IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0786264
(2010-05-24)
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등록번호 |
US-8161908
(2012-04-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cook, Alan J.
- Grube, Kristin William
- Devlin, Thomas Edward
- Greason, Jeff Reed
- Ulrich, Karl Thatcher
- Ulrich, Nathan Thatcher
- Yau, Chi Lam
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
56 |
초록
▼
A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge
A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.
대표청구항
▼
1. A self-cleaning litter box, the self-cleaning litter box comprising: a housing;a rake assembly movably connected to the housing;a frame attached to the rake assembly for carrying a plurality of spaced apart tines each having a top and bottom, said tines configured as flexible members and are at a
1. A self-cleaning litter box, the self-cleaning litter box comprising: a housing;a rake assembly movably connected to the housing;a frame attached to the rake assembly for carrying a plurality of spaced apart tines each having a top and bottom, said tines configured as flexible members and are at all times angled backward from bottom to top with respect to the rake direction of travel. 2. The rake assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said tines are formed from metal. 3. The rake assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said tines are configured in a loop. 4. The rake assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each pair of tines comprise a U-shaped length of material. 5. A self-cleaning litter box machine in combination with a removable litter cartridge: comprising: a crystal litter for use within the litter cartridge;a housing assembly with an open bottom for receiving the removable litter cartridge;a rake assembly which includes a rake for combing through the crystal litter within said litter cartridge during a cleaning stroke from a home position to a waste position for raking a waste to said waste position during a cleaning stroke and thereafter during a return stroke returning to said home position;a drive assembly mounted within the housing assembly for driving said rake assembly; anda chassis assembly for carrying said rake assembly and said drive assembly, said drive assembly and said chassis assembly being carried by said housing assembly, wherein the removable litter box machine lifts substantially vertically off of said removable litter cartridge. 6. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 5, wherein said removable litter cartridge includes a pivotally mounted cover adjacent one end and said chassis assembly is configured to lift said pivotally mounted cover as said rake approaches said waste position and is further configured to enable said cover to lower as said rake moves away from said waste position. 7. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim, 5, wherein said rake assembly includes a pivotable wire frame that defines a pivot axis and a plurality of tines coupled to said wire frame and wherein said litter box assembly is configured to carry said rake assembly so that the vertical height of said pivot axis is constant during a cleaning stroke. 8. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 5, wherein said rake assembly includes a plurality of tines and said tines are elevated relative to said litter cartridge at said home end. 9. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 5, wherein said rake assembly is lowered into the crystal litter and remains at a constant height within the litter as said rake assembly moves away from said home end to collect waste within the litter. 10. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 5, wherein said chassis assembly is configured to carry said rake assembly so that the vertical height of said rake assembly remains constant while engaged within the litter during a cleaning stroke as said rake assembly is moved from said home end to said waste end. 11. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 10, wherein said rake assembly includes a plurality of generally coplanar tines and said chassis assembly and said rake assembly are configured to enable said plurality of generally coplanar tines to tilt in a forward angle relative to a vertical plane while combing the litter. 12. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 10, wherein said chassis assembly and said rake assembly are configured to enable said plurality of generally coplanar tines to tilt forward relative to a vertical plane without lateral movement. 13. A self cleaning litter box assembly for automatically cleaning a removable litter cartridge containing litter, the self-cleaning box assembly comprising: a housing assembly with an open bottom for receiving a removable litter cartridgea rake assembly which includes a rake with a plurality of tines each having a top and bottom, said rake configured to be received in said removable litter cartridge when said removable litter cartridge is received in said housing assembly and said rake is configured to comb through said litter cartridge for removing cat waste during a cleaning stroke as the rake moves from a home position for moving waste to a waste position at one end of the removable litter cartridge and to return to said home position during a return stroke, wherein the bottom of said tines remain at a constant predetermined height throughout combing of the litter and a transition between a waste receiving area to a waste storage area;a drive assembly for driving said rake assembly; anda chassis assembly for carrying said rake assembly, said chassis configured to carry said rake assembly over said removable litter cartridge. 14. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said self-cleaning litter box assembly is configured to enable it to be lifted vertically to remove said removable litter cartridge. 15. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said housing assembly includes a pivotally mounted lid at one end to cover the waste position during cat use of the litter box assembly and said chassis assembly includes a lid lifting mechanism for lifting said lid during the cleaning stroke to deposit said waste. 16. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said removable cartridge includes a pivotally mounted cover at one end and said lid and said cover are configured such that lifting said lid by said lid lifting mechanism causes said cover on said removable litter cartridge to be lifted by magnetic forces. 17. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said rake includes a wire frame to which said tines are secured forming a rake assembly. 18. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein said rake assembly is pivotal about a pivot axis defined by said wire frame. 19. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein said rake assembly is mounted so that it is tilted forward in the direction of movement with respect to a vertical axis during a cleaning stroke. 20. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein each pair of said tines are configured in a U-shape. 21. The self-cleaning box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein each tine is configured from steel wire. 22. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said drive assembly includes a single drive motor and mechanism coupled thereto and coupled to said rake assembly for causing linear movement of said rake assembly relative to said chassis assembly. 23. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein said mechanism includes at least one lead screw. 24. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein said chassis assembly and said rake assembly are configured so that said drive motor also causes rotation of said rake about a predetermined pivot point. 25. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 24, wherein said predetermined pivot point includes at least one stop configured in said chassis assembly. 26. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein a waste area is disposed adjacent to said one end and translation of said rake causes any collected waste during a cleaning stroke to be disposed into said waste area. 27. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said rake is configured with a wire frame and a plurality of tines connected thereto on one end, the spacing of said tines along said wire frame being selected to be larger than the particle size of the litter to be used in the separate litter cartridge. 28. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 27, wherein the spacing between adjacent tines is selected to be 3-20 millimeters. 29. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said rake assembly includes a plurality of tines and wherein the chassis assembly and said rake assembly are configured so that the bottom of the tines is below the normal litter level in said home position. 30. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said chassis assembly and said drive assembly are configured as a labyrinth seal to prevent litter from entering said drive assembly. 31. A self cleaning litter box assembly for automatically cleaning a removable litter cartridge containing litter, the self-cleaning litter box assembly comprising: a housing assembly configured to receive a removable litter cartridge;a rake assembly which includes a rake with a plurality of tines each having a top and bottom, said rake configured to be received in said removable litter cartridge and disposed over said removable litter cartridge and comb through said removable litter cartridge during a cleaning stroke from a home position and move waste to a waste position of said removable litter cartridge and to return to said home position during a return stroke;a drive assembly, carried by said housing assembly, said drive assembly including a drive motor for driving said rake assembly, said rake assembly configured to enable said rake to pivot to a first predetermined angle relative to a vertical axis during a cleaning stroke under the influence of said drive motor such that the tines are angled backward from the bottom to the top by a substantial angle with respect to the rake direction of travel; anda chassis assembly, carried by said housing assembly, said chassis assembly for carrying said rake assembly, said chassis assembly configured to carry said rake assembly over said removable litter cartridge. 32. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 31, wherein said rake assembly is configured to enable said rake to pivot a second predetermined angle relative to a vertical axis during a return stroke under the influence of said drive motor. 33. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 32, wherein the magnitude of said first and second predetermined angles are equal. 34. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 32, wherein at least one of said first predetermined angle and said second predetermined angle is in the range of 10° to 60° with 45° being the preferred. 35. A self cleaning litter box assembly for automatically cleaning a removable litter cartridge containing litter, the self-cleaning litter box assembly comprising: a housing assembly configured to receive a removable or separate litter cartridge;a rake assembly which includes a rake with a plurality of tines each having a top and bottom, said rake configured to be received in said separate litter cartridge and disposed over said separate litter cartridge and comb through said litter cartridge during a cleaning stroke from a home position and move waste to a waste position in said separate litter cartridge and to return to said home position during a return stroke;a drive assembly including a drive motor for driving said rake assembly, said drive assembly carried by said housing assembly and further configured to enable said rake to pivot to a first predetermined angle relative to a vertical axis to an angled position and to travel during a cleaning stroke at said angled position under the influence of said drive motor such that the tines are angled backward from the bottom to the top by a substantial angle with respect to the rake direction of travel; anda chassis assembly for carrying said rake assembly, said chassis assembly configured to carry said rake assembly over said removable litter cartridge, wherein said rake assembly and said drive assembly are configured so that said rake rotates at said waste position under the influence of said drive motor during a return stroke. 36. A self cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 35, wherein said rake assembly and said drive assembly are configured so that said rake rotates a sufficient amount to dump any collected waste into a waste compartment disposed adjacent said waste position. 37. A self cleaning litter box assembly for automatically cleaning a removable litter cartridge containing litter, the self-cleaning box assembly comprising: a removable litter cartridge;a side rail assembly including two spaced apart side rails that are adapted to rest on a generally flat surface and configured to receive said removable litter cartridge therebetween;a rake assembly which includes a rake with a plurality of tines, said rake assembly carried by said spaced apart side rails and configured to be received in said removable litter cartridge and comb through said removable litter cartridge during a cleaning stroke from a home position and move waste to a waste area of said removable litter cartridge and to return to said home position during a return stroke; anda drive assembly for driving said rake assembly from an initial home position to a waste position during a forward stroke and back to a home position during a return stroke, wherein said side rails are spaced apart to enable said self-cleaning litter box to lift vertically off of the removable litter cartridge to enable said cartridge to be removed. 38. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 37, wherein said removable cartridge is configured with a hinged lid on one end for covering waste. 39. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 38, further including a mechanism for lifting said hinged lid during a forward stroke and enabling said hinged lid to return to a closed position during a return stroke. 40. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 37, wherein said self-cleaning litter box is configured so that said rake assembly does not change the vertical position during a forward and return stroke. 41. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 37, wherein said rake is rotatably mounted. 42. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 41, further including a mechanism for causing said rake to rotate without horizontal translation at said home position. 43. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 37, further including a top housing for protecting said side rails and said drive assembly from contamination. 44. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 43, wherein said top housing forms a labyrinth seal but allows translation of said rake assembly. 45. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 37, wherein said removable litter cartridge includes a hinged flap on one end for covering waste in said waste area. 46. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 37, wherein said self-cleaning litter box is configured to stand on end. 47. A method for treating waste in a kitty litter box comprising the steps of (a) providing a removable litter tray;(b) providing a crystal litter in the removable litter tray(c) providing a cover over a portion of the crystal litter thereof defining a waste area, wherein said removable litter tray is non-compartmentalized;(d) configuring said kitty litter box to automatically move waste to said waste area; and(e) configuring said kitty litter box to automatically cover the crystal litter with waste within said waste area; and(f) lifting the kitty litter box vertically off of said litter tray in order to dispose of said waste. 48. A self cleaning litter box in combination with a litter cartridge having a litter compartment and a separate waste compartment, the self cleaning litter box comprising: a housing assembly;a rake assembly including a plurality of tines each having a top and bottom coupled to a frame for combing through said litter compartment; anda chassis assembly, carried by said housing assembly, said chassis assembly for carrying said rake assembly,a drive assembly, carried by said housing assembly, for driving said chassis assembly during a cleaning stroke from a home position to a waste position during a cleaning stroke and returning to said home position during a return stroke;a waste cover pivotally mounted to said housing assembly, adjacent said waste compartment,a lifting arm assembly configured to lift said waste cover as said rake assembly approaches the waste position to enable waste to be deposited in the waste compartment and allow said cover to close as said rake assembly moves toward said home position; and wherein the bottom of said tines remain at a constant predetermined height throughout combing of the litter and a transition between a waste receiving area to a waste storage area. 49. A self cleaning litter box having a litter tray therein, the self cleaning litter box comprising: a housing assembly;a rake assembly including a plurality of tines for combing through said entire litter tray at a constant height to collect cat waste therein;a chassis assembly for carrying said rake assembly; anda drive assembly, carried by said chassis assembly, for driving said rake assembly during a cleaning stroke from a home position to a waste position during a cleaning stroke and returning to said home position during a return stroke, wherein said drive assembly includes an electric motor having at least one drive shaft, said electric motor being mounted to said chassis assembly, said housing assembly defining a labyrinth seal for surrounding said chassis and drive assemblies for protecting all drive elements from contamination by litter of waste. 50. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 49, wherein said electric motor is reversible. 51. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 50, further including a first limit switch having at least two states, disposed adjacent waste position, said first limit switch disposed to change states when said chassis assembly reaches said waste position. 52. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 50, wherein said drive assembly includes a controller, said controller configured to cause said electric motor to reverse directions when said first limit switch changes states due to said chassis assembly reaching said waste position. 53. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 52, further including a second limit switch having at least two states, disposed adjacent home position, said second limit switch disposed to change states when said chassis assembly reaches said home position. 54. The self-cleaning litter box as recited in claim 53, wherein said controller is configured to cause said electric motor to reverse directions when said second limit switch changes states due to said chassis assembly reaching said home position. 55. The self-cleaning litter box assembly as recited in claim 49, wherein said electric motor is mounted such that said drive shaft is generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said chassis assembly. 56. The self cleaning litter box as recited in claim 55, wherein said drive assembly includes at least one lead screw assembly, said lead screw assembly coupled to said drive shaft and said chassis assembly for driving said chassis assembly from said home position to said waste position during a cleaning stroke and from a waste position to a home position during a return stroke. 57. The self cleaning litter box as recited in claim 56, wherein said drive assembly includes a worm gear assembly mechanically coupled between said drive shaft and said lead screw assembly for coupling the output power from said drive shaft to said lead screw assembly. 58. A litter box in combination with a removable litter tray having a housing with at least two sidewalls joined to a rear wall, an opening in a top and a bottom of the housing, said bottom opening of the housing fitting over the removable litter tray, said tray having four vertical sidewalls rigidly connected to each other to form a generally rectangular litter tray having a top edge and said housing having an interior ledge slanted downwardly over the top edge of the tray and surrounding an outer perimeter of the tray for directing animal waste, scattered litter and urine into the tray without any mechanical coupling thereto to facilitate removal and reinsertion of the litter tray by simply lifting the housing vertically upwardly off the litter tray. 59. A method for handling cat litter box machine in combination with a removable litter cartridge comprising the steps of: placing a new litter cartridge filled with crystal cat litter on a floor;installing the new cartridge within a litter box machine by lowering the machine vertically downward on said cartridge;automatically raking cat waste to one end of the cartridge for storage under a lid;lifting the litter box machine vertically off the cartridge;disposing of the cartridge containing both used litter and stored waste; andreplacing the disposed cartridge with a new cartridge filled with crystal cat litter therein. 60. A method for changing a spent removable litter cartridge used in an open bottomed, unattached litter box machine comprising the steps of: lifting the unattached litter box machine substantially vertically off of the spent litter cartridge located on a floor;standing the litter box on an end;removing the spent cartridge;locating a new cartridge near the litter box standing on end; andlowering the litter box onto the new cartridge such that the litter box and new cartridge rest approximately on said floor.
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