Having Means For Separating Waste From Absorbent Material Patents (Class 119/166)
  • Patent number: 12239093
    Abstract: A cat litter box, including a main body, a moving part and a mounting part, wherein the main body includes side walls, a linear slot is disposed in each of the linear slots, and a traveling rack and a first lift driving rack are disposed in the linear slot; a driving motor and a shaft part are disposed on the moving part, the driving motor is connected with a traveling gear, the traveling gear is meshed with the traveling rack, the shaft part is rotatably disposed on the moving part, a transmission gear and a lift driving gear are disposed on the shaft part, and the transmission gear is meshed with the first lift driving rack; and the mounting part is disposed on the moving part in a liftable way and is connected with rake teeth, and a lifting rack is disposed on the mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Jiangsu Schwarzwald Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ruiyuan Mao
  • Patent number: 12185692
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a scoop-type cat toilet. The scoop-type cat toilet includes a housing having at least one opening through which a cat enters or exits an internal space of the housing, an excrement box having excrement sand, rails provided on inner surfaces of two opposite lateral surfaces of the housing, a collection part including gear boxes having gears configured to move along the rails, and a scooper connected to the gear boxes and configured to scoop and move excrement mixed with the excrement sand, and a collection box configured to accommodate the excrement moved by the collection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: VALIANTX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taehyun Kim, Doosan Baek, Susang Park
  • Patent number: 12127529
    Abstract: An automated self-cleaning litter box (20) includes a guide arrangement (114) to allow for slidably mounting a disposable litter receptacle (40) The litter box can include a ramp (30) with a catch basin (142) and removable mat (146).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin Anderson, Ron Wright, Brent Demaske, Adam Favia, William D. Himes
  • Patent number: 12096744
    Abstract: A disposable kitty litter box is provided. The disposable kitty litter box includes a base portion and a plurality of layer portions each including a plurality of apertures. In an assembled configuration, the plurality of apertures of each layer portion of the plurality of layer portions are offset from each other to keep kitty litter from passing between a plurality of apertures of a top layer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Inventor: Steve Sareyani
  • Patent number: 12075750
    Abstract: A cat litter box includes a shell assembly, a rotary drum, and a driving assembly. The shell assembly includes a top shell, a middle shell, and a bottom shell arranged in sequence in a vertical direction. An excrement collection compartment is arranged inside the bottom shell. The excrement collection compartment is arranged opposite to the middle shell. The top shell is detachably connected to the middle shell. The middle shell is detachably connected to the bottom shell. A mounting cavity is formed between the top shell and the middle shell. The rotary drum is rotatably arranged in the mounting cavity. The driving assembly is detachably connected to the middle shell, and includes a driving unit. The driving unit is drivingly connected to the rotary drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: JIANGSU ZHONGHENG PET ARTICLES JOINT-STOCK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhengjun Zhou, Liang Gu, Min Chen, Jianchun Chen, Tao Yang, Fen Xie
  • Patent number: 12058977
    Abstract: An automated litter device having: a) a chamber configured to hold litter to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the one or more conditions; d) a controller in communication with the one or more sensors which is adapted to receive the one or more signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more positions of the chamber based on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and interpret the one or more signals as one or more status signals; e) a communication module in communication with the controller and adapted to communicate with a user interface via a network to transmit the one or more status signals to the user interface, receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface, or both; wherein the user interface is adapted to transmit the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOMATED PET CARE PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jacob Zuppke
  • Patent number: 12058976
    Abstract: An automated litter device having: a) a chamber configured to hold litter to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the one or more conditions; d) a controller in communication with the one or more sensors which is adapted to receive the one or more signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more positions of the chamber based on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and interpret the one or more signals as one or more status signals; e) a communication module in communication with the controller and adapted to communicate with a user interface via a network to transmit the one or more status signals to the user interface, receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface, or both; wherein the user interface is adapted to transmit the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOMATED PET CARE PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jacob Zuppke
  • Patent number: 12048289
    Abstract: An animal litter box and feeder are disclosed. Animals, such as rabbits, typically have an animal litter box and an animal feeder. The litter box disclosed is a multi-layer structure including a lower layer, at least one middle layer, and an upper layer. The lower layer is more rigid than one or both of the upper layer and the at least one middle layer, and composed of different materials than one or both of the upper layer and the at least one middle layer. For example, the lower layer may be rigid and composed of hard plastic, the upper layer may be semi-rigid and composed of paper, and the at least one middle layer may be non-rigid and composed of plastic. The multi-layer configuration for the animal litter box may be used in combination with an animal feeder in order to provide a combination animal litter box and feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: LeapHigh Animals LLC
    Inventors: Si Hyung Lee, Sean Sangil Hahn
  • Patent number: 12017253
    Abstract: A device for using a powder or granular product for absorbing fluids spilled on the floor or ground includes a container provided with a storage tank for storing the absorbent product, a tank for receiving the soiled absorbent product, and a sifting receptacle. The sifting receptacle includes, at the bottom, a strainer which is arranged above an opening in the storage tank and can be emptied into the receiving tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: SRI FRANCE
    Inventors: Bertrand Chomette, Frédéric Mathieu
  • Patent number: 11963512
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a pet toilet. The pet toilet includes a base and a litter bin rotatably arranged on the base. The base is provided with a collection chamber. A first opening is formed in a position, corresponding to the collection chamber of the base. A baffle plate is movably arranged at the first opening of the base; the litter bin is provided with a first joint portion. The baffle plate is provided with a second joint portion used in conjunction with the first joint portion. The litter bin is provided with a pushing member. The baffle plate is configured to be pushed when the litter bin rotates relative to the base by the pushing member and is lifted upwards relative to the base in the pushing process. The first joint portion is configured to be embedded with the second joint portion when the baffle plate is lifted upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Tieqiang Tang
  • Patent number: 11849700
    Abstract: A device is capable of filtering animal waste with an improved sifting method. The device includes a support bracket, a chamber attached to the support bracket, and a screen filter configured to locate within the chamber when the animal deposits the waste. The chamber has an opening adapted to accommodate the animal to deposit the waste inside the chamber. The chamber is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The screen filter is movable between a third position and a fourth position. The rotation of the chamber and the movement of the screen filter can be independently managed, thus achieving a better result for animal waste handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: PERKY CREATIONS (SHENZHEN) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chao Fan
  • Patent number: 11771050
    Abstract: A disposable kitty litter box is provided. The disposable kitty litter box includes a base portion and a plurality of layer portions each including a plurality of apertures. In an assembled configuration, the plurality of apertures of each layer portion of the plurality of layer portions are offset from each other to keep kitty litter from passing between a plurality of apertures of a top layer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Steve Sareyani
  • Patent number: 11612132
    Abstract: An illustrated view of a piddle patio for in care and maintenance of a small pet is presented. The piddle patio allows small pet owners the option to take their pets onto condominium, hotel and apartment balconies to comfortably eliminate, thereby avoiding the hassle of walking through a lobby, taking elevators and dealing with security. The piddle patio also allows those who are high-risk for contracting Covid the ability to avoid human contact and remain quarantined while still allowing their pets to go outside and enjoy fresh air in their own mini dog park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Melanie Gornick
  • Patent number: 11576343
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for detecting motion between two subassemblies, for example in or near a litter box. A first subassembly includes a first frame adapted for supporting a receptacle. A second subassembly includes a second frame adapted for resting on a steady surface. Connecting members connect the subassemblies such that relative movement between them can occur. At least a first position indicating member is attached to one the subassemblies and at least a first detector is attached to the other of the subassemblies. The detector is positioned proximate the first position indicating member so that changes in relative position are detected. Preferably, the device includes a second position indicating member and a second detector for detecting more precise changes in relative position. It is also preferred for each position indicating member to include a patterned marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Jerry Horanoff
  • Patent number: 11523586
    Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOMATED PET CARE PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jason Smith, Jason Weihman
  • Patent number: 11425885
    Abstract: A cat litter holding and cleaning assembly includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom walls. The perimeter wall includes a front side, back side, first lateral side and second lateral side. The front side has an opening extending therethrough for a cat to access an interior of the housing. A filter member is removably mounted in the housing. The filter member includes a perimeter frame bounding an interior area. A filter grid is mounted to the perimeter frame and traverses the interior area. The perimeter frame is extendable across the interior of the housing from the first lateral side to the second side. Litter positioned in the housing flows through the filter grid such that waste material in the litter remains on the filter grid when the housing is inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Mihai Manu, Magdalena Sawicka
  • Patent number: 11412704
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for pet excrement. The device senses a presence of a pet, determines whether a rotary unit is operating in response to the sensing of the presence of the pet, determines whether a weight equal to or greater than a first set value is applied to a load cell when the rotary unit is not operating, determines whether a weight equal to or less than the first set value is applied to the load cell when a weight equal to or greater than the first set value is applied to the load cell, and operates the rotary unit when a weight equal to or less than the first set value is applied to the load cell. According to the present invention, excrement removal, solid material supply, and excrement accommodation can be automatically performed by simply rotating a rotary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PurrSong, Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Gu Noh
  • Patent number: 11399502
    Abstract: An automated litter device having: a) a chamber configured to hold litter to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the one or more conditions; d) a controller in communication with the one or more sensors which is adapted to receive the one or more signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more positions of the chamber based on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and interpret the one or more signals as one or more status signals; e) a communication module in communication with the controller and adapted to communicate with a user interface via a network to transmit the one or more status signals to the user interface, receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface, or both; wherein the user interface is adapted to transmit the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOMATED PET CARE PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jacob Zuppke
  • Patent number: 11388885
    Abstract: A rearing cage unit includes an animal residential area defined by a floor, a ceiling, and a wall; an excrement collection area adjacent to the animal residential area; and an excretion sheet in the excrement collection area to receive excrement of the animal. At least one of the floor and the wall is made of a material including resin, and has an excretion hole to allow the excrement in the animal residential area to be discharged to the excrement collection area, and the excretion hole has a size that prevents four feet of the animal from entering the excretion hole. The excretion sheet faces the excretion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Toshimasa Ochiai, Makoto Ohira, Yusuke Hagiwara, Hiroaki Kodama, Hirochika Murase, Masaki Shirakawa, Dai Shiba, Hiroyasu Mizuno, Akane Yumoto
  • Patent number: 11317598
    Abstract: A litter box cover comprises an enclosure adapted to engage and cover a litter pan. The enclosure defines an interior volume adapted to accommodate felis catus (housecat) defecation, and has a feline transit doorway opening into the interior volume and which is adapted to accommodate felis catus ingress into and egress from the interior volume. A hood is movably coupled to the enclosure in registration with the doorway so as to be movable between a canopy position and a chute position. In the canopy position the hood extends outwardly from the enclosure to form a canopy over the doorway, and in the chute position the hood forms a guide ramp for guiding particulate material such as kitty litter through the doorway into the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Omega Paw Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Adrian Ebert
  • Patent number: 11284599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an animal toilet usage status management system, which is an animal toilet usage status management system including an animal toilet and a management server, wherein the animal toilet has a hole penetrating in the vertical direction at the bottom of the formed upper container, a lower container that receives urine passing through the hole, and a weight measuring unit that measures the weight of the upper container, the management server including a calculating part configured to calculate animal body weight and excretion information based on the measured weight transition change of the upper container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Hachi Tama Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Hori, Teruki Hirahata, Atsushi Hiroyama
  • Patent number: 11240990
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an animal waste collection and disposal apparatus that separates solid and liquid waste. The collection and disposal apparatus has a basin and a corresponding grate. The grate is placed on top of the basin and allows for any liquid waste to pass through, while retaining any solid waste on the upper surface. An absorption pad may be placed in between the basin and grate. The basin may have securement means located about at least one of its exterior edges, allowing multiple basins to be connected to one another so as to create a single, larger unit for use with larger animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Nancy McClain
  • Patent number: 11219189
    Abstract: Provided is a Three-Piece Nesting Cat Litter Device constructed of an upper top cover section, a middle interior insert section and a lower bottom tray section with the middle interior insert section having a shelf ledge to support an inserted non-stick paper, and a swinging flapper door for entry. Air filter odor eliminator sections are located on the door, the walls or the top surface of the top section. A liner bag is placed in the lower bottom tray section. A sheet of non-stick paper is placed in the insert section with cat litter being placed upon the non-stick paper. For cleaning, the middle interior insert section is raised and the non-stick paper and used cat litter material drops by gravity into the plastic bag to be disposed of quickly and conveniently without creating dust and odors associated with changing used cat litter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: Tiffany Du
  • Patent number: 11172645
    Abstract: A disposable kitty litter box is provided. The disposable kitty litter box includes a base portion and a plurality of layer portions each including a plurality of apertures. In an assembled configuration, the plurality of apertures of each layer portion of the plurality of layer portions are offset from each other to keep kitty litter from passing between a plurality of apertures of a top layer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Steve Sareyani
  • Patent number: 11129356
    Abstract: An innovative nestable cat litter box is disclosed herein for use with pellet-type cat litter such as, for example, pine pellets. The nestable cat litter box comprises a bottom collection box, a middle support shell removably attachable to the bottom collection box, and an upper sift box removably attachable to the middle support shell. The upper sift box may be characterized as further including a bottom screen that has a plurality of discrete screen regions separated from one another and further sub-divided within each discrete screen by a plurality of first, second, and third intersecting cross members. In certain preferred embodiments, the depths of the first cross members are greater than the depths of the second cross members, and the depths of the second cross members are greater than depths of the third cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: David Klatt
  • Patent number: 10959409
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer code products monitor the behavior, health, and/or characteristics of an animal. In one implementation, the animal is positioned inside a waste container placed on a system that is adapted to determine, record and communicate over a network various animal health parameters. These parameters can be processed to determine trends, statistics and changes of animal physiological functions. The results can be used to access animal health conditions and issue warnings, alarms, messages, and other notifications to designated caretakers. These notifications may be displayed using various devices such as computers and/or mobile devices. Data retrieval and review capability can provide improved understanding of an animal's health conditions and facilitate early illness detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
    Inventor: Alexander Triener
  • Patent number: 10905091
    Abstract: One embodiment of a scooping litter receptacle, which forms a compact cylindrical exterior design, contains a scoop device that can pivot within the base container which has a curved inner surface with no sharp corners or edges. The scoop is able to pass through the entire bed of litter granules in less than half a rotational turn, thus, separating waste material usable litter. The scoop can then be lifted from the litter receptacle by the handles so that the complete scooping process can be done by the user without the user coming into contact with parts that have traversed through the soiled litter mass. Also, the scoop device is not fixed to the base container which makes it easy to remove and discard the waste as well to remove for cleaning. Further, the base container is designed such that the scoop device can be stored inside the litter receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: James Leech
  • Patent number: 10757910
    Abstract: An animal litter box apparatus includes a main body having a base and vertical sides. A main body front side has a dual-walled construction including an exterior wall, a spaced-apart interior wall, and an upper edge adjoining upper ends of the interior and exterior walls to define an interior storage space. A compound opening is defined by respective cut-out portions of the interior wall, exterior wall, and the upper edge. A magnetic coupling element within the interior storage space cooperates with a corresponding magnet on a litter-sifting basket of a litter scoop to selectively retain the litter scoop basket therein. A recessed portion of the exterior surface of the exterior wall accommodates a proximal end portion of the litter scoop handle. An inverted U-shaped cover member disposed about the front side is slidable from an open position to a closed position to discreetly house the entire litter scoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: Margaret Ligon Kiser
  • Patent number: 10729097
    Abstract: A toilet for animal, including: an upper container having a plurality of holes formed on a bottom portion, the plurality of holes penetrating in an up-down direction; a lower container that includes a receiving section receiving excrement that has passed through the plurality of holes, gravity of the upper container not acting on the lower container; and an output unit that outputs a signal changing according to an amount of the excrement received by the receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10542726
    Abstract: An animal toilet having a front-rear direction, a right-left direction and a height direction including: a urine passing part that is provided with a plurality of holes through which urine passes and on which an excrement treatment material is to be placed; an absorbent body setting part that is provided below the urine passing part and on which an absorbent body is to be placed; an opening part that is provided above the urine passing part and allows an animal to come in and out; and side walls provided on both right and left sides of the opening part, a maximum height of the side wall in a forward area that is located forward of a center position in the front-rear direction being smaller than a minimum height of the side wall in a rearward area that is located rearward of the center position, a maximum opening width of the opening part in the forward area being larger than a maximum opening width of the opening part in the rearward area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Chiyo Takagi, Shinya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10477831
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-drying litter box are described herein that includes a tray-superposition arrangement having a lower tray and an upper tray. The upper tray is mounted onto the lower tray in spaced relationship so as to define an empty volume therebetween. The upper tray includes a bottom defining a surface capable of receiving litter material and waste material thereon and is provided with apertures for allowing air circulating through the bottom of the upper tray. The lower tray receives second litter material and any portion of the first litter and waste materials that falls from the upper tray through the apertures. The tray-superposition arrangement defines one or more ventilation openings for allowing air circulation between the empty volume and outside of the tray-superposition arrangement that dries litter and waste materials in the upper and lower trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick Beaudoin, Mario Royer
  • Patent number: 10440932
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus including a flexible sheet of material including a plurality of strips; and an adhesive system that releasably couples the flexible sheet of material to a surface of a pet waste receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Lynda M Dmoch
  • Patent number: 10321659
    Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box. The self-cleaning litter box includes a basin designed to rotate about an axis, having a hollow center with an interior volume designed to hold litter. An aperture is disposed in the basin designed to provide access to the interior volume. A filter screen disposed within the interior volume and extending across the basin is designed to sift excrement from the litter. The basin is disposed within a base that supports the basin. A waste container is positioned within the base. The waste container includes an opening in communication with the basin such that the aperture of the basin fits flush against the opening of the waste container when the basin is rotated for sifting excrement. In one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box incorporates a motion sensor, a weight sensor and a wireless transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Bruce Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 10306867
    Abstract: A birthing chamber assembly includes a housing. The housing is positioned at an intersection between a pair of vertical support surfaces. Thus, a feline may reside in the housing when the feline is birthing kittens. A lid is removably positioned on the housing to shelter the feline. The lid has an aperture extending therethrough to facilitate the feline to enter the housing. The aperture is spaced from the housing when the lid is positioned on the housing. Thus, the aperture inhibits the kittens from exiting the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Celeste Lewis-Linde
  • Patent number: 10258019
    Abstract: A litter box apparatus housing top container used for litter area. Litter and waste are displaced by simple movement outward of top container, waste is retained by sifting surface of middle container, clean litter falls to bottom container. Cover is transparent, peel and stick movable designs are used to customize to the individual cat and owner's needs. Optional side or back hinge guides cover to closure. Cat enters through cover, walks on a shelf removing litter from paws upon exit. A partial partition extends time cat walks on shelf and will prevent dogs who seek to consume waste from accessing litter area. With optional use of stick-on child proof drawer locks can prevent young children from accessing litter and waste. Motion sensor timer signifies if enough time elapsed for waste to dry before sifting. The litter box apparatus provides a clean, customized litter box experience for both pet and owner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: Tamara Lynn Bogart
  • Patent number: 10258018
    Abstract: An animal toilet includes: a front-rear direction, a right-left direction, and a height direction; an upper container that is to be placed with excrement treating material on a bottom portion having a plurality of holes through which urine passes, the bottom portion being a part positioned lowest inside the upper container, in a state where an absorbent body has been placed in a tray, a central position of the bottom portion of the upper container being arranged nearer to a rear side than a central position of the absorbent body, in the front-rear direction; the tray that is to be placed with the absorbent body that absorbs urine that has passed through the holes; and a lower container put below the upper container, the lower container storing the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Chiyo Takagi, Shinya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10231431
    Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box configured to sift excrement from cat litter. The self-cleaning litter box includes a drum designed to rotate about an axis, having a hollow center with an interior volume designed to hold cat litter, with a pair of annular sides opposite one another coupled by a circumferential sidewall. An aperture disposed in the circumferential sidewall designed to provide access to the interior volume. A filter screen disposed within the interior volume and extending across the drum is designed to sift excrement from cat litter. The drum is disposed within a base such that each annular side is flush against the base. A waste container is positioned within the base. The waste container includes an opening in communication with the drum such that the aperture of the drum is configured to fit flush against the opening of the waste container when the drum is rotated for sifting excrement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: Bruce Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 10159215
    Abstract: A pet litter tray, box and system. The litter box comprises multiple trays. The trays are nestable within one another. Each tray comprises a base defining one or more openings. The opening allows litter to pass therethrough. When stacked in a first orientation, the openings of each upper tray are blocked by portions of the base of the adjacent lower tray thus retaining the litter. The top-most tray is lifted to sift the unused litter into the two nested lower trays. The top-most tray is added to the bottom of the two nested trays in a selected orientation. The trays may comprise flanges extending from the openings to contact the base of the lower tray when stacked to retain litter. The trays may comprise protrusions extending from the rim to contact an adjacent lower tray to indicate improper orientation of the trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Petty, Ralph P. Gumpesberger
  • Patent number: 10098315
    Abstract: A system for pet excrement removal, separating the excrements from the clean litter by lodging them in a separate compartment from the litter box. To do so, it is only necessary to rotate a cylinder. The system has a removable litter tray where the animal can do its physiological needs. The fact that it is removable allows for an easy sanitation, because it can be removed from the system, with or without litter, which simplifies its washing, increasing the hygiene of the litter box. The removable litter tray, previously mentioned, has a support base for entry and exit of the animal, which allows removal of the litter attached to the animal's paws, when exiting the litter box, in order to keep the surrounding environment clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Dúnio Couto
  • Patent number: 10021855
    Abstract: An animal toilet has a front-rear direction, a right-left direction and an up-down direction that intersect each other. The animal toilet is provided with an upper container that is provided with a plurality of holes through which urine passes below, a lower container that is positioned below the upper container and has formed an insert hole on a front face, and a tray that is housed from the insert hole into the lower container in a manner being allowed to be pulled out forward, and made to receive and store the urine that falls through the holes of the upper container. A front part of the tray is not protruding in front of the front face of the lower container when seen from the right-left direction. The front part of the tray has an exposed portion. An upside and a downside of the exposed portion are exposed to an outside space. An upper part and a lower part of the exposed portion are respectively provided with a geometrically deformed portion having a shape changed from a surrounding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Chiyo Takagi, Shinya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9888666
    Abstract: Provided is a litter box for animals that is hygienic and easy to clean. A litter box for animals is provided with a lower container, the upper part of which is open and which has a lower bottom surface part and a lower side wall part standing up from the peripheral edge of the lower bottom surface part, and an upper container, the upper part of which is open and which is disposed above the lower container. The upper container is provided with a upper bottom surface part in which a plurality of through holes is formed, an upper wall part standing up from the peripheral edge of the upper bottom surface part, and an extending wall part that extends downward from the outer surface of the upper wall part. The lower end part of the extending wall part is disposed lower than the upper bottom surface part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiyo Takagi, Shinya Kaneko, Tomoko Hirao, Nobuharu Namikawa
  • Patent number: 9854782
    Abstract: An animal litter sand that effectively prevents scattering of particles without increasing the weight or density of the litter sand. The animal litter sand includes particulates each of which is configured in a manner so as to contain a particle substrate configured from an inorganic porous material, a hydraulic solidification material, and a water-soluble thickener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sogou, Takayuki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9554553
    Abstract: An animal housing assembly includes a cage assembly coupled to a base member to provide an enclosure for one or more animals to be kept in captivity. The base member includes a slidable tray coupled thereto, the tray being configured to move from a closed position to an open position to allow cleaning of the base member. When in a closed position, a portion of the tray forms a portion of the floor of the base member. When the tray moves from the closed position to the open position, the tray translates in a direction away from the base member, thereby exposing an aperture defined in the floor of the base member. The aperture may be shaped and/or sized to allow debris to fall through the floor of the base member, thereby allowing removal of unwanted debris and cleaning of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Casto, Larry Sternal
  • Patent number: 9526226
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a self-cleaning litter box. The self-cleaning litter box includes a litter tray having a bottom surface, a first and second side wall, a home end, and a waste end, the bottom surface having an upwardly sloping ramp directed towards the discharge end, A carriage assembly is supported between the first and second side walls, and has a rake positioned thereon. A drive assembly is removably attached to the home end of the litter tray. The drive assembly is operably connected to the carriage assembly to drive the carriage assembly along a path between the home end and discharge end of the litter tray. A waste receptacle positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the litter tray, the waste receptacle includes a selectively openable lid. The drive assembly includes all of the electronics of the litter box. This permits the litter tray to be separated from the drive assembly, and cleaned without damaging the electronics in the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Plazarte, Steve Vernaglia, Carlos Ojeda
  • Patent number: 9433186
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for maintaining pet waste in a fully-encapsulated environment whereby waste may be removed and litter may be added/replaced in a substantially sealed, dust-free, and clean manner. In one aspect, the pet waste management system comprises a sealed means by which litter may added and/or removed and/or exchange with fresh litter without the substantial release of contaminated dust and materials from the litter system. The invention also provides a vessel or container for receiving spent litter and/or for housing fresh litter where said vessel or container comprises a connection means for sealably connecting the vessel or container to an enclosed pet management system so that litter may be added and/or exchanged therewith. Further, the invention provides a continuous bagging dispenser fitted to a pet management system which allows for continuous removal of pet waste from the pet management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher Romano
  • Patent number: 9433185
    Abstract: A device comprising: a support base and an chamber, located on the support base, having an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; wherein the chamber includes an axis of rotation that forms an angle of about 80 degrees or less with a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOMATED PET CARE PRODUCT, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jason Smith
  • Patent number: 9374977
    Abstract: A biodegradable litter kit to be used for the collection and disposal of animal waste. The kit includes a litter box having a tray portion and a retractable lid. The tray has a bottom and at least one protruding side to which the lid is connected. The box includes a perforated false bottom positioned within the tray for holding a layer of fresh litter above the bottom of the tray. The perforated false bottom permits for the passage of soiled litter but prevents the passage of fresh litter to the bottom of the tray thus keeping a layer of fresh litter accessible for use by an animal. A separator piece may be included for selective positioning over the layer of fresh litter to maintain it within the box when the box is not in use. The box may include biodegradable accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LITTER ONE, LLC
    Inventor: Terry Robbins
  • Patent number: 9210911
    Abstract: Toilet equipment (1) for domestic animals, includes: (i) a frame/container (2) including an element for attaching same to a supporting structure, and together defining a recess (6) provided with elements (8) for spraying water and a collection and discharge unit (11) including a recovery tub (12) provided with a system for connecting same to a wastewater network or to a collector (13) via a discharge device (14), such as a pump or valve, which is built into the frame/container; (ii) a front movable panel (3) for enabling a pivotal movement between a closed and an open position in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane by biasing a hinge (18) having a horizontal axis; and (iii) elements (22, 25) for providing a seal between a peripheral rim (5) of the recess of the frame/container and a peripheral edge (17) of the movable panel when the latter is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SPARTEL ENGINEERING
    Inventors: Gerard Bernal, Carmen Challier
  • Patent number: 9204617
    Abstract: A pet toilet includes an outer and inner container. A lower outer sidewall portion having a lower sidewall provided on a sidewall of the outer container, and a lower inner sidewall portion having a lower sidewall provided on a sidewall of the inner container. The outer and inner containers are movable. A pet entrance that is lower than an adjacent sidewall formed by arranging the inner container into the outer container, such that the position of the lower outer sidewall portion matches the position of the lower inner sidewall portion. Further, the lower outer sidewall portion is closed by the sidewall of the inner container and the lower inner sidewall portion is closed by the sidewall of the outer container by arranging the inner container into the outer container, such that the position of the lower outer sidewall portion does not match the position of the lower inner sidewall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Yamamoto, Takahiro Kashiwa, Yuichi Takeshige
  • Patent number: 9198397
    Abstract: A canine toilet for domestic use has a collector for collecting urine and a deflector arranged essentially vertically to collect male dogs' urine. The collector comprises a tray intended to be placed on the ground, a cover closing the collector, and comprising at least one hopper, at least one extractable drawer inserted into one of the sides of the tray. The deflector is arranged on the collector to permit the flow of male dog urine into the hopper, which is arranged to route the urine into the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SANIDOME CANIN SARL
    Inventor: Gérard Gouy