Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cat litter trays which are used by domestic cats for toilet use.

Background

The use of cat litter trays is common and widespread throughout the world, the litter box, sometimes called a sandbox, litter tray, cat pan, or litter pan, is an indoor faeces and urine collection box for primarily for cats, as well as rabbits, ferrets, miniature pigs, small dogs (such as beagles and Chihuahuas and other pets that instinctively or through training will make use of such a repository.

They are provided for pets that are permitted free roam of a home but who cannot or do not always go outside to excrete their metabolic waste. Many owners of these animals prefer not to let them roam outside for fear that they might succumb to outdoor dangers, such as weather, wildlife, or traffic (indoor cats, on average, live ten years longer than outdoor cats). A litter box makes it possible to shelter pets from these risks.

In the wild, cats naturally excrete in soft or sandy soil for easy burial. They use their paws in a backward sweeping motion to cover their faeces. To stimulate this instinctive desire, a litter box's bottom is filled typically with an inch (2.5 cm) or more of cat litter. Litter box filler is a loose, granular material that absorbs moisture and odours such as ammonia. Some litter brands contain baking soda to absorb such odours. The litter material also satisfies a cat's instinctive desire to use an easily dug material. The most common material is clay, although recycled paper "pellets" and silica-based "crystal" variants are also used. Sometimes, when an owner wishes to stimulate the cat's natural instincts, natural dirt is used.

Using a litter tray uses large amounts of grit which is placed in the bottom of the tray and must be replaced with fresh applications on a regular basis to remain hygienic. This is costly and these large bags have to be stored within the house which takes up large amounts of space. There is also a dust which is created and deposited from these small grit particles which can settle in a home and cause issues of dust and health problems due to inhalation, as well as environmental and further issues, to be highlighted.

Therefore, patent applications have been filed with some success to provide improved litter trays:

This is shown in patent W02007108891 (SPREITZER) wherein a cat litter box cleaning system designed to sieve waste clumps from cat litter. The cat litter box cleaning system has multiple layers thereby providing multiple cleaning operations. The layers consist of a sieving layer and a liner. The liner shields the sieving layer from the cat's claws and the sieving layer is used to remove the waste from the litter. Each sieving layer and liner releasably cooperates with the layer securing fixtures. The layer securing fixtures releasably attach the layers to a base and prevent the cat from dislodging the sieves or liners. The cat litter box cleaning system contemplates the use of disposable or reusable liners. The reusable liners may be stored in a storage compartment. In addition, the cat litter box cleaning system may include a rim releasably attached to the posts to help contain any litter that becomes airborne while the cat covers its waste.

Patent WO2013152723 (CHARETTE) discloses a pet excrement box, comprising an outer box (1) and an inner tray (2) able to be extracted from the outer box. The outer box opens to form a V-shape, wherein at least one side is provided with a recessed housing space (11) for housing the inner tray. A hanging part (21) is provided respectively along two sides of the inner tray perpendicular to the direction of opening of the outer box. The hanging parts hang along the side of the housing space of the outer box. The pet excrement box enables excrement to be quickly separated from cat litter and emptied out and the box can be quickly restored to normal. Ordinarily, a small scoop can be used to get rid of excrement on the inner tray, making the box easy to clean and convenient and hygienic.

Patent US20090250014 (JUAN) discloses a cat litter box has a housing and a tray. The housing has a bottom segment and a top segment. The bottom segment has a lower chamber, a front open end and a slope. The slope is formed in the lower chamber. The top segment is formed on the bottom segment and has an upright passage and a front entrance. The upright passage is above the slope. The tray is mounted in the lower chamber through the front open end. The cat litter box is configured to provide litter-cleaning procedures to cats so that a cat may drain in the cat litter box without bring inadvertently out litter particles to pollute everywhere to result in frequently cleaning of the indoor environment. Patent US20090194033 (MODLIN) discloses an array of disposable mesh liner bags are removably attached to a rigid flat insert that is held in place with retainers in the bottom of a pet litter box. Each bag has a center mesh and peripheral draw string to lift each bag individually. Litter is sifted through the mesh and solid waste lifted out and tied up in the bag for disposal. A solid mesh bag at the bottom of the array lifts out all of the litter after the top bags have all been used. A removable lid with a peripheral rim holds down the bags overlapping a top ridge of the box walls. A center lid opening admits pets to use the litter box.

Patent US8978588 (SIMON) discloses a litter box includes a tray having a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the bottom wall. At least one of the side walls has an upper portion that is moveable from a retracted position to an upright position. A plurality of bags are in the tray, each containing a layer of litter. The layers of litter are separated from one another by the bags. In another embodiment, the plurality of bags of litter are provided in an outer bag that can be placed into a tray. In use, upper portions of each bag are lifted over the side walls to expose the litter in that bag. After use, the entire layer of litter can be removed by removing the associated bag. The next layer of litter is then exposed for use.

Patent GB2313764 (BARKER) discloses a device which consists of two plastic trays A/B, one resting on top the other. The top tray which is removable, is perforated and has cat litter glued on or is moulded to simulate cat litter.

Patent GB2561398 (HAIDER) discloses a litter tray or toilet which may be used by a pet such as cat or dog has an upper section Figure 5, 1. The upper section has a perimeter wall with a circumferential hollow cut out open section. The tray has a bottom section, Figure 6, 2. The cavity or void of the upper section allows it to locate around an upstanding rim of the lower section, Figure 7. A liner, cover or lining may be placed on the interior of the base, the lining having a base and a substantially vertical sidewall that extends up the sidewall of the base of the litter tray. Thus, as the upper section of the tray is placed over the lower section the liner is held between the two sections. In use the side walls of the upper section protect the liner from damage by the claws or paws of the animal using the tray.

Patent DE102011118546 (KOCHWALTER) Discloses a disposable cat lavatory consists of a slipcase package (1) that is filled with cat litter (3) at a loading chamber (2). The slipcase package is securable, transportable, and reusable as a disposable litter box. A shutter is attached to the narrow side of slipcase package. An aperture is formed at the surface of the shutter, through which a handle (2a) is operated in closed state. The slipcase package and the loading chamber are made of recyclable materials. Patent US4766845 (BAVAS) discloses a cat litter pan system consisting of a permanent extruded plastic litter receptacle suitable for receiving therein a disposable litter tray and a two component cover section that matingly engages the plastic receptacle wherein the disposable litter tray is positioned adjacently to the cover section and is easily removed, disposed of and replaced with a new one.

Patent US5211133 (FOLEY) discloses a litter saver device is provided for removable placement in a cat litter box. The litter saver device includes a box like insert disposed within the bottom portion of the litter box, a pair of contiguously-aligned screens placed within the box-like insert and supported by inwardly-extending tabs, the screens adapted for supporting thereon a layer of granular material and the cat during performance of excretory functions. In an alternate embodiment, the litter saver device includes a perforated floor member integrally attached to the box-like insert adjacent a peripheral bottom edge of the insert, and a lock ring for securing a screen member beneath and contiguous to the floor member adjacent the bottom edge of the insert.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective cat litter tray which is less complex in its design and has a new perforated tray; which is claw friendly; allowing drainage into a collection tray base. The traditional litter grit is replaced by non-porous ‘cat pebbles or Kit-Grit’ to be washed and reused and the urine can be removed or diluted to be disposed of more easily therefore.

The present invention aims to provide an improved cat litter tray.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a cat litter tray which is composed of three individual sections, these are a main upper body section, a perforated urine tray and a base collecting section.

The main upper body section is presented as a four sided container with angled side walls forming the main structure. The side walls extend from an open rectangular base obtusely, with the open base having a convexly graduated seating rim around its entire edge. To the frontal side wall is a large opening through which the cat will pass, with all revealed edges being rounded and smoothed for safe use.

To either upper side of the right and left side walls are handle opening, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

The said perforated tray is laid into the open base of the main upper body section and seats exactly into the rectangular hole.

The main upper body section, with the seated perforated tray to its said open base, is then seated onto the base collecting section, as shown in Figure 2.

This is made possible by way of a connecting section which slides inside the slightly larger side walls of the base collecting section to rest onto a rim edge of the base collecting section. Once installed the perforated tray is held slightly above the waste collection surface of said base collecting section, to allow flowing urine to pass into it for collection.

To the upper surface of the perforated urine tray is placed pebbles or grit of a more smothered surface for ease of cleaning and usage. The perforated tray has a horizontal bottom surface which is made up of small square based dimples rather than a flat perforated sheet. Each dimple has sides which sink below the surface edges and has a hole in the lower centre to allow drainage through to the base layer section. The sunken holes provide more protection from cats being able to catch their claws, than if the base was flat. The holes providing drainage act as the alternative to replacing used litter grit and instead of the litter absorbing the urine, it runs through the non-porous ‘cat pebbles or Kit-Grit’ through a plastic mesh and into the base collecting section underneath. The urine can then be diluted and poured down a drain for easier disposal. The solid waste is scooped out using a scoop that allows small pebbles to fall through. The pebbles (after removal of solid waste) can be washed over daily with hot water to remove traces of urine and poured away. Alternatively, a fine non-porous Kit-Grit can be used which will mean far less is thrown away with the solid waste. The pebbles or stones, referred to as Kit-Grit can also be washed occasionally simply by adding to a bucket and cleaning with pet friendly disinfectant.

The benefits enable cat owners and other related carers; to include rescue centres; to require less money to be spent on cat litter as the said pebbles can be rinsed, washed and re-used. Kit-Grit should last much longer than normal cat litter as only a small amount is lost through waste, the pebbles and Kit-Grit are available to buy as and when replacement is required. This also reduces the storage needs from not requiring and moving large bags of cat litter. It should also reduce the amount of dust from cat litter being brought-in and trailed through the house on the cat’s paws. Potentially; it may also make it easier to collect urine samples - though this would need to be substantiated by veterinary advice. Further advantages extend to environmental improvements because by using a re-useable source and with less grit thrown away, it means less demand for wood, clay and other resources and limits the amount of waste going to landfill.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cat litter tray which has all the advantages of the prior art cat litter trays and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new cat litter tray which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cat litter tray which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cat litter tray which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cat litter traywhich provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the cat litter tray.

Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the cat litter tray sections.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the cat litter tray.

Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of the base layer section.

Figure 5 shows a dimensional view of a section of the perforated urine tray.

Figure 6 shows an end section view of the perforated urine tray with pebbles.

Figure 7 shows a larger dimensional view of a section of the perforated urine tray.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the whole perforated urine tray.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the cat litter tray is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the tray ensemble 1, which has a main upper body section having angled side walls 11, 12, 13 and frontal wall 4 and 19 with centrally opposed opening 6 through which the cat passes.

All angled walls 11, 12, 13 extend obtusely from a base with an opening into which a horizontal perforated urine tray 7 is placed, said angled walls having a singular planar interior wall surface 3 with a rounded rim 5. Handle openings 2 and 9 are provided on angled walls 11 and 13 for carrying the litter tray. The upper body section seats onto a rim edge 10, which is located around the top of the base collecting section 8.

A perforated urine tray 7 is seated to the bottom of the main upper body section over the opening in the base, as shown. Figure 2 shows the convexly graduated seating rim 16 onto which the perforated urine tray 7 A is placed. The said convexly graduated seating rim 16 encourages urine flow and any other waste down to the perforated urine tray 7A when being used.

The main upper body section is slid inside the slightly larger side walls 14, 15, 18, 21 of the base collecting section 8A, as shown. The main upper body section comes to rest onto a rim edge 10A of the base collecting section 8A.

Once installed the perforated tray 7A is held slightly above waste collection surface bottom 17 of said base collecting section 8A, by means of seating edge 20, to allow flowing urine to pass into it for collection.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the main upper body section having the angled walls 11B, 12B, 13B with interior 3B and frontal wall 4B and 19B with opening 6B, Handle openings 2B and 9B to either side and the perforated tray 7A in place for the cats urine to pass through.

In Figure 4 we see the base collecting section 8C having side walls 14C, 15C, 18C, 21 C around the collection surface bottom 17C and the seating edge 20C onto which the underside of the main upper body section comes to rest when slid into this base. The main upper body section also comes to rest onto rim edge 10C of the base collecting section 8C.

The perforated tray 7D is shown as a close view section in Figure 5 wherein the perforated tray has a horizontal bottom surface which is made up of small square based dimples rather than a flat perforated sheet. Each dimple has sides 23, 24, 25, 26 which sink below the surface edges and has a hole 22 in the lower centre to allow drainage through to the base collecting section. The action of urine drainage through the perforated tray 7E, is shown in Figure 6 wherein the urine passes through the holes, represented by a single example of many here as 22E, this has sides 23E, 24E, 25E around it with the pebbles or Kit-Grit 28 placed on top, as shown.

Figure 7 shows a section of the perforated tray 7F.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the entire perforated tray 7G.