Patent Description:
A traditional cat litter box is a shallow box-shaped device with an opening on the top, and cat litter is placed in it. The cat can excrete inside the box after entering the litter box.

These open litter boxes have several disadvantages: first, they offer little ability to absorb or control smells from animal waste, and for this reason, these types of litter boxes are often placed further away from the living room; The cat litter box requires the breeder to regularly remove animal excrement, change the cat litter from time to time, and clean the cat litter box occasionally; thirdly, due to the cat's own habits, it likes to dig, kick or otherwise spread cat litter in the cat box. It is common for large amounts of litter or excrement to be kicked out of the litter box; and, because the low sides of the litter box cannot block the cat, depending on the individual cat's habits, the cat will sometimes "stagger the litter box" and get in the litter box. The outer edges of the cat's claws are covered with excrements; in addition, the bottom of the cat's claws will bring out a large amount of cat litter from the litter box.

All these shortcomings will lead to frequent cleaning of the cat litter box and the surrounding ground, which requires a lot of time from the owners. At the same time, if the pet excrement is not processed in time, the smell it emits will seriously affect the indoor air environment, which will bring a lot of inconvenience to the daily life of the breeders.

Some cat litter boxes on the market are able to deal with or circumvent some of these problems: for example, some litter boxes include higher side walls and tops and have openings at one or either end to allow cats to enter and exit the box. In addition, some litter boxes contain deodorant materials to help mask the smell from animal waste; new cat litter technology has also developed "clumping" cat litter, which forms clumps around the excreted liquid and makes it easier for the breeder to clean it out.

While the litter boxes and new cat litters described above address some of the issues discussed above, they do not solve them all.

<CIT> discloses a cat excrement cleaning device and method. The cat excrement cleaning device includes a rotating accommodating member and a sand screening assembly. The rotating accommodating member is used to accommodate cat litter; the sand screening assembly is arranged in the rotating accommodating member. The sand screening assembly includes a first sand screening member and a second sand screening member. The first sand screening member can overlap with the second sand screening member to form a sand loading trough, or be closed to form a sand screening cavity, thereby completing the screening of cat excrement.

However, there is still room for improvement, and even though the above-mentioned device known from <CIT> realizes automatic cleaning of cat excrement, the cat excrement is not isolated from the surrounding environment, so the unpleasant smell can still be emitted into the surrounding environment.

<CIT> discloses a cat litter box with rotatable floorboards for disposing cat excrement. <CIT> and <CIT> discloses a cat litter box with a rotatable cylinder in which the litter is placed.

<CIT> discloses a self-cleaning cat litter box including a rotatable chamber having a first opening with a closing member defined in its outer surface for animals to enter and exit, a second opening with a screen and a third opening, both also defined in its outer surface.

<CIT> discloses a garbage collection device for processing animal feces.

The garbage collection device includes a device base including a container and a chamber located on the base, the chamber being rotatable about a rotation axis. When the chamber is in the first position, the chamber opening can serve as an entrance for animals to enter the chamber for excreting animal waste, and when the chamber is in the second position, the chamber opening can serve as a trash opening for dumping animal waste into a container middle. However, cat excrement is not isolated from the surrounding environment, especially connected to the cat litter box, so the smell of cat excrement still affects the indoor air environment and becomes increasingly pungent over time.

In order to achieve the above and other purposes, and according to the purpose of the present application, the present invention provides a self-cleaning cat litter box according to claim <NUM>. The self-cleaning cat litter box removes cat excrement and smell through an improved separation and processing method. Cat waste and smells are eliminated and do not pose a danger to pets.

The self-cleaning cat litter box includes a rotatable chamber that can rotate around a rotation axis, and the rotatable chamber is used to accommodate cat litter. The rotatable chamber has a first opening limited on the outer wall of the chamber and suitable for animals to enter and exit, and a closing member disposed on the first opening. The first opening is suitable for animals to enter and exit, and the closing member is used to at least partially close the first opening. The closing member may be a sliding door, and the closing member at least partially closes the first opening by sliding. Preferably, the closing member, the sliding door, includes at least one slidable door leaf and a slide rail for sliding the door leaf. Alternatively, the closing member, the sliding door, includes two door leaves. When the two door leaves slide toward each other, the two door leaves close the rotatable chamber through snapping; the edges of the door leaves are smooth and gentle to avoid scratching or pinching animals; the slide rails are also provided with rubber strips so that the door leaves slide along the slide rails, and the rubber strips are in close contact with the door leaves, so that the rubber strips always cover all the doors. The sliding rail; the sliding door has good sealing performance after sliding and closing the first opening, so as to reduce the leakage of smell as much as possible.

The advantage of a sliding door design is, first of all, ease of use: a sliding door design is easier to open and close than other types of hinged doors, especially if the door leaf is lightweight and the slide rails are smooth and well-lubricated.

This can be particularly useful if the door opens and closes frequently, or if it needs to be opened and closed quickly in an emergency.

The second is durability: a sliding door design may be more durable and long-lasting than other types of doors, especially if the door leaves and slides are made of sturdy materials and are well maintained. This may be important if the door gets yellowed from heavy use or from pets.

The third is space savings: Sliding door designs may take up less space than other door types, especially if the door leaf slides along the outside of the cavity rather than swinging open. This can be useful if space is limited, or if the door needs to be placed in a location where it will be blocked by other objects when opening.

Fourth is customizability: Sliding door designs may be easier to customize or modify than other types of doors. For example, door leaves and rails can be made in different sizes or shapes to meet the specific needs of the application, and additional features such as lockable handles or windows can be added to the door as needed.

The rotatable chamber has a second opening defined in its outer surface, the second opening can selectively process and pass waste materials therethrough, and the rotatable chamber can open or close the second opening by rotation.

The rotatable chamber includes a screen connected to the second opening to screen out objects larger than a predetermined size, including cat waste.

The rotatable chamber has a third opening for intake of air fluid and a fourth opening for exhaust of air fluid defined in its outer surface.

The third opening is provided with a ventilation fan, and the air outlet is directed toward the rotatable chamber along the third opening.

The self-cleaning cat litter box also includes an excrement collection bin. When the screen discharges the cat excrement through the second opening, the excrement collection bin is in fluid connection with the second opening.

The self-cleaning cat litter box also includes a support base for supporting the entire device. The support base includes an elastic valve. When the screen discharges the cat excrement through the second opening, the elastic valve cuts off the air flow between the excrement collection bin and the second opening.

The self-cleaning cat litter box also includes an integrated sensor. The integrated sensor is used to detect the presence or absence of an animal; when an animal is detected to move in front of the self-cleaning cat litter box, it can provide illumination in low light conditions; and to the microprocessor inside the integrated sensor provides one or more presence signals; the microprocessor controller inside the integrated sensor can process the sensor signals and start different defined programs according to different signals.

Optionally, the integrated sensor is a combination of a weight sensor, a thermal imaging sensor, a light sensor, an LED lighting lamp, and a microprocessor controller.

The weight sensor is used to detect the presence or absence of animals in the automatic cleaning cat litter box; the thermal imaging sensor is used to detect whether animals move in front of the automatic cleaning cat litter box; the light sensor is used to detect the ambient light brightness ; The LED lighting uses signal feedback from the light sensor to determine whether to turn on for lighting; the microprocessor controller is used to process the sensor signal and start different setting programs according to different signals.

The integrated sensor is at least one of a weight sensor, a microwave radar, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera, a thermal imaging sensor, a light sensor, a millimetre wave radar, a laser sensor, an LED lighting, a microprocessor controller, or two of them. A combination thereof is also possible.

The self-cleaning cat litter box also includes a bottom housing connected to the rotatable chamber. Optionally, the self-cleaning cat litter box also includes a top housing and a bottom housing, wherein a garbage bag storage box is provided on the side of the bottom housing for storing garbage bags.

Optionally, an exhaust pipe is provided at the rear end of the bottom housing, and the exhaust pipe is connected to the fourth opening through an internal hose.

Steps to remove cat waste and smell include:.

The application provides a method for removing cat excrement and smell from cat litter, including a self-cleaning cat litter box.

The cat litter is placed in the rotatable chamber of the device. When the cat discharges its excrement into the cat litter and exits the rotatable chamber, the cat litter containing the excrement is screened and cleaned through various components.

Specifically: the rotatable chamber is closed, and then the rotatable chamber is rotated in the first direction from the initial position, driving the screen to screen out the cat excrement and transfer it to the excrement collection bin by gravity; and then the rotatable chamber is rotated in the first direction. The chamber rotates and resets in the direction opposite to the first direction, and finally, under the action of the ventilation fan, the smell is discharged through the two ventilation openings.

The beneficial effects of the application are: the device has a simple structure, is easy to operate, has a high degree of automation, is environmentally friendly and hygienic, can provide a good clean defecation place for pet cats, and realizes the effect of self-cleaning pet cat feces.

The application does not require regular replacement of cat litter, avoids waste in the use of cat litter, does not require manual sand shoveling and sand discharge, and can provide breeders with a convenient breeding experience.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood by studying the invention by way of non-limiting examples and by a detailed description of specific embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which the same component symbols represent the same components. The principle of the present invention is illustrated by an example of implementation in an appropriate environment.

The following description is based on the illustrated specific embodiments of the present invention, and should not be regarded as limiting other specific embodiments of the present invention that are not described in detail here.

The word "embodiment" as used in this specification is meant to serve as an example, example, or illustration.

Furthermore, the article "a" or "an" as used in this specification and the appended claims may generally be construed to mean "one or more" unless otherwise specified or the context clearly dictates a singular form.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", The directions indicated by "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" etc. Or the positional relationship is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed in a specific orientation, and operation, therefore it cannot be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

In the present description, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly stipulated and limited, the terms "set", "connected" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection or a removable connection. Detachable connection, or integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection or mutual communication; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be an internal connection between two elements or a mutual communication between two elements functional relationship.

For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

In addition, unless otherwise expressly provided and limited, "above" or "below" a first feature to a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact. Rather, it is through additional characteristic contact between them.

Furthermore, the term "above" the first feature on the second feature include that the first feature is directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature.

"Below", "under" and "beneath" the first feature is the second feature includes the first feature being directly below and diagonally below the second feature, or means that the first feature is less horizontally than the second feature.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the present invention. In order to simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and arrangements of specific examples are described below. Of course, they are only examples and are not intended to limit the invention.

Furthermore, the present invention may repeat reference numbers and/or reference letters in different examples, such repetition being for purposes of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or arrangements discussed.

In addition, the present invention provides examples of various specific processes and materials, but those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize the application of other processes and/or the use of other materials.

This embodiment provides an automatic cleaning cat litter box. With reference to <FIG>, the automatic cleaning cat litter box includes a rotatable chamber <NUM>, and the chamber <NUM> can rotate around the rotation axis. The rotatable chamber <NUM> is used to contain cat litter.

A top housing <NUM> is used to cover the rotatable chamber <NUM> and a bottom housing <NUM> is used to support the rotatable chamber <NUM>. The rotatable chamber <NUM> has the first opening <NUM> defined in its outer surface and the closing member <NUM> provided on said first opening <NUM>, said first opening <NUM> being suitable for entry and exit of an animal. The closing member <NUM> is used to close the first opening <NUM>.

The closing member <NUM> is a sliding door. T
<NUM>+he sliding door includes two sliding door leaves <NUM> and <NUM>, a slide rail <NUM> for sliding the door leaves <NUM> and <NUM>, and a sliding rail for driving the door leaves <NUM> and <NUM> to slide by action of a motor <NUM>.

The closing member <NUM>, the sliding door, includes two sliding door leaves <NUM>, <NUM> and a slide rail <NUM> for sliding the door leaves.

As shown in <FIG>, when the motor <NUM> drives the two door leaves <NUM> and <NUM> to slide toward each other, the two door leaves close the rotatable chamber <NUM> through snap connection, as shown in <FIG>. The edges of the door leaves are smooth and gentle to avoid scratching or pinching animals; the slide rails are also provided with rubber strips to allow the door leaves to slide along the slide rails, and the rubber strips are in close contact with the door leaves, thereby allowing the door leaves to slide. The rubber strip always covers the slide rail; the sliding door has good sealing performance after sliding and closing the first opening <NUM>, so as to reduce the leakage of smell as much as possible.

The rotatable chamber <NUM> has the second opening <NUM> defined in its outer surface, and the rotatable chamber <NUM> opens or closes the second opening <NUM> by rotation in order to selectively process the waste material passing therethrough.

The screen <NUM> is connected to the second opening <NUM> to screen out objects larger than a predetermined size, including cat excrement.

The rotatable chamber <NUM> has the third opening <NUM> and the fourth opening <NUM> defined in its outer surface; the third opening <NUM> is for sucking in air fluid and the fourth opening <NUM> is for the exit of air fluid.

When the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM> are closed, the third opening <NUM> sucks in air fluid, and the fourth opening <NUM> discharges the air fluid, so that the air in the rotatable chamber <NUM> smells are removed.

Alternatively, the closing member <NUM> is a sliding door, and the closing member <NUM> closes the first opening <NUM> by sliding.

The third opening <NUM> is provided with a ventilation fan, and the air outlet is directed along the third opening <NUM> into the rotatable chamber <NUM> to fluidly transmit external fresh air into the rotatable chamber <NUM>.

The automatic cleaning cat litter box also includes the excrement collection bin <NUM>. When the screen <NUM> discharges the cat excrement through the second opening <NUM>, the excrement collection bin <NUM> and the second opening <NUM> are in air fluid communication.

The self-cleaning cat litter box also includes the support base <NUM> for supporting the entire device.

The support seat <NUM> includes an elastic valve <NUM>. When the screen <NUM> discharges the cat excrement through the second opening <NUM>, the elastic valve cuts off the excrement collection bin <NUM> from the second opening <NUM>.

A method for removing cat excrement and smells from cat litter is provided, comprising the following steps. After the integrated sensor <NUM> detects that the cat leaves the rotatable chamber <NUM>, the cleaning procedure is started:
S1. The closing member <NUM> closes the first opening <NUM>.

The closing member <NUM> is a sliding door, and the closing member <NUM> closes the first opening <NUM> by sliding.

The closing member <NUM> is a sliding door and includes two slidable door leaves <NUM> and <NUM> and a slide rail <NUM> for sliding the door leaves.

The motor <NUM> drives the two door leaves <NUM> and <NUM> to slide toward each other, and the two door leaves close the rotatable chamber <NUM> through snap connection.

The edges of the door leaf are smooth and gentle to avoid scratching or pinching animals.

A rubber strip is also provided on the slide rail, so that the door leaf slides along the slide rail, and the rubber strip is in close contact with the door leaf, so that the rubber strip always covers the slide rail.

The sliding door has good sealing performance after sliding and closing the first opening <NUM>, so as to reduce the leakage of smell as much as possible.

The rotatable chamber <NUM> rotates in a first direction from the initial position, and the cat litter containing cat excrement is loaded into the screen <NUM>. Under the rotation of the rotatable chamber <NUM>, the elastic valve <NUM> included in the support base <NUM> opens, and the second opening <NUM> opens. The excrement collection bin <NUM> is in air fluid communication with the second opening <NUM>.

The screen <NUM> sifts out the cat litter under the rotation of the rotatable chamber <NUM> and discharges cat excrement to the excrement ,collection bin through the second opening <NUM> under the action of gravity.

The rotatable chamber <NUM> rotates at a sufficient angle with in the first direction and then stops rotating. The rotatable chamber <NUM> rotates at the same angle in the direction opposite to the first direction, and the screen returns the cat litter, and at the same time, the elastic valve <NUM> contained in the support base <NUM> is closed under the reverse rotation of the rotatable chamber <NUM>, and the second opening <NUM> is closed. The elastic valve <NUM> cuts off the air fluid communication between the excrement collection bin <NUM> and the second opening <NUM>.

The air fluid enters the rotatable chamber <NUM> through the third opening <NUM>, and the air fluid in the rotatable chamber <NUM> is discharged through the fourth opening <NUM>.

Finally, the closing member <NUM> on the first opening <NUM> is reopened.

In this embodiment, in the first aspect, the rotatable chamber <NUM> is formed into a relatively closed space by closing the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM>, so that air circulation is performed, and cat excretion is removed. During the process of removing excrements and smells, the rotatable chamber <NUM> is relatively isolated from the user's indoor space to prevent smells and dust in the cat litter from spreading into the user's indoor space.

Secondly, during the process of cleaning up cat excrement and smell, the rotatable chamber <NUM> remains sealed at all times to prevent pets from entering the running rotatable chamber <NUM> and causing potential safety hazards.

Thirdly, during the entire cleaning process of removing cat excrement and smell from cat litter, the rotatable chamber <NUM> maintains a relatively closed space, reducing air circulation and cat litter rolling friction noise, thereby providing pets with a more quiet space.

The invention has been described with respect to one or more embodiments. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, various modifications may be made and components thereof may be replaced by equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, various features in the various embodiments disclosed in the present invention can be combined with each other in any way. There is no exhaustive description of these combinations in this specification. For the sake of omitting space and saving resources.

Claim 1:
Self-cleaning cat litter box including:
• a rotatable chamber (<NUM>) for containing cat litter, the rotatable chamber (<NUM>) having a first opening (<NUM>) defined in its outer surface and a closing member (<NUM>) disposed on the first opening (<NUM>), the first opening being (<NUM>) suitable for animals to enter and exit, the closing member (<NUM>) being a sliding door, the sliding door being driven to slide by a motor (<NUM>) and being used to at least partially close the first opening (<NUM>), the rotatable chamber (<NUM>) having a second opening (<NUM>) defined in its outer surface, in order to selectively process waste materials passing therethrough, wherein the rotatable chamber (<NUM>) is configured to open or close the second opening (<NUM>) by rotating;
• a screen (<NUM>) connected to the second opening (<NUM>) to screen out objects larger than a predetermined size, including cat excrement;
wherein the rotatable chamber (<NUM>) has a third opening (<NUM>) and a fourth opening (<NUM>) defined in its outer surface, the third opening (<NUM>) being provided with a ventilation fan and being for the intake of air and the fourth opening being for the exhaust of air, wherein the self-cleaning cat litter box is configured such that when the first opening (<NUM>) and the second opening (<NUM>) are closed, air is inhaled through the third opening (<NUM>) and discharged through the fourth opening, so that smells in the rotatable chamber (<NUM>) are removed.