Patent Application
20180055037
The present invention relates to the field of traps for rats and mice, and in particular relates to traps for use on the ground.
A number of traps are known in the art. Types are known using poison for killing rodents, and further a number of traps are known that are poison free. The poison-free traps generally fall in two categories, these being mechanical traps and electrical traps.
Traditional traps have the disadvantage that it is easy for larger pets, a child, or even a curious adult to trigger the killing means with the paw/hand, thereby causing accidents.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a poison-free trap in which it is very difficult, or preferably impossible, to trigger the killing means with the paw/hand.
A first aspect of the present invention relates to a poison-free rat and/or mouse trap for placement on the ground, the poison-free trap comprising:
A second aspect of the present invention relates to a poison-free rat and/or mouse trap for placement on the ground, the poison-free trap comprising:
When a larger pet, a child, or even a curious adult tries to force the paw/hand through the rat and/or mouse entry opening, the response of withdrawal is immediate due to the unpleasant palpable sensation of the serrated protrusions, thereby avoiding that the paw/hand reaches the killing means.
The use of the term “serrated” or “serrations” in this disclosure will generally be used to refer to an object having teeth, ridges, peaks, points, projections and/or protrusions extending from the surface thereof. These serrations can be of any shape, preferably having points or sharp edges. Further, although a serration is generally referred to as extending from a surface, one of skill in the art would recognize that a serration may be formed by removing portions of a surface to form valleys, troughs or the like resulting in the creation of corresponding serrations extending from a new surface.
Electrical traps are characterised by the killing mechanism being an electrical shock device almost instantly killing the rodent. Mechanical traps are characterised by killing means that strikes the rodent and almost instantly kills the rodent. The killing means in mechanical traps are normally spring driven or gas pressure driven.
In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall of the housing is configured as an open-ended tunnel, the tunnel being configured and sized to allow a rat and/or mouse to pass from one end to the other; wherein the rat and/or mouse entry opening is positioned a1) in the side wall and/or a2) in an open end, and b) in the upper wall of the open-ended tunnel. The open-ended configuration allows the rat and/or mouse to see through the tunnel to the other side of the trap, whereby it will not hesitate entering the trap.
In one or more embodiments, the open-ended tunnel is configured with an open bottom, such that a rat and/or mouse within the open-ended tunnel is walking on the ground on which the poison-free trap is positioned. This configuration makes the rat and/or mouse to feel more safe, and thereby more prone to stay within the open-ended tunnel.
In one or more embodiments, the entry opening is positioned in both the side wall and in an open end of the open-ended tunnel. This configuration makes it easier for the killed rat and/or mouse to fall out of the trap, such that a predator, e.g. a fox, can remove it from the trap.
In one or more embodiments, the killing means of the mechanical and/or electrical killing device is positioned at a level above the level of the rat and/or mouse entry opening such that the rat and/or mouse can reach the killing means when standing within the housing on their hind legs. This configuration increases the number of times that a rat and/or mouse entering the trap will encounter the killing means.
The dimensions of the rat and/or mouse entry opening are important. A narrow entry opening below 40 mm will partly solve the problem with reaching the killing means, however, a rat is not prone to not enter such a narrow entry opening.
In one or more embodiments, the rat and/or mouse entry opening and the one or more rows of serrated protrusions are sized and configured to leave an opening with a free height of at least 40 mm, such as within the range of 40-100 mm, e.g. at least 45 mm, such as within the range of 45-95 mm, e.g. at least 50 mm, such as within the range of 50-90 mm, e.g. at least 55 mm, such as within the range of 55-85 mm, e.g. at least 60 mm, such as within the range of 60-80 mm, e.g. at least 65 mm, such as within the range of 70-75 mm, e.g. at least 70 mm.
In one or more embodiments, the rat and/or mouse entry opening and the one or more rows of serrated protrusions are sized and configured to leave an opening with a clear width of at least 40 mm, such as within the range of 40-100 mm, e.g. at least 45 mm, such as within the range of 45-95 mm, e.g. at least 50 mm, such as within the range of 50-90 mm, e.g. at least 55 mm, such as within the range of 55-85 mm, e.g. at least 60 mm, such as within the range of 60-80 mm, e.g. at least 65 mm, such as within the range of 70-75 mm, e.g. at least 70 mm.
In one or more embodiments, at least the top entrance section of the rat and/or mouse entry opening is lined with one or more rows of serrated protrusions. This position is important, as the paw/hand of an “intruder” will seek upwards.
In one or more embodiments, the trap comprises means for securing the housing to the ground and/or to a wall near the ground, to avoid that the trap can be turned on its side. Such means may be bolts or earth anchors.
In one or more embodiments, a part of the side wall is configured as a door with a lock for restricted access to the killing device located within the housing.
Advantageously the killing device is a gas cartridge operated device. Such device has shown to be appropriate for such installation. Other types of killing devices may however also be used without limiting the scope of the invention.
The gas cartridge operated device, as well as other non-electrical devices, has the advantage of being usable in APEX areas without the risk of igniting gas or flammable fluid.
Advantageously a signal indicating the activation of the killing device is transmitted wirelessly to a receiving device. Hereby electrical connections between the killing device and a communication device, placed at a distance from the killing device, may be avoided. The communication device eventually has a radio module enabling the device to send SMS messages to a computer.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about”, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.
The open-ended tunnel is configured with an open bottom, such that a rat and/or mouse within the open-ended tunnel is walking on the ground on which the poison-free trap is positioned. This configuration makes the rat and/or mouse to feel more safe, and thereby more prone to stay within the open-ended tunnel. The open-ended configuration allows the rat and/or mouse to see through the tunnel to the other side of the trap, whereby it will not hesitate entering the trap.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16186805.4 | Sep 2016 | EP | regional |
