DIGITAL RODENT COLLECTION TRAP

Abstract

A rodent trap with a containment chamber which allow the capture, counting, containment and reporting of captured rodents such as rats or mice. The electromechanical trap has at least three main components, a microcontroller with memory, a sensor or switch, a stepping motor, an LCD display, and a cellular radio with one or more antenas. As the rodent influences a sensor by way of movement or pressure which causes a change in continuity of the circuit, a microcontroller is awakened from a sleep mode and actuates the rotation of a stepper motor, revolving a trap door to move the rodent to the containment location, count the capture, and report the count digitally.

Claims

1. A digital rodent collection trap for catching and counting rodents, such as rats, while recording and reporting the quantity captured, comprising: means for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; means for reporting data onboard, such as counts and system power status, securely fastened to said means for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; means for providing the platform which the rodent stands on until the sensor or switch is triggered, then the floor becomes rotating trap door; means for controlling all sensor inputs and outputs, controlling power conservation of batteries, controlling motor rotations and timing, controlling data retrieval and storage, and having reporting functionality, sufficiently connected to said means for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; means for receiving information from the microprocessor then transmitting it to a cellular network, electrically connected to said means for controlling all sensor inputs and outputs, controlling power conservation of batteries, controlling motor rotations and timing, controlling data retrieval and storage, and having reporting functionality, and rigidly connected to said means for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; means for rotating the paddle-wheel trap door 90 degrees, rigidly connected to said means for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; means for lifting the rocker arm to open the containment doors; and means for illustrating the process flow and logic for operational purposes of the digital trap, functionally embedded to said means for controlling all sensor inputs and outputs, controlling power conservation of batteries, controlling motor rotations and timing, controlling data retrieval and storage, and having reporting functionality.

2. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors comprises a stackable, plastic rat trap capture tower.

3. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for reporting data onboard, such as counts and system power status comprises a liquid crystal display data display.

4. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing the platform which the rodent stands on until the sensor or switch is triggered, then the floor becomes rotating trap door comprises a plastic, revolving door paddle-wheel trap door.

5. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling all sensor inputs and outputs, controlling power conservation of batteries, controlling motor rotations and timing, controlling data retrieval and storage, and having reporting functionality comprises a digital, electronic microcontroller.

6. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for receiving information from the microprocessor then transmitting it to a cellular network comprises a cellular radio device.

7. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for rotating the paddle-wheel trap door 90 degrees comprises an incremental stepper motor.

8. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for lifting the rocker arm to open the containment doors comprises a plastic, metal, or wood cam wheel gear.

9. The digital rodent collection trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for illustrating the process flow and logic for operational purposes of the digital trap comprises a flow chart, inputs and outputs process flow diagram.

10. A digital rodent collection trap for catching and counting rodents, such as rats, while recording and reporting the quantity captured, comprising: a stackable, plastic rat trap capture tower, for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; a liquid crystal display data display, for reporting data onboard, such as counts and system power status, securely fastened to said rat trap capture tower; a plastic, revolving door paddle-wheel trap door, for providing the platform which the rodent stands on until the sensor or switch is triggered, then the floor becomes rotating trap door; a digital, electronic microcontroller, for controlling all sensor inputs and outputs, controlling power conservation of batteries, controlling motor rotations and timing, controlling data retrieval and storage, and having reporting functionality, sufficiently connected to said rat trap capture tower; a cellular radio device, for receiving information from the microprocessor then transmitting it to a cellular network, electrically connected to said microcontroller, and rigidly connected to said rat trap capture tower; an incremental stepper motor, for rotating the paddle-wheel trap door 90 degrees, rigidly connected to said rat trap capture tower; a plastic, metal, or wood cam wheel gear, for lifting the rocker arm to open the containment doors; and a flow chart, inputs and outputs process flow diagram, for illustrating the process flow and logic for operational purposes of the digital trap, functionally embedded to said microcontroller.

11. A digital rodent collection trap for catching and counting rodents, such as rats, while recording and reporting the quantity captured, comprising: a stackable, plastic, rat trap capture tower, for housing the trap door mechanisms, microcontroller, electronics, mechanics, sensors, motor, radio, and display and containment doors; a liquid crystal display, new attribute 2 data display, for reporting data onboard, such as counts and system power status, securely fastened to said rat trap capture tower; a plastic, rotational, paired doors containment doors, for opening and closing to contain the rodent being caught; a plastic, revolving door paddle-wheel trap door, for providing the platform which the rodent stands on until the sensor or switch is triggered, then the floor becomes rotating trap door; a digital, electronic, microcontroller, for controlling all sensor inputs and outputs, controlling power conservation of batteries, controlling motor rotations and timing, controlling data retrieval and storage, and having reporting functionality, sufficiently connected to said rat trap capture tower; a cellular, radio device, for receiving information from the microprocessor then transmitting it to a cellular network, electrically connected to said microcontroller, and rigidly connected to said rat trap capture tower; an incremental stepper motor, for rotating the paddle-wheel trap door 90 degrees, rigidly connected to said rat trap capture tower; a weighted, containment door counter-weight, for recoiling the lower containment doors into a closed position after synchronized rotational movement of the paddle-wheel trap door, rotationally linked to said rat trap capture tower; a plastic, metal, or wood cam wheel gear, for lifting the rocker arm to open the containment doors, intermittently united to said containment door counter-weight; and a flow chart, inputs and outputs process flow diagram, for illustrating the process flow and logic for operational purposes of the digital trap, functionally embedded to said microcontroller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a top trap and bottom containment canister assembly;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a left elevation view of a trap and containment assembly;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a left sectional view of a digital rodent trap and counter display;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of a rat trap with climbing latter;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a digital control system for a rat trap;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a front detail view of a microcontroller and communications system; and

[0024] FIG. 7 is a detail view of an operational flow diagram with loca paths.

[0025] For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a top trap and bottom containment canister assembly. These two system assembly articles comprise a rodent or rat trap with containment features. The containment canister base 100 acts as a base for the rat trap capture tower 110. The transparent lid and weather shield 120 provides a weather proofing roof, but allows for external visual inspection of the trap to assist in making sure rodent channels are cleared and operational.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a left elevation view of a trap and containment assembly. The data display 130 provides real time counting data for the number of rodents captured for easy reference to users and trap maintenance persons. This digital data display 130 is localized, mounting on the inside of the rat trap capture tower 110, but protruding through the wall to provide easy external visibility.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a left sectional view of a digital rodent trap and counter display. FIG. 3 illustrates the internal workings of the rat trap capture tower 110 and containment canister base 100. Starting with the containment canister base 100, the containment doors 140 are constructed of plastic, wood, or metal, and are fastened to a shafted hinge. The shaft is rotated by a weighted lever arm which are opened by a cam wheel gear 240. As the sensor or switch signals the microcontroller 170, the microcontroller 170 sends a signal to advance the stepper motor 220 90 degrees. This rotational motion forces the rodent or rat to fall through the opened containment doors 140 and into the containment canister base 100. The same microcontroller 170 also sends a signal that adds a count to its stored operational count, preparing the same data to be shared both locally through the data display 130, and globally through the radio device 180 as shown in the process flow diagram 250.

[0029] The rodent climbs the entry ladder 160 to gain access to the paddle-wheel trap floor. The rat is drawn or enticed up the entry ladder 160 and across the paddle-wheel trap floor to approach a feeder tray 200, where it smells food or other attractant. Upon moving across the trap floor of the paddle-wheel trap, the rodent initiates a sensor signal which is sent to the microcontroller 170, beginning the rapid actuation process shown in the process flow diagram 250 of capturing the rodent or rat. At the same time that the stepper motor 220 rotates the paddle-wheel trap, the containment doors 140 are opened while rotating about the containment door hinge 190, and acted upon by the trap door rotor shaft which is affixed to the containment door counter-weight 230 being acted upon by the cam wheel gear 240, fastened to the trap door rotary shaft. The containment door counter-weight 230 resets the trap by closing the containment doors 140. The containment doors 140 are only opened by the cam wheel gear 240 at time of actuation. The paddle-wheel trap door 150 resets automatically with the stepper motor 220.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of a rat trap with climbing latter. The rodent trap is comprised of a transparent lid and weather shield 120, with a rat trap capture tower 110 housing the electromechanical components to capture a rodent. The entry ladder 160 provides access to the rodent to enter the rat trap capture tower 110 The rat trap capture tower 110 rests upon its base the containment canister base 100.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a digital control system for a rat trap. From top to bottom, this figure illustrates the outside look at the functionality of the rat trap. With a transparent lid and weather shield 120, maintenance of the rat trap is able to be evaluated without having to make contact with the contaminants of the trap initially. Each feeder tray 200 can be viewed to evaluate the need for restocking. The digital display can be viewed to determine if the capacity of the containment canister base 100 is full or at capacity. Battery life is also able to be determined from the data display 130 screen. The radio device 180 is optionally programmed to send the data in a file format such as .csv or other useable format to a data center, the cloud, or cellar phone device for notification purposes as provided by the microcontroller 170. Containment door hinges rotate causing the containment doors 140 to open as a result of the mechanical actuation caused by the cam wheel gear 240 acted upon by the containment door counter-weight 230.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a front detail view of a microcontroller 170 and communications system. Although the transparent lid and weather shield 120 provides good visibility to each feeder tray 200, it does not provide visibility to the internal workings of the device such as its microcontroller 170. The transparent lid and weather shield 120 must be removed to access the moving hardware. The data display 130 screen is visible from outside of the rat trap capture tower 110, but is mounted from within. The microcontroller 170 communicates internally to the stepper motor 220 to actuate the cycle of rotation of the paddle-wheel trap door 150. This begins the chain reaction of mechanical and electrical activity, whereby the mechanical rotation about the containment door hinge 190 of the trap door rotary shaft rotates the cam wheel gear 240, lifting the containment door counter-weight 230, and rotates the containment door hinge 190, while the microcontroller 170 registers a count and sends an update to the digital data display 130 and radio device 180. The rodent is dropped, captured and contained within the containment canister base 100.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a detail view of an operational flow diagram with local paths. Contained within the process flow diagram 250 are each of the steps and their basic logic with inputs and outputs. The decision tree below each step of the process flow diagram 250 illustrates how the electromechanical and digital systems interact.

[0034] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

[0035] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.