WO2015011466A1

WO2015011466A1 - Rodent trap

Info

Publication number: WO2015011466A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/052241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey Ian STOCKS
Original assignee: Pesky Products Limited
Priority date: 2013-07-23
Filing date: 2014-07-23
Publication date: 2015-01-29
Also published as: GB201313129D0; GB2516465B; GB2516465A

Abstract

A rodent trap (1) comprises a housing (2) with a lid (3). Inside the housing are two counter rotating rollers (16, 17) with a predefined gap in between the two rollers. The housing includes a means of ingress (32, 34) for a rodent, The housing also houses a trigger which is activated in the presence of a rodent which causes the counter rotating rollers to rotate drawing the rodent, into the gap. This crushes the rodent, The rodent is expelled into a tray in the bottom of the housing which can be removed to retrieve a dead rodent.

Description

«.

RODENT TRAP

The present invention relates to a device for trapping rodents such as rats, Rats and other similar rodents present a significant health hazard. There are a number of devices available to kill rodents. Traditional mousetraps are able to kill a single mouse at a time but need to he reset on each occasion, Traps using poison or electrical current to kill rodents are also known. Baits using electricity or poison present hazards to human health and safety and some rodents may adapt to become immune to the effects of poison.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rodent trap comprising a housing having an ingress for a rodent, and including a rodent crushing mechanism, a rodent transport mechanism, a rodent receptacle and a trigger device housed within the housing, the rodent crashing mechanism being configured to receive a rodent via d e ingress and operable to crush the rodent in response to activation of the trigger de vice, the rodent transport mechanism being arranged to convey the rodent from the rodent crushing mechanism to the rodent receptacle for retention therein,

A rodent trap according to this invention is therefore able to trap multiple rodents without requiring a reset as it removes the rodent from the crushing mechanism allowing to the crushing mechanism to continue working, it kills rodents by mechanical means without requiring the use of an electrical current or poison.

The housing keeps the rodents securely until they can be removed.

The rodent crushing mechanism and transport mechanism may comprise a pair of substantially parallel counter rotating rollers defining a gap therebetween and configured to rotate so as to draw the rodent into and through the gap between the rollers so as to crush the rodent and transport the rodent to the rodent receptacle. The pair of counter rotating rollers may be biased towards a first position and moveable between the .first position and a second position to accommodate the rodent as it passes between the counter rotating rollers in the gap between the counter rotating rollers, Thus, the crushing mechanism can accommodate rodents of different sizes while still killing them.

The counter rotating rollers may be biased to the first position by means of a spring biasing mechanism.

The pair of counter rotating rollers may comprise a first roller and the second roller, and each may each include a pair of pins, one pin extending from each end of t he first roller and the second roller along the longitudinal axis of the respective roller, the first roiier and the second roller being be arranged to be supported between a face of the housing and a panel of the housing, the panel and the face having a pair of arcuate slots, and each pin being configured for retention within a respective arcuate slot to thereby support the first roller and the second roller between the side face and the panel.

The arcuate slots may include springs configured to act on the pin retained in the arcuate slot to bias the roiier to the first position.

The panel may be an internal panel or may be a side face of the housing.

The pins may be integral with a shaft running longitudinally through the roller along the longitudinal axis of the roller.

In the first position, the first and second rollers may be separated by a distance such that the gap is a predetermined distance when the crushing mechanism is in a non-operating state. The predetermined distance may be less than 10mm and more preferably around 5mm, in the second position, the gap between the first and second rollers may be 25mm or less and more preferably between 15 and 20mm, This is sufficient to accommodate rodents of different sizes and shapes without the rodents becoming stuck in the crushing mechanism. The counter rotating rollers may include grippers to grip the rodent. The grippers may be ridges provided longitudinally along the surface of the rollers. The ridges may be provided by a plurality of metal strips. The grips assist in forcing the rodents towards and through the gap between the rollers. The he first roller may be coupled to a driving mechanism, such as a motor, to rotate the first roller, and to the second roller by means of a. coupling mechanism such that rotation of the first roller results in counter rotation of the second roller.

The motor may be coupled to the first roller by means of a drive shaft, which may be integral with the roller.

The crushing mechanism may be a pair of reciprocating plates and the transport mechanism may be a chute. The driving mechanism may be activated in response to activation of the trigger device.

The rodent trap may include a timer coupled to the trigger device and operable to drive the driving mechanism, for a predetermined period of time after activation. T he trigger device may be a switch including a bait mount, the switch being in an open position in a non-activated state and closed upon activation such that, in the closed position, power is supplied to the driving mechanism in response to detection of activity at the bait mount to drive the first roller, Alternatively, the trigger device may be a motion sensor operable supply power to the driving mechanism in response to detection of motion within the housing, The coupling mechanism may be a gear mechanism. The gear mechanism may include a first toothed cog wheel provided on the first roller and a second toothed cog wheel on the second roller, the first and second cog wheel being engaged with each other such that rotation of the first roller causes a counter rotation of the second roller

The rodent receptacle may be located underneath trie gap between the counter rotating rollers. The receptacle may be a tray, provided at the bottom of the housing and removable from the housing. The tray may include an inclined surface to direct a transported rodent away from the crushing mechanism.

The ingress may comprise at least one aperture provided in a side wall of the housing, The housing may include a lid which may be hinged.

The rodent trap may include an indicator activated in response to operation of the crushing mechanism. The indicator may be a light or device to provide an audible signal. The rodent trap may include a safety mechanism coupled rodent crushing mechanism and configured to detect when the lid is open and operable to send a signal, to the control unit to prevent operation of the rodent crushing mechanism in response to the signal.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures of which:

Figure 1 is a first schematic perspective view of the rodent trap of the present invention showing the front of the rodent trap; Figure 2 is a second schematic perspective view of the rodent trap of the present invention showing the rear of the rodent trap; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the i nside of the housing for the rodent trap of Fi gures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic cross section along the line A-A' of Figure 3, illustrating the roller orientation;

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-section along the line B-B^* of Figure 3;

Figures 6 A and 6B are perspective views of the side panels of the housing for the rodent trap of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the inside of the tray for the rodent trap of Figure 1 ; and

Figures 8A and 8B are schematic block circuit-diagrams for the components of the rodent trap of Figure 1 in accordance with first and second embodiments of the invention.

A rodent trap 1 comprises a housing 2 in the shape of a box. with a lid 3. The housing 2 has a front face 4, a rear face 5, a base 6 and first and second side faces 7, 8. The lid 3 includes a carry handle 9 and a lock 10. for example a hinged lock to close and lock the lid 3. The lid 3 is hingedly connected to the rear face 5 using hinges 1 1 so that the lid 3 can be opened to provide access to the interior 12 of the housing 2. The housing 2 is divided into two compartments 1.3, 14 by means of a panel 15. The first compartment 13 houses electrical and roller driving components as will be described in further detail below, The second compartment 14 houses a rodent crushing .mechanism, rodent transport mechanism and rodent receptacle as will also be described in further details below.

The second compartment 14 houses two substantially parallel rollers 1 6. 17. Each roller 16, 1 is mounted so that their longitudinal axes X, Y run widthways of the second compartment 14 between the panel 15 and the first side face 7. Each roller 16, 17 includes a pair of pins 18, 18': 19, 19' one of each pair extending from the respective end faces of each roller coincident with the respective longitudinal axes X, Y. Each pin 18, 18'; 19, 19' is configured to engage with respective arcuate slots 20, 20'; 21 , 2 Γ provided in the end face 7 and the panel 15, Thus supported, the first roller 16 and the second roller 17 are able to rotate about their longitudinal axes X, Y, in the embodiment described herein, each, pair of pins 18, 18"; 19, 19' are formed from a single shaft (not shown) running through the respective first or second roller 16, 17 along the longitudinal axis X, Y. but they could be formed as discrete pins at each end of the roller 16. 17, Each roller 16, 17 has a toothed cog wheel 22, 23 with a centre of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axes X, Y of the respective roller 16, 1 7. The cog wheels 22, 23 are located subsiantially towards one end of the roller 16, 17 so that they are adjacent the first end face 7. The cog wheels 22, 23 are engaged with each other to define a coupling mechanism so that rotation of the first roller 16 cause the second roller 17 to rotate in a counter direction, first and second rollers 16, 17 therefore define a pair of counter rotating rollers.

Each of the rollers 16, 17 has a plurality of raised ridges 24 running longitudinally along each of the outer surface 25 of the rollers 16, 17. The ridges 24 serve to act as grippers for rodents within the rodent trap 1 as will be further described below. The raised ridges 24 are in the form of metal strips.

The first and second rollers 16. 17 are arranged and separated from each other so thai the outer surfaces 25 of the first and second rollers define a space 36 therebetween. In the embodiment described herein, the separadon or size of the space 36 between the .first and second rollers 16, 17 is a distance, d. In the embodiment described herein, the separation d is 5mm when the first and second rollers 16, 17 are in a non-operational state.

As described above, the first and second rollers 16, 17 are supported within the second compartment 14 of the housing 2 by means of the pins 1 8, 18'; 19. 19' being retained in opposing pairs of arcuate slots 20. 20'; 21. 2Γ. The pins 18, 18'; 19, 19' are able to translate within the arcuate slots 20, 20'; 21 , 21 ' and are thus able to vary the separation d between the first and second rollers 16, 17 as the first and second rollers 16, 1 7 move apart from each other. This is illustrated by the double-headed arrows in Figure 4.

Each arcuate slot 20, 20'; 21 , 21 ' includes a spring 37 acting against the pin 18, 18"; 19, 19' received in the respective slot to bias each pin 18, 18'; 1 , 19' (and therefore the respective roller 16, 7) to a first position in which the first and second rollers 16, 17 are at the minimum separation d. In this embodiment, this minimum separation d is 5mm as described above. The first roller 16 is coupled to a motor 25 by means of a drive shaft 26 connected to the pin 18'. In the embodiment described herein, the drive shaft. 25 and pin 18' is an integral unit, but could be discrete and connected in an appropriate manner. The motor 25 drives the drive shaft 26 so that it rotates, thereby driving and rotating the first roller 16. As the first roller 16 is coupled to the second roller 17 by means of the coupling mechanism in the form of the two engaged cog wheels 22, 23, rotation of the first roller 16 causes the second roller to rotate in the counter direction.

The motor 25 is coupled to a power supply 27, such as a battery, which also includes a timer 28 which sets the length of time at which the motor 25 can operate - once triggered - and, as such, how long the rollers 16, 17 will rotate.

In order to accommodate any movement of the first roller 16 as it moves away from the second roller 17 in response to translation of the respective pins 18, 18'; 1 . 19' in the arcuate slots 20, 20'; 21 , 21 \ the motor 25 can be mounted within the housing 2 to provide some facility for small displacement so that the drive shaft 26 can move with the roller 16 to which it is coupled.

A safety switch 29 is coupled to the power supply 27 and is operable to disconnect the power supply to the motor 25 when the lid 3 is open and, as such prevents operation of the motor 25, A trigger device 30 is mounted within the second compartment 14 against the inside of the rear face 5 of the housing 2 at a location above the pair of counter rotating rollers 16, 17. The trigger device 30 includes a platform 31 upon which any suitable rodent bait can be placed. As a rodent, in response to the presence of bait, touches the platform 31 , the trigger device 30 is activated causing the motor 25 to run.

Specifically, the trigger device 30 is a switch which is biased to an open position such that electrical circuit 38, which includes the power supply 27, timer 28 and motor 25, is open. The timer 28 is in the form of a relay, in this open state, no power is supplied to the motor 25 which is therefore not working. Rodent activity at the trigger device 30 moves the platform 31 which closes the switch and enables power to be supplied to the motor 25 causing it to operate. The circuit 38 includes the timer 28 which is connected between the trigger device 30 and the power supply 27 so that when the switch of the trigger unit 30 closes, the power supply 27 continues to supply power to the motor 25 for a predetermined period of time so that it continues to operate and dri e the first and second rollers 16, 17 for a predetermined period of time even when the rodent is no longer active around the trigger device 30. The circuit 38 is illustrated in Figure 8A,

The motor 25, power source 27 and timer 28 act as a control unit for controlling operation of the rodent trap 1 . These are all located in the first compartment 13,

The electrical circuit 38 can include an indicator 39, for example in the form of an LED light or an audible sound that is activated when the motor 25 operates. At least one point of ingress into the interior 12 of the housing 2. is provided when the lid 3 is closed. In the embodiment described herein, there are two points of ingress.

The first point of ingress is a circular aperture 32 in the first side face 7, and the second point of ingress is a circular aperture 34 in the second side face 8 which leads to a tubular conduit 33 and from there to a third circular aperture 35 in the panel 15. Both points of ingress lead to the second compartment 14 and in particular to an area above the first and second counter rotating rollers 16, 17,

Provided within the second compartment 14, adjacent the underside of the crushing mechanism in the form of the two rollers 16, 17 is a rodent receptacle in the form of a tray 40. The tray 40 is removable from the housing 2. The tray 40 has four side walls 42 and a base 41 , The base 41 has a central raised portion 42 with a triangular cross-section having two sloping sides 43, 44, In use, the rodent trap 1 is fitted with bait that is placed on the platform 31 and the lid 3 closed and locked. The rodent trap 1 is then placed in a location in which rodents are active and which are required to be trapped. The tray 40 is in place.

Rodents, attracted by the bait enter the rodent trap 1 by either of the points of ingress where they will find themselves above the first and second rollers 16, 17 in the second compartment 14.

Further attracted by the bait they will approach the bait on the platform. 31 and activate the trigger device 30. This will close the circuit 38 thus causing the motor 25 to operate which wi l drive the first roller 16 causing it to rotate. The coupling mechanism of the first cog wheel 22 engaging with the second cog wheel will therefore cause the second roller 17 to also rotate. As described above, the two rollers 16. 17 counter rotate and specifically rotate inwardly towards each other as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. In an alternative embodiment, the trigger device 30 can take the form of a motion sensor 30' which is configured to detect the motion of a rodent within the housing 2. The circuit 38' for this alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 8B. Activation of the motion sensor 30' closes the circuit 38 causing the motor 25 to operate thus driving the first roller 16 as described above. In this alternative embodiment, the timer relay 28' includes an additional switch 28" to ensure that the motion of the rotating rol lers 16, 1 7 does not continue to trigger the motion sensor 30' which would soon lead to draining of the power supply 27, This counter rotating, inwards movement of the first and second rollers 16, 17 causes the rodent to be drawn towards the space 36 between the first and second rollers 16, 17.

Continued rotation of the rodent between the first and second rollers 16, 17 causes the rodent to be drawn further between them where the rodent is crushed between the outer surface 25 of the two rollers 16, 17. This is further facilitated by the provision of the raised ridges 24 whic grip the rodent. The crushed rodent is then expelled from the space 36 and into the tray 40 below. The raised and sloped central portion 42 of the tray base 41 feeds the rodent away from the underside of the first and second rollers 16, 17.

The tray 40 can then be removed from the housing 2 to dispose of the rodent.

Claims

1. A rodent trap comprising a housing having an ingress for a rodent, and including a rodeni crashing mechanism, a rodent transport mechanism, a rodent receptacle and a trigger device housed within the housing, the rodent crushing mechanism being configured to receive a rodent via the ingress and operable to crush the rodent in response to activation of the trigger device, the rodent transport mechanism being arranged to convey the rodent from the rodent crushing mechanism to the rodent receptacle for retention therein.

2. A rodent trap according to claim 1 , wherein the rodent crushing mechanism and rodent transport mechanism comprise a pair of substantially parallel counter rotating rollers defining a gap therebetween and configured to rotate so as to draw the rodent into and through the gap between the rollers to crush the rodent and transport the rodent to the rodent receptacle,

3. A rodent trap according to claim 2, wherein the pair of counter rotating rollers are biased towards a first position and moveable between the first position and a second position to accommodate the rodent as it passes between the counter rotating rollers in the gap between the counter rotating rollers.

4. A rodent trap according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the pair of counter rotating rollers comprises a first roller and the second roller, each of which include a pair of pins, one pin extending from each end of the first roller and the second roller along the longitudinal axis of the respective roller, the first roller and the second roller being be arranged to be supported between a face of the housing and a panel of the housing, the panel and the face having a pair of arcuate slots, and each pin being configured for retention within a respective arcuate slot to thereby support the first roller and the second roller between the side face and the panel

5. A rodent trap according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein die panel is an internal panel configured to divide the housing into a first compartment and a second

compartment.

6. A rodent trap according to claim 4, wherein the arcuate slots include springs

configured to act on the pin retained in the arcuate slot to bias the roller to the first position.

7. A rodent trap according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the pins are integral with a shaft running longitudinally through the roller along the longitudinal axis of the roller,

8. A rodent trap according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the first and second rollers may be separated by a distance such that the gap is a predetermined distance when the crushing mechanism is in a non-operating state,

9. A rodent trap according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined distance is

substantially 5mm,

10. A rodent trap according to any of claims 3 to 9, wherein, in the second position, the gap between the first and second rollers is between 15 and 20mm.

1 1. A rodent trap according to any of claims 2 to 10, wherein the counter rotating

rollers include a plurality of ridges provided iongitudinally along the surface of the rollers,

12. A rodent trap according to any of claims 4 to 1 1, wherein the first roller is coupled to a driving mechanism to rotate the first roller, and to the second motor by means of a coupling mechanism such that rotation of the first roller by means of the driving mechanism, results in counter rotation of the second roller,

A rodent trap according to claim 12, wherein the driving mechanism is activated response to activation of the trigger device.

14. A rodent trap according to claim 13. including a timer coupled to the trigger device and operable to drive the driving mechanism for a predetermined period of time after activation.

15. A rodent trap according to any preceding claim, wherein the trigger device is a switch including a bait mount, the switch being in an open position in a non- activated state and closed upon activation such that, in the closed position, the rodent crushing mechanism is activated in response to detection of activity at the bait mount.

16. A rodent trap according to any of claim 1 to 14, wherein the trigger device is a motion sensor coupled to the crushing mechanism whereby the crushing

mechanism is activated in response to detection of motion within the housing.

1 7. A rodent trap according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the coupling mechanism is a gear mechanism including a first toothed cog wheel provided on the first roller and a second toothed cog wheel on the second roller, the first and second cog wheel being engaged with each other such that rotation of the first roller causes a counter rotation of the second rol ler

18. A rodent trap according to any preceding claim, wherein the rodent receptacle is a tray, provided ax the bottom of the housing and removable from the housing. 1 . A rodent trap according to claim 18, wherein the tray includes an inclined surface to direct a transported rodent away from the crushing mechanism,

20. A rodent trap according to any preceding claim, wherein the ingress comprises at least one aperture provided in a side wall of the housing.

21 , A rodent trap according to any preceding claim., wherein the housing includes a hinged lid,

22. A rodent trap according to any preceding claim, further including an indicator activated in response to operation of the crushing mechanism.

23. A rodent trap according to claim 20, further inc uding a safety mechanism coupled rodent crushing mechanism and configured to detect when the lid is open and operable to prevent operation of the rodent crushing mechanism in response to the signal.