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Title:
CAT LITTER BOX WITH 3-FOLD ROTATIONAL SYMMETRICAL CLEANING MECHANISM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/057379
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A cat litter box with integrated cleaning mechanism to provide a simple-to-use, ultra-sanitary approach to the containment, collection, and short term storage of cat feces and urine. Litter box comprised of a sealed enclosure housing a semicylindrical, removable tray to contain litter and waste, a rotating cleaning mechanism to separate waste from litter, and a removable waste cartridge to accept gathered waste and store it for eventual permanent disposal. The cleaning mechanism, by way of its circular, repeatable path through the semicylindrical litter tray, as well as the 3-fold rotational symmetry of its independently rotating rake, simply and efficiently accomplishes two essential cleaning functions: the separation of waste from soiled litter within a litter tray, and the deposition of that waste into a separate waste cartridge.

Inventors:
CANUK DESIGN GROUP (CA)
SPRAU WARREN GLEN (CA)
FARMER NICOLA REX (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/CA2009/001713
Publication Date:
May 19, 2011
Filing Date:
November 10, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
CANUK DESIGN GROUP (CA)
SPRAU WARREN GLEN (CA)
FARMER NICOLA REX (GB)
International Classes:
A01K1/015
Domestic Patent References:
WO2003051105A12003-06-26
Foreign References:
CA2128425A11993-07-22
CA2596950A12000-01-17
US20050284390A12005-12-29
US5622140A1997-04-22
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Claims:
Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

Claim 1 : A manual or power-driven cleaning mechanism comprising a rotating u-frame bracket and independently mounted, 3-fold rotationally symmetrical rake, to separate and collect cat waste from cat litter by way of circular, repeatable, clockwise movements through a removable, semicylindrical litter tray, to subsequently deposit collected waste into a separate, removable waste cartridge, all integrated within an enclosure that provides maximum containment for the waste, without compromising sanitary conditions for the cat.

Claim 2: An enclosure, as defined in Claim 1 , which is comprised of four walls, a floor, and a lid to create a completely sealable enclosure for the litter tray, waste cartridge and cleaning mechanism.

Claim 3: An enclosure, as defined by Claims 1 ,2, in which the front wall has cutouts to support the insertion and removal of the litter tray and waste cartridge, as well as the operation of the handle and the entry/exit of the cat, to allow the cat litter box to be stored with only the front wall exposed.

Claim 4: An enclosure, as defined in Claims 1-3, which has inner cutouts on all inside surfaces that come into contact with the removable litter tray and waste cartridge, to create a sealed inside edge once both litter tray and waste cartridge have been inserted, to prevent the collection of urine, waste and litter upon their rims, to maintain a sanitary environment.

Claim 5: An enclosure, as defined in Claims 1-4, in which the lid is hinged to allow the cat owner easy access to the inside chamber of the litter box, to allow its inside surfaces to be easily cleaned without necessarily having to move the entire cat litter box.

Claim 6: An enclosure, as defined in Claims 1-5, which has a handle on both side walls to allow the entire cat litter box to be lifted with ease by the cat owner.

Claim 7: A cat portal and transparent cat flap, which allow entry and exit of the cat, and light into the enclosure, but together create a seal to prevent urine, waste, odor or litter escaping.

Claim 8: A removable semicylindrical litter tray, as defined in Claim 1 , in which the near semicylindrical shaped tray shape places all of the litter that it contains within the path of the rotating cleaning mechanism, ensuring all litter is raked and all waste collected.

Claim 9: A removable semicylindrical litter tray, as defined in Claim 1 ,8, in which the near semicylindrical tray shape creates an adequate depth of litter to allow cat to bury waste.

Claim 10: A removable semicylindrical litter tray, as defined in Claims 1 ,8-9, in which the near vertical sides prevent litter spillage as the rake exits the litter tray. Claim 11 : A removable semicylindrical litter tray, as defined in Claims 1 ,8-10, in which the tray can be pulled from the enclosure to empty litter from the tray and pushed back into the enclosure once litter has been replenished.

Claim 12: A removable semicylindrical litter tray, as defined in Claims 1 ,8-11 , in which the tray is lined with a nonabsorbent lining to prevent moisture from the litter being absorbed by the tray, creating a sanitary environment within the enclosure.

Claim 13: A removable waste cartridge, as defined in Claim 1 , into which waste is deposited by the cleaning mechanism during the course of its circular, repeatable clockwise movements through the litter tray.

Claim 14: A removable waste cartridge, as defined in Claims 1 ,13, in which the cartridge is curved in shape to prevent waste from gathering in corners, to allow ease of cleaning and removal of collected waste.

Claim 15: A removable waste cartridge, as defined in Claims 1 ,13-14, in which the cartridge is lined with a nonabsorbent lining to prevent moisture from the waste being absorbed, to create effortless cleaning and re-use.

Claim 16: A removable waste cartridge, as defined in Claims 1 ,13-15, which is of a size such that deposited waste can be stored for days at a time, to allow cat owner to empty contents at their own convenience.

Claim 17: A removable waste cartridge, as defined in Claims 1 , 13-16, which can be pulled from the enclosure to easily empty collected waste and pushed back into the enclosure once empty.

Claim 18: A waste compartment dividing wall which provides a physical separation between the litter tray and the waste cartridge, to help to maintain a sanitary environment within the entire enclosure.

Claim 19: A waste compartment dividing wall, as defined in Claims 18, which acts as a guide for the waste as it is being deposited by the cleaning mechanism into the waste cartridge.

Claim 20: A waste compartment dividing wall, as defined in Claims 18-19, which has a lid to provide a seal for the waste compartment, to prevent waste odours escaping into the enclosure and the outside environment.

Claim 21 : A u-frame bracket, as defined in Claim 1 , which is comprised of two parallel arms connected by a strut, and is connected to an operating handle via an axis pin through the front wall of the enclosure and fixed by an axis point to the back wall of the enclosure, allowing 360° rotation of the bracket in both directions (clockwise and anti-clockwise) upon the turn of the handle in either direction.

Claim 22: A rake, as defined in Claim 1 , which is composed of many equilateral triangular tines fixed with the same orientation, parallel to each other and equally distanced apart, upon an axis which rotates freely within the arms of the u-frame bracket. Claim 23: A rake as defined in Claims 1 ,22, which exhibits 3-fold rotational symmetry due to its shape and independent mounting within the u-frame bracket, allowing the rake to be in any point of its rotation upon entry into the cat litter tray.

Claim 24: A rake as defined in Claims 1 , 22-23, whose tines are of a size, in relation to the diameter of the litter tray, such that when they are contained within the confines of the litter tray, the rake is unable to pivot upon its axis within the u-frame bracket, forcing the rake to present a static surface as it is pushed through the litter to filter waste.

Claim 25: A rake, as defined in Claims 1 , 22-24, whose tines are spaced far enough apart upon its axis so that the entire rake can pass easily through the litter contained within the litter tray, creating minimal disturbance to the unsoiled litter, particularly with regard to its level within the litter tray.

Claim 26: A rake, as defined in Claims , 22-25, whose tines are spaced close enough upon its axis so that waste particles, which are larger than unsoiled litter particles, cannot pass in between the tines, causing waste to collect against the leading tine edge of the rake as the rake is pushed through the litter by the u-frame bracket.

Claim 27: A rake as defined in Claims 1 , 22-26, whose inability to pivot within the confines of the litter tray, relative to the u-frame bracket, causes its leading tine edge to become a horizontal surface upon its exit from the opposite side of the litter tray, providing a level, stable platform by which to carry waste that has collected upon its leading tine edge clear of the litter tray and the remaining, unsoiled litter.

Claim 28: A waste compartment lid, as defined in Claim 20, that is hinged to allow it to be opened upwards, away from the waste compartment.

Claim 29: A waste compartment lid, as defined in Claims 20,28, whose lip extends into the circular path taken by the u-frame bracket as it exits the litter tray, such that the lid is gradually pushed upwards upon its hinges by continuing contact with the arms of the u-frame bracket as it exits the litter tray, providing an ample opening by which waste can be ejected from the rake and into the waste cartridge.

Claim 30: A catch, fixed at an angle upon the waste compartment dividing wall, such that it projects into the circular path of the rake as it exits the litter tray.

Claim 31 : A waste compartment lid, as defined in Claims 20, 28-29, which has a cutout to allow it to open without contacting the catch located on the waste compartment dividing wall.

Claim 32: A catch, as defined in Claim 30, whose post's width is less that the distance between the rake's tines, and is positioned upon the waste compartment dividing wall such that the rakes tines are able to pass either side of the post.

Claim 33: A catch, as defined in Claims 30, 32, whose width is more than the distance between two tines of the rake, ensuring that the catch makes contact with the rake's tines as the u-frame rotates the rake past the catch's position on the waste compartment dividing wall.

Claim 34: A rake as defined in Claims 1 , 22-27, which, upon contacting the catch, is forced to turn in the opposite rotational direction (anti-clockwise) to the rotating u-frame bracket, turning the rake's leading tine edge into a slide whose angle increases as the u-frame bracket continues its clockwise rotation, allowing gravity to force waste to slide down the tines of the rake.

Claim 35: A catch, as defined in Claims 30, 32-33, whose angle of projection into the circular path of the rake ensures that the rake makes contact with the catch above the waste compartment dividing wall, such that the rake's leading tine edge extends over the waste compartment dividing wall as waste is sliding down the length of the tines, ensuring that the waste is directed into the waste cartridge.

Claim 36: A rake, as defined in Claims 1 , 22-27, 34, that continues to rotate anti-clockwise, due to the impetus supplied by its contact with the catch, so that it rotates past vertical, ensuring that all waste collected on its tines is jettisoned into the waste cartridge.

Claim 37: A u-frame bracket, as defined in Claims 1 ,21 , in which its 360° rotation returns the attached rake to its starting position above the right hand side of the litter tray, allowing subsequent cleaning cycles to be performed as required in order to sufficiently clean the litter.

Claim 38: A u-frame bracket, as defined in Claims 1 ,21 ,37, which, when rotated anti-clockwise, is unable to move past the lip of the waste compartment lid resting upon the waste compartment dividing wall, securing its arms in a horizontal position above the litter tray, to enable the tray to be removed from the enclosure, and allow unobstructed access to the cat via the portal.

Description:
Cat Litter Box with 3-fold Rotational Symmetrical Cleaning Mechanism

Description

This invention relates to a manually or power-driven cleaning mechanism integrated within a fully enclosed cat litter box for the sanitary containment and subsequent collection, removal and storage of cat waste, all in a manner that drastically reduces the requirement for direct human contact with said waste.

It is common with devices for automatically cleaning cat litter that they achieve their results through the use of complicated components and physical processes. This is due to the several cleaning functions that must somehow be accommodated, regardless of the design of the individual product, if the design is to completely automate the cleaning process. Cat litter must first be contained in a manner that keeps it separate from its surrounding environment. Cats must be able to gain access to the contained litter easily, yet be able to deposit their waste without unduly breaching the containment. Cat waste must then be separated from the litter occupying the litter containment, using some type of filtering/cleaning mechanism, leaving unsoiled litter behind. Collected waste must then be removed completely from the litter containment and placed in a separate containment area, one that is isolated from both the litter containment and the surrounding environment.

Devising an automatic cat litter cleaning mechanism that accomplishes all of the above- mentioned cleaning functionality is difficult. Current devices have either resorted to implementing a subset of the required functionality, or they have attempted to provide all of the functionality by way of complicated components.

A comparable self cleaning cat litter box design is Patent No. CA 2128425 by Joseph C.

Arbogast. Similarly to the present invention, Arbogast's design has a main containment area to hold cat litter, as well as a waste containment section for separated and collected cat waste to be deposited into. Its cleaning mechanism is a sifting screen that is designed to move in an irregular path that includes both the litter containment compartment, where it separates waste from litter, and the waste containment section, where it deposits collected cat waste. Enabling this irregular path involves the use of a crankshaft and a guide track, molded into the lid. Together the crankshaft and guide track move the sifting screen through the waste section, allowing it to filter out waste, before drawing the sifting screen out of the litter and back towards the waste containment section. Once waste is deposited within the waste containment section, the sifting screen is guided back to its starting position.

Both the crankshaft and guide track of Arbogast's design are complicated components within the main body of the cat litter box. Such complex components should, by their nature, create higher production costs and ultimately increase the price to the consumer. Also, since Arbogast's design includes the positioning of the cat litter directly within the main body of the cat litter box, it suffers the drawback of not having any means for complete, easy removal/replacement of the entire litter.

The present invention, by contrast, incorporates a more simplistic design to perform a complete cleaning cycle, one that includes collection, removal and storage of cat waste. Its entire cleaning mechanism rotates in a perfectly circular fashion defined by the fixed 360° arc of its u-frame bracket. This arc naturally encompasses the litter tray, which is shaped in a complementary fashion to ensure that the cleaning mechanism can filter through the entire litter, separating waste from unsoiled litter. Collected waste is then dumped into an adjacent waste containment compartment, but not by requiring the u-frame bracket to deviate from its simple, circular path (as is the case with Arbogast's design). Instead, its independently mounted, specially shaped rake, exhibiting a characteristic known as 3-fold rotational symmetry, is allowed to rotate in such a fashion that a portion of it completely clears the confines of the litter tray. At this point, the rest of the rake takes on the properties of a slide, allowing all waste held by the rake to flow down the rake, away from the litter tray and into the waste compartment.

The present invention is also designed so that cat litter sits within a removable tray inserted into the enclosure. The removable litter tray makes the periodic task of replacing the entire cat litter quick and easy.

Carlisi US Patent No. 5048,465 is also similar in intent to the present invention. It has a main, containment area to hold cat litter, as well as a waste containment section for the collection and storage of cat waste. As is the case with Arbogast's design, however, it uses a complicated mechanism to achieve its results.

Separation of waste from litter is accomplished in Carlisi's design by way of two carriers that move a cleaning rake laterally through a cat litter tray: one carrier drives the lateral movement of the rake, while the other maintains the course of the rake. The carriers are positioned within cavities protected by rubber vails to prevent entry of litter particles into the cavities. The vails are slit to allow pins connecting the carriers to the rake to move laterally through the tray.

By contrast, the cleaning mechanism of the present invention drives its rake through cat litter by way of a u-frame bracket that is rotated in a completely circular path. Cat litter is positioned within a tray that is within the rake's course of 360°, and whose semicylindrical shape complements the path taken by the rake. The simple, circular rotation required by the cleaning apparatus allows it is to be easily driven by either a simple handle, or by a motor, with or without a gearing mechanism.

At some point, Carlisi's design must force the rake out of the litter, in order to begin the process of physically removing the waste from the litter tray. This is done by using a stop pin to prevent the lateral movement of the rake, which results in the tines of the rake rotating upwards out of the litter. Once this is achieved, the rake clears the stop pin and continues its forward lateral movement with the rake now resting on a lip. In comparison, in the design of the present invention the rake is automatically withdrawn from the litter by the fixed rotation of the u-frame bracket upon which it is independently mounted.

Finally, Carlisi's design must deposit the rake's collected cat waste once the rake is moved laterally past its resting point upon the lip. Guided by the carriers, the rake tilts forward, sliding the waste down its tines and into the waste receptacle. Because the rake is not mounted in a completely independent fashion from its carriers, it cannot tilt very far into the waste receptacle.

The 3-fold rotationally symmetrical rake used in the present invention ensures that all waste collected by the rake is removed from the litter and deposited into a separate compartment. Upon exiting the litter tray, the rake's tines come in contact with a catch located near the lip of the litter tray. The catch forces the rake to rotate freely in the opposite direction to that being taken by its containing u-frame bracket, ejecting all waste that it is currently holding on its tines away from the litter tray and into the waste cartridge.

Overall, the number of complex parts involved within Carlisi's design can be directly linked to the final cost of the product to the consumer. The present invention will achieve the results desired but with a simplistic design, placing a competitive product within the market.

Subsequent patents have tried to improve on Carlisi's original design, including Thaler/Cheung CA 2596950 and CA 2276500.

Thaler/Cheung CA 2596950 includes a hood to enclose the litter box. The hood encloses the litter box to prevent litter being spilled and provide privacy for the cat. To ensure that the hood does not interfere with the lateral movement of Carlisi's cleaning mechanism, Thaler/Cheung have attached it to the extremities of the litter box. Their design involves the use of hood supports, inserted into openings along the side walls. The hood, made from a cloth material, is then draped or tied over the supports. The supports may also be sewn into the hood.

Thaler and Cheung's design creates many sanitary concerns. Cats are renowned for 'spraying' urine within cat litter boxes. The sprayed urine in this design could possibly run down the inside of the hood and collect in between the cavities containing the cleaning mechanism, and the inside of the hood. The urine could also collect within the sewn seams of the clothed material. If the hood supports are not sewn into the hood, urine could collect in between the hood and the supports. Cats are also known to eject cat litter during the burial of their waste. The litter could potentially sit inside the crevice created by the hood and the cavity creating a mess on the surrounding floor upon removal of the hood.

In comparison, the present invention's removable litter tray and waste cartridge are all designed from the outset to be contained within the cat litter box enclosure. Once inserted into the enclosure, the litter tray is flush with the inside walls of the enclosure, allowing sprayed urine to run down the walls back into the tray. The same is true of the waste cartridge. Once inserted into the enclosure, its walls are also flush with the inside walls of the enclosure, preventing cat waste from collecting anywhere but the bottom of the cartridge. The cartridge is curved allowing for easy emptying of the waste and cleaning. The walls and lid of the enclosure are to be made from a non-absorbent material to prevent urine or odors being absorbed, allowing it to be easily cleaned and thereby maintain highly sanitary conditions within the entire cat litter box.

The entrance of Thaler/Cheung's design is two overlapping pieces of cloth material from the hood. Sprayed urine could potentially become trapped between the two pieces of material, creating an unsanitary entrance for the cat. In comparison, the present invention has a solid hinged cat entry flap, which is flush with the interior of enclosure, allowing urine to run off the inside and back into the cat litter tray.

In drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the cat litter box invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the embodiments of the enclosure, the litter tray, the waste storage cartridge, and the cleaning mechanism, which is itself composed of a rotating u-frame bracket and an independently rotating waste filtering rake.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the embodiment of the enclosure, with waste cartridge, litter tray and cleaning mechanism removed, illustrating the seal provided by the cat flap.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the embodiment of the enclosure, with waste cartridge, litter tray and cleaning mechanism removed, illustrating entry into the enclosure by way of the cat flap.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the embodiment of the litter tray.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the embodiment of the waste cartridge.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism, comprised of a rotating u-frame bracket and independently rotating waste filtering rake.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the mounting of the cleaning mechanism within the enclosure, and its attachment to the external operating handle.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating its entry into the litter tray.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating its cleaning process within the litter tray.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating its separation and collection of cat waste from the cat litter tray.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating the manner in which it carries waste as it exits from the cat litter.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating the initiation of the process of depositing collected waste. Figure 13 is a close up detail view of figure 12, illustrating the tines of the cleaning mechanism's rake striking the catch upon the rake's exit from the litter tray and beginning to rotate around the catch post. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating the process of depositing collected waste.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating completion of the process of depositing collected waste.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating it nearing the completion of its 360° cleaning cycle, along with the subsequent sealing of the waste cartridge by way of the waste cartridge lid.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in disengage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating the resting place of the embodiment, the embodiment having been rotated anti-clockwise until coming into contact with the waste compartment lid.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the cleaning mechanism in disengage mode, set within the enclosure, illustrating the space created for the cat.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the embodiment in disengage mode, set within the enclosure of the cat litter box, illustrating the ease with which the litter tray can be removed.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the enclosure, illustrating the cutout sections that create flush surfaces for the litter tray and waste cartridge.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the enclosure, showing both the litter tray and waste cartridge partially removed.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the enclosure, illustrating the enclosure lid in an open position.

The four major components of this design are shown in Figure 1. Enclosure 1 provides a sanitary, sealed environment within which all aspects of cat litter containment and cleaning can take place. The enclosure front wall 6 (see Figure 2) has been made transparent in order to illustrate the inside of the enclosure. The enclosure houses a semicylindrical, removable litter tray 2 to contain litter and waste, a rotating cleaning mechanism (filtering rake 3 and rotating u-frame bracket 4) to separate waste from litter, and a removable waste cartridge 5 to accept gathered waste and store it for eventual permanent disposal.

Figure 2 illustrates the enclosure. It is comprised of front wall 6, back wall 7, left wall 8, right wall 9, bottom panel 10 and transparent enclosure lid 1 . Together the four walls, bottom panel, and lid help to create a sealed environment around the litter tray, waste cartridge, and cleaning mechanism, as well as a private setting for the cat. The enclosure is made of a non-absorbent material that prevents any moisture or odors being retained by its inside surfaces. The enclosure size is suitable for all sizes of cats and can be lifted with ease by use of handles 14 situated on the left and right walls of the enclosure. The lid 12 is attached by hinges 13 onto the back wall 7 of the enclosure, providing easy access into the chamber of the cat litter box, and is made from transparent material to allow light into the enclosure.

Both entry and exit from the enclosure by the cat are provided by cat portal 22. Cat flap 23 seals the cat portal when the litter box is not in use, as well as when the cat is inside the enclosure depositing waste. This prevents cat waste or litter from being ejected by the cat once it is inside, and prevents waste odors escaping once the cat has vacated the litter box enclosure. The cat flap is solid in structure and made from a transparent material to allow light to enter inside the enclosure.

Figures 3 illustrates cat flap 23 in an open position, situated above the litter tray opening 25, to show the sight line of the cat as it enters. The cat flap is opened by way of physical contact with the head and body of the cat, which pushes the cat flap up and into the enclosure upon hinge 24. After a cat has entered the enclosure, the cat flap swings to a closed position upon hinges 24. The hinges also enable the cat flap to swing outside the enclosure to allow the cat to exit.

Figure 4 illustrates the removable litter tray. This is the compartment within the litter box that contains both clean litter and cat waste that has yet to be collected and removed. It has a near semicylindrical shaped bottom 30, connecting front panel 28 and back panel 29. The bottom panel is fitted with a tray runner 31 which slots into a tray runner guide 27 fixed to the bottom panel 10 of the enclosure, securing the position of the tray and preventing it from moving from side to side (see Figure 8). Handle 34 is the means by which the cat owner slides the litter tray both into and out of the enclosure. It is collapsable to allow operating handle 41 to pass by it when in operation (see Figure 22). The litter tray can hold variable depths of litter, up to the height of the tines of the rake. The semicylindrical shape of the tray, by matching the circular path taken by the cleaning mechanism, guarantees that the tines of the rake pass through ail of the litter held within the litter tray, ensuring that all waste deposited by the cat can be collected. The near 180° curve of the litter tray prevents litter being pushed over the sides of the litter tray during the cleaning operation, since any litter that is pushed up the sides of the litter tray by the cleaning mechanism will slide back into the litter tray by the force of gravity. The litter tray is made from a nonabsorbent material to prevent moisture from the cat litter being absorbed, ensuring sanitary conditions are maintained within the enclosure.

Figure 5 illustrates the removable waste cartridge. This is the compartment within the litter box into which collected waste is deposited during the cleaning process, and subsequently stored until permanent disposal by the cat owner. It has a front panel 42, a back panel 43, left wall 44, right wall 45, and curved shaped bottom 46. The curved bottom allows the cartridge to be easily cleaned, by the cat owner, since it lacks any corners into which waste might gather. All surfaces of the waste cartridge are made from non-absorbent material to prevent moisture and odors from the collected cat waste being absorbed. The size of the cartridge accommodates the quantity of waste generated by multiple, complete cleaning cycles, thereby allowing waste to be stored within the litter box for days at a time, allowing the cat owner to empty it at their own convenience. Handle 47 is the means by which the cat owner slides the cartridge both into and out of the enclosure.

Figure 6 illustrates the cleaning mechanism. The cleaning mechanism comprises a filtering rake mounted to a u-frame bracket. The filtering rake is formed by a row of equilateral triangular tines 35. Every tine is fixed with the same orientation, parallel to each other and equally distanced apart, upon rotating axis 36. The gap between the tines is great enough to allow particles of unsoiled litter to pass in between them, and thus past the rake as it is pushed through the litter, but small enough so that waste particles, which are larger than unsoiled litter particles, cannot pass in between them, causing waste to collect against the tines. The rake is independently mounted to the u-frame bracket arms 39. This independent mounting allows the rake to rotate freely upon its own axis 36 within the u-frame bracket. The shape of the tines, and the 360° rotation of the axis 36 upon which they are mounted, creates 3-fold rotational symmetry, which is the principle design feature behind this invention's ability to collect and dispose of waste in a simple fashion. The arms of the u-frame bracket are connected by strut 40 to add strength and stability to the structure of the bracket as it turns and cleans, and to act as a barrier to shield the cat from the rake's tines.

Figure 7 illustrates how the cleaning mechanism is mounted to the inside of the enclosure by axis pins 37 and 38 of its u-frame bracket. Front wall 6 has been made transparent for the purposes of this illustration. Axis pin 37 is inserted into hole 21 {see Figure 3) in the front wall 6 of the enclosure, while axis pin 38 is inserted into hole 20 (see Figure 3) in the enclosure's back wall 7. Axis pin 37 extends completely through hole 21 to attach to operating handle 41. Turning the operating handle clockwise causes both axis pins to rotate clockwise, turning the attached cleaning mechanism through a 360° clockwise cycle. This is the process of the cleaning mechanism in engage mode.

Figures 8 to 16 illustrate the stages of engage mode; the process by which waste is separated from litter within the litter tray and deposited into the waste cartridge, all within one or more 360° clockwise rotations of the cleaning mechanism. In order to present this clearly, the diagrams have front wall 6 of the litter box enclosure, and front panel 28 of the litter tray, omitted, and the cleaning mechanism has been made transparent.

Figure 8 illustrates the first stage of engage mode, at which point the cleaning mechanism enters the litter tray. The 3-fold rotational symmetry of the rake allows it to have any orientation at this point. Once any part of the rake (in this example side A-C of its tines) strikes the curve of litter tray 30, the rake is forced to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction upon its axis 36, turning one point of the rake (in this example point A) in a downward trajectory into the litter tray. Once the entire rake has been driven inside the cat litter tray, by further clockwise rotation of the cleaning mechanism, the specific length of the sides of its tines 35 and the diameter of the inside of the litter tray 30 are such that the rake is unable to pivot relative to its containing u-frame bracket. This forces the rake to present a static surface, relative to the litter tray, one that is well-suited to filtering waste from litter.

Figure 9 illustrates the tines 35 of the rake passing through the litter 32 in this relatively static position, allowing unsoiied litter to pass in between each tine.

Figure 10 illustrates the waste collecting stage of engage mode. Cat waste 33, buried within or sat upon the litter, is unable to pass easily between the rake's tines 35, especially if the waste has been caused to clump through use of a clumping cat litter. Cat waste is forced to gather against the static leading edge of the rake (in this example side A-B) and is pushed through the remaining litter.

Figure 11 illustrates the exit of the rake from the litter 32, but not yet litter tray 30. One side of the rake's tines (in this example side A-C) still serves to hold the entire rake firmly against the inside of the tray, while the upward curve of the tray eventually causes the leading tine side of the rake (in this example A-B) to assume a horizontal position. In this position it can easily retain all of its collected waste 33, transporting that waste completely outside the litter without allowing any to fall back into the litter tray. Any clean litter that is pushed up the curved wall of the litter tray will slide back into the bottom of the litter tray, once the cleaning mechanism's rake has passed.

Figure 12 illustrates the cleaning mechanism beginning to depart the confines of the cat litter tray. The arms 39 of the u-frame bracket are in contact with the underneath surface of the lip 52 of the waste compartment lid 48, causing the waste compartment lid to be gradually pushed upwards on its hinges 49. In its closed position, the lip of the waste compartment lid juts out into the litter tray, ensuring that the arms make contact. As the u-frame bracket continues on its circular, clockwise path, the waste compartment lid is forced, by continuing contact with the leading edge of the u-frame bracket, to open further, providing ample space for waste to be ejected from the rake and into the waste cartridge.

Figure 12 also illustrates the process by which waste ejection from the rake into the waste cartridge is initiated. As the rake clears the litter tray, the points of the tines 35 (in this example point A) located in the center of the rake, strike catch 51. The catch is attached to the top of the waste compartment dividing wall 11 , at its midpoint. The catch is designed to protrude slightly over the litter tray and into the circular path taken by the rake, ensuring that the two central tines of the rake make contact with the catch as the cleaning mechanism rotates out of the litter tray. This contact forces the entire rake to begin to rotate anti-clockwise upon its axis 36. Cutout 50 (see Figure 11) in the center of the waste compartment lid lip 52 allows the lid to be raised without making contact with the catch.

Figure 13 is a close-up illustration of the two central tines 35 of the rake making contact with catch 51. The two central tines straddle the catch post 54, while their top surfaces make contact with the underneath of the catch. Contact with the catch in this fashion causes the rake to rotate in an anticlockwise direction, which it is now free to do since the rake's leading point (in this example point A) is no longer restricted by the curved bottom 30 of the litter tray. The resulting anti-clockwise rotation causes the leading point (in this example point A) to protrude slightly over the waste compartment dividing wall 11. Figure 14 illustrates the progression of the clockwise rotation of the cleaning mechanism. This motion, in concert with the anti-clockwise rotation of the rake tines 35, caused by continuing contact with the catch, turns the leading tine side of the rake (in this example A-B) into a slide that overhangs the waste compartment dividing wall 11. The angle of the rake, which increases as the cleaning mechanism continues its clockwise rotation, allows gravity to force the collected waste 33 to slide down the tines of the rake and into the waste cartridge, through the opening created by the raised waste compartment lid 48.

Figure 15 illustrates how the impetus imparted by the rake tines 35 contact with the catch 51 causes the entire rake to continue to rotate anti-clockwise, resulting in the rake's leading tine side (in this example A-B) to rotate past vertical, positioning the side's trailing point (in this example point B) beyond the waste compartment dividing wail 11. This ensures that any remaining waste is forcefully ejected to the left of the waste compartment dividing wall. The inside surface of enclosure side wall 8 and the left side of waste compartment dividing wall 11 guide the falling waste into the waste cartridge.

Figure 16 illustrates the final stage of engage mode. The waste 33 resides within the curved bottom 46 of the waste cartridge. The cleaning mechanism has continued to rotate in a ciockwise direction, moving the arms 39 of its u-frame bracket beyond the waste compartment lid 48, allowing the lid to return by force of gravity to its closed position, seated upon the waste compartment dividing wall 11. This seals the entrance to the waste compartment, thereby isolating the collected waste. The cleaning mechanism continues to rotate clockwise to complete a single cleaning cycle, and position itself for another.

Figure 17 illustrates the cleaning mechanism in disengage mode. The primary purpose of disengage mode is to create space within the chamber of the enclosure to allow the cat ample room to use the litter tray. Upon the successful completion of one or more clockwise cleaning cycles, as shown in Figures 8 to 16, turning operating handle 41 in an anti-clockwise direction causes arms 39 of the u-frame bracket to rotate until they come to rest upon the waste compartment lid 48. The waste compartment lid's closed position is upon the waste compartment dividing wall 11. The waste compartment lid's horizontal lip 52 juts out into the litter tray so that the arms 39 of the u-frame bracket are unable to rotate past the waste compartment lid, when the cleaning mechanism is being rotated anti-clockwise. Cut out 50 (see Figure 11) in the center of the waste compartment lid lip 52 allows the lid to be lowered without making contact with the catch This creates a secure "off' position for the entire cleaning mechanism within the enclosure.

Figure 18 illustrates how the secure position of the cleaning mechanism in disengage mode provides optimum space for the cat within the cat litter tray. The rake tines 35 are outside the confines of the litter tray and are at the furthest point away from the cat portal 22, allowing plenty of room for the cat to enter and deposit waste. In this horizontal position, the u-frame bracket's strut 40 creates a vertical shield between the cat and the rake's tines, providing some separation. Figure 19 illustrates how the horizontar position of the u-frame bracket in disengage mode also allows for the cat litter tray to be removed to completely empty its contents, since in this position it and its attached operating handle 41 are clear of the path of the litter tray as it is being pulled from front wall 6 of the enclosure.

Figure 20 illustrates how the inside of the enclosure has cut out sections to enable both litter tray and waste cartridge to be flush with the inside surface of every wall that they come into contact with, once fully inserted inside. The cutouts create a seal by being the same width as the tray and cartridge sides.

Cutout 15 creates a flush surface between enclosure right wall 9 and the right side of curved bottom 30 of the litter tray. Cutout 16 creates a flush surface between enclosure back wall 7 and back panel 29 of the litter tray. Lip 53 of the waste compartment dividing wall 11 creates a flush surface between itself and the left side of curved bottom 30 of the litter tray. Cutout 25 (see Figure 2) of the enclosure front wall 6 creates a flush surface between itself and front panel 28 of the litter tray.

Cutout 19 creates a flush surface between waste compartment dividing wall 11 and the right wall 45 of the waste cartridge. Cutout 17 creates a flush surface between enclosure back wall 7 and back panel 43 of the waste cartridge. Cutout 18 creates a flush surface between enclosure left wall 8 and left wall 44 of the waste cartridge. Cutout 26 (see Figure 2)of the enclosure front wall 6 creates a flush surface between itself and front panel 42 of the waste cartridge.

This seamless design prevents cat litter and cat waste from collecting around the edge of the litter tray and waste cartridge.

Figure 21 illustrates that all features of the cat litter box, including the removable litter tray 2, removable waste cartridge 5, operating handle 41, and the cat flap 23 are located on front wall 6 of the enclosure. Ensuring that all features of the litter box are accessible from a single side allows the litter box to be situated in areas with limited access.

Figure 22 illustrates enclosure lid 12 in an open position, providing full access to the litter box enclosure for the purpose of cleaning inside surfaces, such as the enclosure walls, in order to maintain sanitary conditions for the cat, without necessarily moving the entire cat litter box.