Patent US3603290A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pet-operated animal toilet
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-03-20
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A pet is trained to excrete upon a tray and to reinforce the training, the pet is given a reward for excreting, such as food from a dispenser operated by the pet. To prevent the pet from cheating, a urine sensor and a feces sensor are located on the tray and an interlock circuit connects them to the dispenser, preventing operation of the dispenser unless at least one of the sensors detects the presence of excrement. To reduce odors, a flushing flow of water may be provided and the human toilet bowl is utilized to receive the animal excrement and the flushing flow. Since water flow is available to the tray, the sensors may be water powered, and the interlock circuit may be water powered.
Inventors
- 👤 David B O'rork
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:38
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/01; A01K1/0107; A01K1/0121; A01K15/00; A01K15/02; A01K15/0201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A pet-operated toilet for a household toilet bowl having a household water supply, which operates to flush excrement of the pets into the toilet bowl, comprising: a. a tray mounted above the bowl upon which the pet excretes and having one end over the bowl which is lower than the other end so that liquid will flow into the toilet bowl; b. a water system for the tray adapted to be connected to the household water supply and having a flushing outlet; c. a normally closed pet-operated control in the water system controlling flow to the flushing outlet; d. a reward dispenser connected to the pet-operated control for operation when the control is operated; e. a liquid sensor on said tray for detecting the presence of urine on the tray; f. a solid sensor on the tray for detecting the presence of feces on the tray; g. and an interlock circuit connecting the two sensors to the reward dispenser to prevent operation of the dispenser unless at least one sensor detects the presence of excrement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A pet-operated toilet for a household toilet bowl having a household water supply, which operates to flush excrement of the pets into the toilet bowl, comprising: a. a tray mounted above the bowl upon which the pet excretes and having one end over the bowl which is lower than the other end so that liquid will flow into the toilet bowl; b. a water system for the tray adapted to be connected to the household water supply and having a flushing outlet; c. a normally closed pet-operated control in the water system controlling flow to the flushing outlet; d. a reward dispenser connected to the pet-operated control for operation when the control is operated; e. a liquid sensor on said tray for detecting the presence of urine on the tray; f. a solid sensor on the tray for detecting the presence of feces on the tray; g. and an interlock circuit connecting the two sensors to the reward dispenser to prevent operation of the dispenser unless at least one sensor detects the presence of excrement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensors are water powered by the water system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urine sensor includes a cup that collects urine and the cup moves in response to the weight of urine and the movement of the cup is sensed by the urine sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flush water moves the feces in a selected direction and the feces sensor detects in a path transverse to this direction, and the feces sensor detects the movement of feces across the detection path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flush water moves feces in a selected direction, and the feces sensor includes a nozzle on the water system shooting a stream of water transverse to this direction, and feces are sensed when they move to interrupt this water stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 2, wherein the sensors include streams of water and the excrement is caused to intercept at least one stream and the interception acts on fluidic switches to operate the dispenser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 2, wherein a time delay mechanism delays the flushing flow to give time enough for the urine sensor to operate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pet-operated toilet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flushing control is returned to a normal condition by water power controlled by a time delay mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A pet toilet comprising: a. a tray upon which the pet excretes; b. a reward dispenser; c. a pet-operated control for the dispenser; d. an excrement sensor on the tray; e. and an interlock circuit connecting the sensor to the dispenser to prevent operation of the dispenser in the event no excrement is sensed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A pet toilet comprising: a. a tray upon which the pet excretes; b. a reward dispenser; c. a pet-operated control for the dispenser; d. an excrement sensor on the tray; e. and an interlock circuit connecting the sensor to the dispenser to prevent operation of the dispenser in the event no excrement is sensed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pet toilet as set forth in claim 9, wherein the excrement sensor has a urine sensor and a feces sensor and the interlock circuit prevents operation of the dispenser unless at least one sensor detects the presence of excrement on the tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pet toilet as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sensor is in series between the control and the dispenser and actuation of the dispenser occurs when the sensor detects the presence of excrement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
A pet toilet for use with a source of water under pressure comprising: a. a tray upon which the pet excretes; b. a water system for the tray having a flushing outlet on the tray and connectable to the water source; c. a normally closed pet-operated valve in the water system controlling flow to the flushing outlet; d. a reward dispenser connected to the flushing valve for activation when the valve is activated; e. a urine sensor on the tray; f. a feces sensor on the tray; g. and an interlock connecting the two sensors to the reward dispenser to prevent Operation of the dispenser unless at least one sensor detects the presence of excrement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A pet toilet for use with a source of water under pressure comprising: a. a tray upon which the pet excretes; b. a water system for the tray having a flushing outlet on the tray and connectable to the water source; c. a normally closed pet-operated valve in the water system controlling flow to the flushing outlet; d. a reward dispenser connected to the flushing valve for activation when the valve is activated; e. a urine sensor on the tray; f. a feces sensor on the tray; g. and an interlock connecting the two sensors to the reward dispenser to prevent Operation of the dispenser unless at least one sensor detects the presence of excrement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |