Collapsible disposable cat litter box

Claim 2

A collapsible reclosable box, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular bottom panel; (b) a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel, the bottom panel and side walls forming an enclosure; and (c) collapsible closure means extending from the side walls, including: (i) a first top panel, extending from one of the side walls, (ii) a second top panel, extending from the opposite side wall, (iii) first and second foldable panels, extending from the side walls between the first and second top panels, and forming with the first and second top panels an upward extension of the side walls, the first and second foldable panels having score lines dividing each foldable panel into a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, the first and second foldable panels being substantially parallel to the bottom panel when folded, with the central portions folding inward on the enclosure, the first and second foldable panels further having score lines dividing each foldable panel into an upper and lower portion and constraining the upper portion of the first and second foldable panels to fold downward on and overlap the lower portion of the first and second foldable panels, said upper portions extending substantially the entire width of said foldable panels and being in contact at respective ends with the adjacent side wall, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the collapsible closure means, and (iv) a tongue of substantially the same width as the first top panel and extending therefrom for a sufficient distance to make the first top panel substantially longer than the second top panel, and so dimensioned as to be insertable in the space formed between the second top panel and the foldable panels when the collapsible closure means is folded to form a complete closure.

Claim 3

A box as in claim 1, further including means for providing a moisture-proof enclosure around the interior of the litter box.

Claim 4

A box as in claim 1, further comprising means for securing the folds of the upper portions of the side panels on the lower portions, the means including positive-radius edges on the vertical edges of the upper portions and slits defined in the corners formed by the side panels and top panels, whereby the positive radius edges lodge in the slits when the upper portions of the side panels are folded downward.

Claim 5

A box as in claim 1, further comprising means for frictionally securing the edges of the first and second foldable panels between respective adjacent side walls.

Claim 6

A collapsible reclosable box, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular bottom panel; (b) a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel, the bottom panel and side walls forming an enclosure; (c) collapsible closure means extending from the side walls, including: (i) a first top panel, extending from one of the side walls, (ii) a second top panel, extending from the opposite side wall, (iii) first and second foldable panels, extending from the side walls between the first and second top panels, and forming with the first and second top panels an upward extension of the side walls, the first and second foldable panels having score lines dividing each foldable panel into a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, the first and second foldable panels being substantially parallel to the bottom panel when folded, with the central portions folding inward on the enclosure, the first and second foldable panels further having score lines dividing each foldable panel into an upper and lower portion and constraining the upper portion of the first and second foldable panels to fold downward on the lower portion of the first and second foldable panels, said upper portions extending substantially the entire width of said foldable panels and being in contact at respective ends with the adjacent side wall, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the collapsible closure means, and (iv) a tongue of substantially the same width as the first top panel and extending therefrom for a sufficient distance to make the first top panel substantially longer than the second top panel, and so dimensioned as to be insertable in the space formed between the second top panel and the foldable panels when the collapsible closure means is folded to form a complete closure; and (d) means for frictionally securing the edges of the first and second foldable panels between respective adjacent side walls.

Claim 7

A collapsible reclosable box, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular bottom panel; (b) a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel, the bottom panel and side walls forming an enclosure; (c) collapsible closure means extending from the side walls, including: (i) a first top panel, extending from one of the side walls, (ii) a second top panel, extending from the opposite side wall, (iii) first and second foldable panels, extending from the side walls between the first and second top panels, and forming with the first and second top panels an upward extension of the side walls, the first and second foldable panels having score lines dividing each foldable panel into a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, the first and second foldable panels being substantially parallel to the bottom panel when folded, with the central portions folding inward on the enclosure, the first and second foldable panels further having score lines dividing each foldable panel into an upper and lower portion and constraining the upper portion of the first and second foldable panels to fold downward on the lower portion of the first and second foldable panels, said upper portions extending substantially the entire width of said foldable panels and being in contact at respective ends with the adjacent side wall, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the collapsible closure means, and (iv) a tongue of substantially the same width as the first top panel and extending therefrom for a sufficient distance to make the first top panel substantially longer than the second top panel, and so dimensioned as to be insertable in the space formed between the second top panel and the foldable panels when the collapsible closure means is folded to form a complete closure; and (d) means for frictionally securing the edges of the first and second foldable panels between respective adjacent side walls.

Claim 8

A collapsible reclosable cat litter box, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular bottom panel; (b) a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel, the bottom panel and side walls forming an enclosure for containing a quantity of cat litter; (c) at least an opposing pair of the side walls being of a height low enough to permit easy ingress and egress of a cat, said walls being characterized by an absence of cut-away portions for ingress and egress; (d) collapsible closure means extending from the side walls, including: (i) a first top panel, extending from one of the side walls, (ii) a second top panel, extending from the opposite side wall, (iii) first and second foldable panels, extending from the side walls between the first and second top panels and forming with the first and second top panels an upward extension of the side walls, the first and second foldable panels having score lines dividing each foldable panel into a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, the first and second foldable panels being substantially parallel to the bottom panel when folded, with the central portions folding inward on the enclosure, the first and second foldable panels further having score lines dividing each foldable panel into an upper and lower portion and constraining the upper portion of the first and second foldable panels to fold downward on the lower portion of the first and second foldable panels, said upper portions extending substantially the entire width of said foldable panels and being in contact at respective ends with the adjacent side wall, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the collapsible closure means, and (iv) a tongue of substantially the same width as the first top panel and extending therefrom for a sufficient distance to make the first top panel substantially longer than the second top panel, and so dimensioned as to be insertable in the space formed between the second top panel and the foldable panels when the collapsible closure means is folded to form a complete closure; and (e) means for frictionally securing the edges of the first and second foldable panels between respective adjacent side walls.

Claim 9

A collapsible reclosable cat litter box, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular bottom panel; (b) a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel, the bottom panel and side walls forming an enclosure for containing a quantity of cat litter; (c) at least an opposing pair of the side walls being of a height low enough to permit easy ingress and egress of a cat, said walls being characterized by an absence of cut-away portions for ingress and egress; (d) collapsible closure means extending from the side walls, including: (i) a first top panel, extending from one of the side walls, (ii) a second top panel, extending from the opposite side wall, (iii) first and second foldable panels, extending from the side walls between the first and second top panels and forming with the first and second top panels an upward extension of the side walls, the first and second foldable panels having score lines dividing each foldable panel into a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, the first and second foldable panels being substantially parallel to the bottom panel when folded, with the central portions folding inward on the enclosure, the first and second foldable panels further having score lines dividing each foldable panel into an upper and lower portion and constraining the upper portion of the first and second foldable panels to fold downward on the lower portion of the first and second foldable panels, said upper portions extending substantially the entire width of said foldable panels and being in contact at respective ends with the adjacent side wall, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the collapsible closure means, and (iv) a tongue of substantially the same width as the first top panel and extending therefrom for a sufficient distance to make the first top panel substantially longer than the second top panel, and so dimensioned as to be insertable in the space formed between the second top panel and the foldable panels when the collapsible closure means is folded to form a complete closure; and (e) means for frictionally securing the edges of the first and second foldable panels between respective adjacent side walls.