Deodorizer/disinfectant fluid treatment system and litter liner for use therewith

Abstract

A system for containing a fluid disinfecting and treatment medium such as ozone or the like, the present invention incorporating the fluid associated with a liner for lining an area to be disinfected and treated. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention teaches a liner for use with such enclosures such as animal litter boxes or the like, and more particularly to a system for lining the container containing waste with an absorption medium, utilizing said liner configured to provide a fluid throughout said absorption medium to disinfect and renew. A complimentary system to the present invention teaches a deodorization, disinfectant, treatment bin for treating litter infused with animal waste, which treatment bin includes a treatment area utilizing ozone to contain and treat the contaminated litter, rendering same re-useable. The system of the present invention further contemplates an ozone generator having a timer circuit for providing a flow of ozone to the apparatus of the present invention, the ozone generator further contemplating as exemplary features a timer apparatus for providing optimal treatment, as well as a proximity sensor system for sensing the presence of an animal in the litter area, for controlling the ozone generator.

1 . A liner for containing an absorbent, comprising: 
 a conduit for receiving and diffusing a treatment fluid;    whereby, initiating a flow of a treatment fluid through said conduit, said treatment fluid is contained by said liner and infused into said absorbent, so as to treat said absorbent.    
   
   
       2 . The liner of  claim 1 , wherein said liner comprises a layer of film, and wherein said conduit comprises a second layer of film having edges, said edges affixed to said first layer of film, to form a passageway for said treatment fluid.  
   
   
       3 . The liner of  claim 2 , wherein said second layer of film has a plurality of apertures formed there through for the passage of said treatment fluid.  
   
   
       4 . The liner of  claim 3 , wherein there is further provided a treatment fluid source, and wherein said conduit having first and second ends, said first end associated with said treatment fluid source, and said second end associated with said liner.  
   
   
       5 . The liner of  claim 4 , wherein said treatment fluid source comprises an ozone generator.  
   
   
       6 . The liner of  claim 5 , wherein said absorbent comprises cat litter.  
   
   
       7 . The liner of  claim 5 , wherein said ozone generator further comprises sensor means to sense the presence of an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent, said ozone generator programmed to be initiated after detecting an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent.  
   
   
       8 . The liner of  claim 4 , wherein said film comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       9 . The liner of  claim 8 , wherein said film comprises high density polypropylene thermoplastic film.  
   
   
       10 . The liner of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit comprises a tube having a length associated with said liner, said tube having apertures formed along its length to allow the passage of treatment fluid there through.  
   
   
       11 . The liner of  claim 10 , wherein said tube is affixed to said liner.  
   
   
       12 . The liner of  claim 11 , wherein there is further provided a treatment fluid source, and wherein said conduit has first and second ends, said first end associated with said treatment fluid source, and said second end is associated with said diffuser.  
   
   
       13 . The liner of  claim 12 , wherein said treatment fluid source comprises an ozone generator.  
   
   
       14 . The liner of  claim 13 , wherein said absorbent comprises cat litter.  
   
   
       15 . The liner of  claim 14 , wherein said ozone generator further comprises sensor means to sense the presence of an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent, said ozone generator programmed to be initiated after detecting an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent.  
   
   
       16 . The liner of  claim 15 , wherein said film comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       17 . The liner of  claim 16 , wherein said film comprises high density polypropylene thermoplastic film.  
   
   
       18 . A system for deodorizing odorous material, comprising: 
 a liner formed to contain said odorous material, said liner further comprising: 
 a diffuser associated with said liner, said diffuser formed to receive a flow of deodorizing fluid;  
   whereby, upon flowing deodorizing fluid to said diffuser, said deodorizing fluid is diffused into said odorous material, permeating same.    
   
   
       19 . The liner of  claim 18 , wherein said liner comprises a layer of film, and wherein said diffuser comprises a second layer of film having edges, said edges affixed to said first layer of film, said second layer of film being permeable to said deodorizing fluid.  
   
   
       20 . The liner of  claim 19 , wherein said second layer of film has a plurality of apertures formed there through for the passage of said deodorizing fluid.  
   
   
       21 . The liner of  claim 20 , wherein there is further provided a treatment fluid source, and wherein there is further provided a conduit having first and second ends, said first end associated with said deodorizing fluid source, and said second end is associated with said diffuser.  
   
   
       22 . The liner of  claim 21 , wherein said treatment fluid source comprises an ozone generator.  
   
   
       23 . The liner of  claim 22 , wherein said odorous material comprises waste infused cat litter.  
   
   
       24 . The liner of  claim 23 , wherein said ozone generator further comprises sensor means to sense the presence of an animal in the vicinity of said odorous material, said ozone generator programmed to be initiated after detecting an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent.  
   
   
       25 . The liner of  claim 24 , wherein said film comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       26 . The liner of  claim 25 , wherein said film comprises high density polypropylene thermoplastic film.  
   
   
       27 . A tray containing litter, comprising: 
 a fluid diffuser situated under said litter;    a source of deodorizing fluid;    whereby, upon flowing deodorizing fluid to said diffuser, said deodorizing fluid is diffused into said litter and contained by said tray such that said deodorizing fluid permeates said said litter, deodorizing same.    
   
   
       28 . The liner of  claim 27 , wherein said diffuser comprises a is formed of film.  
   
   
       29 . The liner of  claim 27 , wherein said film has formed there through a plurality of apertures for the passage of said deodorizing fluid.  
   
   
       30 . The liner of  claim 28 , wherein said diffuser comprises a conduit having first and second ends, said first end associated with said source of deodorizing fluid, and said second end situated in contact with said litter.  
   
   
       31 . The liner of  claim 30 , wherein said source of deodorizing fluid comprises an ozone generator.  
   
   
       32 . The liner of  claim 31 , wherein said litter comprises cat litter.  
   
   
       33 . The liner of  claim 32 , wherein said ozone generator further comprises sensor means to sense the presence of an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent, said ozone generator programmed to initiate deodorizing fluid flow after detecting an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent.  
   
   
       34 . The liner of  claim 33 , wherein said film comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       35 . The liner of  claim 34 , wherein said film comprises high density polypropylene thermoplastic film.  
   
   
       36 . The liner of  claim 27 , wherein said diffuser comprises a tube having a length associated with said liner, said tube having apertures formed along its length to allow the passage of treatment fluid there through.  
   
   
       37 . The liner of  claim 36 , wherein said source of deodorizing fluid comprises an ozone generator, and wherein there is further provided a conduit having first and second ends, said first end associated with said ozone generator, and said second end is associated with said diffuser.  
   
   
       38 . The liner of  claim 37 , wherein said ozone generator further comprises sensor means to sense the presence of an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent, said ozone generator programmed to be initiated after detecting an animal in the vicinity of said absorbent.  
   
   
       39 . The method of utilizing an animal litter box, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a liner having a conduit formed thereupon having first and second ends;    b. placing said liner in said litter box;    c. covering said second end of said conduit with absorbent litter;    d. allowing an animal to deposit waste upon said absorbent litter;    e. initiating a flow of treatment fluid through said conduit;    f. dispersing said treatment fluid into said absorbent litter through said second end of said hose;    g. repeating steps c-e.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the treatment fluid comprises an ozone.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein at the beginning of step “e” there is further provided the step of sensing when the animal has left the vicinity of said litter box.  
   
   
       42 . The method of treating material, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a container;    b. placing a diffuser in said container;    c. placing a quantity of material in said container;    d. initiating a flow of treatment fluid to said diffuser;    e. allowing said flow of treatment fluid to pass through said diffuser into said material;    f. infusing said treatment fluid into said material.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said treatment fluid comprises ozone.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said material comprises animal waste.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said material further comprises absorbent litter.  
   
   
       46 . An ozone generator, comprising: 
 sensing means for sensing movement within a defined field;    timing means for selectively actuating the flow of ozone for a predetermined period of time;    said sensing means actuating said timing means so as to flow ozone for a predetermined period of time after sensing movement within said defined field.    
   
   
       47 . The method of deodorizing a tray containing litter, comprising the steps of: 
 a. placing a hose in said litter;    b. providing a source of deodorizing gas;    c. sensing the presence of an animal in the vicinity of said tray;    d. sensing the absence of an animal in the vicinity of said tray;    e. initiating the flow of deodorizing gas to said hose;    f. allowing said hose to substantially fill said tray, contacting said deodorizing gas with said litter;    g. repeating steps c-f.    
   
   
       48 . The method of treating a litter box containing litter, comprising the steps of 
 a. placing a diffuser in said litter;    b. flowing a treatment fluid to said diffuser;    c. allowing said diffuser to diffuse said treatment fluid into said litter.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said treatment fluid comprises a gas.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said gas comprises ozone.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein after step “a” there is further provided the step “a1” of allowing an animal to deposit waste into said litter.  
   
   
       52 . The method of treating animal waste, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a litter container comprising a diffuser;    b. placing litter upon said diffuser;    c. allowing an animal to deposit waste upon said litter;    d. flowing a treatment fluid through said diffuser into said litter.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said treatment fluid is a gas.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said gas is ozone.  
   
   
       55 . The method of collecting animal waste, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a liner having a diffuser;    b. placing a quantity of absorbent litter upon said diffuser;    c. allowing an animal to deposit waste upon said absorbent litter, providing contaminated litter;    d. flowing treatment fluid through said diffuser, into said contaminated litter.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said treatment fluid is a gas.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said gas is ozone.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein there is further provided after step “d” the additional step “e” of disposing said contaminated litter in said liner.  
   
   
       59 . A bin for recycling contaminated absorbent litter, comprising: 
 a first bin having a diffuser;    a second bin having a container;    a removable partition situated between said first and second bins;    whereby, upon the placement of contaminated litter into said bin and the flow of treatment fluid to said diffuser, said contaminated litter is infused with said treatment fluid, treating same, so as to provide treated litter; and whereby, upon removal of said removable partition, said treated litter is deposited into a container for recycling.    
   
   
       60 . The method of recycling contaminated litter, comprising the steps of: 
 a. placing the contaminated litter into a bin having a diffuser;    b. flowing ozone into said litter so as to be contained by said bin, providing contained ozone;    c. allowing the contained ozone to infuse the contaminated litter, providing treated litter;    d. removing the treated litter from the bin;    e. utilizing the treated litter.