At a glance
| Patent number | CN207870035U (application CN201820082939.0) |
| Type | China utility model (实用新型) - protects product shape and structure |
| Original title | Fountain-type pet drinking device (喷泉式宠物饮水装置) |
| Patent owner / inventor | Individual inventor - Huang Wenbi (黄文笔) |
| Filing date | 2018-01-18 |
| Grant date | 2018-09-18 |
| Status (China) | Granted; a utility model lasts at most 10 years from filing - expires no later than 2028-01-18 |
| Patent family | Only this Chinese patent - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 87 later patent documents, including pet water dispensers from major appliance makers |
| Classification | A01K 7/02 - automatic drinking devices for animals |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN207870035U) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 (the main claim) - a pet drinking fountain made of:
- a water basin with a space to hold water;
- a trumpet-shaped middle shell removably placed in the basin;
- a water pump in the basin under the shell;
- a water storage dish on top of the shell, with a hollow tube running down its center to the pump outlet, a raised collar around the tube and at least one drain hole outside the collar;
- a spray head on top of the dish with at least one outlet nozzle and a second tube that plugs into the first tube, and a cover plate on top.
Claims 2-10 (optional features) add: a filter with an umbrella-shaped gasket under the dish; an external or built-in UV sterilizer; a petal-shaped basin rim; a decorative cover plate; small holes in the middle shell; and an LED indicator that shines through those holes.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
A patent only protects an invention in the countries where it is granted. This patent was filed only in China, and no US or other foreign family member is listed. On its own, it does not restrict making or selling this design in the United States.
Before production, keep in mind:
- Other patents may exist. This patent has been cited by 87 later filings, several of them pet water dispensers from other companies, some filed in the US. A similar product may touch someone else’s US utility or design patent. A freedom-to-operate (FTO) search by a US patent attorney is recommended before volume production.
- The inventor’s address is in Taiwan. Taiwanese filings are not always linked to the Chinese family in patent databases; an FTO search should also check Taiwan and US design patents.
- China is protected until 2028. Until then, making or selling this design in China would need the owner’s permission.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Compact (about 1.5 L) for one cat, standard (about 2.5 L) for two or three pets, large (about 4 L) for dogs - sizes to be confirmed in design |
| Basin material | BPA-free food-contact plastic (PP or similar); stainless-steel or ceramic basin as a premium version |
| Pump & power | Quiet 5 V DC pump with a USB cable and adapter; adapter certified for the target market |
| Filtration | Ring filter with cotton, activated carbon and resin as in the patent; simplified foam pre-filter for a budget version |
| UV sterilizer | Without UV, external clip-on UV module, or built-in UV module |
| Status light | No light, power light only, or low-water / filter-change reminders |
| Decorative top | Flower, paw, cat, logo or custom shape; interchangeable tops as accessories |
| Colors & branding | Custom colors, logo on the basin, retail box, inserts and manual |
Compliance to plan for (US market)
- Food-contact materials - plastics that touch water should meet FDA food-contact requirements.
- Electrical parts - the power adapter and any UV module should carry the certifications retailers ask for (for example UL-listed adapters, FCC where applicable).
- Marketplace rules - Amazon and other platforms may ask for test reports for electrical pet products.
We help organize testing with the factory; the exact list depends on the final design and sales channel.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - target market, size, features and quantity.
- Design - we turn the patent drawings into a product design: dimensions, materials, pump and filter specs.
- Prototype - 3D-printed or soft-tooled samples for testing water flow, noise and splashing.
- Tooling & pilot run - injection molds, a small batch and quality checks.
- Production - volume production, packaging and shipping.
Quantities & timeline
Plastic products need injection molds, so the first order covers tooling. Small sellers can start with a modest first batch on shared or simplified tooling; brands planning volume get the lowest unit cost with dedicated molds. Send us your target quantity and price point, and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
