Abstrict A simple, disposable cat litter box has a flexible plastic pullstring
bag and a crushable one piece skeletal frame containing four corner
expanded rigid polystyrene plastic brackets and a connecting rim
at its top. For average sized boxes, the thin bag can be extended
approximately twelve inches above the frame and has a drawstring
near its top edge for closure. The bottom of the bag receives cat
litter. The bag has an additional reinforcer bag up to the frame
sufficient to withstand cat scratches. When the box is in use, the
bag is tightly wrapped around the skeletal frame or adhered or attached
by standard means. Preferably, there is a single outer fold parallel
to the perimeter of the bag in the midpoint of the portion of the
bag that extends above the frame, or alternatively top of bag is
left inside space of frame until consumer folds it around the frame.
Accordingly, in preferred embodiment, the top edge of the bag during
use is adjacent to and frangibly attached to the portion of the
bag tightly wrapped around the very top of the frame. Vertical pleats
at the top of bag widen the bag considerably and help extend the
bag above the frame. To dispose, pull tabs located on opposite sides
of frame. This separates the bag at its frangible connecting points
and widens the bag. Simply pull bag up. When extended, close bag
using drawstrings and crush frame as needed to reduce volume.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A disposable container for cat litter and the like, the container
comprising:
a skeletal frame having four corner brackets and a connecting rim
and made of a lightweight expanded rigid polystyrene plastic,
a thin flexible plastic bag open at its mouth and having an upper
portion and a lower portion, in folded position said upper portion
held adjacent the lower portion, the bag being tightly wrapped around
the skeletal frame at a top part of the lower portion of the bag,
in unfolded position the upper portion of the bag extending above
the frame in an amount equal to approximately twice the height of
the frame, in folded position an upper edge of the upper portion
of the bag being frangibly connected to an upper edge of the lower
portion of the bag and the upper portion of the bag containing at
its vertical midpoint a single circumferential fold,
the lower portion of the bag including a closed lower end for the
receipt of cat litter and forming a box-like shape when resting
on a flat surface,
drawstrings for closing the bag running through an annular space
in an upper edge of the mouth of the bag,
tabs extending from the upper portion of the bag near the drawstrings
on opposite sides of the frame for separating the upper and lower
portions and unfolding and extending the bag,
a reinforcement liner inside the lower portion of the bag extending
up to the frame, and
means for widening the bag at a point just above the frame.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is approximately
six inches in height.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the frame is wider at its
top to provide for stackability.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the skeletal frame can be
crushed during disposal.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein a vertical pleat runs parallel
to a side of the frame.
6. A disposable container for cat litter and the like, the container
comprising:
a skeletal frame having four corner brackets and a connecting rim
and made of a lightweight expanded rigid polystyrene plastic,
a thin flexible plastic bag open at its mouth and having an upper
portion and a lower portion, in folded position said upper portion
held adjacent the lower portion, the bag being tightly wrapped around
the skeletal frame at a top part of the lower portion of the bag,
in unfolded position the upper portion of the bag extending above
the frame in an amount equal to approximately twice the height of
the frame, in folded position an upper edge of the upper portion
of the bag being frangibly connected to an upper edge of the lower
portion of the bag and the upper portion of the bag containing at
its vertical midpoint a single circumferential fold,
the lower portion of the bar including a closed lower end for the
receipt of cat litter and forming a box-like shape when resting
on a flat surface,
drawstrings for closing the bag running through an annular space
in an upper edge of the mouth of the bag,
tabs extending from the upper portion near the drawstrings on opposite
sides of the frame for separating the upper and lower portions and
unfolding and extending the bag,
a reinforcement liner inside the lower portion of the bag extending
up to the frame, and
a vertical pleat running from a first point on a top of the mouth
of the bag to a second opposite point on the top of the mouth of
the bag for widening the bag.
7. The container of claim 6 wherein the container is approximately
six inches in height.
8. The container of claim 6 wherein the frame is wider at its
top to provide for stackability.
9. The container of claim 6 wherein the skeletal frame can be
crushed during disposal.
10. The container of claim 6 wherein the vertical pleat runs parallel
to a side of the frame.
11. A disposable container for cat litter and the like, the container
comprising:
a skeletal frame having at least four corner brackets and a connecting
rim and made of a lightweight expanded rigid polystyrene plastic,
a thin flexible plastic bag open at its mouth and having an upper
portion and a lower portion, in folded position said upper portion
held adjacent the lower portion, the bag being tightly wrapped around
the skeletal frame at a top part of the lower portion, in unfolded
position the upper portion extending above the frame in an amount
equal to approximately twice the height of the frame, in folded
position an upper edge of the upper portion of the bag being frangibly
connected to an upper edge of the lower portion of the bag and the
upper portion of the bag containing at its midpoint a single circumferential
fold,
the lower portion of the bag including a closed lower end for the
receipt of cat litter and forming a box-like shape when resting
on a flat surface,
tabs extending from the upper portion on opposite sides of the
frame for separating the upper and lower portions and unfolding
and extending the bag
drawstrings for closing the bag running through an annular space
in an upper edge of the mouth of the bag
a reinforcement bag inside the lower portion of the bag up to the
frame
a vertical pleat running from a first point on a top of the mouth
of the bag to a second opposite point on the top of the mouth of
the bag for widening the bag.
12. The container of claim 11 wherein the container is approximately
six inches in height.
13. The container of claim 11 wherein the frame is wider at its
top to provide for stackability.
14. The container of claim 11 wherein the skeletal frame can be
crushed during disposal.
15. The container of claim 11 wherein the vertical pleat runs
parallel to a side of the frame.
16. A disposable container for cat litter and the like, the container
comprising:
a skeletal frame having four corner brackets and a connecting rim
and made of a lightweight expanded rigid polystyrene plastic,
a thin flexible plastic bag open at its mouth and having an upper
portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being laid in a
space in the container in an initial position, in folded position
said upper portion held adjacent the lower portion, the bag being
tightly wrapped around the skeletal frame at a top part of the lower
portion of the bag, in unfolded position the upper portion extending
above the frame in an amount equal to approximately twice the height
of the frame, in folded position an upper edge of the upper portion
of the bag being frangibly connected to an upper edge of the lower
portion of the bag and the upper portion of the bag containing at
its vertical midpoint a single circumferential fold,
the lower portion of the bag including a closed lower end for the
receipt of cat litter and forming a box-like shape when resting
on a flat surface,
drawstrings for closing the bag running through an annular space
in an upper edge of the mouth of the bag,
tabs extending from the upper portion near the drawstrings on opposite
sides of the frame for separating the upper and lower portions and
unfolding and extending the bag,
a reinforcement liner inside the lower portion of the bag extending
up to the frame, and
means for widening the bag at a point just above the frame.
17. The container of claim 16 wherein the container is approximately
six inches in height.
18. The container of claim 16 wherein the frame is wider at its
top to provide for stackability.
19. The container of claim 16 wherein the skeletal frame can be
crushed during disposal.
20. The container of claim 16 wherein a vertical pleat runs parallel
to a side of the frame.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to litter boxes for cats and more
particularly it relates to a disposable, stackable, crushable litter
box or container for cats.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cat litter boxes are generally nondisposable and made out of hard
material such as hard plastic or metal. The reason is that the box
has to contain several pounds of litter and the box also has to
accommodate the cat jumping into the box containing the litter.
The cat uses the litter box and the litter box has to be emptied
and the litter disposed of from time to time.
Disposable cat litter boxes have been invented to simplify the
process of cat litter disposal but they do not solve all the problems
and have several drawbacks. One particular problem is that soiled
cat litter should not be handled repeatedly to avoid bacterial infections.
A simple disposable bag would not suffice since sufficient structure
is needed to (i) contain the approximately five pounds of cat litter
typically placed into a cat litter container, (ii) provide a sturdy
environment for the cat to jump into and move around in while relieving
itself and (iii) be able to withstand scratching by the cat's paws
both for sanitary reasons and to avoid the inconvenience of litter
and refuse spillage onto the living room floor. Complicated or bulky
structures would surely address these requirements but would be
difficult to dispose of and/or expensive over the long run. The
prior art has addressed these concerns but have not disclosed anything
that combines all the sturdiness yet lightweight flexibility that
are both needed.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5123381 to Salmon is a disposable
cat litter box made of a single sheet of corrugated cardboard unfolded
and having various end and side extensions including end flaps and
tabs. For disposal, the tabs are rotated within the end extensions
in order to release the side and end extensions for refolding to
their original positions at the top of the box.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4763603 to Coes discloses a disposable
box-like container for cat litter having a bottom wall and four
side walls and having a bag-like moisture proof structure that is
exposed such as when a tear-tape is removed to provide sanitary
disposal of the cat litter.
In neither of these or other patents is there provided a crushable
and disposable cat litter box whose fixed structure is so minimal
that the entire box is not only sanitary, convenient and simple
to use but also lightweight, easy to manufacture and very cheap
and can be crushed into a small space even though the box itself
is sufficiently large to accommodate even large cats and five pounds
of cat litter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a cat litter box made of a soft malleable
plastic bag together with a solid but extremely lightweight skeletal
frame made of expanded rigid polystyrene plastic. The skeletal frame
is made of four corner brackets and a connecting rim at the top
of the box to hold the box in place, all made of expanded rigid
polystyrene plastic. The rim and brackets are breakable at any point
for easier disposal, i.e. to reduce the volume of the refuse. A
thin malleable plastic bag is tightly wrapped around the skeletal
frame or attached to it by glue or other means. The bottom of the
plastic bag receives cat litter. In order to withstand cat scratches
in the lower portion of the bag, a reinforcement liner also made
of malleable but slightly thicker plastic is provided inside the
lower portion of the bag sufficient to withstand cat scratches.
The plastic bag can be extended to approximately 12 inches above
the frame by lifting the folded portion of the bag upward above
the frame, as explained below. The bag has two handles or tabs on
top at opposite sides of the frame and has a pleat that widens the
bag considerably when the tabs are pulled. Since the bag has drawstrings
at its top attached to the tabs, to close the mouth of the bag after
pulling it upward, one pulls the drawstrings to draw the strings
together to close bag One can break the frame as much as desired
to compact the volume of the garbage.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
The following important objects and advantages of the present invention
are:
(a) to provide a disposable cat litter box having a simple skeletal
frame made of four corner expanded rigid polystyrene plastic brackets
and a connecting rim at the top of the box,
(b) to provide a cat litter box having a thin bag that is reinforced
from at or below the frame sufficient to withstand cat scratches.
(c) to provide a cat litter box whose bag is tightly wrapped around
the skeletal frame and has a single outer fold parallel to the perimeter
of the bag in the midpoint of the portion of the bag that extends
above the frame,
(d) to provide a cat litter box where the top edge of the bag during
use is adjacent to and frangibly attached to the portion of the
bag tightly wrapped around (or otherwise attached or adhered to)
the very top of the frame and where a vertical pleat in the bag
widens the bag considerably and helps to extend the bag above the
frame,
(e) to provide a cat litter box that during disposal can be crushed
to reduce its volume,
(f) to provide a cat litter box where the bottom of the bag receives
the cat litter and wherein the plastic bag can be extended to approximately
12 inches above the frame and has two tabs on top at opposite sides
of the frame that can be grasped to pull the bag up,
(g) to provide a simple cat litter bag that is disposable, stackable,
crushable and made of lightweight expanded rigid polystyrene plastic
and a malleable plastic bag, and
(h) to provide a cat litter box having an alternative embodiment
in which the top of the bag is left inside the space of the frame
when shipped and the consumer then folds it around the frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the disposable cat litter
box of the present invention.
FIG. 2 depicts a side elevational view of the disposable cat litter
box of the present invention.
FIG. 3 depicts a fragmentary side elevational view showing the
plastic bag expanded at the top.
FIG. 4 depicts a side elevational view showing the plastic bag
extended upward and closed.
FIG. 5 depicts a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment
showing the plastic bag inside the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As seen in FIGS. 1-5 the disposable container or box 10 for cat
litter is comprised of a skeletal frame 20 and a bag 30. The skeletal
frame 20 is the minimum structure which together with the bag 30
suffices to give the container substantially box-like shape when
resting on a flat surface, such as the floor. The skeletal frame
20 is comprised of only four corner brackets 22 and a connecting
rim 24. The entire frame 20 is made of a lightweight expanded rigid
polystyrene plastic. For stackability, the frame 20 is wider at
its top 28 that at its bottom.
It is contemplated by the present invention that the number of
corner brackets 22 of frame 20 need not be exactly four. Other polygonal
or nonpolygonal shapes may be imagined for the container 10 using
the concept of the skeletal frame 20 and connecting rim 24 so as
to maintain the minimal amount of solid structure and achieve the
results of the present invention. In such a case, the tabs 47 described
below would be on sides of frame 20 that are opposite or approximately
opposite one another.
The bag 30 is a thin flexible plastic bag 30 open at its mouth
33 and having an upper portion 40 and a lower portion 50. In folded
position the upper portion 40 is held adjacent the lower portion
50 as described below. The bag 30 is tightly wrapped around the
skeletal frame 20 at a top part 52 of the lower portion 50. In unfolded
position the upper portion 40 extends above the frame in an amount
equal to approximately twice the height of the frame. While it should
be noted that the dimensions of the container 10 are merely illustrative
and the present invention is not limited to containers 10 of particular
dimensions, it is contemplated that for average sized cats, the
height of the container 10 would be approximately six inches. It
is also anticipated that although the present invention is by no
means limited to boxes of a particular dimension, for the average
cats the other two dimensions of the container 10 (length and width)
may roughly approximate 14 inches and 17 inches. The container 10
is approximately six inches in height and is generally maintained
on a floor. For kittens, box 10 will have smaller dimensions of
width, length and height.
The container 10 is in its "folded position" when in
use. In folded position an upper edge 43 of the upper portion 40
of the bag 30 is frangibly connected to an upper edge 51 of the
lower portion 50. The upper portion 40 of the bag 30 has at its
vertical midpoint (i.e. the midpoint of the height of the upper
portion 40) a single circumferential fold 49. Since the upper portion
40 the bag 30 is roughly twice the length of the lower portion 50
of the bag 30 the midpoint fold 49 assures that in folded position
the upper portion 40 can be adjacent the lower portion 50 as seen
in FIG. 2.
The lower portion 50 of the bag 30 includes a closed lower end
55 for the receipt of cat litter. Because of the frame 20 and the
cat litter the lower portion 50 of the bag causes the container
10 to form a substantially box-like shape when resting on a flat
surface. The user can also easily adjust the lower portion 50 of
the bag 30 so that it substantially forms bottom corners (not shown)
to maintain its substantially box-like shape.
The cat goes into the container 10 and uses it. When the user is
ready to dispose of the container 10 all that has to be done is
to extend the bag 30 upward and close it at its mouth 33. This is
initiated by pulling on tabs 47 extending from the upper portion
40 of the bag 30 on opposite sides 26 27 of the frame 20. This
separates the upper portion 40 from the lower portion 50 at their
frangibly connected points at the upper edge 51 of the lower portion
50 of the bag 30. Furthermore, there is a vertical pleat 99 running
from a first point on a top of the mouth 33 to a second opposite
point on the top of the mouth 33 for widening the bag. The pleat
99 would be more or less parallel to a portion of the rim 24 connecting
to adjacent corner brackets 22 i.e. parallel to a side of frame
20. When the tabs 47 are pulled the force also widens the bag 30
due to pleat 99. By pulling upward, the user thereby unfolds the
upper portion 40 of the bag 30 and extends the upper portion 40
of bag 30 above the frame 20 to its maximum height, as seen in FIG.
4 in order to facilitate closure of the bag 30.
Alternatively, instead of pleat 99 the bag 30 could have other
means for widening it just above the frame 20. For example, the
bag 30 could simply be manufactured so that it is wider at a point
just above the lowest part of upper portion 40 i.e. just above
frame 20 than the width of lower portion 50 of bag 30. This would
enable the consumer to pull the bag 30 above the frame 20 without
the need for pleat 99 to expand the width of bag 30.
The bag 30 also has drawstrings 67 or pullstrings 67 for easy closure
running through an annular space 68 in an upper edge 33a of the
mouth 33 of the bag 30. Accordingly, one can close the bag 30 by
means of the drawstring 67 as seen in FIG. 4. Moreover, since the
rim 24 and brackets 22 are breakable at any point, one can easily
crush the entire box 10 having the cat litter in it. This makes
for easier disposal.
In order to withstand cat scratches in the lower portion 50 of
the bag 30 a reinforcement liner 80 also made of malleable plastic
thicker than the main bag 30 is provided inside the lower portion
50 of the bag 30. The reinforcement liner 80 need only be sufficient
to withstand the cat scratches and it need only extend from the
very bottom of the lower portion 50 at least to the lowest part
of the frame 20 and a bit higher for extra protection. The reinforcement
liner 80 will ensure that the cat litter and cat urine etc. remains
in the container 10 until the time of disposal.
The container 10 would be sold with the bag 30 already wrapped
around the frame 20. Bag 30 in the preferred embodiment, would
also come already with its upper portion 40 in folded position.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5 that would be slightly
less convenient for consumers but more convenient for manufacturers
due to improved stackability (which translates into reduced extra
width from the folded upper portion 40 of bag 30), the bag 30 would
come having upper portion 40 laid in a folded condition in the space
of the container 10. The consumer would then take the upper portion
40 out of the container 10 and fold it around frame 20 before inserting
the cat litter.
It is also contemplated that the box 10 can, as one option, be
manufactured and sold with the cat litter already located on closed
end 55. This would be especially convenient for the consumer and
would make the already convenient box 10 of the present invention
even more convenient.
It is to be understood that while the apparatus of this invention
have been described and illustrated in detail, the above-described
embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention.
It is to be understood also that various other modifications and
changes may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody
the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope
thereof. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation shown and described. The spirit and scope of this
invention are limited only by the spirit and scope of the following
claims. |