GB2333437A

GB2333437A - Bait station

Info

Publication number: GB2333437A
Application number: GB9901220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Morley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-21
Filing date: 1999-01-21
Publication date: 1999-07-28
Also published as: GB9901220D0; GB9801163D0

Abstract

The invention relates to bait stations primarily for poison, but which could serve as a live trap for rodents comprising a housing, a partition 4 across the housing to form a bait compartment to one side and an access passageway to the other side, at least one entrance to the passageway through a wall of the housing, an access opening 9 in the partition to connect the passageway to the bait compartment, a closure 33 for the access opening, movable between an inoperative position where it is clear of the access opening, the closure 33 shuting on lifting or tilting of the bait station, to allow the closure to move to a position where the access opening is closed. The closure may shut when triggered by an animal.

Description

BAIT STATION This invention relates to bait stations and is concerned with such stations as are used either to poison relatively large rodents such as rats, or to entrap relatively large rodents.

The presence of rodents in many locations is unwelcome, and in some locations such as food preparation or dispensing establishments, the presence of such as rats must be eliminated so far as is possible. The elimination of rats such as by poisoning as long been practised, and there are numerous forms of bait station in existence to hold an effective poison such that it is readily accessible by such as rats but not easily accessed by humans. Given that the majority of poisons that are currently in use are in powder or granular form, an essential failing of the majority of bait stations is that if the bait station is moved relatively quickly or violently such as by being accidentally kicked or knocked with such as a brush, or if the bait station is picked up to be transported to another location spillage of the powder or granular poison can occur, with an enforced need to arrange for the complete and effective cleaning of the contaminated area.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bait station that can serve to hold poison with the avoidance of the above identified failing, and which can serve equally as a live entrapment means.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bait station comprises a housing, a partition across the housing to form a bait compartment to one side and an access passageway to the other side, at least one entrance to the passageway through a wall of the housing, an access opening in the partition to connect the passageway to the bait compartment, a closure means for the access opening, movable between an inoperative position where it is clear of the access opening, the closure means being directly or indirectly connectable to a means of holding the closure means clear of the opening said means being such as to release the closure means on lifting or tilting of the bait station, to allow the closure means to move to a position where the access opening is closed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a bait station comprises a housing, a partition across the housing to form a bait compartment to one side and an access passageway to the other, at least one entrance to the passageway through a wall of the housing, an access opening in the partition to connect the passageway to the bait compartment, a closure means for the access opening mounted in close proximity to the partition for movement between an inoperative position where it is clear ofthe access opening to an operative position where it closes the access opening and there being a catch means associated with the partition to hold the closure means in the inoperative position with an associated lever means operable to release the catch means and allow the closure means to swing to the operative position. The closure means may be such as to be capable of movement to the operative position under the effect of gravity, but desirably it is pivotally mounted and a spring means is provided that is tensioned by the swinging of the closure means to its inoperative position to cause a rapid and positive return on the release of the catch.

Preferably, the closure means lies alongside the partition in the passageway, and the catch means may be a pin insertable through a strategically positioned hole in the partition to engage below the closure means when in its inoperative position it being further preferred that the pin is directly attached or integral with the lever means that is located to the opposite side of the partition in the bait compartment. Further preferably the lever means is of a generally L-shape to provide one leg to lie alongside the partition and on which is provided the pin to pass through the strategically placed hole, and a second leg to lie at an angle to the floor of the housing in its operative position, with the junction between the first and the second legs serving as a fulcrum to enable the lever to be swung and extract the pin from the hole.

In the form of construction where the bait station is to hold poison, with the substantial certainty that powder or granular poison cannot be deliberately accessed or accidentally spilled, there may be provided a plunger means in sliding and sealing engagement with an aperture strategically located in the floor of the bait station, the inner end of the plunger being so structure as to enable it to hold the lever means in a position where the pin passes through the hole in the partition. With the bait station in its position, should it be deliberately kicked or accidentally knocked, or should it be lifted, a movement is induced in the plunger that causes the release of the lever with a consequent retraction of the pin and release of the closure means to close the access opening to the bait compartment. The almost instantaneous closure of the access opening offers a substantial guarantee that powder or granular poison cannot be spilled accidentally or deliberately from within the bait station. Alternatively, a plunger means may be provided slidably located in proximity to the partition and positioned adjacent the access opening through the partition, the plunger engaging closure means to hold it in an operative position clear ofthe access opening. With the bait station in this condition, should it be lifted, kicked or accidentally knocked, a movement is induced in the plunger, to release the closure means to close the access opening to the bait compartment. Here again, the closure means can be allowed to fall by gravity, but preferably it is pivotal and spring-loaded towards its closure position.

It is preferred that the housing has an openable lid lockable onto the housing to prevent easy access to poison that is contained therein. For example, the lid may be hinged to the housing. Thus the lid may be lifted and the bait compartment loaded with poison, the plunger lifted by the hand and brought into contact with the lever, following which the lid can be replaced and the bait station located at its position of use. To extend the useful life of a bait station and avoid the relatively frequent reloading of it, the upper part of the bait compartment may be adapted to serve the purpose of a hopper such as by positioning one or more inclined panels across the width of the bait compartment, with the lowermost edge of the or each panel in close proximity to a respective wall of the housing. Thus, relatively large amounts of poison can be placed in the upper part of the bait compartment that can gradually progress down the or each inclined panel and into the lower part of the bait compartment to be accessed by a rat or the like.

It is further preferred that two entrances are provided to the passageway each in a respective wall ofthe housing and the entrances positioned in line. This allows a rat or the like to see through the passageway with a consequent reduction of any inhibition there may be to a rat or the like entering the passageway to follow the scent of the poison.

In the circumstance where the bait station is to serve as a live trap, an essentially similar construction would be involved as is referred to above, save for the dispensing of panels to form a hopper in the bait compartment. Here, the lever may be provided with a platform on which food can be located, or so positioned as to be unavoidably trodden on by a rat or the like attempting to reach food in the bait compartment, the movement of the lever causing the retraction of the pin and the swinging of the closure means to close the access opening to the bait compartment and hence hold the rat or the like in it until such time as an operative checks the bait station and removes the entrapped rat or the like.

In either form of construction, the bait station may be formed of an appropriate plastics material The lever and pin may equally be formed as a moulding of plastics material or could equally be formed from metal wire.

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bait station in accordance with the invention Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hopper forming plates of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation from one side of the partition of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end view ofthe partition of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an elevation from the opposite side of the partition of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a section through the bait station of Figure 1 and showing the lever in its position holding the closure means in its inoperative position; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows the lever in its position following the release of the closure means; Figure 8 illustrates a lever with a platform as would be used in a bait station to serve as a live trap.

Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 5 but shows an alternative construction in the open condition; and Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 9 but shows the alternative construction in the closed condition.

In the drawings a bait station 1 is formed by a housing 2 on which a hinged lid 3 is provided.

Within the housing is a partition 4 to create a passageway 5 and a bait compartment 6. The passageway 5 has an entrance 7 in the respective side wall 8 of the housing, and the partition 4 has an access opening 9 to connect the passageway to the bait compartment. As is shown more particularly by Figure 5, the access opening 9 has a closure means 10 in the form of a plate pivotally mounted on the partition. The partition has a holder 11 to engage the plate and hold it in alignment with and thus closing the access opening 9. There is a coil spring 12 on the pivot 13 of the pivotal plate, one leg 14 of which is in engagement with the partition and the other leg 15 of which is in engagement with plate such that with the plate raised to the position indicated to expose the access opening, the spring is put into tension.

As is shown particularly by Figures 6 and 7, a generally L-shaped lever 16 is provided the shorter leg 17 and longer leg 18 of which are at an acute angle, the junction between the legs forming a fulcrurn on which the lever can pivot. At the end of the shorter leg 17 is a pin 19 that in the operative position extends through a hole 20 in the wall of the partition to lie below the plate 10 in its raised position and hence hold the plate in the condition where the access opening 9 is exposed.

The free end of the longer leg 18 extends to a position where it lies below an annular flange 21 on a plunger 22, that passes through an opening 23 in the floor of the housing, contact between the outer face of the plunger and the floor on which the bait station is placed holding the plunger in its operative position. In any circumstance where the bait station is lifted or is slightly tilted such as by the bait station being kicked or otherwise knocked, there is an immediate downward movement of the plunger to cause the flange to engage the outer end of the lever thereby rocking the lever about its fulcrum and retracting the pin 19 from the hole 20, thereby releasing the plate 10 which moves arcuately under the action of the spring 12 to close substantially instantly the access opening 9.

In the circumstance where the bait with the bait compartment is poison, the invention provides a substantial guarantee against the spillage of poison by the deliberate or the accidental movement of the bait station.

In an alternate form of construction, the lever 18, as is shown by Figure 8 has a platform 24, and here, the plunger 21 would not be provided. With conventional bait in the form of a food known to be liked the rodent or the animal to be disposed of placed within the bait compartment, and with the lever positioned such that its pin 19 passes through the opening 20 in the partition wall to hold the plate 10 in its elevated position, a rodent or the like entering in the bait compartment will inevitably tread on the platform 24 to pivot the lever to retract the pin, with the substantially instantaneous closure of the access opening 9 by the plate 10 to trap the rodent or the like within the bait compartment.

In its form of construction where poison is employed, and to avoid the need for the repeated opening ofthe housing to provide a fresh supply of bait, the upper part of the bait compartment can be converted to serve the purpose of a hopper to hold a relatively large amount of bait. Thus, as is shown by Figures 1 and 2 two angled plates 25,26 may be provided and fitted to support bars 27, 28 fitted respectively on the inner wall of the partition and the opposite wall of the housing. The extremities of the angled plates 25,26 lie in close proximity to the adjacent inner surface of the side walls of the bait compartment and terminate in a downwardly directed section 29,30 the edges of which engage support blocks 31,32 strategically positioned on the inner face of the partition and on the opposite inner face of the housing wall.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown an alternative to the operating mechanism illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Here, a plate 33 able to pivot to close the opening 9 in the partition has an extension 34 to engage a recess 35 in a plunger 36 positioned against the partition and slidable brackets 37 and adjacent the opening 9. The plunger extends through an opening 37 in the floor ofthe housing. In normal use, and as is shown in Figure 9, the plunger extends into the housing, is engaged by the extension, and holds the door 33 in a position clear of the opening 9. Should the bait station be lifted, or tilted, there is an immediate downward movement of the plunger, to release the plate and allow it to move arcuately under the action of the spring to close substantially instantaneously the opening 9, and prevent the spillage of poison.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A bait station comprising a housing, a partition across the housing to form a bait compartment to one side and an access passageway to the other side, at least one entrance to the passageway through a wall of the housing, an access opening in the partition to connect the passageway to the bait compartment, a closure means for the access opening, movable between an inoperative position where it is clear of the access opening, the closure means being directly or indirectly connectable to a means of holding the closure means clear of the opening said means being such as to release the closure means on lifting or tilting of the bait station, to allow the closure means to move to a position where the access opening is closed.
2. A bait station comprising a housing, a partition across the housing to form a bait compartment to one side and an access passageway to the other, at least one entrance to the passageway through a wall of the housing, an access opening in the partition to connect the passageway to the bait compartment, a closure means for the access opening mounted in close proximity to the partition for movement between an inoperative position where it is clear of the access opening to an operative position where it closes the access opening and there being a catch means associated with the partition to hold the closure means in the inoperative position with an associated lever means operable to release the catch means and allow the closure means to swing to the operative position.
3. A bait station as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the closure means is spring loaded towards the operative position.
4. A bait station as in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the closure means lies alongside the partition in the passageway, and the catch means is a pin insertable through a strategically positioned hole in the partition to engage below the closure means when in its inoperative position.
5. A bait station as in Claim 4 wherein the pin is directly attached or integral with the lever means that is located to the opposite side of the partition in the bait compartment.
6. A bait station as in Claim 5 wherein the lever means is of a generally L-shape to provide one leg to lie alongside the partition and on which is provided the pin to pass through the strategically placed hole, and a second leg to lie at an angle to the floor of the housing in its operative position, with the junction between the first and the second legs serving as a fillcrum to enable the lever to be swung and extract the pin from the hole.
7. A bait station as in any of Claims 1 to 6, in the form of construction where the bait station is to hold poison, a plunger means is provided in sliding and sealing engagement with an aperture strategically located in the floor of the bait station, the inner end of the plunger being so structure as to enable it to hold the lever means in a position where the pin passes through the hole in the partition.
8. A bait station as in any of Claims 1 to 6, in the form of construction where the bait station is to hold poison, a plunger means slidably located in proximity to the partition and positioned adjacent the access opening through the partition, the plunger engaging closure means to hold it in an operative position clear of the access opening.
9. A bait station as in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing has an openable lid lockable onto the housing to prevent easy access to poison that is contained therein.
10. A bait station as in Claim 9, wherein the upper part of the bait compartment is adapted to serve the purpose of a hopper such as by positioning one or more inclined panels across the width of the bait compartment, with the lowermost edge of the or each panel in close proximity to a respective wall of the housing.
11. A bait station as in any of Claims 1 to 6, in the circumstances where the bait station is to serve as a live trap, a lever may be provided with a platform on which food can be located, or so positioned as to be unavoidably trodden on by a rat or the like attempting to reach food in the bait compartment, the movement of the lever causing the retraction of the pin and the swinging of the closure means to close the access opening to the bait compartment and hence hold the rat or the like in it until such time as an operative checks the bait station and removes the entrapped rat or the like.
12. A bait station substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figure 8 or Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.