Abstract
The animal toilets presently do not have an automatic method of cleaning the toilet surface and disposing of the waste. The automatic animal toilet disclosed herein is equipped with a permeable surface toileting surface, a catchment surface/tray underlying the toileting surface to collect and channel liquids, and a drain. The toileting surface is equipped with a rinsing element, cleaning cover and cleaning head/vacuum to remove liquid and solid residue waste from the platform base. The animal toilet is also equipped with a water tank, heating element, solar panel, battery backup, waste receptacle and a solid waste removal conveyor system. The drain will be further equipped with tubing to convey the liquid to a convenient disposal location. The unit will also include a ramp, so that the animal can utilized the device safely.
Claims
1. An animal toileting device, comprising: a platform; a slanted catchment surface gravity-feed, supported by the platform; a lip that at least partially surrounding the catchment surface: a permeable toileting surface atop the catchment surface; a cleaning cover with sprinklers heads and sensors; a fitting for a water connection, which fitting is connected with plumbing; multiple sprinkler heads connected with the plumbing, which directs water on the the toileting surface; a drain opening located in the catchment surface; a plurality of widely-spaced drainage channels inset in the catchment surface that slope downward towards the drain opening: and a disposal tube adapted to fit the drain opening. 2. The animal toilet of claim 1, further comprising; an actuator element that provides to the sprinkler head.
3. An animal toilet device, comprising: a platform; a catchment surface supporting the platform; a rinsing element/nozzles contained within the cleaning cover; a drain opening to collect material drains through the drain opening; a drain hose connected to the cleaning head to remove any residual waste during the cleaning of the main platform surface;
4. The animal toileting device of claim 3, further comprising: a permeable toileting surface atop the catchment surface, wherein the rinsing element directs rinsing liquid to the catchment below the platform into the drain hose, sprinkler heads in the cleaning cover will penetrate the platform and catchment surface.
5. The animal toileting device of claim 3, wherein with the rinsing element comprises: a fitting for a water source to the cleaning cover, which fitting is connected with plumbing, wherein the sprinkler head penetrates the platform and catchment surfaces.
6. The animal toileting device of claim 4, further comprising: a targeting element, which is covered with a rubber grummet.
7. The animal toileting device of claim 3, wherein the collection element comprises: a disposal tube adapted to fit the drain. an adapter for the cleaning head/vacuum to connect to the main disposal tube.
8. The animal toileting device of claim 3, wherein the platform further comprises: substantially vertical surface, a lip that at least partially surrounds the catchment surface, and draft angles on the substantially vertical surfaces.
9. The animal toileting device of claim 4, wherein the catchment surface has a plurality of widely-spaced drainage channels that slope down towards the drain.
10. An animal toileting device, comprising: a platform, a support surface connected with the platform, said support surface having a cleaning top, a cleaning head/vacuum, a targeting pole and grummet, a bottom, and two ends, a toileting surface that substantially covers the support surface and extends beyond the ends of the support surface.
11. The animal toileting device of claim 10, further comprises: a rinsing element to distribute rinsing liquid onto the toileting surface, and a catchment surface that substantially underlies the support surface, wherein the toileting surface is a continuous loop of material that wraps around the top and bottom of the support surface and the roller.
12. The animal toileting device of claim 10, further comprising; a drain in the catchment surface, and a collection element for the rain and liquid waste, wherein the rinsing element will comprise of multiple spray nozzles directed at the toileting surface from inside the cleaning cover.
13. The animal toileting device of claim 12, wherein the collection element is a disposal tube connected with the drain and cleaning head/vacuum drain.
14. The animal toileting device of claim 10, further comprising: an actuator element that triggers the drive element to turn the front roller/gear and move the toileting surface.
15. The animal toileting device of claim 11, further comprising a sanitizing element of one or more selected from a group consisting of: a. UV light, b. steam, c. disinfecting liquid, and d. heat.
16. The animal toileting device of claim 10, further comprising: a second roller, wherein the second roller holds a spool of toileting surface comprised of an absorbent material and the first roller acts as a take-up reel for the toileting surface.
17. The animal toileting device of claim 10, a solid waste collection element
18. The animal toileting device of claim 17, wherein the solid waste collection element comprises: a collection surface with a leading edge, said leading edge is located proximate to the width of the toileting surface, and a solid waste receptacle is located on the outside of the main platform.
19. The animal toileting device of claim 18, further comprising: a water source that drains into the solid waste container, and drain opening in the solid waste container, and a disposal tube connected with the drain opening.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of the main toileting surface
[0018] FIG. 2 is an assembled view perspective of the embodiment of the animal toilet with a hydraulic jack.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of the animal toilet and its operation
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective assembled view of an embodiment of the animal toilet with a solar panel, cleaning cover with sensors, cleaning head/vacuum, platform, hydraulic jack, aluminum support rod, waste receptacle, and conveyor system.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective assembled view of an embodiment of the animal toilet with a platform, base aluminum support beam, liquid waste tube, base support beam, jack motor and battery housing, and liquid waste channel.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the animal toilet with a targeting pole extended and gears for the moving platform surface.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a top view perspective of the embodiment of an animal toilet with the base, a targeting pole grommet, disposal tubes with a relief valve.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a cross section view of an embodiment of the animal toilet, a targeting pole retracted and platform surface with gears and a targeting grommet and a reinforced support plate.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a side view perspective of the platform raised during solid waste disposal. It also shows the targeting pole in a retracted position.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a side view perspective of the platform during cleaning. It shows the cleaning head, water spray nozzles and sensors. This view also shows the targeting pole in a retracted position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0027] The detailed description set forth below is in connection with the appended drawings It is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description set forth the functions and the sequence of steps for the constructing and operating the inventions connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0028] In an embodiment, the animal toileting device comprised of a platform 15, which may be made out of wood, plastic, aluminum or other suitable material. As shown in FIG. 4, the platform will be connected with a catchment surface 26. This lip has at least one substantially vertical surface. The catchment surface may be flat, or it may be sloped or generally concave. Alternatively, the platform 15 and the catchment surface 26 is gravity feeding and may be formed as a single piece, such as with plastic injection molding with a separation. As shown in FIGS. 5, 26 In such a separate catchment surface, the substantially vertical surfaces of the platform and/or lip may be set at a draft angle that will allow for easy stacking of the platforms, which reduces the space necessary to store and ship bulk quantities of the animal toileting devices. The catchment surface may comprised of the toileting surface 15 or may be overlaid by a separate toileting surface.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 5. The catchment surface 26 may be sloped, and equipped with one or more drainage channels 10. The catchment channels 26 may be sloped down to a drain 10, which comprises of a hole in side of the catchment surface, preferably at its lowest point.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 7 The drainage channels may be widely spaced and configured to run from the edges and the corners of the catchment surface or in any suitable arrangement. Alternatively, the catchment surface may be sloped or generally con-caved with a drain preferably at the low point. 10 The collection element may be a simple catch basin and hose to collect liquid wastes for eventual manual disposal 10 and 21. A relief valve 22 will be installed to ensure there will be no chance for the waste water to backup into the unit. The catch basin may be placed on the inside walls of the platform base. As shown in FIG. 4, alternatively, the catchment surface and/or some portion of the platform may be removable and/or fitted with a hinge, so that it can be lifted to access the catch basin. 26 As shown in FIG. 3 The unit will be equipped with an animal ramp 7 to ensure the safety of the animals entry and departure from the unit.
[0031] Alternatively as shown in FIG. 5, the collection element 26 will comprise of a fitting that couples with the drain and is attached to a disposal tube 10, such as a hose, piping, or other liquid conveyance, which can then be ran to any convenient disposal location. Such disposal locations may include patio drains, floor drains, rain gutter, flower beds, storm drains, toilets or sanitary sewers. As shown in FIG. 7 One tube 21 would be for the cleaning head/vacuum. And the other tube will be from the main catchment system. Both will be equipment with a relief valve 22 to insure that the system is protected from any back flow issues. The relief valve will open if any liquid is detected coming back up the tube. Since the discharge is primarily water and a deodorizer, the odor from the waste in not likely to be an issue. Also, the disposal location could be a small hole, which would allow all the liquid to drain into the soil without being present at the drain opening, or secured below the drain opening without touching the opening, or various other methods that are suitable for the disposal tube to collect any material that falls through the drain opening. 10 A toileting surface 15 is used atop of the catchment surface.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, such toileting surfaces will be comprise of live grass, permeable artificial turf, grating, grills, slotted or perforated surfaces, or other suitable material capable of draining liquids onto the catchment surface. In a preferred embodiment, the toileting surface will be a soil-less grass sod. This sod will act as a training toileting surface 15, as animals are familiar with natural grass and tend to be attached to such surfaces for toileting. Being soil-less, this sod does not lose soil or create a muddy residue that can clog the drain or the collection element. The pet liquid waste may tend to burn real grass and thus it may eventually die, although some grasses are more resistant to burning than others. After a few weeks or months, when the animal has been trained to use the sod surface, it can be replaced with artificial turf, which is long lasting and maintains its appearance without any need for water or maintenance. Artificial turf has another advantage in that it can be used with a wide variety of odor reducing cleaning enzymes, or high pressure water, steam, or mechanical cleaning tools, without any deleterious effects on the turf, whereas live grass may be damaged by such treatment. Artificial turf may also be laundered in a washing machine. Alternatively, worn-out soil-less sod may be replaced with more soil-less sod. Sod with soil may also be used as a toileting surface 15. Also, an absorbent material will be used as a toileting surface. Such a toileting surface may incorporate a plastic or other impermeable layer, underlying the absorbent material so that any liquids will stay in the absorbent material and not drain onto the catchment surface. 26 A disposable item that can be changed frequently, and is equipped with deodorant or other odor-fighting materials and/or anti-bacterial or sanitizing agents. The animal toileting device will be equipped with several rinsing nozzles 17 inside the cleaning cover. 16 The rinsing element 17 will be comprise of a hose with or without a nozzle, a sprinkling head, or one or more lawn sprinkler heads mounted into the cleaning cover 16, platform, or other suitable structure, and will penetrate the toileting surface. 15 The sprinkler head 17 will be plumbed within the cleaning cover 16, with a fitting for a garden hose or other suitable water source or tank. 6 The water tank will be equipped with a heating coil 13 to ensure that the water is warm enough to help remove any residual waste from the platform surface 15. If by other sources or tank, the water is pumped into the cleaning cover 16 and vacuum head 5, which is adapted to have a short circumference or simple a flooding function, sprays the toileting surface with water 17, rinsing waste off of the toileting surface 15 and onto the catchment surface 26, where the water flows into the drain and into the collection element. The water volume must be maintained, so that the catchment area is not overly burden with water in a set period of time.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2 The flow must be corrected in order to insure that the rinsing area 15 in not overly burdened.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 7 An additional relief valve 22 is placed, as a redundancy protocol, so that the liquid will not be able to back up into the liquid waste hose and reenter the unit. A dispensing element is employed to dispense oder-reducing, cleaning, or sanitizing chemical or enzymes into the rinsing liquid. Numerous siphon mixers are available that attach to a hose bib or faucet, and then attach to the hose for automatic mixing as the water flows. The enzymes or other agents introduced into the rinsing liquid in this manner may also be for assisting biodegradation or dissolving of solid waste or liquid waste.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, a heating element 13 is placed into the unit's water tank 6 to ensure the solid waste is dissolved for disposal. The device may also be equipped with an actuator element, which triggers the rinsing liquid to flow into the rinsing element 17. Actuator elements may comprise a variety of mechanisms, including but not limited to a timer, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, an IR sensor, a motion sensor, light beam, or other suitable device. A timer is connected with a hose bib or faucet, or permanently plumbed, so that it allows water to flow for a certain time period, or at a user-selected interval. A water timer is installed to monitor the water flow within the unit. Alternatively, a moisture sensor 18 is used to determine if an animal has deposited sufficient liquid waste on the toileting surface, which will then trigger a valve to allow the cleaning cover 16 to deploy, in order to supply water for a short interval after the animal has departed the toileting area. 15 A logic chip required to ensure a minimum time has passed, typically hours, before the valve may be opened again, to prevent too-frequent cycling. The moisture sensor could be typically set at a higher conductivity. A weight sensor, IR (infrared) sensor, motion sensor, or light beam sensor will also be used either alone or in any combination with each other or the moisture sensor, to detect when the animal has been on the toileting surface and actuate the rinsing element 17, after the animal has departed. Similar logic chips will be programmed with these sensors to prevent too-frequent cycling.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 6 In addition to the toileting surface, some animals particularly males, require a target on which to urinate. Thus, the animal toileting device is equipped with a targeting pole extended 19 which will be a relatively vertical member that can be readily rinsed off. The targeting pole will extend from beneath the toileting surface with a grommet/bladder 11 over the top. This will insure that the actuator will never be compromised and the toileting surface is alway cleaned properly. To capture the targeting overshoot, raised walls are located around the targeting element to insure that any mis-aimed urine streams drain onto the toileting area 15 and/or catchment surface 26.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 9 In an alternative embodiment, the animal toileting device will be equipped with a moving toileting surface 15 with a blade 27 to move the solid waste into position. The cleaning blade will move the solid waste into position and into the solid waste receptacle 8. As shown in FIG. 8, a support or reinforcement plate 24 is integrated with the platform, to insure addition support of the toileting area for larger animals.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5 Underneath the support surface at the same distance, is a catchment surface 26 that is sloped and/or channeled towards a drain. The channeling to the drain is angled and gravity feed underneath the toileting surface. 15 The drain is fitted to a disposal tube 10, such as a hose, pipe, or other liquid conveyance, as described above, and said disposal tube is routed to a nearby disposal location.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 8 To move the toileting surface 15, a front roller/gear 20 may be located in proximity to the leading edge of the support aluminum rod 1 and extend beyond the ends of the support surface towards the solid waste receptacle. Although two gears 20 are installed, the gear nearest the widest point of the toilet surface 15 is the only gear that needs too engaged during waste removal. The other gear is used to return the surface area to its place of origin. In a preferred embodiment, the toileting surface 15 may be comprised of a continuous loop of material, routed over the support surface, around the front roller and under the support surface to the front roller/gear, and the continuous loop of material is routed around both rollers and over and under the support surface. Alternatively, the support surface could have sufficiently rounded and smooth ends such that rollers are not required at either or both ends of the support surface, and the front roller/gear 20 for driving purposes may be located at some other convenient location. The toileting surface 15 is comprised of a variety of materials, such as a flexible and permeable artificial turf, through a water impeller or turbine, which drives a mechanism coupled with at the first roller to turn that roller and move the toileting surface 15. Steam could be used if there is a source of power to generate the steam. Manual cranks is used for the drive element, which reduce the complexity and increase the reliability of the drive mechanism. A small crank that is permanently or detachably coupled with the front roller/gear, which turns the roller and moves the toileting surface.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2 The crank is directly connected with the roller, 20 or indirectly connected through gears, belts chain, or other suitable mechanisms. It is used around the aluminum support rod. 1 Such a mechanism is ideally suited for the embodiment using the absorbent material for the toileting surface 15. The absorbent material embodiment is used with the drive element discussed above. A second gear 20 is installed, in order to bring the surface material back to its place of origin.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 4 This embodiment is equipped within the cleaning cover 16, with an actuator element similar to those discussed above, including but not limited to a timer, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, or IR sensor, a motion sensor, light beam, or other suitable device. 18 The actuator element is actuated by any combination of the above-described elements, including any combination of the rinsing element 17, the drive element, and the sanitation element. The spray nozzles 17 also resides in the cleaning cover. 16 The embodiment that employs the absorbent material for the toileting surface is also used with an actuator element that triggers the toileting surface to move to a fresh surface at some set frequency, such as once or twice a day, or other suitable interval. This embodiment is equipped with solid waste receptacle. 8 Such an element is comprised of a collection surface 15 and a solid waste container 9. The solid waste receptacle is located in proximity to the front roller, or very close to the end of the support aluminum rod 1, such that the edge of the solid waste receptacle 8 is close to the toileting surface. The top edge of the solid waste receptacle is extended the full width of the toileting surface by a chain, or motor driven device in order to place the waste receptacle into the proper position. Once the waste has been collected, the waste receptacle will move back to its place of origin for waste disposal.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 8 The targeting pole is retracted back into the targeting pole housing 23 into the base of the unit during cleaning.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 6 Once the surface is cleaned, the targeting pole 19 will return to its place of origin. At the same time, the targeting pole grommet 11 will also be extended.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4 Once the cleaning cover 16 is down, the cleaning head/vacuum 5 will clean the surface and remove any solid waste that may be left behind. The cleaning cover 16 is comprised of the following, the cleaning spray nozzles 17, and a number of motion sensors 18, light sensors 18, IR sensor 18 or a combination of all, will be place into the cleaning cover 16, in order to determine where, if any, solid waste has been deposited. If no solid waste has been detected, then only the spray nozzles 17 will be activated in order to remove any remnants of liquid waste that the animal may have left behind. If solid waste is detected by the cleaning cover sensors 18, then the cleaning cover will return to its place of origin in an upright position. After the sensor 18 identifies the placement of the solid waste, the platform 15 will start to move slowly towards the solid waste receptacle 8. At that time, the platform surface 15 will be lifted by the hydraulic jack 3 into position above the waste receptacle. Sensors 18 will relay the position of the solid waste to the waste receptacle. At that time, the waste receptacle 8 will move into position to receive the solid waste.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 9 The platform is raised by the hydraulic jack 3. Once the toilet surface is in position, the cleaning blade 27 will move into position. Once the waste is deposited into the waste receptacle 8, the platform will return to its place of origin for additional cleaning.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 4 Once any waste has been collected into the waste receptacle 8 and properly bagged, bag cut and sealed, the waste will be deposited onto the conveyor 14 for waste removal. The bag has now been deposited onto the conveyor, then a drive unit will be activated. With the drive unit activated, the conveyor 14 with transport the bag of solid waste to a trash receptacle 9. By using this method, the unit is almost done. With regards to the trash receptacle, it also will be fitted with a sensor to identify exactly when the trash should be emptied. The sensor 18 whether motion, IR, light or time sensor is placed near the top of the trash receptacle 9 to notify the user that the trash is full. The cleaning cover with the spray nozzles and sensors will move back into position for cleaning of the platform 15.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 10 Once the cover 16 is over the platform surface, the surface will be sprayed with an abundance of water and disinfectant. The cleaning head/vacuum 5 will leave its housing to clean the entire surface of the platform. Once cleaned, the cleaning head will retreat to its housing for storage and cleaning. The cleaning cover 16 will return to the upright and stored position.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 6 The targeting pole 19 will extend and return to the top of the platform for the next use, with the targeting grommet 11, which will also be extended.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 4 To power the unit, this unit will be equipped with a solar panel 12 and batteries.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2 The battery housing 4 is located in the base of the unit. It will also have a AC plug for any place that doesn't have enough sunlight to sustain the unit. By utilizing a solar panel, the unit has become more effective with regards to placement and usage. The unit will have the ability to be placed virtually anywhere there is an abundance of sunlight. By equipping the unit with a solar panel, you have eliminated the need for external power to the unit. At this point, the unit is used at home, work, animal parks or even strategically placing several units within neighborhoods or even at an airport or bus depot.
[0051] While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations to the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept. Several aluminum rods 2 are installed to help support the weight of the animal.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 1 The base 25 will house beneath it, multiple items, including the battery housing, hydraulic jack, support beams, the targeting pole housing, targeting pole. The base will also contain the toileting area 15 and targeting pole grommet. 11
