Abstrict A cat litter pan system consisting of a permanent extruded plastic
litter receptacle suitable for receiving therein a disposable litter
tray and a two component cover section that matingly engages the
plastic receptacle wherein the disposable litter tray is positioned
adjacently to the cover section and is easily removed, disposed
of and replaced with a new one.
Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cat litter pan system comprising an extruded plastic receptacle,
a disposable litter tray suitable for positioning within said receptacle
and a two component cover section that matingly engages the plastic
receptacle, said two component cover section having an upper retaining
lid and a lower retaining lid, said lower retaining lid having sides
that are sloped in a downwardly inward direction, wherein said inwardly
directed sides are in an adjacent relationship to upper edges of
the disposable litter tray, said litter tray being easily removed
and disposed.
2. A cat litter pan system as described in claim 1 wherein said
lower retainer lid of the cover section further comprises a paw
cleaner coupled thereto.
3. A cat pan litter system as described in claim 2 wherein the
sides of the upper retainer lid of the cover section are sloped
in an inward direction.
4. A cat litter pan system as described in claim 3 wherein said
disposable litter tray contains litter, said litter being contained
in said tray by means of a plastic seal.
5. A cat litter pan system as described in claim 4 wherein said
disposable litter tray is comprised of a heavy duty corrugated paperboard,
wherein said paperboard is moisture proofed, thereby enabling all
moisture to be contained within said tray.
6. A cat litter pan system as described in claim 5 wherein the
extruded plastic receptacle has a plurality of sides sloped in an
inward direction.
7. A cat litter pan system as described in claim 6 wherein the
upper cover lid of the cover section contains an opening enabling
a cat to easily enter and exit from said disposable litter tray.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are several cat litter pan products on the market all of
which require a person to separately purchase a litter pan and litter.
It is a messy, unpleasant and often, unsanitary procedure to change
and clean the litter pan and most cat owners do not look forward
to it. In fact, the litter pan should be cleaned each time the litter
is changed which is time consuming. In addition, the cat has the
tendency to claw or scratch at the litter before using it and in
so doing causing it to fly out of the pan onto the floor. This,
obviously causes an unwanted mess and is unsanitary. Also, after
using the litter pan, the cat has a tendency to scratch at any available
surface to clean its paws. This can also scatter litter.
There are many kinds and shapes of litter pans currently existing,
however, to the best of my knowledge, there are none that incorporate
a disposable litter tray suitable for easy removal and replacement
with a new litter tray. My invention incorporates a disposable litter
tray, containing litter, to be easily removed from a permanent litter
pan and replaced with a new one. This eliminates the usual mess
and unsanitary conditions that are associated with cleaning a litter
pan.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a cat litter
pan system that consists of an extruded plastic litter pan holder
or receptacle and a disposable litter tray that is easily replaced
with a fresh one.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cat
litter pan system that eliminates litter being thrown or carried
out of the box during each use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cat
litter system wherein means are provided to enable a cat to scratch
or clean its paws after each use.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide
a cat litter system wherein the used litter is easily disposed of
and a new disposable litter tray inserted into the litter pan or
receptacle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an extruded
plastic litter pan having a bottom section with tapered sidewalls
and a cover section that engages said bottom portion.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a cover section that comprises a lower or retaining lid, and an
upper lid, said upper lid having a sufficient opening to enable
a cat to freely enter and exit therefrom.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my cat litter pan system.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of my cat litter pan system taken
along lines 2--2.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of my cat litter pan system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention relates to a cat litter pan system and more
particularly, it is directed to a cat litter system 10 consisting
of an extruded plastic litter receptacle or bottom pan 12 having
tapered walls 13 suitable for receiving therein a disposable litter
tray 14 and a cover or top section 20.
The disposable litter tray 14 is comprised of a heavy duty corrugated
paperboard which is moisture proofed inside and out with a coating
of wax, paraffin or plastic by means well known in the art. The
tray 14 is suitable for holding approximately four pounds of dust-free,
scented or unscented, litter 16. However, the amount and type of
litter for the tray 14 can vary without departing from the spirit
and scope of my invention. Coating the corrugated paperboard prevents
moisture from seeping through and weakening the tray 14.
The litter tray 14 is filled with litter 16 which is contained
therein by a plastic seal or other suitable material well known
in the art but not illustrated. The plastic seal is suitable for
applying print thereto and is generally applied to the tray 14 by
what is commonly known in the art as the "shrink-wrap process",
or by other means well known in the art.
The cover section 20 consists of a retaining or lower lid 22 and
an upper lid 24. The lower lid 22 matingly engages the receptacle
or bottom pan 12 while the upper or cover lid 24 matingly engages
the lower lid 22 all by means well known in the art. It is understood
that the cover section 20 may be of one piece rather than the two
described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention. If said cover section 20 is of an unitary construction
it would also matingly engage the bottom pan or receptacle 12.
The upper cover lid 24 having sloping walls 27 is of extruded plastic
and is designed to matingly engage the extruded lower lid 22. The
upper lid 24 has an opening sufficient to enable a cat to easily
enter and leave the litter tray 14 without spreading the litter
16 outside of the litter tray 14.
The lower lid 22 has sloping walls 26 directed toward the inner
portion of the litter tray 14. The sloping walls 26 have positioned
thereon, by means well known in the art, an artificial plastic grass
scratching mat or paw cleaner 28. The purpose of the scratching
mat 28 is to encourage and enable the cat to use their paws against
the mat 28 rather than against other surfaces on or just outside
the litter pan. However, even if the cat does kick up the litter
during or after use the sloped walls 26 and 27 are designed to prevent
the litter from leaving the litter tray 14. This obviously helps
eliminate an extremely messy and unhealthy condition that exists
with current cat litter systems.
The cat litter system 10 is further comprised of a plastic disposable
bag with a self-tie drawstring well known in the art but not illustrated,
for receiving the tray and soiled litter.
In use the disposable litter tray 14 is inserted into the receptacle
or bottom pan 12 or thru the cover section 20 to the bottom pan
12. The upper lid 24 of the cover section 20 is then engaged with
the bottom pan 12 via the lower lid 22 and the disposable litter
system is ready for use.
When it is time to change the litter tray 14 the cover 20 is disengaged
from the receptacle 12. The litter tray 14 with the used litter
16 is easily removed and placed into the disposable bag for disposing
into the garbage. At this time a new litter tray 14 having fresh
litter 16 therein is positioned into the receptacle 12. The cover
section 20 is then engaged with the receptacle 12. At this time
the disposable cat litter system is again ready for use. There is
no fuss and no mess. My invention as described herein provides for
a fast, efficient, clean and sanitary system for changing cat litter.
The disposable litter tray 14 having the plastic seal is sold as
a separate item enabling a cat owner to stock a sufficient amount
of fresh disposable litter trays 14. This eliminates opened bags
of litter laying around that can easily spill and create an unwanted
mess.
It is to be understood that the above described cat litter system
is simply illustrative of the application of principles of my invention
and many other modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. |