FR2719191A1 - Disposable cat litter package - Google Patents

Abstract

The disposable cat litter consists of packaging and absorbent material. The packaging is a supple sealed bag (1) able to contain the absorbent material (2) and to fit the bottom and the side walls of the cat litter tray.The absorbent material is relatively fluid and easily placed to a height of some centimetres, spreading out from the centre of the cat tray towards its periphery. There is an opening (10) in the bag which enables changing from a packaging position to a litter position. In the litter position the absorbent material is accessible and its automatic division on the bottom of the tray is facilitated. The opening also allows placing the sealed bag around the side walls of the cat tray and make the litter disposable.

Description

The present invention relates to an integral litter for animals and

especially for pets

such as cats.

  This litter relates to the field of animal products, disposable products which are used for

pets.

  There are currently many animal litters that first include a material that absorbs urine and feces. This material becomes saturated after a few days of use by absorbing moisture and must be renewed. Too prolonged use of the

  litter can cause unpleasant odors.

  Thus, when it is a cat, the owners of the animal generally have a cat container which they fill with an absorbent material. This absorbent material, generally packaged in a 5 to 10 kg bag, is transferred to the bin either with the hands or using a shovel. The handling of the material with the hands is unpleasant and the handling of the bag for young children

can be heavy.

  It is also necessary when replacing the absorbent material of the litter to clean the tray itself, otherwise we would accumulate at the bottom of the tray.

  polluted absorbent material which would emit strong odors.

  The cleaning of the tank and the renewal of the absorbent material therefore very often involves contact of the

  hands with the bin, which is not hygienic.

  Another disadvantage of known litter boxes is that the absorbent material used, which is generally known under the name of sepiolite, is neither incinerable nor biodegradable and therefore it can neither be burned in

  nor be thrown into the gardens.

  There are also many more sophisticated litters which generally include a disposable corrugated cardboard tray in which the absorbent material is placed. These litters completely replace the cat tray and are of a complex structure, which implies a significant cost price which is not always related to

benefits provided.

  Users also know that the animal does not like changing the litter box model too often to preserve its environment and the animal therefore prefers to keep

  its tank which will be periodically cleaned or refilled.

  The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and for this purpose, one of its first objects is to provide a complete litter for animals and especially for cats, which is adaptable to all cat trays

  existing, whatever their size or shape.

  By complete litter is meant a litter which will be immediately usable with its predosed absorbent material

  and which can also be completely thrown away.

  One of the advantages of the litter according to the invention is that it is completely placed in the tray with the

  absorbent material but also with waterproof packaging.

  Another object of the integral litter for animals according to the invention is to be able to be put in place in the existing trays. The installation is very easy both with regard to the protective packaging and the absorbent material itself and the installation in all the containers.

cat is very easy.

  This installation also makes it possible to prevent the hands from being soiled during the operation and to avoid generating dust by the absorbent material in the dwelling. This absorbent material, which will be dosed in the packaging of the litter, will therefore not be wasted and

  will not scatter around the tank during filling.

  Another object of the complete bedding for animals and in particular for cats according to the invention is to provide a very easy change. Indeed, the presence of the waterproof bag makes it possible to have a cat container always clean and thus to avoid cleaning and contact with hands. Another advantage of the integral litter according to the invention is to avoid pollution of the soil by the absorbent material since there is no transfer of this material into the tray. Likewise, after use, as with the trash bag, a cord has been integrated into the packaging allowing knotting of the litter, the absorbent material can be transferred to the trash can without the risk of spreading it on

ground.

  Another advantage of the complete litter for animals and in particular for cats according to the invention is to use dimensions of the sachet which ensures a very easy grip and a metered quantity of absorbent material of 1 to 2 liters. The granules used are very light and very absorbent and allow to keep a low weight even after

litter litter.

  Another advantage of the integral litter for animals and in particular for cats according to the invention is to integrate the trash bag into the packaging by providing a cord under the sachet which ensures the sealed closure of the sachet and allows the litter to be disposed of. trash without dirtying

and odorless.

  Another object of the complete bedding for animals and especially for cats according to the invention is to provide guaranteed hygiene because the master never touches the absorbent material either before or after use by the cat. The waterproof bag keeps the bin clean and its renewal every few days, for example three days, ensures ideal hygiene by preventing proliferation

bacteria and odors.

  Another object of the complete cat litter according to the invention is to allow its renewal more often because the installation is easier and the hygiene for the cat is better. The bag is waterproof and prevents pollution and the projection of absorbent material

On the ground.

  Another advantage of the complete bedding for animals and in particular for cats according to the invention is to present a practical packaging such as an overwrapping plastic with handle and to use lighter bags with a very absorbent material. Storage in the sales store and in the home is therefore less important because the volume of the absorbent material used can be reduced

  taking into account the optimum use by a precise dosage.

  Another advantage of the complete bedding for animals and especially for cats according to the invention is to use granules with a very high absorbency and good control of the odor. The absorption capacity and the absorption power are important when using granules obtained by compression of vegetable fibers. This material has a very strong absorbency and it is light. Another advantage of granules based on vegetable fibers is that they are biodegradable

and incinerable.

  The integral litter according to the invention for animals, in particular cats, intended to constitute a completely disposable litter, having a packaging and an absorbent material, is characterized in that: the packaging is a flexible waterproof bag capable of containing the absorbent material and to marry the bottom and the side walls of the cat container, - the absorbent material is relatively fluid and it is easily put in place over a height of a few centimeters, spreading from the center of the container towards its periphery, - means of opening the bag to move from a "packaging" position to a "litter" position, intended to make the absorbent material accessible and to facilitate its automatic distribution over the bottom of the container, to arrange the waterproof bag around the side walls of

  cat tray and make the litter fully disposable.

  The invention will be better understood by referring to

  the following description of a non-limiting embodiment

  illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of the litter partially unfolded, - Figure 2 is a top view of the litter of Figure 1 completely unfolded but not yet open, - Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of Figure 2, - Figure 5 shows the three phases of implementation

  place the litter on a cat tray.

  Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 4 which show an integral cat litter which is therefore intended to constitute a completely disposable litter which comprises a packaging generally designated by (1) and an absorbent material (2). In the example shown, the package (1) has a rectangular shape but it could naturally be applied to it in other shapes or dimensions. The rectangular litter is therefore delimited by its longitudinal sides (3 and 4) and the transverse ones (5 and 6). When the litter is placed flat on a support and in particular on the cat tray (7) shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5, this litter comprises a mass of absorbent material (2) which is substantially delimited in a rectangle (8). This absorbent material is located in Figure 1 on the part

right of the litter.

  The litter (1) which, in the example shown, has a rectangular shape is preferably made of a waterproof and flexible material such as a plastic film (9) and preferably of polyethylene. This material is resistant and can be worked easily, it can also adapt to all forms of trays and follow the deformations of the absorbent mass (2) to match the bottom

  and the side walls of the cat pan.

  Referring to Figures 2 to 4, it can be seen that the rectangular polyethylene litter (1) is constituted by a sleeve welded transversely along the side (6). The sleeve constitutes a bag closed by its bottom (6) and its side walls (11 and 12) arranged in bellows. The bag is open

  in (5) to make the absorbent mass (2) accessible.

  To pass from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2, the adhesive (10) is pulled in the direction of the arrow T. It is thus possible to release the bellows (11 and 12) from the sleeve. These bellows (11 and 12) will therefore preferably have a height H equal to half the absorbent mass (2) to allow their unfolding or

  conditioning of the litter in closed compact position.

  Referring to Figures 1 and 3, it can be seen that the adhesive (10) sticks and brings the bellows (11 and 12) closer over the entire length of the litter from point (13)

to point (14).

  When the adhesive (10) is pulled in the direction of the arrow T from point (13) to point (14), the bellows (11 and 12) are thus released which are placed in the position of the Figure 2. In this position, the package is closed according to the weld (6) while it is open transversely on the side (5). The adhesive (10) which brings the bellows (11 and 12) together is also attached by its end (15) to the base of the litter at the level of the absorbent material (2). By completely detaching the adhesive (10), the absorbent material is released which is relatively fluid and is easily placed over a height of a few centimeters in

  extending from the center of the tank (7) towards its periphery.

  The bag of waterproof material (1) therefore completely covers the bottom (16) and the walls (17) of the tank. The absorbent material is placed over a few centimeters in height while the flexible material constituting the waterproof bag can be folded at (18) towards the outside of the side walls (17).

Tray.

  During the conditioning in the packaging, the litter can be in a position shown in Figure 3 for example by stacking the litter head to tail. It is also possible, before the packaging of the litters, to fold the sleeve around the zone (19) to arrange the part (20) not comprising any absorbent material above the absorbent material (2). This folding allows, during storage,

gain some ground.

  The use of the integral litter according to the invention is very easy because it naturally avoids contact with the hands since one will pass from the position shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 5, litter placed in the tray, without any contact with hands. The absorbent material can be very well dosed, will not be wasted, will not be scattered around the tank,

  thus contributing to the protection of the environment.

  Note that the waterproof material (1) will always be in contact with the bottom (16) of the tank and the side walls (17) which will avoid cleaning

tedious of the tray.

  I1 therefore there is no contact at the time of the establishment of the litter but it was also planned according to the invention to incorporate a cord (21) which will tie like a garbage bag all of

  absorbent material (2) soiled inside the waterproof bag.

  This closure will transfer the litter which can

  be thrown away in the trash.

  The absorbent material used is relatively fluid and it has been chosen, for example, from a granule of small dimensions so that it can be easily placed over a height of a few centimeters in

  extending from the center of the tank to its periphery.

  The bag opening means which have been described for passing from a packaging position in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a litter position in FIG. 5, make it possible to make the absorbent material accessible and to distribute it over the bottom of the container. . These means are here essentially constituted by the adhesive (10) and its relative arrangement with respect to the waterproof bag (1) which comprises bellows (11 and 12), a bottom (6) closed by a sealed weld. The bag and the absorbent material are accessible through the opening (5)

  arranged transversely on the sleeve.

  We can use as granules granules having a very high absorbency, for example granules molded from vegetable fibers. These granules are much lighter than common sepiolite

  used and therefore lower volumes can be used.

  The plant has the advantage of having a bactericidal action

  and to be able to be incinerated and biodegraded.

  We can naturally conceive means of opening the litter different from those which have been described with other adhesives or cord placed in different places, we could also in other areas arrange break points which would allow to open the

  bag and give access to absorbent material.

  The use of an absorbent material made of vegetable fibers, for example of recovery, also makes it possible in the event of an accident, for example due to the claws of the cat on the polyethylene bag, to fill in the small holes thus created by

the absorbent material itself.

  The opening means which have been provided according to the invention make it possible to easily open the bag and put it in place, but also to reduce the storage volume by giving the litter during packaging a shape different from that which it will have during use. This produces an easy-to-install litter

  place on all existing cat trays.

  The use of the complete litter according to the invention is very easy, it is necessary to place the litter in the center of the tray, pull the adhesive in the direction of arrow T and detach it completely. We see in Figure 5 that it is best to leave the bag free when you pull in the direction of the arrow T. We can then place

  the sides of the bag (1) on the side walls (17) of the tank.

  To change the litter, take the sides (18) of the bag and tie them with the cord (21). The bag is thus tightly closed

and will be put in the trash.

  Naturally, other implementations of the present invention, within the reach of those skilled in the art, could also have been envisaged without going beyond the ambit

of it.

Claims (4)

  1. Integral litter for animals, in particular for cats, intended to constitute a completely disposable litter, having a packaging and an absorbent material, characterized in that: - the packaging is a flexible waterproof bag (1) capable of containing the absorbent material (2) and to marry the bottom (16) and the side walls (17) of the cat container, - the absorbent material (2) is relatively fluid and it is easily placed over a height of a few centimeters in s' spreading from the center of the container towards its periphery, - bag opening means (10) for passing from a "packaging" position to a "litter" position, intended to make the absorbent material (2) accessible and to facilitate its automatic distribution on the bottom (16) of the tray, to arrange the waterproof bag (1) around the side walls (17) of the cat tray and make the litter completely disposable.   2. Integral litter for animals and especially for cats, intended to constitute a completely disposable litter, according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent material (2) is optimally dosed   thus contributing to the protection of the environment.   3. Integral litter for animals and especially for cats, intended to constitute a completely disposable litter, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bag opening means (1) are constituted by a   adhesive (10) temporarily connecting the bellows (11 and 12).   4. Integral litter for animals and especially for cats, intended to constitute a completely disposable litter, according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a cord (21) capable of closing   the sides (3 and 4) of the bag (1) at the edges (18).