Abstract:
A pet potty includes a base plate and a grid. The base plate has a base and a wall along the perimeter of the base, the base and wall impermeable to fluid and forming a cavity capable of retaining fluid. The grid is sized to fit within the cavity of the base plate and has a complex of beams that can support a pet atop the grid. The beams have a top side and a bottom side, and substantially all of the beams are convex in shape on their top side.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/972,094, filed Jan. 10, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 11/972,094. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, the invention relates to litter boxes for pets. More specifically, the invention relates to litter boxes that can be used by dogs as well as cats and that does not require the use of traditional cat litter material. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The following description provides a summary of information relevant to the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art to the presently claimed invention, nor that any of the publications or devices specifically or implicitly referenced are prior art to that invention. 
     Cat litter boxes have been in general use by the public for quite some time, and there are many types from which to choose. Generally, the traditional cat litter box is a rectangular container with raised walls on three sides and a lowered wall on the entry side where the cat enters the container. The traditional container holds cat litter material, which is used to attract the cat and absorb cat feces and urine odor. This has worked well for cats, but has not generally been adopted for use by dogs. 
     Dogs have traditionally had few options when it comes to relieving themselves indoors. Traditionally, dogs tended to live outdoors and were free to relieve themselves in outdoor areas. More recently, dog owners have been bringing their dogs indoors for several reasons. One reason is that smaller breed dogs have become increasingly popular, and these breeds are suited for indoor living. In fact, they tend to prefer living indoors in close relationship with their owners. 
     Another reason for this shift in the living relationship between dogs and humans is that more and more people have been moving into smaller dwelling units that do not have back yards, or have very small outdoor spaces. This shift from traditional homes with yards to smaller homes, such as condos, townhomes and apartments has not reduced people&#39;s desire to share their lives with pets. Instead, it has created a greater demand for products that enable indoor living for pets, particularly dogs. Thus, there is now a particular need for products and services that allow pet owners to potty train their pets. There is a corresponding need for indoor pet potties, particularly those suitable for use by dogs. 
     As explained above, cats presently have many options that involve using cat litter inside of some form of cat litter box indoors. Dogs, however, have just a few options when it comes to housebreaking and using the bathroom indoors. 
     One option is to use a litter box with litter in a manner very similar to what cats use. The problem with such litter boxes for dogs is that dogs like to bury their waste, which results in litter being flung all over the room in which the litter box is placed. In addition, puppies, and some dogs, tend to eat the litter, which is very unhealthy and can lead to serious digestive and other health problems. 
     Another option is to lay newspaper or other suitable paper product on the floor and housetrain the dog to use it exclusively. The problem with such an approach is that most paper products don&#39;t absorb urine very well, and they tend to leak through to the floor. Moreover, dogs tend to step in the urine on the newspaper and track it all over the house with their paws. Another problem is that puppies tend to tear the paper into shreds and create a big mess all over the house. 
     To address these deficiencies in newspaper use, absorbent pads have been created. These pads tend to have one or more layers of absorbent material and a backing layer of material that is impervious to fluid so as to prevent urine from leaking through to the floor beneath the pad. The problem with these absorbent pads, however, is threefold: (1) puppies tend to tear them to shreds as they do with paper products; (2) in their attempt to bury their waste dogs tend to fling the pads out of position and scatter them around so that they are not useful after one use; and (3) the pads do not absorb the urine quickly enough so that dogs tend to track the urine around the house with their paws after stepping in it just after urinating. 
     Another solution has been to use large crates that house artificial grass or real sod that is periodically replaced. There are several companies that make various versions of such a product. The problems with that solution are threefold: (1) the artificial grass or sod must be replaced every week or two weeks at most, and even then there is a buildup in odor; (2) these crates tend to be very expensive and can cost between $150 to $600 just for the crate and the first installation of sod; and (3) the replacement sod or grass is also very expensive and results in recurring costs over the entire lifetime of the product. 
     Another solution has been the creation of an indoor dog potty that can hold absorbent pads or newspapers in a manner inaccessible to dogs. One such type of dog potty is made of a rectangular base plate fitted with a unitary removable grid. The base plate can hold a newspaper or absorbent pad inside with the grid placed atop the newspaper or absorbent pad. The dog goes to the bathroom atop the grid and the pee passes through the grid to the newspaper or absorbent pad below. The problem with such a product is that the unitary grids tend to be large and difficult to handle and clean. In addition, the grids are often made from lighting louver material or other material and may not be suited for all dogs&#39; paws. 
     Thus, there is a need for an affordable, safe, convenient, and clean pet potty that can be used to housetrain pets and provide them with a means to relieve themselves indoors. The present invention solves all of the aforementioned problems associated with current housetraining and indoor potty devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a pet potty includes a base plate and a grid. The base plate has a base and a wall along the perimeter of the base, the base and wall being impermeable to fluid and forming a cavity capable of retaining fluid. The grid is sized to fit within the cavity of the base plate and has a complex of beams that can support a pet atop the grid. The beams have a top side and a bottom side, and substantially all of the beams are convex in shape on their top side. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a pet potty includes a base plate and two or more grids. The base plate has a base and a wall along the perimeter of the base, the base and wall being impermeable to fluid and forming a cavity capable of retaining fluid. The two or more grids are sized to fit within the cavity of the base plate such that when the grids are placed in the cavity the grids are substantially immovable in any horizontal direction. The grids each have a complex of beams that can support a pet atop the grid. The beams have a top side and a bottom side, and substantially all of the beams are convex in shape on their top side. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pet potty in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the pet potty depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the pet potty depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of one of the grids of the pet potty depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of the grid through lines A-A in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the grid through lines B-B in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional close-up view of a portion of the grid depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pet potty depicted in  FIG. 1  with a raised drainage attachment. 
         FIG. 7A  shows a side cut-out view of one of the grids of the pet potty depicted in  FIG. 1  with a series of disposable layers adhered to the grid. 
         FIG. 7B  shows one of the disposable layers of  FIG. 7A  being peeled off the grid. 
         FIG. 8  shows a three-dimensional close-up view of a portion of the grid depicted in  FIG. 4  with one of the disposable layers depicted in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  being peeled off the grid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The pet potty systems depicted herein can be used to housetrain and act as an indoor potty for dogs and cats. They are, however, particularly suitable for dogs. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a pet potty  100  in accordance with one embodiment depicts a rectangular base plate  110  fitted with a double grid system having grids  150  and  160 . The grids  150  and  160  are removable from the base plate  110 . When the grids  150  and  160  are positioned in the base plate  110  the grids fit snuggly in the base plate such that there is little or no movement in any horizontal direction between the grids  150  and  160  and the base plate  110 . The grids are capable of supporting the weight of any breed of dog. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base plate  110  is formed of a base  111  surrounded on its perimeter by a raised wall  114 . A raised wall  114  extending upward from the base  111  forms a cavity  115  in the base plate  110 . The wall is preferably about ¾ of an inch tall, but can be from between about ¼ of an inch tall to about 3 inches tall. The grids  150  and  160  fit snuggly within the cavity  115 . The grids  150  and  160  can be removed from the base plate  110  by lifting them vertically upward. Finger ports  157  are provided for this purpose and are positioned on the outer sides of each of the grids  150  and  160 . The grids  150  and  160  are mirror images of each other. The finger ports  157  are placed on the outer sides of the grids  150  and  160 , because there is less likelihood of the outer edges of the grids  150  and  160  being covered with feces. 
     The grids  150  and  160  each have a number of spacers  155  along the three outer sides  156  of the grids  150  and  160 . There are no spacers along the side  158  of the grids  150  and  160  that touch each other. The spacers  155  form a space between the outer sides  156  of the grids  150  and  160  and the wall  114  of the base plate  110 . The spacers  155  ensure that there is no horizontal movement between the grids  150  and  160  and the base plate  110  when the grids  150  and  160  are positioned inside the cavity  111  of the base plate  110 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the spacing between the grids  150  and  160  and the wall  114  of the base plate  110  established by the spacers  155  also makes it easier to grip the finger ports  157  with two fingers. Alternatively, the grids can be sized exactly to fit the cavity  115  of the base plate  110 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , there is no space between the inner sides  158  of the grids, which touch each other. 
     The base  111  has a plurality of upwardly projecting bumps  116  formed thereon. The bumps  116  are curved, but can be of any shape and size. The bumps  116  help to stabilize the base  111  and prevent it from warping during the manufacturing process or over time. 
       FIG. 4  depicts grid  150  as an example. Each structure and element of grid  150  is mirrored in grid  160 . Grid  150  is formed by a complex of beams  165  that are interconnected within the boundaries of the outer edges  156  and  158  of the grid  150 . The beams  165  of grid  150  are supported by edges  156  and  158 , which extend downward a distance x from the beams  165  of the grid  150 , and by a plurality of columns  170 , which also extend downward a same distance x from the beams  165 . The distance x is preferably about ¾ of an inch, but can be anywhere from about ¼ of an inch to about 3 inches. There can be as few as one column  170  supporting the beams  165  and as many as fifty columns  170  supporting the beams. Preferably, there are at least five columns  170  supporting the beams, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the beams  165  have a top side  167  and a bottom side  168 . The bottom side  168  of the beams  165  do not extend downward the same distance x as the columns  170  and edges  156  and  158  of the grid  150 . Therefore, the bottom side  168  of the beams  165  do not touch the base  111  of the base plate  110  (both shown in phantom in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 4A and 5 , the bottom side  168  of the beams  165  can be flat, concave, convex, or any shape. The top side  167  of the beams  165  can be convex (i.e., slightly rounded) in shape. The convex shape of the top side  167  of the beams  165  helps to cushion the paw pads of dogs and cats. The beams  165  are at least 0.15 inches thick (as shown in distance z in  FIG. 5 ), which further ensures the safety and comfort of dogs&#39; and cats&#39; paw pads. As shown in  FIG. 5 , there are holes or openings between the beams, and the beams  165  are separated by a distance y across the openings between the beams  165 . This distance y between the beams  165  is preferably no greater than about ⅜ of an inch. In any case, distance y is less than ⅝ of an inch. The small distance between the beams reduces the risk that the smallest paw pads of the smallest dog breeds gets stuck inside of the openings between the beams  165  rather than being supported atop the beams  165 . 
     An additional feature of the pet potty  100  can be a series  200  of protective disposable layers of material  210  adhered atop the grids  150  and  160 . This feature is best shown in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  8 . Each disposable layer  210  is made of at least one layer having adhesive material on the bottom side  212  and non-adhesive material on the top side  214 . Alternatively, each disposable layer  210  can be made of two layers of material, a top layer  214  and a bottom layer  212 . The top layer  212  does not have an adhesive, and the bottom layer  214  has an adhesive. The bottom layer  214  (or bottom side) of each disposable layer  210  adheres to the top layer  212  (or top side) of the disposable layer  210  below it. As shown in  FIGS. 7B and 8 , each disposable layer  210  can be periodically removed after it is soiled by the pet revealing a clean disposable layer  210  below it. The series of protective disposable layers  200  can be provided in packets of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more disposable layers  210 . The series of disposable layers  200  preferably has the same general shape and dimensions of the grids  150  and  160  and the length and width of each adhesive layer  210  of the series of disposable layers  200  is generally the same as the beams  165  of the grids  150  and  160 . 
     The pet potty  100  is depicted in the figures as being rectangular, but it can be round, oval, square, or any shape that provides enough space for a dog or cat to sit atop and relieve herself or himself. For example, it can be shaped like a bone or a fire hydrant or any other fanciful shape. In one embodiment, such as that shown in the figures herein, the pet potty  100  is about 19 inches in width (shown as W in  FIG. 3 ) by about 26 inches in length (shown as L in  FIG. 3 ), and the cavity  115  or elimination space can be about 16 inches in width by about 24 inches in length. In other rectangular embodiments, the pet potty  100  can be about 14 inches in width and 19 inches in length with a cavity or elimination space of about 12 inches in width and 15.5 inches in length. 
     The grids  150  and  160  can also be of any size or shape. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the grids can be about 12 inches in length by about 16 inches in width each. In yet another embodiment (not shown in the figures), the pet potty can have one large single grid that is about 24 inches in length by about 16 inches in width, rather than having a double grid system such as that shown in the figures. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pet potty  100  can be fitted with a raised drainage attachment  300 . The raised drainage attachment  300  can best be utilized by male dogs that raise their legs when they urinate. The drainage attachment  300  can have three walls, leaving an opening along one of the long sides of the pet potty  100  so that the dog has a way to get on the pet potty. Alternatively, the raised drainage attachment  300  can have just one wall, preferably along one of the long sides of the pet potty  100 . The three walls of the drainage attachment  300  can be of a unibody construction made from a single mold. Alternatively, the drainage attachment  300  can be constructed by attaching the three walls together through various types of attachments that are known in the art. Each wall of the drainage attachment  300  has an internal side  315  facing the pet potty  100 , and an external side  320  facing outward and away from the pet potty  100 . The bottom edge of the internal side  315  of the walls forms a drainage lip  310 . The drainage lip  310  extends laterally inward toward the cavity  115  of the base plate  110  of the pet potty  100 . The drainage lip  310  extends just over the internal edge of the perimeter wall  114  of the pet potty such that fluid that drains down the internal walls of the drainage attachment  300  flows into the cavity  115  of the base plate  110  of the pet potty  100 . A retention lip (not shown) can extend inwardly from the bottom edge of the external wall  320  and under the bottom of the base plate  110 . The retention lip can be used to firmly secure the drainage attachment  300  to the pet potty  100 . The drainage attachment  300  can be attached to the pet potty  100  by sliding the pet potty into the groove formed between the bottom of the drainage lip  310  and the top of the retention lip (not shown). The height of the drainage attachment  300  can be any height between about four inches and about twenty-four inches, preferably between about twelve inches and about eighteen inches, and preferably about sixteen inches. 
     Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to these embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.