Pet toilet

Abstract

To provide a pet toilet that is more convenient than a conventional one.SOLUTION: The pet toilet is comprised of a combination of a plurality of members including a first member and a second member. The pet toilet takes a first form and a second form in which an outer shape is different and a breeding object is different according to the combination of the member. The first member has a display portion that is invisible in the first form and is visible in the second form. Preferably, the first member is an outer container having a bottom portion and a side wall erected on a peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The second member is preferably an inner container having a bottom part of a drainboard structure that can drain off the excreted liquid of the pet and a side wall erected on a peripheral edge of the bottom part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet for pets.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional technology related to a toilet for pets, the applicant has previously proposed a toilet for pets provided with an outer container and an inner container, in which a low outer side wall portion is provided in a part of the side wall of the outer container, and a low inner side wall portion is provided in a part of the side wall of the inner container (see Patent Document 1). According to the toilet for pets described in this document, when the inner container is arranged inside the outer container, it is possible to select whether to align the positions of the outer low side wall portion and the inner low side wall portion, or not to align the positions of the outer low side wall portion and the inner low side wall portion. For example, when the pet is young or its physical ability has declined, the former can be selected, and when the pet has grown, the latter can be selected, etc., so that it can be used according to the state of the pet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, the number of households that treat pets like family members has been increasing, and the pet market has been growing significantly. Along with this, in pet products, not only high technological capabilities but also good usability such as ease of handling and good operability are required. This requirement also applies to the toilet for pets described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet for pets that is more user-friendly than conventional ones.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention relates to a pet toilet that is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a first member and a second member, and which takes on a first form and a second form, with different external shapes and different types of pets depending on the combination of members. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the first member has a display portion that is not visible in the first embodiment and is visible in the second embodiment.

[0006] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a pet toilet that is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a first member and a second member, and takes on a first form and a second form, in which the external shape and usage form differ depending on the combination of each member. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the first member is an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the second member is an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. In one embodiment, an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected on the periphery of the bottom, It is preferable to have an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. In one embodiment, a low outer side wall portion is provided on a part of the side wall of the outer container, It is preferable to provide a low inner side wall portion in a part of the side wall of the inner container. In one embodiment, the inner container is positioned inside the outer container so that the outer lower side wall portion and the inner lower side wall portion are aligned, thereby creating a pet entry area that is lower in height than the adjacent side wall portion, allowing the pet to enter the toilet. It is preferable that the inner container is positioned inside the outer container such that the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide, thereby closing off the outer lower side wall portion with the side wall of the inner container and closing off the inner lower side wall portion with the side wall of the outer container, so that the pet entry portion is not formed. In one embodiment, in the first form, it is preferable that the position of the outer low side wall portion and the position of the inner low side wall portion coincide, and in the second form, it is preferable that the position of the outer low side wall portion and the position of the inner low side wall portion do not coincide. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the inner container has a third display portion on the outer surface of the side wall of the inner container, at a position facing the outer lower side wall portion in the second embodiment.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is a pet toilet that is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a first member and a second member, and takes on a first form and a second form, each having a different external shape and usage depending on the combination of members. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the first member is an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the second member is an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. In one embodiment, an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected on the periphery of the bottom, It is preferable to have an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. In one embodiment, a low outer side wall portion is provided on a part of the side wall of the outer container, It is preferable to provide a low inner side wall portion in a part of the side wall of the inner container. In one embodiment, the inner container is positioned inside the outer container so that the outer lower side wall portion and the inner lower side wall portion are aligned, thereby creating a pet entry area that is lower in height than the adjacent side wall portion, allowing the pet to enter the toilet. It is preferable that the inner container is positioned inside the outer container such that the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide, thereby closing off the outer lower side wall portion with the side wall of the inner container and closing off the inner lower side wall portion with the side wall of the outer container, so that the pet entry portion is not formed. In one embodiment, in the first form, it is preferable that the position of the outer low side wall portion and the position of the inner low side wall portion coincide, and in the second form, it is preferable that the position of the outer low side wall portion and the position of the inner low side wall portion do not coincide. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the outer container third display portion is located on the inner surface of the side wall of the inner container at a position facing the inner lower side wall portion in the second embodiment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pet toilet that is even easier to use than conventional ones. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of one of the pet toilets of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5(a) is a plan view showing the first form of the pet toilet shown in Figure 4, and Figure 5(b) is a plan view showing the second form of the pet toilet shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a second form of the pet toilet shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first form in yet another embodiment of the pet toilet of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial exploded perspective view of the pet toilet shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a second form of the pet toilet shown in FIG. 10.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Regarding the drawings to be referred to, parts having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and unless otherwise specified, the description regarding the matters denoted by the same reference numerals is applied as appropriate. The drawings are schematic, and the ratios of each dimension etc. may be different from the actual ones.

[0011] The pet toilet of the present invention can be used, for example, for treating or collecting excrement of pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc., particularly cats. The pet toilet of the present invention is particularly useful as a toilet for pets kept indoors when placed indoors.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the pet toilet (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "toilet") 1 has a first member and a second member. The first member consists of an outer container 10. The second member consists of an inner container 20. The toilet 1 may have another member in addition to the first member and the second member. Therefore, the toilet 1 may be configured by combining a plurality of members including the first member and the second member.

[0013] In the toilet 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the inner container 20 is disposed in a nested manner inside the outer container 10 and used.

[0014] The material of each component constituting toilet 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is corrosion-resistant. From the standpoint of being lightweight, easy to handle, and having good moldability, it is preferable that the components be integrally molded from general-purpose synthetic resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, vinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS). Furthermore, it is even more preferable that the components constituting the pet toilet have a water-repellent or antibacterial coating on their surface.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the outer container 10 has a roughly rectangular bottom 11 when viewed from above. Side walls 12 are erected around the periphery of the bottom 11. The side walls 12 are erected along the entire periphery of the bottom 11. The side walls 12 are slightly inclined outwards from the outer container 10 as they extend upward. The upper end 14 of the side walls 12 is curved outwards from the outer container 10 and is roughly parallel to the bottom 11. The side walls 12 have opposing planar first side walls 12a and second side walls 12b. Furthermore, the side walls 12 have opposing planar third side walls 12c and fourth side walls 12d.

[0016] The inner container 20 has a roughly rectangular bottom 21 when viewed from above. The bottom 21 is roughly similar in shape to the bottom 11 of the outer container 10, but smaller than the bottom 11. The bottom 21 has a slatted structure that allows pet waste to pass through. This slatted structure consists of roughly grid-like ribs 23a and through holes 23b defined by the ribs 23a. Side walls 22 are erected around the periphery of the bottom 21. The side walls 22 are erected along the entire periphery of the bottom 21. The side walls 22 are slightly inclined outward from the inner container 20 as they extend upward. The upper end 24 of the side wall 22 has a curved shape that curves outward from the inner container 20. The side wall 22 has opposing planar first side walls 22a and second side walls 22b. Furthermore, the side wall 22 has opposing planar third side wall 22c and fourth side wall 22d.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the toilet 1 can have different external shapes and be used for different types of animals depending on the combination of its constituent components. Thus, the toilet 1 can take on a first form and a second form, each with a different external shape and suitable for different types of animals. Figure 2 shows the first form of the toilet 1 used for the first type of animal, and Figure 3 shows the second form of the toilet 1 used for the second type of animal.

[0018] The first and second types of pets are distinguished solely by their body size. Specifically, the first type of toilet 1 shown in Figure 2 is suitable for keeping pets with relatively small body sizes (e.g., young kittens). On the other hand, the second type of toilet 1 shown in Figure 3 is suitable for keeping pets with relatively large body sizes (e.g., adult cats). However, even if the first and second cats are of similar size, it is possible to use different types of litter boxes (type 1 and type 2) depending on the cat. For example, if both are adult cats of similar size, type 1 litter box is suitable for cats with disabilities or diseases in some of their limbs, while type 2 litter box is suitable for healthy cats.

[0019] In both the first and second embodiments, the inner container 20 is placed inside the outer container 10. In both the first and second embodiments, with the inner container 20 placed inside the outer container 10, the upper end 24 of the side wall 22 of the inner container 20 abuts against the upper end 14 of the side wall 12 of the outer container 10. As a result, in both the first and second embodiments, the inner container 20 is held inside the outer container 10, and the side wall 3 of the toilet 1 is formed by the side wall 22 of the inner container 20 and the side wall 12 of the outer container 10. In this state, the bottom 21 of the slatted structure of the inner container 20 is spaced upward from the bottom 11 of the outer container 10. Therefore, a space is formed between the bottom 21 of the inner container 20 and the bottom 11 of the outer container 10. For example, a sheet-shaped or plate-shaped urine absorbent material (not shown) can be placed in this space. The sheet-like or plate-like urine absorbent material has its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of the bottom 11 of the outer container 10. On the bottom 21 of the inner container 20, an excrement treatment material (not shown) can be placed, which is sized so as not to pass through the through-holes 23b of the slatted structure provided in the bottom 21, depending on the habits of the target animal.

[0020] When the urine absorbent is placed in the space between the bottom 21 of the inner container 20 and the bottom 11 of the outer container 10, the urine absorbent can be made from a raw material containing one or more components such as pulp fibers, clay mineral materials, or polymer water-absorbing materials, which can be molded into a sheet or plate shape.

[0021] When a waste disposal material is placed on the bottom 21 of the inner container 20, the waste disposal material may be a molded product formed into a predetermined shape, comprising one or more components such as pulverized plant-derived materials, synthetic resin, or clay minerals. The shape of the waste disposal material can be, for example, cylindrical, spherical, cubic, or rectangular.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the outer container 10 has a portion of its side wall 12, specifically the area approximately in the width direction of the first side wall 12a, cut out in a roughly inverted trapezoidal shape downwards from the upper end 14 of the first side wall 12a. As a result, the first side wall 12a is provided with an outer lower side wall portion 15 that is lower in height than the other parts of the side wall 12. The upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall portion 15 is curved outwards toward the outer container 10 and is approximately parallel to the upper end 14 of the other parts of the side wall 12.

[0023] Similar to the outer container 10, the side wall 22 of the inner container 20 is also cut out. More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, a portion of the side wall 22 of the inner container 20, specifically the area approximately in the width direction of the first side wall 22a, is cut out in a roughly inverted trapezoidal shape downward from the upper end 24 of the first side wall 22a. As a result, the first side wall 22a is provided with an inner lower side wall portion 25 that is lower in height than the other parts of the side wall 22. The upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall portion 25 is approximately parallel to the upper end 24 of the other parts of the side wall 22.

[0024] In toilet 1, the first component, namely the outer container 10, has a display section 40 on the upper side of the central area in the width direction on the inner surface of the second side wall 12b, as shown in Figure 1. More specifically, the display section 40 is provided on the inner surface of the second side wall 12b in the second configuration shown in Figure 3, in a position where the inner container 20 is placed inside the outer container 10 and is not obstructed by the first side wall 22a of the inner container 20. Specifically, the display section 40 is provided on the inner surface of the second side wall 12b, which is located opposite the first side wall 12a on which the outer lower side wall portion 15 is provided.

[0025] The display section 40 shows an adult cat in an upright position. The display section 40 may be, for example, a printed section. Alternatively, the display section 40 may be an attached object or an embossed mark formed during the molding of the outer container 10. The shape and color of the display section 40 are not particularly limited as long as it is of a visible size. In this specification, "adult cat" means a cat that is approximately 12 months old or older.

[0026] The method of using toilet 1 shown in Figure 1 is as shown in Figures 2 and 3. First, the first configuration shown in Figure 2 will be explained. First, the inner container 20 is placed inside the outer container 10 by aligning the position of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 with the position of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20. In other words, when the inner container 20 is placed inside the outer container 10, the first side wall 12a of the outer container 10 and the first side wall 22a of the inner container 20 face each other. This arrangement of the toilet 1 is the first form. By arranging both containers 10 and 20 in this way, the positions of the outer lower side wall portion 15 and the inner lower side wall portion 25 coincide, and a pet entry section 2 is formed in the toilet 1 that is lower in height than the side walls 3 of the adjacent parts on both the left and right sides, allowing the pet to enter the toilet 1. Since the pet entry section 2 is lower in height than the side walls 3 of the toilet 1, for example, when raising a young pet, the pet can easily enter and exit the toilet 1 through the pet entry section 2. Similarly, grown pets with reduced physical abilities can easily enter and exit the toilet 1 through the pet entry area 2.

[0027] In addition to this, in the first configuration shown in Figure 2, the display unit 40 is obscured by the second side wall 22b. In other words, in the first configuration, the display unit 40 indicating an adult cat is not visible. Therefore, when a user of the toilet 1 (i.e., a pet owner) sees the toilet 1 in the first configuration, they can easily recognize that the toilet 1 is not for an adult cat, in other words, it is for a young kitten. Thus, the toilet 1 of this embodiment has the advantage of making it easy for the user of the toilet 1 to recognize which configuration, the first configuration or the second configuration, to choose according to the size of the pet being kept.

[0028] As described above, the first form of toilet 1 is useful when the pet being kept is young or has reduced physical ability. On the other hand, when keeping a grown, healthy pet using toilet 1, there is a risk that the waste disposal material (not shown) placed at the bottom 21 of the inner container 20 may scatter to the outside through the pet entry area 2. Therefore, when keeping grown or healthy pets, the scattering of granular material can be effectively prevented by changing the arrangement of the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 from the first form to the second form. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the second form is adopted in which the inner container 20 is placed inside the outer container 10 so that the position of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 and the position of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20 do not coincide. Specifically, the inner container 20 is positioned inside the outer container 10 such that the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20, which faces the first side wall 22a (the side wall on which the inner lower side wall portion 25 is provided), is positioned opposite the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10. In addition, the inner container 20 is positioned inside the outer container 10 such that the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10, which faces the first side wall 12a (the side wall on which the outer lower side wall portion 15 is provided), is positioned opposite the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20. In short, the outer container 10 is kept the same as in the first configuration, and the inner container 20 is rotated 180 degrees in the plane from the first configuration. As a result, the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 is closed off by the second side wall 22b, which is part of the side wall of the inner container 20. In addition, the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20 is closed off by the second side wall 12b, which is part of the side wall of the outer container 10. Therefore, in the second configuration, the position of the outer lower side wall portion 15 and the position of the inner lower side wall portion 25 do not coincide. As a result, in the second configuration of the toilet 1 shown in Figure 3, unlike the first configuration of the toilet 1 shown in Figure 2, a pet entry area 2 is not formed. In other words, in the second configuration of the toilet 1, a high side wall 3 is formed continuously around the entire circumference. The toilet 1 in which each container 10, 20 is arranged in this manner is the second configuration. This effectively prevents the waste disposal material from splashing over the side wall 3 and outside the toilet, even if a grown, healthy pet defecates in the toilet 1 and then applies waste disposal material to the area where it defecates.

[0029] Furthermore, the display unit 40, located on the upper side of the central area in the width direction on the inner surface of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10, is positioned above the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, the display unit 40 can be made visible from the outside. As a result, the user of the toilet 1 can easily recognize visually that the toilet 1 is equipped with a display unit 40 indicating an adult cat, and thus easily understand that the toilet 1, i.e., the second form of toilet 1, is for adult cats.

[0030] Furthermore, the term "closed" as described above includes not only cases where the height of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 is closed so that it is the same as the height of the surrounding side wall, but also cases where the height of the outer lower side wall portion 15 is closed so that it is sufficiently high.

[0031] Thus, with the toilet 1 in the first and second forms, pets can be used in the correct manner over a long period of time, from their early infancy to the end of their growth period.

[0032] As described above, according to the toilet 1 of this embodiment, which has a display unit 40 that is not visible in the first form and is visible in the second form, by using the toilet 1, whether or not the display unit 40 is visible as an indicator, users of the toilet 1 can easily recognize at a glance whether the arrangement of the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 is in the first form or the second form. Furthermore, in the toilet 1, whether or not the display unit 40 is visible switches each time the arrangement of the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 is changed, and this switch serves as a trigger for users to easily recognize that the toilet 1 is in one of several arrangements, including the first form and the second form.

[0033] From the viewpoint of making the above-mentioned advantages even more effective, the widthwise length of the display section 40 is preferably 5% or more, and preferably 50% or less, of the widthwise length of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10. From a similar viewpoint, the vertical length of the display unit 40 is preferably 10% or more, and preferably 50% or less, of the vertical length of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10. Furthermore, from a similar viewpoint, the display unit 40 is preferably located at 25% to 75% of the width direction of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10, and preferably at 50% to 95% of the vertical direction of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10.

[0034] Figures 4 to 9 show another embodiment of the toilet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3. For the toilet 1 shown in Figures 4 to 9, the explanation will primarily focus on the differences in configuration from the toilet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3, while components similar to those in the toilet 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanation will be omitted. Furthermore, for components of the toilet 1 shown in Figures 4 to 9 that are not specifically explained, the explanation of the toilet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 will be applied as appropriate.

[0035] In the toilet 1 of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the inner container 20 has an inner container first display section 41 on the inner surface of the side wall 22. Specifically, the inner container 20 has the inner container first display section 41 on the upper side of the central area in the width direction on the inner surface of the second side wall 22b. The inner container first display section 41 displays a kitten in a sitting position. Other aspects are the same as in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3. In this specification, "kitten" refers to a cat that is approximately less than 6 months old.

[0036] Figure 5(a) shows a first configuration of the toilet 1 shown in Figure 4. This configuration of the toilet 1 is used exclusively for raising young pets, such as kittens. In this first configuration, the first display section 41 of the inner container is not obstructed by any of the side walls 12 of the outer container 10. Therefore, in this configuration, the first display section 41 of the inner container is visible when the toilet 1 is viewed towards the outer lower side wall 15. On the other hand, Figure 5(b) shows a second form of the toilet 1 shown in Figure 4. This form of toilet 1 is used exclusively for keeping fully grown pets, such as adult cats. In the second form, when the toilet 1 is viewed towards the outer lower side wall 15, the inner container first display section 41 is in a blind spot and cannot be seen. On the other hand, when the toilet 1 is viewed towards the outer lower side wall 15, the display section 40 is visible.

[0037] With the toilet 1 having this configuration, when the toilet 1 is viewed from a predetermined direction, specifically when the toilet 1 is viewed towards the outer lower side wall 15, in the first configuration the inner container first display section 41, which is shaped like a sitting kitten, is visible (see Figure 5(a)), and in the second configuration the display section 40, which is shaped like an adult cat standing, is visible (see Figure 5(b)). As a result, the user of the toilet 1 can easily recognize the arrangement of the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 in relation to the growth stage of the pet. Therefore, with the toilet 1 of this embodiment, the user can easily recognize that the first configuration is suitable for use with young pets and the second configuration is suitable for use with fully grown pets, thus improving usability even further than conventional toilets.

[0038] From the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-mentioned effects, the widthwise length of the first display section 41 of the inner container is preferably 5% or more, and preferably 25% or less, of the widthwise length of the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20. From the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-mentioned effects, the vertical length of the first display section 41 of the inner container is preferably 10% or more, and preferably 90% or less, of the vertical length of the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20.

[0039] In the toilet 1 of the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the inner container 20 has an inner container second display section 42 on the outer surface of the side wall 22. Specifically, the inner container 20 has the inner container second display section 42 on the upper side of the central area in the width direction on the outer surface of the second side wall 22b, which is located opposite the first side wall 22a, where the inner lower side wall section 25 is provided. The inner container second display section 42 displays the upper body of a cat. The lower vertical end of the inner container second display section 42 is horizontal to the bottom 21 of the inner container 20 and is substantially straight.

[0040] In the first embodiment (not shown), the second display section 42 of the inner container faces the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second display section 42 of the inner container is obscured by the inner container 20 and is not visible, and the display section 40 indicating adult cat is also not visible. This embodiment is the same as that shown in Figure 2 above.

[0041] On the other hand, Figure 7 shows a second configuration of the toilet 1 shown in Figure 6. In this second configuration, the inner container second display section 42 is not obstructed by any of the side walls 12 of the outer container 10. More specifically, the inner container second display section 42 is located between the side walls 3 adjacent to the left and right sides of the outer lower side wall section 15 of the outer container 10. The vertical lower end of the inner container second display section 42 is located at approximately the same horizontal height as the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall section 15 of the outer container 10. Therefore, in this second configuration, the inner container second display section 42 is visible. The display section 40 provided on the outer container 10 is also visible. As a result, users of the toilet 1 can easily recognize that this configuration of the toilet 1 is suitable for keeping fully grown pets, including adult cats.

[0042] With the toilet 1 having this configuration, in addition to the effects achieved in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the following effects are also achieved. That is, in the second configuration, only when the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position, the lower vertical end of the inner container second display section 42 will be at approximately the same horizontal height as the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall 15 of the outer container 10. Conversely, for example, if the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are not fitted together in the correct position in the second configuration, the lower vertical end of the inner container second display section 42 will be at a different position from the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall 15 of the outer container 10. As a result, the user of the toilet 1 will be able to recognize whether or not the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position by associating it with the position of the inner container second display section 42. Therefore, with the toilet 1 of this embodiment, in the second configuration, it becomes easy to recognize whether or not the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position, and in this respect, usability is further improved compared to the conventional.

[0043] From the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-mentioned effects, the widthwise length of the second display section 42 of the inner container is preferably 10% or more, and preferably 50% or less, of the widthwise length of the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20. From the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-mentioned effects, the vertical length of the second display section 42 of the inner container is preferably 10% or more, and preferably 50% or less, of the vertical length of the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20.

[0044] In the toilet 1 shown in Figure 8, the inner container 20 has an inner closing portion 51 on the outer surface of the second side wall 22b, which is located opposite the first side wall 22a on which the inner lower side wall portion 25 is provided. The inner closing portion 51 is part of the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20. The inner closing portion 51 has an inner container third display portion 43 located opposite the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 in the second configuration. The inner container third display portion 43 consists of a series of cat footprints. The inner container third display portion 43 is applied linearly along the edge of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10.

[0045] In the first configuration (not shown) of the toilet 1 of this embodiment, the third display section 43 of the inner container faces the inner surface of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10, and the third display section 43 of the inner container is obscured by the second side wall 12b and is not visible. The display section 40 indicating adult cat is also not visible. This configuration is the same as that shown in Figure 2 above. On the other hand, in the second embodiment (not shown), the third display section 43 of the inner container faces the inner surface of the first side wall 12a of the outer container 10. In this embodiment, the entirety of the third display section 43 of the inner container is located vertically below the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall 15 of the outer container 10, so the third display section 43 of the inner container is obscured by the first side wall 12a and cannot be seen. Meanwhile, the display section 40 provided on the outer container 10 is visible. This embodiment is the same as that shown in Figure 3 described earlier.

[0046] As described above, the third display section 43 of the inner container is not visible in the first and second forms. With toilet 1 having such a configuration, in the second form, only when the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position, the entire third display section 43 of the inner container is located vertically below the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 and becomes not visible. In contrast, for example, if the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are not fitted together in the correct position in the second form, at least a part of the third display section 43 of the inner container protrudes vertically above the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10. As a result, users of toilet 1 can recognize whether the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position by associating it with whether or not the third display section 43 of the inner container is visible. Therefore, according to the toilet 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the effects achieved by the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3 described above, in the second embodiment, it becomes easy to recognize whether the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position, and in this respect, usability is further improved compared to the conventional.

[0047] In the toilet 1 shown in Figure 9, the outer container 10 has an outer closing portion 52 on the inner surface of the side wall 12. The outer closing portion 52 is part of the second side wall 12b of the outer container 10. In the second configuration, the outer closing portion 52 has an outer container third display portion 44 at a position opposite to the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20. The outer container third display portion 44 consists of a series of cat paw prints. The outer container third display portion 44 is provided along the edge of the inner lower side wall portion 25.

[0048] In the first form (not shown) of the toilet 1 of this embodiment, the outer container third display section 44 faces the outer surface of the second side wall 22b of the inner container 20, and the outer container third display section 44 is obscured by the second side wall 22b and is not visible. The display section 40 indicating adult cat is also not visible. This form is the same as that shown in Figure 2 above. On the other hand, in the second embodiment (not shown), the third display section 44 of the outer container faces the first side wall 22a of the inner container 20. In this embodiment, the entirety of the third display section 44 of the outer container is located vertically below the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall 25 of the inner container 20, so the third display section 44 of the outer container is obscured by the first side wall 22a and is not visible. On the other hand, the display section 40 provided on the outer container 10 is visible. This embodiment is the same as that shown in Figure 3 described earlier.

[0049] As described above, the outer container third display section 44 is not visible in the first and second forms. With toilet 1 having such a configuration, in the second form, only when the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position, the entire outer container third display section 44 is positioned vertically below the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall 25 of the inner container 20 and becomes not visible. In contrast, for example, if the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are not fitted together in the correct position in the second form, at least a part of the outer container third display section 44 will protrude vertically above the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall 25 of the inner container 20. As a result, users of toilet 1 can recognize whether the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position by associating it with whether or not the outer container third display section 44 is visible. Therefore, according to the toilet 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the effects achieved by the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3 described above, in the second embodiment, it becomes easy to recognize whether the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are fitted together in the correct position, and in this respect, usability is further improved compared to the conventional.

[0050] Figures 10 to 12 show another embodiment of the toilet of the present invention. For the toilet 1 shown in Figures 10 to 12, the main explanation will focus on its different configuration from the toilet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 9, while components similar to those in the toilet 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanation will be omitted. Furthermore, for components of the toilet 1 shown in Figures 10 to 12 that are not specifically explained, the explanation of the toilet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 9 will be applied as appropriate.

[0051] The toilet 1 in the embodiment shown in Figure 10 includes a fixed hood 60 as a first component, a movable hood 70 as a second component, and a container 80 having an opening to which the fixed hood 60 is attached.

[0052] The container 80 comprises an outer container 81 having an opening and an inner container 82 that is detachably installed inside the outer container 81. The outer container 81 has a roughly rectangular outer bottom (not shown) when viewed from above. Side walls 81A are erected around the periphery of the outer bottom. A storage section (not shown) is located on one side of the side wall 81A. The storage section is the part in which the tray 83, which will be described later, is stored. The size and shape of the storage section are formed to be roughly the same as (slightly larger than) the cross-sectional shape and size in the lateral direction perpendicular to the pulling direction of the tray 83, which will be described later. The length of the tray 83 in the pulling direction is formed to be roughly the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the outer container 81. The side wall 81A is slightly inclined toward the outside of the outer container 81. The upper end (not shown) of the side wall 81A is curved outwards toward the outside of the outer container 81 and is roughly parallel to the outer bottom. The inner container 82 has an inner bottom (not shown) that is roughly rectangular when viewed from above. The inner bottom is roughly similar in shape to the outer bottom of the outer container 81, but smaller than the outer bottom. The inner bottom has a slatted structure that allows pet waste to pass through. This slatted structure consists of roughly grid-like ribs (not shown) and through holes (not shown) defined by the ribs. Side walls 82A are erected around the periphery of the inner bottom. Side walls 82A are erected along the entire periphery of the inner bottom. Side walls 82A are slightly inclined outward from the inner container 82. The upper end (not shown) of the side walls 82A is curved outward from the inner container 82 and is roughly parallel to the inner bottom.

[0053] With the inner container 82 positioned inside the outer container 81, the upper end of the side wall 82A of the inner container 82 abuts against the upper end of the side wall 81A of the outer container 81. This holds the inner container 82 nested inside the outer container 81, and the side wall 82A of the inner container 82 and the side wall 81A of the outer container 81 form the side wall 80A of the toilet 1, while the upper end of the side wall 82A of the inner container 82 and the upper end of the side wall 81A of the outer container 81 form the opening (not shown) of the container 80. The upper end of the side wall 82A of the inner container 82 becomes the opening end (not shown) of the opening.

[0054] With the inner container 82 positioned inside the outer container 81, the inside of the container 80 is divided into an upper section 80P and a lower section 80Q by the inner bottom of the outer container 81. The container 80 has a tray 83 that can be freely pulled out and stored in the lower section 80Q of the container 80. When the tray 83 is stored in the container 80, the tray 83 is located inside the side wall 81A of the outer container 81.

[0055] The fixed hood 60 comprises a hood body 61 and a frame 62 that is connected to the lower part of the hood body 61 and extends horizontally. The fixed hood 60 is attached over the opening end of the opening of the container 80 so as to cover the opening of the container 80. As shown in Figure 11, the hood body 61 has a roughly rectangular upper surface 61a when viewed from above. Side walls hang down from the periphery of the upper surface 61a. The side walls have opposing first side walls 61b and second side walls 61c. Furthermore, the side walls have opposing third side walls 61d and fourth side walls 61e. The hood body 61 has a rectangular cutout in a portion of its side wall, specifically the almost entire area of ​​the fourth side wall 61e, extending upward from the lower end of the fourth side wall 61e. As a result, the length of the fourth side wall 61e is shorter in the vertical direction than the rest of the side wall. The first side wall 61b, the second side wall 61c, and the fourth side wall 61e define the hood body opening 63 in the hood body 61.

[0056] The fixed hood 60 is provided with a frame 62 that extends horizontally from the lower part of the hood body 61. The frame 62 is used to fix the fixed hood 60 to the opening end of the opening of the container 80. The frame 62 has a pair of parallel first frame 62a and second frame 62b. Furthermore, the frame 62 has a third frame 62c. The third frame 62c is connected to the ends of the first frame 62a and the second frame 62b, respectively. The frame 62 has a display section 90 in a position that is covered by the movable hood 70 when it is in the closed state, which is the first form of the movable hood 70 described later. Specifically, the frame 62 has a display section 90 on the upper surface of the central area in the width direction of the third frame 62c. The display section 90 indicates a large cat in an upright position. In this specification, "large cat" refers to a cat that weighs approximately 5 kg or more and is larger in size than a normal adult cat. The size of the display section 90 is not particularly limited as long as it is visible.

[0057] The movable hood 70 has a roughly rectangular upper surface 70a when viewed from above. Side walls hang down from the periphery of the upper surface 70a. The side walls have opposing planar first side walls 70b and second side walls 70c. Furthermore, the side walls have a third side wall 70d. There are no side walls on the surface opposite to the third side wall 70d. The movable hood 70 has a part of its side wall, specifically the central area of ​​the third side wall 70d, hollowed out to form a pet entry section 71 that allows a pet to enter the toilet 1. The movable hood 70 has an inward extension section 70e that extends horizontally from the lower end of the pet entry section 71 toward the interior of the movable hood 70. Of the inward extension section 70e, each side edge along the extension direction is connected to the first side wall 70b and the second side wall 70c, respectively. The size of the inward extension 70e and the size of the third frame 62c of the fixed hood 60 are approximately the same. Therefore, when the movable hood 70 is closed, the inward extension 70e and the third frame 62c overlap. The movable hood 70 is supported on the hood body 61 by a support part 72 so that the hood body opening 63 can be opened and closed. The movable hood 70 is configured to be able to close at least a part of the hood body opening 63 provided in the hood body 61.

[0058] As shown in Figures 10 and 12, the toilet 1 can take on a first form and a second form depending on the combination of the components that make up the toilet 1, and its external shape can be made different and the animals it can be used to keep can be made different.

[0059] Figure 10 shows a first configuration of the toilet 1 of this embodiment. In this configuration, the movable hood 70 is in the closed position. In this configuration, the display unit 90 provided on the frame 62 of the fixed hood 60 is obscured by the movable hood 70 and cannot be seen.

[0060] On the other hand, Figure 12 shows a second form of the toilet 1 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the movable hood 70 is flipped upward using the support part 72 as a pivot point, and the movable hood 70 is positioned on the fixed hood 60, thereby completely opening the hood body opening 63 and putting the movable hood 70 in the open state. The size of the hood body opening 63 is larger than the size of the pet entry part 71. Therefore, when the hood body opening 63 is completely open, pets can enter and exit the toilet 1 through the hood body opening 63. In this embodiment, the display part 90 is not obstructed by anything and is exposed to the outside, so the display part 90 is visible.

[0061] With the toilet 1 having this configuration, the display unit 90 can only be seen when the hood body opening 63 is fully open in the second configuration. In contrast, if, for example, the hood body opening 63 is closed by the movable hood 70 in the first configuration, or if only a part of the hood body opening 63 is open in the second configuration, it is difficult to see the entire display unit 90. As a result, users of the toilet 1 can easily recognize that the first configuration is suitable for pets of normal size, and the second configuration is suitable for pets of large size, thus improving usability even further than before.

[0062] From the viewpoint of further enhancing the effects described above, toilet 1 may be provided with other display units in addition to the display unit 90. For example, as shown in Figure 12, the movable hood 70 may have a movable hood first display section 91 at a position opposite to the frame 62 of the fixed hood 60 in the first embodiment. Specifically, the movable hood first display section 91 may be provided in the central area in the width direction of the outer surface of the inward extension 70e of the movable hood 70. The movable hood first display section 91 can display a large cat of the same type as the display section 90. In other words, the movable hood first display section 91 can be the same as the display section 90. With a toilet 1 having such a configuration, when the hood body opening 63 is widely opened in the second embodiment, the user can see the movable hood first display section 91 in addition to the display section 90. Therefore, with the toilet 1 of this embodiment, it becomes easier for the user to recognize that the second embodiment is suitable for use by large pets, and in this respect, usability is further improved compared to the conventional.

[0063] Toilet 1 may also be provided with a display unit of a different type from the display unit 90 and the first display unit 91 of the movable hood. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the movable hood 70 may have a movable hood second display section 92 on the upper part of the outer surface of the third side wall 70d. The movable hood second display section 92 displays an adult cat in an upright position. Furthermore, the movable hood 70 may have a movable hood third display section 93 in the central area of ​​the inner surface of the inwardly extending portion 70e (i.e., the upper surface of the inwardly extending portion 70e in Figure 11). The movable hood third display section 93 displays an adult cat in the same or different standing position as the movable hood second display section 92. With a toilet 1 having such a configuration, in the first form in which the hood body opening 63 is closed by the movable hood 70, only the movable hood second display section 92 and the movable hood third display section 93 can be seen. Therefore, it is easier for the user of the toilet 1 to recognize that the first form is suitable for use by pets of normal size.

[0064] On the other hand, in the second form in which the hood body opening 63 is widely open, when the toilet 1 is viewed toward the hood body opening 63, the movable hood second display section 92 is located on the top surface of the toilet 1. Also, the movable hood third display section 93 is located on the back of the inwardly extending section 70e. As a result, the movable hood second display section 92 and the movable hood third display section 93 are in a blind spot and cannot be seen, and only the display section 90 and the movable hood first display section 91 are visible. Therefore, with the toilet 1 of this embodiment, the user of the toilet 1 can more easily recognize that the second form is suitable for use by large pets.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 12, each display part was shaped like a cat or footprints, but instead, it may be shaped like the figures or footprints of animals such as dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, or hamsters, or letters or symbols may be added in addition to or instead of these.

[0066] Furthermore, in each embodiment of the toilet 1, the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 and the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20 are in approximately the same position. However, instead, the position of the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 may be higher than the position of the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20, or conversely, the position of the upper end 25a of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20 may be higher than the position of the upper end 15a of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10. Also, the position of the outer lower side wall portion 15 of the outer container 10 and the position of the inner lower side wall portion 25 of the inner container 20 may be offset within the range in which the pet entry portion 2 is formed.

[0067] Furthermore, in each embodiment of the toilet 1, the width of the outer low side wall 15 and the width of the inner low side wall 25 are approximately the same. However, instead, the width of the outer low side wall 15 may be wider than the width of the inner low side wall 25, or conversely, the width of the inner low side wall 25 may be wider than the width of the outer low side wall 15. The width of the pet entry area 2 in the toilet 1 is determined by the narrower of the widths of the outer low side wall 15 and the inner low side wall 25. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 1 Pet toilet 10 Outer container (first component) 15 Lower outer wall 20. Inner container (second component) 25 Inner lower side wall section 2. Pet entry area 3 side wall 40 Display section

Claims

1. A pet toilet that is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a first member and a second member, and which takes on a first form and a second form, with different external shapes and different types of pets depending on the combination of members, A pet toilet comprising a first component having a display section, wherein in the first embodiment the entire display section is not visible and in the second embodiment the entire display section is visible.

2. The first component is an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. The second component is an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. A lower outer side wall portion is provided on a part of the side wall of the outer container, A lower inner side wall portion is provided in a part of the side wall of the inner container. By aligning the positions of the outer lower side wall portion and the inner lower side wall portion and positioning the inner container inside the outer container, a pet entry area is formed that is lower in height than the adjacent side wall portion, allowing the pet to enter the toilet. By positioning the inner container inside the outer container such that the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide, the outer lower side wall portion is closed off by the side wall of the inner container, and the inner lower side wall portion is closed off by the side wall of the outer container, thereby preventing the formation of the pet entry area. The pet toilet according to claim 1, wherein in the first embodiment, the position of the outer low side wall portion and the position of the inner low side wall portion coincide, and in the second embodiment, the position of the outer low side wall portion and the position of the inner low side wall portion do not coincide.

3. The pet toilet according to claim 2, wherein the outer container has the display portion on the inner surface of a side wall located opposite to the side wall on which the outer lower side wall portion is provided.

4. The pet toilet according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner container has a second inner container display section on the outer surface of the side wall.

5. The pet toilet according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when the pet toilet is viewed toward the outer lower side wall portion, the inner surface of the side wall of the inner container has an inner container first display portion that is visible in the first form and not visible in the second form.

6. A pet toilet that is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a first member and a second member, and which takes on a first form and a second form, with different external shapes and usage forms depending on the combination of each member, The first component is an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. The second component is an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. An outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom, A pet toilet comprising a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet waste to pass through, and an inner container having side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom, A lower outer side wall portion is provided on a part of the side wall of the outer container, A lower inner side wall portion is provided in a part of the side wall of the inner container. By aligning the positions of the outer lower side wall portion and the inner lower side wall portion and positioning the inner container inside the outer container, a pet entry area is formed that is lower in height than the adjacent side wall portion, allowing the pet to enter the toilet. By positioning the inner container inside the outer container such that the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide, the outer lower side wall portion is closed off by the side wall of the inner container, and the inner lower side wall portion is closed off by the side wall of the outer container, thereby preventing the formation of the pet entry area. In the first embodiment, the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion coincide, and in the second embodiment, the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide. In the second embodiment, the inner container has a third display portion on the outer surface of the side wall of the inner container, at a position facing the outer lower side wall portion. A pet toilet in which the third display portion of the inner container has a shape that follows the edge of the outer lower side wall portion, and in the first and second forms, the entire third display portion of the inner container is not visible.

7. A pet toilet that is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a first member and a second member, and which takes on a first form and a second form, with different external shapes and usage forms depending on the combination of each member, The first component is an outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. The second component is an inner container having a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet excrement to pass through, and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom. An outer container having a bottom and side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom, A pet toilet comprising a bottom with a slatted structure that allows pet waste to pass through, and an inner container having side walls erected around the periphery of the bottom, A lower outer side wall portion is provided on a part of the side wall of the outer container, A lower inner side wall portion is provided in a part of the side wall of the inner container. By aligning the positions of the outer lower side wall portion and the inner lower side wall portion and positioning the inner container inside the outer container, a pet entry area is formed that is lower in height than the adjacent side wall portion, allowing the pet to enter the toilet. By positioning the inner container inside the outer container such that the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide, the outer lower side wall portion is closed off by the side wall of the inner container, and the inner lower side wall portion is closed off by the side wall of the outer container, thereby preventing the formation of the pet entry area. In the first embodiment, the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion coincide, and in the second embodiment, the position of the outer lower side wall portion and the position of the inner lower side wall portion do not coincide. In the second embodiment, the outer container has a third display portion on the inner surface of the side wall of the outer container, at a position facing the inner lower side wall portion. The third display portion of the outer container has a shape that follows the edge of the inner lower side wall portion, and in the first and second embodiments, the entire third display portion of the outer container is not visible, in a pet toilet.

8. It comprises a fixed hood as a first component, a movable hood as a second component, and a container having an opening to which the fixed hood is attached. The aforementioned fixed hood comprises a hood body and a frame extending horizontally from the lower part of the hood body for fixing to the open end. The movable hood is attached to the hood body so as to be able to open and close the hood body opening provided in the hood body, The movable hood is configured to be able to close at least a portion of the hood body opening provided in the hood body in the first closed state, and to be able to completely open the hood body opening in the second open state. The pet toilet according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the fixed hood has the display portion at a position that is covered by the movable hood when the movable hood is closed.

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