US5176107A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pet litter
Assignee: Nestle Purina PetCare Co
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Filing: 1991-10-28
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Granted: 1993-01-05
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Expires: 2011-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A particulate material having liquid-responsive, adhesive material mixed with sorbent material in particulate form to be wet. After being wet, the adhesive material dries and causes particles that have been wet to adhere together in clumps that can easily be separated from the particles that have not been wet.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey J. Buschur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:50
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/015; A01K1/0152; A01K1/0155; A01K1/0154
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material to join together those of the particles activated by urine from pets, the weight of adhesive material being in the range of about 0.1% to about 25% of the total weight of the product; and sodium bicarbonate in the range of about 1% to about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material to join together those of the particles activated by urine from pets, the weight of adhesive material being in the range of about 0.1% to about 25% of the total weight of the product; and sodium bicarbonate in the range of about 1% to about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material being a starch and comprising about 2% to about 14% of the weight of the litter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material being a starch and comprising about 2% to about 14% of the weight of the litter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The clumping litter product of claim 2 in which the starch is a pre-gelatinized starch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The clumping litter product of claim 3 in which the starch is wheat paste.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The clumping litter product of claim 4 in which the wheat paste constitutes less than 5%, by weight, of the litter product.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material being a cellulosic product and the weight of adhesive material being less than about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material being a cellulosic product and the weight of adhesive material being less than about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The clumping litter product of claim 6 in which the adhesive material comprises a cellulose adhesive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The clumping litter product of claim 6 in which the weight of the adhesive material is at least 0.7% of the total weight of the mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The clumping litter product of claim 8 in which the weight of the adhesive material is at least 10% of the total weight of the mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The clumping litter product of claim 9 in which the weight of the adhesive material is at least 3% of the total weight of the mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The clumping litter product of claim 8 in which the adhesive material comprises at least about 0.1%, by weight, of the cellulose adhesive and at least about 2% by weight of wheat paste.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and Metylan Cellulose and the weight of adhesive material being less than about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and Metylan Cellulose and the weight of adhesive material being less than about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The clumping letter product of claim 12 in which the adhesive material is sodium carboxymethylcellulose and weighs between about 0.1% and 3% of the combined weight of the adhesive and litter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The clumping litter product of claim 13 in which the adhesive material comprises about 1% to about 3%, by weight, of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and between about 2% and 5%, by weight, of wheat paste.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The clumping litter product of claim 12 in which the adhesive material is Metylan Cellulose and weighs between about 0.7% and 3% of the combined weight of the adhesive and litter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The clumping litter product of claim 12 in which the adhesive material is methylcellulose and weighs between about 0.7% and 3% of the combined weight of the adhesive and litter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The clumping litter product of claim 12 in which the adhesive material is methylhydroxypropylcellulose and weighs between about 0.7% and 3% of the combined weight of the adhesive and litter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
119 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material comprising a mixture of at least about 0.1%, by weight, of a cellulose adhesive and at least about 2% by weight of wheat paste and the weight of adhesive material being less than about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
119 words
A particulate, clumping litter product for pets, said product comprising: (a) particulate, sorbent litter material; and (b) non-toxic, urine-activated, particulate adhesive material mixed with the particles of the litter material, substantially each of the particles of litter material having particles of adhesive material on the surface thereof to bind together only those of the particles of litter material jointly in contact with such of the adhesive material as is activated by urine from pets, the adhesive material comprising a mixture of at least about 0.1%, by weight, of a cellulose adhesive and at least about 2% by weight of wheat paste and the weight of adhesive material being less than about 25% of the total weight of the product.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
95 words
The method of making a predetermined quantity of a clumping litter product that comprises a final mixture of particulate, sorbent litter and a predetermined weight percentage of powdered adhesive material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing approximately equal weights of the particulate litter and the powdered adhesive material to form a substantially uniform mixture of the adhesive material and the litter; and (b) mixing a quantity of the substantially uniform mixture with a sufficient quantity of the litter material to produce the final mixture having the predetermined weight percentage of the adhesive material.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
95 words
The method of making a predetermined quantity of a clumping litter product that comprises a final mixture of particulate, sorbent litter and a predetermined weight percentage of powdered adhesive material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing approximately equal weights of the particulate litter and the powdered adhesive material to form a substantially uniform mixture of the adhesive material and the litter; and (b) mixing a quantity of the substantially uniform mixture with a sufficient quantity of the litter material to produce the final mixture having the predetermined weight percentage of the adhesive material.
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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) | 1996-01-05 | 1996-07-06 | 1997-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-05 | 2000-07-06 | 2001-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-05 | 2004-07-06 | 2005-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |