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US5101771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Animal litter with biodegradable clumping agent
Assignee: Oil Dri Corp of America
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Filing: 1991-07-05
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Granted: 1992-04-07
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Expires: 2011-07-05
Abstract
Abstract The animal litter that forms clumps upon wetting by the animal is constituted by particulate non-swelling clay and an organic clumping agent distributed over individual clay particles in an oleaginous vehicle such as mineral oil. A preferred organic clumping agent is a cellulose ether, e.g., hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Robert Goss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/015; A01K1/0152; A01K1/0155; A01K1/0154
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
A particulate, free flowing but clumpable animal litter composition which comprises discrete non-swelling clay particles having a water-soluble organic resin clumping agent dispersed in an oleaginous liquid vehicle on the surface of said clay particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A particulate, free flowing but clumpable animal litter composition which comprises discrete non-swelling clay particles having a water-soluble organic resin clumping agent dispersed in an oleaginous liquid vehicle on the surface of said clay particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 1 further characterized in that the organic water soluble resin is a cellulose ether.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The composition of claim 2 further characterized in that the cellulose ether is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 2 further characterized in that the cellulose ether is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 1 further characterized in that the non-swelling clay is Smectite.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The composition of claim 1 further characterized in that the non-swelling clay particles have a particle size in the range of about 20 to about 60 mesh, U.S. Sieve Series.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The composition of claim 1 further characterized in that the oleaginous liquid vehicle is mineral oil, and a non-ionic emulsifier having an HLB value of at least about 10 is also present on the clay particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
An animal litter composition which comprises: discrete non-swelling clay particles having a particle size that passes through a 4 mesh screen but is retained on a 60 mesh screen, U.S. Sieve Series; mineral oil, present in the clay particles in an amount in the range of about 2 to about 20 weight percent, based on the weight of clay; a non-ionic emulsifier having an HLB value of at least about 10 and present in the clay particles in an amount in the range of about 0.2 to about 1.6 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay; and a cellulose ether clumping agent dispersed in the mineral oil and present in the clay particles in an amount in the range of about 0.25 to about 5 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
An animal litter composition which comprises: discrete non-swelling clay particles having a particle size that passes through a 4 mesh screen but is retained on a 60 mesh screen, U.S. Sieve Series; mineral oil, present in the clay particles in an amount in the range of about 2 to about 20 weight percent, based on the weight of clay; a non-ionic emulsifier having an HLB value of at least about 10 and present in the clay particles in an amount in the range of about 0.2 to about 1.6 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay; and a cellulose ether clumping agent dispersed in the mineral oil and present in the clay particles in an amount in the range of about 0.25 to about 5 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The animal litter composition in accordance with claim 8 wherein the mineral oil is present in an amount in the range of about 5 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay; the non-ionic emulsifier is present in an amount in the range of about 0.3 to about 0.6 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay; and the cellulose ether is present in an amount in the range of about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The animal litter composition in accordance with claim 9 wherein the cellulose ether is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and is present in an amount in the range of about 0.75 to about 1.5 weight percent, based on the weight of the clay.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
47 words
A method for the preparation of free flowing particulate animal litter that clumps upon contact with an aqueous liquid which comprises the steps of: providing a suspension of a water-soluble resin clumping agent in an oleaginous vehicle; and distributing said suspension substantially uniformly over particulate, non-swelling clay.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
47 words
A method for the preparation of free flowing particulate animal litter that clumps upon contact with an aqueous liquid which comprises the steps of: providing a suspension of a water-soluble resin clumping agent in an oleaginous vehicle; and distributing said suspension substantially uniformly over particulate, non-swelling clay.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the distributing is effected by spraying.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said clumping agent is a cellulose ether.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said clumping agent is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said suspension includes a non-ionic emulsifier having an HLB value of at least about 10.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said oleaginous vehicle is mineral oil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said non-swelling clay is smectite.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-07 | 1995-10-07 | 1996-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-07 | 1999-10-07 | 2000-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-07 | 2003-10-07 | 2004-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |