AU2010100265A4 - Rodent Baiting Station - Google Patents

Description

- 1 Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2B Original Complete Specification for Innovation Patent Invention Title: Method and apparatus for rodent and pest control The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to the applicant: Technical Field The invention described herein relates to a method and apparatus for rodent and pest control in public places. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and 5 apparatus for mounting a bait station within or to a public utility structure located in or near a public place, although the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Background Art Rodent infestation is a problem endemic to many urban areas. Factors which contribute to rodent proliferation in urban areas include improperly stored refuse, lack of 10 sanitation, abandoned properties, food and waste, etc. Rodents can damage infrastructure, consume foodstuffs and contaminate them with their fur, urine and faeces, and affect public health by the transmission of infectious diseases. The control and elimination of Rodents present certain challenges in relation to aesthetics, safety and health hazards. This is further understood when considering the 15 limitations and risks of existing methods of rodent control which mainly involve the use of traps and poisonous bait. Traps such as multiple catch traps, snap traps and glue traps are most useful against relatively small rodents such as mice or rats. However, such traps cannot be used in public places such as streets, parks and shopping malls as they present risks to children, and non 20 targeted animals such as pets and wildlife. A large number of traps are normally required for large rodent infestations, and must be checked regularly. Therefore, the use of traps is generally too labour-intensive and time consuming to be practical against large infestations.

-2 Baiting is another means of rodent control. This is a more efficient and timely method of rodent control, which can be more suitably targeted against large rodent infestations. There are three main groups of active ingredients for bait. Acute rodenticide acts 5 within 24 hours; sub-acute rodenticide may take several days to take effect; and chronic rodenticide such as anticoagulants act slowly and generally takes 5 - 7 days to cause death. The main disadvantage of baiting is that the rodenticide bait is highly toxic and if access to the bait is not carefully controlled and managed, it may harm people, pets and other non-targeted animals such as wildlife. It can also contaminate the environment, for 10 example, through contamination of waterways. Tamper-resistant bait stations such as the one described in United States Patent 5272832 may be used to prevent children and non targeted animals from accessing the bait. These tamper-resistant bait stations consists of a container having an opening which permits a target pest to enter and exit, an internal chamber with a lid for storing bait and a locking mechanism which prevents children and 15 non-targeted animals from accessing the bait. However, most known tamper-resistant bait stations as described above are portable standalone devices which must be secured, e.g. by fixing to the ground, to prevent unauthorised removal. Moreover, they are obtrusive and aesthetically unattractive, which often makes them unsuitable for use in public places. They may also constitute trip hazards 20 when used in public places. Other bait station devices in the market today are disguised in a rock/sandstone shaped housing to blend in with natural outdoor garden settings. However, these bait stations can be easily removed as they are not secured to the ground. Moreover, they are unsuitable for use in urban settings where there is limited greenery. 25 It is an aim of the invention to provide apparatus for rodent and pest control which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful choice.

-3 Summary of the Invention In one broad form, the invention provides a method of rodent or pest control in public places, comprising the step of mounting a bait station within, or to, a public utility structure located in or near a public place. The bait station may be any suitable device for holding a 5 toxic bait for rodents or other pests or vermin. This invention permits a bait station to be used safely and effectively yet unobtrusively in a public place by incorporating the bait station into the public utility structure. The public utility structure may be lamp post, power pole, sign post, traffic post, bollard, rubbish bin, or other structure commonly found in a public place. 10 In one embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for use in rodent or pest control, the apparatus comprising a housing operatively having a bait station therein and adapted to be mounted in or to a public utility structure. Typically, the housing is adapted to be fitted around a post component of a public utility structure located in or near a public place, such as a lamp post, power pole, sign 15 post, traffic post, or post support for a rubbish bin. For this purpose, the housing may suitably be in multi-part annular form and adapted to be wrapped or fastened around the post, typically at the base thereof, with each corner of the base of the housing fastened to the ground with fixing points. This enables the housing to be retro-fitted to an existing public utility structure. In this manner, the bait can be located in or near the public place, 20 yet the housing forms an unobtrusive part of the public utility structure and does not interfere with the public's use of the public place. According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a public utility structure having at least one bait station therein. Typically, the public utility structure has a cavity therein and the bait station is located 25 within the cavity on a base mounted above the ground. The public utility structure may be a bollard, or the enlarged base of a structure, and suitably includes at least two openings permitting access and egress to a rodent or other targeted pest. Again, the bait can be located unobtrusively in or near the public place by being hidden within the public utility structure, and does not interfere with the public's use of the public place.

-4 Preferably, the bait station is rebaitable. That is, the bait may be replaced or renewed, so that the bait station is reusable. Preferably, the apparatus or public utility structure has at least one inspection/access window with a vandal-proof lockable hinged or removable cover, to permit inspection of 5 the bait, re-bait and clean the internal area. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings 10 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a streetscape showing several utility structures which can incorporate a bait station according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bollard incorporating a bait station according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an internal cavity of the bollard of figure 2. 15 Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bait station within the internal cavity of the bollard of figure 2. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sign post incorporating a bait station according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is an exploded view of the base of the sign post of figure 5. 20 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a rubbish bin post incorporating a bait station according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the bait station of figure 7 with top removed. Figure 9 is a perspective view of another rubbish bin having a bait station mounted thereto according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 25 Figure 10 is perspective view showing the bait station of figure 9 with cover removed.

-5 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Public places typically have various structures which perform some utility function. Figure 1 illustrates a typical streetscape in which a variety of public utility structures are present, such as bollards 10, a sign post 30, traffic lights 3, street lights 5, a single rubbish 5 bin 50 and a multiple rubbish bin 70. Some public utility structures have a cylindrical supporting pole and some have rectangular or square bases directly contacting the ground. In preferred embodiments of the invention, a bait station is mounted within or to one or more of such public utility structures to enable the bait station to operate in a safe and unobtrusive manner in a public place. 10 Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a bollard 10 incorporating a rodent bait station according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The bollard 10 has a base with an internal cavity or chamber (obscured in Fig. 2) within which the bait station is mounted in use; a removable lockable cover 11 for providing access to the cavity and baiting the bait station; and a pair of openings 12 (only one shown) on opposite sides of the base, which may be 15 used by rodents to enter or exit the cavity containing the bait station. An inspection/access window 21 is provided on the cover 11 for observing the bait station, to-rebait and clean the internal area. The internal cavity 13 at the base of the bollard 10 is shown more clearly in fig. 3. A bait station 14 is fitted inside the cavity 13 on a bait tray with preferably cut-in/bevelled 20 corners 23 to allow sufficient space for electrical cables to be fitted in the corners of the bollard. The bait tray 15 is mounted above the ground. The bait station comprises a bait tray 15 with a recessed portion 16; and a pin 17 positioned over the bait tray 15 and held in place by a pair of spaced retaining members 18, 19 through which the pin may slide. The pin can be retracted from engagement with one of the retaining members and its end lifted 25 to enable a piece of bait material 20 to be secured onto the pin 17. The pin can then be re inserted into the retaining member, with the bait material positioned in the recessed portion 16 of the bait tray 15 as shown in figure 3. The inspection/access window 21 permits the bait station 14 to be monitored so that the bait material 20 can be rebaited when necessary and the bait station cleaned.

-6 As shown in figure 4, the bait tray 15 of bait station 14 is supported in an elevated position by a (optional) supporting post 22 made of mesh-like material. Rodents can climb the post 22 to access the bait material. In use, the bait station 14 is unobtrusively housed within the bollard 10 and the bait 5 material also is safely retained within the bollard. Rodents and other vermin can access the bait station to sample the bait, and then exit the bollard 10 to die elsewhere subsequently. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a sign post 30 incorporating a retro-fitted rodent bait station according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The bait station 31 is mounted within an internal cavity or chamber in a housing 32 at the base of the sign post 10 30. The base of the bait station 31 is mounted off the ground. The housing 32 has a pair of openings 33, 34 through which rodents may enter and exit the cavity containing the bait station 31; and an inspection/access window 41 with a hinged lockable cover 42 (obscured in fig. 5). As shown more clearly in figure 6, the housing 32 comprises two halves 35, 36 for 15 retro-fitting around the outside of a sign post 30 and bolted/screwed on each corner by fixing points 43 to the ground to keep the housing in place and prevent movement. The openings 33, 34 are located on opposite sides of the first half 35 of the housing 32, near the bottom thereof, and aligned. The bait station 31 is of generally similar construction to that illustrated in figure 3, 20 and comprises a pin 39 held in place by a pair of spaced supporting members 40 on the second half 36 near the hinged lockable inspection/access window 41. The bait material (not shown) can be secured to the pin 39 in the usual manner. The inspection/access window 41 allows convenient monitoring of the bait station 31 and access for rebaiting and cleaning when required. An operator may also inspect the internal cavity to ensure that 25 rodents are not using the utility structure as a nesting area. The second embodiment is suitable for retro-fitting to existing sign posts, or other poles. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a rubbish bin 50 incorporating a bait station according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bait station 51 is 30 located within a cylindrical housing 52 with a removable vandal-proof lockable cover-lid -7 over each chamber 53. The cylindrical lockable housing 52 is made up of two halves 54, 55 which can be retro-fitted around the supporting post of the rubbish bin 50. Each half of the housing 54, 55 comprises a pair of diametrically aligned openings 56, 59, 57, 58. Each half of the housing 54, 55 further comprises a mounting means for the bait station 51. The 5 bait station in each half of the housing comprises a pin 60 either suspended in cut-out notches or held in place by a pair of spaced supporting members 61. The bait material (not shown) can be secured to the pin 60 in the usual manner. The cover over each chamber 53 may be removed or lifted to permit an operator to monitor the bait level and ensure that rodents are not using the housing as a nesting area, to 10 re-bait and to clean the internal area, without disassembling the bait station. This embodiment allows a bait station to be installed under an existing rubbish bin without affecting aesthetics or creating safety hazards. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the housing can be formed as one piece and fitted onto the post when the bin is installed, with removable vandal-proof lockable 15 cover-lids over each half of the housing to inspect, clean and re-bait. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a multiple rubbish bin 70 having a bait station on the outside thereof, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bait station 71 is located in a housing secured to an outer wall 72 of the rubbish bin 70, at the base thereof. 20 As shown more clearly in figure 10, the housing comprises a bracket 73 which, in use, is mounted to the wall 72 of the rubbish bin 70 with the base of the bracket slightly off the ground (high enough to enable water to pass underneath but low enough to enable rodents to enter and exit the openings in the housing); and a removable cover 74 which can be fitted and locked to the bracket 73. 25 The sides of the bracket 73 have a curve to align with the rodent entry and exit openings on the removable cover. As with previous embodiments, the bait station comprises a pin supported by a pair of spaced retaining members 77. In use, the bait material is secured to the pin. The cover 74 has a pair of openings 75 at its opposite end faces. The openings 75 30 permit rodents to enter and exit the cavity containing the bait station 31.

-8 The cover is secured by a lock 78 to prevent vandalism and wild animals consuming the bait material, but can be removed to allow monitoring of the bait station, rebaiting and cleaning of the internal area. The foregoing embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without 5 limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the housing or the public utility structure may be provided with one or more vents, and the bait station may include a deodorising preparation, so that the apparatus or public utility structure serves as a deodoriser diffuser for streetscape applications. 10 Accordingly, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation described and illustrated, but only by the following claims which are intended to include all suitable modifications and equivalents permitted by the applicable law. The term "comprise" and variants of that term such as "comprises" or "comprising" 15 are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required. Reference to prior art disclosures in this specification is not an admission that the disclosures constitute common general knowledge in Australia. 20

Claims (5)

1. Apparatus for use in rodent or pest control, the apparatus comprising a housing operatively having a bait station therein, said housing being adapted to be mounted in or to a public utility structure.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be fitted around a post component of the public utility structure.

3. A public utility structure having at least one bait station fitted thereto.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim I or 2, or a public utility structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bait station is rebaitable.

5. A method of rodent or pest control in public places, comprising the step mounting a bait station within or to a public utility structure located in or near a public place. Date: 19 March 2010