Patent US4271787A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4271787A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Disposable container with litter for animals

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-11-19
•
Granted: 1981-06-09
•
Expires: 1999-11-19
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A plurality of self-contained feline litter boxes is housed in stacked relation within a container having peripheral upright walls. Each litter box includes a removable top cover which, when withdrawn, exposes the contained litter material. As each litter box becomes soiled, the box is removed from the container and disposed of. The cover of the subjacent box is then removed, making fresh litter material available. The upstanding walls prevent any litter material from being scattered outside the container by the feline user.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gary L. Wellman
  • 👤 Carl P. Wellman
  • 👤 Naomi M. Wellman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 05:54
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/01; A01K1/0107; A01K1/0125

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 259 words
A disposable container with litter for animals comprising: a. a container including a base and substantially upright walls about the periphery of said base; said upright walls including a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls, said pairs of end walls and side walls having a lower portion of predetermined height and an upper portion articulated to said lower portion and movable between a first folded position in which the thickness of said container is substantially equal to said predetermined height and a second unfolded position, said upper portion including means for interlocking said upright walls in said second unfolded position; and, b. at least two litter boxes, each of said boxes including a bottom, upstanding walls about the periphery of said bottom, and a cover connected to said walls and vertically spaced from said bottom, said cover including a removable portion, each of said boxes being substantially filled with animal litter material, said boxes being initially disposed in stacked relation within said container so that each of said boxes is opened, used, withdrawn from said container, and disposed of in consecutive fashion, the combined height of said litter boxes being substantially equal to said predetermined height so that said litter boxes are snugly confined by said upper portion of said upright walls in said first folded position thereof, said upright walls of said container being higher than the combined height of said litter boxes in said second unfolded position so as to prevent litter material from being scattered outside said container by an animal user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 259 words
A disposable container with litter for animals comprising: a. a container including a base and substantially upright walls about the periphery of said base; said upright walls including a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls, said pairs of end walls and side walls having a lower portion of predetermined height and an upper portion articulated to said lower portion and movable between a first folded position in which the thickness of said container is substantially equal to said predetermined height and a second unfolded position, said upper portion including means for interlocking said upright walls in said second unfolded position; and, b. at least two litter boxes, each of said boxes including a bottom, upstanding walls about the periphery of said bottom, and a cover connected to said walls and vertically spaced from said bottom, said cover including a removable portion, each of said boxes being substantially filled with animal litter material, said boxes being initially disposed in stacked relation within said container so that each of said boxes is opened, used, withdrawn from said container, and disposed of in consecutive fashion, the combined height of said litter boxes being substantially equal to said predetermined height so that said litter boxes are snugly confined by said upper portion of said upright walls in said first folded position thereof, said upright walls of said container being higher than the combined height of said litter boxes in said second unfolded position so as to prevent litter material from being scattered outside said container by an animal user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 75 words
A litter container as in claim 1 including a carrying case for transporting said container and said litter boxes enclosed therein, said carrying case comprising a hollow rectangular in cross-section cylinder having at least one open end, the size and shape of the inner dimensions of said hollow cylinder being such as slidably to accommodate said container in said first folded position and said enclosed litter boxes, said carrying case further including an exterior handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A litter container as in claim 2 wherein said container and said litter boxes are made of chipboard or like material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A litter container as in claim 3 wherein the interior surfaces of said litter boxes are coated with a scented wax.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A litter container as in claim 4 wherein said removable cover portion of said litter box cover is defined by perforations enabling said removable cover portion to be separated readily from said litter box cover.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3085550A Cited
US3198328A Cited
US3743170A Cited
DE2737617A1 Cited
US4171680A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-06-08 1984-12-08 1985-06-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-06-08 1988-12-08 1989-06-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-06-08 1992-12-08 1993-06-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag