Abstract:
A dog toilet is provided by a receptacle having a base and a rear wall and which presents an opening through which a dog may enter and leave the receptacle. The base presents a floor that has a drain opening therein adjacent the rear wall. A urinating post mounted above the drain opening and generally aligned therewith has a lower end in sufficiently close proximity to the drain opening to prevent a dog from stepping into the drain. A flushing system directs liquid along the floor to flush excrement to the drain opening when the dog leaves the receptacle.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to improvements in receiving devices for collecting an animal waste product and, in particular, to a toilet for dogs that is designed to be installed indoors and used by household pets whenever the need arises and without human assistance. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Dogs and people have been friends for centuries. Despite the growth of cities and the change of people&#39;s habitats from rural to urban settings, and into suburban houses and apartments, dogs have remained a popular pet and have adapted to the indoors environment typical of a human dwelling. Most dogs now live indoors with their masters and, with that change, a major inconvenience has emerged for both dog and master in that the master must be available to see that the dog gets outside to discharge liquid and solid waste. Although dogs can be trained to use a dog door, a small door installed in an exterior door or wall which allows the dog to go in and out at will, this is only a partial solution. Dog doors are often drafty and energy inefficient and present a concern in that home security is compromised. Furthermore, regardless of the manner in which the dog gains access to the yard, the continued deposit of waste in the yard requires constant clean-up if a pleasant environment for people is to be maintained. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In an embodiment of the present invention an improved dog toilet is provided for use indoors and provides a receptacle into which the dog may enter, and which is provided with (Docket 4045) an upright urinating post above a drain opening in the floor of the receptacle to particularly accommodate a male dog. The base of the receptacle presents a nearly flat and level floor, sloping slightly toward the drain opening, and a flushing system directs liquid along the floor to flush excrement to the drain opening when the dog leaves the receptacle. 
         [0004]    Another aspect of the present invention is the utilization of a urinating post mounted in an upright position above the drain opening and generally aligned therewith, the lower end of the post being in sufficient proximity to the drain opening to prevent a dog from stepping into the drain. 
         [0005]    Another aspect of the invention is the utilization of a urinating post having a horizontal dimension at least as great as the diameter of the drain opening to thereby prevent the dog from stepping into the drain. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a flushing system with a plurality of spaced nozzles along the floor of the receptacle for directing the flushing liquid along the floor for flow into the drain. 
         [0007]    A further aspect of the invention is to provide a sensor in the receptacle responsive to the presence of a dog therein and connected with the flushing system for activating the flushing system when the dog leaves the receptacle. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the present invention in another aspect thereof includes a grinder connected to the drain opening which discharges into a drain line. The grinder is responsive to activation of the flushing system to assure that waste does not clog the drain line and interfere with proper drainage. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, an additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a dog toilet stall having a base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls extending front to rear, and presenting an open front through which a dog may enter and leave the stall. The base presents a nearly flat and level floor sloping slightly toward the rear wall, and has a drain opening therein adjacent the rear wall. An elongated, upright urinating post is mounted in the stall above the drain opening in general alignment therewith, and has a lower end in sufficiently close proximity to the drain opening to prevent the dog from interfering with drainage. A flushing system directs water along the floor to flush liquid and solid waste to the drain opening, and is activated by a sensor in the stall responsive to the presence of a dog therein which activates the flushing system when the dog leaves the stall. 
         [0010]    Other advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the dog toilet as seen from the front and side of the stall. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic, rear perspective view showing internal mechanical components of the toilet, the outline of the stall being shown in broken lines. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the stall, the front wall thereof being broken away to reveal interior components. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the stall, the concentric drain opening and urinating post being shown in broken lines beneath the top panel. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic diagram of the flushing system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a stall  10  is shown having spaced, left and right sidewalls  12  and  14 , a top panel  16 , a rear wall  18 , and a front panel  20 . The front panel  20  is substantially shorter in vertical height than rear wall  18  to permit a dog to enter the stall  10  over front panel  20  and onto an essentially flat floor  22 , the front edge of which is spaced approximately two inches below the upper, horizontal edge or lip  24  of front panel  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . A series of spaced nozzles  26  are disposed along the front and side edges of the floor  22  and form a part of the flushing system to be discussed. The floor  22  slopes slightly from front to rear and has drain opening  28  therein centered with respect to the sidewalls  12  and  14  and closely spaced from rear wall  18 . 
         [0017]    A urinating post  30  comprises a cylinder approximately eight inches in diameter secured at its upper end beneath top panel  16 . The axis of the post  30  is aligned with the center of the drain opening  28 , and the lower end  32  of post  30  is approximately three to four inches above drain opening  28 . By aligning the urinating post  30  and the drain opening  28  on a common axis, and restricting the space between the top of drain opening  28  and the bottom end  32  of the post to approximately four inches or less, a dog using the toilet is prevented from stepping into the drain opening  28  during use of the stall. Post  30  is provided to accommodate male dogs by providing a surface similar to a tree trunk or fire hydrant for male dogs to urinate. The panels and walls of the stall are preferably of a fiberglass or plastic material so as to be completely waterproof and easy to clean. 
         [0018]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 3 , the front panel  20  is broken away to reveal a grinder  34  which receives the waste flowing through drain opening  28  and assures that solid excrement will pass through the drain line  36  and ultimately to a sewer system in the same manner as other household waste water. The grinder may be a garbage disposal of the type commonly used under kitchen sinks. A typical household P-trap (not shown) is attached to the outlet of the grinder, from which the drain would be plumbed into the house drain line. In instances in which the waste must be moved vertically to an elevated drain line, an in-line centrifungal waste pump  40  (with a check valve) may be utilized to feed the waste to the elevated drain. 
         [0019]    A standard commercial bathroom proximity sensor  38  is mounted on the interior of sidewall  14 . As is conventional in sensors of this type, when the dog enters the stall by stepping over the front panel  20  and onto the floor  22 , presence is sensed but no activation of the flushing system occurs until the dog finishes and exits the stall  10  over the front panel  20 . The flushing system is then activated and water flows from nozzles  26  toward rear wall  18  due to the sloping floor  22 , and then out the drain opening  28 . To facilitate periodic thorough cleaning, the stall  20  may be provided with hot and cold water connections as represented by the valve handles  42  and  44  on top panel  16 , and the nozzle end of a flexible hose  46  shown retracted (stored within post  30 ) but which may be withdrawn to clean and flush the floor  22  and walls  12 ,  14  and  18  as well as urinating post  30 . Also, sensor  38  is provided with a button for manually initiating a flush sequence. 
         [0020]    Other internal mechanical components of the toilet are illustrated in  FIG. 2  and are located behind the rear wall  18  and underneath floor  22 . An automatic flush valve  50  (responsive to activation by sensor  38 ) communicates with a cold water line  52  which also leads to the valve controlled by handle  44 . Line  59  supplies hot water to the valve controlled by handle  42 . A drain connection  54  extends from pump  40  and is provided with a check valve (not shown). A switch box  56  provides three switches for controlling the apparatus as will be described below with reference to  FIG. 5 . The spaced nozzles  26  of the flushing system are spaced along a pipe  58  that extends along the inner faces of front panel  20  and sidewalls  12  and  14  and connects back to flush valve  50 . A bypass line  51  to cold water line  52  permits manual flushing by opening manual flush valve  53 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a main power switch  60  provides 1.10 volts AC to a 24-volt transformer  62  which, in turn, powers the proximity sensor  38 . When the sensor  38  closes its internal switch in response to the dog leaving the stall, flush valve  50  is activated to initiate flushing of the floor  22 . An electromechanical relay  64  is also energized, closure of its contacts initiating the operation of a pump timer  66  and a grinder timer  68 . The flush valve may be opened for approximately 8 seconds. Each of the timers  66  and  68  closes its associated switch to close power circuits to  110  volt relays  70  and  72  respectively. Closure of the contacts of relay  72  initiates operation of the grinder  34  and, as an option, relay  70  energizes pump  40  in installations in which a waste pump is required to feed the waste to an elevated drain. In normal operation, the grinder will continue in operation for a few seconds after the flush, and the pump (if installed) will continue yet a few more seconds so as to evacuate all products of the flush from the system. Individual manual control of pump  40  and grinder  34  is provided by switches  74  and  76  respectively. Transformer  62 , timers  66  and  68 , and relays  64 ,  70  and  72  are in a housing  80  ( FIG. 2 ). The 110 volt circuits in  FIG. 5  are illustrated by a single line, it being understood that the conventional electrical returns would be provided. 
         [0022]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of an embodiment of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.