Cat litter pan system

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There are several cat litter pan products on the market all of which 
require a person to separately purchase a litter pan and litter. It is a 
messy, unpleasant and often, unsanitary procedure to change and clean the 
litter pan and most cat owners do not look forward to it. In fact, the 
litter pan should be cleaned each time the litter is changed which is time 
consuming. In addition, the cat has the tendency to claw or scratch at the 
litter before using it and in so doing causing it to fly out of the pan 
onto the floor. This, obviously causes an unwanted mess and is unsanitary. 
Also, after using the litter pan, the cat has a tendency to scratch at any 
available surface to clean its paws. This can also scatter litter. 
There are many kinds and shapes of litter pans currently existing, however, 
to the best of my knowledge, there are none that incorporate a disposable 
litter tray suitable for easy removal and replacement with a new litter 
tray. My invention incorporates a disposable litter tray, containing 
litter, to be easily removed from a permanent litter pan and replaced with 
a new one. This eliminates the usual mess and unsanitary conditions that 
are associated with cleaning a litter pan. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the object of the present invention to provide a cat litter pan 
system that consists of an extruded plastic litter pan holder or 
receptacle and a disposable litter tray that is easily replaced with a 
fresh one. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cat litter pan 
system that eliminates litter being thrown or carried out of the box 
during each use. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cat litter 
system wherein means are provided to enable a cat to scratch or clean its 
paws after each use. 
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a cat 
litter system wherein the used litter is easily disposed of and a new 
disposable litter tray inserted into the litter pan or receptacle. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an extruded 
plastic litter pan having a bottom section with tapered sidewalls and a 
cover section that engages said bottom portion. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cover 
section that comprises a lower or retaining lid, and an upper lid, said 
upper lid having a sufficient opening to enable a cat to freely enter and 
exit therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention relates to a cat litter pan system and more 
particularly, it is directed to a cat litter system 10 consisting of an 
extruded plastic litter receptacle or bottom pan 12 having tapered walls 
13 suitable for receiving therein a disposable litter tray 14 and a cover 
or top section 20. 
The disposable litter tray 14 is comprised of a heavy duty corrugated 
paperboard which is moisture proofed inside and out with a coating of wax, 
paraffin or plastic by means well known in the art. The tray 14 is 
suitable for holding approximately four pounds of dust-free, scented or 
unscented, litter 16. However, the amount and type of litter for the tray 
14 can vary without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. 
Coating the corrugated paperboard prevents moisture from seeping through 
and weakening the tray 14. 
The litter tray 14 is filled with litter 16 which is contained therein by a 
plastic seal or other suitable material well known in the art but not 
illustrated. The plastic seal is suitable for applying print thereto and 
is generally applied to the tray 14 by what is commonly known in the art 
as the "shrink-wrap process", or by other means well known in the art. 
The cover section 20 consists of a retaining or lower lid 22 and an upper 
lid 24. The lower lid 22 matingly engages the receptacle or bottom pan 12 
while the upper or cover lid 24 matingly engages the lower lid 22, all by 
means well known in the art. It is understood that the cover section 20 
may be of one piece rather than the two described herein without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the invention. If said cover section 20 is of 
an unitary construction it would also matingly engage the bottom pan or 
receptacle 12. 
The upper cover lid 24 having sloping walls 27 is of extruded plastic and 
is designed to matingly engage the extruded lower lid 22. The upper lid 24 
has an opening sufficient to enable a cat to easily enter and leave the 
litter tray 14 without spreading the litter 16 outside of the litter tray 
14. 
The lower lid 22 has sloping walls 26 directed toward the inner portion of 
the litter tray 14. The sloping walls 26 have positioned thereon, by means 
well known in the art, an artificial plastic grass scratching mat or paw 
cleaner 28. The purpose of the scratching mat 28 is to encourage and 
enable the cat to use their paws against the mat 28 rather than against 
other surfaces on or just outside the litter pan. However, even if the cat 
does kick up the litter during or after use the sloped walls 26 and 27 are 
designed to prevent the litter from leaving the litter tray 14. This 
obviously helps eliminate an extremely messy and unhealthy condition that 
exists with current cat litter systems. 
The cat litter system 10 is further comprised of a plastic disposable bag 
with a self-tie drawstring well known in the art but not illustrated, for 
receiving the tray and soiled litter. 
In use the disposable litter tray 14 is inserted into the receptacle or 
bottom pan 12 or thru the cover section 20 to the bottom pan 12. The upper 
lid 24 of the cover section 20 is then engaged with the bottom pan 12 via 
the lower lid 22 and the disposable litter system is ready for use. 
When it is time to change the litter tray 14, the cover 20 is disengaged 
from the receptacle 12. The litter tray 14 with the used litter 16 is 
easily removed and placed into the disposable bag for disposing into the 
garbage. At this time a new litter tray 14 having fresh litter 16 therein 
is positioned into the receptacle 12. The cover section 20 is then engaged 
with the receptacle 12. At this time the disposable cat litter system is 
again ready for use. There is no fuss and no mess. My invention as 
described herein provides for a fast, efficient, clean and sanitary system 
for changing cat litter. 
The disposable litter tray 14 having the plastic seal is sold as a separate 
item enabling a cat owner to stock a sufficient amount of fresh disposable 
litter trays 14. This eliminates opened bags of litter laying around that 
can easily spill and create an unwanted mess. 
It is to be understood that the above described cat litter system is simply 
illustrative of the application of principles of my invention and many 
other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention.