Abstract:
A mat intended to be placed in proximity to a litter box so that a pet exiting the litter box will walk over the mat with the result that particles of litter temporarily adhering to the feet of the pet will be dislodged through interaction with the structure of the mat, the dislodged litter particles being collectible in medially disposed channels formed in the mat which facilitate pouring of the particles back into the litter box. The litter mat is structurally configured and formed of a material that facilitates cleaning of the mat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/958,495, filed Jul. 6, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to mat structures useful not only as flooring for animal caging but also as surfaces locatable in the vicinity of a pet litter box and on which a pet exiting the box will walk over the mat structure to dislodge litter particles from the pet&#39;s paws, the dislodged litter particles being collectible on the mat structure for return to the litter box. The mat structures of the invention also find utility in other use environments for facilitating dislodgement of debris from the feet of users walking over or contacting surfaces of the mat structures. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Pets commonly trained to use litter boxes include cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and the like, litter boxes usually containing absorbent, fine granular particles typically formed of clay or other mineral matter, organic materials such as leaf mulch, wheat by-products and other cellulosic materials and synthetic materials formed into fine granules. Unavoidably, these fine-grained particles tend to adhere to or become lodged within various portions of a pet&#39;s paws such as between the digits, on the pads of the paws or on or in fur or hair surrounding the paws. On exiting a litter box after use, the pet invariably carries litter particles various distances from the litter box with the result that the particles dislodge in environmental spaces remote from the litter box and particularly on and in rugs and the like in living areas, thereby creating unpleasant and potentially unhealthy conditions. 
     Solutions to this problem have previously been addressed such as by placement of mats in proximity to a litter box in an egress path, these mats being variously formed of materials such as “artificial turf”, rug-like swatches formed of fibrous materials used either with or without rubber-like coatings or of natural or synthetic elastomeric materials having tread surfaces variously formed such as with elongated raised elements such as fibrous “tufts”. As one example, Link et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,143, disclose a litter mat intended for disposition next to a litter box and having upper surfaces formed of spaced, triangular-in-section ridges, the apices of which contact a pet&#39;s paws to facilitate dislodgement of litter particles onto the mat rather than on flooring surfaces remote from the litter box. According to Link et al, litter particles dislodged from a pet&#39;s paws and held between the ridges can be recycled. Ebert, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,352, discloses a litter mat intended for disposition next to a litter box, the litter mat having a tread surface formed of angled and parallel ridges intended to facilitate removal of litter particles from a pet&#39;s paws by deformation of the ridges, litter particles being held in elongated channels between the ridges for return to the litter box or for other recycle. Marr, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,255, and Semenuk, in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 383,253, disclose flooring for animal caging having openings formed in resilient matting capable of trapping granular and other waste particles. 
     The prior art has failed to provide a litter mat or flooring for animal caging that is suitably amenable to a pet&#39;s need to walk on a relatively familiar, comfortable surface and which is configured to passively dislodge litter particles and the like from the pet&#39;s paws through not only contact between the paws and structure formed on tread surfaces but also due to flexure of the mat caused by the weight of the pet, the structure of the present mat being so configured for such functions while providing a familiar surface on which the pet chooses to walk on rather than jump over. Litter particles dislodged from the pet by the cooperative interaction of the present mat and the pet are trapped by the mat structure in preferred embodiments and are collectible centrally of the mat for ease of return of the particles to a litter box. The present litter mat is further configured from particular materials that facilitate cleaning by a simple water spray or by dislodgment of dried waste by flexure of the mat. The present litter mat therefore finds solutions to long-felt needs in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     While the invention provides mat structures useable in a variety of situations including as car mats, door mats and the like, the invention particularly provides pet litter mats and also similar flooring usable in association with animal caging and will be primarily so described herein, the structures of the invention being configured to interact with a pet walking over upper or tread-like surfaces thereof to actively dislodge litter particles and the like from the pet, such as from the feet of the pet, the dislodged litter particles being receivable in preferred embodiments within a multiplicity of cavities formed in upper surfaces of the structure for retention of said particles until intended removal from the mat structures such as for recycling back into the litter box. The litter mats of the invention particularly provide surfaces over which a pet walks after exiting from a litter box, which surfaces are configured to be comfortable and familiar to the pet so that the pet will not avoid walking on the mats. Cavities of varying sizes are preferably formed in the upper surfaces of the mats, edges of the cavities facilitating dislodgment of litter particles from paws of the pet, litter particles falling into the cavities and thus being unavailable for adherence to the paws of a pet on subsequent contact between the pet and a mat. The litter particles are further retained in the cavities for subsequent collection within preferably intersecting channels formed centrally of a mat by grasping of the mat along spaced side edges to cause central portions of the mat to deform downwardly so that litter particles within the cavities fall therefrom and into the one of the channels that extends in parallel relation to said side edges being grasped, the litter particles collected in the channel then being pourable back into a litter box or into another receptacle for disposal or storage. 
     In preferred embodiments of the invention, each cavity formed in a mat configured according to the invention is defined by a substantially cylindrical hollow body integrally formed with remaining portions of the mat, the hollow bodies each having an opening, the plane of which opening being flush with upper surfaces of the mat. Lower bight portions of the cavities are substantially planar, the bight portions of certain of the hollow bodies contacting a floor or the like on which the mat is placed while certain other planar bight portions of certain other, typically adjacent hollow bodies are of reduced dimension such that said other bight portions are spaced from the floor. A pet, such as a cat, walking over upper surfaces of the mat causes a portion of the surfaces contacted by paws of the pet to deform, thereby to cause the digits of the paws to spread apart and to further cause increased friction between pads of the pet&#39;s paws, this interaction between the mat and the feet of the pet causing litter particles to be dislodged more efficiently than would occur simply by the pet&#39;s walking over flat surfaces such as flat surfaces of a mat otherwise configured. Adjacent cavities in preferred embodiments are of differing sizes with smaller cavities preferably being formed by the hollow bodies dimensioned such that planar bight portions thereof do not contact a floor on which the mat is placed. The cavities can be formed other than as cylindrical cavities, cavities being polygonal, oval or otherwise configured such as being arcuately configured. 
     A mat configured according to the invention can also be provided with solid bodies extending downwardly toward a flooring surface rather than the hollow bodies as shown when the mat is placed on a flooring surface, the solid bodies having any desired shape such as cylindrical, polygonal and the like. In essence, the structures of such solid bodies are similar to the hollow bodies described herein but which are “filled” with the material forming the hollow bodies, this “filling” being integral with the bodies as are the bodies are integral with the mat itself in preferred embodiments. 
     The litter mats of the invention are preferably formed of elastomeric materials and particularly an SBR rubber such as 60 durometer, Shore A SBR, GR-5, Buna-S, styrene butadiene, the material unexpectedly facilitating particularly in preferred embodiments of the invention the removal of pet waste either in moist form or dried form from the mats. Whether the waste is moist or dry, a spray of water such as from a hose or faucet at normal household water pressures acts to rapidly remove such waste from the mats. Dried waste can usually and unexpectedly be “flaked off”, that is, removed from mats such as are configured according to the invention by manual flexure such that the dried waste is literally shed from surfaces of the mats, including from cavities formed in said mats. The mats of the invention can therefore be rapidly and easily cleaned. 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide pet litter mat structures typically placed adjacent to a litter box and on which a pet walks on egress from said litter box to dislodge litter particles adhering to paws of the pet, contact between the paws and surfaces of the mat structures also facilitating particle dislodgment through deformation of said surfaces as well as contact between the pet&#39;s paws and peripheral edges of cavities formed in said surfaces. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide pet litter mat structures capable of interaction with the paws of a pet to dislodge litter particles adhering thereto on exit of the pet from a litter box, the mat structures being configured to permit collection of litter particles thus dislodged for return to the litter box or for disposal or storage in a convenient receptacle. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide pet mat structures formed of materials facilitating cleaning of waste from surfaces of the mat structures whether moist or dry by means of a water spray or by flexing of the mat structures to shed said dried waste. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide pet litter mat structures intended for placement in proximity to a litter box and having surfaces interactive with the motion of a pet walking over the surfaces to dislodge litter particles adhering to paws of the pet, the surfaces on which the pet is intended to walk being comfortable and familiar to the pet so that the pet will be disinclined to avoid walking on said mat structures. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide mat structures for uses in environments such as for “car mats”, door mats and the like wherein debris is intended to be dislodged from the feet, including the shoes, of a user. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a pet litter mat configured according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail perspective view of a top portion of the pet litter mat shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail perspective view of a bottom portion of the pet litter mat shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a detail view of a portion of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a lengthwise side elevational view of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a widthwise side elevational view of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a lengthwise side elevational view in section of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 8 ; and, 
         FIG. 11  is a detail elevational view in section of a portion of the pet litter mat of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 383,253; 3,726,255; 5,797,352 and 6,386,143 are incorporated here into by reference. 
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  5  and  6 , a pet litter mat is seen generally at  10  to preferably comprise a unitary structure molded integrally from an SBR rubber and particularly a GR-5, Buna-S styrene butadiene rubber having a durometer of 60 and characterized as Shore A SBR. This particular SBR rubber has advantages as will be further described hereinafter. The litter mat  10  is seen to be an essentially flattened structure as are mats generally, the mat  10  shown being formed into a rectangular conformation although it is to be understood that a litter mat configured according to the invention can be otherwise shaped including into circular, semi-circular and polygonal conformations inter alia. 
     The litter mat  10  is defined by an upwardly and inwardly tapering perimetric edge  12  extending about the full periphery of said mat  10 , lower surfaces of the edge  12  lying flushly on a floor (not shown) or the like when the mat  10  is placed on a floor. In operation, the litter mat  10  is placed in an egress path adjacent to a litter box (not shown) conventionally filled with litter particles. A pet, such as a cat, using a litter box in a customary manner thus steps from such a box and onto the litter mat  10 . Upper surfaces of the mat  10  are configured to exhibit a topography familiar to the experience of the pat, that is, substantially flat so that the pet does not avoid the mat  10  by jumping over it as can occur with prior art litter mats configured with apexal projections forming surfaces on which the pet is expected to walk. 
     Upper surfaces of the mat  10  are primarily formed as shown with four platforms  14  having rounded corners, the platforms  14  being separated by a cruciform arrangement of intersecting trough-like channels  16  and  17  having planar surfaces  18  and  19  respectively that lie below the plane of the platforms  14 . The channel  16  extends lengthwise of the mat  10  while the channel  17  extends widthwise of said mat  10 . The channels  16 ,  17  intersect centrally of the mat  10 , respective terminations of the channels  16 ,  17  at respective perimetric edges  12  opening outwardly of the mat  10  to permit litter particles collected on the mat to easily be poured from the mat for return to a litter box or for disposal or storage of the particles as will be further described hereinafter. 
     The platforms  14  are essentially identical and have a regular series of cavities  20  and  22  formed therein, openings  24  and  26  respectively of the cavities  20  and  22  being flush with planar surfaces  28  forming upper surfaces of the platforms  14 . As seen in the drawings, innermost corners of each of the platforms  14  are provided with patterns of the cavities  20 ,  22  in the shape of paws, such as cat&#39;s paws, this pattern being merely an optional expedient intended for purposes of aesthetic design. All cavities, including the cavities  20 ,  22  as well as the cavities forming a cat&#39;s paw design, function similarly in that perimetric edges  30  and  32  respectively of the cavities  20 ,  22  act to brush off litter particles adhering to the paws and particularly the pads thereof as the pet walks across the mat  10 . The edges  30 ,  32  of the cavities  20 ,  22  are preferably contoured by slight rounding of said edges  30 ,  32  but can be otherwise be configured to have angled edges including 90 degree edges. Litter particles so dislodged are typically trapped within the cavities  20 ,  22  and retained therein until removal as will be described hereinafter. 
     Although the cavities  20 ,  22  are shown as dimensioned such that the respective openings  24 ,  26  are of differing diameter, the openings  24  of the cavities  20  being relatively larger than the relatively smaller openings  26  of the cavities  22 , it is to be understood that the openings  24  or  26  could be shaped other than as circular and can be of a similar or the same diameter, circumference or perimetric dimensions. As seen in the preferred embodiment of the invention explicitly shown in the drawings, the cavities  20 ,  22  and thus the visible openings  24 ,  26  thereof are disposed substantially over the entire surfaces  28  of the platforms  14  in rows with the cavities  20 ,  22  alterating in a given row with adjacent rows being offset relative to each other to form an interdigitated pattern. This arrangement of the differently dimensioned cavities  20 ,  22  and thus the visible openings  24 ,  26  thereof provides a pleasing appearance and further provides efficient function in dislodgment of litter particles and the like from the paws or feet of a pet as the pet walks over upper surfaces of the mat  10 . 
     As can be best appreciated with reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7  and  11  with continuing reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2   5  and  6 , structure formed in the mat  10  synergistically functions in concert with the cavities  20 , 22  to increase dislodgement of litter particles from the paws of a pet walking on surfaces of the mat  10 . In particular, each cavity  20  is defined by an essentially closed-end cylindrical body  34  formed integrally with the respective platform  14  with which said body  34  is formed. 
     A wall  36  of each cylindrical body  34  defining each one of the cavities  20  terminates distally in a planar bottom member  38 , outer surfaces of the bottom member  38  flushly fitting against a floor or other surface on which the litter mat  10  is placed. Accordingly, the bottom member  38  of the cavities  20  act along with lower surfaces of the edge  12  to contact a floor or the like and thus to provide support to the mat  10 . 
     In a similar fashion, each cavity  22  is defined by an essentially closed-end cylindrical body  40  formed integrally with the respective platform  14  with which said body  40  is formed. A wall  42  of each cylindrical body  40  defining each one of the cavities  22  terminates distally in a planar bottom member  44 , the depth of each of the cavities  22 , that is, the height of the cylindrical body  40 , being less than the depth of the cylindrical bodies  34  defining the cavities  20 . The bottom members  44  of the cavities  22  therefore do not contact a floor or other surface on which the mat  10  is placed when the mat  10  is not compressed by a force acting on upper surfaces of the mat  10  as is clearly seen in  FIG. 11 . However, pressure applied to upper surfaces of the mat  10  caused by a pet&#39;s walking on the mat causes flexure of upper surfaces of the mat and thus a spreading apart of the digits of the paws or feet of the pet, thereby to facilitate dislodgment of the particles held between said digits. The interaction between the paws of the pet and the structure of the mat  10  therefore acts to dislodge litter particles from between the digits of the paws of a pet as well as from pads of the pet&#39;s paws. The mat  10  is therefore interactive with the paws or feet of a pet as the pet walks across and exerts compressive forces on upper surfaces of the mat  10  at those loci of contact between surfaces of the mat and the paws of the pet. 
     Litter particles thus dislodged from the paws of a pet typically enter one of the cavities  20 ,  22  and are held therein such that such particles will not subsequently readhere to the pet&#39;s paws, the litter particles thus being trapped in the cavities  20 ,  22 . Litter particles retained in the cavities  20 ,  22  can readily and conveniently be removed from the cavities by manually grasping either opposing lengthwise sides  50  and  52  or widthwise sides  54  and  56  of the mat  10  and then lifting the mat to cause central portions of the mat to deform downwardly, litter particles thus falling downwardly from the cavities  20 ,  22  and into one of the channels  16 . Lengthwise sides  50 , 52  or widthwise sides  54 , 56  can then be quickly folded or snapped together so that litter particles present in the cavities  20 , 22  are caused to be displaced from the cavities  20 , 22  and into one of the channels  16  or  17  depending on whether the sides  50 , 52  or  54 , 56  are grasped. The litter particles then present in either one of the channels  16  or  17  can be moved along said channel  16  or  17  by tilting of the mat  10  to pour said particles back into a litter box or into a receptacle for disposal or subsequent reuse. 
     The invention also envisions formation of the cylindrical bodies  34  and/or  40  as solid bodies, mats so configured exhibiting the flexure described above relative to the hollow bodies  34 , 40  for particle dislodgement. In mat configurations of this nature, surface openings and cavities communicating with the openings are not available for the functions described herein. 
     Cleaning of the mat  10  is facilitated by the SBR material from which the mat  10  is preferably formed as alluded to hereinabove. Any moist pet waste adhering to the mat  10  can be readily removed by a water spray at normal household water pressures. Dried waste can similarly be easily removed by a water spray at normal household water pressures or can be removed by manual grasping of the mat  10  and flexing of the mat to deform the mat particularly in the vicinity of the location of the dried waste, such waste essentially flaking, peeling or shedding from mat surfaces including those surfaces within the cavities  20 ,  22 . The mat  10  is thus unexpectedly characterized by an unusual ability to remove from the mat pet wastes including litter particles stuck to the mat. 
     The relative height to length and width relationships of preferred embodiments of the mat  10  can be seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  respectively, a typical height of the mat  10  being on the order of one-quarter inch. However, it is to be understood that the dimensional relationships as well as shape of mats configured according to the invention can be chosen to be other than as explicitly shown herein. 
     While the inventive concept underlying the preferred embodiments of the invention has been explicitly disclosed relative to use as particular litter mats as described, it is to be understood that litter mats configured according to the invention can be structured other than as explicitly described herein. As only one example, a mat configured according to the invention could be formed without the channels  16 , 17  and/or without the decorative cavities  20 , 22  located at innermost corners of each of the platforms  14 . In such mat structures, edge details such as seen at  12  and particularly in  FIG. 11  could exist about the full periphery of such a mat structure. Rows of the alternating cavities  20 , 22  could extend throughout the upper surfaces of such mat structures. Patterns of cavities can also be configured other than as explicitly shown and described herein. Further, the mat structures explicitly described as otherwise being within the scope of the invention can be used in other environments and in ways other than have been alluded to herein, the scope of the invention being defined by the definitions provided by the appended claims.