PEST CAPTURE APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

A pest trap comprising a pest-trapping portion (4) and a holder (14) for a bait for attracting a pest. The pest-trapping portion (4) is arranged between a first opening (6) through which the pest may enter the pest-trapping portion (4) and a second opening (8) which is closable. The trap is arrangeable in either of two modes. In a first mode, for familiarising pests to the trap, the second opening (8) is open and the pest can approach bait in the holder (14) without entering the pest-trapping portion (4). In a second mode, for trapping or killing pests, the second opening (8) is closed and the pest can approach the bait by entering the pest-trapping portion (4) through the first opening (6).

A method is provided for trapping the pest using the pest trap, by placing the trap in a position for trapping the pest, setting the trap in the first mode, and then switching the trap to the second mode.

Claims

1. A pest trap comprising a pest-trapping portion and a holder for a bait for attracting a pest, the pest-trapping portion being arranged between a first opening through which the pest may enter the pest-trapping portion and a second opening which is closable, the trap being arrangeable in either of two modes; in which in a first mode, for familiarising pests to the trap, the second opening is open and the pest can approach bait in the holder without entering the pest-trapping portion and in a second mode, for trapping or killing pests, the second opening is closed and the pest can approach the bait by entering the pest-trapping portion through the first opening.

2. A pest trap according to claim 1, comprising a door for closing the second opening, the door comprising a pest-resistant material.

3. A pest trap according to claim 2, in which the door is made from metal, and preferably from wire mesh.

4. A pest trap according to claim 2, in which the door is perforated, preferably to provide a line of sight from the first opening through a perforation or perforations in the door when the second opening is closed.

5. A pest trap according to claim 4, in which, during use of the trap, the pest can access the bait through the perforation or perforations in the door when the second opening is closed.

6. A pest trap according to claim 1, in which the door is openable and closable about a substantially vertical hinge.

7. A pest trap according to claim 1, in which the door comprises the holder for bait.

8. A pest trap according to claim 1, in which the holder for bait is positioned within or adjacent to the second opening.

9. A pest trap according to claim 1, in which the holder is for holding, during use of the trap, a solid bait such as a bait block, which fits within or engages with the holder.

10. A pest trap according to claim 9, in which the holder comprises a rod for, during use of the trap, retaining perforated bait blocks by passing through a perforation in one or more bait blocks.

11. A pest trap according to claim 1, comprising a switch which is operable on opening the second opening automatically to disable the pest-trapping portion of the trap.

12. A pest trap according to claim 1, in which the pest-trapping portion comprises electrodes for administering a high voltage to the pest within the pest-trapping portion for killing the pest.

13. A pest trap according to claim 1, comprising a closing means for closing the second opening.

14. A pest trap according to claim 13, in which the closing means is actuatable in response to a timer for closing the second opening after the trap has been in the first mode for a predetermined time; or in which the closing means is actuatable in response to a control input from an operator; or in which the trap comprises a pest detector for detecting pests approaching the trap in the first mode, and for actuating the closing means for closing the second opening after detection of a threshold level of pest activity.

15. A method for trapping a pest using a trap as defined in claim 1, comprising the steps of; placing the trap in a position for trapping the pest, setting the trap in the first mode for familiarising pests to the trap; and then switching the trap to the second mode for trapping or killing the pest.

Description

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a three-quarter view of a trap according to a first embodiment of the invention, in a pest-familiarisation mode;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the trap of the first embodiment, in a pest-trapping mode;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a three-quarter view of the longitudinal section of FIG. 2;

[0040] FIG. 4 is an end view of a trap according to a second embodiment of the invention, from a first end of the trap and in a pest-trapping mode;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a three-quarter view of the trap of the second embodiment, from a second end of the trap and in a pest-familiarisation mode;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a three-quarter view of the trap of the second embodiment, from a second end of the trap and in a pest-trapping mode;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a rear view the trap of the second embodiment, in a pest-trapping mode;

[0044] FIG. 8 is a three-quarter view of a trap according to a third embodiment, in pest-familiarisation mode; and

[0045] FIG. 9 is a three-quarter view of the trap of the third embodiment, in pest-trapping mode.

[0046] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a rodent trap according to a first embodiment of the invention. This trap is an electronic trap for killing rats.

[0047] The trap comprises a moulded plastics housing 2 within which is defined a pest-trapping portion 4 in the form of a tunnel between a first opening 6 and a second opening 8 at opposite ends of the tunnel. The second end of the tunnel is closable by a door 10 mounted on substantially vertical hinges 12, which can be swung open as shown in FIG. 1 or latched closed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0048] The door carries a holder 14 for bait, on the surface of the door which faces the tunnel when the door is closed.

[0049] A base of the tunnel comprises two electrodes 16, 18, slightly spaced apart from each other. The electrodes are coupled to battery-powered electronic circuitry housed within the housing to one side 20 of the tunnel. In a pest-trapping mode, the door 10 is closed and a rat may enter the tunnel (the pest-trapping portion) through the first opening 6 attracted by bait in the holder 14. When the pest is standing on both electrodes, the electronics detects the electrical resistance of the rat and applies a high voltage (a killing voltage) to the electrodes for a predetermined period of time to kill the rat. The dead rat can then be disposed of.

[0050] An upper surface of the housing provides a location for an on-off switch 22 and LEDs 24 to signal to a user when the trap is switched on.

[0051] A plurality of ventilation holes or perforations 26 are defined through the thickness of the door 10. These holes provide a line of sight from the first opening through the second opening when the second opening is closed. These holes are too small to allow a rat to access or approach the bait, but allow an airflow through the tunnel to disperse the odour of the bait, so as to attract rats into the pest-trapping tunnel.

[0052] Operation of the trap is as follows.

[0053] A user ensures that the trap is switched off, and opens the door 10 about the vertical hinge. The user places bait in the bait holder 14 and, leaving the door open, they place the trap in a suitable place to catch rats, such as near a wall in a location where rats are a problem. Small protrusions 28 below the base of the door rest on the ground and ensure that the door remains open, held by the weight of the trap. This prevents the movement of rats around the door from accidentally closing the door. The trap is left in this position for a period of time, such as a few hours, or a day, so that rats are attracted by the bait and can approach the trap. Because the rats can access the bait while standing on the ground and without entering the pest-trapping portion (or tunnel) 4, they are less deterred from approaching the trap and the attraction of the bait may be sufficient to cause them to approach the trap. During this time, the rats become familiar with the trap, and they become less nervous or frightened of it.

[0054] After this familiarisation process, the user closes the door 10, optionally replenishing the bait at the same time, without moving the trap. The user also switches on the trap using the switch 22. The door may be provided with an electrical interlock or switch, which on opening the door automatically disables the pest-trapping portion of the trap, to prevent the trap from being switched on until the door is closed.

[0055] Closing the door closes the second opening 8 of the pest-trapping portion so that rats can only approach the bait through the first opening 6. The ventilation holes or perforations in the door help to disperse the odour of the bait and attract the rats. When a rat approaches the first opening the perforations also provide a line of sight from the first opening through the perforations in the closed door, encouraging the rat to enter the trap. When a rat enters through the first opening and is detected by the electrodes, the high killing voltage is applied to kill the rat. The rat can then be disposed of and the trap reset.

[0056] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the bait holder 14 in position at an end of the pest-trapping portion. In this embodiment, the bait holder is in the form of a receptacle or tray attached to or moulded as part of the door. In an alternative embodiment the bait holder may be of similar form, but moulded as an end part of the floor of the pest-trapping portion. It would then be in the same position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 when the door is closed, but would remain in this position at the end of the pest-trapping portion when the door is opened.

[0057] FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate a trap according to a second embodiment of the invention. The structure of this trap is similar to that of the first embodiment, except as described below. The same reference numerals are used as in FIGS. 1 to 3 to identify like components. The trap of FIGS. 4 to 7 comprises a carrying handle 30 on the top of the housing, and on the rear of the housing as shown in FIG. 7 there is provision to insert batteries into a battery holder 32 beneath a cover 33 to power the electronics.

[0058] The door 34 of the trap of FIGS. 4 to 7 differs from that of FIGS. 1 to 3 in that it is made from a pest-resistant wire mesh 36 within a metal frame. The wire mesh provides perforations in the door which provide a line of sight through the trap when the second opening is closed. The door supports a preformed solid block 38 of bait within a wire receptacle 40 on the side of the door which is inside the pest-trapping portion 4 when the door is closed. The wire receptacle prevents the pests from removing the bait block(s) from the trap and carrying them away to eat elsewhere.

[0059] Preferably, the casing of the trap is also made from metal or other pest-resistant material.

[0060] The metal and wire mesh door has the advantage that rats cannot gnaw it, either while the door is open in the familiarisation mode of the trap, or to gain access to the bait when the door is closed. Because of the open nature of the mesh, rats may have limited access to the bait even when the door is closed, but the openings in the mesh are small enough to restrict their access to the bait through the mesh, so that they can only satisfactorily access the bait from within the pest-trapping portion. They are therefore attracted into the trap through the first opening and can be killed by the high voltage.

[0061] The trap of the second embodiment may be supplied to the user with a bait block already in place in the bait holder, and additional bait blocks may be available for sale as required. During the familiarisation process pests may freely access the bait, and so replacement bait blocks may be required more often than in a conventional trap.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the trap comprises a closing mechanism coupled to the hinge that is actuatable to close the door in response to a timer and/or a detector, such as an optical or proximity detector for detecting the presence of pests, or for counting pests approaching the trap. During use, the trap is initially left in the familiarisation mode, with the door open. After a predetermined time or after detection of a predetermined level of pest activity, the door is closed by the closing means, automatically switching the trap into the pest-trapping mode.

[0063] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a pest trap according to a third embodiment of the invention. The structure of the trap is similar to the second embodiment of the invention, except as described below. The same reference numerals are used as in FIGS. 4 to 7 to identify like components.

[0064] The door 42 of the trap of FIGS. 8 and 9 is similar to that of FIGS. 4 to 7, in that it is made from a wire mesh within a metal frame, or from other pest-resistant materials. However, the bait holder 44 of the trap of FIGS. 8 and 9, differs from that of FIGS. 4 to 7. The bait holder 44 comprises a rod 46 for retaining preformed perforated bait blocks. During use, the rod 46 passes through a perforation in a bait block to engage with the bait. The rod is secured at its upper and lower ends by upper and lower tabs 48, 50 which extend from the door. The upper end of the rod is pivotably retained by the upper tab 48 and the lower end of the rod engages with a hole in the lower tab 50. To place bait on the rod, the upper tab 48 is flexed upwards, withdrawing the lower end of the rod from the hole in the lower tab 50. Bait blocks are then placed on the rod, and the lower end of the rod reinserted into the hole in the lower tab 50.

[0065] In use, the bait retained on the rod 46 is easily accessible to the rat and the rat can eat the bait without having to eat through or around parts of the bait holder 44 or other parts of the trap as is the case with the bait-retaining cage of the second embodiment. The rod 46 retains the bait blocks so the rat is not able to remove the bait from the trap to consume it elsewhere. The bait holder 44 is on the side of the door which is inside the pest-trapping portion 4 when the door is closed, so that when the door is closed the pest is encouraged to enter the pest-trapping portion of the trap to access the bait. The door 42 is openable about a vertical hinge, as in the first and second embodiments. The hinge comprises an over-centre spring so that the door is positively retained by the spring in either the open or closed positions. Therefore, when the door is open in the familiarisation mode of the trap, the spring holds the door in the open position as shown in FIG. 8. When a user closes the door, against the action of the over-centre spring, the spring holds the door in the closed position as shown in FIG. 9.

[0066] The hinge further comprises an interlock or switch which disables the electric pest-trapping mechanism when the door is open. Locating the interlock in the hinge ensures that it cannot be damaged by pests.