Hydrophobic cat litter and application systems thereof

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application relates to the technical field of pet feeding, and particularly relates to a hydrophobic cat litter and an application system thereof. The cat litter particle comprises a particle body and a hydrophobic coating agent uniformly attached to the outside of the particle body. The hydrophobic coating agent is used to block pet urine, so that the pet urine is not absorbed by the cat litter particle when flowing through the hydrophobic cat litter. The cat litter particle is in a spherical structure, the diameter of the spherical structure is 3-5 mm, and the external surface of each spherical structure is provided with regular concave-convex textures, so that the cat litter particles form gaps when closely arranged. Based on the hydrophobic cat litter provided in the embodiment of the present application, when used for collecting pet urine, the pet urine is basically not absorbed by the cat litter when flowing through the cat litter due to the hydrophobic surface of the cat litter particle, and then the pet urine can be collected by a urine collection device without damage. The cat litter itself is a common excretion environment for pets, and there is no need to worry about the pet producing stress and adverse reactions due to urine collection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of pet care, and more particularly to a hydrophobic cat litter and its application system. Background Technology

[0002] Cat litter is a substance used by cat owners to bury feces and urine in their cats. It has good absorbency and is usually used in conjunction with a litter box. After pouring an appropriate amount of cat litter into the litter box, a trained cat will walk into the litter box and excrete its feces on it when it needs to relieve itself. Currently, in a broader sense, cat litter can also refer to composite materials that can hold other types of pet excrement.

[0003] When pets exhibit illness or other discomfort, it's generally necessary to collect their urine and test it with a sample to understand their current health status and analyze the cause. The color change on the test strip is then observed for further diagnosis. However, collecting urine alone is inconvenient and requires considerable time and effort from the owner. Especially for well-trained pets, the independent collection process may cause stress or discomfort, affecting the accuracy of the sample collection. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide a hydrophobic cat litter and its application system to solve the technical problems of inconvenient collection and poor collection results when conducting urine tests on pets.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a hydrophobic cat litter, which is composed of a plurality of closely arranged cat litter particles;

[0006] The cat litter granules include a granule body and a hydrophobic coating uniformly attached to the outside of the granule body. The hydrophobic coating is used to block pet urine so that the pet urine is not absorbed by the cat litter granules when it flows through the hydrophobic cat litter.

[0007] The cat litter granules have a spherical structure with a diameter of 3-5 mm. The outer surface of each spherical structure has a regular textured surface to create gaps when multiple cat litter granules are closely arranged.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the particle body is a hydrophobic particle, the hydrophobic particle is made of silicone particles, and the silicone particles contain nano-alumina reinforcing agents.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the hydrophobic coating includes a first coating layer and a second coating layer;

[0010] The first coating is uniformly adhered to the outer surface of the cat litter granules. The first coating is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent water in pet urine from penetrating into the cat litter granules. The hydrophobic material includes polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0011] The second coating is uniformly adhered to the outer surface of the first coating and is in contact with the external environment. The material of the second coating includes natural fiber material, which is used to absorb the odor of the pet urine and support the spherical structure of the cat litter particles.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the hydrophobic coating is prepared by reacting a surface modifier.

[0013] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application also propose an application system for hydrophobic cat litter, comprising the hydrophobic cat litter as described in the first aspect, the system comprising:

[0014] A cat litter box, the cat litter box including a base and a side plate, the side plate and the base enclosing a receiving space for accommodating the hydrophobic cat litter, and a first through hole in the middle of the base for allowing pet urine to flow through the through hole to the urine collection device.

[0015] The urine collection device includes a top cover and a main body. The top cover has a second through hole in the middle, corresponding to the first through hole. The shape of the top cover corresponds to the base of the litter box and is matched and disposed below the base. The main body and the top cover are detachably installed. After the pet's urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter in the litter box, it is collected by the urine collection device through the cooperation of the first through hole and the second through hole.

[0016] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the litter box includes:

[0017] The container is divided into two parts, which are used to hold the hydrophobic cat litter. The bottom of the container is detachably provided with a filter structure, and the hydrophobic cat litter is stored on top of the filter structure.

[0018] The litter box also includes a collection unit, which is detachably located below the filter structure. After the pet's urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter, it is filtered through the filter structure and collected by the collection unit.

[0019] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the filter structure consists of multiple interconnected mesh structures, the size of which is smaller than the size of the cat litter particles in the hydrophobic cat litter, in order to accommodate the cat litter particles.

[0020] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the installation direction of the collection unit is relatively inclined to the receiving unit, forming a first angle. When pet urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter, it flows down due to gravity and collects into the collection unit.

[0021] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the main body has a flow guiding structure and a slot inside. The flow guiding structure points to the slot, and the slot is used to hold a pet urine test strip, so that after the pet urine is collected by the urine collection device, it flows through the flow guiding structure to the slot and forms a color reaction with the pet urine test strip placed in the slot.

[0022] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the main body is a cavity structure, and a sealing valve is provided on one side of the cavity structure. The sealing valve is used to open / close the cavity structure to replace the pet urine test strip in the slot.

[0023] The embodiments of this application can achieve the following technical effects:

[0024] Based on the hydrophobic cat litter proposed in this application embodiment, when used for pet urine collection, because the surface of the cat litter particles is hydrophobic, the pet urine is basically not absorbed by the cat litter when it flows through it. Therefore, it can be collected non-destructively through the urine collection device below. Moreover, the cat litter itself is a common excretion environment for pets, so there is no need to set up other devices. Combined with the application system of hydrophobic cat litter in this application embodiment, automatic collection can be achieved during the pet's daily excretion process, and the collection process will not cause the pet to have a rejection reaction, etc., which is more convenient and efficient. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an application system for a hydrophobic cat litter provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] It should be noted that, unless there is a conflict, the various features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, all of which are within the protection scope of this application. Furthermore, although functional modules are divided in the device schematic diagram and a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in a different order than the module division in the device or the order in the flowchart. Moreover, the terms "first," "second," and "third" used in this application do not limit the data or execution order, but only distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect.

[0029] This application provides a hydrophobic cat litter, which is composed of a plurality of closely arranged cat litter particles;

[0030] The cat litter granules include a granule body and a hydrophobic coating uniformly attached to the outside of the granule body. The hydrophobic coating is used to block pet urine so that the pet urine is not absorbed by the cat litter granules when it flows through the hydrophobic cat litter.

[0031] The cat litter granules have a spherical structure with a diameter of 3-5 mm. The outer surface of each spherical structure has a regular textured surface to create gaps when multiple cat litter granules are closely arranged.

[0032] In this embodiment, the hydrophobic cat litter consists of several litter granules. Considering the needs of fluidity and pet comfort, the litter granules in this embodiment are spherical or other ellipsoidal structures that can be considered approximately spherical. Because spherical granules have good fluidity, pets feel more comfortable when stepping on and digging in them. Furthermore, when cleaning the litter, the spherical granules roll easily, facilitating the removal of clumps and excrement. In addition, the relatively uniform gaps between the spherical granules promote air circulation and reduce odor accumulation.

[0033] It's easy to understand that cat litter granules are designed with a spherical or near-spherical ellipsoidal structure, which effectively reduces friction between the granules, making it easier for urine to flow between them. The size of the litter granules should be controlled within a certain range; in this example, it's 3-5mm. This ensures sufficient gaps for urine to pass through while preventing the granules from being too small and easily carried out of the litter box by the cat.

[0034] Because the outer surface of the spherical structure has a textured surface, it can effectively increase the surface area of ​​the granules and improve their ability to absorb odors. At the same time, the textured surface can create more gaps between the cat litter granules, further enhancing breathability.

[0035] In some embodiments, the particle body is a hydrophobic particle, the hydrophobic particle is made of silica gel particles, and the silica gel particles contain nano-alumina reinforcing agents.

[0036] In this embodiment, specially treated fluorosilicone silica gel particles can be used. These silica gel particles have extremely low surface energy and strong water repellency. The particle diameter is precisely controlled at around 4 millimeters to ensure comfort for cats while maintaining good flowability.

[0037] To enhance the stability and durability of the particles, a small amount of nano-alumina reinforcing agent is added to the silica gel particles in this embodiment, making them more wear-resistant and less prone to breakage.

[0038] In addition, mineral materials with hydrophobic coatings, such as bentonite or zeolite, can be used as the base material for cat litter. By coating the surface of these mineral particles with a hydrophobic substance, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), urine can be effectively prevented from being absorbed by the particles, allowing it to flow smoothly down the litter.

[0039] In some embodiments, the hydrophobic coating includes, but is not limited to, a polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) coating.

[0040] It is easy to understand that it has low surface energy, hardly interacts with water, has good waterproof properties, and can resist the erosion of most chemicals, including acids, alkalis, salts and other organic solvents. Therefore, it can be used for pet urine collection for a long time without being corroded, effectively ensuring the reusability of cat litter.

[0041] In some embodiments, the hydrophobic coating includes a first coating and a second coating;

[0042] The first coating is uniformly adhered to the outer surface of the cat litter granules. The first coating is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent moisture in pet urine from penetrating into the cat litter granules. The hydrophobic material includes polytetrafluoroethylene. The second coating is uniformly adhered to the outer surface of the first coating and is in contact with the external environment. The material of the second coating includes natural fiber material to absorb the odor of pet urine and support the spherical structure of the cat litter granules.

[0043] Specifically, the first coating can be made of materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder or nano-coatings, which can effectively prevent moisture from penetrating to the outside of the cat litter granules and keep the surface of the granules dry. At the same time, the hydrophobic material can also prevent urine from sticking between the granules, making the cat litter easier to clean.

[0044] The second coating can be made of natural fiber materials, such as wood fiber or corn fiber. This layer of natural fiber can increase the softness and comfort of the cat litter, while also helping to absorb odors. In addition, natural fiber materials can make the cat litter granules more durable and less prone to breakage.

[0045] In some embodiments, the hydrophobic coating is prepared by reacting a surface modifier.

[0046] In this embodiment, specially treated silica gel granules can be used as the base material for cat litter. This material itself has good hydrophobicity, allowing urine to flow smoothly without being absorbed. The size of the silica gel granules should be moderate, ensuring good flowability while preventing them from being easily tracked out of the litter box by the cat.

[0047] In some embodiments, the hydrophobic coating is prepared by reacting a surface modifier.

[0048] Specifically, in this embodiment, the surface modifier may include organosilicon surface modifiers, fluorocarbon surface modifiers, and nanomaterial surface modifiers, etc. For example, organosilicon compounds have low surface energy, which can impart good hydrophobicity to the coating. They usually have good heat resistance, weather resistance and chemical stability, and can maintain stable performance over a wide temperature range. Fluorocarbon compounds, while ensuring strong hydrophobicity, have excellent chemical corrosion resistance, heat resistance and weather resistance. Nanomaterials have a huge specific surface area and special surface effects, which can significantly improve the hydrophobicity of the coating.

[0049] As an example, in the preparation process of hydrophobic coatings, the substrate (i.e., the cat litter granules mentioned above) can be immersed in a solution containing a surface modifier by an impregnation method, so that the surface modifier can fully contact and react with the substrate. According to actual needs, those skilled in the art can select parameters such as impregnation time, solution concentration and temperature to ensure that the coating has better hydrophobic properties.

[0050] Based on the above embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 This application also proposes an application system for hydrophobic cat litter.

[0051] like Figure 1As shown, the application system of hydrophobic cat litter includes a litter box 10 and a urine collection device 20. The litter box 10 includes a base and a side plate. The side plate and the base enclose a space for containing the hydrophobic cat litter. A first through hole is provided in the middle of the base for allowing pet urine to flow through the through hole to the urine collection device 20.

[0052] The urine collection device 20 includes a top cover and a main body. The top cover has a second through hole in the middle that corresponds to the first through hole. The shape of the top cover corresponds to the base of the litter box and is matched and disposed below the base. The main body and the top cover are detachably installed. After the pet's urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter in the litter box, it is collected by the urine collection device through the cooperation of the first through hole and the second through hole.

[0053] In this embodiment, by using hydrophobic cat litter in the litter box 10, pet urine can flow smoothly through the litter without being absorbed, and directly flow to the urine collection device located at the bottom of the litter box. Based on this, for pet owners or veterinarians who need to regularly monitor their pets' urine indicators, this system can provide accurate and uncontaminated urine samples, eliminating the need for laborious separation of urine from traditional cat litter, greatly improving the efficiency and quality of sample collection.

[0054] In addition, the hydrophobic properties of cat litter prevent it from absorbing urine after contact with it, thus keeping the litter dry and clean for a long time. This reduces odor and greatly extends the reusability of the litter, lowering the frequency and cost of changing it.

[0055] In this embodiment, the urine collection device is designed so that the collected urine can be directly tested without additional processing steps. The urine collection device in this embodiment can also be equipped with sensors to monitor specific indicators in the urine in real time, such as pH and protein content, and send alarms to the owner through connected devices, thereby realizing real-time monitoring of the pet's health.

[0056] In some embodiments, the litter box includes: a containing section for containing the hydrophobic cat litter, the bottom of which is detachably provided with a filter structure, the hydrophobic cat litter being stored above the filter structure; and a collection section detachably disposed below the filter structure, wherein pet urine, after flowing through the hydrophobic cat litter, is filtered through the filter structure and collected by the collection section.

[0057] In some embodiments, the filter structure consists of a plurality of interconnected mesh structures, the size of which is smaller than the size of the cat litter particles in the hydrophobic cat litter, in order to accommodate the cat litter particles.

[0058] It is easy to understand that the filter in this embodiment should be made of a material with a certain degree of hardness and porosity, such as a plastic mesh or a metal filter. The pore size of the filter should be large enough to allow urine to pass through while preventing cat litter particles from falling down. This ensures that urine can flow accurately into the lower container, while the cat litter remains in the upper layer for continued use.

[0059] In some embodiments, the installation direction of the collection unit is relatively inclined to the receiving unit, forming a first angle, so that when pet urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter, it flows down due to gravity and converges into the collection unit.

[0060] It is easy to understand that in this embodiment, the litter box is designed with a sloping shape so that urine can flow naturally to a specific collection area under the influence of gravity. For example, the side of the container can be designed to be slightly higher, while the side of the collection container is lower, forming a slope. Then, when the pet defecates in the litter box, the urine will flow down the slope to the lower collection container.

[0061] As an example, the first angle can be 70 degrees.

[0062] In some embodiments, the urine collection device is detachably disposed at the lower part of the litter box. The urine collection device has a flow guiding structure and a slot inside. The flow guiding structure points to the slot, and the slot is used to hold pet urine test strips so that after the pet urine is collected by the urine collection device, it flows through the flow guiding structure to the slot and forms a color reaction with the pet urine test strips placed in the slot.

[0063] In some embodiments, the urine collection device is a cavity structure, and a sealing valve is provided on one side of the cavity structure. The sealing valve is used to open / close the cavity structure to replace the pet urine test strip in the slot.

[0064] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. Therefore, any equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of this application shall still fall within the scope of this application.

[0065] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydrophobic cat litter, characterized in that, The hydrophobic cat litter consists of several closely packed cat litter particles; The cat litter granules include a granule body and a hydrophobic coating uniformly attached to the outside of the granule body. The hydrophobic coating is used to block pet urine so that the pet urine is not absorbed by the cat litter granules when it flows through the hydrophobic cat litter. The cat litter granules have a spherical structure with a diameter of 3-5mm. The outer surface of each spherical structure is provided with regular uneven texture so that gaps are formed when multiple cat litter granules are closely arranged. The particle body is a hydrophobic particle, the material of the hydrophobic particle is a silicone particle, and the silicone particle contains a nano-alumina reinforcing agent. The hydrophobic coating includes a first coating layer and a second coating layer; The first coating is uniformly adhered to the outer surface of the cat litter granules. The first coating is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent water in pet urine from penetrating into the cat litter granules. The hydrophobic material includes polytetrafluoroethylene. The second coating is uniformly adhered to the outer surface of the first coating and is in contact with the external environment. The material of the second coating includes natural fiber material, which is used to absorb the odor of the pet urine and support the spherical structure of the cat litter particles.

2. The hydrophobic cat litter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrophobic coating is prepared by reacting a surface modifier.

3. An application system for hydrophobic cat litter, comprising the hydrophobic cat litter as described in any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, include: A cat litter box, the cat litter box including a base and a side plate, the side plate and the base enclosing a receiving space for accommodating the hydrophobic cat litter, and a first through hole in the middle of the base for allowing pet urine to flow through the through hole to the urine collection device. The urine collection device includes a top cover and a main body. The top cover has a second through hole in the middle, corresponding to the first through hole. The shape of the top cover corresponds to the base of the litter box and is matched and disposed below the base. The main body and the top cover are detachably installed. After the pet's urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter in the litter box, it is collected by the urine collection device through the cooperation of the first through hole and the second through hole.

4. The hydrophobic cat litter application system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The litter box includes: The container is divided into two parts, which are used to hold the hydrophobic cat litter. The bottom of the container is detachably provided with a filter structure, and the hydrophobic cat litter is stored on top of the filter structure. The litter box also includes a collection unit, which is detachably located below the filter structure. After the pet's urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter, it is filtered through the filter structure and collected by the collection unit.

5. The hydrophobic cat litter application system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The filter structure consists of multiple interconnected mesh structures, the size of which is smaller than the size of the cat litter particles in the hydrophobic cat litter, in order to accommodate the cat litter particles.

6. The hydrophobic cat litter application system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The collection unit is installed at a relative angle to the receiving unit, forming a first angle. When pet urine flows through the hydrophobic cat litter, it flows down due to gravity and collects in the collection unit.

7. The hydrophobic cat litter application system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main body has a flow guiding structure and a slot inside. The flow guiding structure points to the slot, which is used to hold pet urine test strips. After the pet urine is collected by the urine collection device, it flows through the flow guiding structure to the slot and forms a color reaction with the pet urine test strip placed in the slot.

8. The application system of hydrophobic cat litter according to claim 7, characterized in that, The main body is a hollow structure, and a sealing valve is provided on one side of the hollow structure. The sealing valve is used to open / close the hollow structure to replace the pet urine test strip in the slot.

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