Granted Patent B1

US 8,316,801 · App. 12/388,229 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. An automated pet waste collection system comprising:

a rectangular training pad area having a flat bottom portion defining the area for pet urination and defecation;

an absorbent pad bin and a waste collection bin integrally coupled to said training pad area, wherein said absorbent pad bin and said waste collection bin are located on opposite ends of said training pad area;

a housing that exposes a limited length of dependent flat waste pad sheet dispensed from a supply waste pad roll housed in a supply cabinet, wherein an equal, soiled length of pad is wrapped about a take-up roll in an opposite containment cabinet, wherein said pad sits atop said training pad area; said waste pad is formed of a multi-layer absorbent material having an upper side of an absorbent material capable of absorbing and retaining liquid waste; and a fluid impervious lower layer

said housing comprising: at least one cutting mechanism; at least one spray shield; extruded side supports affixed to said supply cabinet at a first end and said containment cabinet at said opposing end; support arms affixed to said extruded side supports, said support arms form sidewalls to said supply cabinet; containment support arms affixed to said extruded side supports, said containment support arms form sidewalls to said containment cabinet; a supply door hingedly affixed to a rear wall of said support cabinet, said supply door closes over said supply roll suspended in said supply cabinet; a containment door hingedly affixed to a rear wall of said containment cabinet, said containment door closes over said take-up roll suspended in said containment cabinet;

wherein a dependent length of flat, waste pad lies between said extruded side supports;

said absorbent pad bin features an absorbent pad roller capable of accenting a roll of absorbent pad material

said waste collection bin features a waste collection roller capable of accepting a roll of absorbent pad material;

a motor mechanism associated with the waste collection bin capable of engaging said roller in said waste collection bin.

2. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 1 , wherein said training pad area further features a raised wall portion extending on the sides not integrally coupled with said absorbent pad bin and said waste collection bin.

3. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent pad material having an upper, fluid-absorbent upper layer and a lower, fluid-impervious layer, wherein said upper and lower layers form a continuous and inseparable sheet.

4. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 3 , wherein said absorbent pad material is flexible and capable of being formed into a roll, wherein said role extends from the absorbent pad bin to the waste collection bin along the bottom of the training pad area.

5. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 3 , wherein said absorbent pad material is impregnated with an odor control substance to help stop the spreading of offensive odors.

6. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a hand-crank mechanism associated with the waste collection bin capable of engaging said roller in the waste collection bin.

7. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 6 , where said cutting mechanism capable of severing the absorbent pad material.

8. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 6 , further comprising a cutting mechanism capable of severing the absorbent pad material.

9. An automated pet waste collection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor capable of sensing when the pet enters and leaves said training pad area, and correspondingly controlling the motor mechanism.

10. An automated pet training pad of claim 1 , said waste control bin further comprises:

a pair of absorbent pad collection rolls rotably mounted to feed a lead of absorbent collection pads onto the training area; and

a drive system for rotating each roll in a synchronized fashion such that each pad is drawn into a central gap.

11. An automated pet training pad of claim 10 , wherein said drive system comprises counter rotating drive sprockets for pulling each respective collection pad from its respective roll and pinching them together at the central gap such that the soiled training pad area is collected and isolated.

12. An automated pet training pad of claim 11 , each absorbent pad collection roll is formed of a linearly aligned series of individual absorbent collection pads having a series of demarcated pad surfaces mounted to an impervious backing and adapted for use with said sprocket drive mechanism.

13. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , wherein said absorbent pet pad collection roll fits over integrally attached support members which protrude from inner sidewalls of said support arms.

14. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , further comprising a spring loaded axle opposite said support members on an exterior side of at least one of said support arms, said spring loaded axle is a knob-like structure, a rotation of which initiates a feed of the supply roll.

15. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , wherein said take-up roll is driven by a motor and gear assembly housed in a motor-gear housing within said containment cabinet.

16. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , further comprising a foot pedal that activates a dual-sided belt drive motor on an exterior of said housing.

17. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , further comprising a power source compartment on a rear exterior of said containment cabinet, said power source compartment receives a power source to power a motor assembly that drives said take-up roll.

18. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , further comprising rotating clips on interior sidewalls of said containment support arms, said clips receive corresponding clip attachments on a pet pad roll to initiate said take-up roll.

19. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 18 , wherein said rotating clips pivot upwards to release a spent supply roll when said supply roll depletes and said soiled portions of the pet pad roll are always contained in the containment cabinet until the entire soiled roll is discarded.

20. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 18 , wherein said rotating clips flip 90 degrees such that when said supply roll depletes, said rotating clips flip upwards so a spent roll can be removed from said containment cabinet and discarded.

21. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 11 , wherein said supply roll a continuous sheet of absorbent waste pad wrapped around a tubing, said absorbent waste pad comprises an absorbent layer backed by an impervious moisture barrio.

22. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 21 , wherein said supply roll further comprises a cardboard take-up strip affixed across a length of a distal end of the absorbent pad, said take-up strip functions as a wind-up roll when soiled pad is wound around it.

23. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 22 , wherein said supply roll further comprises clip attachments at opposing ends of said take-up strip, said clip attachments are received in corresponding rotating clips comprised on said containment support arms.

24. The indoor pet waste disposal system of claim 21 , wherein said impervious moisture backing faces outwards a spent roll while said absorbent pad faces inwards of said spent roll.

Assignments (11)