Patent Application
20080178817
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to animal husbandry devices and toilets for the removal of animal wastes, which are accessible and by animals and which clean automatically. It further relates to flush valves to deliver liquids and fluids for flush cleaning with sufficient capacity and energy to clean the toilet and its platforms. It further relates to photoelectric sensors that automatically activate flush cleaning of plumbing fixtures. It further relates to a standardized, indexed edge to provide an assembly system that allows the assembly of varied component modules for customized installations of the toilet.
2. Background of the Invention
The problem is that household pets, such as multiple cats and dogs, confined in homes for extended time periods, need facilities to eliminate bodily wastes. The large number of prior art cat litter boxes and animal toilets indicates that people desired solutions for this problem. There are no toilets that flush automatically and are conveniently useable by animals currently offered for sale. An object of the present invention is an automatically self-cleaning animal toilet that can be installed in water-flush, and other liquid and fluid flush plumbing systems. An object of the invention is to use waste disposal methods typical of current building construction. It is further an object to enable alternate liquids for flushing and alternate waste disposal means. The object of the invention is to eliminate the human labor of supplying litter, disposing and cleaning animal wastes and the ongoing costs of typically-used litter. It is further the object to eliminate the odor, unsanitary mess and continued aggravations from the typical litter box. It is the object of the invention to provide effective cleaning of the animal toilet and automatic cleaning, activated by the animal. It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly system that permits economical, customized installations for varied animal needs, using standardized component parts.
The initial cost is higher for a permanently-installed toilet, designed exclusively for animals, but the assembly system allows economical installation and it accommodates changing, future animal needs. Component modules can be added or changed at a later time. Portable modules can be transported to other locations to adapt the toilet for use by their own animals. People will buy this better-designed toilet system for indoor use in new homes, retrofit in older homes, apartment buildings, hotels that allow pets and public park facilities.
The toilet assembly can be used in outdoor locations by using non-freezing liquids for flushing, such as, but not limited to, recyclable oil or anti-freeze. It can be used with alternate disposal means, such as, but not limited to incinerating, composting or recycling.
The toilet may be useable in commercial settings, such as, but not limited to, the farming of piglets in pens or in the separate housing units provided for farming of calves that are raised for veal.
The present invention combines elements that appeared in prior art. These elements were not combined into one invention in prior art. Prior art devices to enable animals to share human, household toilets were unsatisfactory due to design, inconvenience and access problems. There were also poorly designed water-flush toilet devices for animals. These prior art toilets did not provide a smooth, rounded toilet bowl and a support platform that can be reached and cleaned by flush liquid for automatic cleaning. Another problem in prior art was that the animal support platforms did not confine and orient the animal to avoid deposits in non-flushable places. Much of prior art did not have automatically-activated flushing. The present invention is novel in its combination of elements that appeared separately in prior art, all of which had unsatisfactory design. The present invention additionally provides a novel assembly system that permits economical, customized installations of the animal toilet, using standardized component parts.
In the present invention, the animal is supported above its wastes on a platform or grid. Platforms are a very old concept from animal husbandry that has been used in numerous litter pan devices to keep pellets of absorbent, clay litter dry above a droppings area, urine collection pan or sewage drain. A major problem with non-flushing cat litter pans is the unpleasant smell, even when litter is changed often and deodorant is used. Animals avoid using a toilet or litter pan that has visible wastes, smell or standing areas that are wet. Prior art inventions taught biodegradable litter, flushable litter and non-porous (cleanable) litter. Flushing litter in typical sewage systems tends to clog sewage pipes and fill the systems. Litter pans (non-flush) used the support platform concept from animal husbandry and lower sump container for urine, but not for solid wastes. These devices required manual cleaning by humans.
Prior art did not have support platforms with suitable-sized apertures and reduced surface areas to allow for both the passage of solid wastes and support for animal feet. Some prior art platforms, temporarily attached atop the rim of human toilets to hold litter for training. Prior art animal platforms for human toilets did not clean by automatic water flushing because the platform was not installed within the bowl where it can be reached by the level of flush water. Prior art toilets that were designed with the intent for sole use by animals do not have satisfactory cleaning of the platform area. The liquid sump in a toilet's waste receiving bowl is a main factor to effectively clean solid waste from the receiving bowl. Ideally, there should be minimum platform surface to support the animal, depending on the size of feet and wastes of the animal. Ideally, the platform and bowl could be pre-wetted or under liquid to prevent wastes from sticking. At the least, the receiving bowl and support platform need to be reached by the flush liquid for cleaning, by submersion and by sufficiently forceful liquid action directed at the areas that need to be cleaned.
Litter has been the common means to provide for animal waste. Prior inventions teach manual and mechanical means to sieve solid wastes from litter, Liquid wastes can collect in a lower, sump container by passing through a grid platform. (Clumping clay litter enabled a human to manually sieve solidified wet litter and solid wastes). Clay litter dust is a lung health hazard for animals. Litter is a collecting place for bacteria and parasites. Less toxic and biodegradable litter has been made from plant products, such as alfalfa and corn but must still be handled by humans. Some prior art devices teach washable, non-absorbent litter for reuse, such as plastic or plastic-coated iron pellets, that are agitated by magnets. Complex prior art inventions agitate, macerate wastes, wash and reuse permanent litter.
The inventor of the present invention observed that cats (and other animals) don't need litter. Cats will use a human toilet, sink or bathtub for excretion, but will only do so when the location is clean. Cats will use their customary litter pan, without litter, if it is clean. Cats will use a visibly clean, odor-free, dry habitual waste deposit location if it provides sufficient support for feet and cleanliness. Cats may be able to stand on the toilet seat platform of a toilet that is designed for humans, but the cat is not properly oriented to deposit wastes into the toilet seat's aperture. If a cat falls into the water it is less likely to use the toilet again. Small, young and infirm cats would have more difficulties with mounting and falling in. The inventor noted that other pet animals, such as, but not limited to, ferrets, hamsters, pigs, and rabbits will eliminate wastes at a customary location without litter, such that they could use a suitably-configured toilet.
Old prior art inventions, for children and animals, teach adjustments to the aperture size of a toilet seat. Prior art dual, human-animal-use devices sit atop the rim of a toilet, such that they are not reached by flush water for automatic, flush cleaning. Prior art requires manual cleaning to adequately clean the platform areas. Some prior art adapting human toilets are supported by legs or hooks, in a manner that puts the platform within the toilet bowl, but these do not provide satisfactory automatic, liquid flush cleaning of the platform areas. Pre-wetting or water in the waste receiving receptacle (bowl) keeps the bowl cleaner in the present invention.
No prior art combines all separate elements into one invention that provides a satisfactory platform and satisfactory cleaning, despite prior art attempts to provide water-flush cleaning for animals. The elements of the present invention are the following: support platform grid with aperture(s) (without litter) or with training devices (that may contain litter or scent), a device with makes the platform and waste receiving bowl pre-wetted or reachable by automatic liquid flushing for cleaning, adequate orientation of the animal over the platform's aperture(s) areas, sufficient liquid flushing force to clean the platform, and automatic activation of flushing, and fixture attachment to standard plumbing disposal systems to provide water inlet and discharge, and a satisfactory seal from sewage gas. Alternate flush liquids are anticipated. The above elements are taught separately in prior art, but were not combined into one satisfactory invention. The present invention remedies function and design problems in prior art.
No prior art animal toilets had the novel standardized, assembly system that enables customized, economical installations using standardized components. It is this assembly system that enables a standard installation in building construction. The assembly system enables one to adapt the toilet for later use by numerous types of animals. A standardized animal toilet would be recognized and used by animals in public locations, such as apartment buildings, hotels that allow pets, urban streets and parks. The assembly system of the present invention enables installation of varied component modules for platforms to support animals. All component modules have a standard, indexed, integrally-molded, mating edge that fits the modules together in this assembly system. The edge system of the present invention enables easy, customized, flexible, economical installation of a variety of platform inserts for varied configurations of aperture size to accommodate size of wastes and feet, animal size and to accommodate training devices.
Sufficient flush force for cleaning a specific toilet design is mechanically complex. It is achieved by forces of height and gravity on flush liquid, volume of liquid, volume and shape of bowl, and shape of the u-shaped trap. (The u-shaped trap is the standard method to block noxious gas escaping from waste disposal systems). The u-shaped trap has a trapway outlet that is wider than its trap to help to create suction-force or vacuum from below to pull wastes out of the toilet fixture. Commercially-available flush valves provide a range of adjustment to govern the amount of water force, flushing energy and pressure from the water supply. There must be sufficient pressure in the water supply. The present invention's shape and configuration of inlet holes in the toilet bowl fixture and platform modules are designed to increase the amount of force and energy from the flushing liquid for better cleaning. Prior art animal toilets lacked sufficient pre-wetting and force of spraying to be effective at automatic cleaning of their platform areas.
The assembly system of the present invention is particularly useful and novel because the standardized, indexed system enables customized assembly to suit various owner preferences and various animal characteristics, which makes manufacture and permanent installation more practicable. The platform grid in the present invention fits and is supported on an integrally-molded, mated, indexed ledge within the toilet bowl, barely above the liquid level in the bowl. The automatic, photoelectric activation (which can be timed for delayed flush) causes pressurized flush water over the grid by the flush valve. Elliptical-shaped, angled holes within the rim channel of the bowl direct the flush liquid to achieve greater force. (These holes help to create vortex water action to improve cleaning.)
The design of prior art animal toilets does not clean solid wastes well as the present invention. A flush valve pressurizes and increases the energy of flush water for improved cleaning. The geometry of the trapway of the discharge passageway and the placement and shape of the inlet holes for flush liquid improve cleaning of this fixture, Solid bodily wastes do not float, contrary to statements in some of the prior art; solid wastes sink. Prior art does not specify a smooth, round bowl with maximum water area, elliptical, angled rim-holes and flush valve for best cleaning.
Water flush toilets, such as the present invention, operate by a combination of forces: 1) gravity-pressure from above and 2) suction in the sewage outlet passageway. (The common U-shaped trap is a simple water blockage that prevents toxic sewer gas from entering the building). The top pressure comes from an interaction of forces: pressurized water (it could be pressured by air tank or flush valve), water volume, gravity and height of the water in the storage closet. The flush valve is ideal because it creates an adjustable range of water pressure and eliminates the need for a water storage closet in a small location. (A flush valve requires one-inch water inlet pipe and sufficient pressure in the water supply). The toilet's lower suction force comes from siphon or suction force in the trap and its wider outlet passageway. Cleaning of the toilet bowl of the present invention is improved by having more water surface area in the bowl covering the inside of the fixture and by the vortex force. Prior animal toilet art does not have these features. Prior art combined a variety of mechanical and photoelectric means of activation.
The indexed, assembly system of the invention is novel and allows the addition of customized, grids and screens with various apertures for small animals, having differing sizes of feet and excrements. Training inserts with temporary training litter and a method for behavior modification are taught in prior art. Prior art did not use an assembly system that provides for flexible combining of standardized component modules. The present toilet assembly system is a better-designed toilet fixture. The standardized, indexed edge of this assembly system also enables larger support platforms for large animals. Prior art describes large animal platforms, having grooves and slopes toward a waste aperture, but without the indexing edge to assemble with a standardized toilet fixture. The assembly system allows differing, future pets to use the same, permanently installed toilet in a home, apartment or hotel. It enables owners to add customized components to standard animal toilet fixtures in apartment buildings and hotels. The toilet facilities would be recognized by animals that become familiarized with the toilet in another setting.
The benefits of this animal toilet for pet owners are savings in the costs of litter, cleaning time and aggravation. Treating sewage is more favorable to the environment than is filling landfills with litter. Many animals are abandoned at animal shelters because they eliminate wastes in wrong areas of the home. The toilet will save animal lives. The animal toilet will permit people, who are not able to take animals out for elimination, for whatever reasons (infirmity, time, safety, etc.), to be able to enjoy the pleasures and benefits of having pets.
Toilets are an old art. The market for replacements for water-flush toilets is largely a replacement market in the United States, rather than a growth market. More recent improvements to toilet art include electronic activation of flushing and water conservation means. I hope that the manufacture of this new and useful product will provide a useful product to people and their animals. I also hope it provides employment in the businesses of the manufacture of toilet-related items and plumbing labor in the United States and elsewhere.
Drawings (In enclosed envelope on Strathmore Board)
In the enclosed drawings, like numbers refer to like parts and to the Numbered Parts List.
In the drawings, like numbers refer to like objects. The proportions of some elements have been changed for ease of illustration.
Referring now to
In the typical installation of the preferred water flush mode, the prepared location 50 has a water input 52 and a waste discharge 56. Clean water supply is provided with standard one or one-half inch inlet pipe and coupling 54. Waste discharge 12 is provided with standard plumbing toilet closet floor flange 60. It is important that the location be standardized to use typical plumbing parts and to permit installation for future and changing animal needs.
Toilet 2 is provided with the standard tapered waste outlet coupling 62, which mates with standard floor flange 60 and the two are maintained in engagement by standard brass, threaded toilet closet bolts and nuts and washers. Seal against leaks is maintained by a standard plumbing donut-shaped wax or plastic seal 58. Toilet 22 has a standard clean water inlet 52. Toilet 2 is configured to be low and broad to cooperate with a platform 24, upon which an animal can conveniently mount and stand. Toilet 2 has a platform index ledge 26 which mates with a reciprocal platform edge 48 to keep the edges of the component modules in position relative to each other. Platform 4 is configured to transmit a portion of the weight of the animal directly onto the floor to reduce the load on the toilet fixture. Platform 4 has, as an integral part of its construction, a molded edge 19 to interface with and receive training insert 5. The platform is made of durable material, which is impervious to stains and odor. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, molded metals, ceramic or plastic or fiberglass or a grid rack of stainless steel or heavy wire, which could be coated with plastic or rubber.
The preferred mode for flush unit 64 is a standard, commercially available plumbing flush valve. Water inlet pipe 11 is joined to the flush unit by means of a first coupling 22, which has fittings to mate with pipe coupling 13. the flush unit is joined to the toilet fixture by means of a second coupling tube which mates with output fitting 21.
The flushing cycle is initiated by an activation means 84. The preferred mode is an electric solenoid cell sensor. In
The prepared location 1 is standard for all floor-mounted animal toilets of this invention. This enables the location to be built into new homes in anticipation of unknown, future animal needs. Toilet 2 will ordinarily be of a standard size to serve typical household pets. Platforms 4 are later installed to suit the specific needs of animal that will use the toilet. Training insert 5 is installed to meet specific needs of animals.
Referring now to
The type of drainpipe determines the type of floor flange. Lead drain stubs require brass or hard lead flanges that are soldered to the stub. A copper drain stub requires a brass flange soldered to the stub. A cast iron drain stub requires a cast iron flange, with a lead and oakum joint. With a plastic drain stub, a plastic flange is cemented to the pipe. The toilet outlet flange slides down over the stub until it rests level with the floor. Stubs that extend above the top of the toilet outlet flange must be broken off or cut flush with a hacksaw. Two brass toilet closet flange bolts, with threaded ends up, secure the fixture to the floor with standard nuts and washers. With wood floors, the bolts screw into the floor and a lead shield is used to protect the floor.
When the standard location is not in use, it can be covered with a cover 30, which is secured to the floor and sealed against sewer gas. The standard site could be installed in new construction in anticipation of future pets.
Referring now to
Referring now to
All toilet trap passageways structures in
Referring to
Training insert 5 shows the versatile combinations that are possible with this component module. Inserts 40 are shown in
To set forth the number and variety of all enhancements for platforms and training inserts that are enabled by this assembly system would greatly multiply the drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that, while enhancements may not be specifically illustrated, the inventor anticipates and recommends these enhancements within the claims of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will see that certain modifications can be made to the apparatus and methods disclosed herein, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The preferred embodiment was described, but it can be understood that the invention can be adapted to numerous rearrangements, modifications and alterations, and all of these are within the intended scope of these claims.
The preferred mode of cleaning for the toilet assembly installation for a cat or small pet in a home with electricity and water is a flush valve. There may be limited space for a water reservoir closet in locations where the toilet will be installed. Flush valves are more costly and more common in commercial settings, but the advantages of the flush valve are many: more rapid repeat use, better bowl-cleaning because there is more energy and water pressure produced by a flush valve than by gravity and siphon forces, simple mechanical adjustment to govern a range of adjustment. Disadvantages of a flush valve include: higher initial cost, more noise during flushing, need for adequate water pressure in the supply (A sustained 15 pounds or more of water pressure in the municipal system and one-inch water supply inlet pipe are adequate. A larger sewage outlet pipe would reduce noise.)
Flush valves can be set to deliver the amount of water to meet the United States federal regulation to achieve water conservation. The current standard of water use for toilets for humans is to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. The preferred flush liquid in an indoor, home setting is water, with a waste discharge to home plumbing and sewage disposal system. In an outdoor setting, other flush liquids may be desired to prevent freezing. Suitable other liquids for flushing can include, but are not limited to, alcohols, anti-freeze or light oil in a recyclable system, in which wastes may be separated by specific gravity. Traditional waste disposal systems, such as, but not limited to, septic systems and slurry tank systems could also be used. The toilet assembly could discharge wastes to unconventional waste disposal systems, such as, but not limited to incinerating or composting systems.
Automatic activation of liquid flushing of plumbing fixtures can be initiated by directing the weight of the animal on the platform to a button that triggers hydraulic operation of a flush valve. The preferred mode of operation (with available electricity) is activation by an electronic solenoid (“electric eye”) sensor. Commercially available flush valves and solenoid sensors include, but are not limited to those sold by Sloan Valve Co. of Franklin Park, Ill. Sloan hydraulic and electronic sensors and flush valves are under U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,308,347; 3,273,919; 3,334,646; 3,556,137; 4,309,781; 3,533,555.
In the preferred embodiment, a flush valve to force water through the toilet fixture is automatically activated by the solenoid cell sensor. When the animal leaves the area sensed by the sensor, which interrupts the electric circuit, the sensor electrically triggers a switch on the flush valve to cause it to flush.
The flushing action of a toilet is like that of a syphon. A decrease in atmospheric pressure at the trapway outlet of the trap passageway causes part of the flushing forces. When the toilet is in a neutral position and is not flushing, there is water standing in the u-shaped trap. A u-shaped trap is the most common and reliable method in plumbing art to form a seal to prevent noxious sewer gas from entering a building. In the neutral and ready condition, the atmospheric pressure is the same on both sides of the trap. The diameter of the outlet or trapway end of the trap is smaller than that of its inlet end. This and the short turns within the passageway slow the flushing liquid and cause a head of water and pressure to build up in the upper toilet bowl. When the toilet bowl is flushed, the water passing through the trap passageway eliminates the air and pressure balance. This produces a partial vacuum on the outlet end of the trap. Atmospheric pressure combined with the head of water on the inlet side of the trap force wastes from the toilet fixture into the sewage pipe. Flush action is a combination of downward force from above and sucking (siphon) force from below. After the level of water in the bowl has dropped, air can again enter the toilet's outlet passageway. This air breaks the syphon action, and it causes the flushing to stop.
It is noted that the toilet fixture and assembly system modules of this invention can be adapted for use with other liquids for flushing and mechanical or trap door means of waste discharge from the toilet system.
In the preferred water flush mode, the toilet bowl, while in its neutral position, contains three inches of water, so that it is filled properly to receive wastes. This pre-wets the bowl and prevents incoming wastes from sticking to the bowl. This standing water also causes the u-shaped trap passageway to be filled so that it can seal against noxious sewer gas.
When flushing begins, water starts to enter the toilet fixture and is forced through elliptical inlet holds along the rim channel. (On installations with splashguard or large animal platforms, flush liquid is forced through inlet holes in these modules).
The shape, geometry, and volume of the toilet fixture and the water pressure from the water supply affect whether a given toilet design will flush well. The elliptical shape of the inlets in the rim channel of the present invention also acts to increase flush liquid's force. Commercially-available flush valves have a simple screw-type adjustment to regulate the volume of flow and pressure. Thus a typical flush valve can compensate for variations in the water supply's pressure and for variation in toilet designs that are enabled by the present invention. The floor-mounted variation of this animal toilet requires at least 15 pounds of sustained pressure to flush. In some situations, such as a wall mount or blow-out embodiments, 20-25 pounds of pressure may be required to clean the toilet. A smaller animal with small waste amounts could use less water and less force to effectively flush the toilet clean.
The flush valve can be installed at various locations on this animal toilet, including on top of the fixture, within a wall on a double-walled fixture, or more remotely located, such as in a wall of the building. The water supply pipe must be one inch or more in diameter for the commercially-available flush valves to operate. Homes tend to have one-half inch water supply piping to save costs. The pipe can be replaced with the larger sized pipe. Commercial locations commonly install one-inch pipe. The water pressure in the municipal water supply must be sufficient to supply a sustained volume and pressure of water.
The entire plumbing system of the building must have sufficient ventilation and air pressure to be adequate for all of the plumbing fixtures that are installed in that building. This promotes proper flushing of toilets and prevents sewage backups and toxic gases from entering the building. The water pipe sizes and flange sizes for sewage outlet pipes that are specified for this invention are standard sizes for current, typical plumbing. It is recommended that a licensed plumber install the animal toilet according to the requirements of government building codes. The installer must follow building codes respecting amount of flow through and proper ventilation to maintain proper atmospheric pressure in the system.
(The search did not include a search of foreign patents. The inventor believes there may be French, German, Dutch and Canadian patents for animal toilets). This search was updated in May 2004.
Support Platforms and Screens that Allow Wastes to Drop by Gravity Beneath Animals or Humans:
Training Devices and Methods for Training Cats and Animals:
Indexed Edges to Enable Things to be Mated Together:
Prior Art to Reduce Aperture and Provide Animal Support Platform Above a Water Flush Toilet: (For Human or Animal Use)
Permanent Plumbing Installations (of Housings, Platforms, Posts for Toileting Use by Animals) that have Water Flushing Means and Discharge to Sewage Systems, But not Adequate and Automatic Cleaning:
Toilets that Clean Primarily with Mechanical Means, not Liquid Flush and which Provide Inadequate Cleaning:
Flush Valves to Provide Liquids for Flushing Action:
Toilet Inlet Holes that Improve Flushing and Water Conservation:
Those skilled in the art will see that certain modifications can be made to the apparatus and methods disclosed in the illustrated embodiments, without departing from the spirit of the invention. This invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiments, but it is understood that the invention is adaptable to numerous rearrangements, modifications and alterations. All such rearrangements, modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of these claims.
