US 4,940,016 AGranted

Unitary collapsible and disposable pet litter container

OwnerEdward A. Heathinventor

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Abstract

A disposable pet litter container is disclosed. The container is foldable between a collapsed state for storage and disposal, and an erect state for use. The container includes a lower box portion defining a litter-containing receptacle. The lower box portion includes a bottom, peripheral wall members extending upwardly from the bottom to form the litter-containing receptacle therewith, and a foldable top for covering the lower box portion in the collapsed state. An upper box portion is provided and is selectively extendable from the lower box portion. The upper box portion includes front and rear panels extending upwardly from one pair of oppositely disposed wall members of the lower box portion and are adapted for selectively folding into the lower box portion for storage when in its collapsed state. A pair of side panels are also provided and project upwardly from a second pair of oppositely disposed peripheral wall members and are adapted to form the top when in its collapsed state. The side panels include a mechanism for interlocking with the front and rear panels to selectively maintain the container in its erect state and further includes top flap members adapted for overlapping engagement when in its erect state to form a top surface for the container and to totally enclose the container. Finally, the front panel has an entry to and from the interior of the enclosed, erect container.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An integral, disposable pet litter container foldable between a collapsed state for storage and disposal and an enclosed, erect state for use, said container comprising:

a lower box portion defining a litter-containing receptacle, said lower box portion including bottom means having a plurality of overlapping bottom flap members to provide structural strength to contain litter in both said collapsed and erect states as well as to inhibit seepage therethrough, first and second pairs of oppositely disposed peripheral wall members extending upwardly from said bottom means to form said litter-containing receptacle therewith, and foldable top means having overlapping portions in said collapsed state for covering said lower box portion in said collapsed state for covering said lower box portion and providing structural strength and integrity in said collapsed state;
an upper box portion selectively extendable from said lower box portion, said upper box portion including front and rear panels extending upwardly from said first pair of oppositely disposed peripheral wall members of said lower box portion and adapted for selective folding into said lower box portion of storage when in said collapsed state, and a pair of side panels projecting upwardly from said second pair of oppositely disposed peripheral wall members of said lower box portion to overlap each other and form said foldable top means when in said collapsed state;
and
said side panels including means for interlocking with said front and rear panels to selectively maintain said container in said erect state and further including top flap members for overlapping engagement aligned substantially parallel to said bottom means when in said erect state, and including means for interconnecting the same, to form a top, substantially horizontal surface for said container to totally enclose said container and to provide a substantial width dimension at the top of said erect container for ample pet head room therewithin, said front panel having means for pet entry into and from the interior of said enclosed, erect container.

1 more element

A disposable pet container constructed from a unitary blank of construction material and foldable between a first compact and collapsed storage and disposal position, and a second erect and totally enclosed use position, said container comprising;

bottom means having a plurality of overlapping bottom flap members for providing structural strength as well as for inhibiting liquid seepage;
front and rear members extending upwardly from said bottom means, said front member including means for pet access to the interior of said container;
side members extending upwardly from said bottom means and selectively interlocking with said front and rear members to maintain said container in said erect position;
top means extending from said side members including a pair of top flap members each extending from one said side member for overlapping engagement substantially parallel to said bottom means when in said use position and having means for interlocking the same to form a top surface having a substantial width dimension for said container for totally enclosing said container and providing ample pet head room therewithin;
and
said front, rear and side members all including a substantially horizontal crease line positioned uniformly from said bottom means around the periphery of said container to define a bottom receptacle area as well as to provide crease lines for the folding and collapse of said container to said storage and disposal position, said side members and top means overlapping each other when in said storage and disposal position to provide structural strength and integrity.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.