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EP-4736639-A1 - PET CARE DEVICE

EP4736639A1EP 4736639 A1EP4736639 A1EP 4736639A1EP-4736639-A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a pet care device. The pet care device may include a base, a pad disposed above the base, a pogo pin module including a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a pogo pin, and a connection terminal module mounted to the pad and including a second PCB and a connection terminal electrically connected to the pogo pin. The pogo pin module may be movably disposed between the base and the pad in an upward and downward direction, and a magnet may be mounted to at least one of the pogo pin module and the connection terminal module. When the pad is disposed above the base, the pogo pin module may be moved upward by a magnetic force of the magnet and may come into electrical connection with the connection terminal module.

Inventors

  • CHO, JINHUM
  • HAN, JAEYOUNG
  • BAEK, Sanghun
  • SONG, HOON

Assignees

  • LG Electronics Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251027

Claims (20)

  1. A pet care device (1) comprising: a base (10, 20); a pad (30) disposed above the base (10, 20); a pogo pin module (40) comprising a first PCB (41) and a pogo pin (42); and a connection terminal module (50) mounted to the pad (30), the connection terminal module (50) comprising a second PCB (51) and a connection terminal (52) electrically connected to the pogo pin (42), wherein the pogo pin module (40) is movably disposed between the base (10, 20) and the pad (30) in an upward and downward direction, and wherein a magnet (60) is mounted to at least one of the pogo pin module (40) and the connection terminal module (50) such that the pogo pin module (40) is moved upward by a magnetic force of the magnet (60) and comes into electrical connection with the connection terminal module (50).
  2. The pet care device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base (10, 20) comprises a guide rod (14) protruding upward from the base (10, 20), and wherein the pogo pin module (40) comprises a guide hole (44) formed in the pogo pin module (40), the guide rod (14) being fitted into the guide hole (44) to guide upward and downward movement of the pogo pin module (40).
  3. The pet care device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base (10, 20) comprises: a lower base (10) comprising a lower plate (11); and an upper base (20) comprising an upper plate (21) mounted on the lower base (10).
  4. The pet care device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the guide rod (14) is formed on the lower plate (11), and wherein the upper plate (21) comprises an opening (23) so as to allow the guide rod (14) to pass through the opening (23).
  5. The pet care device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the opening (23) is formed to a size that allows the pogo pin module (40) to pass through the opening (23).
  6. The pet care device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the upper plate (21) comprises a fence (24) protruding upward from an upper surface of the upper plate (21) along a periphery of the opening (23).
  7. The pet care device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pad (30) comprises a depressed portion (32) depressed upward from a lower surface (31) of the pad (30), and wherein the connection terminal module (50) is mounted to an upper side of the depressed portion (32).
  8. The pet care device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the pogo pin module (40) is electrically connected to the connection terminal (52) by inserting at least the pogo pin (42) into the depressed portion (32).
  9. The pet care device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the pogo pin module (40) comprises a first PCB frame (43) supporting the first PCB (41), and wherein the guide hole (44) is formed in the first PCB frame (43).
  10. The pet care device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the pogo pin module (40) comprises a first PCB cover (45) covering an upper surface of the first PCB (41), the first PCB cover (45) comprises a pin hole (451) through which the pogo pin (42) passes, wherein the magnet (60) is mounted to the first PCB cover (45), and wherein the first PCB cover (45) is disposed above the opening (23).
  11. The pet care device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the first PCB cover (45) comprises a downward peripheral portion (452) bent downwardly from an edge of the first PCB cover (45), and wherein the downward peripheral portion (452) surrounds an outer surface of the fence (24).
  12. The pet care device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first PCB frame (43) comprises a stopper (46), and wherein the stopper (46) is disposed below the opening (23) and protrudes in a direction away from the first PCB (41) and is configured to come into contact with a lower surface of the upper plate (21).
  13. The pet care device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the lower plate (11) comprises a drain hole (15) disposed below the opening (23).
  14. The pet care device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein each of the upper plate (21) and the lower plate (11) comprises a cavity (18, 28) formed in a central portion thereof.
  15. The pet care device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 14, wherein the upper base (20) comprises a sidewall (27) protruding upward from an edge of the upper plate (21), wherein the pad (30) is disposed in an inner space in the upper base (20) surrounded by the sidewall (27), and wherein at least one weight sensing element (70) is disposed between the upper plate (21) and the pad (30).
  16. A pet care device (1) comprising: a base (10, 20); a pad (30) disposed above the base (10, 20); a pogo pin module (40) configured to receive external power, the pogo pin module (40) comprising a first PCB (41) and a pogo pin (42); and a connection terminal module (50) mounted to the pad (30), the connection terminal module (50) comprising a connection terminal (52) electrically connected to the pogo pin (42), wherein the pogo pin module (40) is movably disposed between the base (10, 20) and the pad (30) in an upward and downward direction, and wherein one or more weight sensing elements (70) are disposed between the base (10, 20) and the pad (30).
  17. The pet care device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the base (10, 20) comprises: a lower base (10) comprising a lower plate (11); and an upper base (20) comprising an upper plate (21), wherein the pogo pin module (40) is disposed between the lower plate (11) and the pad (30), wherein the weight sensing elements (70) are disposed between the upper plate (21) and the pad (30), and wherein the upper plate (21) comprises an opening (23) so as to allow the pogo pin module (40) to pass through the opening (23).
  18. The pet care device (1) according to claim 17, wherein the lower plate (11) comprises a guide rod (14) protruding upward from the lower plate (11), and wherein the pogo pin module (40) comprises a guide hole (44) formed in the pogo pin module (40), the guide rod (14) being fitted into the guide hole (44) to guide upward and downward movement of the pogo pin module (40).
  19. The pet care device (1) according to claim 16, wherein a first magnet (61) is mounted to one of the pogo pin module (40) and the connection terminal module (50), and a magnetic body or a second magnet (62) having a polarity opposite a polarity of the first magnet (61) is mounted to the other one of the pogo pin module (40) and the connection terminal module (50).
  20. A pet care device (1) comprising: a base (10, 20); a pad (30) disposed above the base (10, 20); a pogo pin module (40) configured to receive external power, the pogo pin module (40) comprising a first PCB (41) and a pogo pin (42); and a connection terminal module (50) mounted to the pad (30), the connection terminal module (50) comprising a connection terminal (52) electrically connected to the pogo pin (42), wherein the pogo pin module (40) is movably disposed between the base (10, 20) and the pad (30) in an upward and downward direction, wherein the base (10, 20) comprises a guide rod (14) protruding upward from the base (10, 20), and wherein the pogo pin module (40) comprises a guide hole (44) formed in the pogo pin module (40), the guide rod (14) being fitted into the guide hole (44).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0149780, filed on October 29, 2024 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present disclosure relates to a pet care device, and more particularly to a pet care device in which a pad is disposed above a base so as to allow a pet to be placed thereon. Description of the Related Art As the industry related to pets, such as dogs or cats, is growing, research and development of goods or products related to pets is actively conducted. With the increasing perception of pets as family members, the pet-related industry is expected to continuously grow into a high value-added industry. With the recent growth of such a pet-related industry, health care of pets has been gaining attention as a promising future industry. Various research is being conducted to monitor pets' health conditions, aiming to prevent or diagnose diseases. Conventionally, a pogo pin is used to supply power to a pad that monitors a pet's health conditions. The pogo pin is fixed to an upper portion of the base so as to be connected to a connection terminal disposed at the pad. Thus, if the pogo pin is connected to the connection terminal, a fixed point is created in a connection area between the pogo pin and the connection terminal, causing a problem in that it is difficult to accurately measure biometric information such as a pet's weight. This results in the inconvenience of having to repeat diagnosis multiple times in order to accurately diagnose the pet's health conditions. Further, because the pogo pin and the connection terminal directly receive the loads of the pad and the pet, prolonged use leads to poor electrical connection between the pogo pin and the connection terminal or damage to the pogo pin and the connection terminal. Furthermore, because a module including the pogo pin is disposed on the upper surface of the base, electrical leakage or short circuit may occur due to the pet's bodily fluid or the like falling onto the base. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to providing a pet care device capable of solving the above problems with the related art. Another aspect of the present disclosure may be directed to providing a pet care device capable of accurately measuring a pet's weight while allowing power to be applied to a pad via a base. A further aspect of the present disclosure may be directed to providing a pet care device in which a pogo pin, to which external power is applied, and a connection terminal disposed at a pad are capable of being automatically electrically connected to each other. Still another aspect of the present disclosure may be directed to providing a pet care device capable of discharging a fluid such as a pet's bodily fluid to the outside without contact with various electronic elements. Still another aspect of the present disclosure may be directed to providing a pet care device capable of preventing a pogo pin from being completely separated from a base when moving upward. The aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the aspects mentioned above, and other aspects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure for accomplishing the above and other objects, a pet care device may include a base, a pad disposed above the base, a pogo pin module including a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a pogo pin, and a connection terminal module mounted to the pad and including a second PCB and a connection terminal. The pogo pin module may be disposed so as to be movable upward and downward between the base and the pad. A magnet may be mounted to at least one of the pogo pin module or the connection terminal module so that the pogo pin module moves upward due to the magnetic force of the magnet to be electrically connected to the connection terminal module. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pet care device may include a base, a pad disposed above the base, a pogo pin module configured to receive external power and including a first PCB and a pogo pin, and a connection terminal module mounted to the pad and including a connection terminal electrically connected to the pogo pin. The pogo pin module may be disposed so as to be movable upward and downward between the base and the pad, and one or more weight sensing elements may be disposed between the base and the pad. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pet care device may include a base, a pad disposed above the base, a pogo pin module configured to receive external power and including a first PCB and a pogo pin, and a connection terminal module mounted to the pad and including a connection terminal electrically connected to the pogo pin. The pogo pin module may be disposed so as to be