JP7538694B2 - Pet toilet - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pet toilet.

Pet litter boxes, which are used indoors to treat the waste of pets such as cats, typically have a main container and a lattice-like liquid passage that divides the main container into an upper and lower section.

As an example of a pet toilet with such a configuration, Patent Document 1 discloses an animal toilet that has a main body that receives animal waste and a cover that is removably attached to the upper side of the main body. The document states that the cover has a notch that serves as an entrance and exit, and an extended bottom that extends inward from the lower end of the notch.

JP 2019-24390 A

However, the animal toilet described in Patent Document 1 cannot guide pets into the toilet effectively, and as a result, pets may excrete with their excretory area located near the entrance/exit. As a result, pet excrement scatters at the entrance/exit of the toilet or outside the toilet.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a pet toilet that can guide a pet into the toilet and make it easier for the pet to relieve itself there.

The present invention provides a pet toilet comprising a storage section for storing excrement treating materials and a guide wall section disposed so as to surround the storage section at a position above the storage section,
The guide wall portion has a generally rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction and a width direction in a plan view,
The guide wall portion has a pet entrance formed at at least one corner in a plan view, the pet entrance being defined by cutting out a part of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction and a part of the wall portion along the width direction so as to straddle the corner,
This invention provides a pet toilet in which at least one of the cutout end faces of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction and the cutout end faces of the wall portion along the width direction which define the entrance/exit are inclined inwardly from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the guide wall portion when viewed in a plane.

The present invention provides a pet toilet that can guide a pet into the toilet and make it easier for the pet to defecate in an appropriate position within the toilet.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pet toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic exploded state of the pet toilet shown in FIG. 1, and also shows the granular excrement treating material disposed in the storage portion. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the pet toilet shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 4(a) is a schematic side view along the longitudinal direction when the guide wall portion and the partition portion are combined, and FIG. 4(b) is a schematic side view along the width direction of the configuration shown in FIG. 4(a). FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a pet toilet as viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a pet toilet according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a pet toilet according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the pet toilet shown in FIG. 1 as viewed along the longitudinal direction.

The present invention will be described below based on a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. The pet toilet of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as the toilet) can be used for disposing of or collecting excrement from pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, and hamsters. The pet toilet of the present invention is particularly useful as a toilet for cats kept indoors by placing it indoors. In this specification, head and body length is the total length (body length) of a pet minus the length of the tail, and refers to the length from the tip of the head to the base of the tail.

Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of a pet toilet. The pet toilet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a storage section 10C that stores granular excrement treatment material P, and a guide wall section 2 arranged around the upper periphery of the storage section 10C. As also shown in Figures 1 to 3, the pet toilet 1 has a generally rectangular shape in plan view, having a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The pet toilet 1 also has a height direction Z perpendicular to the XY plane.

The pet toilet 1 of this embodiment includes a toilet body 10 and a partition 20 that divides the toilet body 10 into an upper part 10A and a lower part 10B. In addition, it is preferable to include a urine receiving tray 30 that is removably stored in the lower part 10B from the viewpoint of ease of disposal of excrement.

The pet toilet 1 has a storage section 10C inside the toilet body 10 that stores granular excrement treatment material P. The toilet body 10 also has a guide wall section 2 at the top. The guide wall section 2 is arranged so as to surround the storage section 10C at a position above the storage section 10C. This creates a pet excretion space surrounded by the guide wall section 2 in the space above the storage section 10C.

The toilet body 10 is divided into an upper part 10A and a lower part 10B by a partition part 20 having a liquid passage part 21 through which urine can pass. The toilet body 10 also has a storage part 10C formed on the partition part 20 in the upper part 10A, and a guide wall part 2 formed above the storage part 10C in the upper part 10A. The expression "surround" also includes the case where an entrance/exit 2E (described later) is formed in the guide wall part 2, resulting in a part of the periphery having no wall.

It is preferable that both the guide wall portion 2 and the storage portion 10C have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, with a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, similar to the shape of the pet toilet 1 in plan view. It is also preferable that the longitudinal directions X of the guide wall portion 2 and the storage portion 10C are aligned with the longitudinal direction X of the pet toilet 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the toilet body 10 is preferably equipped with a bottom forming portion 3 that is open at the top and forms a bottom that is placed on the floor surface, and a guide wall portion 2. The guide wall portion 2 and bottom forming portion 3 that constitute the toilet body 10 together form the outer shape of the pet toilet 1, and have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view with a width direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The corners of the substantially rectangular shape in plan view of both the guide wall portion 2 and the bottom forming portion 3 are chamfered.

In this embodiment, the guide wall 2 has a shape with both the upper and lower surfaces open, and can be held on the upper part of the bottom forming part 3 by being placed or fitted from above the partition part 20 arranged on top of the bottom forming part 3. At this time, the guide wall 2 is arranged around the upper part of the storage part 10C for excrement treatment material P formed by the partition part 20. The bottom forming part 3, the partition part 20 and the guide wall part 2 are each arranged so that they can be freely attached and detached.

The guide wall 2 in this embodiment has an outer surface that constitutes part of the outer surface of the pet toilet 1, and an inner surface of the guide wall 2 that faces the pet during excretion. The guide wall 2 extends in the height direction Z to separate the outside world from the inside of the toilet 1. The guide wall 2 has a predetermined thickness, which may be constant from the bottom to the top of the guide wall 2, or may gradually decrease as it goes upward. In the latter case, the outer wall surface of the guide wall 2 is inclined inward as it goes upward, while the inner wall surface from the top to the bottom may face the height direction Z or may be inclined inward as it goes upward. The guide wall 2 may be solid or hollow inside.

A portion of the guide wall 2 is cut out to form an entrance/exit 2E. The entrance/exit 2E is a portion that serves as an entrance/exit for pets, allowing them to easily enter and exit the pet toilet 1 when the pet toilet 1 is in use.

When the guide wall 2 of the pet toilet 1 is viewed in plan, the entrance 2E is preferably provided so as to straddle at least one corner of the rectangular shape of the guide wall 2, and more preferably is provided at each of two corners located at both ends of one long side of the rectangular shape. When the entrance 2E is formed so as to straddle a corner, the entrance 2E is defined by cutting out a part of the wall 2x along the longitudinal direction X of the guide wall 2 and a part of the wall 2y along the width direction Y. This makes it easier to guide the pet into the toilet, even if the guide wall 2 on the side not having the entrance 2E is placed close to the wall surface of the installation location of the pet toilet indoors, etc., and also makes it easier for the pet to enter and exit.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, when the guide wall 2 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, two entrances 2E are provided at two corners located at both ends of one long side of the rectangular shape of the guide wall 2, straddling each corner. Each entrance 2E is defined by cutting out a part of the wall 2x along the longitudinal direction X of the guide wall 2 and a part of the wall 2y along the width direction Y. In plan view, the guide wall 2 is formed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal bisect line Lx that extends along the width direction Y of the pet toilet 1 and bisects the toilet 1 in the longitudinal direction X.

As described above, the guide wall 2 has a portion cut out to define the entrance 2E, and it is preferable that a cutout end surface 2f (hereinafter also referred to as the first cutout end surface 2f) of one wall portion that defines the entrance 2E and a cutout end surface 2g (hereinafter also referred to as the second cutout end surface 2g) of the other wall portion are formed. Both of these cutout end surfaces 2f, 2g are flat, but in a plan view of the guide wall 2, as long as these cutout end surfaces 2f, 2g can be considered to be flat, they may be concave, convex, or a combination of both.

These notched end faces 2f, 2g can be formed by bending the thin plate-like guide wall portion 2 toward the inside of the pet toilet 1 at the entrance 2E.
Alternatively, each of the cutout end faces 2f, 2g may be formed, for example, by cutting out the thick guide wall portion 2. In this case, the thickness of the guide wall portion 2 in a plan view, that is, the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface of the guide wall portion 2, i.e., the width W1 along the width direction Y and the width W2 along the longitudinal direction X when the guide wall portion 2 is viewed in a plan view, may each be independently set within a range described below.

It is preferable to have a flat cutout bottom surface 2j that connects the lower ends of the pair of cutout end surfaces 2f, 2g at the position where the entrance 2E is formed. By having the cutout bottom surface 2j, it can function as a footrest for the pet, so that the pet can be effectively guided into the toilet. In this embodiment, the cutout bottom surface 2j is flat, smoothly connected from the lower ends of both cutout end surfaces 2f, 2g, and formed to extend inwardly of the pet toilet 1. The width of the cutout bottom surface 2j is roughly the same as the width of both cutout end surfaces 2f, 2g.

The pair of cutout end faces 2f, 2g that define the entrance 2E preferably have a predetermined shape and arrangement. This configuration makes it possible to more efficiently guide the pet to the area of the liquid passage portion, which is the appropriate excretion position in the toilet, and makes it easier for the pet to excrete without the excrement leaking outside the toilet.

In detail, when viewed in a plan view of the guide wall portion 2, it is preferable that at least one of the first notch end face 2f and the second notch end face 2g is inclined inwardly from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the guide wall portion 2, and it is even more preferable that both the first notch end face 2f and the second notch end face 2g are inclined inwardly from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the guide wall portion 2.
With this configuration, the cutout end faces face the central area of the toilet, so that the pet is prevented from entering the toilet along the width direction Y and is guided to enter along the longitudinal direction X, while efficiently guiding the pet's entry direction to the central area of the toilet including the area of the liquid passage portion 21, which is the appropriate excretion position within the toilet. As a result, when the pet excretes, the excrement does not leak outside the toilet, and it is easy to excrete in the appropriate excretion position within the toilet.

In this specification, "inward" refers to the direction in which, in a plan view of the guide wall portion 2, a virtual straight line extended virtually along the cutout end face intersects with the guide wall portion 2 along the longitudinal direction X on the side where the entrance/exit 2E is not formed, and when the guide wall portion 2 in which the cutout end face is formed at the entrance/exit 2E to be observed is viewed from the outside as facing the outer surface of the wall, the toilet inner side end of the cutout end face is not observed on the side of the entrance/exit 2E based on the position of the toilet outer side end.
Taking the first cutout end surface 2f as an example, since the first cutout end surface 2f is formed in the wall 2x along the longitudinal direction X on the side where the entrance 2E is formed, when viewed from the outside of the toilet facing the outer surface of the wall 2x, the toilet inner end fb of the first cutout end surface 2f is located at a position opposite the entrance 2E based on the position of the toilet outer end fa. Similarly, for the second cutout end surface 2g, when the wall 2y on which the second cutout end surface 2g is formed is viewed from the outside facing the outer surface of the wall 2y, the toilet inner end fd of the second cutout end surface 2g is located at a position opposite the entrance 2E based on the position of the toilet outer end fc.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first cutout end surface 2f is formed by cutting out a part of the wall portion 2x along the longitudinal direction X of the guide wall portion 2 in a plan view of the guide wall portion 2. The second cutout end surface 2g is formed by cutting out a part of the wall portion 2y along the width direction Y. These cutout end surfaces 2f, 2g are each formed at an angle with respect to both the longitudinal direction X and the width direction Y in a plan view of the guide wall portion 2.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bottom forming portion 3 constituting the toilet body 10 preferably has a volume that can at least accommodate the bottom of the partition portion 20. A cutout portion 11 that is approximately rectangular in side view is preferably formed on one side of the bottom forming portion 3 in the toilet body 10. This allows the tray 30 to be inserted and removed from the toilet body 10 via the cutout portion 11, and allows the tray 30 to be stored within the toilet body 10. In this embodiment, the cutout portion 11 is formed on the long side where the entrance/exit 2E is located.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the partition 20 is open at the top and has a bottom that is shallower than the bottom forming part 3 of the toilet body 10, dividing the toilet body 10 into an upper part 10A and a lower part 10B. In this embodiment, the guide wall part 2 located above the partition 20 mainly constitutes the upper part 10A of the toilet body 10, and the bottom forming part 3 located below the partition 20 mainly constitutes the lower part 10B of the toilet body 10, and the partition 20 allows the granular excrement treatment material P to be stored in the upper part 10A of the toilet body 10. In other words, the upper surface of the partition 20 is configured as a storage part 10C that stores the excrement treatment material P. It is preferable that the partition 20 is configured to be detachable from the upper part of the bottom forming part 3 of the toilet body 10.

The partition 20 has a liquid-passing portion 21 through which urine can pass, and a liquid-non-passing portion 22 through which urine cannot pass. The liquid-passing portion 21 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the pet toilet 1 and the partition 20. In this embodiment, the liquid-passing portion 21 is rectangular in plan view, and is located in the central region of the pet toilet 1 with an area smaller than that of the partition 20. Alternatively, the liquid-passing portion 21 may be arranged biased toward one end side in the longitudinal direction X or width direction Y in plan view.

The liquid passage section 21 is formed at the bottom of the partition section 20 and is configured in a mesh shape with multiple wires extending parallel to each other. There are gaps between the wires in the liquid passage section 21 that prevent the waste treatment material P and excreted feces from falling, but allow urine to pass downward. In this embodiment, the liquid passage section 21 is formed in a planar shape along the XY plane.

When the partition 20 is viewed in plan, the non-permeable portion 22 is located around the permeable portion 21 and has no gaps. It is preferable that at least the region of the non-permeable portion 22 facing the inlet/outlet 2E is inclined downward from the outer edge of the partition 20 toward the permeable portion 21.

The tray 30 is for collecting or collecting urine that has passed through the excrement treatment material P and the partition 20 and fallen downward. The tray 30 is thin and has a roughly rectangular shape in a plan view, and can be stored in the lower part 10B of the toilet body 10. The plan view area of the tray 30 is equal to or larger than the area of the liquid passage section 21 in the partition 20, and is smaller than the plan view area of the pet toilet 1, which is preferable from the viewpoint of facilitating accumulation of urine that has passed through the partition 20 and making it easy to process or collect the urine.

A pet toilet having the above-described configuration has a generally rectangular planar shape that is long in one direction, so that even if a pet with a large head and body length such as a cat enters the pet toilet, the pet can excrete in a comfortable position along the longitudinal direction of the pet toilet without having to turn or bend its body in an uncomfortable position, ensuring sufficient excretion space.
Furthermore, at least one of the pair of cutout end faces that define the entrance is inclined inward, which prevents pets from entering along the width direction of the toilet and guides pets to the central area of the toilet including the area where the liquid passage is located, which is the appropriate excretion position within the toilet. As a result, when pets excrete, the excrement can be easily excreted in the appropriate excretion position without leaking outside the toilet, improving the convenience of post-processing of excrement such as urine and feces.

Furthermore, by providing an entrance across the corner at a location located at the corner of the rectangular shape, even if the pet has a large head and body length, the pet can easily enter and exit the pet toilet 1, and the pet's posture during excretion can be efficiently guided along the diagonal or longitudinal direction in the plan view of the pet toilet 1, so that a sufficient excretion space is secured. Furthermore, by having a substantially rectangular plan view shape with one direction being short and providing an entrance across the corner, the depth of the pet toilet 1 can be reduced when the pet toilet is placed close to a wall in a room, so that space can be saved when the pet toilet is placed indoors. Furthermore, even if the long side or short side of the pet toilet 1 is placed close to the wall in the room, the pet can easily enter and exit through the entrance.
In particular, by providing two entrances at both ends of one long side, straddling the corners, when the pet enters or leaves the pet toilet, there is no need for the pet to change positions inside the pet toilet between the position it takes to enter the pet toilet and the position it takes to leave the pet toilet, which has the advantage of guiding the pet to a more comfortable position and ensuring an efficient movement line for the pet.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, when the guide wall portion 2 in the pet toilet 1 is viewed in a plan view, it is preferable that the first cutout end surface 2f located at the end of the wall portion 2x along the longitudinal direction X is located closer to the entrance/exit 2E than the longitudinal bisect line Lx that extends along the width direction Y of the pet toilet 1 and divides the toilet 1 in half in the longitudinal direction X.
With this configuration, the direction of entry of the pet can be more efficiently guided to the central area of the toilet, which is the appropriate position for excretion within the toilet. In addition, when granular excrement treatment material P is stored in the toilet body 10 and used, the position of the entrance 2E can be set to a position that efficiently prevents the excrement treatment material P from scattering outside the toilet 1 due to the pet's movements.

Similarly, when the guide wall portion 2 in the pet toilet 1 is viewed in a plane, it is preferable that the second notch end face 2g located at the end of the wall portion 2y along the width direction Y is located closer to the entrance/exit 2E than the widthwise isolating line Ly that extends along the longitudinal direction X of the pet toilet 1 and divides the toilet 1 in half in the width direction Y.
This configuration also makes it possible to more efficiently guide the pet's entry direction toward the central area of the toilet, which includes the area where the liquid passage portion 21 is present, which is the appropriate excretion position in the toilet. In addition, when granular excrement treatment material P is stored in the toilet body 10 and used, the position of the entrance 2E can be set to a position that can efficiently prevent the excrement treatment material P from scattering outside the toilet 1 due to the pet's movements. These effects are more pronounced because the first cut-out end face 2f is located closer to the entrance 2E than the longitudinal equipartition line Lx, and the second cut-out end face 2g is located closer to the entrance 2E than the widthwise equipartition line Ly.

In the case where the first cutout end face 2f is inclined inward from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the guide wall portion 2, a first imaginary straight line L1 is considered that connects the toilet outer side end fa and the toilet inner side end fb of the first cutout end face 2f when the guide wall portion 2 is viewed in a plan view. In this case, it is preferable that the position P1 where the first imaginary straight line L1 intersects with the guide wall portion 2 is beyond the longitudinal equipartition Lx and is located on the opposite side of the longitudinal direction X from the position where the first cutout end face 2f exists.
With this configuration, the direction of entry of the pet can be more efficiently guided and controlled toward the central area of the toilet, which is the appropriate excretion position within the toilet, and the position of the pet when excreting can be guided to follow the longitudinal direction X. As a result, when the pet excretes, the excrement does not leak out of the toilet, and it is easy to effectively excrete in the appropriate excretion position within the toilet.

In addition, in the case where the second cutout end face 2g is inclined inward from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the guide wall portion 2, when the guide wall portion 2 is viewed in a plane, a second imaginary straight line L2 connecting the toilet outer side end fc and the toilet inner side end fd of the second cutout end face 2g, and a third imaginary straight line L3 passing through the outer end edge of the guide wall portion 2 in the longitudinal direction X located on the opposite side of the longitudinal direction X from the existence position of the second cutout end face 2g and along the width direction Y are considered. At this time, it is also preferable that the intersection point of the second imaginary straight line L2 and the third imaginary straight line L3 is located beyond the widthwise equal division line Ly and on the opposite side of the existence position of one of the second cutout end faces 2g through which the second imaginary straight line L2 passes in the width direction Y.
With this configuration, the direction of entry of the pet can be more efficiently guided and controlled toward the central area of the toilet, which is the appropriate excretion position within the toilet, and the position of the pet when excreting can be guided to follow the longitudinal direction X. As a result, when the pet excretes, the excrement does not leak out of the toilet, and it is easy to effectively excrete in the appropriate excretion position within the toilet.

In terms of the relationship between the first virtual straight line L1 and the second virtual straight line L2, it is more preferable that the angle between the first virtual straight line L1 and the second virtual straight line L2 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. Specifically, it is more preferable that the acute angle between the virtual straight lines L1 and L2 is equal to or smaller than 20 degrees, more preferably equal to or smaller than 10 degrees, and even more preferably equal to 0 degrees, that is, it is more preferable that the virtual straight lines L1 and L2 do not intersect with each other (strictly speaking, "parallel"). When they are strictly parallel, the first cutout end surface 2f and the second cutout end surface 2g are formed to be parallel in a plan view of the guide wall portion 2.
This arrangement makes it easier for the pet to enter the central area of the toilet, and also guides the pet's body position during excretion along the longitudinal direction X, making it easier for the pet to excrete in an appropriate position in the toilet in a relaxed state.

The acute angle θ1 between the first virtual straight line L1 and the virtual straight line L5 along the longitudinal direction X is preferably 10 degrees or more, more preferably 20 degrees or more, and is preferably 80 degrees or less, more preferably 70 degrees or less.
In addition, the acute angle θ2 between the second virtual straight line L2 and the virtual straight line L5 along the longitudinal direction X is preferably 10 degrees or more, more preferably 20 degrees or more, and is preferably 80 degrees or less, more preferably 70 degrees or less.
In addition, the acute angle θ3 between the second virtual straight line L2 and the third virtual straight line L3 is preferably 10 degrees or more, more preferably 20 degrees or more, and is preferably 80 degrees or less, more preferably 70 degrees or less.

When the guide wall 2 is viewed in plan, the width W1 along the width direction Y at the first cutout end face 2f is preferably 20 mm or more, more preferably 30 mm or more, and is preferably 100 mm or less, more preferably 80 mm or less. Similarly, when the guide wall 2 is viewed in plan, the width W2 along the longitudinal direction X at the second cutout end face 2g can be in the same range as the above-mentioned width W1.
By setting at least one of width W1 and width W2 within the above-mentioned range, the direction of the pet's entry can be more efficiently guided and controlled toward the central area of the toilet, which is the appropriate excretion position within the toilet, and the pet's posture when excreting can be more efficiently guided to follow the longitudinal direction X.

When the cutout bottom surface 2j is provided, the width of the cutout bottom surface 2j along the longitudinal direction X and the width along the width direction Y are each independently preferably 20 mm or more, more preferably 30 mm or more, and preferably 100 mm or less, more preferably 80 mm or less. By setting the width within such a range, the pet's feet can be placed stably, so that the pet can be efficiently guided into the toilet.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a plan view of the guide wall 2, the acute angle θ9 (see FIG. 3) between the virtual straight line L4 passing through the first cut-out end face 2f and the second cut-out end face 2g that define the entrance 2E and the virtual straight line L5 along the longitudinal direction X is preferably 10 degrees or more, more preferably 15 degrees or more, and even more preferably 20 degrees or more, and preferably 80 degrees or less, more preferably 75 degrees or less, and even more preferably 70 degrees or less. The virtual straight line L4 passes through a position that is the shortest distance between the two cut-out end faces 2f and 2g of the entrance 2E in a plan view of the guide wall 2. With this configuration, even if the side part of the pet toilet 1 on the side where the entrance 2E is arranged is placed close to the wall surface of the room, a passage that allows pets to easily enter and exit is sufficiently secured. In addition, there is also the advantage that there is no need to take special consideration of the location of the pet toilet 1 in order to secure a passage through the entrance 2E.

One embodiment of the inclination of the liquid impermeable portion 22 in the partition portion 20 is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
In detail, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 (a) and (b), at least the region of the non-liquid-passing portion 22 facing the inlet/outlet 2E is preferably inclined downward from the outer edge of the partition portion 20 toward the liquid-passing portion 21, and it is more preferable that the region of the non-liquid-passing portion 22 overlapping with the imaginary extension region X1 along the longitudinal direction X of the liquid-passing portion 21 is inclined downward from the outer edge of the partition portion 20 toward the liquid-passing portion 21, and it is even more preferable that both the imaginary extension region X1 and the region of the non-liquid-passing portion 22 overlapping with the second imaginary extension region Y1 along the width direction Y of the liquid-passing portion 21 are inclined downward from the outer edge of the partition portion 20 toward the liquid-passing portion 21, and it is even more preferable that the entire region of the non-liquid-passing portion 22 is inclined downward from the outer edge of the partition portion 20 toward the liquid-passing portion 21. In either form, the inclined region in the non-liquid-passing portion 22 may be a flat surface or a curved surface.
Since at least the area of the non-permeable portion 22 facing the entrance 2E is inclined downward, a pet that enters the pet toilet from the entrance 2E is in an unstable position, so that the pet is prevented from staying in the inclined area of the non-permeable portion 22 and can be easily guided to the liquid-permeable portion 21 side where the pet is in a stable position. As a result, the pet can be easily guided to an appropriate excretion position in the toilet and excreted without leaking the excreta outside the toilet. In addition, excreted urine can be easily guided to flow to the liquid-permeable portion 21 side, improving the convenience of post-treatment of excreta such as urine and feces.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the inclination angle θ in the inclined region of the non-liquid-passing portion 22 is preferably 12 degrees or more, more preferably 13 degrees or more, even more preferably 14 degrees or more, and is preferably 60 degrees or less, more preferably 40 degrees or less, even more preferably 20 degrees or less. This configuration prevents the pet from remaining in the inclined region of the non-liquid-passing portion 22 and makes it easier to effectively guide the pet toward the liquid-passing portion 21 where it is in a stable position, effectively reducing leakage of pet excrement outside the toilet.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), when the partition 20 is viewed from the side along the longitudinal direction X, the inclination angle θ is the acute angle formed by an imaginary extension line of the lower bottom of the liquid-passing portion 21 and an imaginary extension line of the liquid-impermeable portion 22 in the area facing the entrance/exit 2E. If the liquid-impermeable portion 22 in the area facing the entrance/exit 2E is curved, the inclination angle θ can be the smallest acute angle formed by an imaginary extension line of the liquid-passing portion 21 and an imaginary line tangent to the outer surface of the curved liquid-impermeable portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), if the non-liquid-passing portion 22 is also inclined downward in an area other than the area facing the entrance/exit 2E, it is preferable that the inclination angle θa in that area is in the same range as the inclination angle θ described above. This configuration increases the ability to guide the pet toward the liquid-passing portion 21, while also effectively directing excreted urine to flow toward the liquid-passing portion 21, improving the convenience of post-processing of waste such as urine and feces. In addition, it is possible to reduce the amount of urine remaining on the partition portion 20 and reduce the generation of unpleasant odors caused by waste.

When the pet toilet 1 is viewed along the longitudinal direction X, it is preferable that the liquid passage portion 21 and the entrance/exit 2E overlap at a predetermined length ratio, or do not overlap. An embodiment in which the liquid passage portion 21 and the entrance/exit 2E overlap at a predetermined length ratio when viewed along the longitudinal direction X is shown in Fig. 5. Note that the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 above is an example of a form in which the liquid passage portion 21 and the entrance/exit 2E do not overlap when viewed along the longitudinal direction X.
In the following description, components different from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. For components that are not specifically described, the description of the above-described embodiment will be applied as appropriate.

3 and 5, when the liquid-passing portion 21 and the entrance 2E overlap when the pet toilet 1 is viewed along the longitudinal direction, the ratio (C1/Ct) of the overlap length C1 between the liquid-passing portion 21 and the entrance 2E along the longitudinal direction X to the length Ct of the liquid-passing portion 21 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably less than 10%, more preferably 8% or less, even more preferably 5% or less, and even more preferably 0%, that is, it is even more preferable that the liquid-passing portion 21 and the entrance 2E do not overlap. When there are multiple entrances 2E, each entrance 2E may independently satisfy the above ratio or may not overlap with the liquid-passing portion 21.
With this configuration, a pet that has entered the pet toilet 1 from the entrance 2E can be guided to the central area of the pet toilet 1 without remaining near the entrance 2E, so that the pet can be guided to an appropriate excretion position within the toilet and can be easily excreted without excretion leaking outside the toilet.

The overlap length C1 between the liquid-passing portion 21 and the entrance/exit 2E along the longitudinal direction X is preferably 25 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or less, even more preferably 10 mm or less, and even more preferably 0 mm. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, it is more preferable that the liquid-passing portion 21 and the entrance/exit 2E do not overlap along the longitudinal direction X. By setting the overlap length C1 within such a range, the dimension is narrower than the width of the foot of a typical pet such as a dog or cat, so that the pet can easily perceive the instability of the pet's posture due to the inclination of the non-liquid-passing portion 22, and the pet can be effectively guided to the liquid-passing portion 21 side where the pet is in a stable posture. As a result, the pet can easily excrete without leaking waste outside the toilet.

From the viewpoint of simultaneously improving the efficiency of guiding the pet to the central region of the toilet and improving the efficiency of passing excreted urine downward, the length Ct of the longitudinal direction X of the liquid passing portion 21 is preferably 200 mm or more, more preferably 250 mm or more, even more preferably 300 mm or more, and is preferably 800 mm or less, more preferably 600 mm or less, even more preferably 400 mm or less.

As another embodiment of the position of the entrance 2E, instead of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the entrance 2E may be provided only in a corner located at one end of one of the long sides of the rectangular shape of the pet toilet in plan view, as in the pet toilet 1 of the embodiment shown in Figure 6. Alternatively, the entrance 2E may be provided only in two corners located at both ends of the diagonal of the rectangle, or may be provided in all corners of the guide wall portion 2.

As yet another embodiment of the pet toilet 1, the configuration shown in FIG. 7 can also be adopted.
In detail, the guide wall 2 shown in FIG. 7 includes a first portion 2S with an open upper surface and a second portion 2T with a covered upper surface and formed into a dome shape. The first portion 2S is formed on one end region side in the longitudinal direction X of the pet toilet 1, and the second portion 2T is formed on the other end region side in the longitudinal direction X of the pet toilet 1. An entrance 2E is formed in the corner of the first portion 2S so as to straddle the corner. The first portion 2S and the second portion 2T shown in the figure are formed with the boundary being approximately the center of the longitudinal direction X of the pet toilet 1, and the side of the second portion 2T on the first portion 2S side is open. Even with this configuration, even if the pet has a large head and body length, the pet can easily enter and exit the pet toilet 1, and the posture of the pet during excretion can be guided to follow the diagonal direction or the longitudinal direction of the pet toilet 1 in a plan view, so that a sufficient space for the pet to excrete is secured. In addition, when the pet toilet 1 is placed indoors, space saving can be achieved. In addition, since the pet is surrounded by the second portion 2T, the pet can excrete calmly without worrying about the surroundings. Also, the pet can easily go outside from the toilet 1.

Below, we explain the points common to each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

From the viewpoint of making it easier for pets with large head and body lengths to enter and exit, and also ensuring sufficient excretion space and guiding the pet to the center of the toilet in a comfortable position, when the storage section 10C has a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y, the ratio (Wc/Dc) of the length Wc in the longitudinal direction X to the length Dc in the width direction Y of the storage section 10C is preferably 1.6 or more, more preferably 1.7 or more, even more preferably 1.8 or more, even more preferably 1.9 or more, and is preferably 4.0 or less, more preferably 3.5 or less, and even more preferably 3.0 or less. Having such dimensions also has the advantage of efficiently achieving space saving when the pet toilet 1 is placed close to a wall surface inside a room.

From the viewpoint of ensuring a sufficient passageway for pets with large head and body lengths to easily enter and exit, and ensuring sufficient excretion space to easily guide pets to the center of the toilet in a comfortable position, the length Wc (see FIG. 4(a)) in the longitudinal direction X of the storage section 10C is preferably more than 600 mm, more preferably 650 mm or more, even more preferably 700 mm or more, and is preferably 1500 mm or less, more preferably 1200 mm or less, even more preferably 1000 mm or less.

From the viewpoint of making it easier for pets with large head and body lengths to enter and exit, and ensuring sufficient excretion space and making it easier to guide the pet to the center of the toilet in a comfortable position, the length Dc (see FIG. 4(b)) in the width direction Y of the storage section 10C is preferably 200 mm or more, more preferably 250 mm or more, even more preferably 300 mm or more, and is preferably 600 mm or less, more preferably 500 mm or less, even more preferably 400 mm or less.

When the storage section 10C is configured with a partition section 20 as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the length Wc in the longitudinal direction X and the length Dc in the width direction Y of the storage section 10C are the length in the longitudinal direction X and the length of the inner dimension in the width direction Y of the partition section 20 in a plan view. Alternatively, when the storage section 10C is formed inside the toilet body 10 and does not have a partition section 20, the length Wc in the longitudinal direction X and the length Dc in the width direction Y are based on the inner dimension of the toilet body 10.

From the viewpoint of guiding the pet into a comfortable position during excretion while allowing the pet to easily enter and exit the toilet and making the pet aware of the inclination of the non-permeable portion 22, the width E1 (see Figs. 3 and 6) of the entrance 2E in a plan view of the pet toilet 1 is preferably 150 mm or more, more preferably 175 mm or more, and preferably 300 mm or less, and more preferably 250 mm or less, in any embodiment of the pet toilet 1. The width E1 of the entrance 2E is the shortest distance between the first cutout end face 2f and the second cutout end face 2g in a plan view of the pet toilet 1. In addition, when multiple entrances 2E are formed, it is preferable that the width E1 is satisfied independently for each entrance 2E.

The maximum height H1 (length in the height direction Z, see Figures 4(a) and (b)) from the upper surface of the cutout bottom surface 2j at the entrance 2E to the upper end of the guide wall portion 2 is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 75 mm or more, and preferably 300 mm or less, more preferably 250 mm or less, and even more preferably 200 mm or less. It is even more preferable that this maximum height range is satisfied on all of the long sides and short sides when the guide wall portion 2 is viewed in a plan view. With this configuration, it is possible to easily guide the pet to a predetermined excretion position, and it is possible to easily excrete the excreta without leaking outside the toilet when the pet excretes. In addition, the excretion can be performed calmly without worrying about the surroundings. In addition, when the granular excreta treatment material P is stored in the toilet body 10 and used, it is possible to efficiently prevent the excreta treatment material P from scattering outside the pet toilet 1 due to the pet's movements.

The height H2 (length in the height direction Z, see Figures 4(a) and (b)) from the lower surface of the liquid passage portion 21 in the partition portion 20 to the upper end of the guide wall portion 2 is preferably 140 mm or more, more preferably 150 mm or more, even more preferably 160 mm or more, and preferably 350 mm or less, more preferably 300 mm or less, even more preferably 250 mm or less. With this configuration, it is possible to easily guide the pet to a predetermined excretion position, and it is possible to easily excrete the excreta without leaking outside the toilet. In addition, the pet can calmly excrete without worrying about the surroundings. In addition, when the granular excreta treatment material P is stored in the toilet body 10 and used, it is possible to efficiently prevent the excreta treatment material P from scattering outside the pet toilet 1 due to the pet's movements. In particular, these effects are more pronounced when the height H2 and the maximum height H1 satisfy the above-mentioned dimensional range.

From the viewpoint of increasing the storage efficiency of the granular excrement treatment material P in the storage section 10C, reducing unpleasant odors caused by excrement such as urine and feces, and further increasing the convenience of post-treatment of excrement, the depth of the partition section 20, i.e., the length H3 in the height direction Z from the upper end of the partition section 20 to the upper surface of the bottom of the partition section 20 (see Figures 4(a) and (b)), is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 70 mm or more, and is preferably 200 mm or less, more preferably 150 mm or less, and even more preferably 100 mm or less.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 as viewed along the longitudinal direction X. The height H5 (see Figure 8) from the bottom surface of the toilet body 10 to the top surface of the cutout bottom surface 2j at the entrance 2E can be selected appropriately depending on the pet's head and body length, the size of the waste treatment material P, or the depth of the inner dimensions of the partition section 20, but is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 75 mm or more, and even more preferably 100 mm or more, and is preferably 200 mm or less, more preferably 180 mm or less, and even more preferably 160 mm or less. This configuration makes it even easier for pets to enter and exit.

The external dimensions of the pet toilet 1 can be appropriately selected depending on the head and body length of the target pet and the size of the excrement treatment material P, but the length in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 610 mm or more, more preferably 660 mm or more, and preferably 1250 mm or less, more preferably 1200 mm or less.
Similarly, the length in the width direction Y of the outer dimensions of the pet toilet 1 is preferably 210 mm or more, more preferably 260 mm or more, and is preferably 650 mm or less, more preferably 550 mm or less.
Similarly, the height (length in the height direction Z) of the outer dimensions of the pet toilet 1 is preferably 75 mm or more, more preferably 125 mm or more, and is preferably 500 mm or less, more preferably 430 mm or less.

The head and body length of a pet for which the pet toilet 1 can be suitably used depends on the animal species, but from the viewpoint of efficiently guiding the pet to the central area of the toilet when excreting and achieving space saving in the placement position of the pet toilet 1, it is preferably 400 mm or more, more preferably 450 mm or more, and preferably 1000 mm or less, more preferably 800 mm or less.

In order to balance the ease of entry and exit for pets with large head and body lengths and the provision of space for the pet to excrete, it is preferable to set the length Wc in the longitudinal direction X to a length that is 120% or more and 200% or less of the pet's head and body length.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the material of each component of the pet toilet 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is corrosion-resistant. From the viewpoints of light weight, ease of handling, and good moldability, it is preferable to use a one-piece molded product made of a general-purpose synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), etc. Furthermore, it is even more preferable to use a component having a water-repellent or antibacterial treatment applied to its surface. To manufacture the pet toilet 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, for example, the guide wall portion 2, the partition portion 20, the bottom forming portion 3, and the tray 30 may be molded independently and one-piece using the above-mentioned resin, and then assembled by placing or storing them in a predetermined position.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the excrement treatment material P may be any material used in the art as cat litter or litter without any particular restrictions. The excrement treatment material P may preferably be a pulverized material of plant origin such as wood flour or pulp made by pulverizing coniferous trees such as those of the cedar, pinaceae, or cypress family, a binder, a mineral such as zeolite, a salt such as zinc oxide, or a molded product containing one or more components such as glass. The binder may be any material capable of solidifying the pulverized material of plant origin and the components contained therein as necessary into granules without any particular restrictions, and may be, for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

The excrement treatment material P can be a granular material having a shape such as a cylinder, sphere, cube, or rectangular prism. When collecting urine as a sample for a urine test, it is preferable to use an excrement treatment material P made of a material that does not affect or has little effect on the composition and characteristics of urine, from the viewpoint of improving the reliability of the urine test. It is also preferable to use a material for forming the excrement treatment material P that does not collapse in the presence of moisture.

A preferred embodiment of the method of using the pet toilet 1 described above is described below. First, the tray 30 is stored in the lower layer 10B of the toilet body 10. Preferably, the partition 20 is placed on the bottom forming part 3 to form the storage part 10C on the partition 20. Preferably, an appropriate amount of granular waste treatment material P is placed on the upper surface of the partition 20 to form the toilet bed of the pet toilet 1. After that, the guide wall part 2 is placed on the bottom forming part 3 to place the guide wall part 2 above the storage part 10C formed in the upper layer part 10A. If necessary, a urine absorbent such as a urine absorption sheet may be placed on the upper surface of the tray 30.

In this state, the pet enters the upper part 10A of the pet toilet 1, preferably through the entrance 2E, and excretes. The urine excreted from the pet passes through the liquid passage 21 in the partition 20 and flows down to the lower part 10B. The urine that flows down to the lower part 10B accumulates on the tray 30 or is absorbed and collected by the urine absorbent in the tray 30. The feces excreted from the pet remain on the upper part of the partition 20 or on the waste treatment material P. When cleaning up the pet's waste, the partition 20 and the tray 30 can be washed, or the waste treatment material P and the urine absorbent can be replaced with unused ones. As the urine absorbent, for example, a raw material containing one or more components such as pulp fiber, clay mineral material, and polymer absorbent material, formed into a sheet or plate shape, can be used. When using the urine excreted from the pet as a specimen for urine testing, it is preferable to not store anything in the tray 30 in order to make it easier to collect the excreted urine. When using urine excreted by a pet as a specimen for a urine test or the like, the urine may be collected using a urine collection set, such as that described in JP 2020-80788 A, instead of the tray 30.

In addition, when using a pet toilet 1 that does not have a partition section 20, for example, an appropriate amount of excrement treatment material P can be placed in the storage section 10C inside the toilet body 10 to form a toilet floor for the pet toilet 1, and in this state, the pet can enter onto the excrement treatment material P and excrete therein.

The present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the planar shape of the liquid passage portion 21 has been described as rectangular, but as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved, the corners of the liquid passage portion 21 in planar view may be chamfered, or the liquid passage portion 21 may have a geometric planar shape other than a rectangle, such as a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon other than a rectangle.

In addition, the cutout portion 11 in this embodiment is formed on the long side where the entrance 2E is present in a plan view of the pet toilet 1, and is configured to allow the tray 30 to be taken in and out in the direction along the width direction Y, but other configurations may be used as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. In detail, the cutout portion 11 may be formed on the opposite side of the long side where the entrance 2E is present, and is configured to allow the tray 30 to be taken in and out in the direction along the width direction Y, or the cutout portion 11 may be formed on the short side of the pet toilet 1 in a plan view or on the opposite side of the short side, and is configured to allow the tray 30 to be taken in and out in the direction along the longitudinal direction X.
Further, in this embodiment, only one tray 30 is arranged, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of trays 30 may be accommodated.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Pet toilet 2 Guide wall portion 2f, 2g Cutout end surface 2E Entrance/exit 10 Toilet body 10A Upper layer portion 10B Lower layer portion 10C Storage portion 20 Partition portion P Excrement treatment material X Longitudinal direction Y Width direction Z Height direction

Claims (14)

A pet toilet comprising a storage section for storing excrement treatment materials and a guide wall section disposed so as to surround the storage section at a position above the storage section,
The guide wall portion has a generally rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction and a width direction in a plan view,
The guide wall portion has a pet entrance formed at at least one corner in a plan view, the pet entrance being defined by cutting out a part of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction and a part of the wall portion along the width direction so as to straddle the corner,
A pet toilet in which, when the guide wall is viewed in a plane, at least one of the cutout end faces of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction and the cutout end face of the wall portion along the width direction that define the entrance/exit, a virtual straight line connecting the outer side end and inner side end of the cutout end face extends in the direction of the corner opposite the corner, and is inclined with respect to a longitudinal bisect line that extends along the width direction of the pet toilet and divides the pet toilet in half longitudinally . The pet toilet of claim 1, in which, in a plan view, the cut-out end surface of the wall portion along the width direction extends along the longitudinal direction of the pet toilet and is located closer to the entrance than a widthwise equal dividing line that divides the pet toilet in half in the width direction. The pet toilet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in a plan view, a cut-out end face of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction is located closer to the entrance side than the longitudinal equidistant line. In a cut-out end surface of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction, when the guide wall portion is viewed in a plan view, a virtual straight line connecting an outer side end and an inner side end of the cut-out end surface extends in a direction of a corner portion opposite to the corner portion and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal isolating line ,
A pet toilet as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, when viewed in a plane, when considering a first imaginary line connecting the outer side end and the inner side end of the cutout end face of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction, the position where the first imaginary line intersects with the guide wall portion exceeds the longitudinal equalizing line and is located on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction from the position where the cutout end face is located. In a cut-out end surface of the wall portion along the width direction, when the guide wall portion is viewed in a plan view, a virtual straight line connecting an outer side end and an inner side end of the cut-out end surface extends in a direction of a corner portion opposite to the corner portion and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal isolating line,
a second imaginary straight line connecting an outer end and an inner end of the cutout end surface of the wall portion along the width direction in a plan view;
When a third imaginary line is considered that is along the outer circumferential edge of the wall portion along the width direction of the guide wall portion located on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction to the position where the cutout end surface is present,
The pet toilet of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intersection of the second virtual line and the third virtual line exceeds the widthwise equal division line and is located on the widthwise opposite side of the position where the cutout end face is located. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the width along the longitudinal direction of the cutout end face of the wall portion along the width direction is 20 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the width of the cut-out end face of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction is 20 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the width of the entrance is 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less. In a cut-out end surface of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction, when the guide wall portion is viewed in a plan view, a virtual straight line connecting an outer side end and an inner side end of the cut-out end surface extends in a direction of a corner portion opposite to the corner portion and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal isolating line,
In a cut-out end surface of the wall portion along the width direction , when the guide wall portion is viewed in a plan view, a virtual straight line connecting an outer side end and an inner side end of the cut-out end surface extends in a direction of a corner portion opposite to the corner portion and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal isolating line,
A pet toilet as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, when viewed in a plane, an angle formed by a first imaginary line connecting the outer side end and inner side end of the cutout end face of the wall portion along the longitudinal direction and a second imaginary line connecting the outer side end and inner side end of the cutout end face of the wall portion along the width direction is 20 degrees or less. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the entrances are provided at both ends of one of the long sides of the rectangle. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the length of the storage section in the longitudinal direction is greater than 600 mm. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the ratio of the length in the longitudinal direction to the length in the width direction of the storage section is 1.6 or more. The pet toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the maximum height of the guide wall is 50 mm or more. The pet litter box according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is for cats.

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