IT202100022262A1 - DEVICE FOR CAPTURING SMALL ANIMALS, IN PARTICULAR RODENTS AND/OR MOLES - Google Patents

Description

DEVICE FOR CAPTURING SMALL ANIMALS, IN PARTICULAR

RODENTS AND/OR MOLE

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

The present invention relates to a device for catching small animals, in particular rodents and/or moles, according to the preamble of the corresponding independent claim number 1.

The device for catching small animals in question ? intended to be advantageously used in the sector for the production of devices for capturing animals, such as in particular traps, in particular for small rodents or moles. These devices are normally used for catching small pests, such as for example moles which damage gardens, parks, golf courses, vegetable gardens, etc., or small rodents which infest country areas or the like.

Pi? in particular, the device for catching small animals object of the present invention ? advantageously usable in terrains normally inhabited by the aforesaid animals as a trap to capture them and free the terrain and/or area.

The invention therefore fits into the context of the industrial sector of production and marketing of disinfestation devices for small pests.

STATE OF THE ART

In the technical sector of reference ? the problem of the presence of small pests, such as in particular small rodents and/or moles, has been known for some time. Such animals normally dig tunnels into the ground a few centimeters deep. compared to the ground to move in the rural area in which they live, for the construction of their dens and to recover the food they feed on.

As ? known in fact, gardens, meadows, fields and agricultural land are sometimes infested by animals such as moles, rodents, or other animals, in any case able to dig tunnels in the subsoil for hunting, for building their own lair, for moving to the safe from predators, etc.

Moreover, sometimes moles not only spoil the appearance of the lawn or garden under which they move, but also affect and damage any external flooring. Furthermore, the tunnels dug by moles, in correspondence with agricultural land, can damage roots or plants, jeopardize sowing or harvesting, and therefore, more? in general, constitute serious economic damage by making crops at least partially unproductive.

? therefore note the need? to remove and/or capture such animals which, in their movement under the ground, ruin the aesthetic appearance of the ground, for example of a grassy meadow present therein.

Indeed, the public lawns, so? how the gardens and parks of private homes suffer evident aesthetic damage due to the tunnels dug by moles, as their presence? well demonstrated by aesthetically unpleasant heaps of loose soil that the mole forms by digging the tunnels themselves, thwarting the efforts of gardeners and/or owners to keep their land well-maintained and therefore aesthetically pleasing.

For this purpose, many devices are known both for driving the aforesaid animals away and for catching them.

For example, relying on the known sensitivity? of moles towards loud sounds or noises, ? traditionally widespread the use of objects such as pieces of metal and / or tiles, to be hung near? of the galleries and free to swing, cos? to collide with each other to produce noise, in case of wind.

Are also known devices pi? evolved, which (known with the term of repellents) provide in particular ultrasound emitters configured to be directed towards the ground and/or inserted inside the ground itself. The emitters, once activated, generate sound waves at high frequencies. These high-frequency sound waves are extremely annoying for the aforementioned pests and in particular for moles.

Obviously, these repellent devices have proved to be not free from drawbacks in practice. The main drawback lies in the fact that the aforesaid repellent devices do not solve the problem of the infestation of the aforesaid animals but limit themselves to keeping them away as long as they are caught. the device remains on. In fact, as soon as the aforementioned devices are turned off and/or deactivated, the animals are free to return to the area.

A further drawback lies in the fact that if it is necessary to protect oneself from moles in the immediate vicinity of a house, the solutions described above can also cause annoyance to the people themselves, or to other domestic animals.

In order to at least partially overcome the aforesaid drawback of the above mentioned repellent devices, devices for catching small animals are known in the reference technical sector. These catching devices are configured to capture and/or block the aforementioned pests.

? otherwise? widespread use of devices known as ?traps? positioned along the tunnels dug by moles, which intend to capture them to then allow the operator to transfer them to a place sufficiently far from his land or to kill the animal in correspondence with its capture, in a substantially automatic way. These devices normally comprise rather bulky tubular bodies intended to be inserted inside the tunnels excavated by moles or rodents, for example field mice. However, yes? now noticed how even these construction solutions are often ineffective, as usually the animal? sensitive to objects it finds in the tunnel, and changes direction, making a new tunnel without entering the tubular body of the trap.

Furthermore, these devices of known type are very laborious to install, furthermore making it also difficult to subsequently verify the possible presence of the mole inside them, requiring frequent checks on the user. These controls constitute a further limit to the effectiveness of the trap, as the recurring visits and the frequent manipulations of the trap increase the probabilities that the mole smells the man, effectively rendering the known type of device ineffective.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Purpose of the present invention? that of proposing a device for catching small animals which makes it possible to obviate, at least in part, the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

Another purpose of the invention? that of providing a device for catching small animals that is simple to install.

Another purpose of the invention? that of providing a device for catching small animals that is not easily identifiable by animals once installed.

Another purpose of the invention? to make available a device for the capture of small animals that allows you to verify the eventual capture of an animal without the need? to move the device.

Another purpose of the invention? that of making available a device for catching small animals that is structurally completely reliable.

Another purpose of the invention? that of making available a device for catching small animals which is functionally completely reliable.

Another purpose of the present invention ? that of making available a device for catching small animals which is simple and/or cheap to make.

Another purpose of the present invention ? that of making available a device for catching small animals which is economically advantageous.

Another purpose of the present invention ? that of making available a device for catching small animals that can be manufactured on an industrial level.

Another purpose of the present invention ? that of making available a device for catching small animals which is an alternative and/or an improvement on traditional solutions.

Another purpose of the present invention? propose a device for catching small animals that has an alternative and/or improved configuration, both in terms of construction and in functional terms, compared to traditional solutions.

All these objects, both individually and in any combination thereof, and others which will appear from the following description are achieved, according to the invention, with a device for catching small animals having the characteristics indicated in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention is hereinafter further described in some of its preferred embodiments, given for purely exemplifying and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached tables of drawings, in which:

? figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device for catching small animals according to the present invention;

? Figures 2 show a plan view of the device according to the invention;

? Figure 3 shows a side view of the device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figures ? The reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a device for catching small animals, according to the present invention.

The device according to the invention? intended to be advantageously used to disinfest grassy and/or agricultural areas from small infesting animals such as in particular moles, mice or the like.

Pi? in detail, the device 1 object of the present invention ? suitably inserted in the ground in which there? presence of the aforementioned small animals, preferably in correspondence with galleries and/or tunnels made by the animals themselves.

The device for catching small animals object of the present invention ? intended in use to be inserted at least partially into land.

does the device according to the invention comprise a support structure 2 extending along a first axis X between a first end? 2?, intended in use to protrude from the ground and a second extremity? 2?? intended in use to be inserted into the ground.

In use, the first X axis ? substantially vertical and, advantageously, the first extremity? 2? ? an? end? top of the support structure 2 and the second extremity? 2?? ? an? end? bottom of the support structure 2.

Preferably, the support structure 2 ? made of rigid material, such as in particular a metallic material such as steel or, otherwise, can? be made of rigid plastic material.

Preferably, the support structure 2 ? made in dark color, for example brown or black, in order to better blend in with the color of the ground once in use.

Does the support structure 2 comprise at least one bottom wall 14 provided at the second end? 2??, which in use is underground. Advantageously, the bottom wall 14 acts as a cover and prevents parts of the soil from entering the support structure 2 during the insertion of the device 1 into the soil itself.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 also comprises lateral walls 15 which project protruding from the bottom wall 14 perimetrically with respect to the latter. Therefore, the support structure 2 has a substantially box-shaped shape, delimited laterally by the side walls 15 and below by the bottom wall 14. Advantageously, the support structure 2 is substantially free at the first end? 2?.

Suitably, the device 1 comprises at least one arcuate or annular element 3, protruding from said second end? 2?? internally defining a passage opening 4 oriented along a second axis Y transversal to said first axis X intended to be inserted into the ground and configured to allow the passage of at least one said animal.

Advantageously, the arched element 3 (or first arched element 3) is? mechanically constrained to the bottom wall 14 of the support structure 2 and protrudes parallel to the first axis X.

Conveniently, the arched element 3 ? made of rigid and resistant material, for example metallic material such as steel. In accordance with a first embodiment, the arched element 3 ? mechanically welded to the support structure 2 and in particular to the back wall 14.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 ? and in particular the side walls 15 - extends parallel to the first axis Y for a first height H1 sufficient for the arched element 3 to reach the tunnels made in the ground by the animal to be captured. Preferably, the first height H1 of the sidewall 15 is between 50mm and 200mm and more? preferably about 150mm.

Advantageously furthermore, with particular reference to the attached figure 2, the support structure 2 - and in particular the side walls 15 - is endowed with depth D2 transversal to the first X axis and to the second Y axis between 35mm and 75mm and more? preferably ? equal to about 60mm.

Furthermore, preferably, the support structure 2 - and in particular the side walls 15 -? equipped with amplitude D3 transversal to the first X axis, parallel to the second Y axis and advantageously transversal to the depth? D2, between 70mm and 150mm and more? preferably equal to about 120mm.

Advantageously, the relationship between the depth? D2 of the support structure 2, measured transversely to the first X axis and to the second Y axis, and the width D3 of the support structure 2, measured transversely to the depth? D2 and to the first X axis and parallel to the second Y axis, ? between 0.4 and 0.6 and preferably approximately equal to 0.5.

Advantageously, the arcuate element 3 extends for a height H0 parallel to the first axis X advantageously between 35mm and 75mm and preferably equal to about 60mm.

Preferably, the height H0 of the arcuate element 3 ? greater than or equal to the depth? D2 of the support structure 2.

The device 1 according to the invention also comprises at least one movable actuator 5 configured to be placed across a through hole 6 formed at said second end? 2?? and movable between a locked configuration, in which said actuator 5 ? protruding from said through hole 6 to intercept said second axis Y defined by said passage opening 4 and a free configuration, in which it passes through said through hole 6 approaching said first end? 2?.

Conveniently, said actuator 5 ? movable from said locked configuration to said free configuration following an actuation by said animal.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises catching means 7 mechanically associated with said first arcuate element 3 and movable between a passage configuration, in which they allow the passage of said animal through said passage opening 4 with said actuator 5 in the blocked configuration and a configuration capture devices, in which they block said animal against said support structure 2 with said actuator 5 in said free configuration.

The device 1 object of the present invention comprises elastic means 8 mechanically connected to said actuator 5 and to said capture means 7 and operable, with the movement of said actuator 5 from said locked configuration to said free configuration, to move said capture means 7 from said switching pattern to said catching pattern for catching said small animal.

Advantageously, in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, said catching means 7 comprise at least one slot 9 arranged, in its passage configuration, adjacent to said arched element 3 and defines said passage opening 4 for said animal.

Preferably, said slot 9 of said capture means 7? made of substantially rigid material.

Pi? in detail, the slot 9 of the capture means 7 ? made by at least one wire or filament of plastically yielding material, in particular configured to maintain a desired shape at which ? shaped.

Preferably, the yarn or filament of the slot 9 of the catching means 7 is made of metallic material, for example steel, in particular stainless steel, folded to define the aforesaid slot.

Conveniently, the thread or filament of the slot 9 of the capture means 7 has a thickness of between 0.3mm and 1.5mm and in particular equal to about 0.8mm and preferably has a substantially circular cross-section.

In this way, buttonhole 9 cos? expected ? easy to install in device 1 and easy to set up by the operator. Furthermore, this slot 9 conveniently remains adjacent to the corresponding annular element 3, making it difficult to identify by the animal to be captured.

Advantageously, the slot 9 of the capture means defines an opening substantially congruent with the passage opening 4 defined by the arcuate element 3.

Conveniently, with particular reference to the enclosed figures, said elastic means 8 comprise at least one elastically compliant rod 10 mechanically mounted on said support structure 2 kept in traction by said actuator 5 in the locked configuration.

Advantageously, the slot 9 of said capture means 7 is mechanically constrained to said elastically yielding rod 10.

Furthermore, the slot 9 of the capture means 7 ? placed across a corresponding slot 20 made on the bottom wall 14 of the support structure 2. Conveniently, the slot 20 crossed by the slot 9 has a thickness of between 3mm and 10mm.

Preferably, the slit 20 of the slot 9 is built near of the side wall 15, and in particular at one end? of the back wall 14 with respect to the second axis Y. In this way, the slot 9 is? free to slide adjacent to the corresponding annular element 3 without intercepting any obstacle.

In this way, upon movement of the actuator 5 from the locked configuration to the free configuration, the elastic means 8 and in particular the elastically yielding rod 10 move said capture means from the transition configuration to the capture configuration.

For this purpose, the elastically yielding rod 10 of the elastic means 8 comprises an elastic terminal 16 mechanically constrained to the support structure 2. More? in detail, the elastic terminal 16 ? made in the form of a coil spring and preferably ? made of harmonic steel.

Operatively, the elastic terminal 16 forces the elastically yielding rod to move the catching means 7 from the passage configuration to the catching configuration when the actuator 5 moves from the locked configuration to the free configuration.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 comprises an upper plate 18 extending transversely to the first axis X at the first end? 2?, to which ? mechanically bound the? extremity? elastic 16 of the elastically yielding rod 10 of the elastic means 8.

In order to removably lock the actuator in its locked configuration, said actuator 5 ? equipped with at least one breakable element 11, placed in abutment against said second end? 2?? with said actuator 5 in the locked configuration.

Shutter 5 ? preferably made of plastic material, and ? preferably colored in a dark colour, for example brown or black.

The breakable element 11 ? suitably made also in plastic material, ? fixed to a main body 17 of the shutter 5.

Conveniently, the main body 17 of the shutter 5 extends between a first terminal, placed across the through hole 6 of the support structure 2, and a second terminal, opposite to the first.

Conveniently, the main body 17 develops towards the first terminal tapering, decreasing its diameter, in order to be more? easily insertable in the through hole 6 made in the back wall 14.

Advantageously, the breakable element 11 ? mechanically connected to the main body 17 near? of the first terminal.

Preferably, the main body 17 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is equipped with a first diameter. The breakable element 11 ? equipped with at least one connection neck with the main body 17 having a smaller transversal size with respect to the first diameter of the main body 17 and therefore mechanically more? fragile. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the frangible element 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is? equipped with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the main body 17 of the actuator 5.

Advantageously, the second diameter of the breakable element 11 is less than or equal to half? of the first diameter of the main body 17.

Conveniently, said frangible element 11 of said actuator 5 ? configured to be removed by said animal when crossing said passage opening 4.

Pi? in detail, the small size of the breakable element 11 makes it mechanically fragile. In passing through the passage opening 4, the animal encounters the obturator 5, which, being in its passage trajectory, is a nuisance for the animal which tends to remove it.

At the touch of the animal, the breakable element 11 detaches from the main body 17 and ? then moved in the free configuration by the elastic means 8.

In order to ensure that the animal is in correspondence with the capture means 7, the distance along said second transversal direction Y between said actuator 5 and said arched element 3 is? such that said animal crossing said arched element 3 intercepts said actuator 5.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a second arched element 3? protruding from said second extremity? 2?? of said support structure 2, defining a second passage opening 4? aligned with the passage opening 4 of the first arched element 3 along said second transversal Y direction.

Does the first arcuate element 3 advantageously define together with the second arcuate element 3? a crossing channel for the small animal.

Operatively, the device 1 according to the invention ? configured to be placed with the second end? 2?? in the ground, with arched elements 3, 3? preferably inserted inside channels made by the animal to be captured.

Advantageously, said actuator 5 being interposed between said first and second arcuate element 3, 3?.

Advantageously, the catching means 7 comprise a second slot 9? associated with the second arcuate element 3? and mechanically connected to the elastically yielding rod 10 of the elastic means 8.

In this way, the device 1 allows an animal to be captured whether it approaches the actuator 5 from the first or second passage opening 4, 4? of the first or second arched element 3, 3?.

Conveniently, that said elastically yielding rod 10 comprises an end? colored 12 visible from the outside when in use.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastically yielding rod extends from the elastic terminal 16 to a free terminal, which is covered by the aforementioned extremity? colored 12. The end? colored 12 pu? be made for example with a cap of plastic material or for example with adhesive tape.

Preferably, the? Extremity? colorful 12 ? made in color that is also clearly visible on ground or grass, for example red, blue or similar.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said support structure 2? internally hollow and ? crossed by a connecting element 13 which connects said elastic means 8 and said actuator 5.

Preferably, the connecting element 13 comprises a thread, preferably a thread made of plastic material, in particular a polyester thread. Advantageously, the wire of the connecting element 13 has a thickness of between 1mm and 3mm and preferably equal to about 1.5mm.

Pi? in detail, the connecting element 13 ? connected on one side to the elastically yielding rod 10 and on the other to the actuator 5.

Advantageously, the extension of the wire of the connecting element 13 is less than or equal to the linear distance between a central portion of the elastically yielding rod 10 and the through hole 6 of the support structure 2 with the rod 10 held in tension with the actuator 5 in the locked configuration.

In this way, when the? actuator 5 ? in the locked configuration, the elastically yielding rod 10 ? forced to remain in tension, with the catching means in their passage configuration.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 comprises a hook 19 which extends from the first end? 2?, parallel to the first axis X. The hook 19 ? configured to mechanically block the elastically yielding rod 10 during the implementation of the device 1. In this way, an operator can? load the device 1, in particular arrange the? actuator 5 in the locked configuration, without incurring in? the possibility that the elastic means 8 move the actuator 5 itself in an undesired manner.

From what has been said it is clear that the device for catching small animals, according to the invention, is particularly advantageous because:

? ? capable of obviating, at least in part, the drawbacks of the prior art cited above.

? allows you to capture small animals effectively and safely; ? ? simple and quick to install and/or implement;

? ? easily identifiable by animals once installed, thanks to? extremity? colored of the elastically yielding rod;

? allows you to verify the eventual capture of an animal without the need? to move the device;

? ? structurally completely reliable;

? ? functionally entirely reliable;

? ? simple and/or cheap to make;

? ? cost-effective;

? ? industrially feasible;

? ? alternative and/or better than traditional solutions;

? it has an alternative and/or improved configuration, both in constructive and functional terms, compared to traditional solutions.

The present invention ? been illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment thereof, but it is understood that executive variants may be applied to it in practice, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present patent for industrial invention.

Claims (10)

1. Device for catching small animals, intended in use to be inserted at least partially into land, comprising: ? a support structure (2) extending along the first axis (X) between a first end? (2?), destined in use to protrude from the ground and a second extremity? (2??) intended in use to be inserted into the ground; ? at least one arcuate (3) or annular element, protruding from said second end? (2??) internally defining a passage opening (4) oriented along a second axis (Y) transversal to said first axis (X) intended to be inserted into the ground and configured to allow the passage of at least one said animal; ? at least one movable actuator (5) configured to be placed across a through hole (6) made at said second end? (2??) and movable between a locked configuration, in which said actuator (5) ? protruding from said through hole (6) to intercept said second axis (Y) defined by said passage opening (4) and a free configuration, in which it passes through said through hole (6) approaching said first end? (2?); said actuator (5) being movable from said locked configuration to said free configuration following an actuation by said animal; ? catching means (7) mechanically associated with said first arcuate element (3) and movable between a passage configuration, in which they allow the passage of said animal through said passage opening (4) with said actuator (5) in the locked configuration and a trapping configuration, in which they lock said animal against said support structure (2) with said actuator (5) in said free configuration; ? elastic means (8) mechanically connected to said actuator (5) and to said capture means (7) and operable, with the movement of said actuator (5) from said locked configuration to said free configuration, to move said capture means (7 ) from said pass configuration to said capture configuration for capturing said small animal. 2. Device for catching small animals, according to claim 1, characterized in that said catching means (7) comprise at least one slot (9) arranged, in its passage configuration, adjacent to said arched element (3) and defines said passage opening (4) for said animal. 3. Device for catching small animals, according to claim 2, characterized in that said loop (9) of said catching means (7) ? made of plastically yielding material. 4. Device for catching small animals, according to claim 3, characterized in that said elastic means (8) comprise at least one elastically compliant rod (10) mechanically mounted on said support structure (2) kept in traction by said actuator (5) in locked configuration; said slot (9) of said capture means (7) being mechanically constrained to said elastically yielding rod (10). 5. Device for catching small animals, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuator (5) is equipped with at least one breakable element (11), placed against said second end? with said actuator (5) in the locked configuration. 6. Device for catching small animals, according to claim 5, characterized in that said frangible element (11) of said actuator (5) ? configured to be removed by said animal when crossing said passage opening (4). 7. Device for catching small animals, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support structure (2) extends parallel to the first axis Y for a first height (H1) comprised between 50mm and 200mm and more? preferably equal to about 150mm. 8. Device for catching small animals, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized that the relationship between a depth? (D2) of said support structure (2), measured transversely with respect to the first axis (X) and the second axis (Y), and a width (D3) of said support structure (2), measured transversely with respect to said depth (D2) and to the first axis (X) and parallel to the second axis (Y), ? between 0.4 and 0.6 and preferably ? approximately equal to 0.5. 9. Device for catching small animals, according to claim 4, characterized in that said loop (9) of the catching means (7) ? made using at least one wire or filament with a thickness between 0.3mm and 1.5mm and in particular equal to about 0.8mm. 10. Device for catching small animals, according to claim 9, characterized in that said loop (9) of the catching means (7) ? placed across a corresponding slot (20) formed on a bottom wall (14) of the support structure (2), at one end? of said bottom wall (14) with respect to said second axis (Y).