Pet Litter Toilet with Nested Sieve Trays for Waste Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing litter toilets for domestic pets require complex cleaning procedures and can lead to dispersion of inert granular material, increasing production costs and potentially dirtying the surrounding area.
Innovation Solution
A hygienic litter toilet designed with two trays, one with a closed bottom and the other with sieves on one side, where the second tray is sieved through the use of a single side, where the second tray has a plurality of openings, allowing for easy cleaning by tilting the second tray onto the first to separate reusable material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If multiple trays with gridded bottoms are used for sifting, then the inert granular material can be separated and reused, but the device complexity increases and requires a third container for pouring sieved material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sifting function and the receiving function into a single integrated structure. The first tray has a gridded bottom that serves as both the sifting surface and the structure that receives sieved material when inverted, eliminating the need for a separate third container for pouring sieved material.
Solution Approach 2:
The first tray is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the sifting tray when upright, and as the receiving tray when inverted. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the system.
2Loss of substance
If trays are stacked and superposed for sifting operations, then material separation is improved, but the risk of material dispersion and floor contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second tray is nested within the first tray, with the gridded bottom of the first tray positioned to receive sieved material directly from the second tray. This nested arrangement ensures that material is contained throughout the sifting process and prevents dispersion onto the floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by designing the trays to nest within each other, creating a compact vertical arrangement that maintains separation efficiency while preventing horizontal dispersion of material.
3Ease of manufacture
If the third tray is made with the same characteristics as the blind lower tray, then production costs are reduced and arrangement is simplified, but residues from previous sieving can adhere to the lower surface causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The first tray is designed to be inverted during the sifting process. This inversion changes the orientation of the gridded bottom, allowing it to receive material from above while its grid structure prevents adhesion of residues to the lower surface, thus avoiding floor contamination.
4Ease of operation
If inert granular material is poured into the upper tray with gridded bottom, then sifting operations can be performed, but adjustment problems and management difficulties arise during repeated stacking and unstacking
Solution Approach 1:
The trays are pre-configured with complementary dimensions and nesting features that allow them to fit together without requiring adjustment during operation. The second tray is designed to nest within the first tray, eliminating management difficulties associated with repeated stacking and unstacking.
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
Simplifies cleaning operations and prevents dispersion of inert granular material, ensuring a clean surrounding area by using a two-tray system with one closed and one open tray, enhancing hygiene and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the internal upper tray is lifted so that the grid allows the sieving of the inert granular material that is still clean which falls into the lower tray
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A hygienic toilet (10) for a domestic pet comprises a first container (11) of the tray type having a bottom plane (14) and a lateral surface having one or more lateral walls (13) delimited by one or more upper edges (17, 18, 19, 20), as well as a second container (15) of the tray type corresponding to the previous one, also comprising a bottom plane (34) and lateral walls (33) delimited by upper edges (17, 18, 19, 20). Said second container (15) is insertable inside the first container (11) and is adapted to receive a layer of absorbent or compacting inert granular material for the excrements of the domestic pet. Said second container (15) comprises a plurality of openings (16) arranged exclusively at one of the lateral walls (33) which rise from the bottom plane (34), said openings (16) having dimensions such as to enable passage of said inert granular material.