Abstrict A cat litter box system is provided including a pair of boxes each
with an open top and an open bottom. Each box further has a meshed
screen coupled thereto and a closed planar plate slid within a slot
formed in a face of the associated box.
Claims I claim:
1. A cat litter box system comprising, in combination:
a pair of boxes each having a rectangular peripheral side wall
including a pair of elongated rectangular side faces and a pair
of short rectangular end faces defining an open top and an open
bottom defined respectively by an upper peripheral edge and a lower
peripheral edge, the lower peripheral edge of the side wall of each
box having a downwardly extending rectangular lip integrally coupled
thereto and depending therefrom and spaced inwardly from an outer
surface of the box, each of the side faces of each box having a
handle strip mounted thereon at a central extent thereof for permitting
lifting of one of the boxes off of the other of the boxes, whereby
the boxes may be removably stacked on each other;
said pair of boxes each further having an integral mesh screen
coupled to the lower peripheral edge thereof in perpendicular relationship
with the side wall and a closed planar rectangular plate with an
area equal to that encompassed by the side wall, each plate adapted
to be slid through a rectangular slot formed in one of the end faces
of the associated box just above the screen, each box further including
a flexible elastomeric scraper with a width equal to that of the
corresponding end face of the box, each scraper having a top edge
mounted on an interior surface of the associated end face and a
lower edge positioned adjacent to and slidably abutting against
a top surface of the plate, wherein the scraper has an arcuate upper
surface with a lower edge portion oriented substantially parallel
to the top surface of the plate for lifting litter resting on the
top surface and an upper edge portion oriented substantially perpendicular
to the top surface for turning litter resting on the top surface,
wherein each plate has an upwardly extending lip coupled along an
end edge thereof for gripping purposes; and
a top cover having a rectangular top face and an end face and a
pair of side faces integrally coupled thereto and extending downwardly
therefrom for defining an open bottom face and an open end face,
a lower peripheral edge of the end face and side faces of the top
cover having a downwardly extending rectangular lip integrally coupled
thereto and depending therefrom and spaced inwardly from an outer
surface of the top cover for being removably engaged with the upper
peripheral edge of one of the boxes, the top cover further having
square door hingably coupled along a top edge of the open end face
for allowing the entrance of a cat, the top cover having a height
between the open bottom and the top face and being twice the height
of between the open top and open bottom each of said.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cat litter boxes and more particularly
pertains to a new cat litter box cleaning system for conveniently
and quickly cleaning a litter box.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of cat litter boxes is known in the prior art. More specifically,
cat 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 cat litter boxes include U.S. Pat. No. 3908597;
U.S. Pat. No. 5363808; U.S. Pat. No. 4602593; U.S. Pat. No.
5419282; U.S. Pat. No. 4325822; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 351693.
In these respects, the cat litter box cleaning system 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 conveniently
and quickly cleaning a litter box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of cat litter boxes now present in the prior art, the present invention
provides a new cat litter box cleaning system construction wherein
the same can be utilized for conveniently and quickly cleaning a
litter box.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new cat litter box
cleaning system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages
of the cat litter boxes mentioned heretofore and many novel features
that result in a new cat litter box cleaning system which is not
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any
of the prior art cat litter boxes, either alone or in any combination
thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair
of boxes each having a rectangular peripheral side wall. Such side
wall includes a pair of elongated rectangular side faces and a pair
of short rectangular end faces. As such, an open top and an open
bottom are defined along with an upper peripheral edge and a lower
peripheral edge. The lower peripheral edge of the side wall of each
box has a downwardly extending rectangular lip integrally coupled
thereto. The lip of each box depends therefrom and is spaced inwardly
from an outer surface of the box. As shown in the Figures, the side
faces of each box have a handle strip mounted thereon at a central
extent thereof. In use, the boxes may be removably stacked on each
other. The pair of boxes each further have an integral mesh screen
coupled to the lower peripheral edge thereof in perpendicular relationship
with the side wall. A closed planar rectangular plate is also included
with an area equal to that encompassed by the side wall. Each plate
serves to be slid within a rectangular slot formed in one of the
end faces of the associated box just above the screen. As best shown
in FIG. 4 each box further includes an arcuate elastomeric scraper
with a width equal to that of the corresponding end face of the
box. Each scraper has a top edge mounted on an interior surface
of the associated end face. A lower edge of each of the scrapers
slidably abuts a top surface of the plate. As shown in FIG. 1 each
plate has an upwardly extending lip coupled along an end edge thereof
for gripping purposes.
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 cat litter box cleaning system apparatus and method which has
many of the advantages of the cat litter boxes mentioned heretofore
and many novel features that result in a new cat litter box cleaning
system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or
even implied by any of the prior art cat litter boxes, either alone
or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
cat litter box cleaning system which may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
cat litter box cleaning system which is of a durable and reliable
construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new cat litter box cleaning system 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 cat litter box cleaning system
economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new cat litter box cleaning system 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
cat litter box cleaning system for conveniently and quickly cleaning
a litter box.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide
a new cat litter box cleaning system that includes a pair of boxes
each with an open top and an open bottom. Each box further has a
meshed screen coupled thereto and a closed planar plate slid within
a slot formed in a face of the associated 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 cat litter box cleaning system
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the present invention
taken along line 4--4 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention with the
cover in place.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention with the
cover removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 through 6 thereof, a new cat litter box cleaning system 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 includes a pair
of identical boxes 12 each having a rectangular peripheral side
wall 12. Such side wall includes a pair of elongated rectangular
side faces and a pair of short rectangular end faces. As such, an
open top and an open bottom are defined along with an upper peripheral
edge and a lower peripheral edge.
The lower peripheral edge of the side wall of each box has a downwardly
extending rectangular lip 14 integrally coupled thereto. The lip
of each box depends therefrom and is spaced inwardly from an outer
surface of the box. Ideally, the lips have a height which is less
than 1/10 that of the associated box. As shown in the Figures, the
side faces of each box have a horizontally oriented linear handle
strip 30 mounted thereon at a central extent thereof. In use, the
boxes may be removably stacked on each other.
The pair of boxes each further have a mesh screen 16 coupled to
the lower peripheral edge thereof in perpendicular relationship
with the side wall. Each opening in the screen is preferably slightly
greater than a couple of grains of conventional cat litter. A closed
planar rectangular plate 18 is also included with an area equal
to that encompassed by the side wall. Each plate serves to be slid
within a rectangular slot 20 formed in one of the end faces of the
associated box just above the screen. As shown in FIG. 1 each plate
has an upwardly extending lip coupled along an end edge thereof
for gripping purposes. Preferably, the plate is further slidable
within a rectangular recess 22 formed about an entire perimeter
of an interior surface of the side wall.
As best shown in FIG. 4 each box further includes a flexible elastomeric
scraper 24 with a width equal to that of the corresponding end face
of the box. Each scraper preferably defines a portion of a cylinder
and has a top edge integrally mounted on the interior surface of
the associated end face. A lower edge of each of the scrapers slidably
abuts a top surface of the plate of the corresponding box.
Finally, a top cover 26 has a rectangular top face and an end face
and a pair of side faces integrally coupled thereto and extending
downwardly therefrom. The top cover thus has an open bottom face
and an open end face. See FIGS. 5 & 6. A lower peripheral edge
of the end face and side faces of the top cover has a downwardly
extending rectangular lip integrally coupled thereto similar to
that of the boxes. The top cover is thus adapted for being removably
engaged with the upper peripheral edge of one of the boxes. As shown
in FIGS. 5 & 6 the top cover further has a square door 28 hingably
coupled along a top edge of the open end face for allowing the entrance
of a cat. The top cover is suitably equipped with a height which
is about twice that of the boxes.
In use, a top one of the boxes may be filled with litter and used.
When full, the associated plate may be removed for allowing the
litter to sift to a lower one of the boxes. After this, the top
box is emptied and placed beneath the remaining box for continued
use.
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. |