Cat Litter Box with Segmented Ports and Adjustable Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cat litter boxes require different operations for cleaning and litter replacement, which can be cumbersome and pose safety risks, especially during rotation, where cats may get jammed.
Innovation Solution
A cat litter box with a pedestal and roller repository connected via a drive mechanism, featuring an adjustable filter assembly with a movable stopper plate and rotation button, allowing for unified rotation direction for cleaning and replacement, and separate waste and pet entry/exit ports to prevent jamming and improve safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If different turning operations are performed for cleaning and litter replacement, then cleaning and replacement functions are achieved, but operation complexity increases and safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functional ports into distinct locations: the waste discharge port is positioned at the top end while the pet entry/exit port is positioned at the front end. This spatial segmentation allows independent operation of waste discharge and pet access functions, eliminating the safety risk of pet jamming during rotation while maintaining separate operational pathways for cleaning and litter replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional design by positioning the waste discharge port at the top end rather than the bottom end. This inversion allows the waste collection bag to be disposed of by simply pulling it from the top, eliminating the need for complex bottom-discharge mechanisms and improving both operational ease and safety.
2Productivity
If the waste discharge port is opened at the top end and the litter discharge port is opened at the bottom end, then waste collection is achieved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the waste discharge function and the litter replacement function into a unified operational流程. By positioning both the waste discharge port and the pet entry/exit port at accessible locations, the system allows users to perform both waste collection and litter replacement through simple pulling actions from the top or front, rather than requiring separate complex operations for each function.
3Extent of automation
If the barrel rotates to discharge waste and replace litter, then automatic cleaning is achieved, but pet jamming risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pet entry/exit function from the rotating barrel mechanism by providing a separate, stationary pet entry/exit port at the front end. This extraction ensures that pets can access the litter box independently of the barrel's rotation state, completely eliminating the jamming hazard while maintaining the automation of waste discharge and litter replacement through barrel rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
A cat litter box capable of automatic cleaning and removal, comprising a pedestal and a roller repository, and the pedestal and the roller repository are connected via a drive mechanism, the roller repository comprises a barrel, a litter storage bin is provided in the barrel, a pet entry/exit port and a waste discharge-port are opened on the barrel, wherein the waste discharge port is provided at a rotation track of the barrel, a movable cover is provided outside the waste discharge-port, an adjustable filter assembly is provided in between the litter storage bin and the waste discharge bin, the adjustable filter assembly comprises a fixed stopper-plate, the fixed stopper-plate is connected with an inner side of the barrel, a filter mesh is provided underneath the fixed stopper-plate, a movable stopper-plate is provided rotatably in between the fixed stopper-plate and the filter mesh, a button is provided at the movable stopper-plate.