Adjustable Bait Station Insert Plates for Targeted Rodent Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bait and trap stations are prone to non-target poisonings and bycatches, causing harm to animals like birds, lizards, snakes, and kittens, and are inefficient due to bulkier trap designs that cause unnecessary stress without effective killing mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A bait and trap station with a housing featuring adjustable entry openings and insert plates that allow specific species to enter while preventing others, combined with a monitoring system for efficient targeting and reduced bycatches, using materials like metal, plastic, or composite materials for durability and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional bait stations with open entry openings are used, then ease of access for target animals is improved, but non-target animal poisonings and bycatches increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of access for target animalsVSAvoidnon-target animal poisonings and bycatches
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different entry opening configurations for different compartments. Each compartment can have entry openings with specific sizes and positions tailored to the target species for that compartment, while insert plates can selectively block access to non-target species. This allows each local area (compartment) to have optimized characteristics for its intended function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bait station is segmented into multiple compartments, each with its own entry openings and insert plate configurations. This segmentation allows different species to be targeted in different compartments simultaneously, and provides flexibility to adjust or remove insert plates to control which species can access which compartments based on local conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If larger entry openings are provided to accommodate bigger rodents, then adaptability to different target species is improved, but non-target animals can also enter causing bycatches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different target speciesVSAvoidnon-target animal bycatches
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the entry opening configuration adjustable through removable insert plates. The system can dynamically adapt its entry opening sizes by inserting or removing plates with different cut-out patterns, allowing the same bait station to be reconfigured for different target species (mice, rats, or other rodents) while preventing non-target species from accessing inappropriate compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bait station design achieves universality by incorporating multiple compartments that can each be configured for different target species. The same basic station structure can serve multiple functions by simply adjusting which insert plates are in place, allowing it to target mice in one compartment while excluding them from another compartment targeted at rats, or to target different species组合 in different compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If insert plates with cut-outs are inserted to restrict species access, then non-target poisonings are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-target poisoningsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complexity is segmented and modularized through the use of removable insert plates that can be independently inserted or removed from each compartment. Each insert plate is a simple component with a specific cut-out pattern, and the overall system complexity is managed by providing separate, standardized plates for different target species rather than designing entirely different bait stations for each species.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert plates are designed to be removable and reusable. When a compartment is no longer needed for a particular target species, the corresponding insert plate can be removed or transferred to another compartment. This allows the system to adapt to changing needs without discarding the entire bait station or its components, reducing waste and long-term complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3646727B1Bait and/or trap station adapted for reducing non-target poisonings and bycatches
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 CAMRO AS
  • EP3646727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3646727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3646727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a bait and/or trap station comprising a) a housing with a feeding and/or trap compartment with an entry opening of a first type; and b) a first insert plate having a cut-out sized and shaped to prevent a specific target species from passing therethrough, and at the same time allowing other species to pass. The entry opening of a first type comprises a first retaining means adapted for removably receiving the first insert plate across the entry opening of a first type.