Abstract
A waste cartridge in combination with a waste machine or apparatus that maintains waste pads for a pet owner, automatically or manually by removing and sealing soiled pads and waste and then replacing the soiled pad with a clean pad on a pet bed of the machine. The apparatus senses when a pet is using a waste pad portion and when the pet is finished, the machine takes up the soiled portion of the pad and removes and seals the soiled portion of the pad roll and the waste automatically, moving the pad into a repository for later removal and disposal of the waste cartridge when the pad roll is used up and then replacing removed pad with a new waste cartridge. The waste cartridge is comprised of a pad roll and a take-up rod attached to one end of the pad by any means such as a clip, slot or adhesive on the take-up rod. A pair of end caps on opposing ends of the take-up rod that includes a gear for attachment to a removable drive module may also be included or left off if the rod or core is directly connected to the drive module.
Claims
1. A kit comprising separate components for a user-assembled, disposable pet waste cartridge, the separate components comprising: a roll of pads for use with a pet waste machine, comprising: a permeable top layer configured to receive a liquid waste; a non-permeable bottom layer configured to retain the liquid waste within the roll of pads; and a series of sensor-readable mark printed on a marked portion of the non-permeable bottom layer, wherein the mark is configured to indicate a position of the marked portion of the non-permeable bottom layer along the pet waste machine; a single-use disposable take-up rod, wherein the take-up rod is configured to connect to a first end of the waste pad roll; a single-use disposable first end cap and a single-use disposable second end cap, wherein the first end cap and second end cap are configured for mounting on opposing ends of the take-up rod, wherein the first end cap and second end cap are configured when mounted on opposing ends of the take-up rod to seal a soiled portion of the waste pad roll wound around the take-up rod wherein at least one of the first end cap and the second end cap includes a gear on the first end cap or the second end cap.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the roll of pads further comprises a first absorbent middle layer disposed between the permeable top layer and the non-permeable bottom layer, wherein the first absorbent middle layer is configured to absorb the liquid waste.
3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the first absorbent middle layer comprises an absorbent polymer.
4. The roll of pads of claim 3, further comprising a second absorbent middle layer and a third absorbent middle layer, wherein: the second absorbent middle layer is disposed between the permeable top layer and the first absorbent middle layer; the third absorbent middle layer is disposed between the first absorbent middle layer and the non-permeable bottom layer.
5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the sensor-readable mark is invisible.
6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the sensor-readable mark is configured to be read by a light sensor.
7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the sensor-readable mark is configured to be read by an infrared sensor.
8. The kit of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensor-readable marks are disposed at predetermined spaced intervals along a length of the roll of pads.
9. The kit of claim 1, comprising a plurality of sensor-readable marks, wherein the plurality of sensor-readable marks are printed along a single longitudinal edge of the roll of pads.
10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the sensor-readable mark is configured to indicate a distance of the roll of pads to advance.
11. The kit of claim 1, wherein the sensor-readable mark is configured to indicate an amount of the roll of pads left in the pet waste machine.
12. The kit of claim 1, wherein the sensor-readable mark is configured to indicate whether the roll of pads is tracking correctly through the pet waste machine.
13. The kit of claim 1 wherein both the first end cap and the second end cap include a gear.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of following drawings pointing out the various details to the inventive automatic or manual pad roll system. The main features and advantages of the present disclosure will he better understood with the following descriptions, claims, and drawings, where:
(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention demonstrating a pet eliminating on a roll of waste pads.
(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a partial elevation cut away showing the roll of waste pads in the supply assembly stretched across the pet bed to a take-up rod in the take-up assembly which shows a repository portion of the invention.
(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the invention with a partial elevation cut away showing the roll of waste pads in the supply assembly stretched across the pet bed to a take-up rod in the take-up assembly which shows a repository portion of the invention.
(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the lower portion of the machine and the pet bed for receiving a pet roll of waste pads therein,
(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the machine with the supply and take-up assembly covers open for receiving a pet roll of waste pads therein.
(7) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention demonstrating the attachment of a removable control and drive module connection to the take-up assembly,
(8) FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention demonstrating a removable control and drive module of the invention.
(9) FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the components in the waste cartridge of the invention.
(10) FIG. 9 is a waste cartridge ready for disposal of the invention,
(11) FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the waste cartridge components ready for installation into the waste machine.
(12) FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a roll of waste pad being installed on a waste machine.
(13) FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic perspective view continuation of the invention with a roil of waste pad being installed on a waste machine.
(14) FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the machine with the supply assembly receiving a pet roll of waste pads therein.
(15) FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the machine with the take-up assembly with the removal of the waste cartridge for disposal with the pet waste therein.
(16) FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the gearing and drive attachment of machine to the take-up assembly for receiving an end of pet roll of waste pads under a pair of clips at one end of the take-up rod.
(17) FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the gearing and drive attachment of machine to the take-up assembly for receiving an end of pet roll of waste pads under a pair of clips at one end of the take-up rod and showing attachment of the one end of the pad to the clip.
(18) FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the attachment of the one end of the pad to the clip.
(19) FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the meshing of the gear on the end cap to the drive gear on the control and drive module.
(20) FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing the attachment of the one end of the pad with holes to pins on the take-up rod.
(21) FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing a hand crank mechanically connected to the take-up rod in the take-up assembly.
(22) FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing a foot treadle mechanically connected to the take-up rod in the take-up assembly.
(23) FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention showing a foot roll mechanically connected to the take-up rod in the take-up assembly.
(24) FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with the covers on the supply and take-Up assembly opened showing the installation of a waste cartridge therein.
(25) FIG. 24 is a further diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with the covers on the supply and take-up assembly opened showing the installed waste cartridge therein.
(26) FIG. 25 is another diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with the covers on the supply and take-up assembly opened showing the installed waste cartridge therein.
(27) FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with the covers on the supply and take-up assembly closed showing the installed waste cartridge and machine ready for a pet elimination.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(28) FIG. 1 illustrates an automatic or manual waste cartridge in combination with a waste machine system 10 with a waste pad 12 for later disposal with a pet 22 eliminating solid waste 24 on the pad 12. The apparatus or machine 14 detects the pet 22 eliminating solid waste 24 and when the pet 22 leaves the apparatus 14, the apparatus 14 automatically cycles the replacing of that portion of the soiled pad with a clean new portion from the pad roll 26 by removing and sealing the soiled portion of the pad 12 in a take-up assembly 20 and feeding a, clean portion of the pad roll 26 from a supply assembly 18. The apparatus is programmed to have a stage interval where the pet 22 stands on the portion of exposed pad 12 on a pet bed 16, the stage interval is followed by a repository interval as shown in FIG. 2 where the apparatus 14 removes and seals the soiled portion of the pad 12 with the solid waste 24 and any urine in the take-up assembly 20 wherein the take:-up rod or core 28 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to take up and sealed the soiled pad wound around the rod 28 within the take-up assembly 20 for later removal and then disposal.
(29) The repository portion is aesthetically covered by a cylindrical half portion of the machine 14 attached to the pet bed 16 with a rotatable cover 34 in the take-up assembly 20 to hide the soiled portion 12 of the pad roil 26. The elimination stage portion for the pet 22 has the machine bed 16 connected between the supply and take-up assemblies 18 and 20, respectively, where the waste pad portion 12 therebetween is set on top of the pet bed 16. The pet 22 stands on top of the pad portion 12 on the pet bed 16 and eliminate feces 24 and urine. The supply assembly also has a rotatable cover 32 with a lower cylindrical portion 29 for receiving the pad roll 26 of a predetermined length, width and diameter. The pad roll 26 when housed within the supply assembly 18 has its axis below the pet bed 16 and the waste pad portion stretched across the bed 16 to the take-up rod 28 is below the pet bed 16 to create the proper friction and tension of the pad 12 across the bed without jamming or hampering the take-up of the soiled portions of the pad roll 28 within the take-up assembly 20 and to provide taking up the soiled pad without any part of the machine contacting the top, soiled surface of the pad. The covers 32 on the supply assembly, when closed furthers the proper tension of the waste paper or pad portion 12 moving across the bed 1.6 from the supply to the take-up assemblies, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 26.
(30) FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a waste cartridge 44 and its components as follows: a core or rod 28, a pair of end caps 42 connected by a press fit the opposing ends of the rod 28. The end cap often includes a gear 38 to mesh with a corresponding gear 39 on the drive shaft connected to the drive with a removable control and drive module 36 that is keyed fitted with a pair of guide pins 40 to the side of the take-up assembly where the gear 39 extends through one side of the take-up assembly to engage the identical tooth meshed gear 38 on the end cap to rotate the take-up rod or core 28 in a counterclockwise rotation as shown in FIG. 2. The pad roll 28 is connected by holes at one end of the pad roll as shown in FIG. 19 press fitted over pins 54 on the rod 28. The one end of the pad roll 26 is capable of being fed through a slot in the rod 28 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 24 wherein the pad roll 26 is installed in the cylindrical half 29 of the supply assembly. The take-up rod 28 has one end of the pad roll 26 inserted through a slot on the rod 28 and attendant end caps 42 are inserted on the opposing ends of the rod 28 and placed into the cylindrical half base 30 whereupon the covers 32 and 34 are closed and the first portion of the fresh waste pad 12 is stretched across the bed 16 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 25 and 26.
(31) As further shown in FIG. 9, marks 46 are on the pad border for the machine to read and provide information depending on the spacing and interval of the marks 46 thereon information such as the amount of the roll left for use or a fresh roll was just installed is the type of information available from these marks or the waste paper and pad roll.
(32) FIGS. 11-18 show the installation of the waste paper on the take-up rod 28 from stretching the waste paper 12 from the pad roll 26 across the bed 16 to the take-up rod 28 and the use of clips at one end of the take-up rod 28 wherein a right angle nib 50 provides friction against the paper when inserted underneath a pair of clips on one end of the rod 28 or under a pair of clips on opposing ends of the rod. The nib 50 with the friction engagement makes sure that the waste paper 12 does not slip off the clips on the first several counter clockwise turns of the rod within the housing of take-up assembly 20.
(33) In FIGS. 20-22 illustrate manual advancement of the waste paper across the bed 16. A handle crank that is mechanically connected to the rod 28 to advance the soiled pad 12. A treadle 58 is shown in FIG. 21 which is stepped on to advance the pad, and FIG. 22 shows a foot roll mechanically connected to the rod 28 to advance the pad and take-up the soiled portion of the pad on the pet bed 16 after pet 22 eliminate its waste.
(34) FIG. 18 shows the meshing of identical tooth gears 38 on the end cap and gear drive on the removable control and drive module 36 during installation of the take-up rod 28 in the take-up assembly 20. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the removable control and drive module 36 that is used to program the movement of the pad across the bed 16 of the machine 14. In operation, the waste cartridge with its pad roll 26 is inserted into the supply assembly 18 while its take-up rod 2.8 attached to one end of pad is inserted into the lake-up assembly 20 with a portion of the pad 12 stretched across the pet bed 16. Then the covers of the supply and take-up 32 and 34, respectively, are closed and the waste machine is ready to accept its first dog or other pet for the elimination of its waste.
(35) A roll of pet waste paper 26 for use with a pet waste machine 14 comprises an absorbent front side material on a roll of pet waste paper and a nonabsorbent back side material on the roll of waste paper or waste pad. Further, the waste paper or pad includes an absorptive non-woven spun bond on a top layer for tear resistance, an absorbent polymer in a middle layer and a plastic non-absorbent bottom layer for leak protection from the liquid and solid waste. The pet waste paper may also include an air laid paper top layer allowing the removal of other layers. The pet waste paper is capable of being configure to include either a four or five layer construction with the mixing of absorbent and non-absorbent or non-permeable layers. The pet waste paper construction could be made out of a single layer with absorbent front side and a plastic non-absorbent backside.
