Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AROMA THERAPEUTIC PET LITTER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a pet litter product with aromatic properties.
More specifically,
the present invention discloses a pet litter product that provides odour
control of pet waste matter
and provides a therapeutic effect to pets. The present invention also
discloses a method for
manufacture of the aromatherapy pet litter product.
BACKGROUND
Products for odour control of animal waste have existed for many years. These
products are
generally referred to as pet litter or animal litter (hereafter the term "pet
litter" will be used).
Most pet litter products are aimed at absorption of moisture from animal
waste, which in turn
reduces foul odour emanating from ammonia and other components of animal
waste.
There are presently many types of pet litter, made from different products.
These include sand,
clay, bentonite (which is used in clumping litter), silica gel, and
biodegradable products such as
pine pellets, sawdust, and corn cobs. There are various advantages and
disadvantages of each
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type relative to the others with respect to characteristics such as
absorbency, degree of odour
control, environmental friendliness, longevity, cost, safety,. and texture.
However, none of these products targets an animal's comfort or benefit or to
encourage the
animal to use the litter box. Generally, animal waste odour control products
are intended to
benefit human owners of pets by enabling the owner to avoid exposure to foul
smells of animal
waste. It is therefore generally required to add products to pet litter in
order to provide a benefit
to a pet, or to encourage litter box useage .
One benefit to animals that may be provided in pet litter is a method or
product of providing a
positive physiological response in an animal. This may be through
aromatherapy, for example.
U.S. patent 6,253,710 to Ward et al. discloses an odour control for animal
litter product. The
product is applied to existing pet litter or animal container or animal waste.
Furthermore, the
product comprises a mixture of chemicals such as lauryl methacrylate, acetone,
and 2-hydroxy-
2',4,4'-trichlorophenyl ether. Ward et al describe the optional addition of
fragrance to the
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However, there is no description of any positive effect for an animal , or to
composition.
encourage litter box useage .
U.S. patent 6,371,049 to Boren et al. discloses an animal litter. The animal
litter is used to
inhibit odor using western juniper. Boren et al. contemplates a second
fragrance being added to
the composition, including essential oils. However, there is no description of
a method of
encouraging a pet to use the animal litter.
U.S. patent 6,803,033 to McGee et al. discloses a process for maintaining
fragrance perception in
the presence of an absorbent material. The process includes providing a
delivery vehicle
containing an enrobement material, a fragrance, and a fixative, which are then
combined with a
moisture and/or malodour absorber to convey a fragrance to the atmosphere, and
to provide an
absorbent for moisture and/or malodors, including with respect to pet litter.
However, thereis no
description of a method of encouraging a pet to use pet litter.
U.S. patent 6,936,344 to Represas de Almeida et al. discloses an absorbent
composition of matter
for odoriferous substances and releaser of diverse active ingredients. The
product is made
available as a woody ring of corn cobs which is placed in pet litter. Represas
de Almeida et al
describe that natural or synthetic elements may be. added to a carrier
compound to achieve a
perfuming, liberating, therapeutic, repellent or attractant effect. However,
there is no description
of any positive effect for an animal .
US patent 7,247,377 to Jassan et al. relates to an absorbent composition of
matter for controlled
release of essential oils . The composition may comprise an essential oil
which may be of an.
attractant odour. However, the composition disclosed would have to be added to
a pet litter
product manually to product a pet litter product encouragirig litter box
useage .
Moreover US 6,173,675 teaches aromatherapy mats for pets which include
mixtures of lavender
flower.
. There also exist products commonly referred to as training litters, that
encourage an animal to
use a Iitter box, typically by incorporating a herbal blend additive to draw
an animal to a litter
box. However, these products do not promote any other advantage, such as
additionally
deodorizing the surround air of a litter box in addition to the natural
function of the litter.
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However, what is not described in the prior art are pet litter products that
provide a positive
effect for an animal such that the animal is encouraged to use the pet litter.
Furthermore, what is
not described in the prior art is a method of making commercially available
such an additive
already combined with the pet litter.
Therefore what is required is a pet litter product providing positive effects
for animals. What is
also required is such a pet litter product being made comrnercially available
without a need for a
consumer to combine the effective element with the litter element.
SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION
One aspect of this invention relates to an aromatherapy pet litter comprising:
a pet litter; and an
aroma therapeutic fragrance combination applied to the pet litter at a weight
percentage less than
20. In one embodiment the weight percentage of therapeutic fragrance is less
applied between
0.1 and 2% and preferably 0.07%.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a method for providing aroma
therapy for pets
comprising providing an aroma therapeutic fragrance combination mixed with pet
litter, wherein
said aroma therapeutic fragrance combination is applied to the pet litter at a
weight percentage
less than 20 and wherein said aroma therapeutic fragrance combination provides
a therapeutic
effect to a pet .
Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a method for manufacturing an
aromatherapy pet
litter comprising combining a fragrance; an essential oil; a surfactant; and a
pet litter such that
the combination of the fragrance, essential oil, and surfactant is applied to
the pet litter at a
weight percentage less than 20. In a further embodiment the fragrance is
applied between 0.01 %
and 2% and preferably 0.07%.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a pet litter and pet litter supplement that
provides odour control
of animal waste matter. The present inverition also discloses a pet litter and
pet litter supplement
that provides a therapeutic effect to pets , or encouragement for litter box
useage : The present
invention further discloses a method for the manufacture of pet litter
incorporating a pet litter
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providing odour control and therapeutic effects , or encouragement for litter
box useage
additive
The pet litter of the present invention may be comprised of a combination of a
substrate such as
clay and an aroma therapeutic fragrance combination applied to the clay.
The clay may preferably be provided as 100% natural clay. The clay may
optionally be provided
as a combination of natural clay and other materials so long as the combined
product may
receive the hydrosol compound described below. The clay may also be provided
without any
natural clay so long as the product may receive the hydrosol compound
described below and is
substantially absorbent and solidifying in line with the purpose of pet
litter. For example, the
non-clay component of the pet litter may comprise any of a bentonite, silica
gel, pine , paper ,
mixture of biodegradable products, or any other generally available pet litter
composition.
The aroina therapeutic fragrance coinbination may be provided in various
forms. Preferably, the
aroma therapeutic fragrance combination comprises an aromatic compound
combined with an
aromatic essential oil and a surfactant. The aromatic compound may be a
hydrosol, for example.
The aromatic compound may be provided in liquid form, solid form, or powder
form.
The aromatic compound provides the primary means of odour control of pet waste
matter. The
aromatic essential oil provides the pet litter with a longer lasting fragrance
than would the
aromatic compound alone. The odour of the aromatic essential oil is preferably
matched to the
odour of the aromatic compound. For example, the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention comprises a lavender fragrance as the aromatic compound and a
lavender essential oil.
The lavender essential oil provides a longer lasting lavender scent to the pet
litter than would the
lavender hydrosol alone.
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The surfactant may be any surfactant that lowers the surface tension of the
aromatic compound.
The surfactant is added to the aromatic compound both to dissolve the aromatic
compound into
the essential oil and to promote spreading of the aromatic compound in the pet
litter. Preferably,
the surfactant used is non-ionic primary alcohol alkoxylate which is operable
to promote
spreading of a lavender hydrosol and lavender oil combination in the pet
litter.
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The aroma therapeutic fragrance combination may be applied to the pet, litter
at a weight
percentage of less than 20%. More specifically, a weight percentage between
0.01% and 2%
provides optimal results. Preferably, a weight percentage of 0.07% is used.
As previously mentioned, the pet litter to which the aroma therapeutic
fragrance combination is
applied may be any generally available pet litter to which the aroma
therapeutic fragrance
combination may be spread.
The aromatic pet litter disclosed by the present invention has three main
purposes. Firstly, the
aromatic nature of the pet litter is beneficial to overcome the generally foul
odour of pet urine
and feces deposited by a pet in the pet litter. Secondly, the aroma
therapeutic fragrance
combination is preferably selected to provide a therapeutic effect to a pet.
The preferred
embodiment using lavender fragrance and lavender essential oil provides a
calming and serenity-
inducing sensation to the pet as lavender is generally accepted to promote a
sense of calm and
serenity. Thirdly, the therapeutic effect is attractive to a pet and
encourages use of the pet litter,
by the pet.
In addition the combination creates an all natural cat litter with botanical
lavender aromatherapy
.
The lavender aromatherapy cat litter is non toxic , creates minimal dust , and
upon contact with
liquid, the cat litter encapsulates the animal waste in order to facilitate
disposal .
The manufacture of the aromatic pet litter may be accomplished through several
means
depending on the nature of the aromatic compound.
In one embodiment lavender fragrance T-7000 which contains lavender hydrosol ,
lavender oil
and surfactant ( to combine the two ingredients ) have been effectively used .
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The aromatic compound may be provided in liquid form. In this case, the
aromatic compound is
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mixed with the aromatic essential oil and surfactant. Any generally known
method of mixing
these components may be used. The resulting aroma therapeutic fragrance
combination may
then be applied to the pet litter using a spray.
Altematively the aromatic compound may first be applied to the pet litter
using a spray, and then
the aromatic essential oil is applied by spray. Finally, the surfactant may be
applied by spray.
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The aromatic compound may also be provided in a solid or powder form. In this
case, the
aromatic compound may be added to the pet litter using a conveyor auger
system. The conveyor
auger system evenly mixes the aromatic compound with the pet litter. Following
mixing, the
aromatic essential oil and surfactant may be added to the pet litter .
Optionally, the aromatic compound may be mixed with an aqueous solvent, which
may also be
mixed with the aromatic essential oil and surfactant. This compound may then
be applied to the
pet litter using a spray.
Storage of the hydrosol combination may be accomplished by sealing it in an
impermeable
container. Preferably, a sealed, impermeable, high density polyethylene ( HDPE
) container is
used. However other containers can be used.
