Abstrict The cat litter assembly includes a single cat box with a plurality
of layers of a mixture interspersed by layers of sheets of common
newsprint. The main bulk of the mixture is composed of non-toxic
biodegradable loose fill polymer material such as ENVIROFILL.RTM.,
a biodegradable polymer product of the Enpac Company of Wilmington,
Del. This is a starch based material that uses water as a blowing
agent; it is commonly used as a packaging material and may be disposed
by rinsing down the sink as it dissolves in water. Also in the mixture
is a small amount of talc, a powdered deodorant, preferably baking
soda based, and filtered sand.
Claims I claim:
1. A cat litter for a litter box comprising:
an aggregate mixture of 16% by weight of biodegrable loose fill
corn polymer 3% by weight of talc, 1.5% by weight of a baby powder
and baking soda-based deodorant, and 79.5% by weight of filtered
sand.
2. The cat litter as in claim 1 wherein said biodegrable loose
fill polymer is starch-based loosefill product.
3. A cat litter box and cat litter mixture assembly comprising:
a box, a first lower base layer of newsprint paper on a bottom
of said box, a first layer of mixture of sand, biodegradable loose
fill polymer, filtered sand, powdered baking soda-based deodorant
and talc,
a second intermediate sheet of newsprint placed above said first
layer of mixture,
a second layer of mixture of biodegradable loose fill polymer,
filtered sand powdered baking soda-based deodorant and talc above
said second intermediate sheet of newsprint,
a third sheet of newsprint above said second layer of mixture,
a further third layer of mixture of sand, biodegradable loose fill
polymer, powdered baking soda-based deodorant and talc,
a fourth sheet of newsprint, and a fourth upper layer of a mixture
of biodegradable loose fill polymer filtered sand and talc.
4. The cat litter box and mixture as in claim 3 wherein said litter
box is made of corrugated cardboard.
5. The cat litter box and mixture assembly as in claim 3 further
comprising a disposable litter box liner.
6. A cat litter box and cat litter mixture assembly comprising:
a disposable box,
a plurality of layers of a mixture of
a biodegradable loose fill polymer, talc, powdered baking soda
based deodorant and filtered sand, said layers of said mixture interspersed
by layers of newsprint paper.
7. The cat litter box defined in claim 6 wherein said mixture includes
about 16% by weight of said biodegradable loose fill polymer, about
3% by weight of talc, about 1.5% by weight of said powdered baking
soda-based deodorant, and about 79.5% by weight of said filtered
sand.
8. A cat litter for a disposable cat litter box comprising:
a plurality of layers of a mixture interspersed by layers of newsprint
paper, each of the layers of the mixture including a biodegradable
loose fill polymer, talc, powdered baking soda based deodorant,
and filtered sand.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mixture of ingredients not based
on clay granules, and it is combined with layers of newsprint to
provide a cat litter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The standard cat litter is a heavy clay based granulated material.
A second type of related material is also clay based but has a clumping
characteristic when it is wetted. This latter type has powdery residue
which often causes tracking as it attaches to the cat's paws and
is then transferred to floor surfaces. Sometimes these cat litter
materials are scented to attempt to mask cat box odor. These cat
litter materials are usually packaged in a coated paper bag, although
alternate packages such as disposable pans with litter captured
in a paper sealed layer on the bottom are also available. The density
of the material and the amount usually required for a single cat
for a week present the problem of a heavy package for the typical
supermarket shopper.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cat litter
that has greatly improved odor control.
A further object is to provide a cat litter that does not need
to be cleaned every day.
Another object is to provide cat litter that is largely biodegradable
and easy to dispose.
Yet another object is to provide a cat litter that is less dense
and hence lighter to carry for an equivalent use period.
A further object is to limit the tracking and reduce mess in the
use of cat litter.
Another object is to provide convenient packaging for this cat
litter to reduce upkeep.
Yet another object is to provide an improved cat litter that costs
no more than other cat litters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mixture of ingredients not based on clay granules, is combined
with layers of newsprint to provide a cat litter with several advantages
over the prior art. Convenient packaging options for the mixture
are also presented.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention can best be understood in connection with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view showing layers of ingredients within a package;
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a disposable cardboard box package in isometric
views, wherein:
FIG. 2A show the box closed;
FIG. 2B show the box open and ready for use;
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a disposable cat box liner package, wherein:
FIG. 3A is a side elevational view in cross section;
FIG. 3B is a top plan view thereof; and,
FIG. 4 is a disposable litter pan package shown in a side cross
sectional view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The cat litter ingredients for a single cat box are assembled in
a specific manner incorporating the use of four sheets of common
newsprint. The main bulk of the mixture is composed of non-toxic
biodegradable loose fill material such as ENVIROFILL.RTM., a biodegradable
polymer product of the Enpac Company of Wilmington, Del. This is
a starch based material that uses water as a blowing agent; it is
commonly used as a packaging material and may be disposed by rinsing
down the sink as it dissolves in water. Also in the mixture is a
small amount of talc, a powdered deodorant (preferably baking soda
based), and filtered sand.
The amounts for a single cat litter box fill are as follows:
______________________________________ Loose fill 5 ounces 16%
by weight Filtered sand 1.5 pounds 79.5% by weight Powdered deodorant
0.5 ounces 1.5% by weight Talc 1 ounce 3% by weight ______________________________________
FIG. 1 shows how the material 1 is layered in a cat box 2. The
loose fill, filtered sand and talc are mixed together as mixture
5. A sheet of newsprint 3 is placed on the bottom of the cat litter
box 2. Next, a small amount of mixture 5 is added and a third of
the powdered deodorant is added; this is mixture 4. A second sheet
of newsprint 3 is added, more mixture 4 another sheet of newsprint
3 more mixture 4 and finally the fourth sheet of newsprint 3. Then
the remaining amount of mixture 5 is added on top. The sheets of
newsprint may be attached to the bottom edge of the pan with adhesive
to keep the deodorant in place between the layers.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a biodegradable cat litter box made of corrugated
cardboard. It has a box 10 with a lid 11 which can be stored under
the box 10 when the box is in use as shown in view B. Mixture 5
can be seen inside. The box would be sold with the ingredients inside
and the newsprint layers attached to the bottom edge of box 10.
The entire box may be shrink wrapped to insure that the lid doesn't
come off and spill the ingredients. It may be stored in any orientation,
but the user should shake the box before opening. After use, the
entire box is disposed; it should disintegrate in a land fill. The
only ingredient that will not biodegrade is the small amount of
sand.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a package of cat litter in a disposable litter
box liner. Part A shows the package 15 in crossection. The plastic
bag material 18 encloses the ingredients. A bottom layer of corrugated
cardboard 17 forms a base. The four layers of newsprint with ingredients
4 within are shown as layer 16; these are adhesively attached to
the edge of layer 17. The rest of the mixture 5 is enclosed by bag
18. A smaller and thinner removable cardboard layer 19 is used on
top of the mixture 5 and forms a surface to attach the bag to seal
the contents with tape layer 20. The corners of the bag are folded
21 as shows in view B. The user simply places the liner with ingredients
15 in a clean cat litter box with layer 17 on the bottom. Then tape
20 and top layer 19 are removed. The folded bag top is then folded
over the edge of the litter pan; everything is then ready for use
with no mess. After use, the bag is closed with a wire tie and disposed.
FIG. 4 shows a disposable molded plastic litter box 25 with the
ingredients of this invention within. The pan 26 has sloping sides
which permits partial nesting with other such pans thereby reducing
store display space. They may be nested to a depth of "Y"
as indicated in the figure. A heavy paper top layer 27 is adhesively
attached to the inner edge of pan 26 to capture and partially compress
mixture 5 as shown. The bottom newsprint layers 19 are attached
to the pan 26 bottom edge.
Another packaging alternative is a simple paper bag such as is
commonly used for cat litter. In such a case, the customer can supply
his own newsprint for the bottom, and the deodorant can be supplied
in a separate pouch or it can simply be mixed in with ingredients
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