Automated self-cleaning litter box for cats

Abstract

An improved automated self-cleaning litter box for cats, of the kind having a housing defining an upwardly open chamber for storage of a supply of cat litter, accessible to a cat and having path members on opposed side walls defining a comb path from one end of the chamber to the other. A comb, normally stored at the comb storage end of the chamber, is driven forward along the path to the discharge end of the chamber and back to its original storage position. As the comb traverses the chamber forwardly it engages any clumps of waste in the litter and carries them to a disposal receptacle at the discharge end of the chamber. The improvement includes a sensor for sensing the presence of a cat in the litter chamber; a photo electric sensor is preferred, but an infra red, weight, or even an audible sensor can be used. A delay device actuates the comb drive a predetermined time interval after the sensor ceases to sense the presence of a cat in the litter chamber. In the improved construction the comb path includes multi-perforate track members on opposite sides of the litter chamber; those tracks are engaged by rotatable drive wheels connected to the comb. The comb drive includes a reversible electric motor, mounted on the same carriage as the comb. A transparent, biodegradable receptacle is used; alarms for a full receptacle and for an insufficient litter supply are provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCats, which are among the most popular types of domestic pets, are usually trained to use a litter box for elimination of both liquid and solid wastes. A cat litter box is normally made of plastic or like material so that a cat's urine will not leak through the box. Other types of cat litter box have been proposed, as in the construction described in Rockaitis U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,549, in which the litter box is made of a material that absorbs liquid but does not permit it to leach through to the exterior of the box. The litter used in boxes of this kind may be one of any number of particulate litter materials that absorb moisture from the waste of the cat and that may also suppress odor from cat wastes. Some forms of cat litter form clumps when wet. Usually, a cat will bury its solid waste in the litter material in the box.Most cat owners take appropriate action to discard the litter from cat litter box after an appreciable period of time, often several da...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved drive for a self-cleaning cat litter box that is capable of remaining in, operation for extended periods of time without attention from the cat owner and that does not operate on a periodical basis so that there is no substantial possibility that the comb mechanism will carry out a cleaning operation while a cat is present in the litter box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drive for an automated self-cleaning cat litter box that is simple and economical in construction and that can afford an extended operating life, requiring little or no attention apart from battery replacement.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, even before the litter has been thoroughly saturated with wastes from the cat or cats that use it, a cat may be inclined to push some of the litter out of the box, particularly if the odor is strong.

In any event, the person using a cat litter box, usually the owner of the cat or cats, may find the task of emptying the cat litter to be personally obnoxious.

Cats are no more constant in their elimination habits than human beings; periodic cleaning may be inappropriate.

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