Retaining apparatus for pet waste pad

Abstract

An apparatus for retaining a liquid-absorptive sheet includes a base member, a securing member and at least one clip. The base member has a bottom layer and an upstanding wall, with the bottom layer and the upstanding wall defining a reservoir. The securing member includes an upper surface and two depending legs for receiving the upstanding wall of the base member. The absorptive sheet is removably secured at at least portions of its periphery between the base member and the securing member to hold the absorptive sheet against the bottom layer of the base member. At least one end of the absorptive sheet extends over at least a portion of the upstanding wall. The clip connects the securing member to the base member.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for retaining a liquid-absorptive sheet, said apparatus comprising: 
 a base member having a bottom layer and an upstanding wall, said bottom layer and said upstanding wall defining a reservoir;    a securing member comprising an upper surface and two depending legs for receiving said upstanding wall of said base member, the absorptive sheet being removably secured at at least portions of its periphery between said base member and said securing member to hold the absorptive sheet against the bottom layer of said base member, wherein at least one end of the absorptive sheet extends over at least a portion of the upstanding wall; and    at least one clip for connecting said securing member to said base member.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said clip is hinged to said securing member and is rotatable into engagement with a recess in said base member.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said securing member holds the absorptive sheet flat against the bottom layer of said base member.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the perimeters of said base member and said securing member are rectangular.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising a flexible protective grid secured between said base member and said securing member on the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said two depending legs of said securing member include an exterior depending leg and an interior depending leg, and said exterior depending leg includes a compression lip at its lower edge, said compression lip projecting toward said interior depending leg and defining a line of contact along the perimeter of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said securing member and said base member establish at least two areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to    claim 7   , wherein said two depending legs of said securing member include an exterior depending leg and an interior depending leg, and areas of peripheral pressure contact are established between said upstanding wall of said base member and said exterior depending leg, said interior depending leg and said upper surface of said securing member.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for retaining a liquid-absorptive sheet, said apparatus comprising: 
 base means for receiving the absorptive sheet;    securing means for securing the absorptive sheet between said base means and said securing means, said securing means establishing at least two areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet; and    connection means for connecting said securing means to said base means.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein said securing means establishes at least three areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least the portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein said securing means establishes at least four areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein said base means defines a reservoir for retaining fluid.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein said securing means holds the absorptive sheet flat against a bottom surface of said base means.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein the perimeters of said base means and said securing means are rectangular.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to    claim 9   , further comprising a flexible protective grid secured between said base means and said securing means on the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for retaining a liquid-absorptive sheet, said apparatus comprising: 
 base means for receiving the absorptive sheet, said base means including a bottom layer and an upstanding wall;    securing means for engaging said base means and securing the absorptive sheet between said base means and said securing means, said securing means comprising an upper surface and two depending legs, the absorptive sheet being removably secured at at least portions of its periphery between said base means and said securing means to hold the absorptive sheet against the bottom layer of said base means, wherein at least one end of the absorptive sheet extends over at least a portion of the upstanding wall; and    connection means for connecting said securing means to said base means.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to    claim 16   , wherein said base means defines a reservoir.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to    claim 16   , wherein said securing means holds the absorptive sheet flat against the bottom surface of said base means.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to    claim 16   , wherein the perimeters of said base means and said securing means are rectangular.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to    claim 16   , further comprising a flexible protective grid secured between said base means and said securing means on the absorbent sheet.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to    claim 16   , wherein said securing means and said base means establish at least two areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for retaining a liquid-absorptive sheet, said apparatus comprising: 
 a base member for receiving the absorptive sheet, said base member including an upstanding wall along its periphery;    a securing member including a recessed wall for receiving said upstanding wall of said base member and securing the absorptive sheet between said securing member and said base member, said securing member establishing at least two areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet; and    at least one clip for connecting said securing member to said base member.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to    claim 22   , wherein said clip is hinged to said securing member and is rotatable into engagement with a recess in said base member.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to    claim 22   , wherein said securing member establishes at least three areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least the portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus according to    claim 22   , wherein said securing member establishes at least four areas of peripheral pressure contact along at least portions of the periphery of the absorptive sheet.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus according to    claim 22   , wherein said base member further comprises a bottom layer cooperating with said upstanding wall to define a reservoir for retaining fluid.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus according to    claim 26   , wherein said securing member holds the absorptive sheet flat against said bottom layer of said base member.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus according to    claim 22   , wherein the perimeters of said base member and said securing member are rectangular.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus according to    claim 21   , further comprising a flexible protective grid secured between said base member and said securing member on the absorbent sheet.