Animal litter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016262341-A1
Application number	US-201415038471-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Nov 25, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is toilet sand for animals which retains satisfactory liquid permeability and can absorb, with the lapse of time, any liquid remaining on the surface and which can be prevented from generating dust when in use, etc. The toilet sand for animals comprises a plurality of granules, each of the granules comprising: a core configured of an inorganic porous material and a binder with which particles of the inorganic porous material are integrally affixed; and a water-blocking coating layer formed on the surface of the core and configured of a water-blocking material which has water-absorbing properties and which, in the state of having absorbed water, has viscosity. Preferably, the water-blocking material is configured of one or more substances selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, and starch.

First claim

1 . An animal litter comprising a plurality of granules, wherein each of the granules includes:
a core configured to include an inorganic porous material and a binder which binds the inorganic porous material together; and a water-blocking coating layer formed on a surface of the core and configured of a water-blocking material which has water-absorbing properties and which, in the state of having absorbed water, has viscosity.

2 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
an initial water absorption rate of the core is 20 to 30%.

3 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
the water-blocking material is configured to include at least one type selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, and starch.

4 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
the inorganic porous material is configured to include at least one type selected from the group consisting of zeolite, sepiolite, attapulgite, diatomite, and diatom shale.

5 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
the binder is an inorganic binder.

6 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
the granules, each has a cylindrical shape of 4 to 8 mm in diameter and 6 to 20 mm in height.

7 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
the granules, each has an average mass of 0.08 to 1.37 g/piece.

8 . The animal litter according to claim 1 , wherein
the animal litter is placed in an upper container of a unit animal litter box comprising: the upper container having a plurality of holes on a bottom and in which the animal litter is placed; and a lower container arranged below the upper container and in which a liquid absorbent member is placed.

9 . A unit animal litter box kit comprising the unit animal litter box and the animal litter according to claim 8 .

Assignees

• Unicharm Corp

Inventors

• Sogou Tatsuya

Classifications

• A01K1/0114

  Litter boxes with screens for separating excrement from litter · CPC title

• A01K1/0155

  comprising organic material · CPC title

• A01K1/0152

  Litter · CPC title

• A01K1/0154 Primary

  comprising inorganic material · CPC title