Abstrict A disposable cat litter box including a horizontally extending
bottom preferably rectangular and attached along the ends to upwardly
extending end walls and side walls which each may be further folded
to provide a top cover of one-half the area of the horizontally
extending bottom. Furthermore the upwardly extending side walls
and end walls may be further folded and through the use of tabs
and slots form angled sides. The disposable cat litter box contains
litter and is sealed. Upon opening, the cat litter box may easily
be formed into an open-top moisture resistant box. After use, the
biodegradable cat litter box may be resealed and disposed.
Claims I claim:
1. A disposable cat litter box comprising:
(a) a bottom extending horizontally upon which cat litter may be
placed;
(b) end walls secured to and adapted to extend vertically from
said bottom;
(c) side walls secured to and adopted to extend vertically from
said bottom;
(d) outwardly angled ends secured to said end walls and adapted
to extend angularly to said end walls;
(e) inwardly angled ends secured to and adapted to extend angularly
to said outwardly angled ends;
(f) downwardly angled ends secured to and adapted to extend flush
with said inwardly angled ends;
(g) means for locking said downwardly angled ends flush against
said inwardly angled ends;
(h) outwardly angled sides secured to said side walls and adapted
to extend angularly to said side walls;
(i) inwardly angled sides secured to and adapted to extend angularly
to said outwardly angled sides;
(j) means for securing said inwardly angled sides and said outwardly
angled sides to said outwardly angled ends, said inwardly angled
ends, and said downwardly angled ends;
(k) means for sealing adjacent inwardly angled sides;
(l) means for unsealing adjacent inwardly angled sides; and
(m) means for resealing adjacent inwardly angled sides.
2. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for locking downwardly angled ends flush against said
inwardly angled ends comprises end tabs interconnect with end slots.
3. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for sealing adjacent inwardly angled sides comprise,
in combination, anchor tape on one adjacent inwardly angled side,
removeable tape attached to anchor tape and remainder tape, and
remainder tape on the other adjacent inwardly angled side.
4. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for unsealing adjacent inwardly angled sides comprises
separating the removeable tape from the anchor tape and the remainder
tape.
5. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for resealing adjacent inwardly angled sides comprises
resealing tape located under anchor tape on one adjacent inwardly
angled side and fastened over remainder tape on the other adjacent
inwardly angled side.
6. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for securing said inwardly angled sides and said outwardly
angled sides to said outwardly angled ends, said inwardly angled
ends, and said downwardly angled ends comprises:
(n) braces secured to said side walls and adapted to extend perpendicular
to said side walls;
(o) upper end surfaces secured to inwardly angled ends and adapted
to extend perpendicular to said inwardly angled ends;
(p) side corners secured to outwardly angled sides and adapted
to extend flush to said outwardly angled sides;
(q) end corners secured to said side corners and adapted to extend
angularly to said side corners;
(r) end corner surfaces secured to said end corners and adapted
to extend flush to said end corners;
(s) upper side surfaces secured to inwardly angled sides and adapted
to extend flush to said inwardly angled sides;
(t) side corner tabs secured to side corners which interconnect
with side corner slots located between the inwardly angled sides
and the upper side surfaces;
(u) end corner tabs secured to end corners which interconnect with
end corner slots located between inwardly angled ends and upper
end surface; and
(w) side tab secured to outwardly angled ends which interconnect
with side slots located between end corners and end corner surfaces.
7. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said cat litter box is made of biodegradeable material.
8. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said outwardly angled ends, inwardly angled ends, and downwardly
angled ends, in combination, equal the length of said bottom.
9. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said outwardly angled sides and inwardly angled sides, in combination,
equal the width of said bottom.
10. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for securing said inwardly angled sides and said outwardly
angled sides to said outwardly angled ends, said inwardly angled
ends, and said downwardly angled ends comprises:
(i) braces secured to said end walls and adapted to extend perpendicular
to said end walls;
(ii) downwardly end corners secured to outwardly angled ends and
adapted to fit flush to said outwardly angled ends;
(iii) upwardly end corners secured to downwardly end corners and
adapted to extend angularly to said downwardly end corners;
(iv) upper side surfaces secured to upwardly end corners and adapted
to extend angularly to said upwardly end corners;
(v) downwardly side corners secured to outwardly angled sides and
adapted to fit flush to said outwardly angled sides;
(vi) upwardly side corners secured to inwardly angled sides and
adapted to fit flush to said inwardly angled sides;
(vii) upper side surface tabs secured to upper side surfaces which
interconnect with restraining slots located between downwardly angled
ends and inwardly angled ends;
(viii) upwardly end corner tabs secured to upwardly end corners
which interconnected with upwardly side corner slots located on
upwardly side corners; and
(ix) downwardly end corner tabs secured to downwardly end corners
which interconnect with downwardly side corner slots located on
downwardly side corners.
11. The disposable cat litter box as defined in claim 10 wherein
said downwardly end corner, upwardly end corner, downwardly side
corner, and upwardly side corner are congruent equilateral triangles.
12. A disposable cat litter box comprising:
(a) a bottom extending horizontally upon which cat litter may be
placed;
(b) end walls secured to and adapted to extend vertically from
said bottom;
(c) side walls secured to and adopted to extend vertically from
said bottom;
(d) outwardly angled ends secured to said end walls and adapted
to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(e) inwardly angled ends secured to said outwardly angled ends
and adapted to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(f) downwardly angled ends secured to said inwardly angled ends
and adapted to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(g) where said outwardly angled ends, said inwardly angled ends,
and said downwardly angled ends, in combination, equal the length
of said bottom;
(h) outwardly angled sides secured to said side walls and adapted
to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(i) inwardly angled sides secured to said outwardly angled sides
and adapted to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(j) where said outwardly angled sides and said inwardly angled
sides, in combination, equal the width of said bottom;
(k) means for sealing adjacent inwardly angled sides;
(l) means for unsealing adjacent inwardly angled sides; and
(m) means for resealing adjacent inwardly angled sides.
13. A disposable cat litter box comprising:
(a) a bottom means extending horizontally upon which cat litter
may be placed;
(b) end walls secured to and adapted to extend vertically from
said bottom;
(c) side walls secured to and adopted to extend vertically from
said bottom;
(d) outwardly angled ends secured to said end walls and adapted
to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(e) inwardly angled ends secured to said outwardly angled ends
and adapted to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(f) downwardly angled ends secured to said inwardly angled ends
and adapted to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(g) where said outwardly angled ends, said inwardly angled ends,
and said downwardly angled ends, in combination, equal the length
of said bottom;
(h) outwardly angled sides secured to said side walls and adapted
to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(i) inwardly angled sides secured to said outwardly angled sides
and adapted to extend horizontally parallel to said bottom;
(j) where said outwardly angled sides and said inwardly angled
sides, in combination, equal the width of said bottom; and
(m) means for resealing adjacent inwardly angled sides.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of cat litter boxes
or other types of holding devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Previous cartons or other boxes have been designed for various
purposes, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2148048.
In the specific area of cat litter boxes various techniques and
designs have been used in the past. Usually, hard plastic litter
boxes filled with litter are used and then the litter is discarded
and the litter box cleaned and refilled with new litter. Of course,
disposable means have been tried: boxes with disposable trays, U.S.
Pat. No. 4171680; boxes with screens on flexible sieve sheets,
U.S. Pat. No. 4312295; folding boxes with litter to be spread
within the box when opened, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3154052 3581975
and 3743170; and boxes with disposable plastic liners, U.S. Pat.
No. 3684155.
Each of these techniques has disadvantages. Cleaning the hard plastic
litter boxes is a disagreeable task. Removeable trays are spilled.
The use of screens or flexible sieve sheets to strain the litter
for waste is a disagreeable task. Spreading the litter in a box
then moving the litter to one side of the box for refolding and
disposal is a disagreeable task. Plastic liners sometimes break.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based upon several distinct features. The litter
is contained within the sealed cat litter box. In this form, the
cat litter box comprises a bottom s means which is preferably rectangular
and extends horizontally to define an upper bottom surface for holding
cat litter. End walls and side walls extend upwardly from the bottom
s means. The end walls and side walls are further folded horizontally
to provide a top s means which is sealed.
To use, the top s means is unsealed and folded and secured by slots
and tabs to form extended side walls and end walls in a configuration
angled to minimize the scatter of cat litter.
After use and to dispose, the upwardly angled side walls and end
walls are unfolded and repositioned horizontally reforming a top
s means. The top s means is resealed and the used cat litter box
is disposed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive disposable
cat litter box which is easy to open, use, seal and dispose. A further
object is to provide a clean cat litter box without the necessity
of arranging or moving litter. Another further object is to provide
moisture resistant material which is biodegradable in the construction
of the cat litter box. Slanted side walls which reflect material
into the bottom of the cat litter box and double material covering
on the top of the closed litter box are additional objects. Other
objects will be apparent from the following description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a top view of one embodiment of the invention unfolded.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention
partially folded and opened.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention
fully folded and opened.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention folded and closed.
FIG. 6 shows a top view of another embodiment of the invention
unfolded.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention
partially folded and opened.
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention
fully folded and opened.
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view opening the sealed, folded and
closed invention.
FIG. 10 shows a perspective view sealing the folded and closed
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides a disposable, biodegradable cat
litter box 50 which contains cat litter 42 for use by domestic house
pets preferably cats. Referring to FIGS. 1 2 3 4 5 9 and 10
a horizontal bottom s means 1 by folding creases 14 forms upwardly
extending vertical end walls 2 and by folding creases 18 forms upwardly
extending vertical side walls 6. Braces 9 after folding along creases
21 fit flush against end walls 2 and perpendicular to side walls
6. Note that braces 9 fold about crease 21 only by means of cuts
25 26 27 and 28. Cat litter 42 is placed within the volume formed
by bottom s means 1 end walls 2 and side walls 6. Upper end surfaces
10 are folded perpendicularly along creases 39 to fit flush against
side walls 6. By folding creases 15 the outwardly angled end s means
3 inwardly angled end s means 4 and downwardly angled end s means
5 fit horizontally on the top of the cat litter 42. Upper side surfaces
13 after folding along creases 23 fit flush against inwardly angled
side means 8. Note cut 40 separates upper side surfaces 13 from
side corner s means 12. End corner surfaces 38 are folded along
creases 37 to fit flush against end corner s means 11. Side corner
s means 12 and end corner s means 11 are folded along creases 22
to fit flush against outwardly angled side s means 7. By folding
creases 19 the outwardly angled side s means 7 and the inwardly
angled side s means 8 fit horizontally on the outwardly angled end
s means 3 the inwardly angled end s means 4 and the downwardly
angled end means 5. Anchor tape means 43 removeable tape means
44 resealing tape 45 and remainder tab s means 49 are by glue
or other suitable means attached to the adjacent edges of the horizontally
positioned inwardly angled side s means 8 and attached to the outwardly
angled side s means 7 along creases 22 and the inwardly angled side
s means 7 along creases 23 and the upwardly extending end wall
s means 2 along creases 15. Thus the cat litter box 50 is sealed
with the cat litter 42 inside.
To use, the removeable tape s means 44 are separated from the anchor
tape s means 43 and the remainder tape s means 49. The cat litter
box 50 is easily opened by unfolding along creases 19 and 15. By
appropriately folding creases 19 and 20 15 and 16 and 24 and 22
the side corner s means 12 with the side corner tab s means 31 are
positioned to be fitted into the side corner slot s means 32; the
end corner s means 11 with the end corner tab s means 33 are positioned
to be fitted into the end corner slot s means 36; and the side tab
s means 35 are positioned to be fitted into the side slot s means
34. This causes outwardly angled end s means 3 and outwardly angled
side s means 7 to be disposed outwardly angularly from the end walls
2 and the side walls 6 respectively. Also, the inwardly angled
end s means 4 and the inwardly angled side means 8 are disposed
inwardly angularly. Downwardly angled end s means 5 are folded along
creases 17 so that end tab s means 29 fit through end slot s means
30. Note that inwardly angled end s means 4 is now flush against
downwardly angled end s means 5. As is seen best in FIG. 3 the
outwardly angled end s means 3 the inwardly angled end s means
4 with the flush downwardly angled end s means 5 the outwardly
angled side s means 7 and the inwardly angled side s means 8 form
a deflector of cat litter 42 back into the cat litter box 50. The
cat litter box 50 is opened and ready for use.
To dispose, reverse the steps followed in the use description.
The side tab s means 35 are taken out of side slot s means 34; the
end corner tab s means 33 are removed from end corner slot s means
36; and the side corner tab s means 31 are removed from the side
corner slot s means 32. The creases 22 24 16 15 20 and 19 are
unfolded. End tab s means 29 are removed from end slot s means 30.
Crease 17 is unfolded. Again upper end surfaces 10 are folded along
creases 39 to fit flush against inwardly angled s means 4. Creases
15 are folded so that outwardly angled end s means 3 inwardly angled
end s means 4 and downwardly angled end means 5 are positioned
horizontally on the top of the used cat litter 42. Note that the
widths of inwardly angled end s means 4 downwardly angled end s
means 5 and outwardly angled end s means 3 can be made equal to
one another and, in combination, equal to one-half the length of
the bottom s means 1. End corner surfaces 38 are folded along crease
37 to fit flush against the end corner s means 11. By folding creases
22 the end corner s means 11 with the end corner surfaces 38 and
the side corner means 12 fit flush against outwardly angled side
s means 7. Upper side surfaces 13 are folded along creases 23 to
fit flush against inwardly angled side s means 8. By folding creases
19 the outwardly angled side s means 7 and the inwardly angled side
s means 8 extend horizontally over the outwardly angled end s means
3 the inwardly angled end s means 4 and the downwardly angled
end s means 5. Note that the edges of inwardly angled side s means
8 are adjacent. This requires that the widths of inwardly angled
side s means 8 and of outwardly angled side s means 7 in combination,
must equal one-half of the width of bottom s means 1. Resealing
tape 45 is then used to seal each edge of the inwardly angled side
s means 8 and to seal the upwardly extending end wall s means 2
along creases 15 to the inwardly angled side s means 8 along creases
23 and to the outwardly angled side s means 7 along creases 22.
The cat litter box 50 is ready for disposal as shown in FIG. 5.
In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 6 7 and
8 a bottom s means 1' by folding creases 15' forms upwardly extending
end walls 2' and by folding creases 20' forms upwardly extending
side walls 6'. Braces 9' after folding along creases 23' fit flush
against side walls 6' and perpendicular to end walls 2'. Note that
braces 9' fold about creases 23' only by means of cuts 26' and 27'.
Upper side surfaces 12', by means of cut 25' upwardly end corner
11', and downwardly end corner 10' are folded on crease 24' in order
to lie flush against outwardly angled end s means 3' and inwardly
angled end s means 4'. By folding creases 16' the outwardly angled
end s means 3', the inwardly angled end s means 4', and the downwardly
angled end s means 5' extend horizontally on top of the cat litter.
Downwardly side corner 13' is folded along creases 28' in order
to fit flush against the outwardly angled side s means 7'. The upwardly
side corner 14' are folded along creases 29' to fit flush against
inwardly angled side s means 8'. By folding along crease 21' the
outwardly angled side s means 7' and the inwardly angled side s
means 8' extend horizontally and rest upon the outwardly angled
end s means 3', the inwardly angled end s means 4', and the downwardly
angled end s means 5'. As previously discussed in the first embodiment
tape s means (not shown) are used to seal the cat litter box 50'.
To use, the cat litter box 50' is unsealed as previously described
in the first embodiment. The cat litter box 50' is easily opened
by unfolding along creases 16' and 21'. By folding creases 24',
31', and 30' the upper side surface 12' is brought into contact
with the inwardly angled end s means 4' so that the upper side surface
tab s means 34' fits into the restraining slot s means 38'. Now
folding creases 18' and 19' the end tab s means 37' fit into the
end slot s means 39'. Thus, downwardly angled end s means 5' fits
flush against inwardly angled end s means 4'. Note that cut 25 frees
upper side surface 12' so that it folds only about crease 30'. Further
folding of creases 17' and 16', and creases 21' and 22' the downwardly
side corner 13' and the downwardly end corner 10' are positioned
so that downwardly end corner tab s means 33' fits through downwardly
side corner slot s means 36'. In addition, upwardly end corner 11'
and upwardly side corner 14' are in position so that upwardly end
corner tab s means 32' fits into upwardly side corner slot s means
35'. Note that downwardly side corner 13' and upwardly side corner
14' are inside the cat litter box 50'. While upwardly end corner
11' and downwardly end corner 10' are on the outside of the cat
litter box 50'. Furthermore: Downwardly end corner 10', upwardly
end corner 11', downwardly side corner 13', and upwardly side corner
14' are all equilateral triangles of the same dimension. As can
be seen by those experienced in the art, the positioning of the
upper side surface tab s means 34' with the positioning of restraining
slot s means 38' in conjunction with the positioning of upwardly
end corner tab s means 32' and downwardly end corner tab s means
33' provides increased strength against any attempts to pull apart
the cat litter box 50'. Thus, the cat litter box 50' is opened and
ready for use.
To dispose, reverse the steps followed in the use description.
The resealing of the box for disposal is accomplished as described
in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the edges of
the inwardly angled side s means 8' are adjacent. This requires
that the widths of inwardly angled side s means 8' and of outwardly
angled side s means 7', in combination, must equal 1/2 of the width
of bottom s means 1'. Again, as in the first embodiment, it is preferred
that the widths of inwardly angled end s means 4', downwardly angled
end s means 5' and outwardly angled end s means 3' are made equal
to one another and, in combination, equal to 1/2 the length of the
bottom s means 1.
While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the present
invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes
of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it will be apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous changes may
be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles
of the invention. |