GB2393628A

GB2393628A - Rodent trap

Info

Publication number: GB2393628A
Application number: GB0222700A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Levesley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-01
Filing date: 2002-10-01
Publication date: 2004-04-07
Also published as: GB0222700D0; WO2004030451A3; WO2004030451A2; AU2003271875A1

Abstract

A rodent trap 6 comprises an enclosure 1 with at least one aperture 4, to allow access for a rodent, and a trap mechanism comprising a striker 23, a trip lever 19, and a failsafe means 14. The failsafe means 14 has an inoperative position (see figure 2) and an operative position (see figure 3). The trap will only become activated once the failsafe mechanism 14 is released so the trap is less susceptible to inadvertent actuation. A further embodiment comprises a removable cartridge 7 suitable for use in a rodent trap 6, which may have at its open end 35 a door 32 that can only be opened from outside the cartridge 7. Also disclosed is a bait for an animal trap comprising a laminar member having an animal-attracting odour.

Description

RODENT TRAP

This invention relates to animal traps. It is particularly intended to be 5 used to catch rodents, such as household mice or rats.

The most common, and simple, of rodent traps comprise a wooden base having a spring-mounted bar and securing means attached thereto. A small spike on a trigger arm supports bait, which, when moved by a 10 rodent releases the securing means thereby allowing the spring-mounted bar to pivot, under force from the spring, through 180 and strike the rodent. This type of mouse trap has many disadvantages. For example, due to the sensitive nature of the triggering mechanism it is possible for a user to injure their fingers when setting or moving the trap as vibrations 15 can cause premature actuation. Also, as the rodent is caught and killed between the spring-mounted bar and the wooden base there is the further problem of contamination and soiling of the trap.

An improved mouse trap is known from US 5 706 601 that describes a 20 trap comprising a tubular cover, closed at one end, into which an enclosure, such as a disposable plastic bag, is inserted. A trap mechanism principally comprising a pressure pad, a trigger member and a spring-loaded striker is located towards the closed end of the tubular cover/enclosure. Bait is placed inside, at the closed end, so that when a 25 rodent is attracted by the bait and enters the trap, the spring-loaded striker is released when the rodent is fully inside. To empty the trap, the striker is withdrawn so that the enclosure can be sealed and then removed from the tubular cover for disposal. Although this trap is an improvement over the simple trap, the striker mechanism is exposed and could be 30 actuated accidentally. Therefore, there remains the risk of injury to the

user. Furthermore, the contaminated enclosure needs to be touched by the user in order to be sealed and there is a chance that the plastic could become punctured upon actuation of the striker, causing a sanitation problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a rodent trap comprises an enclosure having at least one aperture to allow access for a rodent, a spring-loaded striker, a trip lever and a failsafe means, said failsafe means having an inoperative and an operative position, in which in 10 inoperative position the failsafe means engages the trip lever thereby rendering the striker inoperable, in the operative position the failsafe means is disengaged from the trip lever and the striker can be actuated.

15 This invention therefore provides a rodent trap that overcomes several problems of previous traps as the failsafe means ensures that the striker cannot be activated by vibration, dropping or kicking the trap. It is only when a rodent enters the trap that the failsafe is removed and the striker can be triggered.

Preferably, the enclosure is constructed such that the trap mechanism is completely enclosed. The user is thereby protected from the mechanism and the risk of injury is substantially reduced.

25 The trip lever may have a cam to assist the actuation of the trap.

Furthermore, the trip lever may have a resilient portion that biases the trip lever against releasing the striker such that the trip lever will return to a position where it supports the striker when the trap is reset. This is advantageous as user contact with the mechanism is reduced.

( The resilient portion of the trip lever may be in the form of a compression spring. Preferably, the resilient portion is formed integrally with the trip lever.

5 Preferably, the failsafe means comprises a failsafe lever and a spring means that is adapted to urge the failsafe lever into an inoperative, failsafe position. The failsafe means will therefore be urged to an inoperative position when the trap is reset, without user intervention.

Most preferably, the spring means is a resilient elongate member that is 10 formed integrally with the failsafe lever.

The spring-loaded striker may have spaced, parallel striker arms joined at one end by a striker bar and at the other end by a pivot.

15 Preferably, the rodent trap further includes a removable cartridge having a closed end and an open end through which it is adapted to receive the striker arms. As the striker is disposed within the cartridge, when a rodent is caught, the rodent's body is contained within the cartridge and can be easily and hygienically removed from the trap and disposed of.

20 Also, as the operating movement of the striker bar is small, from the top of the cartridge to the bottom, it provides a quick and instant death for the rodent. Preferably, the enclosure has two, aligned apertures to allow access for a 25 rodent. This is advantageous as it is common for rodents to move along the edges of rooms and therefore placement of a trap with two apertures adjacent to a wall does not disturb the rodent's behavioural patterns.

The enclosure may further include a removable lid to provide access to 30 the cartridge and mechanism.

( Preferably, the enclosure has a further aperture adapted to receive the cartridge for loading into the trap and removal thereof. This aperture provides a trap that is easy to use and operate with a cartridge.

The cartridge may have a door at its open end that is biased by a resilient portion into a closed position and is such that it can only be opened from the outside of the cartridge. Thus, when the cartridge containing a dead rodent is removed from the trap enclosure, the cartridge door is held shut 10 by the resilient portion and the user does not see the contents. Also, the body of the rodent is unable to accidentally exit the cartridge.

Preferably, the door of the cartridge has a protruding tab that is adapted to co-operate with the failsafe means. Pivoting of the cartridge door 15 thereby causes the door tab to move the failsafe means from an inoperative, failsafe position to an operative position. Therefore, the trap will only be primed for actuation once a rodent has disturbed the door and entered the cartridge.

20 The failsafe may further comprise a resilient flap adapted to cooperate with a latch on the cartridge so that the failsafe means cannot return to an inoperative condition once it has been moved to an operative position, until the trap is manually reset. Thus, the mechanism remains primed after the door has been disturbed.

The striker may have a limb that extends outside the removable cartridge, said limb having a tab at its free end for the purpose of covering an enclosure window when the striker arm is in a lowered position to indicate that the trap has been actuated. The tab may be of coloured 30 plastics or painted.

( Preferably, the enclosure has internal walls that delimit the path the rodent may take in the trap towards the bait. It is then clear which parts of the trap have come into contact with the rodent. Appropriate 5 structuring of the internal walls can protect parts of the trap that the user may have to touch.

The enclosure may further comprise internal guide walls to guide the cartridge into an exact position. Preferably the guide walls have slots to 10 receive the mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a rodent trap includes a spring-loaded striker having striker arms and a removable cartridge having an elongate hollow body with a closed end and an open end, the 15 open end having a door so adapted that it can only be opened from outside the cartridge, the striker and cartridge being constructed and arranged such that in use the striker arms extend within the cartridge and on removal of the cartridge the door is resiliently biassed into a closed position. The trap therefore provides a hygienic means for catching and disposing of rodents, as killing and storage of the rodent's body occurs within the cartridge. 25 According to a third aspect of the invention, a removable cartridge for a rodent trap comprises an elongate hollow body having a closed end and an open end, the open end having a door so adapted that it can only be opened from outside the cartridge, the cartridge being for use with the rodent trap of the second aspect of the invention.

( The use of a removable cartridge provides a reliable means for extracting a dead rodent from the trap. The cartridge door prevents the dead rodent from accidentally exiting the cartridge.

5 Preferably, the door of the cartridge has a spring that urges the door into a closed position. The spring may be of the form of a resilient portion formed integrally with the door.

There may be a spike for supporting bait that extends from the inside face 10 of the closed end of the cartridge. The rodent will therefore be lured l fully inside the cartridge as the bait is secured at the closed end.

In preference to the spike, the body of the cartridge may have a slot located towards the closed end for inserting bait. The bait slot may be 15 adapted to receive a bait card comprising a laminar member having an odour. The bait card is preferably inpregnated with the odour.

Therefore, bait can easily be interchanged between cartridges for the purpose of attracting different types of rodent. Using a bait card avoids the problems associated with loading the trap with household foods, such 20 as chocolate or cheese.

Preferably, the cartridge is made from inexpensive and disposable materials such as plastic coated cardboard or plastics. The cartridge can then be suitably disposed of, instead of being emptied and reused.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a bait for an animal trap comprises a laminar member having an odour for attracting animals.

Preferably, the laminar member is of paper-based material. The laminar 30 member may alternatively be of plastics or textiles.

( The odour may be emitted by an appropriate chemical that is formulated to attract animals.

5 The laminar member may be impregnated with an odour-emitting substance. However, the odour-emitting substance could be applied to the surface of the laminar member.

Preferably, the odour-emitting substance is of a concentration strong 10 enough to attract an animal in the vicinity of the trap and weak enough to be substantially undetectable by a user.

Preferably, the odour-emitting substance is of sufficient concentration that it remains effective at attracting animals for a period of approximately a 15 week. It is preferable that the laminar member having an odour is sealed during manufacture as to retain the initial concentration of the odour before use.

20 An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l shows an exploded perspective view of a rodent trap and cartridge; Figure 2 shows a partial side view of the trap mechanism in a set and inoperable failsafe condition; Figure 3 shows a partial side view of the trap mechanism in a set 30 and operable condition with failsafe disengaged; and

( Figure 4 shows a partial side view of the trap mechanism in a triggered condition.

5 A rodent trap 6 comprises an enclosure 1 having an integral lid 2 with lid locking means 3. The enclosure 1 comprises two end walls, two side walls and a base. The enclosure 1 has aligned apertures 4 in opposite end walls. A third aperture 5 in one end wall is adapted to receive a cartridge 7. This allows the cartridge 7 to be loaded and unloaded easily. The 10 enclosure 1 further comprises an L-shaped internal wall 8 that has a gap, opposite the aperture 5. Passageways 9,9' are defined by L- shaped wall 8 and an end wall and side wall of the enclosure 1 respectively. Internal guide walls 10,10' are spaced for guiding cartridge 7 into a loaded position. The guide walls 10,10' have slots 13 for receiving a trap 15 mechanism. Ribs 11 are upstanding from the enclosure base and are located between guide walls 10,10'. A window 12 is located in the side wall of enclosure 1, opposite the passageway 9'. Apertures 4 allow a rodent (not shown) to either enter the trap 6 or pass straight through via passageway 9'.

The trap mechanism comprises a failsafe means 14, a trip lever 19 and a striker 23.

The failsafe means 14 comprises an elongate lever 28 having up-stands 25 15,16 at its ends. The up-stands 15,16 extend at 90 to the elongate lever 28. An integral resilient flap 17 projects from the surface of the elongate lever 28 and a resilient elongate member 18 extends along a side of the elongate lever 28.

( The trip lever 19 comprises a trip lever bar 22 having two ends. A pivot arm 29 extends at a right angle from one end of the trip lever bar 22 and a cam 20 extends at a right angle from the other end. At the free ends of the pivot arm 29 and the cam 20 there are pivot means 30,30' that 5 are adapted to co-operate with a slot in the guide wall 10 and a recess 38.

An integral resilient member 21 extends perpendicular from a mid-point of trip lever bar 22.

The striker 23 comprises two striker arms 25 which at one end form 10 pivoting points 31,31', and at the other end are joined by striker bar 24.

A further limb 26 projects from pivot point 31' parallel to, but spaced from, the striker arms 25. The limb 26 provides a lever for lifting the striker by rotating about pivot points 31,31'. The striker 23 is also spring loaded, by a spring (not shown), so that the striker bar 24 is urged 15 towards the base of the enclosure 1. One end of the striker spring is attached to limb 26 and is held in position by a slot 40, and the other end of the spring is appropriately attached to the base of the enclosure 1. The I striker bar 24 has two positions. The first is a raised position where the striker 23 is supported against the force of the striker spring (not shown), 20 and the second is a lowered position where the striker 23 has been actuated. The limb 26 has a tab 27 that is made of coloured plastics that projects from its end furthest from the pivot means 31,31'. The tab 27 is adapted such that when the striker bar 24 is in a lowered position, tab 27 covers the window 12. This provides a simple means for determining trap 25 status.

The cartridge 7 has a closed end 36 and an open end 35. The open end 35 has slots adapted to receive door pivots 37 of a cartridge door 32.

Cartridge door 32 is adapted to completely cover open end 35 and only 30 open inwardly of open end 35. An integral resilient bar 33, which is

( angled towards the cartridge base, acts as a spring to urge the door 32 into a closed position. The cartridge door 32 is therefore effectively one way, only permitting entrance to the cartridge 7. Cartridge 7 further comprises a bait slot 41 located near the closed end 36 for receiving a bait 5 impregnated card (not shown).

To assemble the trap 6, failsafe means 14 is positioned on the enclosure base parallel to guide wall lO' and alongside base ribs 11. The free end of the resilient elongate member 18 is positioned so that it abuts the base 10 ribs 11 opposite the aperture 5. The resilient elongate member 18 is deformed such that it urges the elongate lever 28 into the inoperative position. The trip lever l9 is then positioned between the guide walls 10, 10' 15 towards the aperture 5 with cam 20 extending along the outside edge portion of guide wall 10'. The pivot 30' engages with a complementary recess 38 and pivot 30 engages with a complementary slot in guide wall 10. The trip lever bar 22 is held, slightly raised from the base of the enclosure 1 by resilient member 21. In a modification (not shown), the 20 pivot arm 29 extends along the outside of guide wall lO. The pivot 30 is therefore located on the opposite side of pivot arm 29 in order to engage with a slot in the guide wall lO.

The striker 23 is positioned such that the striker arms 25 are 25 accommodated between the guide walls lO,10'. The limb 26 extends along the outside edge portion of guide wall lO' so that a free end of limb 26 can co-operate with a ledge 39 of cam 20.

( The cartridge 7 is inserted through aperture 5 and between guide walls 10,10'. Upon insertion into the trap 6, the striker bar 24 and striker arms 25 enter the cartridge 7 through the door 32.

5 Figure 2 shows the assembled trap mechanism in detail. The cartridge is supported at its open end 35 by the base ribs 11 and at its closed end 36 by trip lever bar 22. The trip lever bar 22 is further supported, in the inoperative failsafe condition, by failsafe up-stand 16. Cam ledge 39 supports the limb 26, and therefore the striker 23, in a raised position 10 against the force of the striker spring (not shown). The striker arms 25 are located within the cartridge 7 and the enlarged portions of the striker arms 25 hold the cartridge door 32 ajar. A door tab 34, which extends beyond the door pivot 37, is adapted to co-operate with the failsafe up stand 15. In the inoperative failsafe condition described above, the 15 cam 20 is unable to rotate about pivot means 30 due to upstand 16 and therefore the cam ledge 39 cannot release the striker 23.

When a rodent enters the trap 6 through apertures 4 it is lured by the bait contained within the cartridge 7, through passageway 9. The state of the 20 mechanism once a rodent, or the like, has entered the cartridge 7 is shown in Figure 3.

As the rodent enters the cartridge 7 the rodent's weight opens the door 32 from being ajar against the force of the resilient bar 33. Rotation of the 25 door 32 about pivot 37 causes door tab 34 to apply a force to failsafe up stand 15 thereby sliding the failsafe means 14, against the force of the resilient elongate member 18, towards the passageway 9. The resilient flap 17 passes under a latch 43 of the cartridge 7 and thereby acts to prevent the failsafe means 14 returning to its original position (as shown 3() in Figure 2).

Movement of the failsafe means 14 causes up-stand 16 to slide from beneath trip lever bar 22. The failsafe 14 is therefore deactivated and the trip lever 19 and cam 20 are no longer held in an inoperative position.

The rodent will continue towards the bait at the closed ended of the cartridge 7. The condition of the mechanism once the rodent has passed beyond a point P is shown in Figure 4.

10 When the rodent approaches the bait, the rodent's weight causes the closed end 36 of the cartridge 7 to pivot downward about point P of the base ribs 11. Pivoting of the cartridge 7 pushes the trip lever bar 22 downwards, against the force of the resilient member 21, causing rotation of cam 20. When trip lever bar 22 makes contact with the enclosure base, 15 the cam ledge 39 no longer supports limb 26 and thereby allows the striker bar 24 to travel rapidly downward under the force from the striker spring (not shown). It will be appreciated that the force of the striker spring is chosen so that the striker bar 24 will move sufficiently quickly to break the back of the trapped rodent, thereby killing it.

The striker arms 25 and limb 26 are now in a lowered position such that tab 27 covers window 12 to indicate that the trap 6 has been triggered.

The trap 6 is emptied and the cartridge 7 replaced as follows. The lid 2 is 25 unlocked and opened to reveal the mechanism. As the trap 6 is not triggered until the rodent is towards the closed end 36 of the cartridge 7, the user will not see the rodent's body upon opening lid 2. To remove the occupied cartridge 7, the user must lift limb 26. When limb 26 is raised, the striker bar 24 releases its grip of the dead rodent. The cartridge 7 can 30 then be extracted through aperture 5. When the cartridge 7 is removed

from trap 6, the mechanism resets itself, as all the components are urged into a set condition by their associated springs and resilient portions. Thus, cam 20 rotates due to resilient member 21 so that cam ledge 39 supports limb 26. The striker bar 24 is therefore held in a raised 5 position. The failsafe means 14, urged by elongate resilient member 18, slides so that up-stand 16 supports the trip lever bar 22. The trap mechanism is now in the condition shown in Figure 2 but with the cartridge 7 absent. User contact with the mechanism is kept to a minimum, as the only operation required is the lifting of limb 26 and 10 removal of cartridge 7.

As cartridge 7 is removed from the trap 6, the striker arms 25 are withdrawn and the door 32 is urged to a closed position by resilient door bar 33. The cartridge 7 is effectively a self-closing container that can be 15 hygienically disposed of.

A new cartridge 7 can now be installed by sliding it through aperture 5, over the mechanism with striker arms 25 entering the door 32. Once the cartridge 7 is inserted fully the lid 2 can be closed and locked and the 20 trap 6 returns to the condition shown in Figure 2.

In a modification, not shown, a spike may be located at the closed end 36 of the cartridge 7 for supporting bait. In this modification the bait slot 41 is absent.

Claims

/ ( 14 Claims

1. A rodent trap comprises an enclosure having at least one aperture to allow access for a rodent, a trap mechanism comprising a striker to kill a rodent, a trip lever and a failsafe means, said failsafe means having an inoperative position and an operative position, when in the inoperative position the failsafe means engages the trip lever thereby rendering the striker inoperable, whilst when in the operative position the fail safe means is disengaged from the trip lever and the striker can be actuated in order to kill a rodent.

2. A trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trap mechanism is completely enclosed within the enclosure.

3. A trap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the trip lever has a cam to assist . . the actuation of the striker.

. ..

4. A trap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the trip lever has a resilient portion that biases the trip lever against releasing the striker such that the trip lever will return to a position where it supports the striker when the trap is reset.

5. A trap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the resilient portion of the trip lever is a compression spring.

6. A trap as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the resilient portion is integral with the trip lever.

7 A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the failsafe means comprises a failsafe lever and a spring means that is adapted to urge the failsafe lever into an inoperative, fail safe position.

8. A trap as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spring means is a resilient elongate member that is formed integrally with the failsafe lever.

9. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the striker is springloaded and the striker has at least one striker arm joined at one end to a striker bar and at the other end by a pivot.

10. A trap as claimed claim 9 wherein the rodent trap includes a removable cartridge having a closed end and an open end through which the cartridge is adapted to receive the striker arms.

11. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the enclosure has two, aligned apertures to allow access by a rodent.

12. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the enclosure includes a removable lid to provide access to the trap mechanism at least.

13. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the enclosure has an aperture adapted to receive a cartridge for loading into the trap and removal thereof.

14. A trap as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cartridge has a door at its open end that is biased by a resilient portion into a closed position and is such that it can only be opened from the outside of the cartridge.

15. A trap as claimed in claim 14 wherein when the cartridge containing a dead rodent Is removed from the trap enclosure, the cartridge door is held shut by the resilient portion.

( 1:

16. A trap as claimed in claim 14 wherein the door of the cartridge has a protruding tab that is adapted to co-operate with the failsafe means.

17 A trap as claimed in claim 16 wherein pivoting of the cartridge door thereby causes the door tab to move the failsafe means from the inoperative, failsafe position to the operative position.

18. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the failsafe comprises a resilient flap adapted to co-operate with a latch on a cartridge so that the failsafe means cannot return to the inoperative condition once it has been moved to the operative position, unless the trap mechanism is manually reset.

19. A trap as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the trap mechanism remains in the operative position after the door has been displaced.

20. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the striker has a limb that extends outside the removable cartridge, said limb having a tab at its free end for the purpose of covering an enclosure window when the striker arm is in a lowered position to indicate that the trap mechanism has been actuated.

21. A trap as claimed in claim 20 wherein the tab a of coloured plastics or painted material.

22. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the enclosure has internal walls that delimit the path the rodent is limited to take in the trap.

23. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the enclosure comprises internal guide walls to guide a cartridge into position.

24. A trap as claimed in claim 23 wherein the guide walls have slots to receive the trap mechanism.

(

25. A rodent trap including a spring-loaded striker having striker arms and a removable cartridge having an elongate hollow body with a closed end and an open end, the open end having a door so adapted that it can only be opened from outside the cartridge, the striker and cartridge being constructed and arranged such that in use the striker arms extend within the cartridge and on removal of the cartridge the dooms resiliently biased into a closed position.

26. A removable cartridge for a rodent trap comprises an elongate hollow body having a closed end and an open end, the open end having a door so adapted that it can only be opened from outside the cartridge.

27. A cartridge as claimed in claim 26 wherein the removable cartridge provides a reliable means for extracting a dead rodent from a trap without contact by the user with the dead rodent.

28. A cartridge as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 wherein the cartridge door prevents the dead rodent from leaving the cartridge.

29. A cartridge as claimed in claim 26 to 28 wherein the door of the cartridge has a spring that urges the doomnto a closed position.

30. A cartridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the spring is a resilient portion formed integrally with the door.

31. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 26 to 30 wherein there is a spike for supporting bait that extends from the inside face of the closed end of the cartridge.

32. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 26 to 31 wherein the cartridge has a bait slot located towards the closed end for inserting bait.

If

33. A cartridge as claimed in claim 32 wherein the bait slot is adapted to receive a bait card comprising a lamnar member having an attractant odour.

34. A cartridge as claimed in claim 33 wherein the bait card is impregnated with the attractant odour.

35. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 26 to 34 wherein the cartridge is adapted for use in a trap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25.

36. A bait for an animal trap comprises a laminar member having an odour for attracting animals.

37. A bait as claimed in claim 36 wherein the laminar member is formed by paper-

based material.

38. A bait as claimed in claim 36 wherein the laminar member is formed by plastics or textile material.

39. A bait as claimed in any of claims 36 to 38 wherein the odour is emitted by an appropriate chemical that is formulated to attract animals.

40. A bait as claimed in claim 36 to 38 wherein the laminar member is impregnated with an odour-emitting substance.

41. A bait as claimed in claim 40 wherein the odour-emitting substance is applied to the surface of the laminar member.

42. A bait as claimed in claim 40 or claim 41 wherein the odour-emitting substance is of a concentration strong enough to attract an animal in the vicinity of the trap and weak enough to be substantially undetectable by a user.

(

43. A bait as claimed in claim 40 or claim 41 or claim 42 wherein the odour-emitting substance is of sufficient concentration that it remains effective for attracting animals for a time period of approximately a week.

44. A bait as claimed in any of claims 36 to 43 wherein the laminar member having an odour is sealed during manufacture so as to retain the initial concentration of the odour immediately before use.

45. A rodent trap substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

46. A removable cartridge for a rodent trap substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

47. A bait for an animal trap substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

48. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.