WO2005077156A1

WO2005077156A1 - Bath apparatus for pets

Info

Publication number: WO2005077156A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/000399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bong-Hyun Kim; Kazuo Yamakawa
Original assignee: Daiwa Tekuno Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-02-11
Filing date: 2005-02-07
Publication date: 2005-08-25
Also published as: JP3104931U; KR200348736Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a bath apparatus for pets. The bath apparatus includes air outlets formed at a center of the body for generating bubbles, which maximizes a massage effect and clearly washes hairs of the pet, in particular wash abdomen or genital organs of the pet. A door installed to a wall of the body serves as a foot board when the bath apparatus is used as a dog house. In addition, a feed box having a feed container and a water bucket is installed to an interior of the bathtub, so that the bath apparatus is used a dog house.

Description

BATH APPARATUS FOR PETS

Technical Field The present invention relates to a bathtub for pets, and more particularly, to a bath apparatus for pets capable of being used both a bathtub and a house.

Background Art Domestic and foreign businesses related to pets make market of above several hundred millions a year. The reason why the business related to the pets is rapidly increased is that alienation of human beings is prominent and thus human beings raising pets abruptly increase, due to increase of nuclear families and celibates. Financial reserve also plays a part in increasing the pets market. The pets market is abruptly increased, but there are little products for bathing and drying pets. It is necessary to develop such a product in view of bathing pets a week at least. Since there is no product for bathing and drying pets, a pet is generally put in a bathtub in the home, is bathed with a shower, and is then dried with a hairdryer. If the pets are bathed in the household bath, the pet shakes soap bubbles and water off pet hairs, thereby messing a room or bathroom and covering a man with the soap bubbles and water. In addition, it is for the man to bath the pet since the pet twists his/her body and turns his/her head. When the pets are bathed, the man may get a wound by the agitating pet. Also, since the pets shake water off the pet hairs, the room or bathroom are messed and the man is covered with the water. Also, after bathing, the pet hairs are dried with the hairdryer. At that time, it is very unsanitary that the fallen hairs drop on a floor or fly. Meanwhile, a bathtub having an automatic massage function is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 278878, in which a bubble generator, an instant water heater, and a hot blast heater are installed in a body having a rounded transparent plate coupled to a front side of the bathtub and a cover coupled to an upper portion, so as to take a hot bath, perform massage with bubbles, and dry the hairs with hot blast. The utility model is useful as compared with a conventional bathing method (or means) for pets which bathes the pet in the bathtub in the home. However, the utility model has the following drawbacks. First, since the rounded transparent plate is coupled to the front side of the bathtub, a neck of a pet dog is likely get a wound during bathing. Legs of the pet dog come out from the transparent plate during bathing, which makes the bath difficult. Second, since the transparent plate is installed to a lower position, the water likely overflows over the transparent plate when the bathtub is filled with the water. Also, the water splashes around the periphery or a body ofthe man is smeared with the bathed water. Third, since the instant water heater for heating the water and the shower for allowing the man to wash the pet dog are separately installed to the bathtub, manufacturing time and process are complicated, and thus the bathtub becomes expensive. Also, since a time is required to heat the water, the bathing time is prolonged. Fourth, since a bubble supply tube for generating bubbles is installed along an internal edge of the bathtub, a massage effect using the bubbles are decreased, and it is difficult to clearly wash abdomen or genital organs ofthe pet dog. Fifth, there is limitation on a size of the pet dog when bathing. That is, a few bathtubs are separately prepared depending upon the size of the pet dog. For example, a small size of bathtub is prepared to bath a small pet dog, such as Maltese, Poodle or Chihuahua. A large size of bathtub is prepared to bath a middle pet dog, such as Jindogae pup or Sapsaldog. Finally, since the bathtub is provided with separate units, such as a soft soap supplier and the shower, the bathtub is not utilized as other service, for example, a dog house.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems involved in the prior art, and to provide a bath apparatus for pets capable of preventing a body of the pet from being wounded. Another object ofthe preset invention is to provide a bath apparatus for pets capable of preventing water from overflowing or splashing over the bathtub due to motion of the pet, in which a front portion ofthe bathtub is closed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bath apparatus for pets, in which a bubble supply tube is installed to a center ofthe bathtub to maximize a massage effect. Further another object of the present invention is to provide a bath apparatus for pets capable of bathing the pet, regardless of a size ofthe pet. Further still another object ofthe present invention is to provide a bath apparatus for pets capable of being both a bathtub and a house. In order to accomplish the above and other objects, there is provided a bath apparatus for pets including a water supply port for supplying water into an interior of a bathtub from an exterior, a drain port for discharging the water from the interior to the exterior, and a dryer for supplying hot air into the interior of the bathtub, comprising: a partition disposed at a rear of a body; an outlet formed at a center ofthe liner for generating bubbles; a first vent hole for exposing a nose of the pet for allow the pet to breathe; a reservoir installed to the partition for storing feed and water; and a transparent cover installed to an upper portion ofthe body and formed with a second vent hole. Preferably, a door having a handle is installed to one side of the body so that it serves as a gate when the bath apparatus is used as a dog house. Also, the door is used as a foot board when the bath apparatus is used.

Brief Description of he Drawings The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub apparatus for pets capable of using both a bathtub and a house according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view ofthe bathtub apparatus in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofthe bathtub apparatus in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a base plate in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a feed container and a vessel installed in a body of a bathtub apparatus.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the bath apparatus according to the embodiment ofthe present invention is applied to a pet dog, the bath apparatus may be applied any kinds of pets that are raised in a home. In the following description, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals. First, with the bath apparatus for pets according to the present invention, a bubble outlet is installed to a center portion of a bathtub to increase a bubble massage effect and, in particularly, to clearly wash abdomen or genital organs of the pet dog. A door is installed to one side of a body, so that the bath apparatus may be used as a dog house. In addition, a feed box having a feed container and a water bucket is installed to an interior of the bathtub, a separate space is not required to feed the pet dog when the bath apparatus is used a dog house. A front side of the body and an upper portion of a cover are formed with openings, and a transparent lid having a plurality of venting holes is installed to the opening, which realizes a practical bathtub. The bath apparatus for pets according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10 serving as a bathtub, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A cover 40 made of a transparent resin is coupled to an upper portion of the body 10 by means of a hinge, and consists of a front portion and a rear portion, which will be described in detail hereinafter. A front door 11 is coupled to a front portion of the body 10 by means of hinges 13 and 13a so as to serve as a gate and a foot board when the bath apparatus is used as a dog house. Elastic door supports 11a are attached to the door 11. The portion of the body to which the door 11 is installed is waterproofed to prevent the water from being leaked from the body 10. Preferably, a packing is attached to a rim ofthe door 11. In addition, the front side of the body 10 is formed with a first opening 10a at an upper portion of the front side, and a lid 12 is installed to the opening 10a, and is formed with a plurality of venting holes 12a at an upper end ofthe lid. When bathing the pet dog, a nose of the pet dog is exposed through the lid 12. The pet dog does not stick his/her head out ofthe opening 10a. Specifically, the reason why the front side ofthe body is not opened and the lid 12 is installed to the opened portion is because it prevents the water contained in the body 10 from overflowing out the body 10. Also, it prevents dirt from splashing about due to the motion of the pet dog. Furthermore, if a neck of the pet dog is completely exposed outward, it is difficult to wash the neck and a back. The present invention solves the above drawback. The body 10 includes a liner 30 seated on a bottom of the body, as shown in Fig. 2.

The liner 30 has a plurality of liner supports 31 at edge of the bottom of the liner. The liner supports 31 are provided with threaded portions 31a to adjust a height of the liner supports. The liner 30 is formed with a plurality of rectangular holes 32 spaced apart at regular intervals, as shown in Fig. 4. The holes 32 serve as a vent hole for circulating air when drying the pet dog. Also, the bath apparatus is utilized as the dog house, foreign substances are dropped down through the holes 32 to keep the liner 30 clean. The liner 30 has a plurality of air outlets 33 for generating bubbles, an air supply line 34 for supplying the air to the air outlets 33, and a coupling 35 for coupling a bottom of the liner 30 with a discharge pipe 17a of a bubble generator 17. With the construction, the air generated by the bubble generator 17 is discharged to the bathtub through the air supply line 34 and the air outlet 33. Preferably, the liner 30 is made of stainless steel to inhibit corrosion for a long time. Alternatively, the liner may be made of plastic. Also, the body 10 includes a feed container 60 for keeping feed or water therein and a water bucket 60a for containing water at the front of a partition 20 installed to a rear of the body 10, when the bathtub is utilized as the dog house, as shown in Fig. 5. The feed container 60 and the water bucket 60a will now be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, the construction ofthe feed container 60 is identical with that of the water bucket 60a, except for a size of a hole 61a formed at a bottom of the feed container 60 and the water bucket 60a. Specifically, the feed container 60 and the water bucket 60a are made of transparent plastic or acryl, and has a reservoir 61 formed with the hole 61a, and a vessel 62 attached to a lower portion of the reservoir 61. The feed container 60 or the water bucket 60a is detachably coupled to the partition 20 by hanging a hook 63 provided to a rear of the reservoir 61 on the rack 27 provided to the partition 20. The feed container 60 and the water bucket 60a are attached when the bath apparatus is used as the dog house. The partition 20 is provided at an upper portion thereof with a water supply unit for supplying the water. Specifically, the water supply unit has a first water supply port 15 connected to an external tube at a rear ofthe partition 20, at which the water to be supplied is heated by a heater 14. The first water supply port 14 is provided at a front end thereof with a second water supply port 22 for spraying the water toward the front ofthe partition 20, i.e., the interior of the body. The partition 20 has an ozone generator 23 for sterilizing the interior of the body and a lightening lamp 25 for using the bathtub at night. Also, the partition 20 has a control box 19, a bubble generator 17 for generating bubbles in the water at a desired air pressure, and a dryer 18 for supplying hot air into the interior ofthe body 10. The bubble generator 17 is connected to a discharge pipe 17a, and the discharge pipe 17a passes the partition 20, and is coupled to the coupling 35 ofthe liner 30 installed to the bathtub of the body. In particular, the air outlets 33 are not formed along an edge ofthe body as the prior art, but is formed at the center ofthe liner 30 so as to improve a massage effect using the bubbles to clearly wash abdomen or genital organs of the pet dog. The dryer is connected to a blasting port 21 through a tube 18a to supply the hot air into the interior ofthe body. The cover 40 is coupled to the upper portion of the body 10, and is formed with a second vent hole 40a at the center ofthe cover 40, as shown in Fig. 2. A lid 41 is installed to the second vent hole 40a by means of a hinge, and is formed with a plurality of vent holes 41a which are covered by a filter 42. Specifically, when the pet dog is bathed, a user can give the pet dog massage with a hand of the user through the second vent hole 40a, with the lid 41 being opened, so as to put the pet dog at easy. The filter 42 is means for preventing the fairs from flying outward when drying the pet dog. The cover 40 is composed of a front cover portion and a rear cover portion coupled to the front portion by means of a hinge 43. The front cover portion serves as a lid opening or closing the body, and the rear cover portion is fixed to the body by means of an adhesive or fastener. The rear cover portion is provided with a switch panel 44, as shown in Fig. 1, and the switch panel has a time display 44a and a temperature display 44b. Also, the switch panel 44 is provided with switches for operating units related with bathing and drying. The time display 44a displays time for bathing progressing item. Preferably, the switch panel 44 is waterproofed, and the switches provide to the switch panel is a touch switch. The switch panel 44 is provided with an automatic water supply switch and an automatic water discharge switch. The construction of these switches is well known in the art (for example, water and discharge units installed to a washer machine), and thus the detained description thereof will be omitted herein. The washing and drying operation of the bath apparatus may be automatically controlled. The partition 20 has the ozone generator 23 for sterilizing the interior of the body, the lightening lamp 25 for using the bathtub at night, and a temperature sensor 26 at the upper portion of the partition. The partition 20 has a sensor 24 for adjusting an amount of water to be supplied at one side ofthe partition. Reference numeral 14 indicates a heater for heating water, 16 indicates a rear door, 16a indicates a cable receptacle, 17b indicates a check valve, 21a indicates a ratable grill, 50 indicates a drain port, 70 indicates a cast, and 80 indicates an air inlet. A process of washing the pet dog using the bath apparatus of the present invention will now be described in detail. First, after the pet dog to be bathed is put into the bathtub, the user determines an amount ofthe water to be supplied with the sensor 24 depending upon a size ofthe pet dog.

The bubble generator 17 is operated by the bubble generating switch provided to the switch panel 44 shown in Fig. 1, and air is generated in the interior of the body 10 by the bubble generator 17. A tube is connected to the first water supply port 15 provided to the body 10 so that the body is filled with the water from a conventional conduit. At that time, a constant amount of the water is supplied to the body by the sensor 24. Also, the supplied water flows through the heater 14 disposed between the first water supply port 15 and the second water supply port 22 to be heated, and the temperature of the water is detected by the sensor 26. The detected temperature is displayed on the temperature display 44b. As such, the bath apparatus gives the pet dog a massage and smoothly bathes it. After completing the bath, the drain valve is operated by the drain switch of the switch panel 44 to drain the water through the discharge port 50 formed at the bottom ofthe body 10. Then, the dryer 18 is operated by the dryer switch provided to the switch panel 44 to dry the pet dog. With the above description, the bath apparatus according to the present invention has the following advantages. First, the bath apparatus includes a closed front side and the vent holes for allowing breath of the pet dog and the cover for preventing the neck of the pet dog from being exposed outward to sufficiently wash the hairs around the neck, thereby cleanly washing the body of the pet dog. Also, during washing, legs of the pet dog do not come out from the bathtub. Second, the bath apparatus prevents the water from overflowing over the bathtub and splashing around the bathtub. Third, the bath apparatus does not use a shower and a liquid soap supplier, which reduces a manufacturing time and process and thus lowering a manufacturing cost. Fourth, the bath apparatus includes the liner integrally formed with the bubble supply tube for generating bubbles, without using a separate unit for constructing the bubble supply tube, which reduces a manufacturing time and process and thus lowering a manufacturing cost. Fifth, the bath apparatus includes the ozone generator for sterilizing the interior of the body and for eliminating odor to be generated in the rainy season or sultry summer. Finally, the bath apparatus can bath various sizes of pet dogs using the sensor for adjusting an amount ofthe water. Also, when the bath apparatus is used as the dog house, the door installed to the front of the bathtub serves as a foot board. In addition, since the lamp is installed in the interior of the body, the pet dog may be washed in the night, with the pet dog being with an easy mind. While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bath apparatus for pets comprising: a partition 20 disposed at a rear of a body 10, and having a bubble generator, a dryer and a water supply unit at a rear side thereof; a liner 30 disposed on a bottom of the body 10, and having an air supply line 34 formed in the liner, a plurality of air outlets 33 formed on an upper end of the liner, and a coupling for connecting the body to the bubble generator; a front door 11 coupled to a front of the body 10 by means of a hinge, and a lid 12 formed with a plurality of vent holes 12a for having a front door allowing a pet to breathe; and a cover 40 hingedly installed to an upper portion of the body 10, and a lid 41 formed with a plurality of vent holes 41a which are covered by a filter 42.

2. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, at the front of the partition 20, a feed container 60 for keeping feed or water therein; and a water bucket 60a for containing water.

3. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition 20 has a temperature sensor 26 for detecting a temperature of water supplied by a water supply unit at an inner wall ofthe partition.

4. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition 20 has a sensor 24 for detecting an amount of water supplied from a second water supply port 22 at an inner wall ofthe partition.

5. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the partition 20 has a lamp 25 at an upper portion ofthe partition.

6. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the partition 20 has an ozone generator 23 at an upper portion ofthe partition.

7. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the partition 20 has a rack 27 for the feed container at the inner wall ofthe partition.

8. The bath apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the partition 20 has a rotary grill 21a at an upper portion ofthe partition.