Foldable Cat Litter Vessel with Releasable Clamshell Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enclosed cat litter boxes require periodic cleaning and lack convenient disposal options, while disposable boxes offer no structural enclosure for pets, failing to balance hygiene and pet housing needs.
Innovation Solution
A set of identical, die-cut and foldable cardboard vessels configured as both cat litter containers and pet house enclosures, with releasable attaching means allowing them to be positioned in a clamshell fashion for easy litter disposal and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If enclosed cat litter boxes are used, then an enclosed environment is provided for cats, but periodic internal cleaning is required and convenient disposal of soiled litter is not facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The litter box system is divided into two separable parts: a reusable enclosed base and a disposable upper tray. This segmentation allows the disposable tray to be removed and discarded with soiled litter, eliminating the need to clean the enclosed base while maintaining the enclosed environment cats prefer.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper tray is designed as a disposable component made from inexpensive materials. After use, the entire tray with soiled litter can be discarded, providing convenient disposal while maintaining the reusable enclosed base structure.
2Ease of operation
If disposable cat litter boxes are used, then handling and disposal of cat waste is facilitated, but no structure forming a desirable pet house type enclosure is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the disposable litter tray with the reusable enclosed base into a combined system. The disposable tray fits within and complements the enclosed base, providing both the enclosure cats desire and the convenient disposal capability of disposable boxes.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable upper tray serves multiple functions: it contains the litter, facilitates easy disposal of soiled waste, and when combined with the enclosed base, provides structural support and environmental enclosure. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between disposability and enclosure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If enclosed cat litter boxes are used, then an enclosed environment is provided, but the boxes require periodic internal cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable upper tray is designed to be discarded after a single use with soiled litter, eliminating the time-consuming cleaning process. The reusable enclosed base requires minimal cleaning since it never直接接触 soiled litter, thus resolving the contradiction between providing enclosure and requiring cleaning.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for collection and disposal of feline waste, the assembly including a first, a second, and at least a third upwardly opening vessel, each vessel among the first, second, and at least third vessels being substantially identical to each other vessel among the first, second, and at least third vessels, and each vessel among the first, second, and at least third vessels having a peripheral wall having an upper edge, each peripheral wall having an upwardly opening door notch; and including releasably attaching tab and slot combinations connected operatively to the first, second, and at least third upwardly opening vessels, the releasably attaching tab and slot combinations being adapted for, upon mirroring positioning of any two vessels among the first, second, and at least third upwardly opening vessels with respect to each other, holding those two vessels in a pet house configuration.