Electric Rodent Trap with Stun-and-Hold Dispatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rodent traps often rely on poison, which poses risks to non-target animals and humans, and the decomposition of caught rodents releases noxious gases that deter further rodent entry, necessitating a safer and more effective trapping method.
Innovation Solution
An electric rodent trap with baited entry ramps and a high voltage grid in the housing bottom portion, where low voltage electrodes stun rodents to fall into the trap, delaying euthanasia to prevent gas release and allowing for manual activation of the high voltage for humane dispatch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional rodent traps use poison to kill rodents, then the trapping effectiveness is improved, but the safety risk to non-target animals and humans increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical poison with an electrical field-based killing mechanism. High voltage electrodes generate an electric field that euthanizes rodents through electrical shock, eliminating the need for toxic substances while maintaining trapping effectiveness. This substitution of chemical action with physical electrical action resolves the contradiction between effectiveness and safety.
2Loss of time
If rodent traps euthanize rodents immediately after capture, then the trapping cycle is shortened, but noxious gases from decomposition are released which deter further rodent entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by stunning rodents with low voltage electricity immediately upon capture, which prevents decomposition and gas production while keeping the rodent alive. This preliminary stunning action allows the trap to hold multiple rodents without gas buildup, and the euthanasia is delayed until manual activation, thus preventing harmful gas release while maintaining trapping continuity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rodent traps use high voltage to euthanize rodents, then the humaneness of dispatch is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical function into two distinct voltage levels: low voltage for stunning and capturing, and high voltage for euthanasia. This segmentation allows the device to perform multiple functions (capture and dispatch) using electrical means while managing complexity through functional separation. The low voltage grid handles capture and temporary holding, while high voltage electrodes handle euthanasia only when activated, resolving the contradiction between humane dispatch and device simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The trap effectively captures and humanely dispatches rodents without using poison, preventing noxious gas buildup and ensuring continuous trapping efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
low voltage electrodes stun the rodents causing them to stumble into the trap
Implementation Method 2
high voltage grid in the housing bottom portion to euthanize the rodents
Data Source
AI summary
An electric rodent trap includes bait attracting rodents to climb entry ramps reaching up to entries, and a high voltage grid in a housing bottom portion to euthanize the rodents. The entries may include interior ramps sloping down and into the trap and the ramps may include a low voltage grid to stun the rodents causing them to stumble into the trap while remaining alive. A manual switch is later activated to energize the high voltage grid in the housing bottom portion to euthanize the rodents, and the dead rodents are removed.