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A pet litter box, including a device for locking the box after it has been used and re-closed, is formed from a single foldable blank. When the box is closed or re-closed it has inter-laying first and second halves, each having bottom and sidewall portions. The halves are connected to one another by

A pet litter box, including a device for locking the box after it has been used and re-closed, is formed from a single foldable blank. When the box is closed or re-closed it has inter-laying first and second halves, each having bottom and sidewall portions. The halves are connected to one another by a joining portion, and joining sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls of the first half carries a tab. The sidewall portions of the second half each define a diagonal crease, and the pair of joining side-wall portions each define a diagonal crease and a pair of vertical creases. When the box is fully open its first, second and joining portions define an open tray. After the system has been used the box can be re-closed and locked. During re-closing the joining sidewall portions and the two sidewalls of the second half all fold inwardly at their creases, thereby forming a pair of slots between the pairs of creases on each side. Then, by inserting the tabs carried by the first half sidewalls into the slots which are formed between the creases, re-closing and locking of the box is completed. The box blank may include a flap for securing the box closed before it is utilized, and a handle, and may also include all items which are necessary for pet toiletry, such as a bag of litter, and a liner sized to fit over the open tray.

대표청구항 ▼

In a combined box and tray, wherein said combination is formed from a single sheet of foldable material, said box having a first half and a second half, each half having a bottom portion, an endwall and, a pair of sidewall portions bracketing its said respective endwall, and a connecting portion hav

In a combined box and tray, wherein said combination is formed from a single sheet of foldable material, said box having a first half and a second half, each half having a bottom portion, an endwall and, a pair of sidewall portions bracketing its said respective endwall, and a connecting portion having a connecting bottom portion and pair of connecting sidewall portions thereinbetween said first half and said second half, there being creases to facilitate folding between said connecting bottom portion and said pair of connecting sidewall portions and each said adjacent bottom portion and each said adjacent sidewall portion of said first and second halves, respectively; said box initially defining a closed container with said sidewall portions and said endwall of said second half nested within said sidewall portions and said endwall of said first half when said first and second halves are folded together to form a box; and forming a flat open tray with continuous surrounding upright side walls and end walls when said first and second halves of said box are folded open with their respective bottom portions and said connecting bottom portion in substantially coplanar relationship to one another, wherein the improvement comprises: each of said sidewalls of said first half having a tab extending from it; each of said connecting sidewall portions having a single inwardly folding diagonal crease extending from its top edge to its bottom edge and a pair of vertical creases extending from its top edge to its bottom edge, each said vertical crease being adjacent to one of said sidewalls of said first half or said second half, said vertical crease which is adjacent to said first half being outwardly folding, and said vertical crease which is adjacent to said second half being inwardly folding; and each of said sidewall portions of said second half having an inwardly folding diagonal crease extending from its top edge to its bottom edge; whereby after said box is opened to form a tray, and then re-closed to form a box with said second half nesting within said first half, said connecting sidewall portions and said two sidewalls of said second half all fold inwardly at their said respective inwardly folding diagonal creases and inwardly folding vertical creases to allow such nesting; and wherein further a pair of slots is simultaneously formed on each side between each said inwardly folding diagonal sidewall crease of said second half and each said inwardly folding vertical crease between said second half sidewall and said connecting sidewall portion, thus allowing said tabs carried by said first half sidewalls to be inserted into said slots so formed between said creases to thereby secure said tabs and hold said box closed.