Abstract:
A disposable animal training pad having a top layer, a bottom layer attached to the top layer, a middle layer between the top and bottom layers, and a graphic visible from a top of the pad. The graphic may be printed directly on the top layer, or may be printed on a layer sandwiched between the top and middle layers. Similarly, the graphic may be printed on the middle layer and the top layer may be transparent or translucent.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional patent application no. 60/684,241, filed on May 23, 2005 and entitled “Printed Disposable Animal Training Pad”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to animal training products, and more specifically to a disposable pad for absorbing animal waste products.  
         [0004]     2. Background Art  
         [0005]     Animal training pads have gained popularity as a means to absorb wastes produced by a domestic animal, and encourage the animal to urinate only in a particular area. These training pads may be either reusable or disposable. Disposable pads, as discussed herein, are intended for limited use and may be made from non-washable fabrics. Disposable pads are typically thrown away after an animal uses them.  
         [0006]     Many training pads, however, are aesthetically displeasing. Although functional, the pads are utilitarian in appearance and noticeable in an animal owner&#39;s residence. This is especially true of disposable pads, where the low cost of manufacture may prohibit providing any aesthetically pleasing features.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved animal training pad.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     One embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a disposable animal training pad having a top layer, a bottom layer attached to the top layer, a middle layer between the top and bottom layers, and a graphic visible from a top of the pad. The graphic may be printed directly on the top layer, or may be printed on a layer sandwiched between the top and middle layers. Similarly, the graphic may be printed on the middle layer and the top layer may be transparent or translucent.  
         [0009]     The top layer of the pad is typically moisture-permeable or liquid-permeable. The middle layer is moisture-absorbent, and the bottom layer is moisture-impermeable. The layers may be constructed from any suitable material or combination of materials. For example, the top layer may be paper having a backing preventing liquid from exiting the middle layer.  
         [0010]     Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the entirety of this disclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a top view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a second exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts a third exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts a fourth exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  depicts a fifth exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  depicts a sixth exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts a seventh exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0020]      Fig. 10  depicts an eighth exemplary pattern printed on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     One embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an object (such as a pad) for absorbing waste products, such as urine, produced by a domestic animal. The pad may be placed on a floor or other convenient surface where the domestic animal urinates. The pad absorbs the waste product and typically prevents the waste from contacting the surface beneath the pad.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  displays an exemplary pad  100 . The pad  100  consists of a top  110 , middle  120 , and bottom layer (not shown). The top layer  110  is typically moisture-permeable. The middle layer  120  is moisture-absorbent, and the bottom layer (not shown) is moisture-impermeable. In this manner, urine or other liquids may pass through the top layer  110 , be absorbed by the middle layer  120 , and prevented from contacting the surface below the pad. Dashed lines depicts the middle layer  120  located beneath the top layer  110 . Typically, the middle layer  120  is not visible to an observer, but alternative embodiments may construct the top layer  110  from an at least partially transparent or translucent material to allow the observer to see the middle layer  120 . Additionally, it should be noted the middle layer  120  often extends to the very edge  140  of the pad  100 . Thus, in some embodiments, the dashed lines would underlie the edge  140  of the pad  100 . The dashed lines are shown in their current location for illustrative purposes only; the exact location of the middle layer  120  may vary in alternative embodiments of the invention. For example, in certain embodiments the top  110  and bottom layers may be sealed or affixed to one another, such as with an adhesive or by heat sealing, to form a border. In such embodiments, the middle layer  120  may not extend to the very edge  140  of the pad  110 . In alternative embodiments, only the very edges  140  (and possibly only the outer edges) of the top  110  and bottom layers may be affixed to one another. This allows the middle layer  120  to extend across substantially the entire pad surface.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the pad of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . The cross-sectional view depicts the top  110 , middle  120 , and bottom  130  layers of the pad  100 . The top and bottom  130  layers define an interior cavity  150  within the pad  100 , in which the middle layer  120  resides. The middle layer  120  may fill the entire cavity  150 , or may fill only a portion of the cavity  150 . The pad  100  is shown in  FIG. 2  with only the outer edges of the top  110  and bottom  130  layers sealed together. As mentioned above, a portion of the interior surfaces of the top and bottom layers may be sealed to one another.  
         [0024]     A variety of materials may be used to construct the top  110 , middle  120 , and bottom  130  layers of the pad  100 . All that is required is that the top layer  110  be at least partially moisture-permeable, the middle layer  120  at least partially moisture-absorbent, and the bottom layer  130  moisture-impermeable. Thus, for example, the top layer  110  may be formed from an appropriate synthetic or natural fabric permitting urine to pass therethrough, the middle layer  120  from an appropriately absorptive material such as a polymer, and the bottom layer  130  from a moisture barrier such as a plastic. Any or all of these layers may be made from a paper, so long as the paper has the appropriate characteristics discussed above. For example, the layers may be constructed from a paper impregnated or coated with an appropriate agent to render the layer absorbent or moisture-impermeable, as necessary. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the variety of fabrics and materials from which each layer may be constructed.  
         [0025]     One or more of the layers may be coated or impregnated with a pheromone to attract the animal and encourage it to urinate on the pad  100 , as opposed to on an owner&#39;s rug, floor, or other surface. The pheromone may, for example, be secreted or impregnated within the middle layer  130 . This prevents the pheromone from rubbing off or dissipating as the exterior layers are touched or rubbed. It should be noted, however, that the top  110  and/or bottom  130  layers may similarly be impregnated with a pheromone.  
         [0026]     The present embodiment additionally may include one or more contact points  160  on the bottom  130  layer&#39;s exterior designed to prevent the embodiment from moving once placed on a surface. These contact points  160  may be an adhesive, tape, rubber foot, and so forth. The contact points  160  may not only prevent the pad  100  from sliding or moving, but may also protect the surface on which the pad  100  is placed.  
         [0027]     Additionally, the pad  100  may be aesthetically pleasing to a potential consumer and/or pet owner. The top surface  110  (i.e., top layer) of the pad  100  may be printed with a design, picture, or motif (“graphic”). In this manner, the pad  100  is less obtrusive when placed in an animal owner&#39;s home.  FIGS. 3 through 10  depict exemplary graphics that may be printed on the pad  100 .  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the printed surface of the pad  100  may be made to match a surface commonly occurring in a home.  FIG. 7 , for example, shows the pad  100  printed with a woodgrain graphic  170 . Similarly, the pad  100  may be printed to resemble a flooring tile, carpet, or rug. By matching the graphic  170  on the pad&#39;s top layer  110  to the pattern of the surface on which the pad rests, the pad  100  may be rendered even less obtrusive in an animal owner&#39;s home. Alternate embodiments of the invention may include patterns or graphics  180 ,  190 ,  200  as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 .  
         [0029]     The pattern or design  170  may be placed on the pad  100  in a variety of ways. For example, the graphic  170  may be silk-screened, pad printed, screen printed, digitally printed, laser printed, inkjet printed, and so forth onto the top layer  110 . Similarly, the pattern may be woven into the fabric of the top layer  110 . Typically, however, the pattern or graphic is printed onto the top layer  110 . The various printing techniques and methods known to those skilled in the art may all be employed to create the image  170  on the top layer  110  of the pad  100 .  
         [0030]     Alternative embodiments may construct the top layer  100  from a transparent or translucent material, and place the image  170  on the middle layer  120  of the pad  100 . Yet other embodiments may employ a transparent or translucent top layer  110 , and place the image on a moisture-permeable or water-permeable layer located between the top and middle  120  layers. Effectively, in such embodiments the image  170  is placed in its own layer of the pad  100 .  
         [0031]     Although the top layer  110  has been described herein as moisture-permeable or water-permeable, it should be understood that certain embodiments of the invention may employ a material that allows moisture or liquids to pass through only in one direction. In such embodiments, the liquid is effectively trapped between the top  110  and bottom  130  layers once it enters the cavity  150 . This may facilitate absorption of the liquid by the middle layer  120  and keep an animal resting, sitting, or standing on the top layer  110  relatively dry.  
         [0032]     Additionally, the various embodiments described herein are generally disposable after use. That is, the pad  100  is designed to be discarded, rather than washed and/or cleaned for another use. Accordingly, any and all layers may be made from a non-washable material. Further, the pad  100  typically does not include any anti-microbial agent since the pad is discarded; the growth of microbes or bacteria are irrelevant once the pad is disposed. Some embodiments of the present invention may include an anti-microbial agent.  
         [0033]     Although the present invention has been discussed with respect to specific embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that additional embodiments may be realized upon review of the foregoing disclosure. Similarly, certain changes to the various embodiments described herein may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the disclosure. Accordingly, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.