Patent ID: 9179643
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. A self-cleaning litter box comprising: a litter tray for holding litter, said litter tray comprising a floor and a plurality of walls; a rake drive housing resting upon and selectively mechanically secured to said litter tray, said rake drive housing having a first end rail, a second end rail, and two sides rails connecting said first end rail and said second end rail; a rake carriage carried by said rake drive housing; an actuator carried by said rake drive housing, said actuator operatively connected to said rake carriage to move said rake carriage from a home position proximate to said first end rail toward a disposal position proximate to said second end rail and back to said home position in response to a rake drive activation signal; a sweeping rake carried by said rake carriage, said sweeping rake comprising a plurality of tines having a raking position in which said plurality of tines have terminal ends pointing towards said litter tray floor while said rake carriage moves between said home position and said disposal position; and a spade carried by said rake carriage, said spade comprising a floor blade substantially parallel to and above said floor of said litter tray and below said terminal ends of said plurality of tines thereby defining a space between said spade and said terminal ends of said plurality of tines, wherein said rake carriage carries said spade between said home position and said disposal position.