Shaped Articles Having Peelable, Perforated Surfaces and Their Use for Segregating Particulate Materials, Such as in Animal Litter Trays

Abstract

The disclosure relates to containers and other shaped articles that have a relatively thick substrate layer and one or more relatively thin liner sheets peelably adhered thereto. Animal litter can be placed atop the liner sheets, preferably in a concave portion to contain the litter. The liner sheets have perforations extending therethrough that permit the passage of non-soiled litter, but do not permit the passage of at least one of animal feces and soiled animal litter, such as clumps of litter and urine. After an animal has deposited waste on or in the litter, the liner sheet can be peeled from the container and waste unable to pass through the perforations can be collected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal litter container comprising:
 a) a substrate having a concave interior surface; and   b) a plurality of peelable liner sheets including a bottom sheet,
 each sheet conforming to a substantial portion of the interior surface and having a lower surface and an upper surface, 
 the lower surface of each sheet other than the bottom sheet being releasibly adhered to the upper surface of the underlying sheet with a peelable adhesive on substantially the entire lower surface of the sheet, 
 the lower surface of the bottom sheet being releasibly adhered to the interior surface with a peelable adhesive on substantially the entire lower surface of the bottom sheet, 
 at least the sheet most distal from the substrate having perforations extending between the lower surface and the upper surface thereof, 
 the perforations being dimensioned such that at least one of ordinary animal feces and soiled animal litter cannot pass therethrough. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface includes a substantially flat central portion bounded by sidewalls and wherein each sheet conforms to substantially the entire central portion and extends upon the sidewalls around the boundaries of the central portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein at least most of the perforations are present in the central portion of the sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the sheets has perforations extending between the lower surface and the upper surface thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the perforations of the sheets are aligned with one another. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , having a lip region that substantially surrounds the concave interior surface. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the sheets extends onto and conforms to at least a portion of the lip region. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein each of the sheets extends onto and conforms to at least a portion of the lip region. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sheet includes a tab. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising at least three sheets. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising at least six sheets. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising at least twelve sheets. 
     
     
         13 . An animal litter box comprising a first container of  claim 1  and a cover that substantially encloses the interior surface of the container, the cover being removably engagable with the container and defining an entryway through which the animal can pass between the enclosed interior surface and the exterior of the box. 
     
     
         14 . The box of  claim 13 , wherein the cover has an edge that conforms to the shape of the substrate around at least part of the periphery of the interior surface. 
     
     
         15 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the entryway is an indentation in the edge of the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the entryway is a hole extending through the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the cover precludes access to at least a portion of the edge of at least one sheet to an animal situated at the enclosed interior surface when the cover is engaged with the first container. 
     
     
         18 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the cover precludes access to every portion of the edge of each sheet to an animal situated at the enclosed interior surface when the cover is engaged with the first container. 
     
     
         19 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises a roof and a connector that is removably engagable with the first container, wherein when the connector is engaged with the first container the connector maintains the roof in a substantially fixed position with respect to the first container. 
     
     
         20 . The box of  claim 19 , wherein the roof and the connector are removably engagable.