Patent Publication Number: US-2007113793-A1

Title: Pet toilet and disposable sheet for the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a toilet for a pet which is raised in an enclosure such as a cage, and a disposable sheet for the toilet.  
     Description of the Related Art  
      There exists many conventional pet toilets. As one example of such prior arts, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application Nos. 2002-142599 and 2003-235389 are mentioned.  
      Also, there are some pet toilets where sand is placed, and urine and feces are adsorbed by the sand. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-0490303 may be listed as one example of such toilets. The toilet is provided with a sand-excluding-plate to eliminate the problem of soiling the indoors since a pet plays while stirring about the sand and walks around with sand adhered to its four paws. However, it is difficult with such an invention to completely remove sand adhered to the four paws of a pet, the problem of soiling a raising chamber cannot be solved yet. Also, since, for example, a pet ferret eats sand and will suffer from indigestion, it is preferable that a toilet does not use sand.  
      Further, the ferret is in the habit of defecating with its buttocks turned to a corner direction of a raising chamber. At this time, urine is discharged downward, and feces are discharged rearward. While most of feces drop at the corner area, portions thereof scatter sideward. Therefore, with the conventional toilets, there is a problem in that a corner area of the raising chamber is soiled.  
      To the contrary, as a pet toilet suitable for being placed at a corner area of the raising chamber and having side faces to receive feces scattering in side directions, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3056311 may be mentioned. However, with the pet toilet according to the Utility Model, it is very cumbersome that the floor structure thereof is removed and it is necessary to wash the entirety of the pet toilet.  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve various problems of the conventional pet toilets, and particularly preferable, to provide a toilet for a pet which is in the habit of defecating with its buttocks turned to a corner area of the raising chamber.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      For achieving the objectives of the present invention, A pet toilet, disposed at a corner area in an enclosure in which a pet is accommodated, for a pet having the habit of defecating or urinating at a corner area of the enclosure is provided in the present invention. The pet toilet comprises a receiving tray having a corner area shaped roughly along the shape of a corner area of the enclosure, a covering member placed above the receiving tray so as to cover the upper surface of the receiving tray, having a portion, which is at a corner area adjacent to the corner area of the enclosure, cut off, and simultaneously including a number of through-holes penetrated from the surface to the back thereof, and a disposable sheet disposed on the receiving tray and including a storage part for receiving excrement, a screen erected at the base part side of the storage part, and a linkage part to link the storage part and the screen with each other, wherein the storage part has its upper surface partially exposed at a portion close to a corner area of the receiving tray and is covered by the covering member at a portion spaced from the corner area of the receiving tray.  
      Also for achieving the objectives of the present invention, a disposable sheet, which is disposed between a receiving tray and a covering member, for a toilet used for a pet including a receiving tray having a corner area shaped roughly along the shape of a corner area of an enclosure in which a pet is accommodated, and a covering member placed above the receiving tray so as to cover the upper surface of the receiving tray and having a number of through-holes penetrating from the surface to the back thereof is provided in the present invention.  
      The disposable sheet comprises a storage part for receiving excrement, a part of which is exposed at a corner area of the receiving tray when being placed on the receiving tray, and a portion spaced from the corner area of the receiving tray is covered by the covering member, a screen erected from the base part side of the storage part shaped along the shape of the corner area of the receiving tray, and a linkage part for linking the storage part and the screen with each other.  
      Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features of the present invention that are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with objectives and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the present preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a toilet for a pet according to Embodiment 1;  
       FIG. 2  is a plan-view showing a pet toilet according to Embodiment 1, with a part thereof cut off.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a disassembled state of the pet toilet according to Embodiment 1;  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line J 1 - J 1  of  FIG. 3  according to Embodiment 1;  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along the line L 1 -L 1  of  FIG. 3  according to Embodiment 1;  
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line K 1 -K 1  of  FIG. 3  according to Embodiment 1;  
       FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are partially sectional views showing a holding mechanism, which is another mode different from Embodiment 1;  
       FIGS. 8   a  through  8   c  are partially sectional views showing a fixing mechanism, which is another mode different from Embodiment 1;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a toilet for a pet, which is disposed in a cage according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a toilet for a pet according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 11  is a disassembled perspective view showing a toilet for a pet according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 12  is a plan view showing a toilet for a pet according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along the line A 1 -A 1  of  FIG. 12  according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 14  is a developed view of a disposable sheet according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 15   a  is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the disposable sheet according to Embodiment 2, and  FIG. 15   b  is a perspective view showing an inverted V-shaped bending line in a bent state;  
       FIG. 16  is a partial plan view showing a screen according to Embodiment 2;  
       FIG. 17  is a sectional view showing a draining board, which is taken along the line B 1 -B 1  of  FIG. 12  according to Embodiment 2; and  
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing a toilet for a pet, the area of an opening of which is larger than in  FIG. 10  according to Embodiment 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     Embodiment 1  
      A toilet  1  for a pet according to Embodiment 1 is composed of a waste receptacle  2 , a draining board  3  operating as a covering member, and a urine absorbent mat  4 . Herein, the width of the waste receptacle  2  is A 1 : 250 mm, and the depth thereof is B 1 : 315 mm. The waste receptacle  2  presents a roughly house base-shaped profile in its plan view.  
      The waste receptacle  2  is composed of a receiving tray  2   a  and a screen  2   b . The screen  2   b  is vertically linked to the position of the inclination sides  2   f  of the receiving tray  2   a . The height of the screen  2   b  is D 1 :200 mm. The screen  2   b  is constructed to be folded or bent at 90 degrees in its plan view with the ridgeline  2   g  regarded as the boundary. Two bolts  2   e  are attached to the upper rear side position of the screen  2   b.    
      The first and second vertical brims  2   h  and  2   j  are provided at the sides other than the inclination sides  2   f  of the receiving tray  2 . The height of both the vertical brims  2   h  and  2   j  is E 1 : 15 mm. A pair of opposed edge parts  2   c  extending outwards are formed by bending the upper end of the second vertical brim  2   h , and the respective edge parts  2   c  are provided with a pin opening  2   d.    
      The draining board  3  has a hexagonal lattice-like draining board surface  3   c  which is obtained by cutting off a triangular space  1   a  from the outer profile of the waste receptacle  2 , that is, a roughly house base-shaped profile.  
      A pair of rail parts  3   a  opposing each other are formed at both the side edges of the draining board  3 . Pin holes  3   b  corresponding to the pin openings  2   d  are formed on the rail part  3   a.    
      The urine absorbent mat  4  is composed of a flat part  4   a  that is roughly house base-shaped in its plan view, and screens  4   c  vertically linked to the inclination sides  4   b  at two sides of the flat part  4   a . The screens  4   c  are constructed to be folded or bent at 90 degrees in its plan view with the ridgeline  4   d  regarded as the boundary. The flat part  4   a  is composed of two types of paper. That is, a rectangular-shaped front area  4   e  composed of highly absorbent paper and a rectangular triangle-shaped rear area  4   f  composed of cardboard whose surface is made smooth. Folding lines  4   g  and  4   h  used for folding the absorbent mat  4  are formed at the front area  4   e  and the rear area  4   f . The screen  4   c  is composed of a cardboard whose surface is made smooth. A hook  4   i  is formed by folding back the upper part of the screen  4   c , and an attaching hole  4   j  is formed at the hook  4   i.    
      Hereinafter, a description is given of actions of the toilet  1  according to Embodiment 1.  
      When assembling the toilet  1  for a pet, the urine absorbent mat  4  is set at the front side position of the waste receptacle  2 . For the assembling, the hook  4   i  is hung on the screen  2   b  of the waste receptacle  2  while placing the flat part  4   a  of the urine absorbent mat  4  on the receiving tray  2   a . At this time, the bolt  2   e  formed on the screen  2   b  is passed through the attaching hole  4   j . And, a nut  5  is mounted to the bolt  2   e  exposed rearward from the attaching hole  4   j.    
      Next, the draining board  3  is fixed on the receiving tray  2   a  of the waste receptacle  2 . First, the rail part  3   a  at the draining board  3  side is fitted to the edge part  2   c  of the receiving tray  2   a  side, and the draining board  3  is caused to slide. With the positions of the pin holes  2   d  and  3   b  between both made coincident with each other, pins  11  are driven into these pin holes  2   d  and  3   b.    
      In particular, since a pet ferret is in the habit of defecating at a corner area of the raising chamber, it is not necessary to forcibly train the ferret with regard to a place of defecation, wherein if such a toilet  1  is disposed at a corner area of the raising chamber, the ferret itself will use the toilet  1  as its defecation place. In detail, when a ferret defecates, urine flows to the receiving tray  2   a  through the draining board surface  3   c , and the majority of feces drops at the corner area of the rear area  4   e  through the triangular space  1   a . However, portions thereof are scattered sideward and will adhere to the screen  4   c.    
      Since the toilet  1  is constructed as described above, the following effects can be brought about by Embodiment 1. 
      (1) Feces defecated by a pet are concealed beneath the draining board  3  and are not conspicuous. Also, since urine is absorbed in the front area  4   e , the urine can be removed by removing the urine absorbent mat  4  along with feces dropped on the rear area  4   e  and adhered to the screen  4   c.       (2) Since the surface for which there is a possibility for a pet to touch is constructed of cardboard whose surface is made smooth, there is no case where the urine absorbent mat  4  is broken even if a pet that likes to scratch or claw the cardboard becomes mischievous.     (3) Since the draining board  3  is firmly fixed on the receiving tray  2   a  of the waste receptacle  2 , there is no case where the draining board  3  is removed even if a pet becomes mischievous.     (4) The urine absorbent mat  4  can be made sheet-shaped from a cubic state by folding down the screens  4   c  at the positions of the ridgeline  4   d  and the folding lines  4   g  and  4   h.      

      With Embodiment 1 described above, a holding mechanism is constructed at the edge part  2   c  at the receiving tray  2   a  side and the rail part  3   a  at the draining board  3  side. However, as shown in  FIG. 7   a , the holding mechanism may be composed of the edge part  8   b  obtained by inwardly folding the receiving tray  8   a  and at a rail part  9   b  secured toward the outside of the draining board  9   a . Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 ( b ), the holding mechanism may be constructed at a rail part  8   d  secured at the receiving tray  8   c  side and at both end parts  9   d  of the draining board  9   c.    
      In addition, in Embodiment 1 described above, the fixing mechanism of the waste receptacle mat is composed of bolts  2   e , attaching holes  4   j  and nuts  5 . However, as shown in  FIG. 8   a , the fixing mechanism of the screen  6   a  and the screen  7   a  may be composed of bolts  12  and nuts  5 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 8B , such a fixing mechanism may be employed, in which a recess part  7   c  is provided outside the screen  7   b  and a fold-over part  6   c  is provided at the screen  6   b , respectively, and the fold-over part  6   c  is inserted into the recess part  7   c . Still further, as shown in  FIG. 8C , a U-shaped spring  14  may be used as the fixing mechanism of the screen  6   d  and the screen  7   d.    
     Embodiment 2  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , a cage  31  is composed in such a manner that a plurality of wire members  31   a  are disposed lengthwise and crosswise like a lattice. The cage  31  is formed to be quadrangular in its plan view, and is provided with four right angle corner areas C 1  therein. A toilet  40  for a pet according to Embodiment 2 is disposed at one corner area C 1  of the same cage  31 . As shown in  FIG. 10  through  FIG. 13 , a receiving tray  41  that composes a part of the toilet  40  is formed of plastics, and is formed to be rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped with its top openable. The corner area C 2  of the receiving tray  41  opposing the corner area C 1  of the cage  31  is made roughly right angle-shaped. The first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  and the second support surfaces  41   c  and  41   d  are formed at four edges of the receiving tray  41 . These support surfaces  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c  and  41   d  are disposed at a higher position than the bottom surface of the receiving tray  41 . Long-elliptical slots  42  opening upward are equidistantly provided three by three in the first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b , respectively. A screw hole  43  opening upward is formed in the vicinity of the crossing part of both the second support surfaces  41   c  and  41   d . A urine absorbent mat  44  composed of paper having high absorbing performance is disposed on the bottom surface of the receiving tray  41 .  
      The receiving tray  41  is covered with the draining board  45  made of plastics and operating as a covering member. The draining board  45  is supported on the support surfaces  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c  and  41   d  at the receiving tray  41  side. The draining board  45  is shaped to be roughly coincident with the shape of the receiving tray  41  in its plan view, and only the portion disposed at the corner area C 1  of the cage  31  is cut off and is made into a rectangular triangle-shaped opening S 1 . Therefore, only the portion, opposing the opening portion S 1 , of the receiving tray  41  is exposed in a state where it is covered by the draining board  45 . The regulation parts  45   a  and  45   b  are suspended at the front edge part of the draining board  45 . The inner faces of the regulation parts  45   a  and  45   b  are disposed along the outer edge of the second support surfaces  41   c  and  41   d  at the receiving tray  41  side when the draining board  45  is placed on the receiving tray  41 . Movement of the draining board  45  in the depth direction is restricted by the regulation parts  45   a  and  45   b  being brought into contact with the side of the receiving tray  41 . Also, a hole  46  is formed in the draining board  45  at the position corresponding to the screw hole  43  of the receiving tray  41 . As shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , a butterfly screw  49  is screwed in the screw hole  43  of the receiving tray  41  via the hole  46 .  
      A number of through-holes whose plan view is long slot-shaped are equidistantly formed in the draining board  45 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , on the rear face of the draining board  45 , notched grooves  48   a  and  48   b  are formed on the extension lines to partition between the through-hole  47  of the first row adjacent to the bottom side W 1  of the opening part S 1  and the through-hole  47  of the second row, and between the through-hole  47  of the second row and the through-hole  47  of the third row.  
      As shown in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a screen  50  operating as the support member is linked to the first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  of the receiving tray  41 . The screen  50  is made of plastics, and, in a non-linked state with the receiving tray  41 , the screen  50  is kept to be plate-like in a state shown by a solid line in  FIG. 16 . Also, a folding part  51  is formed along the perpendicular direction at the center part at the lateral direction of the screen  50 . The folding part  51  is made thinner than the thickness of the other portion. In a state where the screen  50  is linked to the receiving tray  41 , the screen  50  is held to be roughly at a right angle as shown by an alternate long and two dashed line in  FIG. 16 . In the present embodiment, the screen  50  at the left portion from the folding part  51  is made into the left side plate  50   a , and the screen  50  at the right portion from the folding part  51  is made into the right side plate  50   b.    
      As shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 13 , engagement projections  52  that are engaged in the holes  42  of the receiving tray  41  are formed three by three on the underside of both the plates  50   a  and  50   b.    
      A pressing claw  54  is formed at a position near the lower end of both the plates  50   a  and  50   b , respectively. The pressing claw  54  is projected inwardly at a position spaced upward from the underside of both the plates  50   a  and  50   b  by roughly the same dimension as the thickness of the draining board  45 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , support projections  55  are formed three by three at the outer side at the lower edge position of both plates  50   a  and  50   b . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the support projection  55  presents a right-angled triangle in its side view, and supports the screen  50  at the back face side thereof.  
      As shown in  FIG. 10  through  FIG. 13 , an engagement piece  56 , whose section is L-shaped, composing a part of a fixing member is formed on the upper inner side of both plates  50   a  and  50   b , respectively. The engagement piece  56  is composed of a linkage part  56   a  extending in the right angle direction of the inner side face of the plates  50   a  and  50   b  and a support part  56   b  suspended from the tip end of the same linkage part and extending parallel to the inner side face of the plates  50   a  and  50   b.    
      As shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a plate linkage piece  57  composing a part of a fixing member is formed outwards on the upper part of the outer side face of both plates  50   a  and  50   b . A through-hole  57   a  opening parallel to the plate  50   a  and  50   b  surfaces is formed at the plate linkage part  57 . Also, a locking plate K described later is inserted into the through-hole  57   a.    
       FIG. 14  is a developed view of a disposable sheet  59 . The disposable sheet  59  is composed of paper having its surface coated with resin having high water repellency. The disposable sheet  59  is formed of a rectangular screen  60  whose width is long, a first storage part  61   a  and a second storage part  61   b , which are provided at the lower part of the same screen  60 . The first inward folding line T 1  operating as a division line extending in the up and down direction is provided at the center part in the lengthwise direction of the screen  60 , and the part, between the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b , existing on the extension line of the first inward folding line T 1  is cut off, and both the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  are divided into two. The second inward folding line T 2  operating as a linkage part and the third inward folding line T 3  operating as a linkage part at the boundary portion between both storage parts  61   a ,  61   b  and the screen  60  are arovided.  
      In addition, the first outward folding line Y 1  operating as the folding-over line is provided so as to be coincident with the perpendicular line connecting the top point P 1  of the first storage part  61   a  to the bottom side L 1 . Also, a cut-in hole  62  that communicates the surface and the back with each other is formed at the first storage part  61   a . The second outward folding line Y 2  operating as the folding-over line is provided so as to be coincident with the perpendicular line connecting the top point P 2  of the second storage part  61   b  to the bottom side L 2 . Also, an insertion portion  63  having roughly the same width as the cut-in width of the cut-in hole  62  of the first storage part  61   a  is formed at the tip end part of the second storage part  61   b.    
       FIG. 15   a  shows a state where the first through the third inward folding lines T 1  through T 3  are inwardly folded, the insertion portion  63  of the second storage part  61   b  is inserted into the cut-in hole  62  of the first storage part  61   a , and the disposable sheet  59  is assembled, that is, the drawing is a perspective view showing the disposable sheet  59  showing a state where the toilet is used. In a state where the disposable sheet  59  is assembled, a shape of the corner area C 4  of the screen  60  is kept right-angled as in the respective corner areas C 1 , C 2  and C 3 . The state of the disposable sheet  59 , which is shown in the same drawing, is made into a cubically opened state.  
      Next, a description is given of one example for installing the toilet  40  in which the respective components and members are assembled.  
      First, as shown in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a urine absorbent mat  44  is disposed in the receiving tray  41 . Next, a draining board  45  is placed on the second support surfaces  41   c  and  41   d  of the receiving tray  41 . Next, the butterfly screw  49  is screwed in the screw hole  43  of the receiving tray  41  via the screw insertion hole  46  of the draining board  45 , whereby movement of the draining board  45  is regulated in regard to the receiving tray  41 . Further, the screen  50  is folded at the folding parts  51 , and the respective engagement projections  52  are inserted into the respective holes  42  of the receiving tray  41 , and the screen  45  is engaged with the receiving tray  41 . At this time, the draining board  45  is pressed from its upper surface by means of the pressing claw  54  of the screen  50 , wherein the draining board  45  is prevented from being floated at the support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  sides. Also, the screen  50  is prevented from being inclined or tilted rearward since the lower end surfaces of the respective support projections  55  are brought into contact with the first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b.    
      Next, respective folding parts of the disposable sheet  59  that is in its developed state of  FIG. 14  are folded in predetermined directions, and the insertion portion  63  is inserted into the insertion hole  62 . Then, the disposable sheet  59  is assembled as shown in  FIG. 15 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  of the disposable sheet  59  are inserted between the first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  of the receiving tray  41  and the draining board  45 . And, the upper part of the disposable sheet  59  is inserted into the engagement piece  56  of the screen  50 .  
      Next, as shown in  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , the corner area C 2  at which the first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  of the receiving tray  41  are intersected with each other is matched with the corner area C 1  of the cage  31 , and the toilet  40  is arranged in the cage  31 . And, as shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a locking plate K is inserted into the plate insertion hole  57   a  of the plate linkage part  57  of the screen  50  exposed outside the cage  31 , respectively. In this state, the locking plate K is brought into contact with the wire members  31   a  of the cage  31 , which are arrayed in the longitudinal directions, and operates as a stopper, wherein the toilet  40  is prevented from being separated and spaced from the cage  31 .  
      The toilet  40  is installed as described above. Next, a ferret is released in the cage  31 . The ferret defecates and urinates at the one of  4  corner areas in the cage  31  as is its habit. Therefore, when the ferret defecates or urinates, it may moves to the toilet  40  side in the cage  31 . And, when the ferret defecates and urinates, it gets on the draining board  45  and turns its backside to the corner area C 1  side of the cage  31 . At this time, urine discharged from the ferret is absorbed in the urine absorbent mat  44  in the receiving tray  41  through the through-holes  47  of the draining board  45 . Also, comparatively large feces discharged therefrom land on the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  of the disposable sheet  59 , which are exposed to the opening S 1  of the draining board  45 . In addition, feces scattered rearward, which do not land on the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b , are received by the screen, wherein the feces are prevented from being splashed outside.  
      After discharged feces accumulate to some amount, the disposable sheet  59  is removed from the engagement pieces  56  of the screen  50 , and the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  are pulled out between the first support surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  of the receiving tray  41  and the draining board  45 . And, the outward folding parts Y 1  and Y 2  of the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  are outwardly folded, as shown in  FIG. 15   B , so that the feces on the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  do not drop down, and the feces land and are held between the screen  60  and the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b , and are disposed. Feces can be prevented from dropping down from the disposable sheet  59  by holding the disposable sheet  59  as described above. Also, the outwardly folded storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  become higher at their forward side, wherein the feces are accumulated rearward (that is, near the screen  60 ), and it becomes hard for feces to drop.  
      Next, the butterfly screw  49  is removed, and at the same time, the screen  50  is removed from the receiving tray  41 . Further, the draining board  45  is removed. And, the urine absorbent mat  44  is replaced with a new (non-used) one. The draining board  45  and the screen  50  are attached again.  
      In addition, as a raised ferret grows and its body size becomes larger, the draining board  45  is cut off along the notched groove  48   a  or  48   b . Since the draining board  45  is formed of plastics, and at the same time, the notched grooves  48   a  and  48   b  shown in  FIG. 17  are made thinner than the other parts, the draining board  45  can be easily cut off by hand along the notched grooves. And, after the draining board  45  is cut off along either the notched groove  48   a  or  48   b , the toilet  40  is assembled as in the assembling described above, and the toilet  40  is disposed at the position of the corner area C 1  in the cage  31 .  
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing the toilet  40 , in which the draining board  45  is cut off along the notched groove  48   a , disposed in the cage  31 , wherein the area of the opening S 2  is further enlarged than the area of the opening S 1  of  FIG. 10 . Thus, by enlarging the area of the opening S 2 , the exposed area of the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  of the disposable sheet  59  is enlarged, and feces discharged by a grown-up ferret can be prevented from being adhered to the draining board  45 .  
      By constructing the toilet  40  as described above, Embodiment 2 can bring about the following effects in addition to the effects of Embodiment 1 described above. 
      (1) In the draining board  45 , a portion close to the corner area C 2  of the receiving tray  41  is made into a notched opening S and exposed to cause the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  to appear. And since a ferret defecates toward the exposed portions as is its habit, the draining board  45  is hardly contaminated due to feces. Also, the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  are covered by the draining board  45 , excepting the portions close to the corner area C 2 , there is no case where the ferret bites and/or tears the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b , and the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  will not be damaged.     (2) Since the disposing work of feces may be basically only to replace the disposable sheet  59 , cleaning work of the toilet  40  can be simplified. Also, since almost no feces adhere to places other than the disposable sheet  59 , the washing work of the toilet  40  can be further simplified.     (3) Since outward folding parts Y 1  and Y 2  are provided at the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  of the disposable sheet  59 , respectively, feces discharged on the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  can land and be held between the screen  60  and the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b , wherein it is possible to prevent the feces from dropping from the disposable sheet  59  during the disposing work.     (4) Since the hem (lower part) of the storage parts  61   a ,  61   b  of the disposable sheet  59  is disposed so as to be placed between the receiving tray  41  and the draining board  45 , the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  can be prevented from rolling up, wherein discharged feces can reliably land on the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b.       (5) Since the area of the opening S is constructed to be variable by providing the notched grooves  48   a  and  48   b  on the rear side of the draining board  45 , it is possible to change the area of the opening S in line with growth of a ferret without preparing a plurality of draining boards having different areas in the opening S. Accordingly, a decrease in cost can be achieved, and it is not necessary to control the stock of draining boards of different openings S.     (6) The toilet  40  according to the present embodiment is composed of a receiving tray  41 , a draining board  45 , a screen  50 , a urine absorbent mat  44 , a disposable sheet  59 , a butterfly screw  49 , and a plate K, and these components can be disassembled, wherein the toilet components can be put away and stored in a small space.     (7) Since inward folding parts T 1  through T 3  and outward folding parts Y 1  and Y 2  are provided at predetermined positions of the disposable sheet  59 , insertion holes  62  and insertion portions  63  are also provided, and the insertion portion  63  is inserted into the insertion hole  62  after being folded into a predetermined shape, it is possible to form a cubic disposable sheet  59  of a single sheet of paper. Therefore, since disposable sheets  59  before assembling can be stored in a developed state, the disposable sheet  59  is not made bulky and can be stored in a small space. Further, the disposable sheet  59  can be assembled without any adhesive agent, etc., it is possible to simplify the assembling work thereof.     (8) Since the plate linkage piece  57  is provided at the outside surface of the screen  50 , and movement of the toilet in regard to the cage  31  is regulated by inserting an exclusive plate Kinto the plate insertion hole  57   a , the toilet  40  can be prevented from moving and being overturned with respect to the cage  31  even if the ferret collides with the toilet  40  or scratches the same, and it is possible to prevent the interior of the cage  31  from being contaminated due to feces and urine.    

      Further, the present invention may be embodied as described below. 
      (1) The invention maybe embodied for pets other than a ferret.     (2) In Embodiment 2, the receiving tray  41  may be embodied with a planar shape other than a rough square. That is, the shape of the receiving tray  41  may be appropriately changed and embodied so as to correspond to the corner area C 1  of the cage  31 . In this case, the planar shape of the draining board, number and shape of respective folding lines of the disposable sheet  59  may be changed so as to correspond thereto.     (3) In Embodiment 2 described above, the shape of through-holes  47  of the draining board  45  operating as the covering member may be embodied with an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, and other various types of shapes other than the long slot.     (4) Embodiment 2 described above may be embodied without use of the screen  50  operating as a support member.     (5) Embodiment 2 described above may be embodied without providing the notched grooves  48   a  and  48   b  on the rear side of the draining board  45  operating as the covering member.     (6) Embodiment 2 described above may be embodied without providing the engagement piece  56  at the screen  50  operating as a support member.     (7) Embodiment 2 described above may be embodied with a glass-fabricated box-like enclosure other than the cage  31 .     (8) Means for holding a cubic shape may be composed by forming a notch in both the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  of the disposable sheet  59  and crossing the notches of both of the storage parts  61   a  and  61   b  when assembling the disposable sheet  59 .     (9) Embodiment 2 described above may be embodied with an enclosure having a corner area formed to be a curved surface and an obtuse-angled or an acute-angled corner area although the corner area C 1  of the cage  31  operating as the enclosure is flat and right-angled. In this case, the planar shape of the respective members such as the receiving tray  41  and disposable sheet  59  is formed so as to correspond to the shape of the corner area of the enclosure.     (10) In Embodiment 2 described above, the disposable sheet  59  may be assembled by using an adhesive agent or an adhesive tape without providing the insertion hole  62 , etc., as means for holding a cubic shape in the disposable sheet  59 .     (11) In Embodiment 2 described above, the material of the disposable sheet  59  may be formed of, for example, foldable thin vinyl chloride sheet and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) other than paper.     (12) In Embodiment 2 described above, the disposable sheet  59  may be embodied with a plurality of sheets of paper.     (13) In Embodiment 2 described above, although the plate linkage piece  57  and locking plate K are used to prevent the toilet  40  from moving with regard to the cage  31 , a structure other than the above may be used to prevent the toilet  40  from moving with regard to the cage  31  without using the above members.     (14) Embodiment 2 described above may be embodied without using the urine absorbent mat  44 .     (15) Embodiment 2 described above maybe embodied by disposing a toilet  40  at respective corner areas C 1  of the cage  31 .    

      The invention may be subjected to various modifications and variations within the scope not departing from the spirit thereof.