A degradable cat litter shovel based on straw material

Abstract

This invention discloses a biodegradable cat litter scoop based on straw material, belonging to the field of pet product technology. The cat litter scoop includes a split-type scoop body and a forked reinforcing frame. The scoop body comprises a scoop head filter surface and a handle. The back of the handle has a back groove matching the outer contour of the reinforcing frame and extending to the back of the scoop head filter surface. The upper surface of the handle end has a handle groove recessed towards the back. The reinforcing frame is connected to the scoop body via a snap-fit ​​structure, with its upper surface abutting against the lowest surface of the handle groove. Both the scoop body and the reinforcing frame are hot-pressed from agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite materials, with a thickness controlled between 0.8-1.4 mm. This invention solves the problem of insufficient strength in traditional biodegradable cat litter scoops through an optimized split reinforcing structure. Simultaneously, the entire material is biodegradable, utilizing agricultural waste to reduce costs, combining environmental friendliness and practicality, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of China's pet economy, the demand for cat litter scoops, an essential cleaning product for cat owners, has been increasing year by year. Currently, the vast majority of cat litter scoops on the market are injection molded from general-purpose plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene. These products have a short lifespan, are difficult to degrade naturally after disposal, and large-scale accumulation can cause serious white pollution, contradicting the current national policies promoting the restriction and ban of plastics. In recent years, some companies have begun to try using materials such as pulp and bamboo pulp to produce biodegradable cat litter scoops. However, these products generally suffer from insufficient mechanical properties, especially when scooping heavy, clump-forming bentonite cat litter. The connection between the handle and the scoop head is prone to bending or even breakage, failing to meet daily usage needs.

[0003] To improve the structural strength of biodegradable cat litter scoops, existing technologies mostly employ methods such as increasing material thickness or embedding a metal frame internally. Increasing material thickness significantly increases raw material consumption and production costs, and the increased product weight leads to a decreased grip experience. Embedding a metal frame, on the other hand, compromises the product's fully biodegradable properties, and the poor bonding between metal and biodegradable materials makes the frame prone to detachment during use, posing a safety hazard. Furthermore, existing biodegradable cat litter scoops are mostly manufactured using wet molding, which results in long production cycles, low efficiency, poor product surface finish, easy clogging of filter pores, and difficult cleaning, hindering large-scale commercialization.

[0004] Therefore, developing a biodegradable cat litter scoop that is fully biodegradable, has widely available and low-cost raw materials, and possesses sufficient structural strength and a simple production process has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art and provide a biodegradable cat litter shovel based on agricultural fiber-based materials.

[0006] A biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material includes a shovel body with a split design and a forked reinforcing frame. The shovel body includes an integrally formed shovel head filter surface and a handle. The back of the handle is provided with a back groove that matches the outer contour of the forked reinforcing frame. The back groove extends upward along the length of the handle to the back of the shovel head filter surface.

[0007] The upper surface of the end of the handle is provided with a handle groove that is recessed towards the back of the handle. When the forked reinforcing frame is installed on the back of the shovel body, the upper surface of the forked reinforcing frame abuts against the back of the handle groove.

[0008] The bifurcated reinforcing skeleton is assembled into an integral structure from the shovel body through a snap-fit ​​structure; both the shovel body and the bifurcated reinforcing skeleton are formed by hot pressing of agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite materials, and the thickness of the bifurcated reinforcing skeleton is greater than the thickness of the shovel body, wherein the thickness of the shovel body ranges from 0.8 to 1.4 mm.

[0009] Furthermore, the forked reinforcing frame is a Y-shaped reinforcing frame, which includes a main snap-fit ​​part and a side snap-fit ​​part located on the outer side. The main snap-fit ​​part is an upwardly protruding buckle structure that snaps into the end slot on the back of the handle. The side snap-fit ​​part is an outwardly protruding snap bar structure that snaps into the inner wall of the back groove.

[0010] The Y-shaped structure can evenly distribute the concentrated stress generated during use from the end of the handle to the entire handle and the back of the shovel head, focusing on strengthening the weak connection between the handle and the shovel head, and greatly improving the bending and folding resistance of the cat litter shovel.

[0011] Furthermore, the shovel head filter surface is evenly distributed with multiple filter holes, which are circular or elliptical in shape, with a diameter of 5-8 mm and a center-to-center distance of 10-12 mm between adjacent filter holes.

[0012] Furthermore, the edge of the shovel head filter surface is provided with an upwardly protruding shovel head sidewall, the height of which is 10-15mm, and the angle between the shovel head sidewall and the shovel head filter surface is 100-110°.

[0013] The 10-15mm sidewall height effectively prevents cat litter clumps from spilling from the side during scooping, increasing the amount scooped in a single go; the 100-110° tilt angle design increases the internal capacity of the scoop compartment while ensuring that the tip of the scoop head has sufficient sharpness to easily insert into the bottom of the cat litter and completely scoop out clumps, preventing the clumps from breaking and contaminating the remaining cat litter.

[0014] Furthermore, the upper surface of the handle is provided with parallel anti-slip reinforcing ribs along its length. The height of the anti-slip reinforcing ribs is 0.5-1mm, and the width of the outward protrusion is 1-2mm. These anti-slip reinforcing ribs can significantly increase the friction of the handle surface, preventing slippage caused by sweaty hands or uneven force when the user holds the handle, thus improving operational stability.

[0015] Furthermore, the agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite material comprises, by weight parts: 60-75 parts straw fiber, 15-25 parts starch-based binder, 3-8 parts waterproofing agent, 2-5 parts toughening agent, and 1-3 parts filler;

[0016] The straw fiber is selected from one or more combinations of wheat straw fiber, rice straw fiber, and corn straw fiber; the starch-based binder is selected from one or more combinations of corn starch, cassava starch, and modified starch.

[0017] Furthermore, the parameters of the hot-pressing process are: hot-pressing temperature 120-150℃, hot-pressing temperature 120-180℃, wherein the projected area of ​​the shovel body is 226cm², and the projected area of ​​the forked reinforcing frame is 68cm². Hot pressing allows the starch-based binder to fully melt and evenly penetrate into the gaps between the straw fibers, forming a dense three-dimensional network structure, ensuring the product achieves the required mechanical strength for use.

[0018] Furthermore, the depth of the handle groove is 1-4mm and the length is 20-50mm.

[0019] Beneficial effects:

[0020] This invention provides a biodegradable cat litter shovel based on agricultural fiber-based materials. The entire shovel is made of agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite material, which can be completely biodegraded in the natural environment, fundamentally solving the white pollution problem caused by traditional plastic cat litter shovels. The raw materials are mainly derived from agricultural crop straw waste such as wheat, rice, and corn.

[0021] This invention utilizes an optimized split-type reinforced structure design. Without increasing the overall thickness of the material, it employs a forked reinforced frame in conjunction with the groove on the back of the shovel and the pressure groove on the handle to evenly distribute the stress generated during use to the entire handle and the back of the shovel head. This significantly improves the bending strength and fracture resistance of the cat litter shovel, effectively solving the problem of easy bending and breakage at the connection between the handle and the shovel head in traditional biodegradable cat litter shovels. At the same time, the product is lightweight overall, and the anti-slip reinforcing ribs on the handle greatly improve grip comfort and stability during use. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of a biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw materials;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the back structure of this biodegradable cat litter scoop;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a side cross-sectional view of the biodegradable cat litter scoop.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the Y-shaped reinforcing skeleton being disassembled.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the shovel body.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a sectional view of the shovel body.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the Y-shaped reinforced frame;

[0029] The components include: 1. shovel head filter surface, 2. shovel head side wall, 3. shovel bin enclosure, 4. handle groove, 5. handle body, 6. anti-slip reinforcing rib, 7. Y-shaped reinforcing frame, 71. main locking part, 72. side locking part, and 8. back groove. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments and accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0031] It should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0032] It should also be understood that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0033] Example 1:

[0034] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a biodegradable cat litter shovel based on agricultural fiber-based materials, including a split shovel body and a Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7. The shovel body includes an integrally formed shovel head filter surface 1 and a handle 5. The back of the handle 5 is provided with a back groove 8 that matches the outer contour of the Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7, and the back groove 8 extends upward along the length of the handle 5 to the back of the shovel head filter surface 1.

[0035] The upper surface of the end of the handle 5 is provided with a handle groove 4 that is recessed towards the back of the handle 5. When the Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7 is installed on the back of the shovel body, the upper surface of the Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7 abuts against the back of the handle groove 4, and the surface of the Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7 is flush with the back surface of the shovel body.

[0036] The Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7 is a separate structure from the shovel body, but is installed as a whole structure after being separately formed through a snap-fit ​​structure. Specifically, the Y-shaped reinforcing frame 7 includes a main snap-fit ​​part 71 and two side snap-fit ​​parts 72 symmetrically arranged on the outer side. The main snap-fit ​​part 71 is an upwardly protruding buckle structure that snaps into the end slot on the back of the handle body 5; the side snap-fit ​​parts 72 are upwardly protruding locking strip structures that snap into the inner side wall of the back groove 8.

[0037] Multiple elliptical filter holes are evenly distributed on the shovel head filter surface 1. The edge of the shovel head filter surface 1 is provided with an upwardly protruding shovel head side wall 2. The height of the shovel head side wall 2 is 12mm, and the angle between the shovel head side wall 2 and the shovel head filter surface 1 is 105°. The front end of the shovel head side wall 2 is connected to an arc-shaped shovel bin enclosure 3.

[0038] In this embodiment, both the shovel body and the Y-shaped reinforcing skeleton 7 are formed by hot pressing of agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite material, and both have a thickness of 0.4 mm.

[0039] The biodegradable cat litter scoop prepared in this embodiment has been tested and found to withstand a certain static load without bending or breaking, fully meeting the daily needs for scooping various types of cat litter; it can be completely degraded within 6 months in the natural soil environment of southern China, demonstrating excellent environmental performance.

[0040] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. 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 biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material, characterized in that, It includes a shovel body with a split design and a forked reinforcing frame. The shovel body includes an integrally formed shovel head filter surface (1) and a handle (5). The back of the handle (5) is provided with a back groove (8) that matches the outer contour of the forked reinforcing frame. The back groove (8) extends upward along the length of the handle (5) to the back of the shovel head filter surface (1). The upper surface of the end of the handle (5) is provided with a handle groove (4) recessed towards the back of the handle (5). When the forked reinforcing skeleton is installed on the back of the shovel body, the upper surface of the forked reinforcing skeleton abuts against the back of the handle groove (4). The forked reinforcing skeleton is spliced ​​into an integral structure with the shovel body part after being processed separately by a snap-fit ​​structure. Both the shovel body part and the forked reinforcing skeleton part are formed by hot pressing process from agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite material. The thickness of the forked reinforcing skeleton is greater than the thickness of the shovel body part, wherein the thickness of the shovel body part ranges from 0.8 to 1.4 mm.

2. The biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The forked reinforcing frame is a Y-shaped reinforcing frame (7). The Y-shaped reinforcing frame (7) includes a main snap-fit ​​part (71) and a side snap-fit ​​part (72) located on the outside. The main snap-fit ​​part (71) is an upwardly protruding snap-fit ​​structure that snaps into the end slot on the back of the handle (5). The side snap-fit ​​part (72) is an outwardly protruding snap-fit ​​strip structure that snaps into the inner wall of the back groove (8).

3. The biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shovel head filter surface (1) has multiple filter holes evenly distributed on it. The filter holes are circular or elliptical in shape, with a diameter of 5-8 mm and a center-to-center distance of 10-12 mm between adjacent filter holes.

4. The biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The edge of the shovel head filter surface (1) is provided with an upwardly protruding shovel head sidewall (2), the height of the shovel head sidewall (2) is 10-15mm, and the angle between the shovel head sidewall (2) and the shovel head filter surface (1) is 100-110°.

5. A biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The upper surface of the handle (5) is provided with parallel anti-slip reinforcing ribs (6) along the length direction. The height of the anti-slip reinforcing ribs (6) is 0.5-1mm, and the width of the outward protrusion is 1-2mm.

6. A biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to claim 5, characterized in that, The agricultural fiber-based biodegradable composite material comprises, by weight parts: 60-75 parts straw fiber, 15-25 parts starch-based binder, 3-8 parts waterproofing agent, 2-5 parts toughening agent, and 1-3 parts filler; The straw fiber is selected from one or more combinations of wheat straw fiber, rice straw fiber, and corn straw fiber; the starch-based binder is selected from one or more combinations of corn starch, cassava starch, and modified starch.

7. A biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to claim 5, characterized in that, The parameters of the hot pressing process are: hot pressing temperature 120-180℃, wherein the projected area of ​​the shovel body is 226cm², and the projected area of ​​the bifurcated reinforcing frame is 68cm².

8. A biodegradable cat litter shovel based on straw material according to claim 5, characterized in that, The depth of the handle groove (4) is 1-4mm and the length is 20-50mm.

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