass downwardly therethrough and into said basin while isolating and maintaining solid feces thereabove so that a user can readily dispose of the solid feces without necessitating the separation of said basin from said housing,

a grass-like top layer selectively positionable on said bottom layer and cooperating therewith for providing a suitable surface onto which the pet may traverse during operating conditions, and

a plurality of handles having lower end portions adjustably positionable below said top layer and engageable therewith, said handles further having top end portions protruding upwardly from said sidewalls and terminating exterior of said housing for allowing a user to maintain a substantially stable grip of said top layer when removing the solid feces during non-operating conditions;

wherein said bottom layer further has an outer perimeter wall provided with a plurality of conduits for channeling the fluid feces outwardly and away from said housing, said conduits being spaced about the perimeter wall in equidistant intervals and further being vertically offset from said basin so that a predetermined volume of the fluid feces can be collected therein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing has a lower perimeter portion provided with a plurality of selectively spaced ribs angled downwardly from said sidewalls, said ribs being in fluid communication with said partitions for directing fluid feces into said basin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottom layer is coated with non-corrosive material and said top layer is formed from resilient material comprising synthetic grass.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of elongated fastening members having opposed end portions secured to said housing and removably connectable to said basin wherein one said end portions having a substantially arcuate shape for hooking beneath said flange portions respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottom layer has opposed end corners defining a plurality of passageways for channeling fluid feces distally from the axis.

6. A portable apparatus for collecting pet feces, said apparatus comprising:

a basin having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced edge portions extending substantially parallel thereto, said basin further having a planar bottom surface for receiving and storing fluid feces therein, said basin including a pair of oppositely disposed flange portions integral therewith and protruding outwardly along a horizontal plane so that a user can readily transport said basin between remote locations; and

a housing removably mounted on top of said basin and being sized and shaped for being intermediately situated along the axis, said housing including a plurality of integral and opaque sidewalls protruding upwardly from said basin and terminating vertically thereabove at a predetermined height, one said sidewalls having a passageway formed therein for allowing a pet to access said apparatus as desired, said housing comprising

a mesh-like bottom layer defining a plurality of symmetrically oriented partitions for allowing fluid feces to pass downwardly therethrough and into said basin while isolating and maintaining solid feces thereabove so that a user can readily dispose of the solid feces without necessitating the separation of said basin from said housing, said partitions having generally rectangular shapes,

a grass-like top layer selectively positionable on said bottom layer and cooperating therewith for providing a suitable surface onto which the pet may traverse during operating conditions, and

a plurality of wire handles having lower end portions adjustably positionable below said top layer and engageable therewith, said handles further having top end portions protruding upwardly from said sidewalls and terminating exterior of said housing for allowing a user to maintain a substantially stable grip of said top layer when removing the solid feces during non-operating conditions;

wherein said bottom layer further has an outer perimeter wall provided with a plurality of conduits for channeling the fluid feces outwardly and away from said housing, said conduits being spaced about the perimeter wall in equidistant intervals and further being vertically offset from said basin so that a predetermined volume of the fluid feces can be collected therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said housing has a lower perimeter portion provided with a plurality of selectively spaced ribs angled downwardly from said sidewalls, said ribs being in fluid communication with said partitions for directing fluid feces into said basin.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said bottom layer is coated with non-corrosive material and said top layer is formed from resilient material comprising synthetic grass.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of elongated fastening members having opposed end portions secured to said housing and removably connectable to said basin wherein one said end portions having a substantially arcuate shape for hooking beneath said flange portions respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said bottom layer has opposed end corners defining a plurality of passageways for channeling fluid feces distally from the axis.

11. A portable apparatus for collecting pet feces, said apparatus comprising:

a basin having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced edge portions extending substantially parallel thereto, said basin further having a planar bottom surface for receiving and storing fluid feces therein, said basin including a pair of oppositely disposed flange portions integral therewith and protruding outwardly along a horizontal plane so that a user can readily transport said basin between remote locations; and

a housing removably mounted on top of said basin and being sized and shaped for being intermediately situated along the axis, said housing including a plurality of integral and opaque sidewalls protruding upwardly from said basin and terminating vertically thereabove at a predetermined height, one said sidewalls having a passageway formed therein for allowing a pet to access said apparatus as desired, said housing comprising

a mesh-like bottom layer defining a plurality of symmetrically oriented partitions for allowing fluid feces to pass downwardly therethrough and into said basin while isolating and maintaining solid feces thereabove so that a user can readily dispose of the solid feces without necessitating the separation of said basin from said housing, said partitions having generally rectangular shapes,

a grass-like top layer selectively positionable on said bottom layer and cooperating therewith for providing a suitable surface onto which the pet may traverse during operating conditions, and

a plurality of wire handles having lower end portions adjustably positionable below said top layer and engageable therewith, said handles further having top end portions protruding upwardly from said sidewalls and terminating exterior of said housing for allowing a user to maintain a substantially stable grip of said top layer when removing the solid feces during non-operating conditions, said handle lower end portions having generally L-shaped for traversing upwardly and rearwardly through said bottom layer;

wherein said bottom layer further has an outer perimeter wall provided with a plurality of conduits for channeling the fluid feces outwardly and away from said housing, said conduits being spaced about the perimeter wall in equidistant intervals and further being vertically offset from said basin so that a predetermined volume of the fluid feces can be collected therein.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said housing has a lower perimeter portion provided with a plurality of selectively spaced ribs angled downwardly from said sidewalls, said ribs being in fluid communication with said partitions for directing fluid feces into said basin.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bottom layer is coated with non-corrosive material and said top layer is formed from resilient material comprising synthetic grass.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of elongated fastening members having opposed end portions secured to said housing and removably connectable to said basin wherein one said end portions having a substantially arcuate shape for hooking beneath said flange portions respectively.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bottom layer has opposed end corners defining a plurality of passageways for channeling fluid feces distally from the axis.