US3978818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Litter packages
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-09-27
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Granted: 1976-09-07
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Expires: 1994-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A litter package has a body of litter within a container of waterproof material and is for use by a pet animal after the package has been opened to expose the litter substantially throughout the area of the container when disposed for use. The litter body consists of particles of absorbent material or materials that are chemically neutral when wet. Testing means are associated with the litter and of an indicator type changing color if wetted by urine containing a color-changing reactant indicating an unfavorable health condition. The testing means may be incorporated in litter material, carried on the inner surface of the container or on inserts in any case when the package is open, the testing means includes at least one unitary portion under each position the animal may occupy while urinating and of an area such as to become wetted at least in part by contact with urine-wetted particles in the normal use thereof thus to be subject to the reactant throughout a predetermined time. The indicating means may include different types of indicators, each changing color in response to different reactants, the colors being different for each reactant.
Inventors
- 👤 Ladd L. Heldenbrand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:54
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K29/00; A01K1/00; A01K1/01; A01K1/0107; A01K1/015; A01K1/0152; A01K29/005; A01K29/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A litter package comprising a container of transparent waterproof material, a body of litter within the container for use by a pet animal after the package has been opened to expose the litter with the litter covering the bottom of the container when disposed for use, said body consisting of absorbent particles that are chemically neutral when wet, and testing means within the container and of an indicator type changing color if wetted by urine containing a particular color-changing reactant indicative of an unfavorable current health condition of the animal, said testing means so located within the container that when the container is disposed for use, test areas are provided where they will become wetted by urine in any position the animal will normally occupy while urinating during a predetermined time interval, each test area dimensioned to provide a colored signal, if said reactant is present in the animal's urine, that is readily distinguishable from the remainder of the litter body during the disposal thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A litter package comprising a container of transparent waterproof material, a body of litter within the container for use by a pet animal after the package has been opened to expose the litter with the litter covering the bottom of the container when disposed for use, said body consisting of absorbent particles that are chemically neutral when wet, and testing means within the container and of an indicator type changing color if wetted by urine containing a particular color-changing reactant indicative of an unfavorable current health condition of the animal, said testing means so located within the container that when the container is disposed for use, test areas are provided where they will become wetted by urine in any position the animal will normally occupy while urinating during a predetermined time interval, each test area dimensioned to provide a colored signal, if said reactant is present in the animal's urine, that is readily distinguishable from the remainder of the litter body during the disposal thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means includes different types of indicators, each indicator changing color if wetted by urine containing a reactant different from that to which any other type responds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means includes a plurality of test pieces in the form of small pieces of paper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The litter package of claim 2 in which each type of testing means includes a plurality of test pieces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means are fixed on the bottom of the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means is applied to the inside of the bottom of the container and the container material is sufficiently transparent to enable the color thereof to be visible from the outside.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The litter package of claim 6 and a color chart on the outside of the bag bottom for comparison with the color of the testing means after use of the litter by the animal to approximate the concentration of the reactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The litter package of claim 1 and at least one insert positioned on the bottom of the container and dimensioned to resist any substantial displacement during use of the litter by the animal and testing means is applied to the insert.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The litter package of claim 1 and inserts detachably secured to the inner surface of the bottom of the container and the testing means is applied to the inserts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The litter package of claim 9 in which the testing means are also small pieces of paper treated with the indicator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The litter package of claim 9 and in which the testing means constitutes approximately 3 to 15 percent of the litter volume.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means contains different types of indicators each consisting of small pieces of paper treated with an indicator different from any other indicator and constituting approximately three to fifteen percent of the litter volume.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-07 | 1980-03-08 | 1980-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-07 | 1984-03-08 | 1984-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-07 | 1988-03-08 | 1988-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |