Rotary Pet Exercise Apparatus with Liquid-Filled Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pet exercise equipment, such as treadmills, fail to stimulate the curiosity of cats, leading to lack of exercise and potential health issues like obesity and depression, and existing solutions like laser pointers pose risks to pet vision and emotional stability.
Innovation Solution
A pet exercise apparatus featuring a rotatable cylindrical rotary body with a transparent tube partially filled with liquid and a movable ball, along with a pedestal and external toy system, designed to stimulate curiosity and induce spontaneous exercise without harming the pet's emotions or health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a treadmill is installed for pet exercise, then exercise capability is provided, but the pet's interest and spontaneous exercise motivation are not stimulated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing a curiosity-stimulating device (such as a laser pointer or moving object) on the treadmill before the pet uses it. This preliminary stimulation triggers the pet's interest and initiates spontaneous exercise behavior without requiring owner intervention during exercise sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (curiosity-stimulating device) that mediates between the pet and the treadmill. This intermediary captures the pet's attention and motivates it to use the exercise equipment voluntarily, solving the problem of lack of spontaneous exercise motivation.
2Ease of operation
If a laser pointer is used to stimulate pet curiosity, then exercise motivation is improved, but vision loss and emotional instability risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the harmful laser pointer with a safe alternative such as a mechanical moving object or reflective ball that can be easily replaced. This alternative provides the same curiosity-stimulating function without the harmful effects of laser exposure, effectively eliminating vision loss and emotional instability risks while maintaining exercise motivation.
3Device complexity
If the movable ball position is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the pet's curiosity is not continuously stimulated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the movable ball's position changeable rather than fixed. The ball can move along the treadmill surface or change height in response to the pet's movement, creating dynamic visual stimulation that continuously engages the pet's curiosity without requiring complex electronic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by designing the movable ball to automatically reposition itself based on the pet's movement or gravitational forces, without requiring external control systems. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains curiosity stimulation while keeping the overall device structure simple.
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 apparatus effectively encourages pets to engage in exercise by rotating with the pet's movement, changing the ball's position to maintain curiosity, while preventing noise at night and ensuring the pet's safety, thus promoting physical activity without emotional or health risks.
Implementation Method 1
a tube which has a transparent tubular shape, is partially filled with liquid, and is disposed along the inner circumference of the rotary body; and a movable ball positioned near the surface of the liquid filling the tube
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a pet exercise apparatus including a rotary body which is formed in an erected cylindrical shape, has at least one open side surface, and is disposed to be rotatable, so as to stimulate a pet's curiosity and induce spontaneous exercise thereof without harming the pet's emotions or health. The rotary body includes a tube and a movable ball. The tube has a transparent tubular shape, is partially filled with liquid, and is disposed along the inner circumference thereof. The movable ball is positioned near the surface of the liquid filling the tube. The rotary body rotates according to the movement of the pet who chases after the movable ball, so that the position of the movable ball is changed by a change in the position of the surface of the liquid so as to continuously stimulate the pet's curiosity.