Abstrict A portable cat litter tray is provided which is easily converted
from a closed box to an open tray. The litter tray comprises a structure
movable between the closed box position and the open tray position,
a clip member for imparting rigidity to the side walls of the structure
when in the open tray position and, preferably, securing a cat litter-containing
bay to the structure when in the open tray position.
Claims Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. A cat litter tray which comprises:
(a) a structure movable between an open position defining the tray
and a closed position defining a box, wherein said structure in
the open position comprises:
(i) a base having a creased section permitting movement of the
structure between the open and closed positions;
(ii) opposite end walls integral with said base; and
(iii) opposite side walls integral with said base and said end
walls, each of said side walls having a creased section permitting
movement of the structure between the open and closed positions;
and
(b) means for securing a bag to the walls of the structure and
for imparting rigidity to the side walls of the structure when in
the open position, said means comprising a pair of clip members
each of which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and is
at least as long as the creased sections of said side walls, said
clip members being adapted to fit over portions of the bag when
it is draped on at least said creased sections to secure the bag
to said creased sections and hold the side walls in said open position.
2. The cat litter tray of claim 1 further comprising:
(c) said bag, containing cat litter material and being stored within
the structure when it is in the closed position.
3. The cat litter tray of claim 2 wherein the walls of the bag
are draped on the side and end walls of the structure, and the clip
members fit over the bag wall and secure the bag to the creased
sections of the respective side walls.
4. A cat litter tray, which comprises:
(a) a structure movable between an open position defining the tray
and a closed position defining a box, wherein said structure in
the open position comprises:
(i) a base having a first and second crease extending parallel
to one another and transversely thereof;
(ii) opposite end walls integral with said base; and
(iii) opposite side walls integral with said base and said end
walls, each of said side walls having a third and fourth crease
extending parallel to one another, perpendicular to said base, and
in alignment with said first and second creases, respectively, and
a pair of diagonal score lines extending between opposite ends of
the third and fourth creases; and
(b) means for securing a bag to at least the side walls of the
structure and for imparting rigidity to said side walls of the structure
when it is in the open position, said means comprising a pair of
clip members each of which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section
and is at least as long as the distance between said third and fourth
creases, said clip members being adapted to fit over portions of
the bag when it is draped on the side and end walls of the structure,
to secure the bag to the side walls throughout at least the region
between the third and fourth creases formed therein, and to hold
the side walls in their open position.
5. The cat litter tray of claim 4 further comprising:
(c) said bag, containing a cat litter material, being closed and
stored within the structure when the structure is in the closed
position and being opened and draped on the side and end walls of
the structure and generally conforming to the shape of the structure
when the structure is in the open position; and wherein
the clip members engage the walls of the bag at least in the areas
adjacent the third and fourth creases in the side walls of said
structure to secure the bag to the structure and hold the side walls
in the open position.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a convenient and portable cat
litter tray. More particularly, the invention relates to a tray
which is easily and quickly converted from a closed box to an open
tray which may be readily stored, shipped and displayed, and utilized
to dispose of used cat litter material.
2. Description of Related Art
Cat litter trays are well-known in the art and their utility to
cat owners is generally recognized. Cat litter trays typically take
the form of a box having a base and side walls, and are typically
constructed of plastic or like materials.
Cat owners generally place commercially available cat litter material
in the litter tray. After a period of use by the cat, owners dispose
of the used litter material and replace it with fresh material.
Typical cat litter materials include clay, zeolite, corn cob, sand,
or any other insoluble absorbent granular material.
Commercially available litter trays are generally bulky and cumbersome.
They are not readily stored or transported together with the litter
material, nor do they lend themselves to convenient point-of-sale
display.
The periodic disposal of used cat litter material is an undesirable,
messy task. Also, the litter tray itself requires periodic cleaning
to assure proper hygiene and to minimize odor-formation.
Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to
provide a litter tray which may be readily transported and displayed
at the point-of-sale, and from which used litter material may be
easily disposed of.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cat litter tray is provided which comprises (a) a structure movable
between an open position defining the tray and a closed position
defining a box, and (b) means for securing a bag to the walls of
the structure and for imparting rigidity to the side walls of the
structure when in the open tray position. The side walls and the
base of the structure have creased sections which permit movement
of the structure between the open and closed positions. A bag containing
cat litter material is suitably provided within the cat litter tray,
which bag may be stored within the tray when it is in the closed
position and opened up to substantially conform to the shape of
the structure in the open tray position. The combination thus permits
convenient storage, display and use of fresh cat litter material,
and easy disposal of used litter material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention will be more readily understood by reference
to the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a litter tray of the present invention
in the configuration of an open tray with a securing means fixing
a bag to its walls;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional end view of the litter tray of FIG.
1 along line 2--2;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the litter tray in the configuration
of a closed box; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the litter tray of FIG.
3 along line 4--4 with a bag and the securing means contained therein.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The invention may be more easily understood by reference to the
accompanying figures. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the cat litter tray 10 of the present invention.
The litter tray 10 comprises structure 12 which comprises a base
13 opposite end walls 14 and 16 and opposite side walls 18. Each
side wall 18 has a central creased section 20 bounded by opposite
creases 22 and 24 which are parallel to one another. Score lines
26 and 28 criss-cross each creased section 20 each score line extending
diagonally from the top edge to the bottom edge of the side wall
18 and from crease 22 to opposite crease 24. In addition to creased
section 20 side walls 18 comprise a first end region 30 and a second
end region 32.
Creases 34 and 36 extend transversely across base 13 from one side
wall 18 to the opposite side wall 18 parallel to end walls 14 and
16. Creases 34 and 36 are in alignment with creases 22 and 24 and
extend from the points at which creases 22 and 24 respectively,
meet the lower edges of side walls 18. The section of base 13 bounded
by creases 34 and 36 is identified as base region 38. In addition
to base region 38 base 13 comprises a first bottom face 40 and
a second bottom face 42.
The cat litter tray may be constructed of any material which is
suitable for use as a cat litter tray and which possesses the structural
strength and resilience necessary to withstand the rotational movements
described below. It is preferred that the material of construction
be light, yet durable. Typical materials of construction include
cardboard and appropriate plastics.
A bag 44 (shown in cut-away portion in FIG. 1) is secured to structure
12 by a pair of clip members 46 (only one of which is shown in the
drawing, for clarity) engaging the bag walls and the respective
side walls 18 . Each clip member 46 also imparts rigidity to side
wall 18 when in the open tray position of FIG. 1 preventing the
side wall 18 from bending or collapsing along creases 22 and 24
and score lines 26 and 28.
Bag 44 comprises a sheet material which substantially conforms
to the shape of structure 12 when in the open tray position of FIG.
1. The walls of bag 44 preferably drape on at least a portion of
the top edge of side walls 18 and opposite end walls 14 and 16.
Each clip member 46 is demountably attached to structure 12 along
the top edge of side wall 18 with the walls of bag 44 interposed
between the clip member 46 and the side wall 18. Bag 44 is thereby
secured to structure 12. Cat litter material (not shown) is disposed
within and available for use in the portion of bag 44 which lines
base 13.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 each clip member 46 is channel-shaped,
preferably having a substantially U-shaped cross-section comprising
tapered side walls 48 and a top face 50 defining a groove 52. Groove
52 extends the length of clip member 46. Groove 52 is defined such
that, when structure 12 is in the open tray position of Figs. 1
and 2 the top edge of side wall 18 and the draped portion of bag
44 may be interposed therein. Thus, clip member 46 secures bag 44
to structure 12 along the top edge of side wall 18. As will be readily
apparent, additional clip members may be employed, if desired, to
secure additional draped portions of bag 44 to the top edges of
end walls 14 and 16 and side walls 18. Alternatively, it is within
the purview of the present invention to utilize only a single clip
member on each side wall 18 to both secure the litter bag and rigidify
the tray structure in the open position for use.
As shown in FIG. 1 clip member 46 is at least as long as and,
preferably, longer than the top edge of creased section 20. In such
a preferred embodiment, a single clip member 46 is demountably attached
to each side wall 18 at least in the vicinity of creased sections
20 and preferably so as to extend beyond creases 22 and 24 thereby
imparting rigidity to the side walls 18 of structure 12 when in
the open tray position. Alternatively, it is also within the scope
of the present invention to provide a plurality of shorter clip
members on one or both side walls 18 to accomplish the same result.
Structure 12 is movable between an open position defining a tray,
as shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position defining a box, as shown
in FIG. 3. Clip member 46 is removed from structure 12 before moving
structure 12 between said positions, thereby freeing bag 44 from
side wall 18. Bag 44 is typically closed by means of a tie after
being freed from side wall 18 to isolate the cat litter material
therein.
Movement from the open position of FIG. 1 to the closed position
of FIG. 3 is accomplished by rotating second bottom face 42 and
base region 38 radially upward. This rotation causes base 13 to
bend along crease 34. Side walls 18 collapse inwardly along creases
22 and score lines 26. Further rotation of second bottom face 42
beyond a point at which second bottom face 42 and base region 38
are approximately perpendicular to first bottom face 40 causes base
13 to bend along crease 36. Side walls 18 collapse inwardly along
creases 24. The creased sections 20 collapse along score lines 28.
Further radial rotation around crease 36 thus moves structure 12
into a closed position defining a box, as shown in FIG. 3.
When in the closed position of FIG. 3 structure 12 is defined
by end wall 14 and base region 38 first end regions 30 first bottom
face 40 and second bottom face 42. As will be apparent to one skilled
in the art, in order for the respective sections of the tray structure
to nest in the closed position of FIG. 3 the first end regions
30 must be longer than the second end regions 32. Similarly, first
bottom face 40 must be longer than second bottom face 42. Thus,
in the closed position of FIG. 3 end wall 16 is within opposite
end wall 14 and second end regions 32 are within first end regions
30.
FIG. 4 shows structure 12 in the closed position of FIG. 3 substantially
along line 4--4. Bag 44 which is closed by a tie 54 and clip members
46 are contained within structure 12. Bag 44 preferably contains
cat litter material. Opposite end wall 16 is positioned within end
wall 14 and collapsed central region 20 is positioned adjacent base
region 38.
The cat litter tray thus provided may be readily stored and transported,
either with or without the pre-packaged cat litter material provided
within a bag stored therein. The tray may be easily converted from
a closed box to an open tray, with the clip members holding the
side walls of the tray structure in the open position and securing
the bag containing the cat litter material for point-of-sale display
and subsequent use. Finally, the cat litter bag may be readily removed
from the open bag and sealed and the used cat litter material disposed
of, either by separate disposal of the bag or by closing the tray
containing the bag and disposing of the entire assembly. There is
thus provided a cat litter tray which is inexpensive and may be
readily stored, transported, displayed, used and disposed of.
It will be understood that various changes may be made in the preferred
embodiment of the cat litter tray described hereinabove without
departing from the scope of the present invention. |