Litter Box Position Regulator for Weight Scale Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing animal litter boxes, such as the pet toilet described in PTL 1, face issues with the main container being displaced due to forces applied when an animal jumps on, leading to potential breakage of the weight scales and inaccurate weight measurement of the animal and its excrement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a litter-box main portion with an upper and lower container, featuring holes for excrement passage, an output main portion with a force-sensing top surface, and a position regulator that includes a recess on the litter-box main portion and a projection on the output main portion to regulate their relative position, reducing displacement and enhancing measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the first weight scale is disposed on the supporting part to measure the weight of excrement and body weight, then measurement function is provided, but the weight scale is prone to breakage or malfunction due to repeated forces from the main container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a position regulator as an intermediary component between the main container and the supporting part. This position regulator includes a litter-box-side regulating portion on the main container and an output-side regulating portion on the supporting part, which regulates the relative position between these components. By doing so, it prevents direct force transmission from the main container to the weight scale, thereby protecting the weight scale from breakage or malfunction while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the main container is disposed on the upper side of the supporting part with the weight scale, then weight measurement is enabled, but the main container is displaced with respect to the supporting part when an animal jumps onto the litter box
Solution Approach 1:
The position regulator serves as a mediator that maintains the stable relative position between the main container and the supporting part. The litter-box-side regulating portion and output-side regulating portion work together to constrain displacement in the front-back and left-right directions, ensuring the main container remains properly positioned on the supporting part during animal movement while enabling accurate weight measurement.
3Strength
If the side wall of the output portion extends from the edge of the top surface in the up-down direction, then structural support is provided, but the top surface is still susceptible to breaking from applied forces
Solution Approach 1:
The position regulator acts as a protective intermediary that prevents direct force application to the top surface of the output portion. By regulating the position and preventing displacement, it reduces the frequency and intensity of forces reaching the top surface, thereby maintaining structural support while improving durability and reducing breakage risk.
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
This configuration allows for more accurate measurement of animal and excrement weights while minimizing the risk of the litter-box main portion displacing relative to the output main portion, thereby reducing the likelihood of the weight measurement system malfunctioning.
Implementation Method 1
the output portion being configured to output a signal in accordance with a magnitude of a force that acts on the top surface
Data Source
AI summary
An animal litter box (100) includes: a litter-box main portion (1) including an upper container (10) and a lower container (30); an output main portion (60) including an output portion (61); and a position regulator. The upper container (10) includes a plurality of holes (h) passing through the upper container in the up-down direction, and the lower container (30) includes a reception portion (32) that receives excrement that has passed through the plurality of holes (h). The output portion (61) includes: a top surface (61a) that comes into contact with the litter-box main portion (1); and a side wall (61b) extending from an edge of the top surface (61a) in the up-down direction. The output portion (61) outputs a signal in accordance with a magnitude of a force that acts on the top surface (61a). The position regulator includes: a litter-box-side regulating portion (26) disposed on the litter-box main portion (1); and an output-side regulating portion (62) disposed on the output main portion (60). The output-side regulating portion (62) is a portion different from the side wall (61b). The position regulator regulates a relative position between the litter-box main portion (1) and the output main portion (60) in at least one of the front-back direction and the left-right direction.