Animal waste containment systems
View Patent ↗Waste containment systems for animal enclosures or animal support means, such as perches, are disclosed. A moving body of liquid in a tray traps waste and airborne contaminants and a filtration unit filters the waste. The filtered liquid is circulated with a pump. Methods for filtering waste from animal enclosures or animal support means are disclosed.
1. A filtration system configured to continuously filter animal waste by a continuous circulation of a liquid, the system comprising:
a tray defining a cavity configured to permit passage therethrough of the liquid and the waste, the tray configured to continuously receive the liquid into the cavity, to continuously maintain in the cavity a constant volume of the liquid during the circulation, and to receive into the cavity the waste, the tray also defining an opening contiguous with the cavity for continuously discharging the liquid and the waste from the cavity;
a filtration unit associated with the tray for receiving the liquid and the waste discharged through the opening and for filtering the waste from the liquid; and
a pump for delivering the liquid from the filtration unit into the cavity of the tray.
2. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises four raised sides.
3. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the tray is configured to slope towards the opening.
4. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein constant volume of the liquid flows continuously through the cavity.
5. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is water.
6. The filtration system of claim 1 , associated with an animal support means selected from the group consisting of bird stand, food cup, perch, ladder, swing, toy, and support.
7. The filtration system of claim 1 , associated with an animal enclosure.
8. The filtration system of claim 7 , wherein the animal enclosure is a bird cage.
9. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the filtration unit comprises:
a permeable screen; and
a filter pad.
10. A table top waste containment system comprising:
at least one of an animal enclosure or an animal support means;
a tray associated with the at least one animal enclosure of the animal support means, the tray defining a cavity configured to permit passage therethrough of the liquid and the waste, the tray configured to continuously receive the liquid into the cavity, to continuously maintain in the cavity a constant volume of the liquid during the circulation, and to receive into the cavity the waste, the tray also defining an opening contiguous with the cavity for continuously discharging the liquid and the waste from the cavity;
a filtration unit associated with the tray for receiving the liquid and the waste discharged through the opening and for filtering the waste from the liquid; and
a pump for delivering the liquid from the filtration unit into the cavity of the tray.
11. The waste containment system of claim 10 , wherein the liquid is water.
12. The waste containment system of claim 10 , wherein the animal support means is selected from the group consisting of bird stands, food cups, perches, ladders, swings, toys, and supports.
13. The waste containment system of claim 10 , wherein the animal enclosure is a bird cage.
14. A method of filtering waste from an animal, the method comprising the steps:
(a) providing a continuously moving body of liquid that flows through a cavity and through an opening defined by a tray associated with at least one of an animal enclosure or an animal support means for collecting the waste;
(b) filtering the waste from the liquid by a filtration unit; and
(c) circulating the liquid from the filtration unit to the tray with a pump.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the animal support means is selected from the group consisting of bird stand, food cup, perch, ladder, swing, toy, and support.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the animal enclosure is a bird cage.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the liquid is water.