Abstract:
An apparatus that maintains housebreaking pads for a pet owner, automatically removing and sealing soiled pads and waste and replacing the soiled pad with a clean pad. The apparatus senses when a pet is using a housebreaking pad, and when the pet is finished, removes and seals the pad and the waste automatically, moving the pad into a repository for later disposal and replacing the soiled pad with a clean pad. The apparatus seals the waste and pad with plastic film having low vapor permeability for disposal on a once-daily or less frequent basis. The apparatus minimizes or eliminates odors associated with canine elimination by removing the pads immediately after elimination is completed, and sealing the waste. A control unit, triggered by a sensor, has a single cycle or a multiple cycle operation, operating a motor that rolls the soiled composite pad onto an arbor in the repository.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional utility application of the provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/337,478 filed in the United States Patent Office on Feb. 4, 2010 and claims the priority thereof. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to an apparatus that automatically disposes of soiled pet housebreaking pads. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus that senses when a pet is using a housebreaking pad, and when the pet is finished, removes and seals the pad and the waste automatically into a repository for later disposal and replaces the soiled pad with a clean pad. 
     There were approximately 74.8 million pet dogs in the United States in 2008. Thirty-nine percent of all households have a dog with 36% of those households having two or more. These dogs produce a large amount of waste, with a small dog of 30 pounds producing over approximately 200 pounds of solid waste per year. Dogs urinate anywhere from several times per day up to ten times a day for puppies. Owners desire keeping their homes and apartments clean and without offensive odors, so they either “paper” train or condition their pet to eliminate outdoors. Many municipalities discourage outdoor elimination through “pooper scooper” laws. “Paper” training teaches the pet to eliminate in a specific small area of the house where housebreaking pads made from absorbent materials are placed for that purpose. 
     Housebreaking pads are used for tens of thousands of puppies and dogs around the country. Dog owners, especially in large cities where there may not be yards, generally prefer to “paper” train their pets. Because of work schedules, some owners may not get home to walk the dog on time, so they “paper” train the pet to use the pads to prevent the dog from eliminating indiscriminately in the house or apartment. Many apartment dwelling dogs, especially among the smaller breeds, are “paper” trained exclusively. Whether they are used for housebreaking for puppies or for “paper” training indoor dogs, who will use these pads throughout their lifetime, housebreaking pads are one of the larger expenditures for dog owners. 
     One major problem that plagues pet owners is the annoyance of replacing soiled pads. Offensive odors from the soiled pads may permeate the household. Owners need to flush the feces down a toilet or place in a sealed container to decrease the odor. Dogs, especially puppies, when stressed sometimes develop the undesirable habit of coprophagia, eating of feces. If the dog develops the habit, the dog owner needs to pick up fecal matter quickly to break the habit. Disposing of the fecal matter and the pads is not only a continual annoyance, but also causes dog owners to bend down multiple times a day, often bothering the lower back and stressing the knees. This is especially burdensome to the elderly, physically handicapped, and blind who have companion, assistance, or guide dogs. 
     Previously, simple pet waste disposal systems have been developed. These systems generally rely on the owner to manually remove the waste. Others use special sheets for use with a specific kennel or set into a special frame. Still others have tried developing systems that are similar to toilets by providing surfaces for the dogs to excrete on, which are then reused after rinsing either automatically or manually. Most systems involve frequent owner intervention in the cleanup process. 
     While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to produce an apparatus that automatically disposes of a soiled housebreaking pad without a dog owner bending down to the floor. Accordingly, the apparatus automatically removes soiled housebreaking pads into a repository. 
     It is another object of the invention to produce an apparatus that automatically disposes of a soiled housebreaking pad and replaces a soiled pad with a fresh one without the owner bending down. Accordingly, the apparatus automatically replaces a soiled housebreaking pad with a fresh one from a pack of clean housebreaking pads supplied from a loading drawer. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to produce an apparatus that automatically disposes of soiled housebreaking pads, allowing the owner more infrequent clean up of soiled pads. Accordingly, the apparatus collects and seals the soiled housebreaking pads into a repository for disposal on a once-daily or less frequent basis. 
     It is a further object of the invention to produce an apparatus that automatically disposes of soiled housebreaking pads to minimize or eliminate odors associated with canine elimination. Accordingly, the apparatus automatically removes soiled housebreaking pads immediately after elimination is completed, and seals the waste, including any solid excrement, with plastic film with low vapor permeability into a repository. 
     The invention is an apparatus that maintains housebreaking pads for a pet owner, automatically removing and sealing soiled pads and waste and replacing the soiled pad with a clean pad. The apparatus senses when a pet is using a housebreaking pad, and when the pet is finished, removes and seals the pad and the waste automatically, moving the pad into a repository for later disposal and replacing the soiled pad with a clean pad. The apparatus seals the waste and pad with plastic film having low vapor permeability for disposal on a once-daily or less frequent basis. The apparatus minimizes or eliminates odors associated with canine elimination by removing the pads immediately after elimination is completed, and sealing the waste. A control unit, triggered by a sensor, has a single cycle or a multiple cycle operation, operating a motor that rolls the soiled composite pad onto an arbor in the repository. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention demonstrating a pet eliminating on a housebreaking pad. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a cowling opened showing a repository portion of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a housebreaking pad pack being installed in a loading drawer. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a housebreaking pad being installed on a stage. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with the cowling opened showing the housebreaking pad connecting to an arbor. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with the cowling opened showing the installation of a roll of plastic film. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a cowling opened showing the plastic film and housebreaking pad united on the arbor forming a composite pad. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the invention, without the cover assembly and cowling for clarity, of the plastic film on a dispensing roll uniting and sealing with the housebreaking pad and waste, forming a composite pad and the arbor taking up the composite pad. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a cowling opened showing a cutter slicing the composite pad, separating the composite pads on the arbor from the pads on the pad stage in preparation for disposal. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention with a cowling opened showing a scraper removing the sealed roll from the arbor for disposal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an automatic housebreaking pad disposal apparatus  20  with a pet  22  eliminating solid waste  24  on a housebreaking pad  30 . The apparatus  20  detects the pet eliminating  22  and when the pet  22  leaves the apparatus  20 , the apparatus  20  automatically cycles the replacing of the soiled pad with a clean pad by removing and sealing the soiled pad and feeding a clean pad from a pack. The apparatus has a stage portion  200  where the pet  22  stands on the housebreaking pad  30 , the stage portion  200  attached to a repository portion  100  to where the apparatus  20  removes and seals the soiled pad with a plastic film and stores a sealed pad for later disposal. 
     The repository portion  100  is aesthetically covered by a cowling assembly  110  to hide the soiled housebreaking pads. The stage portion  200  has a pad stage and the housebreaking pad  30  is set on top of the pad stage  202 . The pet  22  stands on the pad stage  202  on top of the housebreaking pad and eliminates feces  24  and urine. The stage portion  200  also has a cover assembly  210  having a front portion  220 , and a pair of side panels  212 . A loading drawer assembly  230  and a control unit  240  are on a side panel  212 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the repository portion  100  with a cowling  120  open, showing a film dispensing assembly  160 , an arbor assembly  130 , a slide assembly  150 , a cutter assembly  140  and a scraper assembly  170 . The film dispensing assembly  160  delivers a linear sheet of plastic film having low vapor permeability which clings to the housebreaking pad, sealing the soiled pad and forming a composite pad. The arbor assembly  130  takes up the composite pad, winding the composite pad onto an arbor  134  creating a roll. The slide assembly  150  moves the arbor assembly  130  away from the stage portion  200  as the composite pad roll increases in diameter when more composite pads are added. The cutter assembly  140  slices the composite pad when the roll is ready to be removed, separating the roll from the remaining pad on the apparatus  20 . The scraper assembly  170  pushes the roll off the arbor  134  for disposal. 
       FIG. 3  shows the loading drawer assembly  230 , with an open loading drawer  232 , in preparation of loading a pack  32  of housebreaking pads. The side panel  212  has an opening  234  for the drawer  232  to slide in and out of the cover assembly  210 . The pads are a continuous length of absorbent material backed with a waterproof layer accordion folded in the pack  32 , the pack  32  supplying the clean housebreaking pads to the pad stage  202 . When the pads are loaded, the drawer  232  is closed in preparation for further installation of the pads and operation of the apparatus. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the next phase of installing the housebreaking pads in the apparatus  20 . The front portion  220  of the cover assembly  210  has a portal  222  and there is a slot, which is not shown, between the front portion  220  and the pad stage  202 . The pack of pads has a top pad  30  with a leading edge  30 E. The pet owner inserts a hand in the portal  222  on the front panel  220  and guides the leading edge  30 E of the top pad  30  through the slot. The waterproof side of the housebreaking pad  30  faces the pad stage  202  and the absorbent side  30 S is exposed on the pad stage. The pet owner pulls the leading edge  30 E over to the attached cowling assembly  110  on the repository portion  100 , the pad  30  covering the pad stage  202  for further installation. 
       FIG. 5  demonstrates the installation of the housebreaking pads  30  in the repository portion  100  of the apparatus  20 . The repository portion  100  has the cowling assembly  110  with a cowling frame  122  and the cowling  120 , the cowling assembly  110  is attached to the stage portion  200 , the stage portion  200 , having a back end  214  opposite the front portion  220 . The cowling frame  122  is attached adjacent to the back end  214  of the stage portion  200 . The cowling  120 , having a pair of sides  120 S with a curved panel  124  between the sides  120 S, is connected to the cowling frame  122  by a pair of hinges, one hinge on each side  120 S of the cowling  120 . The cowling  120  is shown rotated on the hinges to an open position. 
     The leading edge  30 E of the housebreaking pads  30  is inserted under a guide bar  112  spanning the back end  214  of the stage portion  200  and into the arbor assembly  130 . The arbor assembly  130  has the arbor  134  with a longitudinal slot  136  and a pair of ends, a first end  134 E attached to a housing  132  containing a motor and a free end  134 F. The arbor  134  is slightly longer than the width of the housebreaking pad  30 . The leading edge  30 E is inserted into the longitudinal slot  136 , with the waterproof side facing the arbor  134 , in preparation for the installation of the plastic film. 
       FIG. 6  shows the further preparation of the apparatus  20 . A roll  42  of plastic film  40 , having a leading edge  40 E, is installed in the film dispensing assembly  160 . The plastic film  40  is on a hollow cylinder, having a pair of ends  44 E. Inside the cowling  120  are a pair of short axles  166 , one on each side of the cowling  120 . The plastic film roll  42  mounts on the short axles  166 , one short axle  166  inserted in each end  44 E such that the plastic film roll  42  freely rotates around the axles  166 . The leading edge  40 E of the plastic film is inserted under the guide bar  112  and into the slot  136  on the arbor  134  on top of the absorbent side of the housebreaking pad  30 . The plastic film  40  is aligned edgewise with the housebreaking pad  30  and the two layers are held on the arbor  134  by a compression spring which is not illustrated. When the two layers are pressed together, the plastic film  40  seals the absorbent layer of the housebreaking pad  30  against the waterproof layer, sealing in odors and waste solids, forming a composite pad. The plastic film  40  has a low vapor permeability, preferably polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or PVDC copolymers, as well as other polymers that form thin sheets, such as, for example, but not limited to, linear low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene. 
       FIG. 8  shows the composite pad  50  as it is formed without the cowling and cover assembly for clarity. The housebreaking pad  30  sits on the pad stage  202 , the waterproof side of the pad  30  facing the pad stage  202 . Solid waste  24  as well as liquid waste absorbed into the pad  30  on the absorbent side are moved by rotation of the arbor  134  into the repository portion of the apparatus. The housebreaking pad  30  moves under the guide bar  112  where it is united with and sealed by the plastic film  40  on the roll  42 , trapping the solid waste  24 , liquid waste and associated vapors between the plastic film  40  and the waterproof side of the housebreaking pad  30 , forming 5h3 composite pad  50 . The arbor  134  winds the composite pad  50  with the waste  24 , forming a roll of  52  layers around the arbor  134  and increasing the arbor diametrally. 
       FIG. 7  shows the apparatus  20  loaded with the housebreaking pads  30  and plastic film  40  mounted on the arbor  134 , forming the composite pad  50 . When the pet owner rotates the cowling  120  in a closed position and the pet owner selects a cycle on the control unit  240 , the apparatus is ready for the pet&#39;s use. In the repository portion  100 , the arbor assembly housing  132  attached to the arbor  134  is mounted on a slat  138  having a center and a pair of short slotted ends  138 E. The repository portion  100  has a back panel  102 , having a top  102 T and center and a pair of short sides  104 , connecting the back panel  102  of the repository portion  100  and the back end  214  of the stage portion  200 . The short sides  104  have a bottom with a slide assembly  150 . The slide assembly has a shaft  154  and a pair of railings  152  on the bottom of the short sides  104 , each having a track  156 . The slotted ends  138 E of the slat  138  are inserted into the tracks  156  of the railings  152 . The slat  138  has a center channel. Attached to the center of the back panel  102  is the shaft  154 . The shaft  154  is inserted in the center channel of the slat  138  to maintain the alignment of the slat  138  between the railings  152  of the slide assembly  150 . At the initial installation of the housebreaking pads  30  and plastic film  40  on the arbor  134 , the arbor  134  with the roll  52  of composite pads  50  has a small diameter and is positioned close to the back end  214  of the stage portion  200 . As the arbor takes up additional composite pads  50 , forming a roll, the roll  52  diametrally increases. As the roll  52  increases, the slat  138  with the housing  132  and arbor  134  moves along the slide assembly  150  away from the back end  214  of the stage portion  200  extending the repository portion  100  to create space for the increasing diameter of the roll  52 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the cutter assembly  140  slicing the composite pad  50  in preparation for removal from the apparatus  20  and disposal. The cutter assembly  140  is slidably attached to the guide bar  112 . The cutter assembly  140  has a cutter  144  and a guide wire inside the guide bar  112 . The cutter  144  has a handle  148  with a slit  146  and a protected blade inside the slit  146 . The composite pad  50 , having a pair of side edges, slips inside the slit  146  at a first side edge  50 S of the pad  50 , the pad contacting the blade. The cutter  144  traverses the pad to a second side  50 S of the pad  50  by the pet owner manually pulling across with the guide wire guiding the cutter  144  or the guide wire is motor driven and pulls the cutter  144  across the pad. The cutter  144  slices the pad  50 , disconnecting the composite pad  50  wound on the arbor  134  from the composite pad  50  remaining on the pad stage  202 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the scraper assembly  170  in an extended position. When the composite pad  50  has diametrally expanded to a maximum diameter that the repository portion  100  accommodates, or when the pet owner wishes to dispose of the composite pad  50  before the maximum diameter is reached, the composite pad roll  52  is removed from the arbor  134 . The scraper assembly  170  has a scraper plate  172  with a bore  176  and a top handle  182 , a track  178  attached to the top  102 T of the back panel  102  of the repository portion  100 , and a guide plate  174 . The arbor  134  fits inside the bore  176  of the scraper plate  172 . The bore  176  is a horizontal oval with a stage portion end  176 S and a back panel end  176 E, so that the arbor  134  fits through the bore  176  when the arbor  134  is close to the back end  214  of the stage portion, fitting through the stage portion end  176 S of the oval bore  176  when the diameter of the roll  52  on the arbor  134  is at a minimum. When the diameter of the roll  52  on the arbor  134  is at a maximum, the arbor  134  fits through the bore at the back panel end  176 E. The scraper plate  176  has a lower corner adjacent to the back panel  102  of the repository portion  100 . A guide plate  174  is attached to the scraper plate  176  at a right angle to the lower corner adjacent to the back panel  102  and fits inside the track  178  on the back panel  102 . Before the pad  50  is attached to the arbor  134 , the scraper plate  176  is pushed along the arbor  134  towards the housing  132 , out of the way of the roll. When the pet owner is ready to remove the composite roll  52 , the pet owner releases the compression spring holding the composite pad roll  52  on the arbor  134 , grabs the top handle  182  of the scraper plate  176  and pulls the plate  176  towards the free end  134 F of the arbor, disengaging the composite roll  52  from the arbor by sliding the roll off the arbor  134 . The slide plate  176  in the track  178  gives the pet owner leverage and keeps the scraper plate  176  aligned to maximize the force applied to the roll  52 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , once the housebreaking pads and plastic film are installed and the cowling  120  is in the closed position, the apparatus  20  is ready for use. The pet owner plugs the apparatus  20  into an electrical outlet. The apparatus is ready for a disposal cycle. The user selects the desired cycle on the control unit  240 . The control unit  240  has a panel having a plurality of control buttons  242  that includes jog start, automatic cycle, restart and stop. The stop button is for an emergency stop. In the illustration, the control unit  240  and the drawer assembly  230  are conveniently located on the same side panel  212 , but this is not a limitation, and it is possible to place the control unit  240  and the drawer assembly  230  on opposing panels. 
     The apparatus  20  has a sensor for detecting the presence of a pet  22  on the pad stage  202 . The sensor is, for example but not limited to, a load cell to detect change in weight, or a motion detector such as an infrared detector or photoelectric sensor; the type of sensor can of course be varied, and substituted with other technologies both presently available and subsequently available, while adhering to the principles of the present invention. If the pet remains less than a predetermined time, presumably an amount not sufficient for the animal to eliminate, the sensor does not signal the control unit to initiate the disposal cycle, preventing waste of unused housebreaking pads. When the dog leaves after the minimum predetermined time, the sensor signals the control unit  240  to initiate the disposal cycle and the control unit  240  then signals the motor to move through a series of cams and gears to drive the various assemblies as described hereinbelow. Motor driven cams and gears are well known to those of ordinary skill and details of possible configurations within the inventive concept are beyond the scope of this discussion. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the disposal cycle is initiated the motor drives the arbor  134 , causing the arbor  134  to rotate, pulling the plastic wrap  40  and housekeeping pads  30  toward the arbor  134 , passing under the guide bar  112  that unites them and seals them together, forming the composite pad  50  that continues to move forward wrapping around the arbor  134 . The motor stops the arbor  134  rotation at a predetermined time sufficient to replace the soiled housekeeping pad with a clean housekeeping pad  30  from the pack stored in the loading drawer  232 , ending a cycle. 
     When the pet owner wishes to dispose of the roll  52  of composite pads  50  or when a maximum number of cycles has been reached, the pet owner rotates the cowling  120  into the open position. The pet owner grabs the cutter  144  and traverses the composite pad  50 , slicing the composite pad, forming a new leading edge on the pad on the stage portion  200  and separating the composite pads  50  on the arbor  134  from the pads on the stage portion  200 . The pet owner grabs the scraper plate  176  by the handle  182  and pulls it toward the free end  134 F of the arbor, removing the composite pad  50  from the arbor  134 F. The pet owner disposes of the composite pad  50  and pushes the scraper plate back  176  towards the arbor assembly housing  132 . The restart button on the control unit  240  is selected and the arbor  134  and housing  132  move along the slide assembly  150  approaching the back end  214  of the stage portion  200 . The pet owner grabs the new leading edge of the composite pad  50  and places it in the slot  136  on the arbor  134  and engages the compression spring to hold it in place. The pet owner rotates the cowling  120  into the closed position. The pet owner selects jog start or automatic cycle on the control unit  240  and the apparatus  20  is ready for the pet to use. 
     If the pet owner selected the jog start, the pet owner must reset the apparatus  20  before the pet&#39;s next use by removing the composite pad  50  and selecting the restart button on the control unit  240 . If the pet owner selects the automatic cycle, the apparatus  20  continues with a plurality of cycles, the maximum diameter of the roll  52  on the arbor  134  fitting inside the repository portion  100  limiting the number of cycles. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the housebreaking pad pack is exhausted, the pet owner installs a new pack  32  by opening the loading drawer  232  and placing a fresh pack  32  inside. The pet owner grabs the leading edge  30 E of the pack  32  through the portal  222  on the front portion  220  of the cover assembly  210 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the pet owner feeds it through the slot  204  between the front portion  220  and pad stage  202 . The pet owner resets the arbor  134  adjacent to the back end  214  of the stage portion  200  if necessary by selecting the restart button. The pet owner opens the cowling  120 , releases the compression spring and feeds the front edge of the pack  32  under the guide bar  112  and into the slot  136  on the arbor  134 , aligning the edges of the plastic wrap with the housebreaking pad  30  when placing the wrap and pad in the slot  136 , making sure the scraper plate  176  is adjacent to the housing  132 . The pet owner closes the compression spring and rotates the cowling  120  into the closed position. The pet owner selects automatic cycle or jog cycle on the control unit and the apparatus  20  operates as described hereinabove. 
     In conclusion, herein is presented an apparatus that senses when a pet is using a housebreaking pad, and when the pet is finished, removes and seals the pad and the waste automatically into a repository for later disposal and replaces the soiled pad with a clean pad. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.