U.S. patent application number 10/739849 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for liquid-absorbing sheet for animal litter box.
Invention is credited to Ikegami, Takeshi, Matsuo, Takayuki.
Application Number | 20040255869 10/739849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33475456 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040255869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsuo, Takayuki ; et
al. |
December 23, 2004 |
Liquid-absorbing sheet for animal litter box
Abstract
An animal litter box system that can be used for a long time
about 3 to 10 days and can prevent the occurrence of undesirable
odors is to be provided, particularly to provide a liquid-absorbing
sheet used for the animal litter box system. A liquid-absorbing
sheet used for an animal litter box is characterized by comprising
an antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part having both an
antimicrobial property and a bacteriostatic property; or both of an
antimicrobial part having an antimicrobial property and a
bacteriostatic part having a bacteriostatic property.
Inventors: |
Matsuo, Takayuki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ikegami, Takeshi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUTZEL LONG
350 SOUTH MAIN STREET
SUITE 300
ANN ARBOR
MI
48104
US
|
Family ID: |
33475456 |
Appl. No.: |
10/739849 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/170 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 1/0107
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/170 |
International
Class: |
A01K 029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2003 |
JP |
2003-177383 |
Claims
1. An animal litter box comprising: a granular material container
having an opening for an animal going in and out, and a liquid
passing bottom part on which granular materials are dispersed; and
a liquid-absorbing sheet holder placed under the bottom part of the
granular material container on which a liquid-absorbing sheet is
placed, wherein the bottom part of the granular material container
has a liquid leading part formed by connected arches on a side
facing the liquid-absorbing sheet.
2. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
part is grid ironed having a plurality of opening parts, and the
opening part has dimensions smaller than those of the granular
material.
3. The animal litter box according to claim 2, wherein an open area
ratio of the opening of the bottom part occupied by the opening
parts is 25 to 50% of an area of the bottom part.
4. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
part is detachable from the granular material container.
5. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the
liquid-absorbing sheet has an area greater than that of the bottom
part of the granular material container.
6. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the
liquid-absorbing sheet holder is loadably incorporated under the
bottom part of the granular material container.
7. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the animal
litter box has a drawer structure that can house a drawer body, and
the liquid-absorbing sheet holder is the drawer body.
8. The animal litter box according to claim 7, wherein the animal
litter box has a drawer structure that can house a drawer body, and
the liquid-absorbing sheet holder is the drawer body.
9. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the animal
litter box has a cover for controlling a direction of an animal
going in and out mounted detachably.
10. The animal litter box according to claim 9, wherein a granular
material dropper is detachably disposed at a position facing an
opening of the cover in the animal litter box.
11. The animal litter box according to claim 10, wherein the
granular material dropper includes a granular material removing
member having a mesh top plate, and a granular material recovery
container disposed under the granular material removing member.
12. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the
granular materials has a liquid absorptive capacity wherein a
maximum absorbable amount of liquid absorbed by each of the
granular materials is 0.3 to 4.0 times as much as its own weight
and an amount of liquid absorbed by each of the granular materials
per three second is 20 to 70% of the maximum absorbable amount of
liquid absorbed by each of the granular materials and has a liquid
passing ratio of a mass of the granular materials is 70% or
more.
13. The animal litter box according to claim 1, wherein the
liquid-absorbing sheet has an antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part
having both an antimicrobial property and a bacteriostatic
property, or both of an antimicrobial part having an antimicrobial
property and a bacteriostatic part having a bacteriostatic
property.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a liquid-absorbing sheet
used for an animal litter box.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] For an animal litter box used by pets such as cats kept in
rooms to evacuate urine or feces in a room, a product described in
Japanese un-examined patent publication JP-10-229768-A is named,
for example. The animal litter box described in JP-10-229768-A is
that a plurality of water repellent granular materials is placed in
a container having a bottom part with a bottom sheet which has a
liquid passing structure. An absorbing sheet supported by a support
body is disposed under the bottom sheet of the container in close
contact with the bottom sheet.
[0005] In this animal litter box, urine passes through among the
water repellent granular materials and through the bottom part of
the container, and then is absorbed into the absorbing sheet.
Therefore, urine does not remain in the container, and the litter
box is cleaned only by changing the liquid-absorbing sheet once a
day. In addition, it is fine that the granular materials soiled
with urine or feces are changed once a month or two months.
[0006] However, since the animal litter box described in Patent
Document mentioned above has a premise that the liquid-absorbing
sheet is changed once a day, waste is generated everyday even
though it occurs once a day, being troublesome. Furthermore, since
the bottom part of the container on which the granular materials
are placed is very close to the absorbing sheet, urine returns back
when an absorbed amount is increased by long time use, which causes
a problem that long time use is not allowed. Moreover, since the
granular materials are water repellent with no liquid absorption,
moisture of feces cannot be removed as well as urine remains around
the granular materials and become rotten, which causes a problem
that undesirable odors occur as well. Therefore, a problem for the
time being is to provide an animal litter box system that can
prevent the occurrence of undesirable odors from animal excrement
of animals, especially pet animals, and can save the trouble of
changing the liquid-absorbing sheet and the granular materials as
much as possible for long time use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the problems
mentioned above. An object of the present invention is to provide
an animal litter box system that can be used for a long time about
3 to 10 days and can prevent the occurrence of undesirable odors,
particularly to provide a liquid-absorbing sheet used for the
animal litter box system.
[0008] In order to achieve the object, the inventors diligently
investigated and made the present invention. More specifically, the
present invention is to provide the following.
[0009] (1) A liquid absorptive liquid-absorbing sheet for an animal
litter box comprising an antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part
having both an antimicrobial property and a bacteriostatic
property; or both of an antimicrobial part having an antimicrobial
property and a bacteriostatic part having a bacteriostatic
property.
[0010] According to the invention described in (1), since the
liquid-absorbing sheet has an antimicrobial property, it can
inhibit the growth and proliferation of microbes such as bacterium
and fungus. Therefore, it can prevent the occurrence of undesirable
odors and can reduce a sickening sense in changing the
liquid-absorbing sheet, and also can be used for a long time.
[0011] Moreover, since the liquid-absorbing sheet has also a
bacteriostatic property, it can reduce the growth and proliferation
of microbes and can neutralize ammonia generated from rotten urine.
Therefore, the liquid-absorbing sheet can prevent the occurrence of
undesirable odors and can reduce a sickening sense in-changing the
liquid-absorbing sheet, and also can be used for a long time.
[0012] Here, the `antimicrobial property` means that the growth and
proliferation of microbes is inhibited, and the `bacteriostatic
property` means that the growth or proliferation of microbes is
subdued in this specification.
[0013] (2) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to (1), wherein the antimicrobial property is imparted by
a cationic surfactant being contained.
[0014] According to the invention described in (2), the cationic
surfactant is used as an ingredient to impart the antimicrobial
property, preferably didecyldimethylammonium adipate is used. Since
didecyldimethylammonium adipate is safer than the other typical
ingredients to impart the antimicrobial property in oral toxicity
and skin irritation, it is preferably used.
[0015] (3) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to (1) or (2), wherein the bacteriostatic property is
imparted by an organic acid being contained.
[0016] According to the invention described in (3), undesirable
odors can be lessened by using the organic acid as an ingredient to
impart the bacteriostatic property, which can neutralize ammonia
generated from rotten urine. Among the organic acids, citric acid
is a crystal, and thus it is preferably used in view of the
productivity of the liquid-absorbing sheet.
[0017] (4) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the antimicrobial
property is imparted by an ingredient to impart the antimicrobial
property, and 0.1 g or more of the ingredient to impart the
antimicrobial property is contained per liquid-absorbing sheet.
[0018] According to the invention described in (4), since 0.1 g or
more of the ingredient to impart the antimicrobial property is
contained per a liquid-absorbing sheet, the occurrence of
undesirable odors can be prevented effectively even though the
liquid-absorbing sheet is used for a long time. However, when the
ingredient to impart the antimicrobial property is contained
excessively, it is not preferable because a problem arises in
safety in case where a pet eats it. Furthermore, there is not much
difference in an advantage to be obtained even though the
ingredient to impart the antimicrobial property is contained
excessively.
[0019] (5) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the bacteriostatic
property is imparted by an ingredient to impart the bacteriostatic
property, and 0.1 to 10.0 g of the ingredient to impart the
bacteriostatic property is contained per liquid-absorbing
sheet.
[0020] According to the invention described in (5), since 0.1 to
10.0 g of the ingredient to impart the bacteriostatic property is
contained per liquid-absorbing sheet, the liquid-absorbing sheet
can neutralize ammonia generated from rotten urine and can prevent
the occurrence of undesirable odors. It is preferable that the
ingredient to impart the bacteriostatic property is contained 0.25
to 1.0 g per liquid-absorbing sheet. It is not preferable that the
content of the ingredient to impart the bacteriostatic property is
too much, because pH is reduced excessively to cause the water
absorptive property of the super absorbent polymer comprising the
liquid-absorbing sheet to be lowered. The liquid absorbed into the
liquid-absorbing sheet might return back to the front surface of
the liquid-absorbing sheet depending on the circumstances.
[0021] (6) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to anyone of (1) to (5), wherein the liquid-absorbing
sheet has an area of 2000 cm.sup.2 or below, a thickness of 1.5 to
5.0 mm, and a water retention capacity of 400 g or greater.
[0022] According to the invention described in (6), since the
liquid-absorbing sheet has an area of 2000 cm.sup.2 or below, a
thickness of 1.5 to 5.0 mm, and a water retention capacity of 400 g
or greater, it has sufficient water absorptive capacity, and can be
used for a long time. Here, the `water retention capacity` means an
amount of liquid held after the liquid-absorbing sheet having been
immersed in physiological salt solution for 10 minutes is suspended
for 10 minutes and is dehydrated by a dehydrater of 150 G for 90
seconds.
[0023] (7) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the liquid-absorbing
sheet has a liquid permeable front layer, a liquid impermeable back
layer, and an absorption layer with liquid absorptive property
sandwiched between the front layer and the back layer, and the
antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part, or the antimicrobial part
and/or the bacteriostatic part is disposed in the absorption
layer.
[0024] According to the invention described in (7), the
liquid-absorbing sheet can suppress the occurrence of undesirable
odors more effectively than (1) and can be used for a long time.
For example, when two or more of the absorption layers are disposed
separately and the antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part, or the
antimicrobial part and/or the bacteriostatic part is sandwiched
between the absorption layers liquid easily move downward to
improve the water absorptive property as compared with the case
where the absorption layer is a single layer. Furthermore, an
antimicrobial agent irritant to skin can be prevented from exuding
to the surface, and a powder bacteriostatic agent can be fixed in
the liquid-absorbing sheet. Moreover, when the absorption layer is
a single layer, the thickness of the layer is increased in order to
secure the water retention capacity required for the present
invention, and the water absorptive property is reduced by
inhibiting a super absorbent polymer from meeting liquid. However,
it can be avoided by disposing two or more of the absorption layers
separately.
[0025] (8) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to (7), wherein the liquid permeable front layer is
white.
[0026] According to the invention described in (8), the liquid
permeable front layer is white to allow the amount and color of
pet's urine to be known and then the health condition of the pet to
be known. At present, commercially available pet sheets have a
colored absorbing surface for discriminating between the front side
and the back side of the sheets. Therefore, the advantage to know
the health condition of pets is an unprecedented new advantage
created by the present invention.
[0027] (9) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to (7) or (8), wherein the liquid impermeable back layer
is colored.
[0028] According to (9), the liquid impermeable back layer is
colored, which can discriminate between the front side and the back
side of the liquid-absorbing sheet and prevent the occurrence of a
mistake in use.
[0029] (10) The liquid-absorbing sheet for the animal litter box
according to any one of (7) to (9), wherein the liquid permeable
front layer and/or the liquid impermeable back layer has an
indication to allow discrimination between a front side and a back
side.
[0030] According to (10), the liquid permeable front layer and/or
the liquid impermeable back layer has the indication to allow the
discrimination between the front side and the back side, and an
error to mistake the front side for the back side in use can be
prevented effectively. For the indication, patterns, company names,
and house marks can be provided in addition to letters like these,
allowing the provision of advertising effects. For example, it is
fine to print `FRONT SIDE` on the liquid permeable front layer so
as not to fade color.
[0031] (11) An animal litter box comprising a granular material
container having an opening for an animal going in and out, a
liquid passing bottom part on which granular materials are
dispersed, and a liquid-absorbing sheet holder placed under the
bottom part of the granular material container on which the
liquid-absorbing sheet is placed, wherein the liquid-absorbing
sheet is the liquid-absorbing sheet in any one of (1) to (10).
[0032] According to the invention described in (11), the
liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present invention is used
along with the granular materials having a high liquid passing
property and a liquid absorptive property in the animal litter box
comprising the opening for an animal going in and out, the granular
material holder having the liquid passing bottom part on which the
granular materials are dispersed, and the liquid-absorbing sheet
holder placed under the bottom part of the granular material
container on which the liquid-absorbing sheet is placed. When the
liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present invention is used
for the animal litter box system like this, an animal litter which
can be used for a long time about 3 to 10 days is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The teachings of the present invention can be readily
understood by considering the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first
embodiment of the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second
embodiment of the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present
invention;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mode to use the
liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present invention; and
[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between
the pH and the water absorption and retention of a super absorbent
polymer used for the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings. Additionally, in the
description of a second embodiment, the description of the same
configuration and advantages as those of a first embodiment is
omitted.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0039] [Total Configuration of the Liquid-absorbing Sheet]
[0040] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first
embodiment of the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present
invention. A liquid-absorbing sheet 1 has an area of 2000 cm.sup.2
or below and a thickness of 1.5 to 5.0 mm, and has water-absorptive
property that a water retention capacity is 400 g or greater. The
liquid-absorbing sheet 1 has a liquid permeable front layer 11, a
liquid impermeable back layer 17, and an upper absorption layer 18
and a lower absorption layer 19 having liquid absorptive capacity.
The upper absorption layer 18 and the lower absorption layer 19 are
sandwiched between the liquid permeable front layer 11 and the
liquid impermeable back layer 17. The liquid permeable front layer
11 is white, and the liquid impermeable back layer 17 is colored.
An antimicrobial part 14 and a bacteriostatic part 13 contacting
each other form an antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part 15 which
is sandwiched between the upper absorption layer 18 and the lower
absorption layer 19. Both of the upper absorption layer 18 and the
lower absorption layer 19 contain pulp and a super absorbent
polymer. An upper layer tissue 12 is sandwiched between the upper
absorption layer 18 and the liquid permeable front layer 11, and an
under layer tissue 16 is sandwiched between the lower absorption
layer 19 and the liquid impermeable back layer 17. The upper layer
tissue 12 and the under layer tissue 16 are white.
[0041] [Antimicrobial Part]
[0042] The antimicrobial part 14 contains an ingredient which
imparts an antimicrobial property (hereinafter, it is called an
ingredient imparting antimicrobial property). As the ingredient
imparting antimicrobial property, didecyldimethylammonium adipate
is used among cationic surfactants, but the other cationic
surfactants are usable, not limited to this.
Didecyldimethylammonium adipate is preferably used because it is
highly safer than the other typical ingredients imparting
antimicrobial property in oral toxicity and skin irritation.
[0043] A content of the ingredient imparting antimicrobial property
is 0.1 g or more per liquid-absorbing sheet. This content is enough
to impart the antimicrobial property to the liquid-absorbing sheet.
As described above, when the ingredient imparting antimicrobial
property is excessively contained, it is not preferable because a
problem arises in safety in case where a pet eats it. Furthermore,
there is not much difference in the advantage to be obtained even
though the ingredient to impart the antimicrobial property is
contained excessively. Additionally, the amount of the ingredient
imparting antimicrobial property used per unit is 1 to 10
g/m.sup.2.
[0044] [Bacteriostatic Part]
[0045] The bacteriostatic part 13 contains an ingredient which
imparts a bacteriostatic property (hereinafter, it is called an
ingredient imparting bacteriostatic property). For the ingredient
imparting bacteriostatic property, citric acid is used among
organic acids, but the other organic acids are usable, not limited
to this. Since citric acid is a crystal, it is preferably used in
view of productivity of the liquid-absorbing sheet.
[0046] A content of the ingredient imparting bacteriostatic
property is 0.1 to 10.0 g per liquid-absorbing sheet, preferably
0.25 to 1.0 g. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship
between the relationship between the pH and the water absorption
ratio of a super absorbent polymer. The horizontal axis indicates
the pH and the vertical axis indicates the water absorption ratio
(times) of the super absorbent polymer. When the content of the
ingredient imparting bacteriostatic property is too much, pH is
lowered. As shown in FIG. 4, when pH is lowered, the
water-absorption capacity of the super absorbent polymer is
reduced. Additionally, the amount of the ingredient imparting
bacteriostatic property used per unit is 5 to 50 g/m.sup.2.
[0047] [Absorption Layer]
[0048] In this embodiment, there are two absorption layers; the
upper absorption layer 18 and the lower absorption layer 19. Both
of the absorption layers have pulp and a super absorbent polymer.
As described above, two or more of absorption layers are separately
disposed in this manner, which allows liquid to easily move
downward to improve water-absorption capacity as compared with the
case where the absorption layer is a single layer. Furthermore,
when the absorption layer is a single layer, the thickness of the
layer is increased in order to secure the water retention capacity
required in the invention, and it becomes hard for the super
absorbent to meet water. Consequently, the water absorption
capacity is sometimes reduced. In this point, two or more of
absorption layers is preferable to be disposed separately.
[0049] The super absorbent polymer exists among the crushed pulp
inside the upper absorption layer 18 and the lower absorption layer
19. As the super absorbent polymer, polymers having high absorptive
capacity such as starch-acrylic polymers are generally used other
than polyacrylic polymers. These absorption layers are formed by
layering crushed pulp and then applying a super absorbent polymer
thereto.
[0050] In the upper absorption layer 18, the amount of pulp used
per unit is 50 to 150 g/m.sup.2, and the amount of super absorbent
polymer used per unit is 30 to 100 g/m.sup.2. Furthermore, in the
lower absorption layer 19, the amount of pulp used per unit is 150
to 300 g/m.sup.2, and the amount of a super absorbent polymer used
per unit is 30 to 200 g/m.sup.2. Moreover, the total content of
pulp contained in the absorption layer (which is comprised of both
the upper absorption layer 18 and the lower absorption layer 19) is
200 to 450 g/m.sup.2, and the total content of a super absorbent
polymer contained in the absorption layer is 60 to 600
g/m.sup.2.
[0051] [Liquid Permeable Front Layer and Liquid Impermeable Back
Layer]
[0052] For the liquid permeable front layer 11, nonwoven fabric
such as through air, span lace, span bond, and polypropylene point
bond nonwoven fabric are used. For the liquid impermeable back
layer 17, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene
terephthalate are used.
[0053] Since the liquid permeable front layer 11 is white, the
amount and color of pet's urine can be known, and then the health
condition of the pet can be known.
[0054] The liquid impermeable back layer 17 is colored. As
described above, since the liquid permeable front layer 11 is
white, the liquid impermeable back layer 17 is colored to
discriminate between the front side and the back side.
[0055] Furthermore, the liquid permeable front layer 11 and/or the
liquid impermeable back layer 17 can have an indication to
discriminate between the front side and the back side as well. When
the indication to discriminate between the front side and the back
side is provided, an error to mistake the front side for the back
side can be prevented in use.
[0056] [Mode of Usage]
[0057] FIG. 3 is a mode to use the liquid-absorbing sheet according
to the present invention. The liquid-absorbing sheet 1 according to
the present invention is used along with granular materials 34 for
an animal litter box 10. The animal litter box 10 has a cover 33
for controlling (defining) the entrance for pets, a granular
material container 32 having a liquid passing bottom part on which
the granular materials are dispersed, and a liquid-absorbing sheet
holder 31 placed under the bottom part of the granular material
container 32. The liquid-absorbing sheet 1 is placed on the
liquid-absorbing sheet holder 31.
[0058] The granular materials 34 are silica gel having a character
of high liquid passing property and a liquid absorptive property.
The animal litter box shown in FIG. 3 has a liquid leading part
shaped by serial arch shapes in the bottom part on the side facing
the liquid-absorbing sheet 1.
[0059] [Advantage of the First Embodiment]
[0060] In the liquid-absorbing sheet of the first embodiment, the
absorption layer is separated to the upper absorption layer 18 and
the lower absorption layer 19 and the upper and lower absorption
layers are disposed separately on the front and back sides of the
antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part 15 which is comprised of the
antimicrobial part 14 and the bacteriostatic part 13 contacting
each other. In this manner, two absorption layers are separately
disposed to allow liquid to move downward to improve
water-absorptive capacity as compared with the case where the
absorption layer is a single layer.
[0061] Furthermore, the antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part 15
which is comprised of the antimicrobial part 14 and the
bacteriostatic part 13 contacting each other is sandwiched between
the upper absorption layer 18 and the lower absorption layer 19.
Thus, it provides advantages that the liquid absorbing sheet 1 can
prevent the ingredient imparting antimicrobial property irritant to
human skin from exuding to the surface and fix a powder ingredient
imparting bacteriostatic property in the liquid-absorbing
sheet.
[0062] Since the ingredient imparting antimicrobial property is
contained in the liquid-absorbing sheet, the occurrence of
undesirable odors can be prevented effectively, and the
liquid-absorbing sheet can be used for a long time.
[0063] Furthermore, since the citric acid is also contained in the
liquid-absorbing sheet as the ingredient imparting bacteriostatic
property, ammonia generated by rotten urine can be neutralized to
prevent the occurrence of offensive odors. Moreover, the ingredient
imparting bacteriostatic property has a function of a pH control
agent to suppress a pH increase by neutralization reaction with
ammonia. As apparent from the relationship between the pH and the
water absorptive property of the super absorbent polymer shown in
FIG. 4, the water absorptive property of the super absorbent
polymer used for the absorption layer depends on pH, and a pH
increase reduces the water absorptive property of the super
absorbent polymer. Therefore, the ingredient imparting
bacteriostatic property has an advantage to suppress a reduction in
the water absorptive property of the super absorbent polymer as
well.
[0064] The provision of the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the
present invention in the mode shown in FIG. 3 allows pet's urine to
smoothly move to the liquid-absorbing sheet for absorption.
Therefore, an animal litter box system can be used for a long time
and can prevent the occurrence of undesirable odors.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
[0065] [Total Configuration of the Liquid-absorbing Sheet]
[0066] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second
embodiment of a liquid-absorbing sheet according to the present
invention. A liquid permeable front layer 11, a liquid impermeable
back layer 17, an upper layer tissue 12, and an under layer tissue
16 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The difference
from the first embodiment is in that an absorption layer 20 in the
second embodiment is a mixture of an antimicrobial part, a
bacteriostatic part and the upper absorption layer or lower
absorption layer of the first embodiment. More specifically, the
absorption layer 20 of the second embodiment contains the
antimicrobial part and the bacteriostatic part as well as pulp and
a super absorbent polymer. Even though the absorption layer is
formed as a single layer in the second embodiment, there is no
problem as long as the water retention capacity required in the
invention can be secured.
[0067] [Advantage of the Second Embodiment]
[0068] In addition to the same advantages as those in the first
embodiment, there is an advantage that the liquid-absorbing sheet
is fabricated easier than in the first embodiment.
EXAMPLE
[0069] Hereinafter, an example of the first embodiment according to
the present invention will be described, but the invention is not
limited to the example.
[0070] The liquid-absorbing sheet of the first embodiment according
to the invention was fabricated as below.
[0071] (A) First, crushed pulp was layered on an under layer
tissue, and a polyacrylic super absorbent polymer was dispersed
thereon to form a lower absorption layer. Furthermore,
didecyldimethylammonium adipate as the ingredient imparting
antimicrobial property and citric acid as the ingredient imparting
bacteriostatic property were sequentially dispersed on the formed
lower absorption layer to form an antimicrobial part and a
bacteriostatic part.
[0072] (B) Subsequently, crushed pulp was layered on an upper layer
tissue, and then a polyacrylic super absorbent polymer was
dispersed thereon to form an upper absorption layer. (C) Products
obtained by (A) and (B) were joined so as to contact the
bacteriostatic part with the upper absorption layer, polypropylene
point bond nonwoven fabric was placed on the upper layer tissue as
a liquid permeable front layer, and then polyethylene was placed
under the under layer tissue as a liquid impermeable back layer to
obtain a liquid-absorbing sheet.
[0073] The liquid-absorbing sheet obtained by the method mentioned
above was used along with granular materials having a high liquid
passing property and a liquid absorptive property in an animal
litter box which has a granular material container having an
opening for an animal going in and out and a liquid passing bottom
part on which the granular materials are dispersed, a
liquid-absorbing sheet holder placed under the bottom part of the
granular material container on which the liquid-absorbing sheet was
placed. Accordingly, an animal litter box system cloud be used for
a long time and could prevent the occurrence of offensive
odors.
[0074] As described above, the liquid-absorbing sheet according to
the present invention has the antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part
having both the antimicrobial property and the bacteriostatic
property, or has both the antimicrobial part having the
antimicrobial property and the bacteriostatic part having the
bacteriostatic property. Therefore, it can prevent the occurrence
of offensive odors even though it is used for a long time.
[0075] Furthermore, the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the
invention has an area of 2000 cm.sup.2 or below, a thickness of 1.5
to 5.0 mm, and a water retention capacity is 400 g or greater.
Thus, it has sufficient water absorptive capacity, and can be used
for a long time.
[0076] Moreover, the liquid-absorbing sheet according to the
present invention is used along with the granular materials having
a high liquid passing property and a liquid absorptive property in
the animal litter box which has a granular material container
having an opening for an animal going in and out and a liquid
passing bottom part on which the granular materials are dispersed,
the liquid-absorbing sheet holder plased under the bottom part of
the granular material container on which the liquid-absorbing sheet
is placed. Therefore, the animal litter box system can be used for
a long time and can prevent the occurrence of offensive odors.
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