Litter Apparatus And Training Method
OwnerVictoria Blackstoneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for receiving waste of domesticated animals is provided that includes a floor that is joined to four walls to define an area of floor space within the apparatus. An opening in one of the walls includes a door for selectively providing access to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a litter box for receiving waste of domesticated animals. The litter box is removable from the enclosure and occupies approximately one-third of the available floor space. A lid is joined to one of the walls and provides for placement and removal of the litter box within the apparatus.
Claims20
An apparatus for receiving waste of domesticated animals, said apparatus comprising:
- a floor having a first dimension and a second dimension;
- four walls joined to said floor, two of said walls corresponding to said first dimension, two of said walls corresponding to said second dimension, said floor and said walls defining a floor space within the apparatus;
- a door affixed to an opening in one of said walls, said door selectively providing access to the apparatus;
- a litter box for receiving waste of domesticated animals, said litter box removable from the apparatus, said litter box having a first dimension of said litter box and a second dimension of said litter box, said first dimension of said litter box corresponding approximately to said second dimension of said floor, said second dimension of said litter box being approximately one-third of said first dimension of said floor, such that said litter box fits lengthwise across said second dimension of said floor at an end of the apparatus, wherein said litter box occupies approximately one-third of said floor space;
- and
- a lid joined to one of said walls, said lid openable for placement and retrieval of said litter box within the apparatus.
A litter box for receiving waste of domesticated animals, the litter box comprising:
- a floor member having a first dimension and a second dimension;
- a first panel of said first dimension, said first panel having a first height;
- a second panel of said first dimension, said second panel opposite said first panel, said second panel having a second height, said first is approximately one-fourth of said second height;
- a third panel and a fourth panel of said second dimension and said second height, said third panel opposite said fourth panel, said third and fourth panels being joined adjacently to said first and second panels;
- and
- said floor member joined to said first, second, third, and fourth panels to define a watertight container, said watertight container having a top opening and a passage opening proximate said first panel, said passage opening configured for entry to and exit from the litter box.
A method for litter training an animal such as a dog, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing a litter training environment that includes a confined area for the animal, wherein said preparing step includes:
- a1) selecting a litter box that includes (i) an opening of height low enough that the animal can enter or leave said litter box without stumbling or jumping, and (ii) at least one panel sufficiently taller than said opening so that said panel is operable to prevent litter from exiting said litter box by kicking when the animal exits via said opening;
- a2) selecting a confined area for said litter box;
- a3) placing said litter box in said confined area;
- a4) placing litter in said litter box, said litter selected to be non-clumping;
- and
- a5) placing the animal within said confined area;
- b) interactively training the animal for a training period until the litter training is complete, via the steps of:
- b1) defining a schedule that includes expected elimination times for the animal, wherein said elimination times derive from specified events that occur at regular intervals during said training period, wherein said specified events include (i) waking, (ii) feeding, (iii) play time, and (iv) before sleeping;
- b2) placing the animal in said litter box at each expected elimination time, and removing the animal from said litter box if no elimination occurs;
- b3) upon successful elimination by the animal, providing verbal praise to the animal, and removing the animal from said litter box;
- b4) observing the animal for indications that litter training is complete;
- and
- b5) continuing with steps b2) through b4) until litter training is complete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.