Device for detecting, containing, and indicating the presence of fluidic animal waste product at a defined location

• US 7,621,233 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Dukes, Ricky L., Lee, Albert Leon IV
• Primary Examiner(s): BERONA, KIMBERLY SUE
• Application Number:
  US11/676,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 119161-173, 119/509, 119525-530, 119/447, 119/462, 119/463, 119/471, 119/479, 119/480, 119/712, D30/161, 206/204
• US Class Current: 119/165
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0114 Litter boxes with screens for separating excrement from litter

Abstract

Described is an animal waste product notification device for detecting the occurrence of an animal excreting animal waste product at a defined location, containing the waste product such that the animal cannot track the waste product from the defined location, and notifying a local or remote individual of the occurrence. The animal waste product notification device includes a grate, a bin, and a notification device. The grate includes a detector that is responsive to fluidic animal waste product such that when the waste product passes through apertures defined by the grate, the detector generates a detection signal. When the detector generates the detection signal, the notification device notifies a user of the animal waste product notification device. The bin defines a receptacle that receives the waste product after it passes through the grate.

Claims

1. An animal waste product notification device for detecting the occurrence of an animal excreting fluidic waste product at a defined location, for containing the fluidic waste product, and for notifying a user of said animal waste product notification device of the occurrence, said animal waste product notification device comprising:

a grate defining a plurality of apertures such that the fluidic waste product passes through at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures, said grate providing a platform for the animal;

a detector responsive to the fluidic waste product that passes through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures to the extent that said detector generates a detection signal when the fluidic waste product passes through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures;

a bin defining a receptacle capable of retaining the fluidic waste product, said bin disposed relative to said grate such that the fluidic waste product that passes through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures is retained by said bin; and

a notification device in communication with said detector, said notification device delivers a notification to the user when said detector generates the detection signal.

2. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said detector is mechanically engaged with said grate.

3. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said detector includes a plurality of electrodes partially defining an open circuit that is completed by the fluidic waste product that passes through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures.

4. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said detector is disposed within apertures of the plurality of apertures defined by said grate.

5. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said bin is disposed below said grate such that the receptacle defined by said bin is aligned under the plurality of apertures defined by said grate.

6. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said bin is coupled to said grate.

7. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said bin structurally supports said grate.

8. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said notification device delivers an audible notification to the user.

9. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said notification device delivers a visual notification to the user.

10. The animal waste product notification device of claim 1 wherein said notification device includes a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter in electrical communication with said detector and in wireless communication with the receiver, the transmitter induces the receiver to deliver the notification to the user when said detector detects the fluidic waste product that passes through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures.

11. The animal waste product notification device of claim 10 wherein the receiver is adapted to be carried by the user.

12. The animal waste product notification device of claim 10 wherein the receiver delivers an audible notification to the user.

13. The animal waste product notification device of claim 10 wherein the receiver delivers a vibration notification to the user.

14. The animal waste product notification device of claim 10 wherein the receiver delivers a visual notification to the user.

15. An animal waste product notification device for detecting the occurrence of an animal excreting fluidic waste product at a defined location, for containing the fluidic waste product, and for notifying a user of said animal waste product notification device of the occurrence, said animal waste product notification device comprising:

a grate providing a platform for the animal when excreting the fluidic waste product, said grate defining at least one aperture, whereby the fluidic waste product passes through the at least one aperture defined by said grate, said grate detects the fluidic waste product passing through the at least one aperture defined by said grate;

a bin disposed relative to said grate such that the fluidic waste product that passes through the at least one aperture defined by said grate is received and retained by said bin; and

a notification device in communication with said grate, said notification device delivers a notification to the user when said grate detects the fluidic waste product pass through the at least one aperture defined by said grate.

16. The animal waste product notification device of claim 15 wherein said grate detects the fluidic waste product passing through the at least one aperture defined by said grate by way of a plurality of electrodes, whereby the fluidic waste product completes an otherwise open circuit that includes the plurality of electrodes when the fluidic waste product engages the plurality of electrodes.

17. The animal waste product notification device of claim 15 wherein said notification device includes a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter in communication with said grate, the transmitter communicates with the receiver when said grate detects the fluidic waste product pass through the at least one aperture defined by said grate, the receiver delivers a notification to the user when the transmitter communicates with the receiver.

18. An animal waste product notification device for detecting the occurrence of an animal excreting fluidic waste product at a defined location, for containing the fluidic waste product, and for notifying a user of said animal waste product notification device of the occurrence, said animal waste product notification device comprising:

a grate defining a surface, the surface defining a platform that structurally supports the animal, the fluidic waste product excreted at said grate passes through the surface defined by said grate;

a detector disposed proximate to said grate, said detector detects the fluidic waste product passing through the surface defined by said grate, said detector generates a detection signal when said detector detects the fluidic waste product passing through the surface defined by said grate;

a bin including a receptacle that retains the fluidic waste product, said bin disposed relative to said grate such that the receptacle of said bin receives and retains the fluidic waste product that passes through the surface defined by said grate;

a transmitter in electrical communication with said detector, said transmitter generating a notification signal when said detector generates the detection signal; and

a receiver in wireless communication with said transmitter, said receiver delivers a notification to the user when said transmitter generates the notification signal.