Nestable Pet Litter Tray With Orientation Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet waste sifting devices often fail to properly retain litter when trays are not oriented correctly, leading to litter spillage due to unblocked openings, which complicates the separation of pet waste from litter.
Innovation Solution
A nestable pet litter tray system with flanges and protrusions that prevent litter from passing through when trays are correctly stacked, and indicate improper orientation through protrusions and rim designs, ensuring secure retention and easy sifting of waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trays are stacked without orientation indicators, then the device structure is simpler, but litter spills when trays are improperly oriented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing protrusions on the rims of trays that extend into the opening of the tray below when stacked in the correct orientation. This asymmetric feature creates a mechanical interlock that prevents improper stacking and ensures litter retention, while adding minimal complexity to the tray structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion design enables self-service by allowing the tray structure itself to indicate proper orientation and prevent incorrect stacking. The user simply needs to stack the trays, and the protrusions automatically ensure correct orientation without requiring user knowledge or additional indicators.
2Reliability
If flanges are added to block openings, then litter retention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flange and rim features into a single integrated structural element. The flange extends from the base and merges with the rim to form the opening, eliminating the need for separate components and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining litter retention functionality.
3Strength
If tray base thickness is increased, then structural strength is improved, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining the tray base, flange, and sidewall into an integrated structure where the flange extends from the base and the sidewall extends from the base. This composite design optimizes material distribution, providing structural strength where needed while minimizing overall material usage.
4Reliability
If flanges extend fully around openings, then litter retention is maximized, but tray rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the flange structure into discrete elements that extend around the opening. The flange is segmented into portions that block the opening while maintaining spaces between them, which preserves tray rigidity while effectively retaining litter.
Data Source
AI summary
A pet litter tray, box and system. The litter box comprises multiple trays. The trays are nestable within one another. Each tray comprises a base defining one or more openings. The opening allows litter to pass therethrough. When stacked in a first orientation, the openings of each upper tray are blocked by portions of the base of the adjacent lower tray thus retaining the litter. The top-most tray is lifted to sift the unused litter into the two nested lower trays. The top-most tray is added to the bottom of the two nested trays in a selected orientation. The trays may comprise flanges extending from the openings to contact the base of the lower tray when stacked to retain litter. The trays may comprise protrusions extending from the rim to contact an adjacent lower tray to indicate improper orientation of the trays.