Cat litter scoop holder

Abstract

A cat litter scoop holder comprising a support member and a receptacle removably attached to the support member. In an embodiment, the receptacle is open at its top, and has three sides. When the receptacle is mounted on the support member, a pocket is formed, the pocket adapted to hold a cat litter scoop prior to and after use of the scoop. Flanged knobs extend from the lateral sides of the receptacle, and the flanged knobs removably extend into a corresponding number of apertures in the support member to hold the receptacle in place on the support member to form the pocket. To clean the pocket from litter and other debris, the flanged knobs are lifted upward and outward from their respective apertures in the support member, and the receptacle and support member can be readily cleaned.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a holder and support for a cat litter scoop. More specifically, the present invention provides a holder for a litter scoop, the holder mountable on a barrier surface such as a wall or door, and having a releasable and remountable receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Litter scoop holders are known in the art. Some litter scoop holders are fixedly attached to litter boxes, although not securely, and others are self standing on the floor. U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,114 discloses a litter scoop holder that is designed to be attached to a litter box. U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,807 discloses another litter scoop holder, having a pocket for receiving a litter scoop, the pocket designed to keep the scoop in an upright position, a base, open sides and an inclined wall.

Litter scoop holders disclosed in the prior art generally are placed on the floor or are attached to a litter box. These arrangements create clutter and are cumbersome to work around. Further, such scoop holder cannot be easily cleaned, particularly the bottom of the pocket where litter and other residue likely accumulates.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, as described in the detailed description of the invention by providing a litter scoop holder having a pocket that is detachable from and replaceable on a support member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cat litter scoop holder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cat litter scoop holder, mountable on a barrier surface, such as a wall, door, cupboard or fence with a releasably connected pocket forming receptacle to facilitate cleaning of the receptacle.

The litter scoop holder includes a support member, having at least one aperture of sufficient size to engage a screw or nail, to secure the support member to a barrier surface. The support member additionally contains a plurality of apertures for receiving knobs or flanges formed on a litter scoop receptacle. The litter scoop receptacle is of sufficient size for receiving litter scoops known in the art.

The cat litter scoop holder may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, wood, plastics, metals and the like.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment of one form of the subject invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a support member;

FIG. 2 is an interior view of the litter scoop receptacle of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled litter scoop holder with the receptacle mounted on the support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a support member (15) of a litter scoop holder assembly. The support member (15) includes a securing aperture (16) to secure the support member (15) to a barrier surface using nails, screws and the like. If desired, adhesive, hook and loop fasteners, or other suitable fastening elements can be used to secure support member (15) is to a barrier surface. The support member (15) may have multiple apertures to allow for additional security. The support member additionally contains a plurality of apertures (17) for receiving flanged knobs (21), shown in FIG. 2, that extend outwardly from litter scoop receptacle (20). The apertures (17) may be approximately ¼ inch to approximately 1 inch from the lateral edges (18) of the support member (15).

The shape of the support member (15) may be rectangular as shown in FIG. 1, or may be of a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, circular, oval, rectangular, polygonal, or any fanciful shape.

The support member (15) may also be of a variety of dimensions. In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member (15) is rectangular and has a height ranging from approximately 10 inches to approximately 30 inches. The width of the support member (15) may be approximately 5 inches to approximately 10 inches. Those skilled in the art will recognize the variety of suitable dimensions that may be used.

FIG. 2 shows views of the litter scoop receptacle (20) which include flanged knobs (21) that are configured to be releasably inserted into apertures (17) of the support member (15), for releasably securing receptacle (20) to support member (15). Each flanged knob (21) includes a side wall portion (22) and a downwardly extending flange portion (23). Side wall portion (22) of each flanged knob (21) is attached to upper and lower portions of parallel lateral wails (25) and (26), as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the positions of each flanged knob (21) correspond to the locations of one of apertures (17) when the receptacle (20) is placed adjacent support member (15). Also, all flange portions (23) extend outwardly from the rear end (24) of lateral walls (25) and (26), such that flange portions (23) may be received in corresponding apertures (17) as will be explained.

A proximal wall (27) of the receptacle (20) may taper to the bottom of walls (26) and (27) to form a concave pocket (28) of cup-like shape, or it may be tapered at a sharp incline, or at any suitable angle or shape such that pocket (28) suitably receives a litter scoop. The receptacle (20) has an open top (30) communicating with pocket (28) for receiving a litter scoop. A lid may be provided to cover open top (30) to contain any odor which may be present for the duration of the storage of a litter scoop, or for aesthetics.

The size of receptacle (20) is suitable for litter scoops known in the art or hereafter developed. In an embodiment, the height of receptacle (20) may be approximately 5 inches to approximately 15 inches, and the width may be approximately 4.5 inches to approximately 9.5 inches. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of shapes and dimensions will be suitable for use of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of an assembled cat litter scoop holder (10) in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The receptacle (20) is removably mounted on the support member (15) by inserting flange portions (23) of knobs (21) into apertures (17) and applying downward pressure on receptacle (20) until flange portions (23) engage each of the apertures (17). Receptacle (20) is easily releasable from support member (15), by lifting receptacle (20) upward and outward and removing flange portions (23) from apertures (17), for ease in cleaning of the receptacle (20).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scoop holder may be used for a variety of scoops, shovels and utensils. The holder in the present disclosure may also suitable for receiving any item with a handle which may also release debris, such as cooking utensils, gardening tools, barbecuing utensils, cleaning items such as pan scrubbers with handles, toilet scrubbers, hair bushes, animal brushes and the like.

While the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cat litter scoop holder comprising:

a support member adapted to be supported by a barrier surface, the support member including at least one aperture extending through the support member;

a receptacle comprising a first lateral wall, a second lateral wall and a proximal wall, said walls configured to form a portion of a pocket, the pocket adapted to hold the litter scoop; and

said receptacle comprising at least one flanged knob for releasably engaging said at least one aperture of said support member, said receptacle and said support member forming said pocket when engaged.

2. The cat litter scoop holder of claim 1 wherein said at least one flanged knob comprises a downwardly extending flange portion, said flange portion adapted to removably extend into at least one of said apertures and removably hold the receptacle against the support member.

3. The cat litter scoop holder of claim 1 wherein said support member includes a hole adapted to receive a securing element adapted to secure the support member to a barrier surface.

4. The scoop holder of claim 1, further comprising a lid to cover said pocket.

5. The scoop holder of claim 1, wherein said support member and said receptacle are made from material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic and combinations thereof.