GB2208880A - Animal toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal toilet comprising a continuous conveyor (1), drive means (6) for driving the continuous conveyor (1) forward and waste disposal means (9) positioned beneath the continuous conveyor (1). In use, the animal is trained to foul on the upper surface of the continuous conveyor (1), and once it has finished the continuous conveyor (1) is driven round to bring the fouling to the end of the conveyor where they drop off into the waste disposal means (9). A scraper (13) may be provided across the width of the lower run of the continuous conveyor (1). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION A HYGIENIC TOILET The present invention relates to a hygienic toilet for use by animals and, more especially, but not exclusively, by domestic dogs. The hygienic toilet of the present invention may be sited outside a persons home for use by their own pet, or alternatively, it may be provided in a public area for use by pet owners from the immediate area.

The fouling of paths, footways and public recreation areas by dogs is a problem which most people have had direct experience of at some time or another. It is, of course, inconvenient, unpleasant and unhygienic as even the most avid animal lover would admit, and with the increasing number of dogs being kept, "walking the dog" is no longer something which can be done discretely and with the miniumum of inconvenience to others. Public health campaigns promote the idea that owners should clear up after their dog and there are even fines for those people whose dogs are caught fouling the highway, but this relies upon owners being conscientious, which in the circumstances few are, or someone policing the bylaws and taking action against offenders.Furthermore, this does not readily take into account public areas, such as playing fields and parks, where many owners will take their dog, but will not feel quite the same imperative to clean up after them as they would on a public highway.

Of course dogs fouling is not restricted to public areas It is often the case that an owner will allow their pet to use the garden as a toilet area.

Obviously this avoids offence to others, but its nuisance value to the owner should not be underestimated, It is an object of the present invention to provide a hygienic toilet especially, but not exclusively, intended for use by dogs which encourages foulings to be deposited in a single area, out of sight, for collection and proper disposal. The hygienic toilet of the present invention is suitable for private or public use.

According to the present invention there is provided a hygienic toilet for use by animals comprising a continuous conveyor, drive means for driving the continuous conveyor and waste disposal means positioned beneath the continuous conveyor.

In use, the hygienic toilet is built into the ground so that the uppermost run of the continuous conveyor lies level with the ground and the waste disposal means lies buried in the ground. The animal is trained to foul onto the continuous conveyor and after it has finished the continuous conveyor is driven round to bring the foulings to the end of the conveyor where they drop off into the waste disposal means. From the waste disposal means the foulings can be removed and disposed of where they will not cause a public nuisance or health hazard. Of course the hygienic toilet of the present invention relies upon the owner of the animal being conscientious enough to take it to the hygienic toilet, but it is envisaged that faced with a convenient way of disposing of rulings most owners will, and will train their pet to use it.Furthermore, use of the hygienic toilet can be positively encouraged by placing it in a public area, such as a park, and by fully making use of the bylaws to discourage owners from allowing their pets to foul in the open.

Preferably, the waste disposal means comprises a removable, disposable bag which is retained in a hole built into the ground beneath the continuous conveyor.

Conveniently, the removable, disposable bag is partially filled with a disinfectant and/or deodoriser to minimise health hazards and prevent unpleasant odours.

Alternatively, the waste disposal means may comprise a cess pit built into the ground beneath the conveyor, or a waste pipe leading into the public sewage system. In the latter case the waste disposal means may be flushed with water after each use.

Access to the waste disposal means, whether to remove the removable, disposable bag or to clean out the cess pit, is preferably through an access cover which may be locked in pace to prevent unauthorised access.

Preferably, the hygienic toilet further comprises a scraper positioned against the lowermost run of the continuous conveyor immediately above or adjacent to the waste disposal means, which ensures that all foulings adhering to the continuous conveyor are scraped off into the waste disposal means. In addition, the hygienic toilet also preferably comprises a disinfectant bath through which the continuous conveyor passes after it has deposited any foulings into the waste disposal means.

Together, the scraper and the disinfectant bath ensure that a clean section of continuous conveyor is always brought into use after it has been driven round.

Conveniently, a cleaning brush or implement is mounted within the disinfectant bath against the continuous conveyor to further clean it.

The drive means may comprise a manual winding mechanism which can be turned by the owner of the animal after use. Alternatively, the continuous belt may be driven by an electric motor which operates on a timing circuit so as to switch off automatically after a predetermined time of sufficient duration to bring the uppermost run of the continuous conveyor down past the waste disposal means. In either case drive means has a one way rotation which may be provided by a sprag clutch to ensure that the rulings cannot be emptied into the disinfectant bath and a load clutch to prevent the continuous conveyor being driven round whilst any appreciable load is on it. This load clutch deters children from riding on the continuous conveyor.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic view of a manually operated hygienic toilet embodying the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing there is shown a hygienic toilet, especially, but not esclusively, intended for use by dogs.

The hygienic toilet comprises a continuous conveyor 1, in the fom of a wide belt, which is supported by and guided around, rotatable rollers 2,3,4 and 5. The roller 2 is connected to a crank handle 6 which allows it to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to drive the continuous conveyor 1 around the rollers 2,3,4 and 5 in the direction of Arrow A. The rollers 3 and 4 guide a portion of the continuous conveyor 1 down into a disinfectant bath 7 which, in use, is filled with a disinfectant to clean and sanitise the continuous conveyor 1. To assist in cleaning a brush 8, extending the full width of the continuous conveyor 1, is provided within the disinfectant bath 7 in close contact with the continuous conveyor 1.

At the opposite end of the continuous conveyor 1 from the disinfectant bath 7 there is provided a storage hold 9 which is lined inside with a disposable bag 10.

The storage hold 9 opens upwardly and is positioned beneath the end of the continuous conveyor 1 as it passes round the roller 5. A hinged access cover 11 is provided over the open top of the storage hold 9, but a gap 12 is allowed between the adjacent edges of the access cover 11 and the continuous conveyor through which the foulings carried by the continuous conveyor can pass and drop down into the disposable bag 10 lining the storage hold. In order to prevent foulings adhering to the continuous conveyor 1, instead of dropping down into the disposable bag 10, a scraper 13, extending the full width of the continuous conveyor 1, is provided immediately beneath the roller 5 in close contact with the continuous conveyor 1.

In use, the hygienic toilet is built into the ground so that the uppermost run of the continuous conveyor lies level with the ground The animal is trained to foul onto the continuous conveyor and after it has finished the owner turns the crank handle 6 to drive the continuous conveyor 1 towards the storage hold 9 into which they fall. Should the foulings not drop off the continuous conveyor under gravity the scraper 13 scrapes themtoff so that they are at least retained in the vicinity of the storage hold. After the continuous conveyor 1 has passed the storage hold 9 it is guided downward into the disinfectant bath 7 by rollers 3 and 4, where it is washed in disinfectant and scrubbed by brush 8 before passing back above ground ready for re-use.

Once the disposable bag 10 is filled with foulings the hinged access cover 11 can be lifted to allow the bag 10 to be removed and the foulings properly disposed of. Because it may take some time for the disposable bag to be filled it may be partially filled with disinfectant and/or an odoriser to cut down on health risks and prevent unpleasant odours..

The hygienic toilet of the present invention may be used in public or private places, but should it be used in public,places the winding mechanism, that is roller 2 and the crank handle 6, may be provided with a sprag clutch to prevent the continuous conveyor from being driven backwards and a load clutch which prevents the continuous conveyor 1 from being driven when heavily loaded. These prevent the hygienic toilet from being misused and should help to deter vandalism.

As an alternative to a manually operated crank handle the continuous conveyor may be driven by an electric motor operating on a timing circuit to switch off after a given length of time. Furthermore, as an alternative to providing a storage hold lined with a disposable bag the hygienic toilet may be provided with a cess pit into which the foulings fall from the continuous conveyor, or it may be plumbed into the public sewage system.

Claims (11)

1. An hygienic toilet for animals comprising a continuous conveyor, drive means for driving the continuous conveyor and waste disposal means positioned beneath the continuous conveyor.

2. An hygienic toilet according to claim 1, wherein the waste disposal means comprises a removable, disposable bag.

3. An hygienic toilet according to claim 2, wherein the removable, disposable bag is partially filled with a disinfectant and/or deodoriser.

4. An hygienic toilet according to claim 1, wherein the waste disposal means comprises a cesspit.

5. An hygienic toilet according to claim 1, wherein the waste disposal means comprises a waste pipe leading into the public sewage system.

6. An hygienic toilet according to claim 5, wherein means are provided to enable the waste pipe to be flushed with water.

7. An hygienic toilet according to any preceding claim, comprising a scraper positioned against the Dwermost run of the continuous conveyor immediately above or adjacent to the waste disposal means.

8. An hygienic toilet according to any preceding claim, comprising a disinfectant bath through which at least a portion of the continuous conveyor continuously passes.

9. An hygienic toilet according to claim 8, comprising a cleaning brush or implement mounted within the disinfectant bath and positioned against the continuous conveyor.

10. An hygienic toilet according to an preceding claim, wherein the drive means comprises means whereby the continuous conveyor can be driven in only one direction, and a load clutch to prevent the continuous conveyor being driven round under excess load.

11. An hygienic toilet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference ço the accompanying drawings.