Abstract:
A pet waste station with pet training features is disclosed. The waste station may include a turf surface and a urine collection funnel for channeling urine into disposable absorbing pads. The pads may be placed in a drawer beneath the funnel, allowing easy removal and replacement of the drawer. Odor control may include a compartment for deodorizers or other air fresheners. A sensor may be provided to activate one or more positive reinforcement rewards when the pet successfully urinates in the waste station, including dispensing of an edible treat and/or playing of an audio snippet, such as an owner&#39;s voice praising the pet.

Description:
This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/954,518, filed Mar. 17, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to pet training in elimination habits and relates to providing increased sanitation and reduced odor while providing a pet an indoor location for its elimination needs. The present invention also relates to providing positive reinforcement to a pet when it practices good elimination habits in the absence of its owner. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,336,494 to McElroy discloses a pet waste device whereby a pet must urinate on an absorbable sheet material atop electrical conductors. If liquid reaches the underlying electrical conductors, a circuit may cause a nearby treat-containing compartment to open, thereby providing the pet an edible treat as a reward for urinating in the right spot. However, the approach of McElroy has both use and manufacture shortcomings. First, there must be adequate space for the pet and the pet may eliminate anywhere upon the sheet; accordingly, the sheet must therefore be large in relation to the pet. Second, consequently, the electrical conductor array, preferably stainless steel, must be manufactured to be as large as the sheet so that a rewardable urination event is not missed. Third, the approach of McElroy limits the number of events that may be rewarded to the number of compartments of the treat container. Fourth, as a pet uses the sheet, its urine may pool and flow to its feet prior to being absorbed by the sheet, creating an unhygienic situation for the pet and unpleasant tracking of urine outside the device. Fifth, cleanup of the McElroy device requires either direct handling of the saturated sheet or a saturated roll of sheet material. Finally, many pets may balk at eliminating on paper and are more comfortable with a feel of turf underfoot. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,233 to Dukes et al. discloses a urine sensing grid set atop a tray whereby a pet&#39;s urination on the grid is detected and a notification is sent to the pet&#39;s owner to empty the tray. As with McElroy, the Dukes device is complicated to manufacture, requiring a plurality of electrodes at each grid aperture. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the shortcomings of prior devices to further advance caring for and training pets in a dedicated limited spaces including, for example, small homes, apartments, condos, townhomes, dorm rooms and other limited indoor areas. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pet waste station comprising a turf surface disposed above a funnel structure disposed above a replaceable absorbent pad within a removable drawer. The waste station may also include a section in which odor absorbing or deodorizing materials may be disposed. The waste station may include rubberized feet to prevent slippage of the pet waste station. The waste station may include a reward incentive unit for rewarding and incentivizing a pet&#39;s usage of the waste station. In such embodiments, a sensor is disposed to detect a urination event and to dispense a pet treat. In other embodiments, a recording of the pet owner&#39;s voice may provide personalized praise to the pet. In some embodiments, the sensor is an infrared sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor may include moisture conduction elements configured to increase conductivity when in contact with urine. 
     In some embodiments, a sensor may detect the absence of the drawer and prevent activation of the reward incentive unit. In some embodiments, the turf surface is supported by a rigidized grid which is disposed on the funnel and further supported by pylons thereon. In some embodiments, the turf surface may comprise coil mat. In some embodiments, the reward incentive unit has a lower-power mode which is entered upon absence of a pet for some pre-determined amount of time, as detected by a pet sensing device. The reward incentive unit may be mechanically and electrically attached to the pet waste station via a base connector affixed to a frame of the pet waste station. 
     In some embodiments, the reward incentive unit utilizes an elevator mechanism to dispense the treat. In other embodiments, the reward incentive unit utilizes a gravity feed mechanism modulated by motor- or servo-controlled doors, augers, constrictors, push-pins, flippers, rotatable chambers, vibration cams, and spring-loaded traction wheels. The reward incentive unit may be battery powered or utilize household current. 
     In some embodiments, the turf surface may be disposed upon a multiple beam funnel by which multiple channels between the beams channel urine into drain slots located above the drawer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 1B And 1C  are cross-sectional illustrations of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  taken along sectional lines  1 B- 1 B and  1 C- 1 C, respectively. 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates an exemplary odor control material. 
         FIGS. 1E and 1F  illustrate an exemplary absorbent pad in partial perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded perspective illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective and plan views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizing a gravity treat dispenser. 
         FIG. 4B  is a partial sectional view of an exemplary gravity treat dispenser in accordance with embodiments of the present invention taken along sectional line  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary gravity treat dispenser in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective illustrations of aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizing a sensor. 
         FIG. 5C  is a detail perspective illustration of portion  5 C of  FIG. 5B . 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G  are partial sectional illustrations of exemplary gravity treat dispensers in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizing an elevator treat dispenser. 
         FIG. 7C  is a partial sectional view of an exemplary elevator treat dispenser in accordance with embodiments of the present invention taken along sectional line  7 C- 7 C of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 7B  is an exploded partial perspective view of an exemplary elevator treat dispenser in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective illustration of an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizing a gravity auger treat dispenser. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective illustration of a detail of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 8C  is a reverse perspective partial cut away illustration of a detail of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a method of pet care in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C , a perspective view and cross-sectional views, respectively, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a pet waste station  1  including a turf surface  10  disposed upon a frame  9 . The frame  9  may include feet  4  having a non-skid floor-contacting material such as rubber to help waste station  1  stay put. Drawer  8  is illustrated partially drawn open. 
     A pet may eliminate upon turf surface layer  10 . Turf surface layer  10  is a liquid permeable non-absorbing layer through which urine may flow under the influence of gravity. Layer  10  may be an artificial turf mat such as a mat comprised of ASTROTURF brand artificial grass or, in one embodiment, a coil mat or filament loop mat (for this option, see detail  110  in  FIG. 2A  or mat  20  in  FIG. 2B ) comprised of non-absorbing materials, PVC or polyethylene, for example. With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , exploded perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, layer  10  may disposed upon a flow-through support structure  11 , such as a grid or grate. Optionally, layer  10  and grid  11  may be disconnectably connected to each other by way of fasteners such as screws  24  and hole  23 , thereby preventing the turf layer from being easily dislodged by a pet jumping on or off waste station  1 . In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2B , alternative detail  111 , grid  11  may include two or more integral posts  112  (only one shown) extending above the main grid. Posts  112  may be positioned near each corners of grid  11 . Mat  10  may be pushed down over posts  112  so the mat is seated on the grid  11  and engaged with posts  112 . 
     The combination of turf layer  10  and grid  11  may be disposed upon funnel and support member  13 . Funnel  13  is shaped so that there is a downward path on its floor from any point to opening  17 , located at the lowest point of the floor. Funnel  13  may include one or more pylons  15  for supporting, respectively, grid  11 , turf  10  and the pet (not shown). The surface of funnel  13  comprises a good hydro-coefficient material to route liquid most efficiently to opening  17 . Funnel  13  may comprise polypropylene; however, in some embodiments, the surface may be manufactured to minimize inherent hydrophobic-like surface characteristics. Such means of surface treatment may comprise selective manufactured texture zones or post-manufactured surface treatments such as by plasma. The combination of turf  10 , grid  11  and funnel  13  are disposed in frame  9  so that opening  17  is disposed over a drawer  8  in which an absorbent pad  21  may be disposed. 
     As a pet urinates on turf  10 , urine flows through turf  10  and grid  11  and flows down the funnel floor to opening  17  and onto absorbent pad  21  in drawer  8 . Once absorbent pad  21  is saturated, the pet care giver may withdraw drawer  8 , carry it to a waste receptacle, and turn out waste pad  21  into the waste receptacle without the care giver needing to touch or otherwise directly handle pad  21 . The care giver may then drop a new pad  21  into drawer  8  and replace drawer  8  in frame  9  so that it is once again disposed beneath opening  17 . In a preferred embodiment, drawers  2  may be used to store replacement pads  21  and other supplies (not illustrated). Drawers  2  are illustrated in their closed positions. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1E and 1F , in some embodiments, pad  21  comprises super absorbent polymer or cellulosic material  26  to absorb urine. Such material  26  may convert liquid into gel to lock in moisture. Pad  21  may further comprise a nonwoven porous fabric envelope  25  for encapsulating material  26 , and nonporous lining  22  on one side. Lining  22  may be dimensioned wider than envelope  25  so that when it is placed in drawer  8 , the pad compartment side walls and the floor are lined by lining  22 . Envelope  25  may be emboss adhered to lining  22  in a periodic or quilting pattern for increasing structural integrity of pad  21  and facilitating uniform distribution of material  26 . Pad  21  may also be a washable cloth insert. In the event that no pad is available, pet waste station  1  may still be used; drawer  8  can collect urine in the absence of a pad and once collected, the contents of drawer  8  may be emptied into a toilet or disposed in another suitable manner. 
     Solid waste deposited on turf  10  may be removed by conventional means (e.g., a scoop or bagged hand) or the turf  10 , grid  11  and funnel  13  assembly may be easily lifted from frame  9  in the area of lift gaps  6  by grasping funnel  13  from below its lip. The assembly may be carried to a location where solid waste is slid off into a waste receptacle. Additionally, turf  10 , grid  11  and funnel  13  may be easily removed for cleaning in a similar manner. 
     In one embodiment, pet waste station  1  includes a compartment  12  for holding odor control material  19  for deodorizing or air freshening. Such material  19  may be adsorptive material such as zeolite or activated charcoal. Other suitable material  19  may include off-gassing material such as fragrance impregnated paper-board, see, for example,  FIG. 1D , and gels. Once the effectiveness of material  19  has been exhausted, it may be removed from compartment  12 , discarded and replaced from fresh supplies. In one embodiment, compartment  12  may be integral to drawer  8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , perspective and plan views of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a drain channel and beam structure is substituted for funnel  13 . In this embodiment, turf  10  and optional grid  11 , not shown here, would be disposed on a plurality of beams  39  (although there are ten illustrated, reference lines are shown only to four to avoid a cluttered drawing). Beams  39  may comprise a ridge or other peak so that urine does not accumulate on the top of beams  39 . When a pet eliminates on the turf, urine would flow through turf  10  and into sloping channels  38  (although there are eleven illustrated, reference lines are shown only to four) which are sloped downward in the direction of openings  37  (although there are eleven illustrated, reference lines are shown only to four) so that urine flows down through channels  38  and through openings  37 . Openings  37  are disposed above drawer  8 , shown partially drawn open in  FIG. 3A  and closed in  FIG. 3B . As with the embodiments of  FIGS. 1A and 2A , an absorbent pad  21 , not shown here, may be disposed in drawer  8  to absorb and contain urine. Optional drawers  2  may contain supplies. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4A , an exemplary perspective illustration of an embodiment of the present invention, a gravity treat dispenser  44  may be included. When a pet urinates on pet waste station  1 , the pet may be rewarded with a treat dispensed from treat dispenser  44  onto treat platform  42 . Research shows that a pet will learn quicker if rewarded. As further illustrated in  FIG. 4B , a partial sectional view of exemplary gravity treat dispenser  44 , and  FIG. 4C , an exploded perspective view of exemplary gravity treat dispenser  44 , the dispenser  44  may include a bin  45  for holding a quantity of treats, not shown, covered by a cover  43 . Cover  43  may include features allowing it to be secured or locked to dispenser  44  to prevent pet infiltration into the treat cache. Battery  50  is used to power control circuitry  46  and dispenser actuator  51 . By virtue of gravity, treats in bin  45  flow down sloping bin floor  53  to chute  54 . Actuator  51  may drive push bar  55  to dispense the treat from the chute through optional cover  49  and opening  47  onto platform  42 . 
     Dispenser  44  may be detachable from base  41  which is attached to the frame  9  of pet waste station  1 . Base  41  may include electrical and mechanical interfaces  52 . In embodiments not shown, dispenser  44  may be remote from waste station  1 , provided it remains in communication with the sensing apparatus of waste station  1 , described below with reference to  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C . 
     In one embodiment, circuitry  46  may include a speaker whereby an audio snippet may be played to the pet upon successful use of waste station  1 . Multiple such audio snippets may be stored and might include, for example, the owner&#39;s voice praising the pet by name. In one embodiment, circuitry  46  includes a microphone and controls allowing the owner to record the snippets. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C , perspective illustrations are provided of an exemplary sensor configuration in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In  FIG. 5A , to simplify illustration, only prior components frame  9  and dispenser base  41  are shown. Attached to frame  9  is sensor  27  attached to beam  29 . Interface wire  31  runs from the sensor  27  to dispenser base  41 . In  FIG. 5B , funnel  13  is nested onto frame  9 . Funnel  13  includes pylons  15  and pylons  155 . The funnel  13  is configured to cause urine to flow in close proximity to sensor  27  which is disposed at opening  17 . Pylons  155  are configured to channel the flow to the active area(s) of sensor  27  and to provide space for beam  29  as shown in detail  5 C of  FIG. 5C . 
     In one embodiment, sensor  27  is a passive infrared detector configured to sense the heat of urine flowing nearby. In other embodiments, sensor  27  may include electrical leads which are open circuits in the absence of urine and conducting otherwise. The signal from sensor  27  is communicated to the circuitry  46  in dispenser  44  through wire  31  and interface connection  52 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6A through 6G , a number of alternative illustrative means for gravity feeder  44  are disclosed in cross sectional views of the bin  45 , chute  54  and floor  53 . In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6A , cam  56  vibrates the bin floor to cause treat  61  to move into chute  54 . In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6B , rotation chamber  62  admits and dispenses one treat per rotation. In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6C , flippers  57  force treat  61  to move into chute  54 . In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6D , a sliding door  58  modulates the flow of treats, not shown, into chute  54 . In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6E , flipping panels  59  modulate the flow of treats  61  into chute  54 . In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6F , spring-loaded traction wheels  60  modulate the flow of treats  61  into chute  54 . In some of the foregoing embodiments, ejector pin  63  is used to facilitating ejecting treat  61  onto dispenser platform  42 . In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6G , cam  56  vibrates the bin floor to cause treat  61  to move into chute  54 ; treats are modulated into elevator stage area  64  by constriction mechanism  65 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C , some embodiments of the present invention may include an elevator treat dispenser  71 . When a pet urinates on pet waste station  1 , the pet may be rewarded with a treat dispensed from treat dispenser  71  onto treat platform  77 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 7C , a partial sectional view of exemplary elevator treat dispenser  71 , and  FIG. 7B , an exploded partial perspective view of exemplary elevator treat dispenser  71 , the dispenser  71  may include a bin  73  for holding a quantity of treats, not shown, covered by a securable cover  72 . Battery  75  is used to power control circuitry  46  and dispenser actuator  76 . By virtue of gravity, treats in bin  73  will travel down sloping bin floor  78  to the base of elevator  74 . When actuated, elevator  74  will lower into the bin and under the pile of treats. As the elevator  74  rises out of the pile of treats, the cup shape of elevator  74  will retain one treat. Finally, the treat arrives through the opening in cover  72  onto platform  77 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8A , some embodiments of the present invention may include additional sensors. For example, drawer sensor  82  may be disposed and configured to sense when drawer  8  is not fully seated. In such a situation, the feeder circuit  46 , such as that in gravity auger treat dispenser  81 , is configured to disable feeding so as to prevent false dispensing by an inadvertent triggering of sensor  27 . Sensor  82  may comprise a contact switch, magnetic switch, or other position sensor known to those in the art. Also, embodiments of pet waste station  1  may include pet sensor  83 . Pet sensor  83  is disposed and configured to detect the presence of a pet on or near pet waste station  1 . Feeder circuit  46  may be configured to go into a low-power “sleep” mode when no pet is detected by pet sensor  83 . Pet sensor  83  may comprise a weight sensor, a mechanical movement or vibration detector such as an accelerometer, a passive infrared detector or other proximity detector known to those in the art. 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 8B and 8C , a front perspective view and a rear perspective partial cut-away view of exemplary gravity auger treat dispenser  81 , respectively, the dispenser  81  may include a bin  45  for holding a quantity of treats, not shown, covered by a securable cover  43 . Battery  50  is used to power control circuitry  46  and dispenser actuator  51 . By virtue of gravity, treats in bin  45  will travel down sloping bin floor  53  to auger  89 . When actuated, auger  89  rotates to advance one or more treats into chute  54 . In some embodiments, the end of chute  54  may include a lip (not illustrated) to prevent the treat from being deposited onto an undesired location. In some embodiments, some part of the outer wall of bin  45  may comprise transparent or translucent material permitting a pet owner to discern the quantity of treats in bin  45 . As with the gravity dispenser  44 , gravity auger dispenser  81  may be detachably attachable to the frame  9  of pet waste station  1 , or alternatively, not shown, remote from pet waste station  1 . 
     A feeder, such as feeder  81 , may include a circuit  46  for controlling the feeder according to user control and sensor input. For example a feeder may include control input  84  for controlling a feed mechanism such as actuator  51  and auger  89 . When control input  84  is actuated, the feed mechanism may be actuated in, for example, one-half turn increments, allowing the feeder to be “primed” such as when the bin  45  is initially loaded with treats. A feeder may also include a control input  85  for permitting control of the audio circuit, allowing, for example, a new recording to be made through microphone  86  or played back through speaker  87 . A feeder may also include indicator portion  88 . Indicator portion  88  may comprise one or more LEDs to indicate, among other things, power-on, low-power, low-battery, and dispensing. 
     While batteries  75  and  50  have been illustrated, the unit may also utilize power from an AC source. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , in accordance with other embodiments of the invention, there are provided certain methods for pet care. In such methods, there is a step  910  of providing a pet waste station, such as one described above, a step  920  of inserting an absorbent pad  21  into drawer  8 , and an optional step  930  of inserting odor control material  19  into compartment  12 . After the waste station has been used by a pet, there are steps  940  and  950  of disposing of saturated absorbent pad  21  and spent odor control material  19 , respectively. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.