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.

Description:
PRIORITY AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This Application is a Division of application Ser. No. 13/553,313 filed on Jul. 19, 2012. application Ser. No. 13/553,313 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/509,380 filed on Jul. 19, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. All documents cited or referenced herein and all documents cited or referenced in the herein cited documents, together with any manufacturer&#39;s instructions, descriptions, product specifications, and product sheets for any products mentioned herein or in any document incorporated by reference herein, are hereby incorporated by reference, and may be employed in the practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for maintaining pet waste in an encapsulated environment whereby waste may be removed and litter may be replaced in a substantially sealed, dust-free, and clean manner. More in particular, the present invention relates generally to a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device, and, more particularly, to a fully-enclosed, self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device, and even more specifically to a fully-enclosed, self-cleaning, self-bagging litter box/pet waste encapsulation device, and even more particularly to a fully-enclosed, self-cleaning, self-bagging litter box/pet waste encapsulation device having a continuous bagging dispenser. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    The art has seen the development of a great variety of pet and/or cat litter waste management systems developed over the years ranging from basic trays and pans to highly automated and expensive mechanical systems that enable a fully hands-free experience in managing a pet&#39;s waste. In general, however, as the scale of automation increases, so do the manufacturing costs and the eventual costs to the consumer/pet owner and are thus not affordable options for most. In addition, highly automated, electromechanical systems are at greater risk of malfunctioning given the increased number of working parts and electronics. So far as is known to the present inventor, there has not yet been the development of a pet and/or cat litter waste management system that offers an affordable system that offers a fully-encapsulated environment which allows pet waste to be removed and litter to be replaced in a substantially sealed, dust-free, and clean manner. 
         [0006]    The simplest pet waste management systems available essentially constitute nothing more than shallow pans or containers having sides that are tall enough to store sufficient litter but not so tall as to prevent a pet from stepping into the box. Such systems require the manual removal of waste, typically by using a slotted scoop or similar device. Some litter boxes may include a cover and an opening for an animal, e.g., a cat, to access the litter area for aesthetic purposes, and some litter boxes may include separate sifting or electromechanical automatic raking devices. 
         [0007]    There are a number of problems with existing pet waste management systems, no matter their degree of simplicity or complexity, or whether or not they include electromechanical components or other elements intended to ease in the maintenance of the litter and waste. Such problems are generally associated with the collection and disposal of the solid and wet waste materials, the cleaning and/or changing of the litter material itself, and the concomitant odors, dust, spillage, and tracking of litter outside the system by the animal into other areas of the home, all of which expose pet owners and families to waste contaminants, including hazardous bacteria, posing various health threats to an animal&#39;s owner and/or family, and especially to pregnant women and their unborn children. Beyond these health risks, litter boxes are generally unpleasant and often are difficult to clean and dispose of the waste, particularly by those who are elderly or are otherwise physically challenged to some degree. Such boxes, being completely uncovered, also emit unpleasant odors, dust, and are unsightly to look at. Moreover, whenever spent litter is changed and replaced with fresh litter, plumes of unsanitary dust are emitted, which may engulf a user and become inhaled. Also, the litter tends to spill or track out of the box when the pet uses and exits the box and/or during times when the user scoops and/or empties the box. The continuous nature of having to maintain such litter boxes only serves to compound and/or magnify the aforementioned health, odor, dust, and spillage problems associated with these systems. 
         [0008]    Covered litter boxes avoid the unsightliness of the uncovered box, and also ameliorate at least some problems, including reducing odor and spillage. However, they are still difficult and unpleasant to clean and disposing of the waste remains cumbersome. Covered litter boxes also do not prevent tracking. They have the further problem of requiring the cover to be removed prior to cleaning, which only increases the opportunities to unintentionally come into contact with waste. 
         [0009]    Sifting litter boxes have a sifting screen that fits inside a traditional litter box and allows the user to lift the sifting screen out of the box to remove the solid waste while leaving the unused litter behind. Automated raking litter boxes use an automated or semi-automated raking device to sift/rake the waste from the litter. The sifting and raking litter boxes both address the problem of cleaning, but often create even more dust and odor. Disposing of the sifted/raked waste into a receptacle often creates additional spillage. These devices don&#39;t address the typical spillage or tracking problems either. Furthermore, the motorized raking systems are often very expensive, tend to clog up, and breakdown. 
         [0010]    Some self-cleaning litter boxes utilize a rotating drum or sphere to remove waste from the litter. These devices generally consist of a rotating drum or sphere that receives the litter and includes a sifting mechanism. When the device is rotated, the litter is sifted through the sifting mechanism, separating the waste from the clean litter. This method is effective at separating the waste, although there are inherent problems with the drum and sphere devices. The circular nature of these shapes create shallow areas where clumping litter sticks to the inside of the device causing unsanitary conditions and requiring manual removal. Furthermore, the rotation and sifting creates excessive dust. The user is exposed to the odor, dust, and bacteria through open apertures and when loading litter into the device, and emptying litter out of the device. In addition, many of these types of devices include electromechanical components, which may be prone to malfunction and impart higher costs. 
         [0011]    An example of a rotating drum litter box is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,835, which issued to Brokaski on Mar. 21, 2006 for a “Cat litter device.” This device includes a filter fixed within the rotating drum for sifting waste from the litter and an exterior waste tube connected to the filter for receiving the sifted waste and transferring it to a collection bag. However, this system fails to address and solve the problems of the prior art systems and does not arrive at the solution of the present invention. In particular, spent litter must be emptied from the system by pouring it through the cat opening, which, like other prior art systems, still causes the formation of plumes of contaminated litter and undesirable contact with waste materials and odors. 
         [0012]    Another example is described in U.S. Pat. App. No. 2009107408 A1 for “Apparatus and method to remove animal waste from litter,” which was filed on Dec. 30, 2008 by Waters and which provides an apparatus including a rotating drum and helical rake for sifting the waste from the litter. Other examples of rotating drum litter devices having sifting elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,465 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,889. These systems also fail to address and solve the problems of the prior art devices and do not arrive at the solution of the present invention, in particular, because none of the systems are encapsulated such that dust, odor, and waste contact are mitigated or avoided. 
         [0013]    More in particular, the prior art devices include openings or apertures of various dimensions that allow the odor, dust, litter, and bacteria to escape. Further, none of the prior art include a self-contained, continuous bagging dispenser for the clean, easy, and isolated removal and disposal of waste. The prior art systems also do not include a means for attaching a container or otherwise source of litter directly to the device to facilitate adding new litter or removing old litter from the device while maintaining a sealed environment. None of the prior art includes a semi-rigid disposable liner to eliminate the unsanitary need to periodically wash the interior of the litter box. The prior art also fails to include an anti-spillage/anti-tracking device to quickly and easily return spilled/tracked litter back into the litterbox. Furthermore, the rotating drum devices of the prior art systems rotate about the axis coaxial with the entrance and exit to the device; whereas the device of the present invention rotates about the axis perpendicular to this coaxial axis. The combination of all of these features together in single system having no electromechanical components and which includes a sealed environment for managing litter and removing waste has not previously been proposed in the prior art. 
         [0014]    Given the high prevalence of pet ownership in the U.S. and around the world, the present world economic considerations, and the desirability of an easy-to-use, clean, sealed, and hands-free affordable pet waste management system, it is evident that there is a need for a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that can maintain a sealed environment during pet use, when idle, when removing waste and changing litter, and through all the various actions associated with owning and maintaining a litter box and which does not require electromechanical components which are susceptible to malfunction. 
         [0015]    As will be appreciated, none of these prior patents even address the problem faced by applicant let alone offer the solution proposed herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The inventor has conceived of and reduced to practice a novel and nonobvious 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 a particular embodiment, 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. 
         [0017]    In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to 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. 
         [0018]    In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a continuous bagging dispenser fitted to a pet management system which allows for continuous removal of pet waste from the pet management system. 
         [0019]    In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device, and, more particularly, to a fully-enclosed, self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device, and even more specifically to a fully-enclosed, self-cleaning, self-bagging litter box/pet waste encapsulation device, and even more particularly to a fully-enclosed, self-cleaning, self-bagging litter box/pet waste encapsulation device having a continuous bagging dispenser. 
         [0020]    One object of the present invention is to provide a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device having a rotating housing and sifter/funnel device for mechanically separating waste from clean litter within the litter box. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that maintains a completely sealed and enclosed environment when idle, during pet use, and during the waste removal and disposal process. 
         [0022]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that includes an aperture fitted with a pet door to allow a pet into the housing while keeping odors, dust, litter, and waste within. 
         [0023]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that includes a continual pre-loaded bagging dispenser that allows the user to remove waste repeatedly without the need to individually load bags, trays or other waste receptacles for each waste removal cycle. 
         [0024]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that includes a fitted aperture designed to accept the opening of a litter bucket or container so as to allow total litter replacement without spilling litter or emitting dust or odor. 
         [0025]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that includes a fitted litter container designed to be accepted by the opening of a litter box aperture so as to allow total litter replacement without spilling litter or emitting dust or odor. In certain embodiments, the pet waste encapsulation device and the litter container each comprise complementary means for coupling or attaching one to the other, preferably to make a sealed connection that avoids the spilling of litter and/or escape of dust and/or odors when in use, e.g., when litter is exchanged or transferred between the system and the container. 
         [0026]    In certain embodiments, the litter vessel or container of the invention is adapted to be reusable. In certain embodiments, the litter vessel or container may be configured to be refilled with fresh litter from a litter source (e.g., bulk litter source) for transferring into an enclosed pet management system adapted to receive said vessel or container. In certain other embodiments, the litter vessel or container may be adapted to receive fresh litter in the form of a package or pliable insert that contains a quantity of purchased litter, which may then be transferred into a pet management system adapted to receive said vessel or container. Such embodiments reduce the overall cost and environmental waste and impact through the repeat use of a single litter vessel or container. In this embodiment, the enclosed pet waste management system can include self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device as embodied herein, or it can include any suitable pet waste or litter system so long as it is adapted to be maintained as an enclosed, sealed environment in which the litter resides and that a sealable connection may be made between it and the litter vessel or container to allow for transfer and/or exchange of litter in a sealed environment. The sealable connection can be achieved by any suitable means in the art, including fixing each the litter vessel or container and the connecting point on the enclosed litter waste system with complementary means for forming a connection, such as threads, clamps, clasps, hooks, Velcro, and the like. The litter waste system may also include a flange and/or a gasket or the like to assist in forming a seal between it and the litter vessel/container, or vice versa. So long as a sealed connection can be made which can be disconnected as well, any reasonable means known in the art may be used to achieve this function. 
         [0027]    In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a pet waste management system comprising (a) sealably connecting a litter container to a pet waste management system, wherein both the litter container and the pet waste management system comprise complementary means for forming a sealed connection, (b) adding or removing litter to or from the pet waste management system from or to the litter container, and (c) removing the litter container from the pet waste management system. 
         [0028]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that includes a container insert that fits inside the litter container allowing for the reuse of the container thus reducing cost, waste, and environmental impact. The container insert may house fresh or new litter, for example, the container insert may be a pliable soft consumer package containing a new quantity of fresh litter for using in connection with the litter container, which may then be used to form a sealed connection with the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of the invention, or alternatively, with any compatible enclosed litter box system that is adapted or designed to form a sealed connection with the litter container (containing the insert of litter). In this manner, a retailer may sell replacement litter in the form of the litter insert, which may then used together with the litter container and a compatible enclosed litter system, e.g., the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of the invention. 
         [0029]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that includes a litter top-off container that contains smaller quantities of litter and inserts into the waste opening so as to allow supplemental litter additions without spilling litter or emitting dust. 
         [0030]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a semi-rigid disposable liner to the interior of the device having enough rigidity to hold its shape while inverted and to resist the pulling and scratching of a cat&#39;s claws when digging so as to clean the soiled interior of the device without traditional washing. 
         [0031]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-tracking/anti-spillage stair/ramp to allow for the quick, clean, and easy collection and return of spilled and tracked litter back into the litterbox. In one embodiment, the stair/ramp has a floor level tapered edge like a dustpan, a hinged connection to the device, and fitted to seal the aperture when closed. 
         [0032]    It is but another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that is easy to operate and clean. 
         [0033]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0034]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that allows for the easy addition or removal of waste and/or litter from the interior of the device. 
         [0035]    It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device manufactured from a sturdy material such that it may be roughly treated by a user and/or pet yet still operate normally. 
         [0036]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the sides of the device to thereby facilitate the operation of the device. 
         [0037]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device wherein the pivots about which the housing rotates in the support frame are above the center of the housing when the housing is in an upright resting position ready to receive a pet therein so the housing can rest on a common floor with the support frame and so as to provide clearance between the floor and the housing during rotation of the housing. 
         [0038]    To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention, in brief summary, comprises in one aspect a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device having a main housing that rotates on a frame. The housing includes an aperture fitted with a pet door to allow a pet into the housing while keeping odors, dust, and litter within. Disposed within the housing is a sifter/funnel configured so that when the housing is rotated 90 degrees the litter is sifted; and when it is rotated 180 degrees, the solids slide out one end of the sifter/funnel through a waste opening into a disposable plastic tube housed and dispensed at the top of the housing. The clean litter is retained within by an enclosed solid collar on the sifter/funnel to prevent it from being ejected from the housing. The plastic tube comprises an elongated thin plastic tubing that is compressed into a ring-shaped structure/toroid, allowing one end of the tube to be withdrawn to a desired length. When the waste is deposited into the plastic tube, the user pulls more tubing out, twists the tube around the solid waste, and slides the entwined tube through a fixed cutter. Once the bagged waste is cut free from the tubing, the user may tie a knot in the cut end of the tube to seal in the waste, and tie another knot in the new end of the compressed plastic tube to receive more waste and reseal the housing. The housing is then rotated back to the original position, returning the unsoiled particles of litter back to the bottom of the device readying it for further use. 
         [0039]    These and other embodiments are disclosed or are obvious from and encompassed by, the following Detailed Description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0041]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side view through an exemplary embodiment of a self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 3  is a schematic rear view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  at 0 degrees, position “A”. 
           [0046]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  rotated to 90 degrees, position “B”. 
           [0047]      FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  rotated to 180 degrees, position “C”. 
           [0048]      FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  rotated back to 90 degrees, position “D”. 
           [0049]      FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  rotated back to 0 degrees, position “E”. 
           [0050]      FIG. 10  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  with the litter bucket attached, position “F”. 
           [0051]      FIG. 11  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  with the litter bucket attached, position “G”. 
           [0052]      FIG. 12  is a schematic side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  with the litter bucket attached, position “H” 
           [0053]      FIG. 13  is a schematic exploded side view of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of  FIG. 1  indicating the component parts of the device. 
           [0054]      FIG. 14  is a schematic exploded side view of the litter container and container insert. The figure also shows an embodiment of the top-off container (left image). 
           [0055]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the litter container as it is brought into contact with the opening of the waste management system. Once attached, the litter container will form a sealed connection due to the complementary means on the container and on the system for forming such a sealed connection. 
           [0056]      FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the compressed plastic tubing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIG. 1  thereof, the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device of the present invention, referred to generally by reference numeral  10 , is illustrated. The self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  comprises a housing  100  having two sides  110 ,  120 , a front section  130 , a rear section  140 , a top  150  and a bottom  160 . In the preferred embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  and all its component parts are made of plastic (with exception of the bag cutter blade  350 ) so as to keep the cost of manufacture down and so as to keep the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  as hygienic as possible. Examples of plastics that may be used include, but are not limited to, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), and Polylactide (PL). However, it is contemplated that other materials, such as metals, may be used so as to improve the sturdiness or aesthetic appeal of the device. 
         [0058]    Regardless of the materials used to manufacture the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  and its associated components, the housing  100  is rotatably mounted to a support base or frame  170  by pivots  180 , which pivots  180  define an axis  190  about which the housing  100  rotates. 
         [0059]    An aperture  200  is provided within the front section  130  of the housing  100 , which aperture  200  provides access into and out of the interior chamber of the housing  210 . The interior  210  is comparably sized to standard covered litter boxes, although it may be smaller or larger as required by cats or other types of pets of different sizes. The aperture  200  can be extended by means of an aperture flange  201  (see  FIG. 15 ) which provides structural support to the aperture  200  and facilitates the interchanging of litter. Additionally, the outer edge of the aperture flange  201  can be fitted with compressible seal  202 . A door  220  is affixed to the aperture  200  by means of hinges, pivots, or flexible materials  230  which allow the door  220  to swing in and out to thereby allow the pet easy access into and out of the housing  210 . The door  220  is shaped to correspond with the shape of the aperture  200  to keep odors and dust within the interior  210 . 
         [0060]    In certain other embodiments, aperture  200  can comprise an attachment or coupling means for forming a sealed connection with litter container  430  (see  FIGS. 10-15 ). The litter container  430  can have a complementary attachment or coupling means that, when joined to the coupling means of aperture  200 , forms a sealed connection which will retain the litter container  430  against the aperture, until the user chooses to disconnect the litter container from the aperture. The complementary attachment or coupling means can take any suitable form, including threading (oriented with any handedness), snaps, clasps, clips, buckles, buttons, or other suitable fasteners. The litter container and/or the aperture also may be fitted with a gasket or otherwise sealing means to allow for an airtight connection between the litter container and the aperture. The attachment or coupling means on the aperture  200  may be integrated with the aperture flange  201 . 
         [0061]    A sifter  240  is disposed in a fixed position within the interior  210  for sifting the contents of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  and separating the clean litter  250  from the waste solids  260 . In the preferred embodiment, the sifter  240  comprises a plurality of evenly spaced strips, slots, or bars wide enough to allow the clean litter  250  to pass between them but narrow enough to trap the waste solids  260 . Of course, other sifter  240  configurations are possible, such as strainer-type sifters. The sifter  240  is shaped and positioned within the interior  210  such that, when the housing  100  is rotated 90 degrees about the pivots  180 , gravity forces the contents of the interior  210  to pass through the sifter  240 , thereby separating the clean litter  250  from the waste solids  260 . When the housing  100  is rotated another 90 degrees about the pivots  180 , gravity forces the separated waste solids  260  to pass across the sifter  240  and through a waste opening  270  disposed within the top  150  of the housing  100  while the clean litter  250  is retained by a solid closed collar  280  disposed at the end of the sifter  240 . 
         [0062]    In a preferred embodiment, referring to  FIG. 16  thereof, a disposable, replaceable tube bag  290  is disposed about the waste opening  270  for receiving the waste solids  260  ejected from the interior  210  of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10 . Also in the preferred embodiment, the tube bag  290  comprises a elongated plastic tube  300  compressed into a toroid  310 . The end of the plastic tube  300  is wrapped around the compressed toroid  310  creating a self packing  311  to hold the compressed plastic tube  300  in its toroidial shape. A heat weld  312  secures the self packing  311  leaving enough of one end of the plastic tube  300  beyond the heat weld  312  to make a pull tab  313 . A perforation  314  of the self packing  311 , opposite the side of the pull tab  313 , allows the plastic tube  300  to be released when the pull tab  313  is pulled. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the tube bag  290  is housed in a reservoir  320  around the waste opening  270  at the top  150  of the housing  100 . A slotted cover  330  keeps the tube bag  290  in place. Drawing the pull tab  313  through the slotted cover  330  causes the perforation  314  to tear dispensing the plastic tube  300 . A cutter  350  is also provided next to the waste opening  270  for cutting the plastic tube  300 . 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , multiple handles  400  are also disposed around the surface of the housing  100  to allow a user to rotate the housing  100  about the pivots  180 . The handles  400  are situated so as to allow the user maximum leverage to turn the housing  100  but not to interfere with the operation of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10 . In the preferred embodiment, handles  400  are positioned on the top  150  and bottom  160  of the housing  100  for ease of operation. In addition, the handles  400  can be disposed on the rear  140 , the sides  110 ,  120  of the device  10  such that, in cooperation with frame  170 , they prevent the housing  100  from being rotated past the desired rotational angles for operation. 
         [0064]    In alternative embodiments, a crank or lever or an electric motor may be provided to rotate the housing  100  about the pivots  180 , although such devices add to the cost of manufacture and the complexity of the device  10 . 
         [0065]    Additional features are contemplated for further facilitating the operation and maintenance of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  as well as eliminating odors, dust and spillage from the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  during use as well as during replacement or removal of litter. For example, an anti-tracking stair/ramp  360  ( FIG. 15 ) may be attached to the housing  100  below the aperture  200  to allow for easy access by a pet and to collect the tracked litter upon the pet&#39;s exit. The anti-tracking stair/ramp  360  has a floor level step with a tapered edge  361  designed to receive floor sweepings for additional convenience. The anti-tracking stair/ramp  360  may be attached to the housing  100  by means of a hinge  370  that allows the anti-tracking stair/ramp  360  to swing up and seal the compressible seal  202  of the aperture flange  201 , thereby returning the tracked litter into the interior  210  and sealing the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  for rotation. A semi-rigid disposable liner  450 , illustrated in  FIG. 13 , may also be added to the interior of the housing  100  which allows the user to simply replace the semi-rigid disposable liner  450  when continual use causes the interior of the housing to become soiled with waste. The semi-rigid disposable liner may be constructed from any suitable material, including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), or Polylactide (PL). 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the aperture  200  preferably includes a container attachment means  380  sized and shaped to connect to and pivot within the receiving arm  431  of a litter container  430  that contains the clean litter  250  such as newly purchased litter (or which may be an empty container  430  for receiving spent litter from the system) until the flange  201  fits snugly within the open top of the container  430 . The litter container  430  contains a stepped in seat  432  arranged to accept the aperture flange  201  and engage the compressible seal  202  creating a sealed and flush transition to transfer litter in and out of the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  without odor, dust or spillage. The arrangement of these components allows a user to save and re-use the original litter container  430  to remove the entire contents of the litter box  10  without odor, dust or spillage as well. A lock and release flange  390  is provided to alternatively lock the litter container in place and to allow a user to disconnect the container from the device  10  and replace the original cover on the container to thereby seal and dispose of the entire contents of the interior  210 . The same procedure may be utilized to fill the interior  210  with new litter  250  without exposure to dust or spills. 
         [0067]    In alternative embodiments, various interchangeable fittings may be provided so as to accept litter buckets of various sizes and shapes. The invention contemplates that the device  10  and container  430  may be connected to form a sealable connection by any suitable means, which may include snaps, slides, friction fittings, threadings, buckles, belts, elastic bands, straps, clasps, screws, thumb turns, clasps, hooks, latches, pivots, hinges, Velcro, magnets, clamps, clips, twist-locks, elastic diaphragms, or the like without deviating from the spirit of the invention. In addition, the device  10  and container  430  may be able to achieve a sealed connection using a compressible gasket or sealing means that forms an airtight seal when the container is connected with the aperture  200  of the device  10 . 
         [0068]    The container insert  460  ( FIG. 14 ) may be constructed with a thin and/or environmentally conscious material and may be packed with clean litter  250  and inserted into an empty litter container  430  to reduce environmental impact, and cost through the reuse of litter container  430  and recycling of the container insert  460 . This allows the user to reuse the litter container  430  as long as desired before discarding or recycling. 
         [0069]    A litter top-off container  470  that contains smaller quantities of clean litter  250  and inserts into the waste opening  270  ( FIG. 1 ) allowing supplemental litter additions without spilling litter or emitting dust. The litter top-off container  470  may be further fitted with various covers or lids that allow for the passage of the litter once the top-off container  470  is inserted into or connected with the waste opening  270 . 
         [0070]    In operation, a user withdraws a length of the plastic tube  300  through the slot  340  in the cover  330  and ties a knot at the top of the plastic tube  300 , which knot serves as the bottom of the disposable trash receptacle for the waste solids  260 . The knot also serves to prevent odors and dust from escaping from the interior of the housing  210 . 
         [0071]    In alternative embodiments, a crimp, clamp, tie, staple, or heat seal, or other like or equivalent means, may be used to seal the end of the tube. 
         [0072]    In yet another alternative embodiment, a heat sealing tube cutter may be provided to seal the end of the elongated plastic tube  300 . The heat sealing tube cutter comprises two sets of heat sealing elements with a scissor cutter disposed between the sets of heating elements. The heat sealing tube cutter is hinged on one side is mounted between the waste opening  270  and the tube reservoir  320 . Once the waste solids  260  have been ejected into the withdrawn portion of the plastic tube  300 , the user rotates the housing  100  back to its original position. This action causes the filled plastic tube  300  to be securely stationed in the waste bag seat  420 , returns the clean litter  250  to the bottom  160  of the housing, and positions the plastic tube  300  over the stationary arm of the double sealing tube cutter. The waste  260  may then be encapsulated and cut free by pressing the pivoted arm of the tube cutter down over the plastic tubing  300  sealing the waste  260  into waste bag  300 , cutting it free from the plastic tube, and sealing the end of the remaining tube, thus creating the bottom of the waste bag for the next cycle. The user may then dispose of the encapsulated waste in any household trash receptacle without any exposure to odor, dust, litter, waste, or bacteria. 
         [0073]    A pet may use the self-cleaning litter box/pet waste encapsulation device  10  by entering and leaving through the aperture  200  ( FIG. 5 /Position “A”). After the pet is done with the device  10 , the user may sweep any tracked litter into the bottom step and hinge close the anti-tracking stair/ramp  360 , returning any spillage or tracked litter back into the litter box and sealing the aperture. Then the user grasps the handles  400  and rotates the entire housing  100  ninety degrees about the axis  190  such that the aperture is now at the top of the device  10  ( FIG. 6 /Position “B”). Through this operation, the litter is forced by gravity through the sifter  240 , and the clean litter  250  is separated from the waste solids  260 . The housing is then rotated another ninety degrees about the axis  190  such that the aperture  200  is now at the back of the device  10  ( FIG. 7 /Position “C”). Through this additional rotation, the clean litter  250  is retained within the interior of the housing  210  by the solid closed collar  280  and the waste solids  260  are forced by gravity through the inside of the solid closed collar  280  continuing through the waste opening  270  and into the withdrawn portion of the plastic tube  300  of the tube bag  290 . It should be appreciated that this 180 degree rotation need not be done in two stages—the housing  100  may be rotated in one continuous and smooth operation. It should further be appreciated that preferably the apparatus is implemented such that there is sufficient clearance between the withdrawn portion of the plastic tube  300  (which contains the waste in Position “C”) and the surface upon which the frame  170  sits to allow freedom of movement when rotating the housing in and/or out of Position C. 
         [0074]    Once the waste solids  260  have been ejected into the withdrawn portion of the plastic tube  300 , the user rotates the housing  100  back to its original position ( FIG. 9 /Position “E”). This action causes the filled plastic tube  300  to be securely stationed in the waste bag seat  420  and returns the clean litter  250  to the bottom of the housing  160 . The waste may then be completely encapsulated by twisting the plastic tube  300 , separating the filled portion from the remaining plastic tube. The entwined plastic tube  300  may then be slid through the cutter  350 , thereby freeing the bagged waste solids  260 . The user may then tie a knot in the cut end of the freed plastic tube  300 , and dispose of the waste in any household trash receptacle without any exposure to odor, dust, litter, waste, or bacteria. At this time, the user may re-open the anti-tracking stair door  360  for the pet&#39;s next use. Upon returning the anti-tracking stair door  360  to its open position, the pet door  220  returns to the aperture by way of gravity and continues to maintain a sealed aperture. An additional knot may be tied at the open end of the remaining plastic tube  300  completely sealing the device  10  until the pet&#39;s next use. 
         [0075]    Clean litter  250  may be added to the interior of the device  10  by various methods. For example, Referring to  FIG. 15  the receiving arm  431  of the clean litter container  430  may be attached to the container attachment means  380  and inverted so that the entire empty device  10  sits on top of the full upright litter container  430  ( FIG. 11 /Position “G”). Then the user tilts the device  10  back down onto the legs of the frame  170  and rotates the device  10  by way of the pivot  180  until the clean litter  250  pours into the interior  210  without any exposure to the elements within ( FIG. 12 /Position “H”). The same methods may be used in reverse to remove the litter from the interior without any exposure to the elements within. Alternatively, the litter may be poured from the top-off container  470  ( FIG. 14 ) into the housing  100  through the waste opening  270  prior to tying the open end of the remaining plastic tube  300 . The housing  100  may also be rotated 90 degrees about the axis  190  such that the aperture  200  is at the top of the device  10 . Clean litter  250  may then be poured into the interior  210 . 
         [0076]    The pivots  180  about which the housing  100  rotates in the support frame  170  are off-center and above the center of the housing  100  when the housing  100  is in an upright resting position ready to receive a pet therein, or the 0 degree position “A.” This allows the housing  100  to rest on a common floor with frame  170 , and to provide clearance between the floor and the housing  100  during rotation of the housing  100  as described above. 
         [0077]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims. 
         [0078]    Incorporation by Reference 
         [0079]    The contents of all references, patents, pending patent applications and published patents, cited throughout this application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
         [0080]    Equivalents 
         [0081]    Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.