Animal toilet

Abstract

Animal toilets presently do not have an automated method of cleaning the toileting surface and disposing of wastes. The animal toilet disclosed herein is equipped with a permeable toileting surface, a catchment surface underlying the toileting surface to collect and channel liquids, and a drain. The toileting surface may be equipped with a rinsing element to rinse wastes from the toileting and catchment surfaces. The drain may be further equipped with tubing to convey the liquids to a convenient disposal location. The animal toilet may be equipped with a moving toileting surface, which results in improved rinsing, and potential solid waste collection. In all embodiments, absorbent material may be used in place of permeable material for the toileting surface, which may not require any rinsing. The solid waste disposal may be automated through the use of rinse water and disposal tubing routed to the proper disposal location.

1 . An animal toileting device, comprising:
 a platform;   a flat catchment surface supported by the platform;   a lip that at least partially surrounds the catchment surface;   a permeable toileting surface atop the catchment surface;   a fitting for a water connection, which fitting is connected with plumbing;   a sprinkler head connected with the plumbing, which directs water onto the toileting surface;   a drain opening located in the catchment surface;   a plurality of widely-spaced drainage channels inset in the catchment surface that slope downward to the drain opening; and   a disposal tube adapted to fit the drain opening.   
   
   
       2 . The animal toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator element that provides water to the sprinkler head.   
   
   
       3 . An animal toileting device, comprising:
 a platform;   a catchment surface supported by the platform;   a rinsing element;   a drain opening located in the catchment surface; and   a collection element to collect material draining through the drain opening.   
   
   
       4 . The animal toileting device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a permeable toileting surface atop the catchment surface, wherein the rinsing element directs rinsing liquid to the toileting surface.   
   
   
       5 . The animal toileting device of  claim 3 , wherein the rinsing element comprises:
 a fitting for a water source, which fitting is connected with plumbing underneath the catchment surface, and   a sprinkler head connected with the plumbing, wherein the sprinkler head penetrates the catchment surface.   
   
   
       6 . The animal toileting device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a targeting element.   
   
   
       7 . The animal toileting device of  claim 3 , wherein the collection element comprises:
 a disposal tube adapted to fit the drain.   
   
   
       8 . The animal toileting device of  claim 3 , wherein the platform further comprises:
 substantially vertical surfaces,   a lip that at least partially surrounds the catchment surface, and draft angles on the substantially vertical surfaces.   
   
   
       9 . The animal toileting device of  claim 4 , wherein the catchment surface has a plurality of widely-spaced drainage channels that slope down toward the drain. 
   
   
       10 . An animal toileting device, comprising:
 a platform,   a support surface connected with the platform, said support surface having a top, a bottom, and two ends,   a toileting surface that substantially covers the support surface and extends beyond the ends of the support surface,   a first roller to engage the toileting surface, and   a drive element connected with the roller to turn the roller and move the toileting surface over the top of the support surface.   
   
   
       11 . The animal toileting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a rinsing element to distribute rinsing liquid onto the toileting surface, and   a catchment surface that substantially underlies the support surface, wherein the toileting surface is a continuous loop of material that wraps around the top and bottom of the support surface and the roller.   
   
   
       12 . The animal toileting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a drain in the catchment surface, and   a collection element for the drain, wherein the rinsing element is a spray nozzle directed at the toileting surface.   
   
   
       13 . The animal toileting device of  claim 12 , wherein the collection element is disposal tube connected with the drain. 
   
   
       14 . The animal toileting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an actuator element that triggers the drive element to turn the first roller and move the toileting surface.   
   
   
       15 . The animal toileting device of  claim 11 , further comprising a sanitizing element of one or more items selected from a group consisting of:
 a. UV light,   b. steam,   c. disinfecting liquid, and   d. heat.   
   
   
       16 . The animal toileting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second roller, wherein the second roller holds a spool of toileting surface comprised of an absorbent material, and the first roller acts as a takeup reel for the toileting surface.   
   
   
       17 . The animal toileting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a solid waste collection element.   
   
   
       18 . The animal toileting device of  claim 17 , wherein the solid waste collection element comprises:
 a collection surface with a first edge, said first edge located proximate to the width of the toileting surface, and   a solid waste container located at the termination of the collection surface.   
   
   
       19 . The animal toileting device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a water source that drains into the solid waste container,   a drain opening in the solid waste container, and   a disposal tube connected with the drain opening.   
   
   
       20 . The animal toileting device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a rinsing element to distribute rinsing liquid onto the toileting surface, and   a catchment surface that substantially underlies the support surface, wherein the toileting surface is a continuous loop of material that wraps around the top and bottom of the support surface and the roller, and wherein the catchment surface drains towards the solid waste container.   
   
   
       21 . The animal toileting device of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a disposer for chopping up solid waste prior to discharge into the disposal tube.   
   
   
       22 . The animal toileting device of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a lift element.