Abstrict A cat litter box cover system is provided including a rigid litter
box. Also included is a flexible cover with a cut out formed on
a top face thereof for passing a handle of the litter box and an
opening for alignment with an entrance of the litter box.
Claims We claim:
1. A cat litter box cover system comprising, in combination:
a rigid litter box including a base having a bottom face and a
side wall integrally coupled to the bottom face and extending upwardly
and outwardly therefrom to terminate with an upper peripheral lip
having an inverted U-shaped configuration, the litter box further
including a lid with a top face and a peripheral wall integrally
coupled to the top face and depending outwardly downwardly therefrom
to define a bottom peripheral edge adapted for engaging the upper
peripheral lip of the base thereby defining an interior space, wherein
the lid has a rectangular entrance formed on the peripheral wall
thereof and a handle fixedly mounted on a central extent of the
top face of the lid;
a flexible cover constructed from a fabric material including a
rectangular top face with an X-shaped cut out formed in a central
extent thereof which is defined by a pair of intersecting linear
slots which remain in parallel with an edge of the top face, a pair
of wide side faces and a pair of thin side faces all integrally
coupled to the top face of the cover and depending downwardly therefrom
for defining an interior space and a lower peripheral edge, and
an opening formed in one of the thin side faces adjacent to the
lower peripheral edge of the cover, the opening including a linear
bottom edge, an arcuate top edge, and a pair of linear side edges,
wherein the opening has a height approximately 3/4 that of the thin
side face in which it is formed, wherein the cover is placed over
the lid of the litter box such that the handle extends through the
cut out and the opening of the cover is aligned with the entrance
of the lid of the litter box;
a decorative assembly including a valance depending from the top
edge of the opening of the cover a distance about 1/3 a height of
the opening, the decorative assembly further including a pair of
curtains depending from the top edge of the opening and lining an
entire length of the side edges of the opening of the cover;
a thin elastic band mounted along an entire perimeter of the lower
peripheral edge of the cover for conforming to the side wall of
the base of the litter box below the upper peripheral lip thereof,
the elastic band having a height of about 1/4 that of the base of
the litter box, thereby maintaining the cover in place; and
lace mounted along the entire perimeter of the lower peripheral
edge of the cover exterior of and separate from the elastic band,
the lace having a height which is greater than that of the base
of the litter box.
2. A cat litter box cover for covering a rigid litter box with
a rigid litter box cover having a carrying handle for permitting
lifting of the litter box, comprising:
a flexible cover with an opening for alignment with an entrance
of the litter box;
the flexible cover being comprised of a substantially rectangular
top panel portion for resting on a top of the litter box cover,
the top panel portion having a perimeter with substantially parallel
sides and substantially parallel ends, a plurality of side panel
portions coupled to the side and ends of the perimeter of the top
panel portion for depending from the top panel portion when the
cover is placed on the litter box cover; and
wherein the top panel portion has a cut out substantially centrally
located therein for receiving the carrying handle of the litter
box such that the handle may be accessed when the flexible cover
is in place on the litter box, the cut out having a cross shape
defined by a pair of intersecting linear slots, one of the intersecting
linear slots being adapted to receive a handle oriented parallel
to the sides of the perimeter of the top panel portion and the other
one of the intersecting linear slots being adapted to receive a
handle oriented parallel to the ends of the perimeter of the top
panel portion.
3. The cat litter box cover system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the cover is formed of a fabric material.
4. The cat litter box cover system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the opening includes a decorative assembly.
5. The cat litter box cover system as set forth in claim 4 wherein
the decorative assembly includes a valance.
6. The cat litter box cover system as set forth in claim 4 wherein
the decorative assembly includes a pair of curtains.
7. The cat litter box cover system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
an elastic band is mounted along a lower peripheral edge of the
cover for conforming to the litter box.
8. The cat litter box cover system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
a strip of lace is mounted along a lower peripheral edge of the
cover.
9. A cat litter box cover system comprising, in combination:
a litter box including a base having a bottom face and a side wall
integrally coupled to the bottom face and extending upwardly and
outwardly therefrom to terminate with an upper peripheral lip, the
litter box further including a lid with a top face and a peripheral
wall integrally coupled to the top face and depending outwardly
downwardly therefrom to define a bottom peripheral edge adapted
for engaging the upper peripheral lip of the base thereby defining
an interior space wherein the lid has an entrance formed on the
peripheral wall thereof and a handle fixedly mounted on the top
face of the lid;
a flexible cover including a top face with an X-shaped cut out
formed in a central extent thereof which is defined by a pair of
intersecting linear slots which remain in parallel with an edge
of the top face, a pair of wide side faces and a pair of thin side
faces all integrally coupled to the top face of the cover and depending
downwardly therefrom for defining an interior space and a lower
peripheral edge, and an opening formed in one of the thin side faces
adjacent to the lower peripheral edge of the cover, the opening
including a bottom edge, a top edge, and a pair of side edges, wherein
the opening is formed in one of the thin side faces, wherein the
cover is placed over the lid of the litter box such that the handle
extends through the cut out and the opening of the cover is aligned
with the entrance of the lid of the litter box;
a decorative assembly including a valance depending from the top
edge of the opening of the cover, the decorative assembly further
including a pair of curtains depending from the top edge of the
opening and lining a length of the side edges of the opening of
the cover;
an elastic band mounted along a perimeter of the lower peripheral
edge of the cover for conforming to the side wall of the base of
the litter box below the upper peripheral lip thereof, thereby maintaining
the cover in place; and
lace mounted along the perimeter of the lower peripheral edge of
the cover exterior of and separate from the elastic band, the lace
having a height which is greater than that of the base of the litter
box.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to litter boxes and more particularly
pertains to a new decorative cat litter box cover for covering cat
litter boxes of various sizes in a decorative manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of litter boxes is known in the prior art. More specifically,
litter boxes heretofore devised and utilized 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.
Known prior art litter boxes include U.S. Pat. No. 5289800; U.S.
Pat. No. 4111157; U.S. Pat. No. 3428026; U.S. Pat. No. 5220885;
U.S. Pat. No. 2790414; and Foreign Patents WO 89/08387 & WO
96/28015.
In these respects, the decorative cat litter box cover according
to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides
an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of covering cat
litter boxes of various sizes in a decorative manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of litter boxes now present in the prior art, the present invention
provides a new decorative cat litter box cover construction wherein
the same can be utilized for covering cat litter boxes of various
sizes in a decorative manner.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new decorative cat
litter box cover apparatus and method which has many of the advantages
of the litter boxes mentioned heretofore and many novel features
that result in a new decorative cat litter box cover which is not
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any
of the prior art litter boxes, either alone or in any combination
thereof.
To attain this, the present invention is adapted for use with a
rigid litter box with a base having a bottom face and a side wall
integrally coupled to the bottom face and extending upwardly and
outwardly therefrom. The side wall of the base terminates with an
upper peripheral lip having an inverted U-shaped configuration,
as shown in FIG. 3. The litter box further includes a lid with a
top face and a peripheral wall integrally coupled to the top face
and depending outwardly downwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall
of the lid defines a bottom peripheral edge which is adapted for
engaging the upper peripheral lip of the base, thereby defining
an interior space. It should be noted that the lid has a rectangular
entrance formed on the peripheral wall thereof. Further, a handle
is fixedly mounted on a central extent of the top face of the lid.
Next provided is a flexible cover constructed from a fabric material.
The cover includes a rectangular top face with an X-shaped cut out
formed in a central extent thereof. For reasons that will soon become
apparent, the cut out is defined by a pair of intersecting linear
slots which remain in parallel with an edge of the top face. A pair
of wide side faces and a pair of thin side faces are all integrally
coupled to the top face of the cover. The side faces depend downwardly
from the top face of the cover for defining an interior space and
a lower peripheral edge. The cover further has an opening formed
in one of the thin side faces adjacent to the lower peripheral edge
thereof. The opening includes a linear bottom edge, an arcuate top
edge, and a pair of linear side edges. Ideally, the opening has
a height approximately 3/4 that of the thin side face in which it
is formed. In use, the cover is placed over the lid of the litter
box such that the handle extends through the cut out. Further, the
opening of the cover is aligned with the entrance of the lid of
the litter box. A decorative assembly includes a valance depending
from the top edge of the opening of the cover a distance about 1/3
a height of the opening. The decorative assembly further includes
a pair of curtains. As shown in FIG. 1 such curtains depend from
the top edge of the opening and line an entire length of the side
edges of the opening of the cover. Mounted along an entire perimeter
of the lower peripheral edge of the cover is a thin elastic band.
The elastic band is adapted for conforming to the side wall of the
base of the litter box below the upper peripheral lip thereof. The
elastic band has a height of about 1/4 that of the base of the litter
box, thereby maintaining the cover in place. See FIG. 3. Finally,
a strip of lace is mounted along the entire perimeter of the lower
peripheral edge of the cover.
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 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.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially
the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not
familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither
intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured
by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope
of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
new decorative cat litter box cover apparatus and method which has
many of the advantages of the litter boxes mentioned heretofore
and many novel features that result in a new decorative cat litter
box cover which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested,
or even implied by any of the prior art litter boxes, either alone
or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
decorative cat litter box cover which may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
decorative cat litter box cover which is of a durable and reliable
construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new decorative cat litter box cover 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 decorative cat litter box
cover economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new decorative cat litter box cover which provides in the apparatuses
and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated
therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
decorative cat litter box cover for covering cat litter boxes of
various sizes in a decorative manner.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide
a new
decorative cat litter box cover that includes a cut out formed
on a top face thereof for passing a handle of a litter box and an
opening for alignment with an entrance of the litter box.
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 made to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there are 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 a new decorative cat litter box
cover according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the cover
of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 through 3 thereof, a new decorative cat litter box cover embodying
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
The present invention, designated as numeral 10 is adapted for
use with a rigid litter box 12 with a base 14 having a bottom face
and a side wall integrally coupled to the bottom face and extending
upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The side wall of the base terminates
with an upper peripheral lip having an inverted Ushaped configuration,
as shown in FIG. 3. The litter box further includes a lid 16 with
a top face and a peripheral wall integrally coupled to the top face
and depending outwardly downwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall
of the lid defines a bottom peripheral edge which is adapted for
engaging the upper peripheral lip of the base, thereby defining
an interior space. It should be noted that the lid has a rectangular
entrance 18 formed on the peripheral wall thereof. Further, a handle
20 is fixedly mounted on a central extent of the top face of the
lid.
Next provided is a flexible cover 22 constructed from a fabric
material. The cover includes a rectangular top face with an X-shaped
cut out 24 formed in a central extent thereof. The cut out is defined
by a pair of intersecting linear slots which each remain in parallel
with one of the edges of the top face. A pair of wide side faces
and a pair of thin side faces are all integrally coupled to the
top face of the cover. The side faces depend downwardly from the
top face of the cover for defining an interior space and a lower
peripheral edge.
The cover further has an opening 26 formed in one of the thin side
faces adjacent to the lower peripheral edge of the cover. The opening
includes a linear bottom edge, an arcuate top edge, and a pair of
linear side edges. Ideally, the opening has a height approximately
3/4 that of the thin side face in which it is formed. In use, the
cover is placed over the lid of the litter box such that the handle
extends through the cut out. Such cut out is adapted for receiving
lids with handles which extend either longitudinally or laterally
along the top face thereof. Further, the opening of the cover is
aligned with the entrance of the lid of the litter box during use.
A decorative assembly 28 includes a valance 30 depending from the
top edge of the opening of the cover a distance about 1/3 a height
of the opening. The decorative assembly further includes a pair
of curtains 32. As shown in FIG. 1 such curtains depend from the
top edge of the opening and line an entire length of the side edges
of the opening of the cover.
Mounted along an entire perimeter of the lower peripheral edge
of the cover is a thin elastic band 34. The elastic band is adapted
for conforming to the side wall of the base of the litter box below
the upper peripheral lip thereof. The elastic band has a height
of about 1/4 that of the base of the litter box, thereby maintaining
the cover in place. See FIG. 3.
Finally, a strip of lace 36 is mounted along the entire perimeter
of the lower peripheral edge of the cover. As shown in FIG. 3 the
lace remains exterior of and separate from the elastic band. In
the preferred embodiment, the lace has a height which is greater
than that of the base of the litter box. In addition, the lace has
a plurality of evenly spaced pleats. By this structure, the lace
permits the cover to be employed on numerous different litter boxes
with bases having varying heights and widths.
As to a further discussion of 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 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 modifications
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 modifications
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of
the invention. |