IP Library Granted Patent US 8,878,680
Granted Patent B2
US 8,878,680 · App. 13/494,718 · Granted Nov 4, 2014

Litter box cleanup monitor

Inventors: Debby Clary (Lafayette, CA); Guy McIlroy (Los Gatos, CA); Bruce C. Lundeen (Fremont, CA)
A01K1/0107
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,878,680
App. No.
13/494,718
Granted
Nov 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A litter box cleanup monitor, comprising a sensor module that is triggered when an animal uses the litter box, a transmitter that transmits a signal, and a notification device that alerts the user when the litter box has been used. The notification device can be a dedicated device, a smartphone, or an Internet-connected computer. A plurality of notification devices may also be used.

Claims (15)

1. A litter box cleanup system, comprising:

at least one notification device that displays an alert; and

a litter box cleanup monitor, comprising:

at least one sensor that can detect when an animal has defecated or urinated in a litter box; and

a transmitter that transmits a signal to the at least one notification device, causing it to display an alert, when a sensor detects that an animal has defecated or urinated in a litter box;

said litter box cleanup monitor shaped as an inverted U as to enable it to hang over the edge of a standard litter box; and

said litter box cleanup monitor being portable.

2. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one notification device displays a visual alert.

3. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one notification device displays an auditory alert.

4. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one notification device is a smartphone.

5. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one notification device is a computer.

6. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one sensor can detect feces.

7. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one sensor is a chemical sensor.

8. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one sensor is a motion sensor.

9. The litter box cleanup system of claim 1 , where the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61496495 · Jun 13, 2011
Related Publication 20120313786A1 · Dec 13, 2012