Intelligent toilet lid for cats

Abstract

The utility model discloses an intelligent toilet lid for cats, and belongs to the technical field of defecation equipment for cats. The cat litter box mainly comprises a top cover, a cat litter bowl, a base, a mechanical transmission mechanism and an intelligent control system. The cat litter bowl is characterized in that an intelligent control system and a mechanical transmission mechanism are in technical cooperation, the cat litter bowl is vertically connected with a pedestal pan of an owner, and when a cat is about to defecate, the cat litter bowl is instantly translated to avoid, so that excrement directly falls into the pedestal pan of the owner; and after the cat finishes defecation, the cat litter bowl is translated and reset, so that the cat can carry out litter digging and burying actions. Therefore, the technical problems that an existing cat defecation device is heavy in peculiar smell, troublesome to clean, difficult to train and the like are systematically solved. The cat excrement treatment device is exquisite in structure and intelligent in control, and a brand new technical scheme is provided for cat excrement treatment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a cat defecation device, and more particularly to a smart toilet seat for cats that is suitable for use with the owner's toilet. Background Technology

[0002] Current cat litter box equipment mainly includes traditional litter boxes, smart litter boxes, and toilet trainers. Traditional litter boxes have disadvantages such as easy litter splattering, odor, and bacterial growth. Smart litter boxes have disadvantages such as safety risks and generally high prices. Toilet trainers have disadvantages such as difficulty in training and high energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a smart toilet seat for cats. Its purpose is to: through the collaboration of an intelligent control system and a mechanical transmission mechanism, and by connecting it vertically to the owner's toilet seat, instantly move the litter bowl aside when the cat is about to defecate, allowing the cat's excrement to fall directly into the owner's toilet seat.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A smart toilet seat for cats consists of a top cover and a base. The main components are located inside the base, including a litter bowl for holding cat litter, a mechanical transmission mechanism, and a smart control system.

[0006] The mechanical transmission mechanism includes a lead screw, a ball screw pair, a transmission guide rail, etc., which can convert rotary motion into horizontal linear motion.

[0007] The intelligent control system includes a central processing unit and control panel, a first sensor, a second sensor, a DC motor, and a rechargeable lithium battery. The central processing unit and control panel control the DC motor to operate based on the sensor signals, and then use the mechanical transmission mechanism to move the litter bowl back and forth between the "normal position (A)" (hereinafter referred to as "position A") and the "avoidance position (B)" (hereinafter referred to as "position B").

[0008] This utility model is attached to the owner's toilet seat. When the cat is about to defecate, the litter bowl is moved from position A to position B, instantly hiding so that the cat's excrement falls directly into the owner's toilet seat; when the cat finishes defecation (or stops defecation), the litter bowl is moved back from position B to position A.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this utility model are that, by effectively cooperating with the owner's toilet, it can treat cat excrement at the source, effectively reduce odor emission, basically eliminate the trouble of cleaning cat litter, and significantly avoid the drawbacks of traditional cat litter boxes that are prone to bacterial growth, smart cat litter boxes that pose safety hazards, and toilet training devices that require a lot of effort. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram (top view) of the main body base of this utility model;

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main body base of this utility model (one side perspective).

[0012] Figure 3 This is a top view of the top surface of the cover of this utility model.

[0013] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The appearance and physical structure of this utility model are shown:

[0014] 1. Base, 2. Litter bowl, 3. Litter bowl tray, 4. Ball screw assembly, 5. Drive screw, 6. Drive rail, 7. First rolling bearing (for rotatably supporting one end of the drive screw), 8. Second rolling bearing (for rotatably supporting the other end of the drive screw), 9. First sensor (may include a gravity sensor, vibration sensor, and sound sensor), 10. Second sensor (may include a photosensitive sensor, image sensor, and odor sensor), 11. Central processing unit and control panel, 12. DC motor, 13. Rechargeable lithium battery, 14. Connector, 15. First screw support (fixed to the bottom of the base for fixing and supporting the first rolling bearing), 16. Second screw support (fixed to the bottom of the base for fixing and supporting the second rolling bearing), 17. First slide rail mounting base (self-fixed to the bottom of the base for fixing and supporting the second rolling bearing), 18. Second slide rail fixing seat (fixed to the bottom of the base, used to fix and support one end of the transmission guide rail), 19. Motor seat (fixed to the bottom of the base, used to fix the DC motor), 20. Charging port (located on one side wall of the base, used to connect to an external power source to replenish the rechargeable lithium battery), 21. Data cable (used to connect the central processing unit and control panel to the first sensor), 22. Data cable (used to connect the central processing unit and control panel to the second sensor), 23. Wire (used to connect the central processing unit and control panel to the DC motor), 24. Wire (used to connect the central processing unit and control panel to the rechargeable lithium battery), 25. Wire (used to connect the rechargeable lithium battery to the charging port), 26. Top cover, 27. Through hole inside the top cover. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The present invention relates to a smart toilet seat for cats and its functions, which are achieved through the following methods.

[0016] (a) Physical structure and morphology.

[0017] The physical structure of this utility model mainly consists of the top cover (26), the litter bowl (2), and the base (1) that serves as the support for each component. The entire structure is horizontal and is joined vertically to the owner's toilet.

[0018] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, its shape is generally flat and rectangular, 45cm long and 39cm wide on one side (the opposite side is semi-circular). The top cover (26) has an internal through hole (27) with a diameter of 12cm at the eccentric part (towards the semi-circular side).

[0019] The litter bowl (2) has a diameter of 13cm and a depth of 6cm and is used to hold cat litter. It is fitted into the litter bowl tray (3) and supported by the mechanical transmission mechanism of the litter bowl tray (3), and can make horizontal linear reciprocating motion between position A and position B.

[0020] Position A, which is the usual location of the litter bowl (2), is located directly below the inner hole (27) of the top cover. When the litter bowl (2) is in position A, the inner hole (27) of the top cover and the two circles of the opening of the litter bowl (2) are perpendicular and concentric, and the inner hole (27) of the top cover is blocked and closed by the litter bowl (2). At this time, the top cover (26) and the litter bowl (2) are arranged in the form of a traditional litter box. The litter bowl (2) holds cat litter and can guide the cat to dig for litter before defecating and bury it after defecating in the center of this "traditional litter box"—the litter bowl (2).

[0021] Position B refers to the location of the litter bowl (2) when it is moved 15cm to avoid the litter bowl. At this time, the through hole (27) inside the top cover is no longer blocked by the litter bowl (2) and is connected vertically to the owner's toilet, providing a natural falling channel for the cat's excrement.

[0022] The physical structure consisting of the top cover (26), the inner hole (27) of the top cover, the litter bowl (2), and the base (1) lays the physical foundation for establishing the "instant evasion" mechanism through the translational design of the litter bowl (2).

[0023] (ii) Mechanical transmission mechanism.

[0024] The mechanical transmission mechanism of this utility model can convert the rotational motion of the DC motor (12) into the horizontal linear motion of the cat litter bowl (2).

[0025] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the mechanical transmission mechanism consists of the cat litter bowl tray (3), the ball screw pair (4), the transmission screw (5), the transmission guide rail (6), the first rolling bearing (7), the second rolling bearing (8), the connecting piece (14), the first screw support (15), the second screw support (16), the first slide rail fixing seat (17), and the second slide rail fixing seat (18).

[0026] The rotor of the DC motor (12) is coaxially connected to the transmission screw (5) via the coupling (14). The ball screw pair (4) and the transmission screw (5) form a threaded transmission engagement, converting the rotational motion of the transmission screw (5) into the horizontal linear motion of the ball screw pair (4). One end of the litter bowl tray (3) is fixedly connected to the ball screw pair (4), and the other end is slidably engaged with the transmission guide rail (6), so that the litter bowl tray (3) moves horizontally under the constraint and guidance of the transmission guide rail (6). The litter bowl (2) is fitted into the litter bowl tray (3).

[0027] When the DC motor (12) is driven to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, its torque is transmitted through the aforementioned transmission chain, causing the cat litter bowl (2) to reciprocate between position A and position B along the transmission guide rail (6).

[0028] The aforementioned mechanical transmission mechanism, through a power transmission chain of "motor rotation - screw transmission - linear motion", carries the cat litter bowl (2) to translate, providing transmission support for implementing the "instant evasion" mechanism.

[0029] (iii) Intelligent control system.

[0030] The intelligent control system of this utility model is based on the central processing unit and control panel (11), which is fixed inside one side wall of the base (1).

[0031] The first sensor (9) and the second sensor (10) are respectively connected to the central processing unit and control panel (11) via data lines to provide sensing signals; the DC motor (12) is electrically connected to the central processing unit and control panel (11) via wires and is driven by it; the rechargeable lithium battery (13) is electrically connected to the central processing unit and control panel (11) via wires to provide unified power distribution for the system.

[0032] 1. Power distribution and security.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the rechargeable lithium battery (13) is the total power source of the system, with a capacity of 2000mAh, and is fixed to one corner of the bottom of the base (1).

[0034] After the system is powered on, the power is first input to the central processing unit and control panel (11); the central processing unit and control panel (11) allocate working power to each power-consuming unit to ensure the coordinated and stable operation of the system; the external power supply replenishes the power of the rechargeable lithium battery (13).

[0035] 2. Sensor detection and functions.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the specific detection targets and functions of the sensor are as follows:

[0037] ① The first sensor (9) may include a gravity sensor, a vibration sensor, and a sound sensor, and is located on the transmission guide rail (6) near the through hole (27) inside the top cover.

[0038] The gravity sensor, vibration sensor, and sound sensor are used to detect the increased gravity, continuous vibration, and sound changes caused by the cat digging in the litter bowl (2) with its front paws.

[0039] When continuous gravity, vibration, or sound signals are detected, it indicates that the cat is digging in the litter box, and these signals serve as the system's wake-up source. When the signal disappears before defecation, it indicates that the cat has stopped digging in the litter box, serving as the basis for determining that defecation is imminent. When the signal disappears after defecation, it indicates that the cat has stopped digging in the litter box to bury the feces, serving as the basis for determining that the cat has left the toilet seat.

[0040] ②The second sensor (10) may include a photosensitive sensor, an image sensor, and an odor sensor, and is located at the inner edge of the through hole (27) in the top cover.

[0041] The photosensitive sensor and the image sensor are used to detect the light fluctuation and image activity signal in the through hole (27) area of ​​the top cover after the cat litter bowl (2) is moved to position B, due to the cat's posture changing from squatting and being blocked to standing up or turning around and being blocked. The odor sensor is used to detect the environmental odor change signal caused by the cat's excrement.

[0042] When the photosensitive sensor and the image sensor detect continuous and stable light fluctuations and image activity signals, it indicates that the cat's posture changes from squatting to standing up or turning around, and the signal serves as the basis for determining the end of defecation (or cessation of defecation); when the odor sensor detects a significant change in odor, the signal provides evidence for determining that the cat has finished defecation.

[0043] The sensor trigger signal is closely related to the cat's defecation behavior and posture characteristics, providing a basis for control decisions for the central processing unit and control panel (11). Those skilled in the art can make adaptive settings based on conventional sensor debugging methods, combined with actual application scenarios and individual differences of cats, without the need for additional creative work.

[0044] 3. Intelligent control and its basis.

[0045] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the central processing unit and control panel (11) execute the following control flow:

[0046] ① Daily sleep: The system is in a sleep state for most of the day.

[0047] ② Triggering wake-up: When the cat steps onto the top cover (26) and puts its front paws into the litter bowl (2) to dig in the litter, the system is awakened from sleep when the first sensor (9) detects the sensor signal that characterizes the cat's litter digging behavior.

[0048] ③ Avoidance decision and execution: When the sensor signal representing the cat's litter-digging behavior of the first sensor (9) disappears, the central processing unit and control panel (11) drive the DC motor (12) to rotate clockwise in 0.5 seconds, and move the litter bowl (2) from position A to position B through the mechanical transmission mechanism. The through hole (27) in the top cover is connected vertically to the owner's toilet.

[0049] The "0.5 seconds" is used to distinguish between the termination of sand-digging and a short pause, in order to improve the accuracy of decision-making.

[0050] ④ Reset Decision and Execution: The litter bowl (2) is in position B. When the second sensor (10) detects a sensor signal indicating that the cat's posture has changed from sitting to standing up or turning around, the central processing unit and control panel (11) drives the DC motor (12) to rotate counterclockwise in 0.8 seconds, moving the litter bowl (2) from position B back to position A, so that the cat can bury the litter after defecating (or bury the litter again when defecation stops).

[0051] The "0.8 seconds" is used to effectively filter out the instantaneous posture adjustments that may occur during the cat's defecation process, thereby improving the reliability of the decision.

[0052] ⑤ Return to sleep: When the odor sensor detects a significant change in odor caused by the cat's excrement, it confirms that defecation has indeed ended. Three minutes after the sensor signal representing the cat's litter-digging behavior disappears, the system returns to sleep.

[0053] The process for handling a cat's single defecation cycle is now complete and in a closed loop.

[0054] 4. Motor drive and execution.

[0055] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the DC motor (12) is mounted on a corner of the base (1) via the motor mount (19), and its speed is 1800 rpm. Based on ideal conditions with an extremely low coefficient of friction, the required torque for driving is approximately 0.00003 N·m. This value theoretically verifies the feasibility of using this motor drive scheme to drive the mechanical transmission mechanism. Those skilled in the art will understand that in practical applications, to ensure reliable system operation, a motor with a torque specification adapted to the actual load and friction conditions will be conventionally selected.

[0056] The central processing unit and control panel (11) make timely control decisions based on the sensor signals to move the cat litter bowl (2) to position B or back to position A, and drive the DC motor (12) to perform precise start-stop, steering and speed actions.

[0057] The DC motor (12) rotates 30 times per second. After being driven by the transmission screw (5) with a pitch of 5mm and the ball screw pair (4), the cat litter bowl (2) containing cat litter can be moved precisely horizontally and linearly by 15cm.

[0058] 5. Avoiding and resetting the litter bowl.

[0059] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the complete workflow of the intelligent control system reciprocating the cat litter bowl (2) is as follows:

[0060] ① Daily sleep - The litter bowl (2) is located in position A.

[0061] ② Trigger wake-up - The litter bowl (2) is located in position A.

[0062] ③ Avoidance decision and execution - The litter bowl (2) is moved from position A to position B.

[0063] ④ Reset decision and execution - The litter bowl (2) is moved from position B back to position A.

[0064] ⑤ Return to sleep - the litter bowl (2) is in position A.

[0065] The aforementioned sensor detection, intelligent control, and motor drive architecture and functions provide core support and power for implementing the "real-time monitoring - instantaneous avoidance" mechanism.

[0066] In summary, through the integration and collaboration of the above-mentioned physical structure, mechanical transmission mechanism and intelligent control system, the core technical mechanism of "real-time monitoring - instantaneous avoidance" of this utility model is established, and the intelligent recognition of the cat's defecation behavior and posture and the automatic control of the displacement of the litter bowl (2) are achieved.

[0067] The essential feature of this utility model is that, through the specific hardware structure and connection relationship, the cat litter bowl (2) can automatically switch between the two functions of "position A for cleaning litter" and "position B for urination".

[0068] This utility model integrates the smart toilet seat for cats with the owner's toilet seat. The utility model "real-time monitors" the cat's litter-digging behavior before defecation and controls the litter bowl (2) to "instantly dodge," creating space for defecation. The owner's toilet seat serves as the waste disposal terminal, reusing its receiving and drainage functions, allowing the cat's excrement to fall naturally into it, be briefly retained, or be "immediately flushed away." Thus, the two together form a complete and efficient cat waste disposal solution of "real-time monitoring—instant dodge—immediate flushing."

[0069]

Example 1

[0070] Cats have the habit of digging in the litter box before defecating and burying their feces afterward. Typically, cats urinate 2-3 times and defecate 1-2 times a day, each time lasting less than 3 minutes. This invention will only be in use for a maximum of about 15 minutes per day, spending the majority of its time sleeping.

[0071] As shown in the attached diagram, when a cat steps onto the toilet seat and digs in the litter bowl (2) with its front paws, it generates gravity, vibration, and sound. The first sensor (9) transmits the sensor signals that characterize the cat's litter-digging behavior back to the central processing unit and control panel (11), waking the intelligent system from sleep mode. When the cat's litter-digging behavior stops, the sensor signals from the first sensor (9) indicating increased gravity, continued vibration, and changed sound disappear within 0.3 seconds. 0.5 seconds after the signal disappears, the central processing unit and control panel (11) drive the DC motor (12) to rotate clockwise at 1800 rpm for 1 second, translating the litter bowl (2) to position B via the mechanical transmission mechanism. Thus, the litter bowl (2) is shifted 15cm within a total of 1.8 seconds, allowing the cat's excrement to fall naturally into the owner's toilet.

[0072] Within approximately 2.5 seconds of finishing defecating, the cat will stand up (when urinating) or turn around (when defecating) and attempt to bury the excrement in the litter box. Objectively, the excrement has already fallen into the owner's toilet. Within 1.8 seconds after the cat stands up or turns around, the second sensor (10) detects a sensor signal indicating that the cat's posture has changed from squatting to standing up or turning around. The central processing unit and control panel (11) drive the DC motor (12) to rotate counterclockwise at a speed of 1800 rpm for 1 second. Through the mechanical transmission mechanism, the litter bowl (2) is moved back to position A for the cat to bury the excrement in the litter box.

[0073] Three minutes after the cat stops digging and burying its feline companion, the intelligent system returns to sleep mode.

[0074] This example demonstrates the procedure for handling a cat's normal litter-digging behavior, which occurs only once before defecation.

[0075]

Example 2

[0076] This example describes the process of handling a cat's abnormal behavior of repeatedly scratching in the litter box several times (N times, or between 2 and 5 times) before defecating.

[0077] As shown in the attached figure, when the cat finishes scratching for the first time, the central processing unit and control panel (11) drive the DC motor (12) to rotate clockwise for 1 second 0.5 seconds after the sensor signal representing the cat's scratching behavior from the first sensor (9) disappears, so as to move the cat litter bowl (2) to position B.

[0078] The cat may stop defecating because it doesn't feel comfortable enough, and then get up or turn around to dig in the litter box a second time.

[0079] After the central processing unit and control panel (11) detect the second sensor (10) indicating that the cat's posture has changed from sitting to standing or turning around, 0.8 seconds later, the DC motor (12) is driven to rotate counterclockwise for 1 second to move the cat litter bowl (2) back to position A so that the cat can dig in the litter again.

[0080] This process can be repeated N times until the cat finally defecates. Once the cat has finished defecating, the subsequent process is the same as in Example 1.

Claims

1. A cat intelligent toilet cover, characterized in that: The system includes a top cover (26) and a base (1), the top cover (26) having an inner through hole (27); a litter bowl (2), located inside the base (1), for holding cat litter; a mechanical transmission mechanism, located inside the base (1), for driving the litter bowl (2) to move horizontally and linearly back and forth between the "normal position (A)" and the "avoiding position (B)"; and an intelligent control system, located inside the base (1), including a central processing unit and control panel (11), a first sensor (9), a second sensor (10), a DC motor (12), and a rechargeable lithium battery (13); wherein the first sensor (9) and the second sensor (10) are signal-connected to the central processing unit and control panel (11) and provide sensing signals to it, the DC motor (12) is electrically connected to the central processing unit and control panel (11) and driven by it, and the rechargeable lithium battery (13) is electrically connected to the central processing unit and control panel (11) and provides unified power distribution for the system.

2. The smart cat toilet lid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical transmission mechanism includes a transmission screw (5) driven by the DC motor (12), a ball screw pair (4) threadedly engaged with the transmission screw (5), a litter bowl tray (3) fixedly connected to the ball screw pair (4), a transmission guide rail (6) slidably engaged with the litter bowl tray (3), a first rolling bearing (7) and a second rolling bearing (8) for rotatably supporting the transmission screw (5), a first screw support (15) for fixing the first rolling bearing (7), a second screw support (16) for fixing the second rolling bearing (8), and a first slide rail fixing seat (17) and a second slide rail fixing seat (18) for fixing and supporting the transmission guide rail (6).

3. The smart cat toilet lid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first sensor (9) includes a gravity sensor, a vibration sensor and a sound sensor.

4. The smart cat toilet lid of claim 1, wherein: The second sensor (10) includes a photosensor, an image sensor, and an odor sensor.

5. The cat intelligent toilet cover according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Its overall shape is roughly flat and rectangular, 45cm long and 39cm wide on one side.

6. The cat intelligent toilet cover according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The diameter of the through hole (27) inside the top cover is 12cm.

7. The cat intelligent toilet cover according to claim 1 or 5 or 6, characterized in that: The "normal position (A)" is located directly below the through hole (27) inside the top cover, and the "avoidance position (B)" is located at the position where the litter bowl (2) is moved 15cm to avoid the cat.

8. The cat intelligent toilet cover according to claim 1 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that: The smart toilet seat for cats is connected to the owner's toilet seat from top to bottom. When the litter bowl (2) is in the "avoidance position (B)", the through hole (27) inside the top cover is connected to the owner's toilet seat from top to bottom.

Images