Abstrict A cat litter holding assembly includes a housing that has a bottom
wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second
side wall. An upper edge of the housing defines an upper opening.
A covering is hingedly attached to an upper edge of the back wall.
A partition wall is mounted within the housing and extends from
the front wall toward the back wall. The partition wall divides
the housing into a first portion and a second portion. The front
wall has a front opening extending therethrough that extends into
the first portion. A mat is removably positioned in the first portion
and substantially covers the bottom wall of the first portion. The
mat has a top side has a plurality of bristles extending upwardly
therefrom. A litter pan is removably positioned in the second portion.
Claims We claim:
1. A litter box assembly comprising: a housing having a bottom
wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second
side wall, an upper edge of said housing defining an upper opening
extending into said housing, a covering being hingedly attached
to an upper edge of said buck wall, said covering being selectively
positioned in an open position or in a closed position, said housing
having a height generally between 14 inches and 18 inches, said
housing having a length generally between 24 inches and 28 inches,
said housing having a width generally between 18 inches and 22 inches,
said covering being substantially transparent, each of said first
and second side walls having an aperture extending therethrough,
each of said apertures being generally centrally disposed, each
of said apertures having a generally oblong shape; a partition wall
being mounted within said housing and extending from said front
wall toward said back wall, a first portion of said housing being
defined between said partition wall and said first side wall, a
second portion of said housing being defined between said partition
wall and said second side wall, said partition wall having a free
edge directed toward said back wall, said partition wall extending
between 9 inches and 11 inches away from said front wall, said partition
wall being spaced between 7 inches and 8 inches from said first
side wall, said partition wall having a height generally equal to
8 inches; said front wall having a front opening extending therethrough
said front opening extending into said first portion, said front
opening having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall, said
front opening generally extending from said partition wall to said
first side wall, said front opening having a height generally between
9 inches and 12 inches, said front opening having an arcuate upper
edge; an air filter being positioned in said covering, said air
filter being positioned over said second portion when said covering
is in said closed position; a cushioning material being mounted
on and extending along said free edge of said partition wall; a
mat being removably positioned in said first portion and substantially
covering said bottom wall of said first portion, said mat having
a top side having a plurality of bristles extending upwardly therefrom;
and a litter pan being removably positioned in said second portion.
2. A litter box assembly comprising: a housing having a bottom
wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second
side wall, an upper edge of said housing defining an upper opening
extending into said housing, a covering being hingedly attached
to an upper edge of said back wall, said covering being selectively
positioned in an open position or in a closed position, each of
said first and second side walls having an aperture extending therethrough,
each of said apertures being generally centrally disposed, each
of said apertures having a generally oblong shape; a partition wall
being mounted within said housing and extending from said front
wall toward said back wall, a first portion of said housing being
defined between said partition wall and said first side wall, a
second portion of said housing being defined between said partition
wall and said second side wall, said partition wall having a free
edge directed toward said back wall; said front wall having a front
opening extending therethrough, said front opening extending into
said first portion, said front opening having a bottom edge spaced
from said bottom wall, said front opening generally extending from
said partition wall to said first side wall; an air filter being
positioned in said covering, said air filter being positioned over
said second portion when said covering is in said closed position;
a cushioning material being mounted on and extending along, said
free edge of said partition wall; a mat being removably positioned
in said first portion and substantially covering said bottom wall
of said first portion, said mat having a top side having a plurality
of bristles extending upwardly therefrom; and a litter pan being
removably positioned in said second portion.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cat litter holding devices and
more particularly pertains to a new cat litter holding device for
deterring a dog from accessing a litter pan.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of cat litter holding devices is known in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 3885523 describes a housing have a grated floor
spaced above from a bottom floor. As a cat leaves the housing, the
cat must walk over the grated floor so that any litter caught on
the paws of the cat will fall through the grated floor. Another
type of cat litter holding device is U.S. Pat. No. 5566640 that
includes a housing having a plurality of chambers therein so that
air pockets may be trapped within the housing to prevent the escape
of odors from the housing. Yet another litter holding device is
U.S. Pat. No. 5361725 which utilizes three separate rooms through
which a cat must travel in order to reach a litter pan. The purpose
is again to retain the odors within the housing.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives
and requirements, the need remains for a device that is specifically
designed to prevent the unwanted entry of a dog into an area where
the dog may access a litter pan. In particular, the housing should
be of such a size and include a partition wall that must be navigated
by dog before the dog can reach the litter pan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally
comprising a housing that has a bottom wall, a front wall, a back
wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. An upper edge of
the housing defines an upper opening extending into the housing.
A covering is hingedly attached to an upper edge of the back wall.
The covering is selectively positioned in an open position or in
a closed position. A partition wall is mounted within the housing
and extends from the front wall toward the back wall. A first portion
of the housing is defined between the partition wall and the first
side wall and a second portion of the housing is defined between
the partition wall and the second side wall. The front wall has
a front opening extending therethrough. The front opening extends
into the first portion. The front opening has a bottom edge spaced
from the bottom wall. A mat is removably positioned in the first
portion and substantially covers the bottom wall of the first portion.
The mat has a top side has a plurality of bristles extending upwardly
therefrom. A litter pan is removably positioned in the second portion.
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.
The 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.
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 schematic perspective view of a cat litter holding
assembly according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3
of FIG. 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4
of FIG. 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5
of FIG. 4 of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 through 5 thereof, a new cat litter holding device embodying the
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated
by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 the cat litter holding
assembly 10 generally comprises a housing 12 that has a bottom wall
14 a front wall 16 a back wall 18 a first side wall 20 and a
second side wall 22. An upper edge 24 of the housing 12 defines
an upper opening extending into the housing 12. A covering 26 is
hingedly attached to an upper edge of the back wall 18. The covering
26 is selectively positioned in an open position extending away
from the upper edge 24 or in a closed position abutting the upper
edge 24. The housing 12 has a height generally between 14 inches
and 18 inches, a length generally between 24 inches and 28 inches,
and a width generally between 18 inches and 22 inches. Preferably,
the covering 26 is substantially transparent to allow a user of
the assembly to see into the housing 12. Closing tabs 28 may be
attached to the covering 26 for securing the covering 26 in the
closed position. Alternatively, a flange may be attached to a peripheral
edge of the covering 26. Each of the first 20 and second 22 side
walls has an aperture extending 30 therethrough. The apertures 30
are generally centrally disposed and preferably each has a generally
oblong shape. The apertures 30 form handholds for carrying the housing
12.
A partition wall 32 is mounted within the housing 12 and extends
from the front wall 16 toward the back wall 18. A first portion
34 of the housing 12 is defined between the partition wall 32 and
the first side wall 20. A second portion 36 of the housing 12 is
defined between the partition 32 wall and the second side wall 22.
The partition wall 32 has a free edge 38 directed toward the back
wall 18. The partition wall 32 extends between 9 inches and 11 inches
away from the front wall 16 and is spaced between 7 inches and 8
inches from the first side wall 20. The partition wall 32 has a
height generally equal to 8 inches which allows a cat to jump over
the partition wall 32 between the partition wall 32 and the cover
26.
The front wall 16 has a front opening 40 extending therethrough.
The front opening 40 extends into the first portion 34. The front
opening 40 has a bottom edge 42 that is spaced between 1/2 inch
and 2 inches from the bottom wall 14. This aids in preventing the
escape of any material from within the housing 12. The front opening
40 generally extends from the partition wall 32 to the first side
wall 20. The front opening 40 has a height generally between 9 inches
and 12 inches and preferably has an arcuate upper edge 44.
An air filter 46 is positioned in the covering 26. The air filter
46 is positioned over the second portion 36 when the covering 26
is in the closed position. The air filter 46 filters the air that
travels into the housing 12 through the front opening 40 so that
it may escape the housing 12 through the covering 26 after being
cleaned of foul odors. The air filter 46 may be of conventional
means.
A cushioning material 48 is mounted on and extends along the free
edge 38 of the partition wall 32. The cushioning material 48 is
preferably comprised of an elastomer or foam. The cushioning material
48 prevents injury to an animal walking between the free edge 38
and the back wall 18.
A mat 50 is removably positioned in the first portion 34 and substantially
covers the bottom wall 14 of the first portion 34. The mat 50 has
a top side that has a plurality of bristles 52 extending upwardly
therefrom. The mat 50 catches excess litter which may be positioned
on the paws of a cat using the assembly. The bristles 52 may be
of a course material, or a soft, grass-like material. A litter pan
54 is removably positioned in the second portion 36.
A secondary opening 56 may be positioned in the back wall 18 which
extends into the second portion 36 and is generally the size and
shape as the front opening 40. If a secondary opening 56 is provided,
it is preferred that the partition wall 32 is movable from the front
wall 16 to the back wall 18 so that the orientation of an interior
of the housing 12 is reversible. This allows a person to orientate
the entry of the housing 12 to either the front wall 16 or back
wall 18 as needed.
In use, cat litter is placed in the pan and the pan is positioned
in the second portion. Generally, the second side wall 22 and the
back wall 18 are positioned against adjoining walls so that air
flowing into the front opening 40 must travel outwardly through
the filter 46. A cat enters 8 the housing 12 through the front opening
40 and walks around the partition wall 32 to get to the litter pan
54. After using the litter pan 54 the cat 8 must again walk around,
or jump over, the partition wall 32 to leave the housing 12. This
forces the cat to walk over the mat 50 so that litter on the paws
of the cat 8 is left on the mat 50 and enters the spaces between
the bristles 52 so that it may be discarded later. The sizes of
the housing 12 the first portion 34 and the front opening 40 prevents
large dogs, and deters small dogs, from entering the housing 12.
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. |