Portable animal litter system

• US 11,044,885 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 06/29/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laurel Joy Ruggiano
• Original Assignee: Laurel Joy Ruggiano
• Inventors: Ruggiano, Laurel Joy
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US15/919,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20180263209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0125 Foldable or collapsible litter boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0245 Boxes or cages

Abstract

In one embodiment, a portable animal litter system is disclosed. The system includes a base container having a perimeter wall protruding substantially upward from a perimeter of a bottom panel. A plurality of looped inner walls is positioned concentrically so that the looped inner walls are in a telescoping arrangement. In a fully collapsed state, the looped inner walls are configured within the base container such that an upper end of each of the looped inner walls are proximate to each other. In an expanded configuration the upper ends of each looped inner wall are distal from each other. A lid is configured to attach to the base container when the system is in a collapsed configuration.

Claims

1. A portable animal litter system comprising:

a base container having a bottom panel and a perimeter wall protruding substantially upward from a perimeter of the bottom panel;

a plurality of looped inner walls, the plurality of looped inner walls positioned concentrically so that the looped inner walls are in a telescoping arrangement;

wherein a first outside cross-sectional diameter at an upper end of each of the plurality of looped inner walls is greater than a second outside cross-sectional diameter at a lower end of the respective looped inner wall of the plurality of looped inner walls;

wherein the plurality of looped inner walls comprises an outermost looped inner wall;

a radially outward facing lip protruding from an upper end of the outermost looped inner wall for moving the plurality of looped inner walls between a fully collapsed configuration and a fully expanded configuration;

wherein in the fully collapsed configuration the looped inner walls are vertically orientated and are configured within the base container such that the upper end of each of the plurality of looped inner walls are proximate to each other and the lower end of each of the plurality of looped inner walls are proximate to each other;

wherein in the fully expanded configuration the upper ends of the plurality of looped inner walls are distal from each other;

a removable lid configured to attach to the base container when the portable animal litter system is in the collapsed configuration;

a first unobstructed volume spanning inward from each inward facing side of an inner most looped inner wall for defecation by an animal below an upper end of the perimeter wall base container in the fully collapsed configuration; and

,

a second unobstructed volume spanning inward from each inward facing side of an inner most looped inner wall and the perimeter wall for defecation by an animal in the fully expanded configuration.

2. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein a lock is for maintaining the portable animal litter system in the fully expanded configuration and comprises:

a first arm having a first arm first end and a first arm second end;

a second arm having a second arm first end and a second arm second end;

wherein the first arm first end is pivotally connected to the base container at a first exterior location, the first arm second end is pivotally connected to the second arm second end, and wherein the second arm first end is pivotally connected to the outermost looped inner wall at a second exterior location such that the first arm and second arm move between a vertically orientated position and a non-vertically orientated position; and

,

a first detent on the first arm configured to mate with a second detent on the second arm when in the vertically orientated position for locking the first arm relative to the second arm.

3. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein in the fully expanded configuration, the looped inner walls and the base container form a litter box without a lid.

4. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein in the fully collapsed configuration the upper ends of each of the plurality of looped inner walls are below the perimeter wall of the base container so that the perimeter wall may receive the lid.

5. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein at least one latch attached to the perimeter wall removably couples the lid to the base container.

6. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein contents inside the portable animal litter system remain inside portable animal litter system when in the fully collapsed configuration with the lid attached to the base container.

7. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein the portable animal litter system is configured to be positioned inside of an animal carrier when the portable animal litter system is in the fully collapsed configuration.

8. The portable animal litter system of claim 1, wherein a pad covers an area inside a ridge that runs along proximate to a circumference of the lid.

9. A portable animal litter system comprising:

a base container having a bottom panel and a perimeter wall protruding upward from a bottom panel perimeter to define a top opening;

a plurality of looped inner walls, the plurality of looped inner walls are positioned concentrically so that the looped inner walls are in a telescoping arrangement such that the plurality of looped inner walls define a common looped inner wall top opening, where a first outside cross-sectional diameter at an upper end of each of the plurality of looped inner walls is greater than a second outside cross-sectional diameter at a lower end of the respective looped inner wall of the plurality of looped inner walls;

wherein a top opening of the base container and the common looped inner wall top opening share a common central axis;

wherein in a fully collapsed configuration the looped inner walls are vertically orientated and are configured within the base container such that the upper end of each of the looped inner walls are proximate to each other and the lower end of each looped wall are proximate to each other; and

,

wherein in a fully expanded configuration an upper end of an outermost looped inner wall is above the base container;

wherein the portable animal litter system is also configured for defecation by an animal below an upper end of the perimeter wall of the base container in the fully collapsed configuration; and

,

wherein the portable animal litter system is also configured for defecation by the animal within the base container in the fully expanded configuration;

wherein when in the fully expanded configuration the portable animal litter system is configured such that the animal enters and leaves through the top opening of the base container and the common looped inner wall top opening;

wherein when in the fully collapsed configuration the portable animal litter system is configured such that the animal enters and leaves through the top opening of the base container and the common looped inner wall top opening; and

,

where a carrying container fully encloses the base container, the looped inner walls and a lid in both the fully expanded configuration and the fully collapsed configuration such that a third unobstructed volume is defined between an upper wall portion of the carrying container and the base container in the fully collapsed configuration;

a pair of handles attached to an upper end of the carrying container for carrying the base container, looped inner walls and the lid in both the fully expanded configuration and the fully collapsed configuration.

10. The portable animal litter system of claim 9, wherein a lock is for maintaining the portable animal litter system in the fully expanded configuration and comprises:

a first arm having a first arm first end and a first arm second end;

a second arm having a second arm first end and a second arm second end;

wherein the first arm first end is pivotally connected to the base container at a first exterior location, the first arm second end is pivotally connected to the second arm second end, and wherein the second arm first end is pivotally connected to an outermost looped inner wall at a second exterior location, such that the first arm and second arm move between a vertically orientated position and a non-vertically orientated position; and

,

a first detent on the first arm configured to mate with a second detent on the second arm when in the vertically orientated position for locking the first arm relative to the second arm.

11. The portable animal litter system of claim 9, wherein a lid is configured to attach to the base container when the portable animal litter system is in the fully collapsed configuration.

12. The portable animal litter system of claim 11, wherein in the fully collapsed configuration, the upper ends of each of the plurality of looped inner walls are below the perimeter wall of the base container so that the perimeter wall may receive the lid.

13. The portable animal litter system of claim 12, wherein at least one latch attached to the perimeter wall of the base container is configured to removably couple the lid to the perimeter wall via a snap fit.

14. A portable animal litter system comprising:

a base container having a bottom panel and a perimeter wall protruding substantially upward from a perimeter of the bottom panel;

a plurality of looped inner walls, wherein a first outside cross-sectional diameter at an upper end of each of the plurality of looped inner walls is greater than a second outside cross-sectional diameter at a lower end of the respective looped inner wall of the plurality of looped inner walls, and wherein the looped inner walls are positioned concentrically so that the looped inner walls are in a telescoping arrangement;

wherein in a fully collapsed configuration the looped inner walls are vertically orientated and are configured within the base container such that the upper end of each the looped inner walls are proximate to each other and the lower end of each looped inner walls are proximate to each other;

wherein in a fully expanded configuration the upper end of an outermost looped inner wall is above the base container;

wherein the portable animal litter system is also configured for use by an animal in the fully collapsed configuration;

a removable lid configured to attach to the base container when the portable animal litter system is in the fully collapsed configuration;

a first unobstructed volume spanning inward from each inward facing side of an inner most looped inner wall for defecation by an animal below an upper end of the perimeter wall of the base container in the fully collapsed configuration;

a second unobstructed volume spanning inward from each inward facing side of an inner most looped inner wall and the perimeter wall for defecation by an animal in the fully expanded configuration; and

,

where a carrying container configured to be carried by hand fully encloses the base container, the looped inner walls and the lid in both the fully expanded configuration and the fully collapsed configuration such that a third unobstructed volume is defined between an upper wall portion of the carrying container and the base container in the fully collapsed configuration.

15. The portable animal litter system of claim 14, wherein in the fully collapsed configuration, the upper ends of each of the plurality of looped inner walls are below the perimeter wall of the base container so that the perimeter wall may receive the lid.

16. The portable animal litter system of claim 14, wherein a lock is for maintaining the portable animal litter system in the fully expanded configuration and comprises:

a first arm having a first arm first end and a first arm second end;

a second arm having a second arm first end and a second arm second end;

wherein the first arm first end is pivotally connected to the base container and the first arm second end is pivotally connected to the second arm second end and wherein the second arm first end is pivotally connected to an outermost looped inner wall such that the first arm and second arm move between a vertically orientated position and a non-vertically orientated position; and

,

a first detent on the first arm configured to mate with a second detent on the second arm when in the vertically orientated position for locking the first arm relative to the second arm.