Abstract: A feeding, container, system and methods configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption. A feeding assembly (1) including: a) a container storage subassembly (12) configured to store one or more containers (16) of the food therein; b) a container handling subassembly (42) and/or a transport subassembly (40) configured to retrieve and/or receive from the container storage subassembly and transfer to a feeding area (32); c) a container opening subassembly (46) configured to open the container while being transferred to the feeding area from the container storage subassembly; d) optionally, a waste collection subassembly (14) configured to receive the one or more containers after being presented at the feeding area. The feeding assembly may provide a container opening subassembly (46) configured to peel a lid away (54) from a container (16) prior to presenting the container in a feeding area.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling a device, the system including: a) an automated litter device, which is the device, including: i) a chamber for holding litter and configured to rotate during a cleaning cycle, ii) a support base, iii) a waste drawer, iv) sensors configured to detect a plurality of conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the plurality of conditions, v) a controller, and vi) a communication module which is a wireless communication module; b) a user interface which is a mobile computing device; and c) a network; wherein the wireless communication module is in wireless communication with the user interface via the network to transmit one or more status signals associated with the one or more of the sensors to the user interface and receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface.

Abstract: A bezel assembly comprising: a) a bezel configured for encircling an entry opening of a litter device; and b) one or more accessories removably affixed thereon. A litter device having: a) a base; b) a chamber with an entry opening, wherein the chamber is configured to retain litter and is supported by the base; c) a bezel located about the entry opening; and d) one or more accessories removably affixed to the bezel.

Abstract: A method for identifying a type of waste eliminated by an animal in a litter device, the method including: a) automatically detecting entry of the animal into the litter device by one or more sensing devices, b) automatically detecting departure of the animal from the litter device by the one or more sensing devices; c) automatically accessing and executing one or more waste type identification algorithms by one or more processors to determine the type of waste eliminated by the animal; wherein the type of waste is identified based on one or more measured weight characteristics from the one or more mass sensors; and wherein the waste is identified either the cleaning cycle is executed, after the cleaning cycle is executed, or both.

Abstract: The present teachings disclose a valve assembly and spout finger beneficial for a liquid dispensing device. The valve assembly may have a) a float configured to rise with an increasing liquid level of the liquid, wherein the float includes a float body with a float neck extending therefrom; b) a float stem affixed to the float and configured to move with the float, wherein the float stem resides within the float neck; c) a first seal affixed to one end of the float stem; and d) a second seal on an opposing end of the float stem; and wherein the valve assembly is configured such that upward movement of the float causes the float stem, the first seal, and the second seal to also move with the float. The spout finger may be located adjacent to a spout and configured to change the directional flow of a liquid.

Abstract: A feeding, container, system and methods configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption. A feeding assembly (1) including: a) a container storage subassembly (12) configured to store one or more containers (16) of the food therein; b) a container handling subassembly (42) and/or a transport subassembly (40) configured to retrieve and/or receive from the container storage subassembly and transfer to a feeding area (32); c) a container opening subassembly (46) configured to open the container while being transferred to the feeding area from the container storage subassembly; d) optionally, a waste collection subassembly (14) configured to receive the one or more containers after being presented at the feeding area. The feeding assembly may provide a container opening subassembly (46) configured to peel a lid away (54) from a container (16) prior to presenting the container in a feeding area.

Abstract: A bezel assembly comprising: a) a bezel configured for encircling an entry opening of a litter device; and b) one or more accessories removably affixed thereon. A litter device having: a) a base; b) a chamber with an entry opening, wherein the chamber is configured to retain litter and is supported by the base; c) a bezel located about the entry opening; and d) one or more accessories removably affixed to the bezel.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing device (1) having a) a serving bowl (10) configured to retain liquid for consumption by an animal; b) a fresh tank (50) configured to store a fresh liquid therein; c) a used tank (80) configured to store a used liquid therein, wherein used liquid is the liquid which has already been available for consumption of the animal; and d) a carousel (100) having one or more circulation tubs (107) and one or more empty tubs (105), wherein the carousel is configured to rotate about its rotational axis (AR) in a first direction (D1) and in a second direction (D2) opposing the first direction.

Abstract: A feeder comprising: a) a base portion having a serving area with a feeding dish; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes a rocker body configured to partially rotate about a rotational axis from a resting position to a dispensing position; and d) a lid configured to be opened such as to expose the feeding dish and configured to be closed such as to cover the feeding dish

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior, c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a) a chamber configured to hold litter to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the one or more conditions; d) a controller in communication with the one or more sensors which is adapted to receive the one or more signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more positions of the chamber based on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and interpret the one or more signals as one or more status signals; e) a communication module in communication with the controller and adapted to communicate with a user interface via a network to transmit the one or more status signals to the user interface, receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface, or both; wherein the user interface is adapted to transmit the

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a) a chamber configured to hold litter to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the one or more conditions; d) a controller in communication with the one or more sensors which is adapted to receive the one or more signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more positions of the chamber based on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and interpret the one or more signals as one or more status signals; e) a communication module in communication with the controller and adapted to communicate with a user interface via a network to transmit the one or more status signals to the user interface, receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface, or both; wherein the user interface is adapted to transmit the

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a) a chamber configured to hold litter to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the device and transmit one or more signals related to the one or more conditions; d) a controller in communication with the one or more sensors which is adapted to receive the one or more signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more positions of the chamber based on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and interpret the one or more signals as one or more status signals; e) a communication module in communication with the controller and adapted to communicate with a user interface via a network to transmit the one or more status signals to the user interface, receive one or more instruction signals via the user interface, or both; wherein the user interface is adapted to transmit the

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.

Abstract: A litter device which is easily operable by individuals with limited mobility or disabilities. A litter device having a base; a waste drawer removably located within the base; a chamber with an entry opening, wherein the chamber is configured to retain litter, is supported by the base, and is located above the waste drawer; and a lift affixed to the base, the waste drawer, or both, wherein the lift is configured to raise and lower the base, the waste drawer, or both.

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior, c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.