Presence-Sensed Litter Box Deodorization with Quiet Air Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deodorant devices for animal litter boxes and cages are large, inflexible, noisy, and potentially harmful, leading to pet discomfort and litter box rejection, with limited odor elimination efficiency and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A compact, flexible deodorant device with a suction fan, presence sensor, and control unit that activates/deactivates based on pet presence, using activated carbon and battery power to minimize noise and vibrations, ensuring efficient odor elimination and adaptability to various litter box/cage shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ozone deodorant devices are used to eliminate odours, then odour elimination effectiveness is improved, but harm to human and pet health increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodour elimination effectivenessVSAvoidharm to human and pet health

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful ozone byproduct of ionisation devices into a beneficial element by using a controlled ozone generator that produces ozone specifically for odor elimination, while incorporating safety features to prevent excessive ozone accumulation that would harm health

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of ozone from harmful high levels to beneficial low levels by using a controlled generation system that produces ozone at concentrations effective for odor elimination but safe for pets and humans

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If air ionisation deodorant devices are used, then odour elimination is improved, but electrostatic energy accumulation frightens pets and increases litter box rejection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodour eliminationVSAvoidpet fright and litter box rejection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the harmful electrostatic discharge effect by replacing ionisation with activated carbon adsorption, while maintaining the beneficial odor elimination function through a different mechanism that does not frighten pets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If activated carbon deodorant devices with large dimensions are used, then odour elimination capability is improved, but device adaptability to different litter box conformations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodour elimination capabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different litter box conformations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the large activated carbon device into multiple small granular particles that can be freely distributed throughout the litter box, allowing the system to adapt to any conformation while maintaining high odor elimination capability through cumulative surface area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses flexible positioning of small activated carbon containers that can be placed in various locations within the litter box, adapting to different shapes and sizes without requiring fixed mounting structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Productivity

If activated carbon deodorant devices are used, then odour elimination is improved, but device dimensions require fixing to upper wall thus limiting animal movement space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodour eliminationVSAvoidanimal movement space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the activated carbon system into multiple small distributed units rather than one large fixed device, eliminating the need for upper wall mounting and preserving maximum animal movement space while maintaining odor elimination effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

5Productivity

If air movement devices are used to mix air in litter box, then odour elimination effectiveness is improved, but noise and vibrations disturb and frighten pets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodour elimination effectivenessVSAvoidpet disturbance from noise and vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical air movement system with a chemical adsorption system using activated carbon, eliminating noise and vibrations while maintaining odor elimination effectiveness through passive adsorption mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The activated carbon material performs self-service odor elimination without requiring mechanical actuation, automatically adsorbing odors from the air without generating noise or vibrations that would disturb pets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The device effectively reduces odors, minimizes pet disturbance, and prevents litter box rejection by adjusting operation based on pet presence, ensuring high safety and efficiency while maintaining a comfortable environment.

Implementation Method 1

a suction fan (7) at least partially housed inside the suction body (2) and operatively associated to suck the airflow to be processed (F1) from the animal litter box and emit the processed airflow (F2) through the at least one outlet opening (6) inside the animal litter box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir movement:

Implementation Method 2

odour eliminating means (9) activatable on the airflow to be processed (F1) to at least eliminate an odour present therein, generating a processed airflow (F2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4646924A1Deodorant device for animal litter boxes and/or cages and method of eliminating odours for litter boxes and/or cages

Publication Date: 2025.11.12 FERPLAST SRL

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B

AI summary

A deodorant device (1) for animal litter boxes and/or cages comprising a suction body (2), having at least one inlet opening (5) and at least one outlet opening (6), odour eliminating means (9), activatable on the airflow to be processed (F1) at least to eliminate an odour present therein, generating a processed airflow (F2), and a suction fan (7), configured to draw in the airflow to be processed (F1) from the animal litter box and/or cage through the inlet opening (5) and emit the processed airflow (F2) through the outlet opening (6). Furthermore, the deodorant device (1) comprises a control unit (14) operatively associated with a presence sensor (15) and configured to activate said suction fan (7) as a function of the presence signal, preferably after the animal has come out of the animal litter box and/or cage, and/or to deactivate said suction fan (7) as a function of a presence signal from the presence sensor (15) to prevent the operation of the suction fan (7) while an animal is present inside the animal litter box and/or cage.