Bait Rack With Spring-Loaded Mounting Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rodent bait stations often leave behind unwanted bait wrappers and require additional manipulation to secure bait, which can be visually unappealing and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A bait rack with a mounting leg and bait support portion formed from a single piece of sheet material, featuring a trough for bait holding and slots for access, allowing bait to be placed directly on the rack without wrappers and securely mounted within the bait station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bait is placed in wrappers and secured with additional manipulation, then bait security is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bait rack is designed to be self-mounting using spring-loaded mounting legs that automatically engage with mounting slots in the housing when the rack is inserted. This eliminates the need for additional manipulation or tools to secure the rack, allowing the device to serve itself during installation while maintaining secure bait holding capability.
2Reliability
If bait wrappers are used, then bait protection is improved, but cleanliness and visual appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the wrapper element from the bait delivery system. The bait rack provides a dedicated containment structure with walls and a floor that holds bait directly without requiring external wrappers. This removes the source of visual pollution and waste while maintaining bait protection through the integrated rack structure.
3Reliability
If multiple mounting methods are used, then mounting reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system uses spring-loaded legs that automatically compress and engage with mounting slots through a simple insert-and-release motion. The springs provide automatic tension to secure the rack firmly once positioned, eliminating the need for multiple mounting steps or complex fastening operations while ensuring reliable attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A bait rack including a mounting leg and a bait support portion is provided. The mounting leg has a bottom free edge and at least one mounting slot formed therein. The bait support portion includes an intermediate portion, an upward extending portion and a trough portion. The intermediate portion is connected to the mounting leg by a bent region formed between the mounting leg and the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion extends relative to the mounting leg in a non-parallel and non-perpendicular manner. The trough portion connects and is interposed between the upward extending portion and the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion, trough portion and upward extending panel portion forming a bait holding trough therebetween. A plurality of slots provide access to the bait holding trough from a location external of the bait holding trough. A bait station including the bait rack is also provided.