Greg Fisher

US Patent:

56900511, Nov 25, 1997

Filed:

Jun 27, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/673772

Inventors:

Greg L. Fisher - West Linn OR
Robert D. MacDonald - Lake Oswego, OR

International Classification:

A01K 1035

US Classification:

119166

Abstract:

A pet litter separation system provides an open-centered separation device having an upper end forming a mouth, a lower end covered by a separation member, and a sidewall interconnecting the ends. The member forms openings suitably sized for permitting passage of reusable pet litter granules while blocking passage of clumped waste. The cover has a first portion positionable inside the device in overlying relationship to the member so that the granules and clumps are prevented from exiting through the member when the used litter in a conventional litter tray is poured into the device for processing. Preferably the tray is completely emptied for thorough cleaning. The cover further includes a mechanism for facilitating removal of the first portion out from beneath the granules and clumps so that the reusable granules can pass through the member preferably directly back into the tray for preventing material loss. The waste clumps are dumped back out the upper end of the device for disposal. In one preferred embodiment, the removal mechanism is a handle, and the cover is formed from a flat piece of flexible material, which flexibility enables the handle to be draped out-of-the-way during initial loading and enables the first portion to conform to the sidewall shape so as to facilitate cover removal when the device is nearly full.