Self-cleaning pet toilet
First Claim
1. An automatic pet toilet comprising:
- a housing defining a generally closed chamber having a top wall, a floor, and side walls, one of the side walls having an opening through which the pet can pass, the other walls and floor being substantially closed;
a door displaceable on the housing between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position clear of same;
means including a door drive motor in the housing for displacing the door between its positions;
means including a closed-door switch on the housing for indicating when the door is in its closed position;
floors and wall sprays respectively directed in the chamber at the floor and side walls of the chamber;
a valve connectable to a source of pressurized liquid, connected to the sprays, and openable to feed the liquid under pressure to the sprays;
means including a drain in the floor and a chopper connectable to a waste line for receiving material washed by the sprays from the walls and floor, comminuting the material, and feeding it to the waste line;
sensors means for generating a beam traversing the chamber for emitting an output when the pet is within the chamber; and
control means connected to the chopper, switch, sensor means, motor, and valve for normally maintaining the door in open position and for closing the door and then opening the valve and operating the chopper only after a pet has entered and left the chamber with interruption of the beam while in the chamber, and for thereafter closing the valve, stopping the chopper, and opening the door.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic pet toilet has a housing defining a generally closed chamber having a floor and side walls, one of the latter having an opening through which the pet can pass. A door is displaceable on the housing between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position clear of same by means of a door drive motor. A closed-door switch on the housing generates an output only when the door is in its closed position. Floor and wall sprays respectively directed in the chamber at the floor and walls of the chamber are supplied with wash liquid, usually water, by a valve connectable to a source of pressurized liquid. A drain in the floor and a chopper connectable to a waste line receive material washed by the sprays from the walls and floor, comminute the material, and feed it to the waste line. A sensor emits an output when the pet is within the chamber and a controller connected to the chopper, switch, sensor, motor, and valve closes the door and then opens the valve and operates the chopper when a pet has entered and left the chamber with interruption of the beam while in the chamber, and thereafter closes the valve, stops the chopper, and opens the door.
119 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automatic pet toilet comprising:
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a housing defining a generally closed chamber having a top wall, a floor, and side walls, one of the side walls having an opening through which the pet can pass, the other walls and floor being substantially closed; a door displaceable on the housing between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position clear of same; means including a door drive motor in the housing for displacing the door between its positions; means including a closed-door switch on the housing for indicating when the door is in its closed position; floors and wall sprays respectively directed in the chamber at the floor and side walls of the chamber; a valve connectable to a source of pressurized liquid, connected to the sprays, and openable to feed the liquid under pressure to the sprays; means including a drain in the floor and a chopper connectable to a waste line for receiving material washed by the sprays from the walls and floor, comminuting the material, and feeding it to the waste line; sensors means for generating a beam traversing the chamber for emitting an output when the pet is within the chamber; and control means connected to the chopper, switch, sensor means, motor, and valve for normally maintaining the door in open position and for closing the door and then opening the valve and operating the chopper only after a pet has entered and left the chamber with interruption of the beam while in the chamber, and for thereafter closing the valve, stopping the chopper, and opening the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automatic pet toilet comprising:
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a housing defining a generally closed chamber having a floor and side walls, one of the side walls having an opening through which the pet can pass; a door displaceable on the housing between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position clear of same; means including a door drive motor in the housing for displacing the door between its positions; means including a closed-door switch on the housing for indicating when the door is in its closed position; floor and wall sprays respectively directed in the chamber at the floor and walls of the chamber; a valve connectable to a source of pressurized liquid, connected to the sprays, and openable to feed the liquid under pressure to the sprays; means including a drain in the floor and a chopper connectable to a waste line for receiving material washed by the sprays from the walls and floor, comminuting the material, and feeding it to the waste line; sensor means for emitting an output when the pet is within the chamber; control means connected to the chopper, switch, sensor means, motor, and valve for closing the door and then opening the valve and operating the chopper when a pet has entered and left the chamber with interruption of the beam while in the chamber, and for thereafter closing the valve, stopping the chopper, and opening the door; and means including a pressure-sensitive switch in the drain and connected to the chopper for operating same only when the drain is filled.
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12. An automatic pet toilet comprising:
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a housing defining a generally closed chamber having a floor and side walls, one of the side walls having an opening through which the pet can pass; a door displaceable on the housing between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position clear of same; means including a door drive motor in the housing for displacing the door between its positions; means including a closed-door switch on the housing for indicating when the door is in its closed position; floor and wall sprays respectively directed in the chamber at the floor and walls of the chamber; a valve connectable to a source of pressurized liquid, connected to the sprays, and openable to feed the liquid under pressure to the sprays; means including a drain in the floor and a chopper connectable to a waste line for receiving material washed by the sprays from the walls and floor, comminuting the material, and feeding it to the waste line; sensor means for emitting an output when the pet is within the chamber; control means connected to the chopper, switch, sensor means, motor, and valve for closing the door and then opening the valve and operating the chopper when a pet has entered and left the chamber with interruption of the beam while in the chamber, and for thereafter closing the valve, stopping the chopper, and opening the door; and means for automatically spreading particulate litter material in the chamber after the valve has been closed and the chopper has stopped. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification