Odorless animal litter unit

Claim 2

A container for use with a sorbent pad comprising, a self supporting structure having a base and four walls, sorbent pad laminate means for the collection of animal urine, comprising in combination; a sorbent layer of material having a high absorbency capacity for urine; screen means on the side of said sorbent layer opposite said base whereby said sorbent layer is protected from being torn by animal claws by said screen means, a lid member, said lid member having four inner walls and four outer walls spaced from said four inner walls and dimensioned to receive said fours walls of said self supporting structure between said four inner walls and said four outer walls, wherein said sorbent pad is positioned in said self supporting structure and is dimensioned such that it completely covers said base of said self supporting structure, said lid member being dimensioned such that the lower edge of said inner walls engages said sorbent pad laminate and compresses said laminate against said base, thereby providing securing means, for securing said sorbent pad to said self supporting container and preventing relative movement of said sorbent pad and said self supporting structure.

Claim 3

A container for use with an sorbent pad comprising, a self supporting structure having a base and four walls, sorbent pad laminate means for the collection of animal urine, comprising in combination: a sheet layer of moisture impermeable material; a sorbent layer of material having a high absorbency capacity for urine; screen means on the side of said sorbent layer opposite said sheet layer, said screen means being a mesh having at least most of the mesh forming strands adhered to each other at the strand interstices; whereby said sorbent layer is protected from being torn by animal claws by said screen means securing means, said securing means fixing said sorbent pad to said self supporting container and preventing relative movement of said sorbent pad and said self supporting structure; and further comprising a lid member, said lid member having four inner walls and four outer walls spaced from said four inner walls and dimensioned to receive said fours walls of said self supporting structure between said four inner walls and said four outer walls; and wherein said sorbent pad is positioned in said self supporting structure and is dimensioned such that it completely covers said base of said self supporting structure, said lid member being dimensioned such that the lower edge of said inner walls engages said sorbent pad laminate and compresses said laminate against said base, whereby said screen is restrained against movement which can be caused by the clawing action of an animal.

Claim 4

A container for use with an sorbent pad comprising, a self supporting structure having a base and four walls, sorbent pad laminate means for the collection of animal urine, comprising in combination: a sheet layer of moisture impermeable material; a sorbent layer of material having a high absorbency capacity for urine; screen means on the side of said sorbent layer opposite said sheet layer, said screen means being a mesh having at least most of the mesh forming strands adhered to each other at the strand interstices; whereby said sorbent layer is protected from being torn by animal claws by said screen means securing means, said securing means fixing said sorbent pad to said self supporting container and preventing relative movement of said sorbent pad and said self supporting structure; and further comprising a lid member, said lid member having four inner walls and four outer walls spaced from said four inner walls and dimensioned to receive said fours walls of said self supporting structure between said four inner walls and said four outer walls; and wherein said sorbent pad is positioned in said self supporting structure and is dimensioned such that it completely covers said base of said self supporting structure, said lid member being dimensioned such that the lower edge of said inner walls engages said sorbent pad laminate and compresses said laminate against said base, whereby said screen is restrained against movement which can be caused by the clawing action of an animal.

Claim 5

The container of claim 2, wherein said self supporting structure is made of paperboard.

Claim 6

The container structure of claim 2, further comprising locking means, said locking means serving to lock said self supporting structure against said lid member and compress said sorbent laminate there between.

Claim 7

The container structure of claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises an opening in each of two opposite outer walls, said self supporting structure having an outwardly extending flange extending from the upper edge of each of at least two walls, said two walls being positioned proximate said each of two opposite outer walls, and clamp means, said clamp means being positioned such that it has a first end which passes through said opening and engages the lower edge of an outwardly extending flange forcing said flange and said base outwardly and a second end which engages a top surface of said lid member forcing said lid member downwardly against said base member, whereby said sorbent laminate is clamped in the locked position precluding movement of said screen relative to said container structure.

Claim 8

The container structure of claim 5, wherein said clamp means has an essentially "C"-shaped cross section.