Patent ID: 8640648

Claim:
A media apparatus, comprising: a media storage portion that defines a media receiving volume, wherein the media receiving volume is sized to accommodate a readily available bag of media; an animal support portion that includes a bearing surface with an opening proximate the media receiving volume, wherein the animal support portion has a sidewall surrounding the bearing surface, wherein the sidewall is configured to prevent media from spilling out of the media apparatus; a media transfer region formed in the sidewall and configured to allow an animal to transfer media from the media storage portion to the bearing surface, wherein the sidewall completely and continuously surrounds the bearing surface except for where the sidewall defines the media transfer region; and a receptacle located below the opening for receiving therein the media and bodily substances deposited by the animal in the opening, wherein the sidewall at the media transfer region is angled such that a top end of the media transfer region is wider than a lower end of the media transfer region, and further wherein the media transfer region extends continuously to a top most edge of the sidewall and is open at the top end.