Animal trap for controlling a rodent pest

Abstract

Animal trap (1) for controlling rodents with at least two lethal traps in a channel enclosed at the edges, wherein support surfaces (5) are provided one behind the other in the channel for the lethal traps, characterized in that a clear opening (10) above a lethal trap is adapted to the rodent in such a way that the clear opening (10) is equal to or greater than a maximum outer circumference of the rodent when jumping and enables the rodent to jump over the lethal trap, wherein an upper area of ​​a boundary of the channel, in particular an upper boundary of the clear opening (10), is arc-shaped with a curvature transverse to the longitudinal direction of the channel, and a clear height and a distance of the support surfaces (5) are selected such that a jumping path of the rodent over one of the lethal traps is defined, at the end of which an effective area of ​​another lethal trap is arranged.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an animal trap for controlling a rodent pest.

[0002] Various types of traps for controlling rodents are known in the art. Rodent control can be achieved using live traps or lethal traps. The traps must comply with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, in particular Section 4. One of these requirements is that the animals be killed painlessly, in proportion to the necessary circumstances.

[0003] Two examples of lethal traps are, firstly, a trap baited with poison and, secondly, a snap trap, which can be triggered by pressing a mechanism (trigger plate) or lifting a bait. Particularly in food processing or pharmaceutical companies, when determining a control and / or prevention strategy for rodents, it is essential to ensure food safety. Due to the risk of spreading pesticides, the use of poisons to control pests must be prohibited. However, lethal traps with snap mechanisms require more effort, especially regarding baiting, monitoring, setting, and handling. This is primarily because rodents have learned to associate certain situations and / or spatial conditions with danger. This increased awareness has led to a lower number of rodents being captured.

[0004] DE 20 2009 018 007 U1 discloses an animal trap for controlling a rodent with at least two lethal traps in a fully enclosed channel. This rodent trap consists of a longitudinally enclosed pipe container with at least two entrance openings at each end, adapted to the specific rodent species being controlled. The pipe container is prepared to receive a base plate that can be inserted between the entrance openings, on which at least two rodent-specific control agents, one of which is assigned to each entrance opening, are pre-installed.This trap is characterized by the fact that, in addition to the entry openings on the end faces, optionally openable entry openings are provided at the ends of the side walls of the pipe container, and that the pipe container has an openable lid part at least in the area of ​​the control agents.

[0005] From WO 2013 / 156395 A1, a device for above-ground trapping and killing of small mammals such as mice and rats is known. To provide such an improved device, one is proposed comprising a housing essentially tunnel-shaped, with a lower section and a roof. The housing has an outer entrance opening on each end face, each forming a tunnel entrance. Inside the housing, at a predetermined distance from the entrance opening, a partition wall with an inner entrance opening is arranged, so that a vestibule is formed on both sides between the outer entrance opening and the partition wall. The roof of the housing is formed by a lid with four slot-shaped recesses: two tension lever slots for the passage of two tension levers from the trap, and two position indicator slots for the passage of two position indicator lever extensions.Between the two partition walls is a catching device with a bait receptacle and two spring-loaded striking bars, which can be tensioned by the tension levers, and two release plates. Each release plate and its corresponding striking bar is oriented towards one of the two tunnel entrances.

[0006] US 4,607,450 A describes a closed mousetrap with an improved trapping mechanism. This mousetrap has a trapping mechanism attached to a rear wall element and includes a brush wire with a straight section that engages in a line contact relationship with a downwardly projecting detent of a catch element to ensure effective operation of the closed mousetrap. The detent is preferably stamped from sheet metal and has a lower surface defined by a front ramp section, a rear detent section, and a lower curved section extending between the ramp section and the detent section.The lower resting surface preferably has a steadily increasing width in a rearward direction to provide the greatest length of line contact with the stirrup wire section in the tensioned position, thereby providing frictional capability when holding the tensioned trap mechanism.

[0007] DE 20 2010 017 379 U1 relates to a trap, in particular a small animal trap. This trap has a triggering device and a transmitter for sending a trigger signal, and comprises a housing, a hinged lid, and an entrance, the entrance being formed in the side wall of the housing and leading into an interior of the housing. This trap is characterized by having an energy converter for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, by having the triggering device located in the interior and having a treadle, and by having the treadle move downwards by the weight of the animal to be caught, the mechanical energy released thereby being convertible in the energy converter into electrical energy sufficient to power the transmitter.

[0008] The object of the invention is to create an animal trap for controlling a rodent using simple means, which enables high efficiency in controlling the rodents while being easy to use and having a simple design.

[0009] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the main claim. Advantageous embodiments and configurations are claimed in the dependent claims and will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

[0010] The core idea of ​​the invention is to provide an animal trap with a channel enclosed at the edges and at least two lethal traps inside the enclosed channel, which allows for high efficiency in catching a rodent and can be easily set into the trapping position by an operator. According to the invention, it has been recognized that the learned behavior of rodents to flee from an existing danger can be addressed with a simple design. While in the prior art the interior of the pipe container is designed in such a way that the respective rodent cannot bypass at least the effective area of ​​a pesticide to reach a predetermined target position within the pipe container and must change its direction of movement to avoid the perceived danger, it has been recognized according to the invention that it corresponds to the natural behavior of rodents if they can jump over the danger.The invention thus employs an approach that initially appears paradoxical, namely enabling the rodent to jump over a trap it recognizes as a danger and escape without changing its direction of movement. This seemingly paradoxical approach nevertheless proves successful.

[0011] An animal trap according to the invention for controlling a rodent is therefore designed such that the channel contains surfaces for several lethal traps, and the clearance above each lethal trap is chosen such that the rodent being controlled can jump over it. For this purpose, the clearance can be equal to or greater than the maximum outer circumference of the rodent, particularly when jumping. This lulls the rodent into a false sense of security upon perceiving danger, allowing it to lose its fear of the other lethal traps and be captured by them. The animal trap can be constructed like a trapping tunnel and thus exploit the hiding and protective behavior of a rodent.

[0012] An animal trap according to the invention is suitable for the use of rodent-specific control agents. These can be, for example, poisoned baits, live traps, and in particular, lethal traps that have a snap-action mechanism.

[0013] According to the invention, the term "kill trap" encompasses a trap that causes the immediate killing of the rodent upon triggering of the trapping mechanism. In particular, a kill trap is a snap trap, which especially has a snapping bar that can be tensioned by means of a tensioning lever and which can be triggered by pulling and / or, in particular, by pushing.

[0014] According to the invention, the term "channel" encompasses a path within the animal trap, enclosed at its edges and designed for a rodent. The lateral boundary of the channel can, for example, be designed to provide the rodent with as much lateral contact with its body surface as possible. This accommodates the rodent's instinctive desire to feel secure, as the rodent can have contact with the wall on both sides.

[0015] The term "base area" includes a surface, in particular a substantially flat surface, for setting up a poison and / or snap trap, whereby locking devices may be provided on the base areas with which a poison and / or snap trap can be releasably locked.

[0016] The term "clearance" refers to a space located above the kill trap, above the base, in the form of an open space bounded at the top by the canal wall. This open space presents no obstacle for the rodent.

[0017] In the present invention, the clear height above the kill trap in conjunction with the distance of the contact surfaces is selected such that a jumping path of a rodent is defined over one of the kill traps, at the end of which another kill trap is arranged.

[0018] According to the invention, an upper region of the outer boundary of the channel is designed with a curvature transverse to the longitudinal direction of the channel. This allows the upper region of the channel to adapt to the outer shape of a rodent, particularly when it jumps.

[0019] It can be specifically designed so that the clearance height is a significant limiting factor for the rodent's jumping path and defines the end of the path. This accommodates the rodent's instinctive escape behavior upon encountering a first trap, particularly when the kill traps are designed as snap traps. Following its instinct, the rodent jumps over the first trap and lands within the effective range of the second kill trap at the end of its trajectory. Preferably, the second snap trap is designed as a pressure-activated trap, and the rodent lands on the pressure plate or its immediate vicinity after jumping, triggering the second trap.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the upper boundary of the channel is dome-shaped or curved, at least in the area of ​​the clear opening above the dead-capture trap, in particular with axial symmetry with respect to the center of the channel.

[0021] For particularly easy handling and loading of the animal trap, the channel features a bottom component with a bottom boundary and a top component with a top boundary. Both the bottom and top components can be injection-molded plastic parts. Alternatively, the bottom and / or top components can be made of EPP foam (expanded polypropylene). Other foams are also suitable. In particular, plastics and / or foams should be used that are both environmentally friendly and meet the requirements for the area where the animal trap will be installed. Designing the channel with a bottom and top component allows access to the base from above, thus increasing user-friendliness.Preferably, the bottom component extends only slightly in height, and the top component essentially forms the side walls and ceiling of the channel. Preferably, the channel's edging is made of a dark-colored or dark-colored material.

[0022] A simple yet highly efficient design can be achieved by connecting the top and bottom components in a pivotable manner using a band, where the band is designed as a film adhered to the components. This adhered film can act as a hinge or band. The advantage is that no hinge or movable joint needs to be considered or designed during the initial shaping of the components.

[0023] For example, locking elements can be provided in the bottom component and / or the top component, which are incorporated independently of any hinge to be formed. Preferably, locking lugs are formed on the top component, which can engage with locking recesses in the bottom component to form the channel. The locking lugs can be engaged or disengaged from the locking recesses in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the channel. By forming the locking lugs in the top component, the locking lugs can be molded onto the component that, due to its vertical extension, most easily exhibits movement transverse to the channel's extension.

[0024] If a film is applied to the bottom component and the top component in such a way that the separation line between the bottom component and the top component is covered, then a simply formed band is present.

[0025] The efficiency of an animal trap can be increased by providing an external indication of its status. In a preferred embodiment, a display is therefore provided that shows the status of the trap externally. This eliminates the need to open the trap to check whether a dead rodent is present, particularly when the trap is equipped with snap traps.

[0026] The indicator may include an opening in the channel that, for example, allows a clear view of a color-coded element of a lethal trap. For instance, if the lethal trap is a snap trap, the opening to a base may be positioned so that a color-coded striking bar is visible when the trap is set. This allows a user to walk past the trap and quickly glance through the opening to determine whether the color-coded striking bar is visible, indicating that the trap is active and not a mouse has been caught. Further inspection of the trap may then be unnecessary.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the opening is closed by a window and / or a film. It may be provided that a darkened window or film is used to improve the acceptance of the animal trap, given the light aversion of the rodents.

[0028] The indicator may include a mechanically actuated indicator element that can be moved into an indicating position by the latch when it is triggered. For example, the indicator element may be designed as a positionally adjustable, particularly sliding, window that can be deflected by the latch, especially from its position in front of the opening, when it is triggered, thus releasing the opening. In particular, the window may be designed as a sliding window that interacts with the latch in such a way that, when the latch is triggered, the window is moved into an open position. It is also possible that at least one mechanical color plate is provided, each associated with a latch. The mechanical color plate may be changeable in its position and / or orientation by triggering the latch. This change may indicate the state of the latch.For example, it is possible that each opening is assigned a mechanical color plate which has several regions (at least two) of different colors and in the tensioned state of the snap trap a predetermined color is visible through the opening and in the relaxed state of the snap trap a color different from the predetermined color is visible.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, the indicator may include a mechanically actuated electrical indicator whose state can be changed by the lethal trap. For example, the electrical indicator may include a light source, in particular an LED, which can be energized when the trap is triggered. It may also be provided that a light source is energized before the trap is triggered, and that triggering the trap causes the energized light source to switch. For example, the indicator may energize a green LED when the trap is triggered; when the trap is not triggered, the indicator may energize a red LED. It may also be provided that the electrical indicator emits an acoustic signal, either as an alternative or in addition to the visual indicator.The acoustic signal can be periodically recurring or constantly continuous.

[0030] The indicator may include a mechanically actuated electronic indicator that can be activated to emit a signal when a snap trap is triggered. This signal can be displayed on a display unit and / or evaluated by an evaluation unit. The animal traps may be integrated into a network that displays the status of the traps or the snap traps within them. The display and / or evaluation unit can communicate with the animal trap via a wired or wireless connection. For example, the electronic indicator may emit radio waves that indicate the status of the lethal trap or snap trap. Connecting the electronic indicator to a wireless network is possible. Examples of such networks include Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, or similar technologies.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0032] The drawings show: Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of an animal trap according to the invention from the side; Fig. 2 an isometric view of the trap according to the invention of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section of the trap according to the invention in the area of ​​a contact surface with a snap trap and Fig. 4 a bottom-side component of the in Fig. 1. Depiction of the embodiment shown.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows an animal trap 1 according to the invention for controlling rodents. The animal trap 1 has a top component 2 and a bottom component 200. When the top component 2 and the bottom component 200 are assembled, a channel with entry openings 3 into the animal trap 1 is formed. The entry openings 3 are adapted to the respective rodent species to be controlled, with two entry openings 3 arranged opposite each other with a clear view through them.

[0034] To assemble the top-side component 2 and the bottom-side component 200, recesses 240 are provided in the bottom-side component 200, into which locking lugs formed on the top-side component 2 can engage. The connection formed by means of the locking lugs and the corresponding recesses 240 is detachable. By means of the in Fig. The locking lugs of the head-side component 2, which are engaged with the recesses 240, can be disengaged from the recesses 240 by pressing against the side wall. The locking lugs can be moved into the recesses 240 just as easily.

[0035] The base component 200 can consist of several components, but can also be a single piece. A multi-part design of the base component 200 allows for a modular construction, enabling the animal trap to be adapted to specific circumstances.

[0036] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the bottom component 200 is designed as a base plate on which a bottom plate 6 can be arranged. The base plate and the bottom plate 6 can be formed as a single unit with the bottom component 200. The bottom component 200 has two contact surfaces 5, on each of which a control agent can be arranged. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the control agent is designed as a lethal trap, in particular a snap trap 15, which can optionally be equipped with a poison bait. The poison bait is preferably arranged centrally on the trigger surface of the snap trap 15.

[0037] You can refer to the ones in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Connect the ramps shown to the bottom-mounted component 200 at its end. These ramps are optional. The ramps allow for a gentle incline up to the height of the top of the bottom-mounted component 200.

[0038] Preferably, the animal trap 1 is free of transverse edges, steps or the like, so that an essentially smooth access path can be created, which may also be designed with a sand or flocking covering.

[0039] According to Fig. 2. An animal trap 1 according to the invention can have an upwardly extending curve. This curve leads to a clear opening with a vertical clear opening 19 and a horizontal clear opening 10 (cf. Fig. 2, Fig. 3) The light above the snap trap 15 allows the rodent to recognize a possible danger and react by jumping over the snap trap 15, whereby the rodent is then caught by another snap trap 15 in the canal.

[0040] In particular Fig. Figure 3 shows a snap trap 15, which, with regard to its mechanism, can be a commercially available snap trap 15 that is triggered by pressure on a trigger surface 50. The snap trap 15 has a striking bar 16 and a tensioning bar 17. The striking bar 16 and the tensioning bar 17 are fixed to each other. The snap trap 15 is tensioned by moving the tensioning bar 17 by means of a spring, so that when the trigger surface 50 is touched, the tensioning bar 17 is released from its holder and the striking bar 16 is triggered towards the bottom component 200 and, in particular, strikes the trigger surface 50 to trap the rodent.

[0041] Fig. Figure 3 shows the striking bar 16 in the tensioned state, which is perpendicular to the bottom component 200. The tensioned state is maintained by holding the tensioning lever 17. In the area of ​​the top component 2, an opening 600 is arranged above the contact surface 5 to allow observation of the striking bar 16's state. The section of the striking bar 16 extending transversely to the plane of the drawing is colored yellow.

[0042] The snap trap 15 is adapted in its width to the channel of the animal trap 1, so that a lateral circumvention of the snap trap 15 is excluded.

[0043] Fig. Figure 4 shows a bottom component 200 of the animal trap 1 according to the invention. The bottom component 200 has two side walls 230 perpendicular to the plane of the bottom component 200, which are spaced apart from each other by the width 11 of the bottom component 200. The side walls 230 have recesses 240 into which locking lugs of the top component 2 can engage.

[0044] Fig. Figure 4 further shows clamp-like locking elements 14 in the area of ​​the contact surfaces 5, which can securely hold a snap trap 15. In the Fig. Figure 4 shows the snap trap 15 only in a simplified representation, which is limited to a base area or projection surface of the snap trap 15.

[0045] The snap traps 15 are arranged in the channel in a mirror-image configuration opposite each other, optionally with a poison bait or optionally with a non-poisonous attractant in the contact surfaces 5 and locked in place with the clamp-like locking elements 14. This allows the snap traps 15 to be easily attached to the contact surfaces 5 by pressing them on and armed when attached.

[0046] A film can be affixed to one side of the animal trap 1, extending over the bottom component 200 and the top component 2. This affixed film forms a hinge or band, allowing for simplified opening and / or closing of the animal trap. The top component 2 can pivot relative to the bottom component 200.

Claims

[1] Animal trap (1) for controlling pest rodents with at least two dead-arrest traps in a channel enclosed at the edges, wherein support surfaces (5) for the dead-arrest traps are provided one behind the other in the channel, characterized by in that a clearance (10) above a dead-stop trap is adapted to the pest rodent in such a way that the clearance (10) is equal to or greater than a maximum outer circumference of the pest rodent when jumping and jumping over the dead-stop trap is possible, wherein an upper region of a boundary of the channel, in particular an upper boundary of the clearance (10), is arc-shaped with a curvature transverse to the longitudinal direction of the channel, and a clearance height and a distance of the contact surfaces (5) are selected such that a jumping path of the pest rodent over one of the dead-stop traps is predetermined, at the end of which an effective area of ​​another dead-stop trap is arranged. [2] Animal trap (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the channel has a bottom-side component (200) with a bottom-side boundary and a head-side component (2) with a head-side boundary. [3] Animal trap (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the head-side and the bottom-side components (2, 200) are pivotally connected to one another by means of a band, wherein the band is designed as a film glued to the components (2, 200). [4] Animal trap (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that an indicating means is provided which indicates to the outside a status of a dead-action trap arranged in a channel. [5] Animal trap (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the indicating means comprises an opening (600) in the channel. [6] Animal trap (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat the indicating means comprises a mechanically actuated indicating element which can be brought into an indicating position by the dead-stop trap when it is triggered. [7] Animal trap (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the indicating means comprises a mechanically actuated electrical indicating element which can be brought into an indicating position by the dead-stop trap when the latter is triggered. [8] Animal trap (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by that the display means comprises an electronic display element which can be actuated by the dead-arrest trap to emit a signal when it is triggered.

Images