US4206718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Animal litter process
Assignee: Star Kist Foods Inc
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Filing: 1975-02-05
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Granted: 1980-06-10
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Expires: 1995-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A process of preparing litter for absorbing and neutralizing the odors of animal waste matter from a mixture of alfalfa and gelatinizable carbohydrate such as a flour.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew I. Brewer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:26
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/015; A01K1/0152; A01K1/0155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A process of preparing an animal litter comprising the steps of: mixing ground chlorophyll-containing alfalfa with gelatinizable component selected from the class consisting of plant flours, starches and mixtures thereof in a weight ratio of alfalfa to gelatinizable component from about 75:25 to 25:75; heating the mixture of alfalfa and gelatinizable component under steam pressure to gelatinize the gelatinizable component and bind the particles of alfalfa and gelatinizable component together; expanding said bound-together particles into the atmosphere whereby the internal steam pressure of said bound-together particles puff said particles into an expanded, porous texture; pelletizing said puffed bound-together particles; and drying the pellets resulting from said pelletizing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process of preparing an animal litter comprising the steps of: mixing ground chlorophyll-containing alfalfa with gelatinizable component selected from the class consisting of plant flours, starches and mixtures thereof in a weight ratio of alfalfa to gelatinizable component from about 75:25 to 25:75; heating the mixture of alfalfa and gelatinizable component under steam pressure to gelatinize the gelatinizable component and bind the particles of alfalfa and gelatinizable component together; expanding said bound-together particles into the atmosphere whereby the internal steam pressure of said bound-together particles puff said particles into an expanded, porous texture; pelletizing said puffed bound-together particles; and drying the pellets resulting from said pelletizing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein bentonite is added to the mixture of alfalfa and gelatinizable component in an amount up to 10 percent thereof prior to said heating step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein ground corn cobs are added to said pellets in a weight ratio of ground corn cobs to pellets from about 75:25 to 25:75.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gelatinizable component is a mixture of corn and wheat flours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gelatinizable component includes a food starch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as set forth in claim 3 wherein bentonite is added to the mixture of alfalfa and gelatinizable component in an amount up to 10 weight percent thereof prior to said heating step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as set forth in claim 4 wherein said gelatinizable component includes a food starch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as set forth in claim 6 wherein said flour is a mixture of corn and wheat flours.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A process of preparing an animal litter, comprising the steps of: mixing ground and screened chlorophyll-containing alfalfa with a gelatinizable flour selected in a weight ratio of alfalfa to flour from about 75:25 to 25:75; heating the mixture of alfalfa and flour by pressurized steam to gelatinize said flour and bind the particles of alfalfa and flour together; extruding said bound-together particles into the atmosphere to expand said bound-together particles into a puffed-up porous elongated mass; pelletizing said elongated mass; and drying the pellets resulting from said pelletizing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A process of preparing an animal litter, comprising the steps of: mixing ground and screened chlorophyll-containing alfalfa with a gelatinizable flour selected in a weight ratio of alfalfa to flour from about 75:25 to 25:75; heating the mixture of alfalfa and flour by pressurized steam to gelatinize said flour and bind the particles of alfalfa and flour together; extruding said bound-together particles into the atmosphere to expand said bound-together particles into a puffed-up porous elongated mass; pelletizing said elongated mass; and drying the pellets resulting from said pelletizing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as set forth in claim 9 wherein bentonite is added to the mixture of alfalfa and flour in an amount up to 10 weight percent thereof prior to said heating step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as set forth in claim 9 wherein ground corn cobs are added to said pellets in a weight ratio of ground corn cobs to pellets from about 75:25 to 25:75.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flour is a mixture of corn and wheat flours.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as set forth in claim 10 wherein said food starch is also included in said mixture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as set forth in claim 11 wherein bentonite is added to the mixture of alfalfa and flour in an amount up to 10 weight percent thereof prior to said heating step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as set forth in claim 11 wherein said pellets and corn cobs are mixed in a ratio by weight of from about 75:25 to 25:75.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as set forth in claim 12 wherein said mixture also includes a food starch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as set forth in claim 14 wherein said flour is a mixture of corn and wheat flours.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A homogeneous composition useful as an animal litter comprising an admixture of cooked alfalfa and gelatinized starch uniformally distributed one throughout the other to form said homogeneous composition in an expanded form.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A homogeneous composition useful as an animal litter comprising an admixture of cooked alfalfa and gelatinized starch uniformally distributed one throughout the other to form said homogeneous composition in an expanded form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An expanded pellet for use as an animal litter comprising a homogeneous dispersion of cooked alfalfa particles bound together with gelatinized starch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
An expanded pellet for use as an animal litter comprising a homogeneous dispersion of cooked alfalfa particles bound together with gelatinized starch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for the production of a homogeneous expanded alfalfa-based animal litter composition comprising: preparing an admixture comprising alfalfa and a starch source; extrusion cooking said admixture to form said homogeneous composition with said alfalfa and said starch uniformally distributed one throughout the other; and drying the finished product.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for the production of a homogeneous expanded alfalfa-based animal litter composition comprising: preparing an admixture comprising alfalfa and a starch source; extrusion cooking said admixture to form said homogeneous composition with said alfalfa and said starch uniformally distributed one throughout the other; and drying the finished product.
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) | 1983-06-10 | 1983-12-10 | 1984-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-10 | 1987-12-10 | 1988-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-10 | 1991-12-10 | 1992-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |