Back to results
US 12,660,791 B2Granted
Lightweight coated extruded granular absorbent
AssigneePioneer Pet Products, LLC
InventorJohn M. Lipscomb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneePioneer Pet Products, LLC
InventorJohn M. Lipscomb
Estimating the term…
Method and coated lightweight granular absorbent formed of lightweight inner cores made of extruded pellets coated with powdered smectite, preferably bentonite, to form an outer sorbent smectite shell around each pellet producing lightweight sorbent granules where the pellets have sufficient water soluble binder to facilitate shell formation and clumping during sorbent use. When lightweight sorbent granules are wetted, clumps are formed that shrink during drying producing a clean, generally non-sticking clump having a high clump retention rate of at least 92% and/or a crush strength of at least 15 PSI. In a preferred method, the pellets are dried coated with dry powdered smectite before wetting using an atomizer or mister while turbulently directing air towards the pellets and powdered smectite to coat the pellets with the powdered smectite forming the outer sorbent shell while minimizing pellet shrinkage and densification. Such lightweight granular sorbent is well suited for use as litter.
A self-clumping litter comprised of a plurality of pairs of absorbent pellets, wherein each absorbent pellet is comprised of a starch and a water-soluble binder, wherein each absorbent pellet absorbs at least 3.5 times its weight in water or urine, and wherein a plurality of pairs of the absorbent pellets clumps together when wetted with water or urine.
A self-clumping litter comprised of a plurality of pairs of absorbent pellets, wherein each absorbent pellet is comprised of a starch, a water-soluble binder comprised of at least 7.5% dextrin by pellet weight, and a cellulosic material, wherein each absorbent pellet absorbs at least 3.5 times its weight in water or urine, and wherein a plurality of pairs of the absorbent pellets clumps together when wetted with water or urine.
A self-clumping litter comprised of a plurality of pairs of absorbent pellets, wherein each absorbent pellet is comprised of a starch and at least 7.5% dextrin by pellet weight, wherein each absorbent pellet absorbs at least 3.5 times its weight in water or urine, and wherein a plurality of pairs of the absorbent pellets clumps together when wetted with water or urine.
A self-clumping litter comprised of a plurality of pairs of absorbent pellets, wherein each absorbent pellet is comprised of a starch, at least 7.5% dextrin by pellet weight, and a cellulosic material, wherein each absorbent pellet has a water activity level of no greater than 0.4, wherein each absorbent pellet absorbs at least 3.5 times its weight in water or urine, and wherein a plurality of pairs of the absorbent pellets clumps together when wetted with water or urine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.