Animal trap for killing an animal, method for preventing unwanted electrical shocks by an animal trap and using a shield in an electric animal trap

Abstract

An animal trap for killing an animal having a trap body and an electrical energy source. The electrical energy source is connected to a high voltage circuit. At least a first and a second, preferably a third, killing plate, wherein the first killing plate is connected to the high voltage circuit and the second killing plate is connected to the high voltage circuit are present. Preferably the third killing plate is connected to the first killing plate, such that in case an animal steps on the first and the second killing plate simultaneously the electric high voltage circuit is closed, and the animal is electrocuted. A shield, in particular a conductive shield, is arranged between the second killing plate and the trap body.

Claims

1. An animal, in particular a rodent, trap for killing the animal comprising a trap body, an electrical energy source, the electrical energy source being connected to a high voltage circuit, at least a first and a second killing plate, wherein the first killing plate is connected to the high voltage circuit and the second killing plate is connected to the high voltage circuit such that in case the animal steps on the first and second killing plates simultaneously the high voltage circuit is closed and the animal is electrocuted, wherein an electrically conductive shield is grounded to the first killing plate and the shield is arranged between the second killing plate and a lower tunnel wall of the trap body.

2. The animal trap according to claim 1, wherein the trap comprises a control unit connected to the high voltage circuit to control a firing of high voltage by the high voltage circuit.

3. The animal trap according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive shield is further arranged between the trap body and the high voltage circuit.

4. The animal trap according to claim 3, wherein the shield arranged between the second killing plate and the trap body and the shield arranged between the high voltage circuit and the trap body are connected to form one common electrically conductive shield.

5. The animal trap according to claim 1 wherein the trap body is made from plastic material, in particular the plastic material having an electrically isolating characteristic.

6. The animal trap according to claim 1 wherein the killing plates are made from electrically conductive material, in particular from metal.

7. The animal trap according to claim 1 wherein the trap body comprises an animal entrance end, wherein the second killing plate is arranged closer to the entrance end than the first killing plate.

8. The animal trap according to claim 7, wherein the shield is additionally arranged on sidewalls of the trap body.

9. The animal trap according to claim 1, wherein the trap body has the shape of an elongated tunnel having the lower tunnel wall below the killing plates and an upper tunnel wall opposite of the lower tunnel wall, wherein the shield is arranged at least on an inside of the lower tunnel wall.

10. The animal trap according to claim 1 wherein the first killing plate and a third killing plate are connected through a network to prevent triggering from happening if only the second killing plate and the third killing plate are contacted by the animal.

11. A method for preventing unwanted electrical shocks comprising: providing the animal trap according to claim 1, and shielding the second killing plate of the trap via the shield such that the current in a user's body when touching the trap while firing high voltage is reduced.

12. A method for preventing unwanted electrical shocks: providing the animal trap according to claim 1, and preventing electrical shocks of humans when touching the trap from the outside via the shield.

Description

(1) The invention is in the following further described in embodiments by means of figures. Is shows

(2) FIG. 1: A schematic electrical overview of the animal trap according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2: a schematic view of the trap in use,

(4) FIG. 3: a schematic view of a trap in a second embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4: a schematic view of the three-plate embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5: a perspective view of a trap from the back side;

(7) FIG. 6: an exploded view of a trap from the front;

(8) FIG. 7: a perspective view without top part;

(9) FIG. 8: an exploded view of the main parts of the trap.

(10) In FIG. 1 the general schematic is shown regarding the electrical design of the animal trap 1. Since just the general electric layout is shown, there is no trap body 2 shown in FIG. 1. An electrical energy source 3 is connected to a high voltage circuit 4 to provide energy to the high voltage circuit 4. The high voltage circuit 4 is controlled by a control unit 9. The high voltage circuit 4 is connected to a first killing plate 5 and a second killing plate 6. The second killing plate 6 is shielded by a shield 8 which is grounded to the first killing plate 5. The high voltage circuit 4 provides pulses with voltage peaks in the range of five to ten thousand volts. The control unit 9 controls the high voltage circuit 4 and in case the animal connects a first killing plate 5 and a second killing plate 6, the high voltage circuit 4 delivers a high voltage over a time frame of two or more minutes.

(11) Additionally, the trap circuit may comprise indicators for indicating if the trap is armed or if the energy level in the energy source 3 is low. Furthermore, there may be an indicator in case an animal has been electrocuted by the trap. For example a light indicator can be coupled to control unit 9.

(12) To empty the trap after electrocuting an animal, the user can tip the trap on one end and pour the dead animal out.

(13) The trap can typically be rearmed by switching it off with a switch connected to control unit 9 and then back on again to reset the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit is implemented in the control unit 9 to sense if an animal is simultaneously touching the first and second killing plate. The control unit 9 impresses a small voltage between the first killing plate 5 and the second killing plate 6. When the animal touches both killing plate 5, 6 at the same time, a small current is conducted through its body which is sensed by the control unit 9. Typical sensing impedances for this action would be between 1 and 10 Megaohms.

(14) The animal trap 1 can additionally comprise a status indicator for the status of the energy source 3.

(15) The circuit can also be connected to a switch for connecting and disconnecting either the high voltage circuit 4 or the energy source 3 to the high voltage circuit 4 such that a user can safely arm or disarm the trap 1.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the animal trap 1 comprising a trap body 2. The trap body 2 comprises an energy source 3 and a high voltage circuit 4 which are connected as shown in FIG. 1. The first killing plate 5 is additionally connected to a third killing plate 7 via a trigger isolating network 14. The trigger isolating network isolates the third killing plate 7 from the first killing plate 5 until an animal simultaneously touches the first killing plate 5 and the second killing plate 6. The shield 8 is arranged between the second killing plate 6 and the lower tunnel wall 11 of the trap body 2. The shield 8 is grounded to the first killing plate 5. The killing plates 5, 6, 7 are arranged adjacent to each other such that an animal cannot step in between the killing plates 5, 6, 7 and thereby accidentally not be electrocuted. The trap body 2 further comprises a middle wall 13 by means of which the trap body is separated in two compartments, one for the electrical part and one for the killing plates and for accommodating the animal. The trap body 2 comprises an entrance end 10 through which the animal enters the trap. Additionally, schematically two hands are shown which pick up the trap body 2 and might connect the high voltage circuit without the shield 8.

(17) FIG. 3 corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 2. The only difference is the shield 8 being extended around the inside of trap body 2 such that both hands are shielded. The shield is arranged in a wall of the trap body 2 along the lower tunnel wall 11 and the upper tunnel wall 12. Furthermore, the shield is connected between the upper and lower tunnel walls. All other features correspond to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

(18) In FIG. 4 the general schematic is shown regarding the electrical design of the animal trap 1. Since just the general electric layout is shown, there is no trap body 2 shown in FIG. 4. An electrical energy source 3 is connected to a high voltage circuit 4 to provide energy to the high voltage circuit 4. The high voltage circuit 4 is controlled by a control unit 9. The high voltage circuit 4 is connected to a first killing plate 5 and a second killing plate 6. The first killing plate 5 is additionally connected to a third killing plate 7 via a trigger isolating network 14. The second killing plate 6 is shielded by a shield 8 which is grounded to the first killing plate 5. The high voltage circuit 4 provides pulses with voltage peaks in the range of five to ten thousand volts. The control unit 9 controls the high voltage circuit 4 and in case the animal connects a first killing plate 5 and a second killing plate 6, the high voltage circuit 4 delivers a high voltage over a time frame of two or more minutes

(19) All other features of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 correspond to the embodiment shown and described regarding FIG. 1

(20) FIG. 5 shows a perspective of a trap 1 according to the invention. The trap 1 comprises trap body 2. The trap body comprises an entrance end 10 and side walls 21. Back end 15 comprises openings 15b. When an animal enters the trap 1 the openings 15b make the trap appear having an open end. Hence, the animal is less hesitant to enter the trap 1. The trap 1 further comprises cover 16. The cover 16 encompasses the electrical compartment 18 (see FIG. 6).

(21) FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a trap 1. The cover 16 is detachably connected to the side walls 21 by connection means 17. The inner wall of the cover 16 is the upper tunnel wall. Additionally, cover 16 comprises middle wall 13 (not visible) which separates the electric compartment 18 from the electrocution compartment 19. On top of the cover a switch is arranged to switch the trap 1 on or off.

(22) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a trap 1 without cover 16. The trap 1 comprises lower tunnel wall 11 and side walls 21. The tunnel of the trap is composed from by the walls 11, 21 and back end 15. Inside the tunnel walls the trap 1 comprises shield 8. The trap 1 comprises first and second killing plates 5, 6. As a matter of course a three plate arrangement is similarly possible. The shield 8 protects a user from high voltage when the trap is in use and activated.

(23) FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the trap 1 according to FIG. 7. The killing plates 5,6 and the shield 8 and connected to the side walls 21 by a frame 20. The killing plates comprise connections to the electric compartment to connect the energy source to the killing plates 5, 6.