GB2160754A - Pet relief station - Google Patents

Abstract

The pet relief station provides a safe, sanitary and natural method for pets to excrete their waste products indoors. The station (10) has a housing (12) which has an opening (14) therein for the pet to enter and exit from. Inside the housing (12) is a platform (16) to support the pet. A plastic sheet (24) which holds litter is mounted above the platform (16) for horizontal movement across same. A take-up roll (28) and feedroll (26) are provided and the plastic sheet (24) is anchored to them. A motor (40) moves the take-up (28) and feed rolls (26) which in turn move the plastic sheet (24). Above the platform (16) is positioned a litter hopper (30) with a bottom opening (34) and a litter meter (38). Below the platform (16) is positioned a lineable disposal chamber (42) with a filter screen (50). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pet relief station The invention relates to a pet relief station or litter box, and more particularly to an automatic litter box which filters solid waste products from the used litter.

Boxes or other containers with absorbent litter therein are commonly used by cats and other household animals for excretion of solid and liquid wastes.

The solid wastes must be frequently removed from the litter to prevent uncleanliness and odours. The litter, with the liquid wastes therein is changed periodically for hygienic reasons.

The priorartdiscloses numerous devicesto hygieni- cally permit a pet to excrete its waste products indoors. One such prior art device, as shown in U.S.

Patent No. 3,954,086, discloses an excrement collection drawer located under a rotating platform. After a pet excretes, the platform opens and permits the excrement to fall into the excrement collection drawer. Another such prior art device, shown in U.S. Patent No.3,937,182, discloses a litterless pet toilet with an endless belt extended around rollers. At one end of the belt is a receptacle into which the waste products fall as the belt rotates. Neither of these devices provides a safe and appealing system for the pet, the former device being potentially harmful when the supporting.platform opens, and the latter device failing to providing a digging and covering means for the pet. Further, neither of the aforementioned devices includes a way to automatically remove solid waste from the litter.

The following are objects ofthe present invention or preferred embodiments thereof: to provide a pet relief station which avoids the various disadvantages of prior art relief stations; to provide a pet relief station which is safe for pets to use; the provision of a pet relief station which the pet will be attracted to and hence will use; to provide a pet relief station which automatically filters and separates solid waste material from the used litter, providing enhanced convenience for the pet owner; to provide arieconomicaí relief station which allows litter to be reused; to provide a pet relief station which is sanitary and which prevents the build-up of bacteria and odour; and to provide a pet relief station which permits a pet owner to leave his petfor up to one month with the secure knowledge that the pet relief site will be automatically maintained.

One feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a pet reliefstation which includes a horizontal littertransport system. The pet enters into the housing and is supported by a piatform. A movable plastic sheetwith litterthereon is provided forthe pet. A hopper is provided to hold litterfor metering across the plastic sheet. When it is desired to change the litter the plastic sheet is moved such that the used litterfalls offofone end, through afilterand into a lined collection chamber. Solid waste is removed from the used litter via a filtering screen or otherfiltering device. The collection chamber is easily removable from the housing for cleaning purposes.

Additionally, a partition is provided which prevents the petfrom accidentally falling into the collection chamber.

The invention, both as to its construction and its method or ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description of specific exemplary embodiments, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. is a front elevational view of a pet relief station constructed according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a right side view thereof; Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof; and Fig.4 is a detail view showing the filter arrangement ofthe present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 denotes a pet relief station. The station 10 has a housing 12 with an entrance and/or exit opening 14 formed therein. Opening 14 is shaped and dimensioned such that a pet may easily fit therethrough.

Although notshown in the drawings, an easily movable door means may be attached to opening 14 if desired.

A pet supporting member 16 is connected tothe inside of the housing . Pet supporting member 16 is positioned between the top 18 of the housing and the bottom 20 of the housing. Opening 14is located such that when the pet enters therethrough the pet steps onto supporting member16.

Above supporting member 16 is a movable litter supporting member which in the preferred embodiment is plastic sheet 24. Plastic sheet 24 is capable of horizontal movement above and across supporting member 16. Movable anchoring means which in the preferred embodiment comprises a feed roll 26 and take-up roll 28 are provided for supporting plastic sheet 24. In the preferred embodiment feed roll 26 and take-up roll 28 are positioned beneath supporting member 16.

A litter storage chamber or hopper 30 is located above supporting member 16 and to one side thereof, thereby providing an elimination chamber 32. Hopper 30 has an opening 34 in the bottom thereof.

Litter 36 is placed into hopper 30. Adjacent opening 34 is a metering means 38 which measures out litter 36 from hopper30 and spreads same along plastic sheet 24. In the preferred embodiment of the invention metering means 38 is a knife blade spaced above the sheet by a preselected distance so a predetermined amount of litter is spread across the sheet as the sheet moves past the blade.

Means is provided to move feedroll 26 and take-up roll 28. Any appropriate moving means can be used and those knowledgeable in the art will appreciate which are the most appropriate. In the preferred embodiment the moving means is conventional motor 40 positioned adjacent to take-up roll 28 and beneath petsupporting member 16. The motor may incorporate appropriate timer means so it is activated periodically and for sufficient duration to movethe liner a distance equal to the length of the liner accessible to the pet.

A movable disposal chamber42 is provided.

Disposal chamber42 is positioned beneath plastic sheet24and adjacenttotake-up roll 28. Disposal chamber 42 is shaped and dimentioned to receive disposal collection bags, an example of one is shown in the figures and identified by reference numeral 44.

To protectthe pet, disposal chamber42 is separated from the rest ofthe housing 12 by the front external wall ofthe housing 12.

A hatchcover46 is provided for disposal chamber 42 which in addition to its covering function serves as a stability-and support step.

Securedattheuppermostpart48 ofdisposal chamber42 is a filtering means which in the preferred embodiment is a screen 50. Screen 50 is positioned on an acute angle such that its uppermost edge 52 is adjacent and beneath take-up roll 28. The mesh 54 of screen 50 is such thatsolid waste cannot pass therethrough but used litter can passtherethrough.

Hence, litterisseparated into two portions: solid waste 56, and filtered used litter58. Filtered used litter 58 is reuseable.

In practice, the pet relief station 10 of the invention works as follows. Clean litter is placed into hopper30.

A pet enters into housing 12through opening 14. The pet excretes upon litter which has been spread by metering means 38 along plastic sheet 24. The pet then can exitthrough opening 14. When it is desired to changethe litter, motor 40 is activated either manually or automatically, which thereby causes rotaton of feedroll26andtake-up roll 28 to move the linerin a predetermined horizontal direction. That is, the movementof rolls 26 and 28 in turn moves plastic sheet 24 horizontallyacrossand above petsupporting member 16. As plastic sheet 24 moves over the edge of pet support member 16 and onto take-up roll 28 the litter thereon falls off due to gravitational forces. The litter falls onto screen 50 which separates the solid waste 56 from the filtered used litter 58.As shown in FIG.4, the filter screen 50 curved downwardly so that the solid waste rolls downwardly, toward the left. On the other hand, filtered used litter58 falls into and is contained in lined disposal chamber 42 where it can be easily and sanitarily removed from and reused ifdesired. Likewise, the solid waste 56 can be easily and sanitarily removed from its place above screen 50. Alternatively, a disposable, open-mouthed pouch or container (not shown) maybe positioned at the lower end ofthefilter to catchthewaste materials.

Itwill be understood that each of the elements described above, ortwo or more together, may also find useful application in other types of constructions from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a pet elimination centre which automatically and sanitarilyfilters and stores pet waste products, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spiritofthe invention.

Without fu rther analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others ca by applying current knowledge readily adapt itfor various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics ofthe generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefore, such adapta tionsshould and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equilvalence of the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. Apetreliefstation comprising: a) a housing having a plurality of walls with an opening formed in at least one of said plurality of wal to permit a petto enter and exit said housing; b) a pet supporting member in said housing terminating short of one of said plurality ofwallsto define a waste-receiving opening therebetween; c) litter dispensing and spreading means in said housing for dispensing and spreading litter; d) a movablesheeton said pet support member spaced below said dispensing and spreading means to receive littertherefrom; said litter being spread along said movable sheet by said litter dispensing an spreading means, said movable sheet extending into said waste-receiving openingatoneend; e) moving means for moving said sheet; f) and a removable disposal chamber positioned below said opening to receive waste material and little from said sheet as said sheet is moved.

2. A pet relief station as in claim 1, in which said disposal chamber includes a filterthereto for separat ing solid waste material from said litter.

3. A pet relief station as in claim 2, in which said filter curves downwa rdlyto cause the solid waste materials to accumulate at the lower portion of said filter, and a container at said lowerportionto receive the solid waste material.

4. A pet relief station as in any preceding claim, further comprising a removable liner in said disposal chamber

5. A pet relief station as in any preceding claim, in which said litterdispensing and spreading means comprises a hopper, and a metering blade spaced above said sheet by a preselected distance to meter the amount of litter dispensed bysaid hopper.

6. A pet relief station as in any preceding claim, in which said moving means comprises a feed roll mounted on said housingforsupporting a roll of said sheet, and a take-up roll positioned in said opening and connected to said sheet, and a selectively energizable motor connected to said take-up roll for rotating said take-up roll in selected steps.

7. A pet relief station as in any preceding claim, in which said disposal chamber comprises a drawer slidably received in said housing.

8. A pet relief station substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.