Abstract:
An enclosed litter box having a slidably removable litter tray and an integral rake. The litter box includes an enclosure with an arched top having a compound curved surface. The exterior of the enclosure may be decorated with various motifs. The sliding removable litter tray includes a molded recessed handle in a front protruding surface. An upper rim of the tray includes one or more integral channels for support of a rake. Each channel may include storage and travel limit keying indentations to securely yet removably hold the rake in various positions during storage and use. The litter tray bottom may include a transverse ridge dividing the litter tray into a fresh litter area and a used litter area. By manipulating the rake, a user transfers animal wastes from the fresh litter area to the used litter area for removal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “LITTER BOX”, 60/530,006 filed Dec. 15, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains generally to litter boxes and more particularly to enclosed litter boxes having removable litter trays. 
   Urban pet owners must often provide sanitary facilities for their pets. For cats especially, these sanitary facilities may include a shallow open box filled with an absorbent material termed “litter”. Such an arrangement is known as a litter box. A pet enters the litter box and leaves waste inside the box mixed with the litter. A pet owner must then clean the animal waste from the litter box on a regular basis, often by separating the animal waste from the litter and disposing of the animal waste. 
   Various improvements in the simple litter box are well known in the art. Most of these improvements include better ways of containing the litter, separating the animal waste from the litter, and disposing of the animal waste. However, very little inventive effort has been directed to incorporating a litter box into an urban household in an aesthetically pleasing yet functional manner even though this is what most consumers want from their household appliances. Most pet owners seek a litter box that is attractive in shape and pattern yet incorporates useful features that speed the process of litter maintenance while minimizing pet owner contact with animal waste. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An enclosed litter box having a slidably removable litter tray and an integral manual rake is provided. The litter box includes an enclosure with an arched top having a compound curved surface. An exterior surface of the enclosure may be decorated with various motifs. The sliding removable litter tray includes a molded recessed handle in a front protruding surface. An upper rim of the tray includes one or more integral channels for support of the rake. The channels may include storage and travel limit keying indentations to securely yet removably hold the rake in various positions during storage and use. The litter tray bottom may include a transverse ridge dividing the litter tray into a fresh litter area and a used litter area. By manipulating the rake, a user transfers animal wastes from the fresh litter area to the used litter area for removal of the animal waste. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of an enclosed litter box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   a  is an exploded view of the enclosed litter box of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of a scoop in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   c  is a perspective view of the scoop of  FIG. 2   b  mounted to a triangular notch recess located on an enclosure: 
       FIG. 3  is a detail drawing of a rake grab feature for an enclosed litter box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross-section of a removable litter tray and rake in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of the use of a combination rake and scoop in a raking motion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing of the use of a combination rake and scoop in a scooping motion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a decorative label affixed to an enclosure of an enclosed litter box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box having a decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the enclosed litter box of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a right side view of the enclosed litter box of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of the enclosed litter of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box having a checked print decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box having a flower print decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box having a polka dot print decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of an enclosed litter box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2   a  is an exploded view of the enclosed litter box of  FIG. 1 . In the figures, like numbered elements indicate the same feature of the invention. Referring now to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2   a , an enclosed litter box  100  includes a generally arched enclosure  102  removably mounted onto a chassis  104 . A sliding removable litter tray  106  is mounted inside the chassis. 
   The enclosure includes a front surface  108  and a back surface  109 . The front surface has an opening  110  for entry of a small animal. The front surface also includes a notched recess  112  for receiving a front portion  114  of the sliding tray. An upper surface  116  of the enclosure is arched and slopes from the front surface to the back surface creating a compound curve. A rearward portion of the upper surface includes one or more ventilation slots  118  evenly disposed from a left side to a right side of the enclosure. The slots are elongated having a long axis substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The openings in the slots may be closed by a cover (not shown) slidably coupled to the enclosure. The enclosure further includes a triangular notched recess  119  for holding an accessory item such as an external rake or scoop. 
   The sliding tray is removably and slidably coupled to the chassis In one exemplary embodiment, the sliding tray incorporates tray rails that overlap and contact the base rails  200  on the chassis  104 . The litter tray includes an integral recessed handle  120  in a protruding front portion of the tray  121  for grasping by a user of the litter tray for removal. The handle has a generally downward facing opening allowing a user to insert their fingers into the litter tray handle without placing any portion of their hand within an interior space of the litter tray. 
   The enclosed litter box is freestanding in that the litter tray may be removed from the chassis for cleaning without removing the enclosure from the chassis. This obviates the need for a second area to place the enclosure when the litter tray is being cleaned. 
   A manual rake  122  is positioned within the litter tray. A front or handle portion, also referred to as a second bar, of the rake  124  is coupled to a rear rail or first bar  202  having a tined portion  126  by one or more side rails  128 , also referred to as a one or more third bars The handle portion and rear rail combined with the side rails create a rake having a generally rectangular configuration having radiused corners. The tines project from the rear rail of the rake and generally downward into the litter tray. Each side rail of the rake include one or more ear portions  130  that ride over an upper rim  132  of the litter tray. The upper rim  132  may herein be referred to as a tray rail, The ears locate the rake within the litter tray to minimize lateral movement of the rake as the rake is pulled through any litter in the litter tray. 
     FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of a scoop in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A scoop  250  is used to remove animal wastes from the litter tray. The scoop includes a slotted blade portion  252  for holding animal wastes form the litter tray. The slots are wide enough to permit litter to pass through the blade and fall back into the litter tray but not so wide as to allow the animal wastes to fall through. The blade portion further includes a plurality of spaced notches  258 . The notches are spaced such that they engage the tined portion  126  of the rake  122  (both of  FIG. 2   a ) and may be used to clean the rake using a combing motion. The scoop further includes a handle portion  256  terminating in a triangular shaped hook portion  254  projecting substantially perpendicularly from the handle portion. The hook portion mates with notched recess  119  of enclosure  102  (of  FIG. 2   a ) to form a gravity lock for removably attaching the scoop to the enclosure. The tapered sides of the hook mate with the tapered sides of the notched recess forming a gravity lock preventing the hook from sliding out of the notched recess. 
     FIG. 2   c  is a perspective view of the scoop  250  of  FIG. 2   b  mounted to a triangular notch recess  119  located on the enclosure  102 . More specifically, the triangular hook portion  254  comprises two side surfaces that are non-parallel (i.e., tapered similar to two sides of a triangle) at the end of the handle portion  262 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the enclosure  102  incorporates a triangular notched recess  119  having a corresponding shape as the triangular hook portion  254  on the scoop  250 . The tapered surfaces of the hook portion  254  on the scoop mate with the tapered sides on the triangular notched recess  119  on the enclosure  102  to form a gravity lock preventing the hook from sliding out of the notched recess. To remove the scoop  250  from the enclosure  102 , the scoop  250  needs to be lifted so that the hook disengages from the notched recess. 
     FIG. 3  is a detail drawing of a rake grab feature for an enclosed litter box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The removable litter tray  106  includes a groove  200  running longitudinally along the top rim portion  132  of the protruding portion  114  of the litter tray. The groove receives the handle portion  124  of the removable rake  122  while the rake is resting in the litter tray and serves as a storage key indention holding the rake in place. One portion of the groove includes an opening  202  passing from a bottom surface of the groove into an interior portion  204  of the recessed handle  120 . When a user wants to grasp the rake by its handle portion, a user inserts their fingers into the recessed handle and up through the opening between the interior portion of the handle and the bottom of the groove. The user may then push ( 206 ) the handle of the rake, thus dislodging the rake out of the groove allowing the user to grasp the handle. This allows a user to retrieve the rake without touching an interior portion  208  of the litter tray. 
     FIG. 4  is a partial cross-section of a removable litter tray and rake in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. To use the rake  122 , a user partially slides the removable litter tray  106  out of the enclosure (not shown). The user then grasps the rake by a handle portion  124  and pulls ( 300 ) the rake across a fresh litter portion  301  of the litter tray. As the user pulls the rake, the tines of the rear portion  126  of the rake rest on a bottom surface  302  of the litter tray. As the rake is moved, the tines collect animal waste  304  from the fresh litter portion while allowing the litter to pass through the tines. When the tines encounter a transverse ridge  306  in the bottom surface of the litter try, the tines and rake are urged upward out of the fresh litter portion into a used litter portion  308  of the tray. A user then uses a scoop or other device to remove the animal waste from the used litter portion of the litter tray. 
   In one embodiment of a litter tray in accordance with the present invention, the upper rim  132  of the litter tray includes one or more storage key indentations  310 . The storage key indentions provide a positive tactile indication to the user that the rake has been placed into the rake&#39;s storage position on the top rim of the litter tray. The storage key indentions further serve to secure the rake in the storage position. The top rim of the litter tray further includes one or more usage key indentations  312 . The usage key indentions provide a tactile indication to the user that the rake has reached the end of its travel position and that the animal wastes have been transferred to the used litter portion of the litter tray. The usage key indentions further provide a means to limit the travel of the rake through the litter in the litter tray. 
     FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are perspective drawings of the use of a combination rake and scoop in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The tined portion  126  of the rake may be fully extended across a back rail  400  of the rake and then extend partially along the side rails,  128  and  129 , of the rake thus forming one or more side tined portions  401  on the rake. In a raking mode, a user pulls ( 402 ) the tined portion of the rake through the litter  410  in the litter tray  106  while holding the side rails of the rake substantially horizontal during the raking motion. This raking motion separates animal waste  304  from the litter. After the user has separated the animal waste from the litter, the user may then tilt ( 404 ) the rake until the side rails are substantially vertical, thus supporting the animal waster on the tined portion of the rake. This allows the user to lift the animal waste out of the litter tray for disposal. 
     FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a decorative label affixed to an enclosure of an enclosed litter box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An upper decorative label  500  includes an outer surface  502  and an inner surface  504 . The outer surface may be printed in a variety of fanciful or decorative motifs. The inner surface is coated with an adhesive material that allows the inner surface of the upper label to adhere to an outer surface  506  on an enclosure  102 . A front label,  507  includes an outer surface  508  which is printed in a decorative motif corresponding to the decorative motif of the upper label. The front label includes an inner surface (not shown) that is coated with an adhesive material. The adhesive allows the inner surface of the front label to adhere to a front surface  108  of the enclosure. 
   During manufacturing, the enclosure is constructed from an injected molded plastic without any decorative elements. The upper label and front label may be created in a conventional printing process to include any type of printable motif. The labels are then affixed to the outer surface of the enclosure to create an attractive outer appearance and pattern for the enclosed litter box. 
   In one embodiment of an enclosure and label, the enclosure&#39;s outer surface includes a background color or pattern. In this embodiment, the label is printed onto a transparent substrate and uses a transparent adhesive. Once applied, the effect of the overall pattern of the enclosed litter box is achieved from the superposition of the printed label pattern onto the background pattern of the enclosure&#39;s outer surface which is partially visible through the transparent substrate and adhesive of the label. 
     FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box  800  having a decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the litter box enclosure includes a leopard print motif. 
     FIG. 9  is a top view of the enclosed litter box  800  of  FIG. 8 . 
     FIG. 10  is a right side view of the enclosed litter box  800  of  FIG. 8 . 
     FIG. 11  is a front view of the enclosed litter box  800  of  FIG. 8 . 
     FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box  1200  having a decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the litter box enclosure includes a checked print motif. 
     FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box  1300  having a decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the litter box enclosure includes a flower print motif. 
     FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an enclosed litter box  1400  having a decorative motif in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the litter box enclosure includes a polka dot print motif. 
   Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by any claims supported by this application and the claims&#39; equivalents rather than the foregoing description.