Abstrict The present invention discloses a cat litter box apparatus and
method. The apparatus includes component parts that combine to resemble
a human toilet facility. The component parts include a tank member
for storing and dispensing cat litter material, a bowl-like base
member detachably connected to the tank member, a drawer member
that is removably enclosed within the bowl-like base member for
receiving fresh cat litter material from the tank member and for
being used by a cat for going to the toilet.
Claims We claim:
1. A pet animal litter box apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
(a) tank means for storing litter material;
(b) base means for interfacing with said tank means; and
(c) drawer means removably enclosed within said base means for
receiving said litter material from said tank means and for being
used by a pet animal, such as a cat, for going to the toilet,
said base means having an entry way for allowing said animal to
access said litter material,
said tank means including dispensing means disposed within said
tank means for controllably dispensing said cat litter material
into said drawer means, said dispensing means including: lever means
externally protruding from said tank means for initiating dispensing
of said cat litter material, first shaft means coupled to said lever
means for transferring actuating action from said lever means, second
shaft means coupled to said first shaft means for translating said
actuating action, a swivel dispensing plate means interconnected
to said second shaft means for responding to said actuating action
to dispense said litter material into said drawer means and spring
means for maintaining said swivel dispensing plate in a closed position
by providing an opposing force to said actuating action,
said tank means being shaped in a substantially rectangular form
and having a top cover and a side appendage cover member, said form
being substantially similar to a tank member of a human toilet facility
having a rectangular shape, said side appendage cover member being
fixedly attached to said tank member for simulating a raised lid
for said human toilet facility, and
said base means having a fixedly attached, ring-like seat appendage
member encircling said entry way.
2. A pet animal litter box apparatus, as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said tank member having a fabric means attached to a side for clawing
by said cat.
3. A pet animal liter box apparatus, as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said tank member having a toy means attached to a side for amusing
said cat, said toy means comprises a fake roll of toilet paper.
4. A method of dispensing litter material into a pet animal litter
box apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a pet animal litter box apparatus, said apparatus
comprising:
(i) tank means for storing litter material;
(ii) base means for interfacing with said tank means; and
(iii) drawer means removably enclosed within said base means for
receiving said litter material from said tank means and for being
used by a pet animal, such as a cat, for going to the toilet,
said base means having an entry way for allowing said animal to
access said litter material,
said tank means including dispensing means disposed within said
tank means for controllably dispensing said cat litter material
into said drawer means, said dispensing means including: lever means
externally protruding from said tank means for initiating dispensing
of said cat litter material, first shaft means coupled to said lever
means for transferring actuating action from said lever means, second
shaft means coupled to said first shaft means for translating said
actuating action, a swivel dispensing plate means interconnected
to said second shaft means for responding to said actuating action
to dispense said litter material from said tank means into said
drawer means and spring means for maintaining said swivel dispensing
plate in a closed position by providing an opposing force to said
actuating action,
said tank means being shaped in a substantially rectangular form
and having a top cover and a side appendage cover member said form
being substantially similar to a tank member of a human toilet facility
having a rectangular shape, said side appendage cover member being
fixedly attached to said tank member for simulating a raised lid
associated with said human toilet facility, and
said base means having a fixedly attached, ring-like seat appendage
member encircling said entry way;
(b) filling said tank means with fresh litter material; and
(c) dispensing said fresh litter material into said drawer means
by actuating said lever member and urging said swivel dispensing
plate means to an open position.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to animal toilet apparatus and method. More
particularly, the present invention relates to pet animal toilet
apparatus and method that includes design attributes that appeal
to the pet owner. Even more particularly, the present invention
relates to cat toilets, or cat litter box apparatus and method that
use commercially available cat litter material and includes component
parts that combine to resemble a human toilet facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is known that certain domesticated animals, such as pet cats,
are kept indoors by their owners. It is also known that cats are
receptive to being trained to use an indoor provided cat litter
facility, commonly referred to as a cat litter box. It is also known
to provide the cat litter boxes in a suitable, generally rectangular
form, such that they can contain cat litter material that simulates
a natural outdoor environment that is conducive to animal instincts
to perform their toilet needs. Traditionally, the cat litter boxes
are provided in such rectangular forms, or with slight modifications
that allow clamp-on of a plastic liner to contain the cat litter.
The FRAMED CAT PAN manufactured by Van Ness Molding Co., Inc., Belleville,
N.J. is typical of such designs. The next level of sophistication
in the known art of cat litter boxes are cat litter boxes of the
type that are provided with a cover, or hood that forms an entry
way for the cat and contains odors, or in a modified manner, are
provided with an exhaust filter system in the hood portion. Typical
of this design are a HOODED LITTER PAN, listed as item #190 in a
1989 catalog published by Cat Claws, Inc., Des Plains, Ill. and
an odor-free cat litter box, termed BOODA BOX, listed in a 1989
Amway Home Shopper catalog.
Although the known prior art apparatus function to meet the animal's
toilet needs, there are unsolved problems associated with their
use. For example, the aesthetic qualities lack features that can
be coordinated with a cat pet owner's furnishings/fixtures in a
room such as in a bathroom, which is considered an appropriate place
to locate a cat litter box. Also, since the prior art cat litter
boxes lack a storage tank, the refill cat litter material must be
located remotely from the point of use, and as such, results in
fewer replacement of the used cat litter material and associated
foul odors.
Therefore, a need is seen to exist for a cat litter box apparatus
that continues to function as the prior art for purposes of providing
an indoor toilet means for domesticated indoor-kept animals, such
as a cats, but that further includes component parts that combine
to provide a convenient storage/dispensing tank member and the primary
cat litter container member. A need is also seen to exist for a
cat litter box apparatus that is shaped in a decor that can be coordinated
with the pet owner's indoor furnishings/fixtures in a room such
as a bathroom, which by example only, can resemble the shape and
style of a human toilet facility.
Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to
solve the above noted deficiencies by providing a cat litter box
apparatus that continues to function as the prior art for purposes
of providing an indoor toilet means for domesticated indoor-kept
animals, such as cats, but that further includes component parts
that combine to provide a convenient storage/dispensing tank member
attached to the primary cat litter container member.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cat
litter box apparatus that is shaped in a decor that can be coordinated
with the pet owner's indoor furnishings/fixtures in a room such
as a bathroom, which by example only, can resemble the shape and
style of a human toilet facility.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
method of dispensing cat litter material into a cat litter box apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the foregoing objectives by providing
a cat litter box apparatus that includes component parts that combine
to resemble a human toilet facility. The component parts include
a tank member for storing and dispensing cat litter material, a
bowl-like base member, a drawer member that is removably enclosed
within the bowl-like base member for receiving fresh cat litter
material from the tank member and for being used by a cat for going
to the toilet.
Therefore, to the accomplishments of the foregoing objects, the
present invention consists of the foregoing features hereinafter
fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the
accompanying drawings and the following disclosure describing in
detail the invention, such drawings and disclosure illustrating,
however, but one of the various ways in which the invention may
be practiced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrated
in a preferred form resembling the structural form of a human toilet
facility, comprising a tank member and a bowl-like base cat litter
container member.
FIG. 2 illustrates, a segmented view of the tank member and the
removable cat litter, drawer-like, box member.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG.
1 illustrating functional members of the apparatus that enable dispensing
of the cat litter material from the tank member into the removable
cat litter box member.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1 2 and 3 show, cat litter box apparatus 100 comprising
a tank member 200 and a base cat litter container member 300. Tank
member 200 is comprised of a storage container 201 a cover 202
and a dispensing mechanism (comprised of actuating lever 203 interconnecting
horizontal shaft 204 interface plate 205 vertical shaft 206 guide
plate 207 return spring 208 dispensing swivel plate 209 and pivot
shaft 210), a pivot chamber 211 a slide plate 212 a dispensing
trap opening 213 elongated seal member 214 attachment interface
chamber 215 attachment means 216 weighted support 217 and fake
lid 218. Base cat litter container member 300 is comprised of an
outer bowl-like structure 301 a removable cat litter drawer 302
a cat entry opening 303 and a fake toilet seat 304. Storage container
member 201 is comprised of a frontside 201a, a backside 201b, a
leftside 201c and a right side 201d. In the preferred embodiment,
storage container 201 is designed to be positioned upright with
the aid of weighted support 217 and horizontally attached outer
bowl-like structure 301 at sides 201c and 201d. Outer bowl-like
structure 301 is provided with a terminating end 301a (that fits
within attachment interface chamber 215 and angled upper boundary
217a for weighted support 217) and an opening 301b for receiving
cat litter drawer 302. Cat litter drawer 302 is designed to fit
within a chamber formed within structure 301 and is provided with
a terminating side end 302a and angled backside member 302e of bottom
302g formed to conform to angled upper boundary 217 a and for receiving
fresh cat litter material M1 via dispensing trap opening 213 and
dispensing swivel plate 209. The dispensed and usable cat litter
material M2 is easily distributed throughout bottom 302g by a using
cat C. Cat litter drawer 302 is also provided with a frontside 302b
having a handle 302h thereto and being attached to side portions
302c and 302d and bottom portion 302f.
In operation, the dispensing mechanism is actuated by lever 203
in the direction A1. Shaft 204 is fixedly coupled to lever 203 at
first end portion 204a and to interface plate 205 at joint formed
by shaft portion 204c and interface plate end portion 205 a. Shaft
204 is pivotly connected to backside 201b at shaft end portion 204b.
Interface plate 205 is fixedly connected to vertical shaft 206 at
joint formed by interface plate end 205b and upper vertical shaft
end 206a. Upon actuating lever 203 in the direction A1 vertical
shaft 206 is urged upwardly in the direction of arrow A2 which
shaft 206 is guided by guide plate 207 via guide hole 207a. Spring
208 is retained between plate 207 at spring upper end 208a and at
spring lower end 208b by retainer portion 206b in order to produce
a return compression as indicated by compression arrow A3 upon shaft
206 being urged upward. The same compression and upward motion of
arrow A3 is translated to the lower end of shaft 206 at a joint
formed by lower vertical shaft end 206c and a first end 209a of
dispensing swivel plate 209. The compression action denoted by arrow
A3 causes dispensing swivel plate 209 to swivel at swivel points
formed by pivot ends 210a of pivot shaft 210 attached to sides 201c
and 201d, as indicated by arrow A4 and thereby opening to allow
cat litter material M1 to flow as shown by arrow A5 swivel plate
midportion 209b being fixedly attached to pivot shaft 210 at pivot
shaft portions 210b and swivel plate portion 209c extending onto
drawer backside 302e during dispensing of fresh cat litter material
M1. Second end 209d of swivel plate 209 contacts seal member 214
upon release of lever 203 due to the return compression force of
spring 208 to close off the flow of material M1. Drawer 302 containing
dispensed cat litter material M2 is used by cat C, and as required,
can be removed from structure 301 as indicated by arrow A7 to dispose
of the used cat litter material M2. It should be understood that
drawer 302 may be provided with a liner (not shown) to contain material
M2 for easy and sanitary disposal.
As an added feature, the present invention is provided with a fabric
means 219 for clawing by a cat C. Fabric means 219 may be formed
elongated and attached to a side, such as side 201d, Additionally,
a toy, such as a fake roll of toilet paper 220 is provide for amusement
and entertainment purposes.
Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described
herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made therefore
within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be
limited to the details disclosed therein but is to be accorded the
full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent
apparatus. |