Abstract:
A vertical pet excrement collection device. The device is an absorbent fabric collecting sheet mounted on a frame and maintained in a substantially vertical orientation to catch pet excrement emitted that would not land on or be absorbed by a horizontal collection device. In one embodiment, the device is incorporated with and connected to an existing horizontal collection device such as a litterbox. In a second embodiment the collection device is a frame on which an absorbent sheet is mounted, the frame having an interconnected horizontal frame and vertical frame defining a horizontal pad and a vertical pad. Simple and quick removal and replacement of the absorbent material is provided so that a solid sheet may be easily replaced.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a system for holding a vertical absorbent pad which absorbs the excrement of a pet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of absorbent pads by pet owners to train their pets or to otherwise provide a sanitary location for pets to relieve themselves is well known. The prior art use of such pads, however, has been limited to applications resembling putting paper down for a dog, providing a litter box for a cat in such a way that absorbent devices lay flat on the ground and are designed to catch and absorb pet excrement that would otherwise wind up on the floor. 
         [0003]    Many prior art devices have been proposed to aid in the collection of pet excrement or the housebreaking of pets. Generally it is an objective to get the pets to urinate and defecate at a single location on a disposable, absorbent material. The most common approach has been the use of newspapers laid on the floor for a dog to urinate and defecate on. Although newspapers are absorbent, to some extent, alone they are uncontained and easily scattered by a playful or destructive dog. Also, newspapers used in this way are disadvantageous because the pet excrement leaks through to the floor surface upon which it is laid. 
         [0004]    Many of the prior art arrangements are concerned primarily with ways and means to secure the horizontal excrement catching device in place to prevent the movement or scattering of the catching device. One such arrangement is a housing made of a rigid plastic material that has a bottom surface that rests on the floor. Short sidewalls extend upwardly from the bottom surface, a disposable pad being placed in the housing on the bottom surface. The pad extends up and over the top of the sidewalls and a rectangular plastic rim is then positioned on top of the pad draped over the sidewalls to hold the pad in place. In this prior art system, removal of the pad for disposal is relatively easy but it has substantial disadvantages. First, the system is costly as a result of the manufacture of custom pads and frames to fit one another. In addition, this prior art device does not always securely hold the pad. Because only the weight of the frame is holding the periphery of the pad, if a pet were to scratch on the pad with its claws, it is possible that the periphery of the pad would become disengaged from between the frame and sidewalls of the tray. Finally, and most significantly disadvantageous compared to the present invention, this prior art system is essentially a horizontal pad and does not provide adequate any vertical absorbent sheet or pad to catch pet excrement such as that emitted by male dogs when raising their legs or cats which “spray”. 
         [0005]    To address the problem of securing the horizontal pad, another prior art system utilizes latches to secure the frame to the tray, the portion of the pad extending over the tray sidewalls thus being secured there between. While the frame and pad are more well secured, the addition of the clamps adds significantly to the cost of the system, is time consuming to unlatch the numerous latches, and provides a mechanical component part which is susceptible to breakage. In addition, there is no teaching or suggestion to extend the sidewalls vertically upward to catch excrement emitted from male dogs or cats that will not land on the horizontal pad. 
         [0006]    A large number of prior art pet excrement catching devices provide specific methods and devices to secure an absorbent pad to a frame, as discussed above. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,630,376; 6,550,423 and 6,059,247 devices are set forth that provide a perimeter around the absorbent pad and means for securing the pad thereto. In those references the pad is sandwiched by perimeter structure members. 
         [0007]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,119, a system for holding a pad is provided in which the pad is secured at the corners by being stuffed into and retained in a plastic disk having radially extending cuts. 
         [0008]    In none of the prior art devices is there provided or suggested the need for a vertical extension to the absorbent pad. As a result, the prior art does not recognize the problem or provide a solution for the pet excrement emitted, for example, by male dogs raising their legs or cat spray, even if they do so while standing on the horizontal absorbent device or a box of kitty litter. 
         [0009]    There is identified a need for a vertical pet excrement collection device. It is advantageous to provide such a vertical device in at least two embodiments, the first having a frame and being incorporated with and connected to a horizontal collection device. The second embodiment is a vertical collection device that has attachment provisions for securing to an existing horizontal collection device, such as a box or tray holding kitty litter. 
         [0010]    The vertical pet excrement collection device identified comprises a sheet of absorbent material held vertically by a frame, with provisions built into the frame for securing the sheet to the frame. Simple and quick removal and replacement of the sheet of absorbent material is provided so that it may be easily replaced. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for collecting pet excrement by holding a vertical absorbent sheet which is simple and easily manufactured. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which securely holds an absorbent sheet vertically while also providing simple and quick means for removing and replacing the absorbent sheet. 
         [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for holding an absorbent sheet vertically having a frame and means for releasably securing the absorbent sheet to the frame. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sturdy device for holding an absorbent sheet vertically that is attached to an absorbent horizontal sheet. 
         [0015]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device having a vertical absorbent sheet and a horizontal absorbent sheet in which an interconnected frame holds both the vertical sheet and horizontal sheet. 
         [0016]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device having a vertical absorbent sheet that connects to a generally horizontal, pre-existing pet excrement collection device. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a device holding an absorbent sheet for pet excrement collection in a vertical orientation wherein the absorbent sheet is releasably secured to a frame by gripping provisions built into the frame. 
         [0018]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention provides a vertical pet excrement collection device having a collecting sheet and a frame holding the collecting sheet in a substantially vertical orientation. A means for releasably securing the collecting sheet to the frame is also provided. 
         [0020]    In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collecting sheet comprises absorbent fabric to absorb the pet excrement. Also, the frame comprises at least two vertically extending members and the means for securing comprises releasable gripping means securing the collecting sheet to the at least two vertically extending members. 
         [0021]    The means for securing further comprises gripping means affixed to the vertically extending members, specifically mechanical gripping provisions that are built-in to the vertically extending members. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the gripping means comprise resilient rubber gripping fingers affixed to the vertically extending members. A sheet of material placed in a small gap between the rubber gripping fingers will be held in placed as a result of the frictional resistance of the opposed rubber surfaces of the fingers. The rubber surfaces may alternatively be a series of spaced apart pairs of rubber gripping fingers or strips of rubber extending a length along the vertical members. The rubber gripping fingers may also alternatively overlap or may be spaced apart a small distance, less than the thickness of the collecting sheet such that the sheet does not freely move between the rubber gripping fingers. 
         [0022]    The vertically extending members of the frame are of tubular construction and comprise a substantially C-shaped cross section having a gap formed therein. The resilient rubber gripping fingers are affixed to two edges defining the gap, with the gripping fingers used to hold the collecting sheet there between in a substantially vertical orientation. 
         [0023]    In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention the means for holding the sheet in a substantially vertical orientation further comprises means for attaching the frame to a horizontal pet collection device such as a litterbox. The means for attaching further comprises clamping means and means for receiving the vertically extending members of the frame. The principles of the present invention contemplate the use of a litterbox as the horizontal pet collection device, and the clamping means comprises spring loaded clamps engaging the litter box. The vertical members of the frame are of substantially tubular construction and the means for receiving the vertical members comprise tubular sleeves. 
         [0024]    In a second preferred embodiment, the vertical pet excrement collection device comprises a frame having vertically extending members and horizontal members forming a base. In this second embodiment, the collecting sheet comprises a horizontal area and a vertical area. The frame comprises interconnected horizontal and vertical members of tubular construction which also have substantially C-shaped cross sections having a gap therein and gripping fingers positioned in the gap to hold fabric therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the vertical pet excrement collector device in which the absorbent sheet is secured to a frame that is added to an existing horizontal pet excrement collector device, such as a box of kitty litter. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a detail view of the C shaped frame members of the collector device illustrating attachment provisions of the absorbent sheet to the frame members. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of the brackets that secure the vertical members to an existing horizontal excrement collection device, illustrating the means for receiving the vertical members and the clamping means securing the bracket and frame to the horizontal excrement collection device. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a horizontal sheet of absorbent fabric and a vertical sheet of absorbent fabric and a frame supporting both. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is the frame having horizontal and vertical members without the horizontal and vertical collector sheets attached. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of the two member corner connectors of the frame. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of the three member corner connectors of the frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    A preferred embodiment of the vertical pet excrement catcher device  10  of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the catcher device  10  comprises a frame  11  having at least two and preferably three vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  and an absorbent fabric sheet  18  which extends around and is affixed to at least two of the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sheet  18  is affixed to the frame  11  at at least the two outer vertical members  12 ,  16  to hold the sheet  18  in a substantially vertical orientation. The absorbent fabric sheet  18  extends across the three vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  as shown to define two substantially perpendicular, vertically upright surfaces  20 ,  22 . By constructing the pet excrement catcher device  10  in this way and providing means for affixing it to an existing litter box  30  it serves the useful function of catching pet excrement emitted by a pet in the litterbox  30  that would have otherwise not landed on the horizontal litterbox surface, all without interfering with or obstructing the pet&#39;s entry or exit to or from the litterbox  30 . While the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  illustrates the use of three vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  to define the frame  11  and two perpendicular vertical surfaces  20 ,  22 , it is specifically contemplated that additional vertical members may be employed to create additional vertical surfaces, such as a third surface extending up from a third side of the litterbox  30 , and such provisions do not depart from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0033]    The three vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  comprising the frame  11  are shown affixed to the existing horizontal excrement collection device, e.g. the litter box  30 , with three brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28 . The details of these brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  are shown in  FIG. 3 . The vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  are received in and securely held by the brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , each vertical member  12 ,  14 ,  16  is substantially of tubular construction and has a C-shaped cross section  32  with a gap  33  formed between two edges  38 ,  40  of the C-shaped cross section  32 . In this preferred embodiment, opposed rubber fingers  34 ,  36  are affixed to the two edges  38 ,  40  and cooperate to pinch the sheet  18  between them and hold it in place in the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16 . The rubber fingers  34 ,  36  are resilient and provide a releasable gripping means securing the sheet  18  to the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16 . While the preferred embodiment reflected in  FIG. 2  illustrates the use of the resilient rubber gripping fingers  34 ,  36  affixed to and built into the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  to hold the sheet  18  therebetween and vertical, it is not the only means for securing contemplated by the principles of the present invention. Other attachment provisions, such as VELCRO™ hooks and loops connectors, adhesive, magnets, snaps, zippers or other releasable means are specifically contemplated such that their use in place of the rubber gripping fingers  34 ,  36  to hold the sheet  18  to the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  does not depart from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  comprise means for holding the sheet  18  in a substantially vertical orientation by attaching the frame comprising the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and the absorbent fabric sheet  18  affixed thereto, to the litterbox  30 . Each bracket  24 ,  26 ,  28  comprises clamping means for holding the brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  to the litterbox  30 . Specifically, the brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  comprise a clamp  48  with a spring-loaded hook  49  which engages the top of the litterbox  30  to hold the entire collector device  10  securely vertical and in place. In the most preferred embodiment, the clamp  48  and brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  are formed from hard plastic which allows the clamp  48  to be spread open slightly and placed on the edges of the litterbox  30 . The mechanical memory of the clamp  48  causes it to adhere tightly to the litterbox  30 . Other embodiments incorporating other spring loading techniques or adjustability to tighten down clamps on the litterbox are specifically contemplated and do not depart from the principles of the present invention. In addition, the brackets  24 ,  26 ,  28  each comprise a means for receiving the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16  comprising a sleeve  50  sized to receive and retain the vertical members  12 ,  14 ,  16 . 
         [0035]    A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . The vertical pet excrement collector device  100  comprises a horizontal base  101  and a horizontal pad  102  as well as a vertical pad  104 , further comprising an absorbent fabric sheet  105  stretched across and secured to a frame  107 . The portion of the frame  107  to which the vertical pad  104  is secured comprises interconnected vertical members  106 ,  108  and a top member  110 . 
         [0036]    The horizontal pad  102  is secured to four horizontal members  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 , by pushing the pad  102  down into the gripping finger provisions built into the members  114 ,  116 ,  118  along gather lines  115 ,  117 ,  119 . Similarly, the vertical pad  104  is secured to the vertical members  106 ,  108 ,  110  by pushing the pad  104  down into the gripping finger provisions built into the members  106 ,  108 ,  110  along gather lines  109 ,  111 ,  113 . The horizontal members  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  are secured to each other, and define a rigid rectangular horizontal frame  121 , through the use of two corner connectors  122 ,  124  and three corner connectors  130 ,  132 . Each of the two corner connectors  122 ,  124  has the typical construction depicted in  FIG. 5 , specifically two perpendicularly related sleeves  126 ,  128  sized to receive horizontal members  114 ,  116 ,  118 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 4 , each of horizontal and vertical members  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  comprising the frame  107  are of tubular cross section and have the C-shaped cross section and means for gripping as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Specifically, each frame member  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  is substantially of tubular construction and has a C-shaped cross section  32  with a gap  33  formed between two edges  38 ,  40  of the C-shaped cross section  32 . In this preferred embodiment, opposed rubber fingers  34 ,  36  are affixed to the two edges  38 ,  40  and cooperate to pinch the sheet  18  between them and hold it in place in the frame member. The rubber fingers  34 ,  36  are resilient and provide a releasable gripping means securing the sheet  18  to the frame members. While the preferred embodiment reflected in  FIG. 2  illustrates the use of the resilient rubber gripping fingers  34 ,  36  affixed to and built into the frame member to hold the sheet therebetween, it is not the only means for securing contemplated by the principles of the present invention. Other attachment provisions, such as VELCRO™ hooks and loops connectors, adhesive, magnets, snaps, zippers or other releasable means are specifically contemplated such that their use in place of the rubber gripping fingers  34 ,  36  to hold the sheet to the frame member does not depart from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0037]    The rear and vertical portions of the frame  107  are held rigid by the three corner connectors  130 ,  132  which are of the typical construction depicted in  FIG. 6 . Specifically, each corner connector  130 ,  132  comprises three orthogonally related sleeves  134 ,  136 ,  138  receiving the horizontal members  116 ,  118 ,  120  and vertical members  106 ,  108  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The remainder of the vertical portion of the frame  107  comprises upper corner connectors  140 ,  142  each being constructed consistent with the detail depicted in  FIG. 5 , specifically having two perpendicularly related sleeves  126 ,  128  to receive vertical members  106 ,  108  and the upper bridge member  110 . Each of the members  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  comprising the frame  107  are represented by the detail depicted in  FIG. 2 . Specifically, all comprise a C-shaped cross section  32  with opposed rubber gripping fingers  34 ,  36  built into the members in the gap  33 , the rubber gripping fingers  34 ,  36  extending from the two edges  38 ,  40 . 
         [0038]    The frame  100  to which the horizontal pad  102  and vertical pad  104  are secured provides a device that is not only a horizontal excrement catcher, but also catches other urination and defecation and would not otherwise land on the horizontal pad, such as that of a male dog that raises his leg or a cat that “sprays”. The horizontal pad  102  and vertical pad  104  may be constructed from a single, double wide section of absorbent fabric which may quickly and conveniently be discarded by simply pulling it out from the gripping fingers built into the frame members  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 . 
         [0039]    The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.