Patent Publication Number: US-2018042199-A1

Title: Litter cleaning and disposal system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate generally to cleaning and disposal systems and, more particularly, to a system for cleaning and disposing of animal litter. 
     Cleaning and disposing of animal litters, such as cat litter, is an unpleasant and often messy task. Doing so typically involves bending over a litter box and scooping clumped, soiled litter from unsoiled litter and then depositing the clumped, soiled litter into a bag or other receptacle for disposal. Often, soiled or unsoiled litter is spilled outside the litter box in doing so. 
     This process can also be hazardous. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection found in birds, animals, and people caused by  Toxoplasma gondii , a parasitic protozoan. In adult humans, toxoplasmosis usually causes no symptoms. Infections in pregnant women, however, can result in brain damage and vision loss in the baby. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a cleaning and disposal system, the system comprising: a liner device having a substantially continuous surface; and at least one perforated device having: a perforated portion having a plurality of openings; and a substantially continuous portion surrounding the perforated portion. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a cleaning and disposal device comprising: a perforated portion; and a substantially continuous portion surrounding the perforated portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a litter cleaning and disposal system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of a perforated device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of a litter cleaning and disposal system according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a litter cleaning and disposal system of the invention in combination with a frame device 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of the use of a litter cleaning and disposal system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of a litter cleaning and disposal system according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional side view of the use of a perforated device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a litter cleaning and disposal system  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. System  100  includes a liner device  10  having a substantially continuous surface  12 . Liner device  10  may be formed from any number of materials, including, for example, polymer materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. According to some embodiments of the invention, liner device  10  is formed from or includes a biodegradable material, such as a cellulosic material. These may include, for example, treated or untreated paper materials. Such treated materials may include, for example, waxed paper. Other suitable materials will be apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     System  100  further includes a perforated device  20  having a perforated portion  30 , the periphery of which includes a substantially continuous portion  22 . The substantially continuous portion  22  may be formed from or include the same or different material as liner device  10 . Perforated portion  30  may include a netting material of the same or a different material as substantially continuous portion  22 . Such a netting material may, for example, include a polyethylene or polypropylene material. 
     Although perforated portion  30  is shown having a rectangular shape in  FIG. 1 , this is neither necessary nor essential. Other shapes may be employed, including, for example, circular, ovoid, or square shapes. In addition, although perforated portion  30  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a net like structure, this too is neither necessary nor essential. 
     For example,  FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of perforated device  20  in which perforated portion  31  comprises a plurality of holes  33  extending through continuous portion  22 .  FIG. 3  shows a system  200  according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a liner device  10  as described above and a plurality of perforated devices  20 . 
       FIG. 4  shows system  200  ready for use. Here, liner device  10  is placed first into or onto a rigid frame device  60  such as a litter box. Then, each of the plurality of perforated devices  20  is disposed atop liner device  10 . Litter (not shown) may then be deposited atop the topmost perforated device  20 . 
     When it is time to clean the litter, the topmost perforated device  20  is lifted from frame device  60 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Unsoiled litter  50  passes through perforated portion  30 ,  31 . Soiled litter  52 , which is clumped, is of a size too large to pass through perforated portion  30 ,  31  and is retained within the lifted perforated device  20 . This minimizes waste in the disposal of unsoiled litter  50 , which falls back into frame device  60 . This process may then be repeated periodically, with the next perforated device lifted from frame device  60 . When only liner device  10  remains beneath the litter and within or atop frame device  60 , all litter, both soiled and unsoiled, may be removed for disposal. Typically, a system according to embodiments of the invention will include one liner device  10  and between one and six perforated devices  20 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a system  300  according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, liner device  10  and perforated device  20  further include drawstrings  14 ,  24 , respectively. These may aid in the removal of liner device  10  and perforated device  20  from a litter box or similar device, as in a manner similar to the removal of a trash bag from a trash can. 
     Optionally, according to some embodiments of the invention, system  300  may include a disposal device  80 , such as a small bag into which perforated device  20  may be placed for disposal. Disposal device  80  may optionally include its own drawstring  84 . In some embodiments of the invention, disposal device  80  may be non-fixedly attached to perforated device  20  using, for example, an adhesive. In other embodiments of the invention, disposal device  80  may be incorporated into or formed as part of perforated device  20 . In either case, disposal device  80  may be formed from the same material as perforated device  20 . 
     In still other embodiments of the invention, perforated device  20  may further include a second drawstring  26  about the periphery of perforated portion  30 . Second drawstring  26  may facilitate disposal of perforated device  20 , as shown, for example, in cross-sectional side view in  FIG. 7 . Here, upon lifting perforated device  20  from frame device  60  ( FIG. 5 ), second drawstring  26  is tightened around perforated portion  30 . Next, substantially continuous portion  22  is wrapped around perforated portion  30 . Then, drawstring  24  is drawn to secure perforated portion  30  containing soiled litter for disposal. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any related or incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.