IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,166,920
Granted Patent B2
US 8,166,920 · App. 13/042,240 · Granted May 1, 2012

Self-cleaning litter box

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,166,920
App. No.
13/042,240
Granted
May 1, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (18)

1. A method for treating animal waste in a litter box, comprising the steps of:

periodically raking a crystal litter in a removable single chamber tray to collect and store solid waste within one end of the tray;

moving the rake away from the one end of the tray; and

covering the collected waste within the one end of the tray.

2. A method for treating animal waste in a litter box, comprising the steps of:

filling a removable tray with a predetermined crystal litter;

receiving liquid and solid animal waste into a crystal litter within the tray;

absorbing the liquid waste into the crystal litter;

periodically raking the crystal litter to move and store the solid waste into one area of the tray;

keeping the solid waste in contact with the crystal litter;

covering the collected solid waste in the one area; and

evaporating water from the crystal litter into the environment.

3. A method for handling cat litter comprising the steps of:

providing a cartridge pre-filled with new litter;

installing the cartridge in a litter box machine;

raking cat waste to store within one end of the cartridge;

removing the cartridge from the litter box machine; and

disposing of the cartridge containing used litter and stored waste.

Assignments (21)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069175/0425 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069175/0464 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2024
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069175/0603 →
TERM LOAN NOTICE AND CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 058313/0755 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - ABL Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053122/0774 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INNOTEK, INC.; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.; PREMIER PET PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053122/0268 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INNOTEK, INC.; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.; PREMIER PET PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053122/0344 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK
To: INNOTEK, INC.; RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.; PREMIER PET PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053122/0378 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INNOTEK, INC.; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.; PREMIER PET PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053122/0453 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INNOTEK, INC.
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053116/0599 →
NOTICE OF CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: INNOTEK, INC.; RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053117/0189 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 22, 2017
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 042523/0729 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCLUSION OF US PATENTS 762213, 8028659, 8161908, 8166918, 8166919, & 8166920 FROM THE LISTING(PGS 17, 52, & 53 OF ATTACHED). PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 036131 FRAME 0272. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, DATEDAS OF JUNE 23, 2015. Recorded Oct 6, 2016
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040249/0628 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2016
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INNOTEK, INC.; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 039594/0924 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2016
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 039266/0457 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2014
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034284/0064 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2012
From: LUCKY LITTER, LLC
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029453/0150 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2012
From: COOK, ALAN JAY; GRUBE, KRISTIN WILLIAM; DEVLIN, THOMAS EDWARD; GREASON, JEFF REED; ULRICH, KARL THATCHER; ULRICH, NATHAN THATCHER; YAU, CHI LAM
To: LUCKY LITTER LLC
Reel/Frame 029288/0713 →