SELF-TIGHTENING AND REMOTE-CONTROLLED PEST TRAP

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a trap for harmful animals (such as rodents) which is armed automatically and remotely. State of the art

[0002] When controlling pests using individual traps, it is necessary to regularly inspect the condition of traps placed at different locations inside or outside a building to check whether or not any pests have been caught in them. After triggering the trap, regardless of whether or not a pest has been caught, it is necessary to manually reset it so that it is in a working condition for the next catch.

[0003] WO2017 / 188828A1 discloses a trap comprising a trap mechanism and an actuator assembly configured to return the trap mechanism to a ready position and release the trap mechanism upon trap activation. EP3378309A1 provides an automatic refillable trap suitable for use in a system for detecting and predicting rat and mouse infestations.

[0004] For these purposes, the state of the art is known to use a humane approach, i.e. the passage of a qualified operator to reset the traps. In the case of a capture of a harmful animal, said operator is obliged to take charge of the corpse and then reset the trap. The trap can also be triggered, without there being a harmful animal inside. In the latter case, said operator is obliged to move in order to reset the trap. These untimely triggers are relatively common and can be caused either by a harmful animal that triggers the trap without being captured, or by any unexpected shock, caused to the trap. For example, by a person whose foot inadvertently hits the trap.

[0005] It is common nowadays for traps to be connected by telecommunication to a pest control service company.

[0006] Triggering a trap "blank" means that it is not operational and can have negative consequences on the control methods implemented.

[0007] Traveling for this purpose requires a certain amount of work time and expense.

[0008] This is why the applicant considered it useful to develop a trap which allows a pest trap to be armed automatically and remotely, as well as the associated method. Summary of the invention

[0009] The main purpose of the invention is to check whether a trap has been triggered without capturing a harmful animal, in order to then inform the user and reset the trap automatically, i.e. without the direct intervention of an operator.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a trap for harmful animals comprising: a platform for supporting a capture structure; a hook arranged to hold the capture structure in the "armed" position; a lever arranged to move the hook in order to release the capture structure when pressure is applied to said lever; a spring arranged to cause the capture structure to rotate around an axis when it is released; characterized in that the trap further comprises a sensor for detecting the arming or triggering of the trap; a sensor for detecting the capture of a pest when the trap is triggered; a motor arranged to actuate means for re-arming the trap if no pest is detected in the triggered trap.

[0011] The device may also include a stand-alone telecommunications module, as well as a printed circuit board, including, among other things, a memory and a processor allowing the status of the trap to be known remotely and / or the resetting of the trap to be controlled.

[0012] The invention also relates to a method associated with the use of the trap when it is triggered without capturing a pest, the method comprising the following steps: the trap arming detection sensor detects the triggering of the trap; the pest presence detection sensor detects the presence or absence of a pest; If the trap is triggered but no pest has been captured, the trap is automatically and remotely reset by operating the electric motor.

[0013] The trigger is measured when the pest enters the trap (state A), alternatively, the trigger is measured when the trap is triggered without capture (state B). One of these two states is communicated to a server.

[0014] The method may also comprise a step of deciphering one of these two states by the server and a step of triggering an alert event by which an object or a person is contacted by telecommunication, in order to communicate the capture of a harmful animal or the triggering of the trap with an absence of capture.

[0015] The trap is then automatically armed following interpretation of a trap trigger message. The absence of a pest in the trap may be indicated by the activation of a limit switch on the part of the trap used to capture the pest, or by any other suitable means indicating the absence of a pest capture. When the message indicates the absence of a pest in the trap, a command is sent by the server or by the program on the electronic card to a motor to reset the trap.

[0016] For this purpose, the axle of this motor is equipped with an arm that tightens the trap to its final tension position. The trap is then operational again.

[0017] Then, the motor operates the arm in the opposite direction, to automatically return to the low position, waiting for the trap to be triggered again.

[0018] In the event of a harmful animal being captured by the trap, when the operator removes the harmful animal from the trap, the trap triggers a limit switch on the part of the trap that captures the harmful animal, resulting in the activation of the switch, which starts the motor that activates the arming of the trap.

[0019] Then the motor drives the arm in reverse to the down position, waiting for another trap trigger.

[0020] The trap according to the invention offers significant energy autonomy. For example, through the use of long-life lithium batteries, either rechargeable batteries or supercapacitors rechargeable by mechanical means.

[0021] The invention also relates to a system for processing information. This processing consists of making a link between the message indicating the absence of a harmful animal in the trap and the triggering of the trap tension motor. Detailed description of particular embodiments

[0022] These and other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings of the figures, in which: There Figure 1 . represents a general diagram of the trap according to the invention when it is armed; The Figure 2 . represents a general diagram of the trap according to the invention when a pest is captured; The Figure 3 . represents a general diagram of the trap according to the invention during a blank trigger. The Figure 4 . represents a general diagram of the trap according to the invention during resetting. Brief description of the figures

[0023] In reference to the Figure 1, the platform (1) is the receptacle where the rodent enters; it can be provided with bait to attract the latter. The lever (2) descends when a rodent enters the platform (1) and mechanically releases the capture structure (5) which descends towards the platform (1) in order to trap the rodent. The movement of the capture structure (5) is actuated by a spring (4).

[0024] The detection of a pest using the lever 2, which mechanically triggers a hook 3 and releases the capture structure 5 can be carried out using a reed type switch and a magnet or a magnetic switch and a magnet or an infrared type switch and a heat source or an optical type switch or an acoustic type switch.

[0025] In reference to the Figure 2, the rodent (10) engages on the platform (1) which triggers a vertical movement of the lever (2) which releases the capture structure (5) by the vertical rearward movement of the hook (3). The capture structure (5) descends and is stopped in its downward movement by the mass of the rodent (10), if applicable. The lever of the switch (6) is released and indicates an "ON" position, which communicates to the on-board mini-computer that the capture structure (5) has been actuated. Since the rodent (10) does not allow the capture structure (5) to complete its full movement, the limit control switch (7) remains in the "off" position, since it is not engaged by the rear of the capture structure (5). This "OFF" position indicates to the on-board mini-computer that there has been an effective rodent capture. When the capture structure 5 begins its movement, printed by the spring 4, it releases the lever which activates a switch 6.This can be done using a reed switch and a magnet or a magnetic switch and a magnet or an infrared switch and a heat source or an optical switch or an acoustic switch. In this case, the invasive animal is trapped in the capture structure and the rear part of this structure does not reach the switch 7. This can be done using a reed switch and a magnet or a magnetic switch and a magnet or an infrared switch and a heat source or an optical switch or an acoustic switch.

[0026] In reference to the Figure 3, when for example by an untimely shock to the trap, or a rodent which has struck the lever (2) but has been able to withdraw before the capture structure (5) falls, the capture structure completes its travel, that is to say it descends to stop at the level of the platform (1). This movement engages the end-of-travel control switch (7) and puts it in the "ON" position. This indicates to the on-board mini-computer that there has not been an effective capture of a rodent. In this case, the capture structure 5 completes its travel, and the rear of this structure engages the end-of-travel control switch 7. This can be carried out using a Reed type switch and a magnet or a magnetic switch and a magnet or an infrared type switch and a heat source or an optical type switch or an acoustic type switch.

[0027] In reference to the Figure 4, when the mini-computer receives an “ON” signal from the switch 6 as well as an “on” signal from the limit switch sensor 7, it gives an instruction to the motor 9 to print a quarter turn in the counterclockwise direction to the arm 8, in order to return the capture structure to the starting position, as shown in Figure 1 At the end of the stroke, the hook 3 hooks onto the rear of the capture structure 5. The end of the stroke is recorded as follows: the capture structure 5 hits the switch 6 which goes into the “OFF” position. This communicates to the mini-computer the command to interrupt the rotary movement which was printed on the arm 8 and then resumes a reverse rotary direction, until it returns to its initial vertical position.

[0028] In a particular embodiment, the mini-computer is equipped with a modem comprising a SIM card, which communicates the various types of triggers to a server.

[0029] In a particular embodiment, the server communicates with computers which indicate to selected users the type of trigger for each connected trap.

[0030] In a particular implementation, the server sends an SMS to a choice of users including the trigger type for each connected trap.

[0031] In a particular implementation, the server sends an email to a selection of users including the trigger type for each connected trap.

Claims

1. Pest trap including: - a support platform (1) of a capture structure (5); - a hook (3) arranged to hold the capture structure (5) in the "cocked" position; - a lever (2) arranged for moving the hook (3) to release the capture structure (5) when pressure is applied to said lever; - a spring (4) arranged to cause the capture structure (5) to rotate around an axis when released, characterized by the fact that the trap additionally includes - a sensor for detecting the armament or the triggering of the trap (6); - a sensor for detecting the capture of a pest (7) if the trap is triggered; - a motor (9) arranged to activate means of resetting the trap if no pests are detected in the triggered trap.

2. A pest trap according to claim 1, wherein the means for rearming the trap comprise an arm (8) rotating about the motor axis arranged to drive the capture structure.

3. A trap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing sensors are a set of a reed-type switch and a magnet or a magnetic switch and a magnet or an infra-red-type switch and a heat source or an optical-type switch or an acoustic-type switch.

4. Set of the trap according to one of claims 1 to 3 and a computer terminal, each of which is equipped with telecommunications means for exchanging information for the detection of weapons and the presence of pests.

5. A method of using the trap according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising the following steps: - the trap armament detection sensor (6) detects the activation of the trap; - the pest detection sensor (7) detects the presence or absence of a pest; - If a pest has not been caught, the trap is rearmed automatically and remotely by activating the electric motor (9).

6. The method of use of claim 5 for the use of the assembly according to claim 4, whereby the state of the trap, armed or triggered, is communicated to the computer terminal by means of a telecommunications module.