CA2858437A1 - Disposable pet toilet unit incorporating specially grown living grass pads - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a single, integrated, self-contained, fully disposable pet toilet unit that incorporates a specially grown pad of living grass for absorption of pet bodily waste. The disposable unit is available for a user to obtain at one or more single points in time, or on a continuous basis, whereby old units can be discarded in their entirety and replaced with newly delivered units--at regular, specified intervals--over an extended period of time identified by the user. The grass pad is produced by re-growing and anchoring cut-and-washed sod in an organic, growth-promoting, soil-less medium that has been placed on an impervious material, or by growing grass seeds, grass sprigs, or other grass predecessors in the same manner. The grass pads can be efficiently grown in trays to the dimensions needed for efficient assembly of the units, and to enable year-round production of the units in a temperature-controlled environment.

Description

SPECIFICATION
This invention is directed toward receptacles for pet bodily waste. More specifically, the invention provides a fully-disposable, shippable pet toilet unit that incorporates a specially grown living grass pad, and a system whereby a user is able to obtain one or more disposable, living-grass pet toilet units at one or more single points in time, or to obtain one or more units through a continuous delivery and replacement method whereby the units are delivered--at regular, specified intervals--for an extended period of time identified by said user. The pet toilet units are shipped as self-contained units whereby the pet toilet unit serves as its own shipping carton as well as a pet commode. The units are delivered in their entirety, can be discarded in their entirety, and can be replaced in their entirety. The units do not contain any reusable parts, such as plastic grass or metal parts, which would require washing or disinfecting. Because of the novel pet toilet unit's complete disposability, the natural appeal of the living grass to pets, the convenience of an available continuous delivery and replacement system, and other characteristics of the invention, it is superior to and distinctively different from other pet toilets.
The present invention solves one of the most annoying and daunting problems faced by pet owners--dealing with a pet's bodily waste in a convenient, reliable manner. Owners who must leave their pets unattended at home for long periods of time have few options for meeting their pet's waste elimination needs. Moreover, walking pets in the rain or late at night are situations that most pet owners would like to avoid if at all possible for reasons of comfort and personal security. The limited mobility of older pet owners, as well as old or injured pets, can also make dealing with pet waste a difficult issue.
Individuals who live in apartment buildings can also find it inconvenient to walk their pets frequently. To address these types of problems, others have proposed various devices, but they do not have advantages of the present invention. Examples of other devices include the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,121 to Brazzell discloses an animal toilet using synthetic grass and a disposable and absorbent pad for absorbing waste. The absorbent pad must be manually replaced and the synthetic grass cleaned and disinfected as bacteria will build up over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,0880,285 to Hillman discloses a rigid mesh screen atop a urine collection chamber. Urine collects at the base of the tray and is manually disposed of by the owner as needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,363 to MacLaine discloses a live grass mat that is supported by a permanent container that holds a reservoir of water. Over time, pet urine will kill the live grass, making it necessary to change out and replace the grass. This is often a messy and unpleasant job for the pet owner.
Various other inventions are listed in this applicant's U.S. Patent Application 13/175,869 for which he submitted U.S. Continuation Patent Application 13/987,754 on August 29, 2013 and claimed Convention Priority.
Several Canadian patent documents also describe devices that address pet toilet issues, but they do not have the advantages of the present invention. These Canadian patent documents include CA 2411988, CA 1198638, CA 2128420, CA 2574584, CA 2573755, and CA 2496247.
While various patent documents recognize the problem of pet waste elimination, the inventions they propose suffer from a number of disadvantages. When a permanent, reusable container holds non-perishable materials (reusable artificial grass or screens and catchment trays), the pet owner must periodically clean and/or disinfect the entire container, its base, and/or some of its reusable component parts to prevent odor and bacterial build-up. Alternatively, if a permanent, reusable container holds living grass, the grass must be changed out and replaced--a messy process. When living grass is handled in this manner it can be an inconvenient and burdensome task.
In contrast, the present invention is distinctively different from and more advantageous than other pet toilets in that it constitutes a single, integrated, self-contained, fully-disposable unit, which is formed by fitting a pad of living grass into a disposable receptacle, which is resistant to the penetration of liquids. The unit has no reusable base or other components, such as artificial grass, mesh, screens, grates, or catchment trays, which need to be cleaned and/or disinfected. The unit has no urine-filled parts that need to be removed from the reusable container and replaced. Instead, the integrated unit described herein is conveniently transported, delivered, and disposed of in its entirety.
Convenience is a hallmark of this invention because there is no maintenance of reusable parts.
Brief Summary of the Invention The invention integrates several features into a single unit. It has one or more sidewalls that rise from the base of the receptacle to form a cavity into which a piece of living grass is fitted for the purpose of collecting the bodily waste of pets. It has a fitted, removable or fold-back cover that facilitates the unit's transport and disposability. It includes a receptacle base that is made from or coated with a material that is resistant to the penetration of liquids.
When fully assembled, the unit is shipped in that form. Thus, the unit serves as its own shipping container, as well as a pet commode. When the unit arrives at its destination, the user removes the cover to enable a pet to enter the unit and use it for waste elimination.

The unit can be placed within a home, patio, porch, or balcony for convenient access by pets.
The Unit does not require the emptying of catchment trays, or the cleaning and/or disinfection of any reusable parts, or the replacement of any component parts.
The integrated unit is designed to be delivered in its entirety and to be discarded in its entirety. The living grass pad that is incorporated into the disposable container is produced in novel ways that enhance the utility of the pet toilet.
The unit is designed to be available to one or more users at single points in time, or available on a continuous basis--at regular, specified intervals¨for an extended period of time identified by the user. In the continuous delivery and replacement system, old units are simply discarded and replaced when new units are delivered. The system thus provides the user with the convenience of a continuous supply of new units.
Description of the Drawings The features and advantages of this invention are better understood with regard to the following drawings. In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
FIG. 1 provides three-dimensional side views with a slight diagonal perspective of the entire pet toilet unit. The unit may be constructed with a perforated panel that can be removed or folded down.
FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional side view, with a slight diagonal perspective, showing how the bases of two separate units can be joined together if optional perforated panels are removed and the bases of the units are positioned so that they are abutting.
As shown in FIG. 1, the living grass (12) is fitted into the base of the unit (10), which has a fitted, removable cover or lid (13). The receptacle base of the unit (10) may have one or more perforations to provide an optional tear-out (as shown by 11), or alternatively, an optional fold-down. The optional tear-outs or fold-downs can permit easy access to the grass for puppies and very small pets.
As shown in FIG. 2, these optional tear-outs can also be used to join together the bases of two or more units (10) to create a surface area for larger pets. For this purpose, clips or other devices may be included to secure two or more units together.
In FIG. 1, the unit's base (10) and/or cover (13) are constructed of or coated with a material that is resistant to the penetration of liquid. Corrugated cardboard with a wax coating or made with animal fat could be used for this specific purpose. The surface of the base of the unit (10) may have a coating or sealant comprised of vitamins and/or other nutrients or substances that will help prolong the life of the living grass during its shipment.
In FIG. 1, the preferred shape of the unit's base (10) and cover (13) is shown as a rectangle; however, other shapes are possible. The unit is not hermetically sealed; rather, the cover (13) and the receptacle base (10) have seams or other openings that enable air to enter the unit during shipment. No hermetic sealing, shrink wrap of other covering is used to cut off the entry of air to the unit during shipment. When the unit is at the pet's location, the cover (13) is removed or folded down to allow the pet entry into the unit.
When the unit is ready for disposal, the cover (13) is again placed over the unit's base (10) to provide extra assurance that the individual who is handling the unit will avoid messy and unpleasant conditions during the disposal process. The fully integrated unit . .
(10, 12, 13) is then disposed of in its entirety.
A material or substance may be used in the construction or treatment of the receptacle base (10) and/or cover of the disposable container (13) to control moisture levels in the unit during shipment. The living grass (12) may be treated with a substance or material to control moisture levels in the unit during shipment.
A substance may be used to adhere the bottom of the living grass (12) to the base of the unit (10) so that it remains in place during shipment.
There are different methods to increase the amount of living grass (12) that can fit inside a disposable pet toilet container. Living grass (12) may be affixed to both the inside of the base (10) and inside of the cover (13), creating two separate toilet surface areas that can be combined to form a larger area when the unit is opened up following delivery.
Alternatively, a different style container may be used. One such style is a suitcase-like box that can carry a piece of grass that is folded over or rolled up during shipment. In such a design, the cover or lid would fold out to become part of the base that contains the grass.
Trays can be used to grow living grass pads (12) for incorporation into the receptacle base of the each unit (10). The dimensions of the trays can be tailored to produce grass pads that will fit into the receptacle base of the disposable container (10) in a manner that will avoid the need for any cutting of the grass pads.
It is also possible that a growing tray and the grass pad it contains may be transferred to the receptacle base of the disposable container (10) together, thus providing a way to avoid the handling of the grass pad during the transfer process.

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It is also possible that grass pads (12) may be grown directly in the receptacle base of the disposable containers (10), thus providing a way to completely avoid the process of transferring the grass pads to the containers.
The use of geothermal techniques can provide a temperature-controlled environment that would further the use of trays to grow the grass pads for the pet toilet units, thereby enabling a year-round supply of said units irrespective of the location of the production facility.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but should include all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims (16)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.
What Is Claimed Is:

1. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit construction and continuous delivery and replacement method comprising the steps of:
--constructing a pet toilet unit, wherein a single, integrated, self-contained, fully disposable pet toilet unit is created, said unit having: a receptacle made from, lined with, coated with or otherwise constructed, assembled or treated with one or more substances or materials resistant to the penetration of liquids; one or more sidewalls that rise from the base of the receptacle to form an internal cavity that contains a pad of living grass for the purpose of collecting the bodily waste of a pet; and a cover that can be removed or folded back; and --establishing the availability of a continuous delivery and replacement system through which users can obtain one or more disposable, living-grass pet toilet units, constructed as previously described, and wherein at least one user who has obtained said unit, which is constructed as previously described, can obtain one or more additional units at one or more single points in time;
and wherein at least one user who has obtained said unit, which is constructed as previously described, can continue to obtain said units on a continuous basis--at regular, specified intervals--for an extended period of time identified by the user; and wherein at least one living-grass, fully-disposable pet toilet unit, which is constructed in the manner previously described, is available for shipment to at least one user in its entirety, can be discarded in its entirety, and can be replaced in its entirety.

2. A pet toilet unit construction and continuous delivery and replacement method according to claim 1 wherein the pet toilet unit may be constructed in a rectangular shape or another shape;
and wherein the pet toilet unit may be constructed to hold a flat piece of grass, or constructed so that the pad of living grass may be incorporated into said unit in a folded-up or rolled-up state.

3. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which comprises a constructed entity that does not contain reusable components.

4. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which comprises a means for both transporting the unit for initial use, and which can serve as a fully disposable pet commode;
wherein a fitted, removable cover or fold-back lid can be placed on the receptacle base of the unit to enable the shipment of the self-contained unit in its entirety;
and wherein at least one user can remove the unit's cover to enable a pet to enter and use the unit as a receptacle for bodily waste.

5. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes in its construction and treatment prior to shipment the use of one or more materials or substances to prolong the freshness and longevity of the living-grass pad during shipment; and wherein the disposable unit's cover and/or receptacle base are constructed with or treated with one or more protective materials or substances prior to its shipment to protect the structural integrity of the unit during shipment.

6. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes in its construction the use of one or more substances or materials, during or following the unit's construction, to control the amount of moisture in the pet toilet unit during its shipment.

7. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes in its construction the construction or treatment of the container's cover and/or bottom receptacle with one or more materials or substances to render the pet toilet unit resistant to the penetration of liquid during its shipment.

8. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes in its construction the use of a substance(s) and/or a material(s), during or following the unit's construction, to render the pet toilet unit resistant to the penetration of liquid during its use as a pet waste receptacle following its delivery.

9. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes in its construction and treatment prior to shipment the production of a disposable container that has seams or other openings to maintain the entry of air into the interior of the unit when the grass is covered during shipment.

10. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes in its construction a living-grass pad that is produced by re-growing and anchoring cut-and-washed sod into a growth-promoting, organic, soil-less medium that has been placed on an impervious material; and wherein said medium enables the growth of a living grass pad that does not have loose soil.

11. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit, which includes in its construction a living grass pad that is produced by growing grass seeds, grass sprigs, or other grass predecessors in an organic, growth-promoting, soil-less medium that has been placed on an impervious material; and wherein said medium enables the growth of a living grass pad that does not have loose soil.

12. A fully disposable, living grass pet toilet unit which is produced through the use of one or more trays to grow living grass pads in a growth-promoting, organic, soil-less medium for incorporation into the unit; and wherein said medium enables the growth of a living-grass pad that does not have loose soil; and wherein the dimensions of each tray are tailored to enable a living grass pad that is grown within it to be incorporated into a disposable container without the need to cut the grass pad; and wherein each living grass pad may be removed from the tray in which it is grown and transferred directly into a disposable container which, when covered, forms a single, integrated, self-contained, disposable pet toilet unit that can be shipped to at least one user; and wherein each living-grass pad may be transferred, together with the tray in which it was grown, directly into a disposable container which, when covered, forms a single, integrated, self-contained disposable pet toilet unit that can be shipped to at least one user; and wherein said disposable container serves not only as the site for growing the grass pad, but also, when covered, as the means of shipping the single, integrated, self-contained pet toilet unit to at least one user; and wherein the previously described process can be repeated to constitute a system for producing pet toilet units that are available for shipment to at least one user at one or more single points in time, and wherein the previously described process can be repeated to constitute a system for producing pet toilet units that are available for shipment to at least one user--at regular, specified intervals--for an extended period of time identified by said user, so that old units can be discarded and replaced with newly shipped units in a manner that provides a continuous supply of pet toilet units.

13. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which comprises a disposable container that includes in its construction the incorporation of a living-grass pad wherein said pad is grown in a tray in an organic, growth-promoting, soil-less medium into which grass seeds, grass sprigs, or other grass predecessors have been introduced;
and wherein said grass pad is transferred to and incorporated into said disposable container which, when covered, constitutes a single, integrated, self-contained, disposable pet toilet unit that can be shipped to at least one user; and wherein said disposable container serves not only as the site for growing the grass pad, but also, when covered, as the means of shipping the single, integrated, self-contained pet toilet unit to at least one user; and wherein the previously described process can be repeated to constitute a system for producing pet toilet units that are available for shipment to at least one user at one or more single points in time; and wherein the previously described process can be repeated to constitute a system for producing pet toilet units that are available for continuous shipment to at least one user--at regular, specified intervals--for an extended period of time identified by said user, so that old units can be discarded and replaced with fresh new units.

14. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes a grass pad that is grown directly within the disposable container in which it will be shipped to at least one user; and wherein grass seeds and grass sprigs are used independently or together to grow said grass pad in an organic, growth-promoting, soil-less medium within said disposable container; and wherein said disposable container serves not only as the site for growing the grass pad, but also, when covered, as the means of shipping the single, integrated, self-contained pet toilet unit to at least one user; and wherein the previously described process can be repeated to constitute a system for producing pet toilet units that are available for shipment to at least one user at one or more single points in time; and wherein the previously described process can be repeated to constitute a system for producing pet toilet units that are available for shipment to at least one user¨at regular, specified intervals¨over an extended period of time identified by said user, so that new units can be continuously delivered to replace old units that are discarded.

15. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes the use of grass pads that are grown with geothermal techniques that are used to control temperatures inside a structure where the grass pads are grown; and wherein the use of geothermal techniques enables the production of disposable, living-grass pet toilet units on a year-round basis irrespective of the geographic location, weather, or climate of the production facility.

16. A fully disposable, living-grass pet toilet unit which includes a pad of living grass that is treated with a substance to retard growth of the grass during shipment.