JP2021048781A - Animal toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an animal toilet capable of minimizing subduction when an animal gets thereon.SOLUTION: An animal toilet 1 includes a body part 10, a partition member 12 and a vibration part 14. The body part 10 has a box shape having a bottom surface part 10a and a lateral part 10b. The partition member 12 has a hole 13 for allowing for passage of urine, and partitions the body part 10 inside into upper and lower parts. The vibration part 14 vibrates the partition member 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a toilet for animals.

As a conventional animal toilet, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. The animal toilet described in the document includes a box-shaped main body and a partition member (drainboard) arranged in the main body. The partition member is formed with a through hole through which urine passes. The internal space of the main body is divided into upper and lower parts by a partition member. A plurality of granules having low water absorption are laid on the partition member. A water-absorbent sheet is arranged below the partition member. In such a veterinary toilet, the animal excretes directly on the granules. The excreted urine is absorbed by the water-absorbent sheet between the granules and after passing through the through hole of the partition member.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-180182

As described above, the granules laid on the partition member serve as a scaffold for the animal to excrete. However, in the conventional animal toilet, there is a problem that the granules sink greatly when the animal gets on the toilet, which makes the scaffold unstable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an animal toilet capable of suppressing subduction when an animal gets on it.

The animal toilet according to the present invention has a box-shaped main body having a bottom surface and a side surface, a partition member having a hole for passing urine to pass urine, and a partition member for vertically partitioning the inside of the main body, and vibration for vibrating the partition member. It is characterized by having a part and.

In this animal toilet, a vibrating portion for vibrating the partition member is provided. By vibrating the partition member in a state where a plurality of granules are laid, the granules can also be vibrated. As a result, other granules can easily enter the gaps between the adjacent granules, so that the density of the plurality of granules can be increased. By laying out a plurality of granules at a high density in this way, it is possible to suppress the subduction when an animal rides.

According to the present invention, an animal toilet that can suppress the subduction when an animal gets on is realized.

It is an end view which shows the 1st Embodiment of the animal toilet by this invention. It is an end view which shows the main body part 10. It is a front view which shows the main body part 10. It is a top view which shows the main body part 10. It is a top view which shows the partition member 12. It is a top view which shows the state which the partition member 12 is arranged in the main body part 10. It is a perspective view which shows the drawer part 16. It is an end view which shows the 2nd Embodiment of the animal toilet by this invention. It is an end view for demonstrating the modification of the partition member 12.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.
(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is an end view showing a first embodiment of the animal toilet according to the present invention. The animal toilet 1 includes a main body 10, a partition member 12, a vibrating portion 14, a drawer portion 16, a plurality of granules 20, and a water absorbing sheet 30. The main body portion 10 has a box shape having a bottom surface portion 10a and a side surface portion 10b. In the present embodiment, the main body 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As the material of the main body 10, for example, a resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene can be used.

The partition member 12 has a plate shape and is arranged in parallel with the bottom surface portion 10a. The partition member 12 is made of one plate having the same thickness as a whole. The partition member 12 is provided at a position separated from both the upper end of the main body portion 10 (side surface portion 10b) and the water-absorbent sheet 30 described later. As a result, the partition member 12 divides the inside of the main body 10 into upper and lower parts. That is, the internal space of the main body 10 is divided into an upper space S1 and a lower space S2 by a partition member 12. The partition member 12 has a hole 13 through which urine passes. The partition member 12 is removable from the main body 10. As the material of the partition member 12, for example, a resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene can be used.

The main body portion 10 has a protruding portion 10c provided so as to project from the side surface portion 10b to the inside of the main body portion 10. The protrusion 10c may be a protrusion or a ridge. The protruding portion 10c may be integrally formed with the side surface portion 10b, or may be formed separately from the side surface portion 10b and then attached to the side surface portion 10b. The protruding length of the protruding portion 10c (the length in the direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the side surface portion 10b provided with the protruding portion 10c) is, for example, 10 mm or more and 25 mm or less. The partition member 12 is placed on the protrusion 10c. That is, the peripheral edge portion of the partition member 12 is supported from below by the protruding portion 10c.

The vibrating unit 14 vibrates the partition member 12. The vibrating unit 14 includes a housing containing a vibrating body that vibrates when electricity is applied. As such a vibrating body, for example, an eccentric motor can be used. The vibrating portion 14 is directly fixed to the partition member 12. In the present embodiment, the vibrating portion 14 is fixed to the lower surface of the partition member 12. The electricity for vibrating the vibrating body may be supplied from a battery built in the vibrating unit 14 or may be supplied from an external power source through wiring. The on / off switching of the vibration and the adjustment of the strength of the vibration may be operated by the operation panel provided on the main body portion 10 (for example, the outer surface of the side surface portion 10b), or may be operated by the remote controller.

The drawer portion 16 can be inserted and removed from the main body portion 10 through the opening 11 formed in the side surface portion 10b. The water absorbing sheet 30 is housed in the drawer portion 16. As the material of the drawer portion 16, for example, a resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene can be used.

A plurality of granules 20 are arranged on the partition member 12. When using the animal litter box 1, the granules 20 will directly receive the urine excreted by the animal. Granule 20 has water repellency. That is, the granular material 20 has a property of not absorbing liquid such as urine at all, or even if it absorbs it, it hardly absorbs it.

In order for the granular material 20 to have water repellency, it is necessary that the water repellency measured by the next test is 80% or more. First, a plurality of granules 20 (samples) equivalent to 50 g are put into a tea strainer. An empty beaker will be installed under the tea strainer. Then, 30 ml of water is added dropwise to the sample over 10 seconds using a syringe without a needle. After leaving it for 1 minute, measure the amount of water in the beaker. The ratio of the measured amount of water to the amount of dropped water (30 ml) is defined as the water repellency. That is, if the amount of water in the beaker is 24 ml or more, the water repellency is 80% or more, so that it can be said that the granular material 20 has water repellency. As a reference, the water repellency of general water-absorbent cat sand on the market is about 5%.

The granular body 20 is formed into granules. Examples of such a granular shape include a sphere, a cylinder, an ellipsoid, and the like. The particle size of the granular material 20 is, for example, 5 mm or more and 15 mm or less. Here, the particle size is defined as the diameter of the smallest sphere that can contain the granule 20. The granular material 20 is preferably made of an organic substance as a main material. Here, the main material refers to one or more materials constituting the granular material 20 having the largest weight ratio in the granular material 20. As the organic matter, for example, papers, tea leaves, plastics or okara can be used.

Paper refers to a material mainly composed of pulp. Examples of papers include, in addition to ordinary paper, PVC wallpaper graded products (paper obtained by classifying PVC wallpaper), fluff pulp, papermaking sludge, pulp sludge, and the like. As the plastics, for example, a disposable diaper grader (plastic obtained by classifying the disposable diaper) may be used. The okara is preferably dried okara. These materials may be water repellent.

The material constituting the granular material 20 may be only one or two or more. In the former case, the material constituting the granular material 20 is only the above-mentioned main material. In the latter case, the granule 20 will be composed of a mixture of the main material and other materials. Other materials include, for example, gypsum. By adding gypsum, the water repellency of the granule 20 can be enhanced. The amount of gypsum is, for example, 5% by weight or more and 15% by weight or less based on the total amount of the granular material 20.

The granular material 20 can be produced, for example, by the following method. First, a granulated material (material constituting the granular material 20) to be granulated is granulated using a granulating device to form a granulated product constituting the granular material 20. As the granulator, for example, an extrusion granulator can be used. The granulated product may be subjected to a water repellent treatment, if necessary. The water repellent treatment can be performed, for example, by coating the surface of the granulated product with a water repellent agent. When the water repellent treatment is not performed, it is preferable to increase the pressure applied to the material to be granulated at the time of granulation so that a gap is not generated in the granulated product as much as possible. This is because such a gap serves as a route for water such as urine to enter the inside of the granular material 20. Prior to granulation, the granulated material is subjected to pretreatment such as pulverization, kneading, and water addition as necessary.

A water-absorbent sheet 30 is arranged below the partition member 12. In the present embodiment, the water-absorbent sheet 30 is arranged in the main body 10 in a state of being housed in the drawer 16. The water-absorbent sheet 30 absorbs urine that has passed through the holes 13 of the partition member 12.

Subsequently, the operation of the animal toilet 1 will be described. Prior to the use of the animal litter box 1, a plurality of granules 20 are laid on the partition member 12. After that, the partition member 12 is vibrated by turning on the switch of the vibrating unit 14. As a result, the density of the plurality of granules 20 gradually increases. After a certain period of time (for example, about 1 minute) has elapsed, the switch of the vibrating unit 14 is turned off to stop the vibration of the partition member 12. When using the animal litter box 1, the animal rides on the granule 20 and excretes. The urine excreted on the granules 20 flows downward so as to sew a gap between adjacent granules 20. The urine moves from the upper space S1 to the lower space S2 through the hole 13 of the partition member 12 and is absorbed by the water-absorbent sheet 30. At this time, the granule 20 may be damaged by the movement of the animal on the granule 20. Therefore, even after using the animal toilet 1, the partition member 12 may be vibrated by turning on the switch of the vibrating unit 14. As a result, the density of the plurality of granules 20 can be increased again, and the surface of the aggregate composed of the plurality of granules 20 can be leveled.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each part of the animal toilet 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. 2, 3 and 4, respectively, are an end view, a front view, and a plan view showing the main body 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an opening 11 for inserting and removing the drawer portion 16 is formed in the side surface portion 10b of the main body portion 10. The opening 11 is located in the vicinity of the bottom surface portion 10a and has a horizontally long rectangular shape. The length of the opening 11 in the lateral direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 3) is substantially equal to the lateral width inside the main body 10, for example, about 20 to 40 cm. The length of the opening 11 in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) is, for example, about 2 to 5 cm. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 10c is composed of ridges provided in an annular shape over the entire circumference of the inner surface of the side surface portion 10b in a plan view.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the partition member 12. A plurality of holes 13 are formed in the partition member 12. The holes 13 are arranged two-dimensionally in the partition member 12. However, the hole 13 is not formed in the central portion of the partition member 12 (the portion that overlaps with the vibrating portion 14 in a plan view). The hole 13 allows urine to pass through. However, the pores 13 do not allow the granules 20 to pass through. That is, the holes 13 have a size and shape that allow urine to pass through but not the granules 20 to pass through. The diameter of the hole 13 is, for example, 2 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the partition member 12 is arranged in the main body 10. The partition member 12 is separated from the side surface portion 10b of the main body portion 10. As shown in the figure, the partition member 12 can be arranged in the main body portion 10 in a state where the entire periphery thereof is separated from the side surface portion 10b. At this time, the partition member 12 is in contact only with the upper surface of the protrusion 10c of the main body 10, and is not in contact with the other surface of the main body 10. The partition member 12 is not fixed to the side surface portion 10b. That is, the partition member 12 can be displaced (in the horizontal plane) with respect to the side surface portion 10b while being placed on the protruding portion 10c. A cushioning material may be attached around the partition member 12. The cushioning material is made of a material softer than any of the partition member 12 and the side surface portion 10b. As the cushioning material, for example, rubber can be used.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the drawer portion 16. The drawer portion 16 has a bottom plate 16a, a front plate 16b, a front plate 16c, and a pair of side plates 16d. The size of the bottom plate 16a is substantially equal to the size of the bottom surface portion 10a of the main body portion 10. The front plate 16b has substantially the same shape and size as the opening 11. A handle 17 is attached to the front plate 16b.

The effect of the animal toilet 1 will be described. The animal toilet 1 is provided with a vibrating portion 14 that vibrates the partition member 12. By vibrating the partition member 12 in a state where the plurality of granules 20 are laid, the granules 20 can also be vibrated. As a result, other granules 20 can easily enter the gaps between the adjacent granules 20, so that the density of the plurality of granules 20 can be increased. By laying out the plurality of granules 20 at a high density in this way, it is possible to suppress the subduction when the animal gets on the vehicle.

The partition member 12 has a plate shape. In this case, the weight of the partition member 12 can be reduced as compared with the case where the partition member 12 has a box shape. Further, even if the partition member 12 comes into contact with the side surface portion 10b during vibration, the contact area between the partition member 12 and the side surface portion 10b is small, so that the frictional force generated between the two is also small. These things contribute to the reduction of the power consumption of the vibrating portion 14 required for the vibration of the partition member 12.

The partition member 12 is not fixed to the side surface portion 10b. In this case, the resistance received by the partition member 12 during vibration is smaller than that in the case where the partition member 12 is fixed to the side surface portion 10b. This also contributes to the reduction of the power consumption of the vibrating portion 14 required for the vibration of the partition member 12.

The partition member 12 is placed on the protrusion 10c. As a result, the partition member 12 can be fixed at a predetermined position in the main body 10 (a position separated from both the upper end of the main body 10 and the water-absorbent sheet 30) without being fixed to the side surface portion 10b with a simple structure. it can.

The partition member 12 is separated from the side surface portion 10b. In this case, the resistance received by the partition member 12 during vibration can be reduced as compared with the case where the partition member 12 is in contact with the side surface portion 10.

The partition member 12 can be arranged in the main body portion 10 in a state where the entire periphery thereof is separated from the side surface portion 10b. In this case, the resistance received by the partition member 12 during vibration can be reduced as compared with the case where only a part around the partition member 12 is separated from the side surface portion 10b.

When a cushioning material is attached around the partition member 12, even if the partition member 12 comes into contact with the side surface portion 10b during vibration, the noise generated by the contact can be suppressed to a small level.

A water-absorbent sheet 30 is arranged below the partition member 12. As a result, the urine collected in the main body 10 can be trapped in the water-absorbent sheet 30. Therefore, it is possible to alleviate the generation of foul odor caused by the urine accumulated in the main body 10.

The animal toilet 1 is provided with a drawer portion 16 that can be inserted and removed from the main body portion 10. As a result, the used water-absorbent sheet 30 can be easily replaced with a new one.
(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 8 is an end view showing a second embodiment of the animal toilet according to the present invention. The animal toilet 2 includes a main body 10, a partition member 12, a vibrating portion 14, a drawer portion 16, a plurality of granules 20, and a water absorbing sheet 30. The configurations of the main body portion 10, the partition member 12, the vibrating portion 14, the drawer portion 16, and the water-absorbent sheet 30 are as described in the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of granules 20 include the granules 22 (first granules) and the granules 24 (second granules). The granules 22 and 24 have different diameters. That is, the granular material 22 has a first diameter, and the granular material 24 has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. As the first and second diameters, for example, a combination of a first diameter of 5 mm or more and less than 8 mm and a second diameter of 1 mm or more and less than 3 mm can be considered. The second diameter is preferably one-third or less of the first diameter, and more preferably 15% or less of the first diameter.

In this way, the granular material 20 is formed by mixing the granular materials 22 and 24 having different diameters. Here, when the weight ratios of the granules 22 and 24 to the whole of the granules 22 and 24 are P1 and P2, respectively, it is preferable that P1 ≧ P2. That is, it is preferable that the weight ratio of the granular material 22 is equal to or higher than the weight ratio of the granular material 24. As the values of P1 and P2, for example, a combination of P1 of 50% or more and 90% or less and P2 of 10% or more and 50% or less can be considered. Other configurations of the animal litter box 2 are the same as those of the animal litter box 1.

The effect of the animal toilet 2 will be described. Granules 20 include granules 22 and 24 having different diameters. In this case, the granules 24 having a relatively small diameter can be inserted into the gaps between the granules 22. Therefore, the density of the plurality of granules 20 can be further increased. Further, as the granules 24 enter the gaps between the granules 22, the granules 22 are mainly exposed on the surface of the aggregate composed of the plurality of granules 20 (the surface that the animal steps on during excretion). By exposing the granules 22 having a relatively large diameter to the surface in this way, there is an advantage that the granules 20 are less likely to adhere to the soles of animals.

When the second diameter (diameter of the granules 24) is one-third or less of the first diameter (diameter of the granules 22), the granules 24 are likely to enter the gaps between the granules 22. When the second diameter is 15% or less of the first diameter, the granules 24 are more likely to enter the gaps between the granules 22.

As described above, the larger the diameter of the granular material 22, the more difficult it is for the granular material 22 to adhere to the sole of the animal. From this point of view, the first diameter is preferably 5 mm or more. However, if the diameter of the granular material 22 is made too large, the production of the granular material 22 may be hindered, so that the first diameter is preferably less than 8 mm.

On the other hand, by reducing the diameter of the granules 24, the granules 24 can easily enter the gaps between the granules 22. From this point of view, the second diameter is preferably less than 3 mm. However, if the second diameter is made too small, the production of the granular material 24 may be hindered, so that the second diameter is preferably 1 mm or more.

From the viewpoint of increasing the ratio of the granules 22 exposed on the surface of the aggregate composed of the plurality of granules 20, the weight ratio of the granules 22 (P1) and the weight ratio of the granules 24 (P2) are P1 ≧ P2. It is preferable to have a relationship. However, if the weight ratio of the granules 24 is too small, the gaps between the granules 22 cannot be sufficiently filled. Therefore, the value of P2 is preferably 10% or more (the value of P1 is 90% or less). .. Other effects of the animal litter box 2 are similar to those of the animal litter box 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the above embodiment, the case where the partition member 12 has a plate shape is illustrated. However, the partition member 12 may have a box shape as shown in FIG. In the figure, the partition member 12 has a box shape including a bottom surface portion 12a and a side surface portion 12b. The configuration of the bottom surface portion 12a is the same as the configuration of the plate-shaped partition member 12 in the above embodiment. That is, the plate-shaped partition member 12 in the above embodiment corresponds to the partition member 12 shown in FIG. 9 from which the side surface portion 12b is removed.

The granular body 20 is arranged on the bottom surface portion 12a of the partition member 12. The upper end of the side surface portion 12b is preferably located higher than the surface of the aggregate 20 composed of the plurality of granules 20 arranged on the bottom surface portion 12a. The hole 13 is provided only in the bottom surface portion 12a of the bottom surface portion 12a and the side surface portion 12b. The bottom surface portion 12a and the side surface portion 12b are separated from the side surface portion 10b of the main body portion 10. The partition member 12 can be arranged in the main body portion 10 in a state where the entire periphery thereof (the entire circumference of the bottom surface portion 12a and the entire outer surface of the side surface portion 12b) is separated from the side surface portion 10b. By forming the partition member 12 into a box shape in this way, it is possible to prevent the granular material 20 from spilling from the partition member 12 during vibration.

In the above embodiment, the case where the drawer portion 16 is provided is illustrated. However, it is not essential to provide the drawer portion 16. When the drawer portion 16 is not provided, the water-absorbent sheet 30 is arranged directly on the bottom surface portion 10a. In that case, as a matter of course, the opening 11 is not provided in the side surface portion 10b.

In the above embodiment, the case where the water-absorbent sheet 30 is arranged in the main body 10 is illustrated. However, it is not essential to dispose the water absorbing sheet 30 in the main body 10. If the water-absorbent sheet 30 is not provided, the drawer 16 is not provided either.

1 Animal toilet 2 Animal toilet 10 Main body 10a Bottom 10b Side 10c Protrusion 11 Opening 12 Partition member 12a Bottom 12b Side 13 Hole 14 Vibration 16 Drawer 17 Handle 20 Granule 22 Granule (1st Granules)
24 Granules (second granules)
30 Water-absorbent sheet S1 Upper space S2 Lower space

Claims (16)

A box-shaped main body with a bottom and side surfaces,
A partition member having a hole for passing urine to vertically partition the inside of the main body,
A vibrating part that vibrates the partition member and
An animal toilet characterized by being equipped with. In the animal toilet according to claim 1,
The partition member is a plate-shaped animal toilet. In the animal toilet according to claim 1 or 2.
The partition member is an animal toilet that is not fixed to the side surface portion of the main body portion. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The main body portion has a protruding portion provided so as to project from the side surface portion to the inside of the main body portion.
The partition member is an animal toilet placed on the protrusion. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The partition member is an animal toilet that is separated from the side surface portion of the main body portion. In the animal toilet according to claim 5.
The partition member is an animal toilet that can be arranged in the main body portion in a state where the entire circumference of the partition member is separated from the side surface portion. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An animal toilet in which a cushioning material is attached around the partition member. In the animal toilet according to claim 7.
The cushioning material is a rubber animal toilet. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
An animal toilet that has water repellency and includes a plurality of granules arranged on the partition member. In the animal toilet according to claim 9.
The plurality of granules are animal toilets including a first granule having a first diameter and a second granule having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. In the animal toilet according to claim 10.
The animal toilet whose second diameter is one-third or less of the first diameter. In the animal toilet according to claim 11.
The animal toilet whose second diameter is 15% or less of the first diameter. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
The first diameter is 5 mm or more.
The animal litter box having a second diameter of less than 3 mm. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 10 to 13.
When the weight ratios of the first granules and the second granules to the total of the first granules and the second granules are P1 and P2, respectively, the animal toilet where P1 ≧ P2. .. In the animal toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
An animal toilet provided below the partition member and provided with a water-absorbent sheet that absorbs the urine that has passed through the hole. In the animal toilet according to claim 15.
A drawer portion for accommodating the water-absorbent sheet is provided.
An opening is formed in the side surface portion of the main body portion.
The drawer portion is an animal toilet that can be inserted and removed from the main body portion through the opening.

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