GB2071980A - Bait holder - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for holding pesticides comprises a bait tray 10 having a base portion 12 and a releasable lid 13. The base portion 12 and lid 13 together define an enclosed passageway 15 extending through the base portion at 12 and open at either end. A bait reservoir 19 is formed in the floor of the passageway intermediate its ends. This construction of the bait tray reduces contamination of the pesticide and prevents casual contact between pets or humans and the pesticide. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bait trays This invention relates to apparatus for holding a pesticide and in particular, but not exclusively, apparatus for holding baited pesticide.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for holding a pesticide comprising a body defining, and extending above, a reservoir for retaining a quantity of pesticide and at least one opening in the body for allowing a pest access to the reservoir.

The opening may be constituted by a passage extending through the body and the reservoir may be disposed in the passageway or accessible therefrom.

The body may comprise a base portion defining the reservoir and a lid or top.

The base portion and/or the lid or top may define the opening.

The lid or top may be removable.

The body may be made of plastics material.

The body may be vacuum-formed.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view from above of a bait tray; Figure 2 is a side view of the bait tray; and Figure 3 is an end view along the arrow A of the tray of Figure 2.

Trays for receiving baited pesticide are known.

Such trays are disposed around pest infested areas.

Generally known trays are flat open trays. Two major problems occur with such trays. First pests, such as mice, frequently run over the trays even when not feeding and the baited pesticide can rapidly become contaminated by the pest's urine and when this occurs the pests cease to feed from the tray.

Secondly many pests are nervous when feeding in the exposed situtation of such trays and in these circumstances they may not eat a fatal dose of the pesticide. Such small doses of the pesticide may also help to build up immunity.

Additionally the pesticide is entirely open in such trays and when they are used in offices and the like this may represent a hazard to health.

Figures 1 to 3 show a bait tray according to the invention, generally indicated at 10. The bait tray 10 is constituted by a body 11 comprising an elongate base portion 12 and a releasable lid 13.

The base portion 12 has upstanding spaced substantially parallel walls 14 defining a passageway 15, which extends between the ends 16 of the base portion 12. Spaced ridges are formed in the floor 18 of passageway 15 on either side of the mid-point of the passageway 15 and spaced therefrom. The ridges 17 and that part of floor 18, which extends between them, define a reservoir 19 for pesticide 20.

The walls 14 are inset adjacenttheirfree edges to provide a seat 21 for lid 13. Indentations 22 are provided at seat 21 to receive corresponding projections 13a on the lid 13, so that lid 13 can be snap-fitted on base portion 12 to cover passageway 15 and to extend above reservoir 19.

In use the bait pesticide will attract the pest for which it is formulated, for example mice, into passageway 15 through an end 16. The pests feed on the pesticide 20 and leave through either the same or the other end 16. Whilst in passageway 15 the pest is surrounded by the base portion 12 and lid 13. Hence the pest will feel more secure than when feeding from an open tray and the pest is therefore more likely to consume a fatal dose.

Further the majority of pests which do not wish to feed will clamber overthe tray 10 rather than pass along passageway 15. The contamination of the pesticide 20 is thus reduced.

The reservoir 19 can readily be refilled by removing lid 13. Lid 13 also may prevent pets or humans in the area having casual contact with pesticide.

The lid 13 may be made in red and may have a warning notice printed or embossed thereon.

The base portion 12 and lid 13 may be vacuumformed from thermo plastics material, such as high impact polystyrene. To assist such manufacture the base portion 12 may taper along its length.

It will be appreciated in an alternative embodiment the base portion 12 may be substantially flat and the lid 13 may provide the passage defining walls 14 and open ends 16.

It will also be appreciated that lidded bait trays are cosmetically more accpetablethan open bait trays.

1. Apparatus for holding a pesticide comprising a body defining, and extending above, a reservoir for retaining a quantity of pesticide and at least one opening in the body for allowing a pest access to the reservoir.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is constituted by a passage extending through the body and wherein the reservoir is disposed in the passageway or is accessible therefrom.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body comprises a base portion including or defining the reservoir and a lid or top.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lid or top is removable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body is made of plastics material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the body is vacuum formed.

7. Apparatus for holding a pesticide substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to as as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bait trays This invention relates to apparatus for holding a pesticide and in particular, but not exclusively, apparatus for holding baited pesticide. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for holding a pesticide comprising a body defining, and extending above, a reservoir for retaining a quantity of pesticide and at least one opening in the body for allowing a pest access to the reservoir. The opening may be constituted by a passage extending through the body and the reservoir may be disposed in the passageway or accessible therefrom. The body may comprise a base portion defining the reservoir and a lid or top. The base portion and/or the lid or top may define the opening. The lid or top may be removable. The body may be made of plastics material. The body may be vacuum-formed. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view from above of a bait tray; Figure 2 is a side view of the bait tray; and Figure 3 is an end view along the arrow A of the tray of Figure 2. Trays for receiving baited pesticide are known. Such trays are disposed around pest infested areas. Generally known trays are flat open trays. Two major problems occur with such trays. First pests, such as mice, frequently run over the trays even when not feeding and the baited pesticide can rapidly become contaminated by the pest's urine and when this occurs the pests cease to feed from the tray. Secondly many pests are nervous when feeding in the exposed situtation of such trays and in these circumstances they may not eat a fatal dose of the pesticide. Such small doses of the pesticide may also help to build up immunity. Additionally the pesticide is entirely open in such trays and when they are used in offices and the like this may represent a hazard to health. Figures 1 to 3 show a bait tray according to the invention, generally indicated at 10. The bait tray 10 is constituted by a body 11 comprising an elongate base portion 12 and a releasable lid 13. The base portion 12 has upstanding spaced substantially parallel walls 14 defining a passageway 15, which extends between the ends 16 of the base portion 12. Spaced ridges are formed in the floor 18 of passageway 15 on either side of the mid-point of the passageway 15 and spaced therefrom. The ridges 17 and that part of floor 18, which extends between them, define a reservoir 19 for pesticide 20. The walls 14 are inset adjacenttheirfree edges to provide a seat 21 for lid 13. Indentations 22 are provided at seat 21 to receive corresponding projections 13a on the lid 13, so that lid 13 can be snap-fitted on base portion 12 to cover passageway 15 and to extend above reservoir 19. In use the bait pesticide will attract the pest for which it is formulated, for example mice, into passageway 15 through an end 16. The pests feed on the pesticide 20 and leave through either the same or the other end 16. Whilst in passageway 15 the pest is surrounded by the base portion 12 and lid 13. Hence the pest will feel more secure than when feeding from an open tray and the pest is therefore more likely to consume a fatal dose. Further the majority of pests which do not wish to feed will clamber overthe tray 10 rather than pass along passageway 15. The contamination of the pesticide 20 is thus reduced. The reservoir 19 can readily be refilled by removing lid 13. Lid 13 also may prevent pets or humans in the area having casual contact with pesticide. The lid 13 may be made in red and may have a warning notice printed or embossed thereon. The base portion 12 and lid 13 may be vacuumformed from thermo plastics material, such as high impact polystyrene. To assist such manufacture the base portion 12 may taper along its length. It will be appreciated in an alternative embodiment the base portion 12 may be substantially flat and the lid 13 may provide the passage defining walls 14 and open ends 16. It will also be appreciated that lidded bait trays are cosmetically more accpetablethan open bait trays. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for holding a pesticide comprising a body defining, and extending above, a reservoir for retaining a quantity of pesticide and at least one opening in the body for allowing a pest access to the reservoir.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is constituted by a passage extending through the body and wherein the reservoir is disposed in the passageway or is accessible therefrom.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body comprises a base portion including or defining the reservoir and a lid or top.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lid or top is removable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body is made of plastics material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the body is vacuum formed.

7. Apparatus for holding a pesticide substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to as as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.