Animal litter and animal litter box using the same animal litter

• US 20060027181A1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Uni-Charm Petcare Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Takayuki, Ikegami, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/169
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0152 Litter
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0154 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0155 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2/22 by pressing in moulds or between rollers

Abstract

A litter which has superior absorbency and deodorization capabilities, does not roll nor spread over a wide area easily, does not easily stick to the bottom of animals'"'"' feet, and is not easily carried out of the container when an animal enters or exits a container holding this litter is provided. By combining micronized resin or adhesive agent of which the main ingredient is silica sol to silica gel powder and compressing and molding, a litter which has superior absorbency and deodorization capabilities, does not roll nor spread over a wide area easily, does not easily stick to the bottom of animals'"'"' feet, and is not easily carried out of the container when an animal enters or exits a container holding this litter can be provided.

Claims

1. An animal litter comprising a plurality of granular materials wherein a maximum outer diameter of each of the granular materials is from 3 mm or more to 20 mm or less, and each of the granular materials is roughly cylindrical and the centers of both end surfaces are cupped outward.

2. The animal litter according to claim 1, wherein a mass of the granular materials has a liquid absorptive property whereby the mass absorbs in three seconds from 20% or more to 70% or less of a maximum absorbable amount of liquid that can be absorbed by the mass and the maximum absorbable amount of liquid is from 0.3 times or more to 4.0 times or less the weight of the mass.

3. The animal litter according to claim 1, wherein a mass of the granular materials has a liquid passing ratio of 60% or more.

4. The animal litter according to claim 1, wherein a mass of the granular material has a water content of from 3% or more to 15% or less by weight after it has been left in an atmosphere at a temperature of 25°

C. and a humidity of 50% for 24 hours

5. The animal litter according to claim 1, wherein each of the granular materials is made by compressing and molding a mixture of silica gel powder and adhesive agent the main ingredient of which is silica sol.

6. The animal litter according to claim 5, wherein the mixture further comprises fibrous substance with a fiber length of from 20 μ

m or more to 500 μ

m or less.

7. The animal litter according to claim 1, wherein each of the granular materials is made by compressing and molding a mixture of silica gel powder and micronized resin.

8. The animal litter according to claim 1, wherein a mass of the granular material has a dimension density of from 0.3 g/cm³ or more to 1.0 g/cm³ or less.

9. The animal litter according to claim 1 which is placed on an absorbent sheet which absorbs bodily fluids of an animal.

11. An animal litter box comprising an animal litter container comprising an opening enabling an animal to enter and exit, a floor part having a liquid passing property wherein an animal litter is spread, and an absorbent sheet holder which is positioned beneath the floor part of the animal litter container and onto which an absorbent sheet is placed wherein the animal litter is the animal litter according to claim 1.

10. A manufacturing method for animal litter comprising a plurality of granular materials comprising:

a blending process for creating a mixture by blending adhesive agent the main ingredient of which is micronized resin or silica sol with silica gel powder; and

a molding process for compressing and molding the mixture to form non-spherical granular materials.