초록 ▼

A litter box assembly for house pets is disclosed, which includes a container rotatably mounted to a stand, allowing the litter box to rotate from its normal position to a cleaning position and/or a resetting position. The litter box assembly includes contact portions that contact a portion of the s

A litter box assembly for house pets is disclosed, which includes a container rotatably mounted to a stand, allowing the litter box to rotate from its normal position to a cleaning position and/or a resetting position. The litter box assembly includes contact portions that contact a portion of the stand or the floor in the cleaning position and the resetting position. When the contact portions contact the stand or the floor, the vibration of the litter box container caused by the contact facilitates the movement and dislodging of litter and waste. This contact can be repeated to facilitate the cleaning of the container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A litter box assembly for removing waste from litter, the litter box assembly comprising: a container having a length, the container comprisinga longitudinal axis extending through the length of the container;a first end comprising an enclosed opening for allowing an animal to enter an interior o

1. A litter box assembly for removing waste from litter, the litter box assembly comprising: a container having a length, the container comprisinga longitudinal axis extending through the length of the container;a first end comprising an enclosed opening for allowing an animal to enter an interior of the container;a center section adjacent to the first end of the container, the center section comprising a first litter pan substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis for holding the litter;a second end adjacent to the center section of the container, the second end comprising a drawer extending across the interior of the container transversely to the longitudinal axis, the drawer comprising a grate for filtering the waste from the litter from the first litter pan, and a second litter pan extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container proximate to the drawer for receiving the litter from the first litter pan that passes through the grate of the drawer, wherein the drawer is located between the first litter pan and the second litter pan;a stand configured to rest on a supporting surface, wherein the container is mounted to the stand, and wherein the stand is configured to suspend the container above and parallel to the supporting surface in a first position, and to rotate the container in a first rotational direction to a second position and a second and opposite rotational direction to a third position;a latch mechanism for controlling rotational movement of the container with respect to the stand, the latch mechanism comprising a pin,a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first pivot, wherein the first pivot biases the first arm in the first rotational direction toward the pin, and the distal end of the first arm having a hook having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the hook configured for contacting and engaging the pin when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction from the first position toward the second position and preventing further rotation of the container in the first rotational direction, and the second surface of the hook oriented an acute angle relative to the proximal end of the first arm and configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction from the second position toward the third position and rotating the first arm in the second rotational direction against the bias of the first pivot past the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the second rotational direction, anda second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second arm pivotally attached to a second pivot attached proximate to the proximal end of the first arm, wherein the second pivot biases the second arm in the second rotational direction toward the hook, and the distal end of the second arm having an extension configured for contacting the hook at the distal end of the first arm, wherein the second arm has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the second arm configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction second rotational direction from the second position toward the third position and rotating the first arm in the first rotational direction against the bias of the first pivot past the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the second rotational direction, and the second surface of the second arm configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction from the third position toward the second position and rotating the second arm in the second rotational direction to press against the hook and prevent the hook from contacting the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the first rotational direction. 2. The litter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises: a first contact portion on the container configured for contacting a portion of the stand or the supporting surface when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction to the second position, wherein the container is configured so that a vibration caused by the first contact portion contacting the portion of the stand or the supporting surface in the second position will facilitate litter moving from the first litter pan to the second litter pan through the drawer. 3. The litter box assembly of claim 2, wherein the first contact portion is located on the second end of the container. 4. The litter box assembly of claim 3, wherein the first contact portion is a bottom outer surface of the second end of the container. 5. The litter box assembly of claim 3, wherein the first contact portion is a handle located on a side of the second end of the container. 6. The litter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises: a second contact portion on the container configured for contacting a portion of the stand or the supporting surface when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction to the third position, wherein the container is configured so that a vibration caused by the second contact portion contacting the portion of the stand or the supporting surface in the third position will facilitate litter moving from the second litter pan to the first litter pan through the drawer. 7. The litter box assembly of claim 6, wherein the second contact portion is located on the first end of the container. 8. The litter box assembly of claim 7, wherein the second contact portion is a bottom outer surface of the first end of the container. 9. The litter box assembly of claim 7, wherein the second contact portion is located on the second end of the container. 10. The litter box assembly of claim 9, wherein the second contact portion is a handle located on the side of the second end of the container. 11. The litter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the drawer is detachably attached to the container. 12. The litter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the drawer and the grate extend across the interior of the container such that all of the litter and the waste moving from the first litter pan to the second litter pan passes into the drawer and onto the grate. 13. The litter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the second litter pan is detachably attached to the container. 14. The litter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the center section further comprises a window opposite of the first litter pan. 15. A litter box assembly for removing waste from litter, the litter box assembly comprising: a container having a length, the container comprisinga longitudinal axis extending through the length of the container;a first end comprising an enclosed opening for allowing an animal to enter an interior of the container;center section adjacent to the first end of the container, the center section comprising a first litter pan substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis for holding the litter;a second end adjacent to the center section of the container, the second end comprising a drawer extending across the interior of the container transversely to the longitudinal axis, the drawer comprising a grate for filtering the waste from the litter from the first litter pan, and a second litter pan extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container proximate to the drawer for receiving the litter from the first litter pan that passes through the grate of the drawer, wherein the drawer is located between the first litter pan and the second litter pan,a stand configured to rest on a supporting surface, wherein the container is mounted to the stand, and wherein the stand is configured to suspend the container above and parallel to the supporting surface in a first position, and to rotate the container in a first rotational direction to a second position and a second and opposite rotational direction to a third position; anda latch mechanism located proximate to the second end of the container for controlling rotational movement of the container with respect to the stand, the latch mechanism comprising: a pin extending from the stand toward the second end of the container;a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first pivot attached to the second end of the container, wherein the first pivot biases the first arm in the first rotational direction toward the pin, and the distal end of the first arm having a hook having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the hook configured for contacting and engaging the pin when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction from the first position toward the second position and preventing further rotation of the container in the first rotational direction, and the second surface of the hook oriented an acute angle relative to the proximal end of the first arm and configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction from the second position toward the third position and rotating the first arm in the second rotational direction against the bias of the first pivot past the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the second rotational direction; anda second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second arm pivotally attached to a second pivot attached proximate to the proximal end of the first arm, wherein the second pivot biases the second arm in the second rotational direction toward the hook, and the distal end of the second arm having an extension extending toward the second end of the container and configured for contacting the hook at the distal end of the first arm, wherein the second arm has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the second arm configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction second rotational direction from the second position toward the third position and rotating the first arm in the first rotational direction against the bias of the first pivot past the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the second rotational direction, and the second surface of the second arm configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction from the third position toward the second position and rotating the second arm in the second rotational direction to press against the hook and prevent the hook from contacting the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the first rotational direction. 16. The litter box assembly of claim 15, further comprising a stop attached to the second end of the container for restricting further rotation of the first arm in the first rotational direction. 17. The litter box assembly of claim 15, further comprising lever pivotally attached to the second end of the container and contacting the pin to prevent rotation of the container in the second rotational direction. 18. A litter box assembly for removing waste from litter, the litter box assembly comprising: a container having a length, the container comprisinga longitudinal axis extending through the length of the container,a first end comprising an enclosed opening for allowing an animal to enter an interior of the container,a center section adjacent to the first end of the container, the center section comprising a first litter pan substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis for holding the litter, anda second end adjacent to the center section of the container, the second end comprising a drawer extending across the interior of the container transversely to the longitudinal axis, the drawer comprising a grate for filtering the waste from the litter from the first litter pan, and, a second litter pan extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container proximate to the drawer for receiving the litter from the first litter pan that passes through the grate of the drawer, wherein the drawer is located between the first litter pan and the second litter pan;a stand configured to rest on a supporting surface, wherein the contain is mounted to the stand, and wherein the stand is configured to suspend the container above and parallel to the supporting surface in a first position, and to rotate the container in a first rotational direction to a second position and a second and opposite rotational direction to a third position;a first contact portion on the container configured for contacting a portion of the stand or the supporting surface when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction to the second position, wherein the container is configured so that a vibration caused by the first contact portion contacting the portion of the stand or the supporting surface in the second position will facilitate litter moving from the first litter pan to the second litter pan through the drawer;a second contact portion on the container configured for contacting a portion of the stand or the supporting surface when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction to the third position, wherein the container is configured so that a vibration caused by the second contact portion contacting the portion of the stand or the supporting surface in the third position will facilitate litter moving from the second litter pan to the first litter pan through the drawer; anda latch mechanism located proximate to the second end of the container for controlling rotational movement of the container with respect to the stand, the latch mechanism comprising a pin extending from the stand toward the second end of the container,a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first arm pivotally attached to a first pivot attached to the second end of the container, wherein the first pivot biases the first arm in the first rotational direction toward the pin, and the distal end of the first arm having a hook having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the hook configured for contacting and engaging the pin when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction from the first position toward the second position and preventing further rotation of the container in the first rotational direction, and the second surface of the hook oriented an acute angle relative to the proximal end of the first arm and configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction from the second position toward the third position and rotating the first arm in the second rotational direction against the bias of the first pivot past the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the second rotational direction, anda second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second arm pivotally attached to a second pivot attached proximate to the proximal end of the first arm, wherein the second pivot biases the second arm in the second rotational direction toward the hook, and the distal end of the second arm having an extension extending toward the second end of the container and configured for contacting the hook at the distal end of the first arm, wherein the second arm has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the second arm configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the second rotational direction second rotational direction from the second position toward the third position and rotating the first arm in the first rotational direction against the bias of the first pivot past the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the second rotational direction, and the second surface of the second arm configured for contacting the pin when the container is rotated in the first rotational direction from the third position toward the second position and rotating the second arm in the second rotational direction to press against the hook and prevent the hook from contacting the pin to allow further rotation of the container in the first rotational direction.