JP2024055066A - Cat litter box - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] The object of the present invention is to provide a cat litter box that can be easily cleaned without using cat litter. [Solution] A cat litter box is made that is placed above a drain hole formed in a floor surface, and is characterized by comprising: a circular drainage section with multiple through holes, a circular excrement tray with a ring-shaped frame that abuts against the periphery of the drainage section and extends from the periphery, a sidewall that is provided on the outer periphery of the ring-shaped frame, and a handle that is provided on the circular excrement tray. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a cat litter box.

For cat litter boxes, cat litter, which is made mainly from zeolite, bentonite, silica gel, paper, soybean pulp, etc., is widely used. Cat litter makes it easy to clean by removing the litter that has hardened with urine, and some types of cat litter also have a deodorizing effect, making it easy to dispose of cat feces and urine.

However, cat litter needs to be replaced regularly, which is an economic burden in the long run, and since the cat litter itself becomes waste, it is not environmentally friendly. Furthermore, disposal of cat litter is complicated, as different municipalities have different disposal methods and different disposal methods for different main ingredients. Some cat litter can be flushed down the toilet, but there are problems with clogging drainage pipes and the disposal capacity of septic tanks.

Examples of pet litter-free toilets include a cat toilet bowl consisting of a flushing unit that is directly connected to the water supply and a cat toilet seat (see Patent Document 1), and a two-tiered flushing toilet for small animals (see Patent Document 2), which has a tray with a mesh-like bottom that receives feces placed on the top of the box, and a urine receiving tray with a slope and multiple small holes through which water can be discharged below it.

JP 2019-201620 A JP 2010-154830 A

The objective of the present invention is to provide a cat litter box that can be easily cleaned without using cat litter.

In the course of intensive research into solving the above problems, the inventors focused on the tendency of cats to be interested in circles. They discovered a cat litter box that is circular and can be placed over a drain, so that cats will use it habitually and urine can be discharged from the drain, and they completed the present invention.

That is, the present invention is as follows.
[1] A cat litter box that is installed above a drain hole formed on a floor surface,
A circular drainage section having a plurality of through holes, and an annular frame body that is in contact with the periphery of the drainage section and extends from the periphery;
A side wall provided on an outer edge of the annular frame;
A circular feces and urine tray having
A gripping portion provided on the circular feces and urine tray;
A cat litter box comprising:
[2] The cat litter box described in [1] above, characterized in that it is provided with legs on the bottom surface of the feces and urine tray to form a gap between the feces and urine tray and the floor surface through which liquid can flow.
[3] The cat litter box described in [1] above, characterized in that the handle is arranged horizontally at the same height as the upper end of the side wall and has an ear-shaped portion with a straight edge on part of its outer periphery.
[4] The cat litter box described in [1] above, characterized in that the bottom surface of the feces and urine tray has one or more downwardly extending protrusions for engaging with the drain outlet.
[5] The cat litter box according to [1] above, characterized in that the feces and urine tray has a sloping portion that slopes downward from the outside toward the drainage portion.

The cat litter box of the present invention eliminates the need for cat litter, making it economical. In addition, urine does not accumulate in the cat litter box, but flows directly into the drain, making it an excellent way to combat odors.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cat litter box according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a cat litter box according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cat litter box according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cat litter box according to one embodiment of the present invention taken along line AA. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of a cat litter box according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing an embodiment further including a cover. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing how a cat litter box according to an embodiment of the present invention is used when installed over a bathroom drain. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a cat litter box according to one embodiment of the present invention when installed next to a wall. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a cat litter box according to one embodiment of the present invention installed in a corner.

The cat litter box of the present invention is a cat litter box that is installed above a drain hole formed on a floor surface,
A circular drainage section having a plurality of through holes, and an annular frame body that is in contact with the periphery of the drainage section and extends from the periphery;
A side wall provided on an outer edge of the annular frame;
A circular feces and urine tray having
A gripping portion provided on the circular feces and urine tray;
Any cat litter box characterized by having the above features is acceptable, and hereinafter referred to as "the cat litter box in question."

(Manure tray)
The circular feces and urine tray includes a circular drainage section and an annular frame that abuts the periphery of the drainage section and extends from the periphery. When viewed from above, the central drainage section is circular, and the cat litter box itself is also perfectly circular excluding the handle.

The drainage section is a section that drains water when a cat urinates or when the cat litter box is flushed with water. When a cat defecates or urinates, the drainage section retains the feces and allows the urine to flow through multiple vertical through-holes into the drain located below the cat litter box. Since most of the urine is discharged from the drainage section and very little remains on the cat litter box, odors derived from urine, such as ammonia odor, are less likely to remain. Furthermore, by providing multiple through-holes, it is possible to collect feces while enhancing the drainage function.

The drainage area is circular, i.e. the outer edge is circular, making it easier for cats, who tend to prefer circular shapes, to approach the cat litter box. The size of the drainage area can be, for example, within a diameter of 30 cm, 25 cm, 20 cm, or 15 cm.

The shape of the through holes in the drainage section is not particularly limited, but may be circular, elliptical, lattice-like, rectangular, trapezoidal, linear, curved, or a combination of these.

The frame is annular and is provided so as to abut against and extend from the periphery of the drainage section. When the cat defecates or urinates, the annular frame retains the feces and guides the urine to the drainage section. All or part of the frame may be formed with an inclined portion that slopes downward from the outside toward the center, and this inclined portion can assist the urine on the frame to flow to the through-hole of the drainage section.

In addition, the outer edge of the frame is preferably provided with a side wall extending upward to prevent feces and urine from leaking out of the cat litter box. The height of the side wall can be 1 to 4 cm, preferably 2 to 3 cm. The side wall is preferably provided vertically, but may extend outward at an angle of 80 degrees or less from the vertical. The side wall may also be provided with a roughly arc-shaped or roughly L-shaped cover that covers the lower part of the side wall from its upper end. The lower part of the cat litter box is likely to become soiled with feces and urine, mold, etc. Therefore, by providing a cover, it is possible to visually hide the dirt at the lower part of the cat litter box when the cat litter box is viewed from an angle.

(Convex part on the bottom)
The bottom surface of the feces and urine tray may be provided with one or more downwardly extending protrusions for engaging with the drain. By inserting and engaging the protrusions with the drain, it is possible to prevent the cat from touching the cat litter box and shifting its position from the top surface of the drain. In addition, by providing two or more protrusions, the effect of engaging with the drain is further improved, and it is also possible to prevent the cat litter box from rotating.

The diameter of the above-mentioned protrusions is preferably a size that allows insertion into a typical hole used for drains, and can be 1 to 5 mm. When multiple protrusions are provided, the diameters of the respective protrusions may be the same or different. Furthermore, when multiple protrusions are provided, the positions of the protrusions may be horizontally adjustable to accommodate the arrangement of various drain holes.

(Grip portion)
A grip is provided on the outer edge of the frame of the excrement tray. The number of grips may be one, or two, three, or four or more. The grip may be detachably provided on the frame. The cat litter box can be gripped by the grip, making it easy to remove excrement from the cat litter box. Furthermore, when the cat litter box is used in a bathroom, the grip makes it easy to wash the cat litter box itself with shower water or water drawn from a washbasin, reducing the effort required for washing and minimizing the amount of water required for washing. At least one of the grips may be provided with a hole, making it possible to hang the cat litter box on a wall when not in use or by hanging it on the wall using the hole.

Furthermore, at least one, preferably two of the gripping parts may be ear-shaped, and by making them this shape, the cat litter box itself can be designed to be visually appealing to cat owners. The ear-shaped gripping parts may have a linear part on the outer periphery, and by having this linear part, when the cat litter box is installed against a wall, the linear part can be arranged along the wall to prevent the cat litter box from shifting sideways or rotating, and the position of the drain part from shifting from above the drain outlet. Two ear-shaped gripping parts may be provided symmetrically, and a linear part may be arranged on the outside of each of them. When two gripping parts are provided, they can be arranged symmetrically with the same horizontal length relative to the upper end surface of the side wall, or they can be arranged at a specified angle relative to the upper end surface of the side wall. By arranging them at a specified angle, urine or water can be prevented from remaining on the gripping parts, even if only slightly, and the mold prevention and sterilization effects can be enhanced. By aligning the horizontal length of the top end of the side walls and arranging them symmetrically, the cat litter box can be placed so that it touches two surfaces that form a corner, which makes it possible to prevent the cat litter box from becoming misaligned.

(leg)
The bottom surface of the frame or the feces and urine tray may be provided with legs for forming a gap through which liquid can flow between the bottom surface of the frame or the feces and urine tray and the floor surface on which the cat litter box is placed. The number of legs may be one, or may be two, three, four, or five or more. The height of the legs may be 2 to 40 mm. When the protrusions are provided, it is preferable that the length of the legs is at least 2 mm shorter than the protrusions.

The materials for the drainage section, frame, side walls, gripping section, and legs can include stainless steel, plastic, rubber, silicon, and carbon fiber, and the colors for each can include ivory and white. In addition, the legs can be made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as rubber or ABS-based elastic resin, to prevent slippage with the floor surface, or the coefficient of friction can be increased by having a fine uneven shape.

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Figures 1 to 3 are respectively a plan view, a bottom view and a perspective view of the cat litter box 1 of the present invention. There is a circular plastic drainage section 12 with a diameter of 100 mm and multiple through holes 11 in the center, and its periphery abuts against a ring-shaped frame body 13. The frame body 13 has a side wall 14 with a height of 250 mm in the vertical direction on its outer edge, and the drainage section 12, frame body 13 and side wall 14 form a feces and urine receptacle 15.

The frame 13 has a gripping portion 22a with a hole 21a, an ear-shaped gripping portion 22b with a hole 21b, and an ear-shaped gripping portion 22c with a hole 21c. The outer periphery of the gripping portions 22b and 22c is linear, and the linear portion is formed so as to extend horizontally relative to the surface of the upper end of the side wall 14.

Four legs 31, each 5 mm thick, are provided on the bottom surface of the frame. These legs 31 create a gap between the frame 13 and urine and feces tray 15 and the floor surface on which the cat litter box 1 is placed. The formation of this gap allows urine that flows out of the through-holes 11 of the drainage section 12, or cleaning liquid when the cat litter box is cleaned with liquid, to flow into the drain without spreading along the floor surface.

Figure 4 is an A-A cross-sectional view of the cat litter box 1 of the present invention. The frame 13 is formed with an inclined portion that slopes downward from the outside to the inside. In addition, two 20 mm long protrusions 32 are provided on the bottom surface of the drainage section 12, and are provided with legs 31 that are 5 mm high and provided on the bottom surface of the frame 13. Figure 5 is a B-B cross-sectional view of the cat litter box 1 of the present invention, in which an arc-shaped cover 33 is provided from the side wall.

Figure 6 shows how the cat litter box is used when it is installed over the drain of a bathroom, with the cat litter box 1 being installed above the drain 41 of the bathroom.

Figures 7 and 8 are conceptual diagrams of a cat litter box 1 installed along the wall of a bathroom. As shown in Figure 7, the straight line of the ear-shaped grip 22b is arranged along the wall, so that even if a cat touches the cat litter box 1, the cat litter box 1 can be prevented from shifting sideways or rotating, which would cause the drain 12 to shift from above the drain. Also, as shown in Figure 8, if the drain 41 is provided on the floor at the corner of the bathroom, the horizontal lengths of the grips 22b and 22c can be aligned to come into contact with both of the two surfaces that form the angle, making it possible to further prevent the cat litter box 1 from shifting or rotating.

Reference Signs List 1 Cat litter box 11 Through hole 12 Drainage section 13 Frame body 14 Side wall 15 Feces and urine tray 21a-c Holes 22a-c Handle section 21c Hole 31 Legs 32 Convex section 33 Cover 41 Drainage port

Claims (5)

A cat litter box that is installed above a drain hole formed on a floor surface,
A circular drainage section having a plurality of through holes, and an annular frame body that is in contact with the periphery of the drainage section and extends from the periphery;
A side wall provided on an outer edge of the annular frame;
A circular feces and urine tray having
A gripping portion provided on the circular feces and urine tray;
A cat litter box comprising: The cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with legs on the bottom surface of the feces and urine tray to form a gap between the feces and urine tray and the floor surface through which liquid can flow. The cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle is horizontally disposed at the same height as the upper end of the side wall, and part of the outer periphery is ear-shaped with a straight line. The cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom surface of the feces and urine tray has one or more downwardly extending protrusions for engaging with the drain outlet. 2. The cat litter box according to claim 1, wherein the feces and urine receptacle has a sloping portion that slopes downward from the outside toward the drainage portion.