Abstrict An adjustable cat litter box accessory including a front section
comprising a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall forms a rounded
closed forward wall and an open rear wall. A rear section is slidably
coupled with respect to the open rear wall of the front section.
A removable grill is dimensioned for coupling with the front section.
A removable collection tray is dimensioned for slidable receipt
within an opening in the rounded closed forward wall of the front
section. The collection tray is positioned below the removable grill
within the front section.
Claims What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows:
1. An adjustable cat litter box accessory for removing and collecting
excess cat litter from a cat's paws comprising, in combination:
a front section comprising a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall
forming a rounded closed forward wall and an open rear wall, the
rounded closed forward wall having an arcuate slotted opening formed
therethrough, the front section further comprising a forward portion
and a rearward portion, the forward portion being formed within
the rounded closed forward wall and having a closed interior rear
wall, the closed interior rear wall having a central opening therethrough,
the rearward portion having a platform extending between the closed
interior rear wall of the forward portion and the open rear wall,
the rearward portion having a pair of lower channels extending inwardly
thereof and a pair of side channels extending inwardly thereof;
a rear section slidably coupled with respect to the open rear wall
of the front section, the rear section comprising an open front
end, a closed rear end, opposed side walls, and a closed bottom,
the opposed side walls slidably received within the pair of side
channels of the rearward portion of the front section, the closed
bottom having an elevated bifurcated bracket slidably received within
the pair of lower channels of the rearward portion of the front
section;
a removable grill dimensioned for coupling with the forward portion
of the front section, the grill being defined by a plurality of
upwardly raising nubs and a plurality of oblong apertures therethrough,
the removable grill having a plurality of legs extending from a
lower surface thereof for elevating the grill within the forward
portion; and
a removable collection tray dimensioned for slidable receipt within
the arcuate slotted opening in the rounded closed forward wall of
the front section, the collection tray being positioned below the
removable grill within the forward portion of the front section,
the collection tray having a handle extending outwardly therefrom.
2. An adjustable cat litter box accessory for removing and collecting
excess cat litter from a cat's paws comprising, in combination:
a front section comprising a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall
forming a rounded closed forward wall and an open rear wall;
a rear section slidably coupled with respect to the open rear wall
of the front section;
a removable grill dimensioned for coupling with the front section;
and
a removable collection tray dimensioned for slidable receipt within
an opening in the rounded closed forward wall of the front section,
the collection tray being positioned below the removable grill within
the front section.
3. The adjustable cat litter box accessory as set forth in claim
2 wherein the front section includes a rearward portion having a
pair of lower channels extending inwardly thereof and a pair of
side channels extending inwardly thereof, the rear section includes
opposed side walls slidably received within the pair of side channels,
the rear section having an elevated bifurcated bracket slidably
received within the pair of lower channels.
4. The adjustable cat litter box as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the removable grill is defined by a plurality of upwardly raising
nubs and a plurality of oblong apertures therethrough.
5. The adjustable cat litter box as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the removable grill has a plurality of legs extending from a lower
surface thereof for elevating the grill within the front section.
6. The adjustable cat litter box as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the collection tray has a handle extending outwardly therefrom.
7. A cat litter box accessory for removing and collecting excess
cat litter from a cat's paws comprising:
a front section comprising a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall
forming a forward wall and a parallel rearward wall and parallel
side walls therebetween and with an opening in the forward wall;
a rear section coupled with respect to the rear wall of the front
section;
a grill horizontally positioned within the front section; and
a removable collection tray dimensioned for slidable receipt within
the opening in the forward wall of the front section, the collection
tray being positioned below the grill within the front selection
during operation and use.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable cat litter box accessory
and more particularly pertains to removing and collecting excess
cat litter from a cat's paws with an adjustable cat litter box accessory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of litter trays is known in the prior art. More specifically,
litter trays heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of
containing cat litter are known to consist basically of familiar,
expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which
have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives
and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5220886 to Hyde; U.S. Pat. No.
5218930 to Casmira; U.S. Pat. No. 3885523 to Coleman; U.S. Pat.
No. 5195464 to Mutter; U.S. Pat. No. 5388550 to Noble; and U.S.
Pat. No. Des. 351694 to Evans.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective
and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an
adjustable cat litter box accessory for removing and collecting
excess cat litter from a cat's paws.
In this respect, the adjustable cat litter box accessory according
to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides
an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removing and
collecting excess cat litter from a cat's paws.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing
need for new and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory which
can be used for removing and collecting excess cat litter from a
cat's paws. In this regard, the present invention substantially
fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of litter trays now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides an improved adjustable cat litter box accessory.
As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will
be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory and method which
has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a front
section comprising a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall forms
a rounded closed forward wall and an open rear wall. The rounded
closed forward wall has an arcuate slotted opening formed therethrough.
The front section further comprises a forward portion and a rearward
portion. The forward portion is formed within the rounded closed
forward wall and has a closed interior rear wall. The closed interior
rear wall has a central opening therethrough. The rearward portion
has a platform extending between the closed interior rear wall of
the forward portion and the open rear wall. The rearward portion
has a pair of lower channels extending inwardly thereof and a pair
of side channels extending inwardly thereof. A rear section is slidably
coupled with respect to the open rear wall of the front section.
The rear section comprises an open front end, a closed rear end,
opposed side walls, and a closed bottom. The opposed side walls
are slidably received within the pair of side channels of the rearward
portion of the front section. The closed bottom has an elevated
bifurcated bracket slidably received within the pair of lower channels
of the rearward portion of the front section. A removable grill
is dimensioned for coupling with the forward portion of the front
section. The grill is defined by a plurality of upwardly raising
nubs and a plurality of oblong apertures therethrough. The removable
grill has a plurality of legs extending from a lower surface thereof
for elevating the grill within the forward section. A removable
collection tray is dimensioned for slidable receipt within the arcuate
slotted opening in the rounded closed forward wall of the front
section. The collection tray is positioned below the removable grill
within the forward portion of the front section. The collection
tray has a handle extending outwardly therefrom.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of
the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable
of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not
be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as
a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems
for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.
It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including
such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory which has all
the advantages of the prior art litter trays and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory which may be easily
and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory which is of durable
and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory which is susceptible
of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor,
and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale
to the consuming public, thereby making such an adjustable cat litter
box accessory economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide
a new and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory for removing
and collecting excess cat litter from a cat's paws.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved adjustable cat litter box accessory including a front
section comprising a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall forms
a rounded closed forward wall and an open rear wall. A rear section
is slidably coupled with respect to the open rear wall of the front
section. A removable grill is dimensioned for coupling with the
front section. A removable collection tray is dimensioned for slidable
receipt within an opening in the rounded closed forward wall of
the front section. The collection tray is positioned below the removable
grill within the front section.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with
the various features of novelty which characterize the invention,
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof, such description
makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the
adjustable cat litter box accessory constructed in accordance with
the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 bottom perspective view of the removable grill of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is top plan view of the present invention illustrated in
an extended
orientation.
FIG. 4 is top plan view of the present invention illustrating the
removable collection tray thereof
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view as taken along line 6--6 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of an alternate embodiment
of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the
various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS.
1 through 6 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved
adjustable cat litter box accessory embodying the principles and
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the
reference number 10 will be described.
Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the
device relates to a adjustable cat litter box accessory for removing
and collecting excess cat litter from a cat's paws. In its broadest
context, the device consists of a front section, a rear section,
a removable grill and a removable collection tray. Such components
are individually configured and correlated with respect to each
other so as to attain the desired objective.
The front section 12 is comprised of a peripheral wall 14. The
peripheral wall 14 forms a rounded closed forward wall 16 and an
open rear wall 18. The rounded closed forward wall 16 has an arcuate
slotted opening 20 formed therethrough. The front section 12 further
comprises a forward portion 22 and a rearward portion 24. The forward
portion 22 is formed within the rounded closed forward wall 16 and
has a closed interior rear wall 24. The closed interior rear wall
24 has a central opening 26 therethrough. The rearward portion 27
has a platform 28 extending between the closed interior rear wall
24 of the forward portion 22 and the open rear wall 18. The rearward
portion 27 has a pair of lower channels 30 extending inwardly thereof
and a pair of side channels 32 extending inwardly thereof.
The rear section 34 is slidably coupled with respect to the open
rear wall 18 of the front section 12. The rear section 34 comprises
an open front end, a closed rear end 36 opposed side walls 38
and a closed bottom 40. The opposed side walls 38 are slidably received
within the pair of side channels 32 of the rearward portion 27 of
the front section 12. The closed bottom 40 has an elevated bifurcated
bracket 42 slidably received within the pair of lower channels 30
of the rearward portion 27 of the front section 12.
The removable grill 44 is dimensioned for coupling with the forward
portion 22 of the front section 12. The grill 44 is defined by a
plurality of upwardly raising nubs 46 and a plurality of oblong
apertures 48 therethrough. The removable grill 44 has a plurality
of legs 50 extending from a lower surface thereof for elevating
the grill 44 within the forward portion 22.
The removable collection tray 52 is dimensioned for slidable receipt
within the arcuate slotted opening 20 in the rounded closed forward
wall 16 of the front section 12. The collection tray 52 is positioned
below the removable grill 44 within the forward portion 22 of the
front section 12. The collection tray 52 has a handle 54 extending
outwardly therefrom to facilitate removal thereof.
Shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is an alternate embodiment of the invention.
Such alternate embodiment is also a cat litter box accessory for
removing and collecting excess cat litter from a cat's paws. The
accessory 60 of this alternate embodiment includes a front section
62. The front section comprises a peripheral wall. The peripheral
wall is formed with a forward wall 64 and a parallel rearward wall
66. It is also formed with parallel side walls 68 at right angles
between the forward and rearward walls. The forward wall is constructed
to have an opening 70 from the lower surface of the forward wall
extending upwardly to a location beneath the upper surface.
Next provided is a rear section 74. Such rear section is a rigid
rectangular sheet preferably formed integrally with the lower edge
of the rearward wall of the front section. The rear section is adapted
to rest beneath the forward section of a kitty litter box 76.
Also provided as a part of the accessory is a grill 80. The grill
is of a rigid material with apertures extending therethrough. It
is dimensioned to be integrally formed with the front section at
an intermediate elevation.
It is preferred that the front section and rear section and grill
are integrally formed as a unitary piece of a rigid plastic. It
should be understood, however, that the grill is preferably integrally
formed with the remainder of the front section, but it may be separately
formed and removably positioned within the front section. Similarly,
the rear section could be separably fabricated from the front section
and separately attached thereto.
Lastly provided is a removable collection tray 84 with a handle
86. A commercially available plastic kitty litter tray could be
used for these purposes. Such tray, preferably fabricated of plastic,
is dimensioned for being slidably received within the opening in
the forward wall of the front section. Such tray may also be withdrawn
for the removal of litter therefrom. It is preferred, however, that
the collection tray be positioned and retained below the grill within
the front section during normal operation and use.
The present invention is a litter box accessory designed to remove
and collect excess litter from a cat's paws, keeping surrounding
floors clean and the cat's paws healthy. The present invention is
an adjustable length, two-sectioned plastic tray to be placed underneath
an existing litter box. The front section 12 contains a removable
grill 44 having raised nubs 46 to knock litter from the cat's paws,
and apertures 48 for the litter to fall through to removable collection
tray 52 immediately below. The grill 44 features legs 50 on its
lower surface to keep it sturdy for cats of any size. The rear section
34 of the present invention is adjustable with respect to the front
section 12 to accommodate any size standard litter box.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention,
the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly,
no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation
will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of
the invention. |