IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,356,954
Granted Patent B2
US 12,356,954 · App. 17/706,387 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Pet waste roll assembly

Inventors: Alan Jay Cook (Chicago, IL); Kristin W. Grube (Bloomington, IN); Kevin John Augustyniak (Elma, NY)
Assignee: BRILLIANT PET 2 LLC
A01K1/0117A01K1/0157B32B3/266B32B5/022B32B27/06B32B27/08B32B27/10B32B2250/04B32B2250/05B32B2307/5825B32B2307/70B32B2307/726B32B2307/7265B32B2307/75B32B2432/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,356,954
App. No.
17/706,387
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sprocket adapter configured to roll up a waste pad. The sprocket adapter includes a sprocket, a first tube, a second tube, and a set of fins. The first and second tubes extend from the sprocket configured to couple with the take-up rod. The set of fins extends from the first side of the sprocket to couple with a pet waste pad. An end cap is configured to removably couple to a sprocket adapter comprising an aperture having two slotted portions, and a set of flaps. The aperture fits around the first tube of a sprocket adapter. The two slotted portions fit around a set of fins of a sprocket adapter. The set of flaps couple to the sprocket adapter. A take-up rod is configured to couple with a sprocket adapter. A pet waste roll assembly comprises a sprocket adapter coupled to an end cap and a take-up rod.

Claims (44)

1. A sprocket adapter for winding up a waste pad around a take-up rod, the sprocket adapter comprising:

a sprocket having a first side and a second side;

a first tube extending perpendicularly from the first side of the sprocket, the first tube comprising:

a set of inner couplers extending from an inner surface of the first tube configured to couple with the take-up rod,

a second slotted tube extending perpendicularly from the first side of the sprocket and concentrically located inside of the first tube, the second slotted tube comprising:

at least one slot extending from a midpoint along the second slotted tube and terminating at a distal end of the second slotted tube, wherein the at least one slot defines at least one minor distal tube wall and at least one major tube distal wall,

a set of radial protrusions configured to couple with the take-up rod, the radial protrusions oriented on the exterior of the at least one minor distal tube wall and extending to the first side of the sprocket,

a plurality of linear protrusions configured to couple with the take-up rod, wherein the linear protrusions are located on the exterior of the at least one major tube distal wall and extending downward to the first side of the sprocket,

a set of fins extending perpendicularly from the first side of the sprocket and exterior to the first tube, the set of fins having at least one linear protrusion extending inward toward the first tube, wherein the at least one linear protrusion is configured to engage with the waste pad.

2. The second slotted tube of claim 1 , wherein the set of radial protrusions are oriented with the set of fins.

3. The sprocket adapter of claim 1 , wherein the set of fins extend to a distance below the distal end of the first tube.

4. The sprocket adapter of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the first tube and the second slotted tube end in the same perpendicular plane.

5. The sprocket adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is between 10 mm and 50 mm in length and wherein the first tube further comprises a set of slots recessed between 2 mm and 6 mm from the distal end of the first tube toward the first side of the sprocket.

6. The sprocket adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft extending perpendicularly from the second side of the sprocket.

7. A sprocket adapter for winding up a waste pad around a take-up rod, the sprocket adapter comprising:

a sprocket having a first side and a second side;

an end cap coupled to the first side of the sprocket;

a first tube extending perpendicularly from the end cap, the first tube comprising a set of inner couplers extending from an inner surface of the first tube configured to couple with the take-up rod,

a second slotted tube extending perpendicularly from the end cap and concentrically located inside of the first tube, the second slotted tube comprising:

at least one slot extending from a midpoint along the second slotted tube and terminating at a distal end of the second slotted tube, wherein the at least one slot defines at least one minor distal tube wall and at least one major tube distal wall,

a set of radial protrusions configured to couple with the take-up rod, the radial protrusions oriented on the exterior of the at least one minor distal tube wall and extending to the first side of the sprocket,

a plurality of linear protrusions configured to couple with the take-up rod, wherein the linear protrusions are located on the exterior of the at least one major tube distal wall and extending downward to the first side of the sprocket, and

a set of fins extending perpendicularly from the end cap and exterior to the first tube, the set of fins having at least one linear protrusion extending inward toward the first tube, wherein the at least one linear protrusion is configured to engage with the waste pad.

8. A pet waste roll assembly for winding up a waste pad comprising:

a waste pad;

a take-up rod having a first notch and a second notch, wherein the first notch and the second notch are located on opposing ends of the take-up rod;

a set of single piece, molded sprocket adapters comprising:

a sprocket having a first side and a second side,

a first tube extending perpendicularly from the first side of the sprocket, the first tube comprising:

a set of inner couplers extending from an inner surface of the first tube, the set of inner couplers coupled to the first notch and the second notch of the take-up rod,

a second slotted tube extending perpendicularly from the first side of the sprocket and concentrically located inside of the first tube, the second slotted tube comprising:

at least one slot extending from a midpoint along the tube and terminating at a distal end of the second slotted tube, wherein the at least one slot defines at least one minor distal tube wall and at least one major tube distal wall,

a set of radial protrusions oriented on the exterior of opposite sides of the at least one minor distal tube wall and extending to the first side of the sprocket, the set of radial protrusions coupled to the take-up rod,

a plurality of linear protrusions located on the exterior of the at least one major tube distal wall and extending downward to the first side of the sprocket, the plurality of linear protrusions coupled to the take-up rod,

two fins extending perpendicularly from the first side of the sprocket and exterior to the first tube, the two fins having at least one linear protrusion extending inward toward the first tube, wherein the at least one radial protrusion engages the waste pad, and

a set of end caps removably coupled to the sprocket adapter comprising:

a base, and

an aperture through the base, the aperture having two circular portions and two slotted portions, wherein the circular portions are configured to fit around the first tube when the end cap is secured to the sprocket adapter, wherein further the two slotted portions are configured to fit around the set of fins when the end cap is secured to the sprocket adapter.

9. The pet waste roll assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inner couplers oppose each other, wherein further the notches of the take-up rod oppose each other, the notches are removably coupled to the inner couplers.

10. The pet waste roll assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one major distal tube wall comprises one or more opposing axial protrusions.

11. The pet waste roll assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one minor distal tube wall comprises two opposing axial protrusions configured to fit around the two opposing fins.

12. The pet waste roll assembly of claim 8 , wherein the two fins oppose each other, wherein further the slotted portions of the end cap are oppose to each other, the slotted portions fit around the two fins.

13. The pet waste roll assembly of claim 12 , wherein each of the two opposing fins comprise two axial protrusions.

14. The pet waste roll assembly of claim 8 , wherein the set of notches on the take-up rod have non-parallel edges.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2022
From: COOK, ALAN JAY; GRUBE, KRISTIN W.; AUGUSTYNIAK, KEVIN JOHN
To: BRILLIANT PET 2 LLC
Reel/Frame 059418/0644 →
Continuity (12)
Continuation In Part 16698559 · Nov 27, 2019
Continuation In Part 16513000 · Jul 16, 2019
Continuation 16210938 · Dec 5, 2018
Continuation 15449771 · Mar 3, 2017
Continuation 15449771 · Mar 3, 2017
Continuation In Part 15344209 · Nov 4, 2016
Continuation 15344209 · Nov 4, 2016
Provisional Application 62820626 · Mar 19, 2019
Provisional Application 62351792 · Jun 17, 2016
Provisional Application 62345500 · Jun 3, 2016
Provisional Application 62250615 · Nov 4, 2015
Related Publication 20220210998A1 · Jul 7, 2022
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