Abstract:
A training toilet design that can be adapted for either a dog or a cat or other animal and even for a young human child is disclosed. A space or enclosure receives the trainee and upon receipt a switch is actuated. The switch can either be a pressure actuated mechanical switch or a motion detector switch. In response to the switch changing state, a microcontroller is actuated to provide any one of a number of responses. Responses include an audible encouraging comment when the trainee exits the toilet and when the trainee enters the toilet. A timing lapse programmed into the microprocessor can ensure that the exit message is played only when there has been a predetermined lapse time between the entrance and exit of the trainee. Modes that are provided by different combinations of these features are determined by a mode switch that is operable by the user.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/338,889, filed on Dec. 28, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known to use a positive reinforcement message during toilet training to get use of the toilet on a regular basis. The known training toilets are not as widely used as might be the case for a number of reasons including, Applicant believes, a combination of cost, effectiveness and optimum reinforcement. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, it is a major object of this invention to provide a training toilet that at a reasonable price will be effective and provide an appropriately optimized reinforcement message. 
         [0004]    It is a related purpose of this invention to provide the above in a context which will be comfortably used by the party involved and also without requiring expensive or redundant features. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION  
       [0005]    In brief, this invention involves a framework for holding a platform for receiving the trainee. The platform can be a seat or a pad or a base for holding kitty litter. The trainee can be a pet such as a dog or cat or can be a child. The presence of the trainee in the space above the platform is detected by a switch or sensor that provides a signal that enables a microcontroller to process a program that involves playing one or two audible reinforcement messages to the trainee. The sensor that provides this enabling signal to the microcontroller can be a weight responsive switch or a motion detector. Optimally, these messages will be in the voice of someone with whom the trainee is familiar such as an owner or parent. 
         [0006]    It is important to provide a message when the trainee (animal or human child) gets off or out of the training toilet. Preferably, this message has to be provided at least a predetermined time period after the trainee is received on or in the training toilet to assure that the trainee has had time to use the toilet. Thus in a preferred embodiment, when the trainee gets on or in the training toilet and the enabling switch is actuated, a timing circuit causes a predetermined time period to lapse before the exit reinforcement message can be played 
         [0007]    Thus a combination of time lapse and exit response signal provides the a positive reinforcement message at a time which assures that the trainee has completed its waste operation. This will be referred to herein as Mode I. 
         [0008]    A Mode II embodiment adds a feature to the Mode I embodiment. In Mode II, the microcontroller is programmed to respond to actuation of the enabling switch to further provide an initial positive reinforcement audio message when the trainee enters or gets onto the training toilet. This entering message is preferably different from the exit message. 
         [0009]    A Mode III embodiment is like the Mode I embodiment except that there is no time lapse. The exit positive reinforcement audio message is played whenever the trainee gets off of or exits from the toilet. 
         [0010]    A mode IV embodiment is like the mode II embodiment except that there is no time lapse. The entering positive reinforcement message is played when the trainee enters the toilet and the exit reinforcement message is played whenever the trainee exits the toilet. 
         [0011]    The microcontroller is set by the user to the desired mode. 
         [0012]    Common to all four modes is that a positive reinforcement message may be played when the trainee exits the toilet. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for use in the training of a dog.  FIG. 1  shows essentially the platform  10 , step tray  12 , frame  14  and mesh  16  of the training toilet. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view in cross-section through the upper portion of the  FIG. 1  device showing the flexible resilient curved horizontal layer  18  which is deformed when the animal stands on the mesh  16  and which actuates the enabling switch  30  for the microcontroller  32  that controls the electronics and audio recordings. The layer  18 , being resilient, returns to its normal non-contact state when the trainee exits. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  assembled. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a block electrical schematic illustrating the electronic and audio devices and their relationship as employed in all embodiments of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The three embodiments described herein are capable of operating in any one of four modes. The three embodiments are configured and sized for use with different trainees. All three embodiments operate in response to an enabling signal generated by a sensor (switch or motion sensor) changing state thereby providing the signals that causes a microcontroller  32  to execute one of the four programs preselected by the user. Each of the three embodiments can be set by the user to any one of the four modes described herein. 
         [0018]    The switch or sensor may be a mechanical switch. The mechanical switch may, for example, be a switch that is activated when a trainee of a particular weight steps on platform  10 . 
         [0019]    The first embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  is to a dog training toilet having a mesh  16  supported on a step tray  12  to receive the trainee, presumably a dog. A frame  14  holds the mesh  16  and step tray  12 . The frame can hold other elements such as a moisture absorbing layer, as is known in the art. The step tray  12  is attached to a platform  10 , which platform holds the electronics, 
         [0020]    The step tray  12  of the  FIG. 1  device includes a flexible resilient slightly upward curved layer  18  which responds to the weight of the dog on the mesh  16 . A normally open electric switch  30  is positioned between this curved resilient layer  18  and a rigid base  10 . When the dog steps into the space above the mesh  16 , the weight of the dog on the mesh  16  is transmitted to the flexible layer  18 , causing the layer  18  to deflect downwardly and thus close the switch  30 . Flexible layer  18  may be referred to as a first layer  18 . 
         [0021]    Closing the switch  30  provides an initiating enabling signal to the microcontroller  32 . The microcontroller  32  then operates in one of the operator preselected modes to provide one or two audio messages. This  FIG. 1  embodiment is adapted to train a dog but any appropriately sized animal can be the trainee. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the electronic control arrangement that is associated with the user selecting any one of four modes of operation for the device of this invention. Closing of the enabling switch  30  provides an initiating signal that causes the microcontroller  32  to control the timing of the one or two messages from the memory  34  that is delivered to the speaker  36  through the speaker driver  38 . 
         [0023]    The four position mode switch  40  determines the operation of the microcontroller  32  so that the system will operate in one of the four operating modes described above. The mode switch  40  is designed and positioned so that the user can select any one of the four modes. Each of the four leads  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  and  40   d , provides a separate one of four selection signals to the microcontroller  32 . Each of those four selection signals initiates a separate one of the four modes operation of the microcontroller  32 . The four modes are set forth in the Brief Description. 
         [0024]    It is known in the art how to program the microcontroller  32  for operation in each of the four modes. The change in state of the switch  30  provides a signal indicating that an animal has entered or exited from the space in which the trainee is received. In particular, when the trainee exits from the toilet, the switch  30  opens provides as an exiting signal a state change signal that controls or affects the timing of the playing of the exit message. 
         [0025]    Battery  41  power is normally on at all times. Change in state of the enabling switch  30  is the signal that the microprocessor  32  is to operate in accordance with the operator preselected mode. The switch  30  is changed into its closed state in the dog toilet when the dog steps into the toilet and depresses the flexible resilient slightly domed layer  18 . The switch  30  is changed into its open state when the trainee gets out of the toilet 
         [0026]    The switch  30  may be a motion detector switch  53  in embodiments adapted for a cat trainee or motion detector switch in embodiments adapted for a human child trainee. 
         [0027]    The switch  30  may be a laser sensor or an infrared light sensor, which detects motion. In this case, the switch  30  would include or be coupled to a sensor which would detect a disturbance in the infrared spectrum or a laser beam. Once such disturbance is detected, appropriate action may be taken such as playing a relevant sound (e.g., a click). 
         [0028]    Flexible layer  18  may be attached to base or platform  10  by one or more resilient and flexible springs (the spring layer). The space for the trainee (animal) may be on top of the flexible layer  18  and said switch may be below said flexible layer, Receipt of said trainee on said flexible layer  18  causes said flexible layer  18  to deflect down and change the state of said switch my engaging the springs of the spring layer, and removal of said trainee from said space causes said resilient spring layer to return to its normal state by disengaging the springs of the spring laer and changing the state of said switch. 
         [0029]    The battery  41  is a convenient source of energy for operating this device. The battery provides power at all times in the embodiments shown. However a manually operated line switch (not shown) can be included to save battery power during long term non-use. 
         [0030]    Memory  34  contains the positive reinforcement message or messages to be coupled to the speaker  36  in accordance with the mode selected by the user. The memory  34  may contain two messages so that in the modes II and IV, an entrance message is played in addition to the exit message played when the animal leaves the toilet. 
         [0031]    It should be noted that the microphone  44  which is used to input the message for the memory  34  requires an analog to digital output unit which can be part of the microphone  44  or as a separate downstream item (not shown). Similarly, a digital to analog device (not shown) would be incorporated at the input to the speaker driver  38  as part of the driver  38  or as a separate item. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, a frame provides a space or enclosure which is adapted to receive an animal such as a cat. Once the cat enters into the space, a motion sensor is activated by the cat&#39;s movement to close the switch  30 . Exit of the cat causes the motion detector to generate the open state of the switch  30 . The floor of the interior of this device can be a standard arrangement such as one that employs kitty litter. 
         [0033]    A further embodiment of the device of this invention is adapted to the training of a young human child. The device can be employed with either a weight detector switch which is responsive to the weight of the child or a motion sensor which is responsive to the movement of the child getting onto or off of the toilet involved. In the device, a frame provides a seat having a back surface within which is mounted an appropriate motion sensor to provide the enabling signal required for the operation of the  FIG. 4  electronic and message providing arrangement. Once the enabling signal has been established, then the  FIG. 4  arrangement operates in the one of the four modes preselected by the user or trainer or guardian of the child involved. 
         [0034]    It is preferred that all four modes be provided in each embodiment. But a less flexible embodiment could be created that would provide fewer than all four modes. 
         [0035]    The audio messages discussed above that may be played upon a trainee either entering and/or exiting from the space in which the trainee is received may also be an audio “click.” Clicks are speech sounds that occur as consonants in many languages of southern Africa, and in three languages of East Africa. In American English, a click is sometimes expressed as “tsk tsk” and used to express disapproval or pity, the “tchick” used to spur ona horse, the “clip-clop” sound children make with their tongue to imitate a horse trotting, and similar sounds. Such click sound may, for example, be recorded in an audio file to be played back or may be made via mechanical means. The sound may be, for example, a pen click a keyboard typing click. 
         [0036]    If the click is made by mechanical means, it may be made by a resilient member (not shown). The resilient member may be made of metal or plastic. The resilient member may be similar to a Snapple, or similar, bottle cap (in a bottle cap, the clicking sound may be heard when a bottle is opened). That is, a portion of the resilient member may protrude such that when force is applied to the protruding portion, a clicking sound is made, Similarly, when the force stops being applied, a clicking noise may also be made. Layer  18  responds to the weight of the trainee on the mesh  16 , which causes layer  18  to deflect downwardly and makes physical contact with at least a portion of the resilient member, causing the mechanical click sound. When the trainee leaves the mesh  16 , layer  18  respond to the removal of the weight of the trainee by moving in an upward direction and removing the force from the resilient member and making another click sound. 
         [0037]    In the inventor&#39;s testing, as opposed to certain other sounds tested, a click has been found by the inventor to soothe animals, serving as positive reinforcement for using the pet toilet described in the present application.