Interactive Water Container with Moving Object for Pet Hydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cats and other animals often do not drink enough water due to their natural curiosity and apprehension towards stationary water containers, leading to health issues in domestic environments.
Innovation Solution
An interactive water container apparatus featuring an outer container with an inner container and a pump that circulates fluid, causing an interactive object to move, enticing animals to interact and drink from the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a stationary water container is used, then the device complexity is low, but the animal's water intake is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the stationary water container into an interactive system with moving components. The pump circulates water to move interactive objects (such as fish or other aquatic creatures) within the container, making the water source dynamic and engaging for animals. This movement stimulates the animal's curiosity and encourages them to drink, thereby increasing water intake without requiring excessive complexity in the device design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an interactive object is made accessible to the animal, then the animal's interest is increased, but the animal can physically contact and potentially remove the object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the intermediary principle by introducing an inner container as a mediator between the interactive object and the animal. The interactive object is positioned within the inner container, which is itself placed inside the outer water container. This nested structure allows the animal to see and interact with the moving interactive object through the transparent or translucent inner container walls, while the inner container physically prevents the animal from directly contacting or removing the object. This maintains the interactive element's functionality while protecting it from being removed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Encourages animals to drink water by stimulating their curiosity with moving objects, improving hydration and potentially reducing health issues related to inadequate water intake.
Implementation Method 1
An at least one pump is in fluid communication with at least one of the outer container and the at least one inner container, the at least one pump configured for circulating the fluid within at least one of the outer container and the at least one inner container
Data Source
AI summary
An interactive water container apparatus is disclosed and configured for encouraging an animal to drink therefrom. In at least one embodiment, an outer container is sized and configured for holding a volume of fluid, the outer container providing an at least one opening sized and configured for allowing the animal to access and drink the fluid therewithin. At least one inner container is positioned substantially within the outer container. At least one interactive object is positioned within the outer container such that the at least one inner container is positioned between the interactive object and the opening of the outer container, thereby allowing the animal to see said interactive object while being unable to physically contact said interactive object. A pump is configured for circulating the fluid within at least one of the outer container and the at least one inner container. Through circulating the fluid, the pump further causes the at least one interactive object to move through the fluid, which entices the animal into interacting with, and ultimately into drinking, the fluid.