GB2425032A

GB2425032A - Animal toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2425032A
Application number: GB0507657A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brenda Agnes Counsell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-15
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: GB0507657D0

Abstract

An animal toilet (2) in the form of a mat comprising a urine absorbent sheet (4) having first (10) and second faces (8) and a bag (6) attached to the first face wherein, in a first configuration the mat can be placed on a floor with the sheet on top of at least a portion of the bag and wherein in a second configuration, obtainable by inverting the bag, the bag encloses the sheet.

Description

I

Animal toilet The present invention concerns an animal toilet. In particular, a disposable mat for such use.

Known animal toilets comprise a tray with an absorbent medium thereon. The absorbent medium may comprise particulate absorbent matter, such as a particulate clay. Such absorbents, particularly when heavily soiled tend to contaminate the tray, which is usually non-disposable and so requires washing before re-use. Disposal of the absorbent medium into a container, for example, a bin, also runs an associated risk of contamination by spillage. The washing and spillage risks present potential hygiene problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide an animal toilet, such as may be used by domestic cats and dogs, which reduces the likelihood of contamination and so reduces the potential hygiene problem.

The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the accompanying claims.

According to the present invention there is provided an animal toilet in the form of a mat comprising a urine absorbent sheet having first and second faces and a bag attached to the first face wherein, in a first configuration the mat can be placed on a floor with the sheet on top of at least a portion of the bag and wherein in a second configuration, obtainable by inverting the bag, the bag envelopes the sheet.

The bag may be sealable. The bag may comprise a self adhesive strip or a closure means such as strip seal of the Ziploc type such as supplied by SC Johnson.

The bag may extend or be deployable over the whole of the first face of the sheet, which is then placed face down on the floor such that in use the bag extends fully between the floor and the sheet thereby to avoid seepage onto the floor of, for example, urine. The bag may be attached to the sheet at one or more points, such as at two corners of the sheet by, for example, two corners of the bag remote from an entrance of the bag. The bag may be attached over the whole of a face of the sheet. The face may be a side or edge of the sheet The word floor describes any surface suitable for supporting the toilet in normal use.

The sheet may be rolled into a roll prior to, or during, inversion of the bag. This provides for a compact, easily disposable package, particularly if the bag is sealed after placing in the second configuration so as to stop spillage.

As the sheet is intended as a disposable item, the sheet preferably comprises a biodegradable material, such as layered tissue paper. Cardboard may also be used.

Similarly the bag may comprise a biodegradable material. Preferably the bag comprises a fabric and the fabric may have a plastics appearance. The bag may be a paper bag such as a brown paper bag, in particular, a heavy duty brown paper bag. Such paper bag may be made from a waxed paper. The bag is most preferably impermeable to water based fluids, such as urine.

The sheet may have a plurality of apertures to increase the surface area for absorption of urine or other liquids, so as to reduce the time unabsorbed liquids, which could otherwise spill, are present on the sheet surface. Apertures are acceptable as the bag stops soiling of a floor on which the mat is supported, whilst the apertures allow for adsorption of liquid incident upon an upper, for example first side, to also contact a lower, second, side so as to increase a surface area, and hence rate, for adsorption.

Animal hygiene mats according to the invention are exemplified in the following embodiments.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the sheet in its first configuration is layable flat on a surface, such as a tray, with the bag between the sheet and the surface. The sheet can be used in a similar manner to a cat litter tray, the sheet being a substitute for particulate clay. However, when soiled the sheet is rolled up, the bag is inverted, i. e. turned inside out to envelop the rolled sheet, and the bag may then be sealed. An animal toilet having a convenient and hygienic method of disposal is thereby obtainable.

According to the second embodiment of the invention there is provided an animal toilet comprising, in a first, unassembled, state an absorbent sheet with co-operating attachment means at two opposite margins of the sheet, wherein, in use, the sheet is curled back on itself; and the attachment means are attached together so the sheet forms a post. Such a post is suitable for acting as an absorbent urinating target for an animal which requires the same when urinating, such as a dog, is thereby obtainable.

The post may further comprise a base ring, having an aperture suitable for insertion over the assembled post and retainable thereon by means of from 1 to 4 flaps internal to the aperture of the ring. The base ring can act to give greater post stability and/or to adsorb liquid not adsorbed by the post.

The assembled post may be frusto conical, conical or simply cylindrical. A frusto conical post is preferred as giving greatest stability with height whilst avoiding having a pointed top.

The co-operating attachment means may comprise tabs formed on one sheet margin and co-operating apertures for the tabs on an opposite sheet margin remote from the first margin, wherein the tabs are capable of being inserted into the apertures for retention therein.

In the second embodiment, the sheet used to form the post may further comprise a bag attached as previously described, for use as previously described.

A post of the general form and geometry as herein described may in addition or alternatively be provided wherein the post comprises a thick plastics sheet. By thick is meant one from 0.5 to 5mm thick, preferably from 1mm to 2mm thick, such that it is flexible enough to be folded flat (as with a conical coffee filter paper) or more preferably such that it can be curled back on ilseif from a flat sheet form to a frusto-conical form securable using tabs and slots. Such a plastics post may additionally comprise a base ring of similar material, such a ring may be pierced so that it can be forced over the permanent posts and the shape of the cut-out will assist to retain it in place and/or it may be in the form of a base ring as otherwise described herein. The plastics post may be attached to or be separable from the adsorbent sheet used in the adsorbent cone of the animal toilet of the second embodiment. The adsorbent sheet (e.g. of the second embodiment) may comprise an elasticated section for retention of the sheet on the plastics cone and may also comprise a handle portion, such as a loop, to facilitate removal, for example by lifting off, of the adsorbent sheet from the plastics cone.

Suitable plastics sheet includes polyethylene, polypropylene and like plastics, alternatively a single piece moulding may be used. These plastics posts act to give additional physical support (as in adsorbent cone sitting on top of plastics cone) to an adsorbent sheet, especially when the sheet is wet and may loose physical integrity. The plastics posts may also be used as a stand alone post, such as on top of an animal toilet of the first embodiment.

In use, mats deployed according to the first embodiment of the invention, may be used together with mats according to the second, post mode, embodiment of the invention, such as when a post is supported on mat. This is advantageous as urine splashes and overshoot can be adsorbed on the mat.

A mat of the first and second aspects may be provided in the same product, the difference in the aspects being realised in the maimer in which a user deploys the mat, either in mat mode or in post mode.

Products according to the invention may be supplied as an animal hygiene kit. Such a kit may, in a third embodiment of the invention, comprise one or more mats as described above and a holder for one of said mats, the holder comprising a base on which a mat in the first configuration can be laid flat, and a rim around said base, the rim and the base forming a liquid retention tray. The holder, or tray, may be made from a flexible plastics sheet and may comprise rubber.

The tray may be a component of an enclosure, such as a cage, for an animal, particularly when the animal is a rabbit or rodent. The sheet may cover the whole of a floor of the cage. The mat is therefore also useful for animals not trained to use a specific toilet location.

The animal hygiene kit may comprise one or more mats for use in mat mode and one or more unassembled mats intended for use in post mode. Optionally a holder, such as a tray, may also be provided.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a mat according to the invention deployed according to the first embodiment of the invention in a first configuration; Figure 2 shows the mat of Fig. 1 in a, wrapped, second configuration; Figure 3 shows the mat of Fig. I in association with a spill tray; Figure 4 shows a mat according to the second embodiment of the invention in a first, undeployed configuration; Figure 5 shows a post of Fig. 4 in a deployed configuration; Figure 6 shows a base ring for use as part of a post of Fig. 5 and Figure 7 shows, schematically, a post of Fig 5, with the base ring in place.

Refemng now to Figures 1 to 3. The mat (2) comprises an absorbent, biodegradable tissue sheet (4) and a plastic bag (6). The (in use) upper (second) face (8) of the sheet (2) is open to receive toilet deposits and the lower (first) face (10) is covered where the bag (6) is attached, over the whole face (10). The flices (8,10) of the sheet (4) are the major (largest) faces of the sheet (4).

After use of the mat (2) the sheet (4) is rolled up and the bag (6) is inverted around the sheet (4) followed by sealing at the previously open end of the bag (12). The bag is then disposed of.

The mat (2) may be placed on the floor as is, but is preferably used inside a waterproof rubber tray (20) or holder. The tray (20) comprises a flat floor (22) and a raised rim (24) on all four sides of the rectangular tray (20), to accommodate the rectangular mat (2). The raised rim (24) is bevelled outwards of the floor (22). The tray acts as a watertight housing for the mat (2).

Refemng now to Figures 4 to 7. The mat (102) comprises an absorbent biodegradable cardboard sheet (104, the bag is not shown for clarity and would be attached on or over the inner (as deployed) face (118) of the cone) with tabs (114, 114') at one margin and slots (116) at the opposite margin. The tabs (114, 114') of an undeployed mat (102) are inserted into the slots (116, 116', respectively) to form a, deployed, frusto conical post 102'. A base ring (131) comprising an absorbent biodegradable cardboard sheet (130) and has four tabs (132) formed on the inner side of the ring by means of rectangular cut- outs (134). The base may be inserted over the cone (102') to form a post, with base (102") as shown in figure 7. The base acts to catch spray and drips from the cone. The tabs fold upward when engaging the post (102') so as to retain the base (131) on the post (102') (this detail is not shown). After use the post is disassembled, or flattened and/or rolled up, to reduce its size before stowage in the, or a, bag for disposal.

Claims

Claims 1. An animal toilet in the form of a mat comprising a urine

absorbent sheet having first and second fitces and a bag attached to the first face wherein, in a first configuration the mat can be placed on a floor with the sheet on top of at least a portion of the bag and wherein in a second configuration, obtainable by inverting the bag, the bag encloses the sheet.
2. The mat of claim 1 where in the sheet is rollable into a roll for accommodation in the bag when in the second configuration.
3. The mat of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sheet comprises a biodegradeable material.
4. The mat of claim 3 wherein the sheet comprises layers of tissue paper
5. The mat of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sheet is intended as a disposable item.
6. The mat of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sheet has a plurality of apertures.
7. The mat according to any preceding claim wherein the bag comprises a biodegradable material.
8. The mat according to any preceding claim wherein the bag comprises a fabric.
9. The mat according to claim 8 wherein the bag has a plastics appearance.
10. The mat of any preceding claim wherein the sheet is rectangular.
11. An animal toilet post comprising a mat of any of claims 1 to 9 and wherein the sheet has co-operating attachment means at two opposite margins of the sheet and from a first, unassembled, state in which the mat is substantially planar the sheet can be curled back on itself and the attachment means cooperatively attached together so as to form a second assembled state in the form of post suitable for acting as an absorbent target for an animal which requires the same when urinating.
12. A post of claim 11 further comprising a base ring suitable for insertion over the post and retainable thereon by means of from I to 4 flaps internal to the ring.
13. A post of claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the post is frusto conical.
14. A post of any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the co-operating attachment means comprise at least one tab formed on one margin and corresponding cooperating aperture(s) for the at least one tab on the opposite margin, wherein the at least one tab is capable of being inserted into the corresponding apertures for cooperative retention therein.
15. A post of any of claims 11 to 14 not comprising an attached sealable bag for use as described in claim 1 or having any of the features of any of claims 7 to 9.
16. An animal hygiene kit comprising one or more mats according to any previous claim and a holder for one of said mats, the holder comprising a base, on which a mat in the first configuration can be laid flat, and a rim around said base, the rim and the base forming a liquid retention tray.
17. A kit of claim 16 wherein the holder comprises a flexible plastics sheet.
18. A kit of claim 17 wherein the flexible plastics sheet comprises rubber.
19. A kit according to claim 16 wherein the tray is a component of an enclosure, such as a cage, for an animal.
20. A tray as described in claim 16.
21. An animal hygiene kit comprising one or more mats according to any of claims 1 to and one or more unassembled posts of any of claims 11 to 15.
22. An animal hygiene kit of any of claims 16 to 20 and further comprising one or more unassembled posts of any of claims 11 to 15.
23. An animal hygiene mat, post or kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the animal is a dog.
24. An animal toilet in the form of a mat as hereinbefore described with reference to the

description and any of figures 4 to 7.

24. An animal hygiene mat, post or kit as claimed in any preceding claim or only claims 1 to 10 and 16 to 20 wherein the animal is a rodent.

25. An animal hygiene mat, post or kit as claimed in any preceding claim or only claims 1 to 10 and 16 to 20 wherein the animal is a rabbit.

26. An animal toilet in the fonn of a mat as hereinbefore described with reference to the description and any of figures 1 to 3 or figures 4 to 7.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. An animal toilet comprising a mat, the mat comprising a urine absorbent sheet having first and second faces and a bag attached to the first face wherein, in a first configuration of a first, unassembled, state, the mat can be placed on a floor with the sheet on top of at least a portion of the bag and wherein in a second configuration, obtainable by inverting the bag, the bag encloses the sheet, wherein the sheet has co- operating attachment means at two opposite margins of the sheet, and from the first, unassembled, state in which the mat is substantially planar the sheet can be curled back on itself and the attachment means cooperatively attached together so as to form a second assembled state in the form of a post suitable for acting as an absorbent target for an animal which requires the same when urinating.

2. The animal toilet of claim I where in the sheet is rollable into a roll for accommodation in the bag when in the second configuration.

3. The animal toilet of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sheet comprises a biodegradeable material.

4. The animal toilet of claim 3 wherein the sheet comprises layers of tissue paper 5. The animal toilet of any of claims ito 4 wherein the sheet is intended as a disposable item.

6. The animal toilet of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sheet has a plurality of apertures.

7. The animal toilet according to any preceding claim wherein the bag comprises a biodegradable material.

8. The animal toilet according to any preceding claim wherein the bag comprises a fabric.

9. The animal toilet according to claim 8 wherein the bag has a plastics appearance.

I

10. The animal toilet of any preceding claim wherein the sheet is rectangular.

11. The animal toilet of any preceding claim when formed as a post.

11. The animal toilet of any preceding claim further comprising a base ring suitable for insertion over the post and retainable thereon by means of from I to 4 flaps internal to the ring.

12. The animal toilet of any preceding claim wherein the post is frusto conical.

13. The animal toilet of any preceding wherein the co-operating attachment means comprise at least one tab formed on one margin and corresponding co-operating aperture(s) for the at least one tab on the opposite margin, wherein the at least one tab is capable of being inserted into the corresponding apertures for cooperative retention therein.

14. The animal toilet of any of claims Ito 6 and 10 to 14 not comprising an attached sealable bag for use as described.

15. An animal hygiene kit comprising one or more animal toilet mats according to any previous claim and a holder for one of said mats, the holder comprising a base, on which a mat in the first configuration can be laid flat, and a rim around said base, the rim and the base forming a liquid retention tray.

16. A kit of claim 15 wherein the holder comprises a flexible plastics sheet.

17. A kit of claim 16 wherein the flexible plastics sheet comprises rubber.

18. A kit according to claim 16 wherein the tray is a component of an enclosure, such as a cage, for an animal. i2

19. An animal hygiene kit comprising one or more unassembled posts of any of claims 1 to 14.

20. An animal hygiene kit comprising a mat comprising a urine absorbent sheet having first and second faces and a bag attached to the first face wherein, in a first configuration the mat can be placed on a floor with the sheet on top of at least a portion of the bag and wherein in a second configuration, obtainable by inverting the bag, the bag encloses the sheet and further comprising one or more unassembled posts of any of claims ito 14.

21. An animal hygiene mat, post or kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the animal is a dog.

22. An animal hygiene mat, post or kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the animal is a rodent.

23. An animal hygiene mat, post or kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the animal is a rabbit.