Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An animal litter composition comprising 1) a particulate water-absorbent, clayey component containing at least one water swellable clay mineral; 2) a water-soluble salt of carboxymethylcellulose CMC; and 3) a solid particulate deodorizing additive component comprising sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or potassium bicarbonate (KBC), the particles of which are substantially coated with a mineral oil, mixed with a powdered siliceous material having a bulk density significantly lower than the density of said SBC or KBC, said coated particles of SBC or KBC being stably adhered to and agglomerated with said particles of siliceous material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An animal litter composition comprising 1) a particulate water-absorbent, clayey component containing at least one water swellable clay mineral; 2) a water-soluble salt of carboxymethylcellulose CMC; and 3) a solid particulate deodorizing additive component comprising sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or potassium bicarbonate (KBC), the particles of which are substantially coated with a mineral oil, mixed with a powdered siliceous material having a bulk density significantly lower than the density of said SBC or KBC, said coated particles of SBC or KBC being stably adhered to and agglomerated with said particles of siliceous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The litter composition of claim 1 wherein said clay mineral is a montmorillonoid or smectite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The litter composition of claim 2 wherein said clayey component is a comminuted bentonite and said at least one clay mineral is montmorillonite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The litter composition of claim 3 wherein said bentonite is a sodium bentonite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said CMC salt is a sodium CMC.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said CMC salt has a number average molecular weight of about 200 to 2000.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 6 wherein said molecular weight is about 700 to 800.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composition of claim 1 containing about 80 to 98 wt. % of said claey component and about 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % of said CMC salt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The composition of claim 1 containing about 90 to 95 wt. % of said clay and about 0.25 to 1.0 wt. % of said CMC salt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The litter composition of claim 1 also containing a fragrance having the property of at least partially masking unpleasant odors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The litter composition of claim 1 wherein said deodorizing additive component comprises sodium bicarbonate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The litter composition of claim 1 wherein said siliceous material is expanded perlite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The litter composition of claim 1 wherein said siliceous material has a bulk density of about 50 to 300 g/l
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The litter composition of claim 13 wherein said bulk density is about 70 to 150 g/l
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The litter composition of claim 1 wherein said clayey component is present in an amount of about 80 to 98 wt. %, said CMC salt is present in an amount of about 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % and said deodorizing additive component is present in an amount of about 2 to 20 wt. %, based on the total composition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The litter composition of claim 15 wherein said deodorizing additive component comprises about 80 to 99 wt. % of SBC or KBC, about 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % of mineral oil, and about 0.5 to 20 wt. % of siliceous material, based on the weight of deodorizing component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The litter composition of claim 15 wherein said clayey component is present in an amount of about 90 to 95 wt. %, said CMC salt is present in an amount of about 0.25 to 1.0 wt. %, and said deodorizing additive component is present in an amount of about 5 to 10 wt. % based on the weight of the total composition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The litter composition of claim 17 wherein said deodorizing additive component comprises about 92 to 98 wt. % of SBC or KBC, about 0.5 to 1.0 wt. % of mineral oil, and about 1 to 5 wt. % of siliceous material, based on the weight of deodorizing component.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition of claim 1 also containing zinc oxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 19 wherein solid zinc oxide has a primary particle size of about 5 nanometers to 10 microns.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of preparing an animal litter composition comprising first preparing a solid particulate deodorizing additive component by mixing sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or potassium bicarbonate (KBC) with sufficient mineral oil to substantially coat the particles of SBC or KBC while maintaining a solid particulate consistency, and blending said coated SBC or KBC with a siliceous material having a bulk density substantially lower than the density of said SBC or KBC to produce said solid particulate deodorizing additive component in which said coated SBC or KBC particles are stably adhered to and agglomerated with the particles of said siliceous material, and subsequently blending said deodorizing additive component with a particulate water absorbent clayey component containing at least one water-swellable clay mineral and a water soluble salt of carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of preparing an animal litter composition comprising first preparing a solid particulate deodorizing additive component by mixing sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or potassium bicarbonate (KBC) with sufficient mineral oil to substantially coat the particles of SBC or KBC while maintaining a solid particulate consistency, and blending said coated SBC or KBC with a siliceous material having a bulk density substantially lower than the density of said SBC or KBC to produce said solid particulate deodorizing additive component in which said coated SBC or KBC particles are stably adhered to and agglomerated with the particles of said siliceous material, and subsequently blending said deodorizing additive component with a particulate water absorbent clayey component containing at least one water-swellable clay mineral and a water soluble salt of carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 21 wherein a powdered fragrance preblend prepared by blending a fragrance carrier with a perfume oil, is incorporated into said litter composition at any point separate from the initial mixing of SBC or KBC, mineral oil and siliceous material in said deodorizing additive component.