WO2002054860A1

WO2002054860A1 - Cat lavatory

Info

Publication number: WO2002054860A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/001530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dietmar Lange
Original assignee: Mars, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-01-11
Filing date: 2002-01-11
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Also published as: DE10100912C1

Abstract

A cat lavatory with a pan (1) which has a floor (5) leading into an outlet pipe (2), a flushing means for flushing the pan, a spreader means (4) for spreading cat litter (12) over the floor of the pan, a sensor device (6) for detecting the presence of a cat on the floor of the pan, and a control means for controlling the flushing means and spreader means, the control means being arranged such that, after the expiry of a predetermined first period of time after the sensor device has detected that a cat has left the floor of the pan, the flushing action is triggered, and, after the expiry of a predetermined second period of time after the triggering of the flushing action, the spreader means, is activated in order to spread cat litter over the floor of the pan, characterised in that the spreader means and/or a projecting edge portion of the pan are/is located in the region of the outlet (7) spaced apart from the floor of the pan, whereby the pan is delimited towards the outlet and the outlet is covered in a manner such as to render it safe for cats.

Description

"Cat lavatory"

The invention relates to a cat lavatory according to the preamble of Claim 1 , as is known from DE 199 03 953.

A disadvantage of this prior art is the fact that the outlet pipe can be reached by a cat, so that it has to be covered by a flap which needs to be opened when the water flush is triggered. This requires a complicated mechanical construction, which leads to an increased susceptibility to failure and higher manufacturing costs.

It is therefore the object of the invention to create a cat lavatory of the generic type possessing a simpler mechanical construction and with reduced susceptibility to failure.

This object is achieved by a cat lavatory according to Claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained below with reference to one embodiment and making reference to a drawing, in which (the sole)

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a cat lavatory in accordance with the invention.

The cat lavatory shown in Fig. 1 consists of a pan 1 with an outlet pipe 2 mounted to a wall 13 like a conventional lavatory, wherein the outlet pipe 2 has a trap 16 and is connected to an exit pipe (not shown) disposed in the wall 13 leading to a domestic sewage disposal network. The pan 1 has a planar sloping floor 5 leading into the outlet pipe 2 and has a layer of cat litter 12 resting on it, for example made of recycled waste paper, in which the cat can bury its excrement. The pan 1 also has an inwardly projecting rim 8 with a flushing channel 8a running round it and an anti-slip step portion 9 which makes it easier for a cat to reach the floor 5 of the pan.

Inserted into the rim 8 or the flushing channel 8a is a sensor or a sensor device 6 to detect whether there is a cat on the floor 5 of the pan or whether it has left the floor of the pan again. By means of a flushing system, which is not shown, water, for example from a conventional cistern, can be introduced into the flushing channel 8a, and the cat litter 12 mixed with excrement located on the floor 5 of the pan can be flushed through the outlet pipe 2 into the sewage disposal network.

Some distance above the floor 5 of the pan, in the region of the outlet 7, there is a spreader means 4 having a rotary spreader 10 with a motor drive 11. The distance between the lower portion of the spreader means 4 and the floor 5 of the pan is such that a cat can by no means become trapped in the outlet 7, e.g. with its head.

A hopper 3 for cat litter 12 with a removable lid 14 is disposed adjacent to and higher than the spreader means 4.

A projecting edge portion 18 of the pan 1, which can be a part of the inwardly projecting rim 8, is located adjacent to the spreader means 4 before the outlet 7 and, because it is only a small distance away from the floor 5 of the pan, it likewise contributes to ensuring that a cat cannot fall into the outlet 7. In addition, the outlet 7 can be designed with a relatively small diameter of 5 cm, for example, or with a flat or oval cross-section.

The way the cat lavatory of the invention works is as follows: after the sensor device 6 has detected that a cat has left the floor 5 of the pan, the sensor device triggers the flushing action after a predetermined first period of time. If the floor 5 of the pan has a lotus coating, the floor can be cleaned leaving virtually nothing behind. After the expiry of a predetermined second period of time after the triggering or completion of the effect of the flushing action, the spreader means 4 is activated such that an even layer of cat litter is provided on the floor 5 of the pan.

Both the flushing action and the spreader means 4 can be designed for triggering individually by hand so that any cleaning work that may be necessary can be performed. In particular, a central control means can be present and arranged such that the sensor device 6 is deactivated after the flushing action has been triggered manually and is automatically activated after the spreader means has been activated manually, so that the cat lavatory is ready for use immediately.

Claims

1. A cat lavatory with a pan (1) which has a floor (5) leading into an outlet pipe (2), a flushing means for flushing the pan (1), a spreader means (4) for spreading cat litter (12) over the floor (5) of the pan, a sensor device (6) for detecting the presence of a cat on the floor (5) of the pan, and a control means for controlling the flushing means and spreader means (4), the control means being arranged such that, after the expiry of a predetermined first period of time after the sensor device (6) has detected that a cat has left the floor (5) of the pan, the flushing action is triggered, and, after the expiry of a predetermined second period of time after the triggering of the flushing action, the spreader means (4), is activated in order to spread cat litter (12) over the floor (5) of the pan, characterised in that the spreader means (4) and/or a projecting edge portion (18) of the pan (1) are/is located in the region of the outlet (7) spaced apart from the floor (5) of the pan, whereby the pan (1) is delimited towards the outlet and the outlet (7) is covered in a manner such as to render it safe for cats.

2. A cat lavatory as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the floor (5) of the pan is substantially planar and slopes in the direction of the outlet (7).

3. A cat lavatory as claimed in either of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that at least the floor (5) of the pan has a lotus coating.

4. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pan (1) has an inwardly projecting rim (8) with a flushing channel (8a).

5. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pan (1) has an anti-slip step portion (9).

6. A cat lavatory as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the anti-slip step portion (9) is formed on the inwardly projecting rim (8).

7. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spreader means (4) has a rotary spreader (10) with an electric motor drive (11).

8. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor device (6) has an infrared detector and optionally an infrared sensor, a light barrier or an ultrasonic path.

9. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flushing means and the spreader means (4) can be triggered individually by hand.

10. A cat lavatory as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that the sensor device (6) is deactivated after the flushing means has been triggered manually and is activated after the spreader means (4) has been activated manually.

11. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spreader means has a hopper (3) with a removable lid (14).

12. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor device is inserted into a projecting rim (8) of the pan (1).

13. A cat lavatory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outlet pipe (2) has a trap (16).