IP Library Granted Patent US 12,004,478
Granted Patent B2
US 12,004,478 · App. 16/944,446 · Granted Jun 11, 2024

Door connector for a litter container

Inventors: David Veness (Fort Worth, TX); Mike Harper (Arlington, TX); Melaney Northrop (Mansfield, TX)
Assignee: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
A01K1/0107E05D7/1077E06B3/70E05Y2900/602E06B2003/7046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,004,478
App. No.
16/944,446
Granted
Jun 11, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door connector for a litter container includes a base portion and a hook. The base portion is configured to attach to an interior surface of a hood of the litter container. The hook is configured to attach to a cylindrical connector on the door. The base portion is configured to attach to the interior surface such that when connected the hook is at least partially hidden when viewed from an exterior of the litter container.

Claims (26)

1. A door connector for a litter container, comprising:

a base portion having a front side and a rear side, the front side having top, bottom, left and right edges are connected to one another thereby extending continuously around the front side, the top, bottom, left and right edges further extending in a direction forward from the front side of the base portion and away from the rear side, the front side of the base portion being configured to attach to an interior surface of a hood of the litter container; and

a pair of hooks extending in downward and rearward directions from the rear side of the base portion adjacent to the bottom edge having corresponding openings configured for a removable snap fit attachment to a cylindrical connector on a door of the litter container such that the pair of hooks are below the base portion,

the base portion configured to attach to the interior surface such that when connected the pair of hooks are at least partially hidden when viewed from an exterior of the litter container.

2. The door connector according to claim 1 , wherein

the pair of hooks and the base portion are unitarily molded as a one-piece member.

3. The door connector according to claim 1 , wherein

the base portion is configured to operate as a handle to lift the hood.

4. A litter container, comprising:

a bottom portion;

a top portion;

a door including a cylindrical connector; and

a door connector including a base portion and a pair of hooks, the base portion having a front side and a rear side, the front side having top, bottom, left and right edges that are connected to one another thereby extending continuously around the front side, the top, bottom, left and right edges further extend in a direction forward from the front side of the base portion and away from the rear side, the front side of the base portion, the base portion being configured to attach to an interior surface of the top portion, the pair of hooks extending in downward and rearwards direction from the rear side of the base portion adjacent to the bottom edge such that the pair of hooks are below the base portion and the pair of hooks being configured to attach to the cylindrical connector on the door, each of the pair of hooks defining an opening such that the cylindrical connector on the door is snap fitted to the pair of hooks through the openings such that the door is removably attached to the pair of hooks and the base portion, and

the base portion configured to attach to the interior surface such that when connected the hook is at least partially hidden when viewed from an exterior of the litter container.

5. The litter container according to claim 4 , wherein

the pair of hooks and the base portion are unitarily molded as a one-piece member.

6. The litter container according to claim 4 , wherein

the base portion is configured to operate as a handle to lift the hood.

7. The litter container according to claim 4 , wherein

the top portion includes a pivotable upper portion.

8. The litter container according to claim 7 , wherein

the pivotable upper portion includes the door connector.

9. The litter container according to claim 7 , wherein

the pivotable upper portion is configured to enable access to the interior or the litter container.

10. The litter container according to claim 4 , wherein

the door is transparent.

Assignments (15)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 072261/0915 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2025
From: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 070449/0893 →
FIRST LIEN TERM LOAN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 22, 2024
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067501/0177 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (SECOND LIEN) Recorded May 22, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067501/0320 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (CAYMAN) Recorded May 22, 2024
From: CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067501/0236 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (FIRST LIEN) Recorded May 22, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067501/0282 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2024
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067246/0427 →
FIRST LIEN RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065180/0954 →
SECOND LIEN RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065181/0322 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2023
From: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
To: CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065180/0461 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2023
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
Reel/Frame 065179/0009 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 057524/0556 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 057524/0645 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 057704/0414 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: VENESS, DAVID; HARPER, MIKE; NORTHROP, MELANEY
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054134/0619 →