US4646685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable litter box and sheet assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-10-25
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Granted: 1987-03-03
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Expires: 2005-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A litter box and sheet assembly, a panel of box-forming material, and a sheet secured to a central portion of the panel. The panel has side and end flaps free of the sheet which may be folded upwardly from a central portion of the panel to form a litter box for cats.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary M. Arenz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:37
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/01; A01K1/0107; A01K1/0125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A litter box and protective underlayment and disposal sheet assembly comprising, an open-top box having a stiff rectangular base panel having rectilinear margins and upstanding sides joined to the margins of the base panel and projecting upwardly therefrom operable to confine a bed of litter material deposited within the box attractive to animal usage, a flexible sheet joined to the underside of the base panel of said box and unjoined to the sides so that the sheet may lie flat when placed on a support such as a floor with the box sides extending upwardly from the sheet, said sheet being joined to the base panel at a region of the sheet spaced inwardly from the sheet's edges and the sheet having sufficient expanse extending from said region to enable marginal portions of the sheet with the sheet laying flat to provide a protective barrier for the box in zones encompassing the base of the box and to enable said marginal portions to come together with the sheet brought into closing relation over the top of the box, and means connecting with the sheet adjacent at least an edge thereof for holding the sheet edges together with such brought into closing relation over the top of the box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A litter box and protective underlayment and disposal sheet assembly comprising, an open-top box having a stiff rectangular base panel having rectilinear margins and upstanding sides joined to the margins of the base panel and projecting upwardly therefrom operable to confine a bed of litter material deposited within the box attractive to animal usage, a flexible sheet joined to the underside of the base panel of said box and unjoined to the sides so that the sheet may lie flat when placed on a support such as a floor with the box sides extending upwardly from the sheet, said sheet being joined to the base panel at a region of the sheet spaced inwardly from the sheet's edges and the sheet having sufficient expanse extending from said region to enable marginal portions of the sheet with the sheet laying flat to provide a protective barrier for the box in zones encompassing the base of the box and to enable said marginal portions to come together with the sheet brought into closing relation over the top of the box, and means connecting with the sheet adjacent at least an edge thereof for holding the sheet edges together with such brought into closing relation over the top of the box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the box sides comprise flaps joined to the base panel through score lines, and said flaps have end attachment means detachably joining adjacent ends of the flaps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein each respective side comprises a flap joined to the base panel through a score line, each corner of the box being formed by a pair of flaps having adjacent ends that overlap, opposed portions of said overlapping adjacent ends having a detachable hook and loop fastener means detachably securing them together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The litter box of claim 3, which further includes at least a score line extending across the base panel of the box between ends of the box promoting folding of the box with ends moving toward each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a substantially rectangular panel of stiff material including a rectangular central portion bounded by four substantially straight margins and an elongate flap joined to each of said margins through a score line, such central portion lying in a plane and said flaps lying in or substantially in said plane, a flexible sheet joined to one side of said rectangular central portion and unjoined to said flaps, said sheet having marginal portions folded over the other side of said panel to form an enveloping package, said sheet being unfoldable to extend in a flat state against a support such as a floor with said panel then being located on the top of the sheet, said flaps being foldable about said score lines to extend normal to said central portion at said central portion's margins, and attaching means for intersecuring the flaps when so folded to maintain said flaps normal to said central portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a substantially rectangular panel of stiff material including a rectangular central portion bounded by four substantially straight margins and an elongate flap joined to each of said margins through a score line, such central portion lying in a plane and said flaps lying in or substantially in said plane, a flexible sheet joined to one side of said rectangular central portion and unjoined to said flaps, said sheet having marginal portions folded over the other side of said panel to form an enveloping package, said sheet being unfoldable to extend in a flat state against a support such as a floor with said panel then being located on the top of the sheet, said flaps being foldable about said score lines to extend normal to said central portion at said central portion's margins, and attaching means for intersecuring the flaps when so folded to maintain said flaps normal to said central portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The article of claim 5, wherein one set of flaps have a length exceeding the length of the margins of the central portion to which they are joined, and another set of flaps having a length substantially equaling the length of the margins of the central portion to which they are joined, ends of said one set of flaps overlapping ends of said other set of flaps with the flaps upright, and wherein said attaching means intersecure said overlapped ends of the flaps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 6, wherein said attaching means comprises a hook and loop fastening means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-02 | 1990-09-01 | 1991-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-02 | 1994-09-01 | 1995-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-02 | 1998-09-01 | 1999-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |