Integrated Bait Station for Waste Bins and Flower Pots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional bait stations are impractical due to their mobility, exposure to elements, and visibility, which can deter their use in urban areas, and they often compete with other urban features for pest attention, posing aesthetic and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A two-part bait station design that integrates a bait chamber with an enclosed pest poison or trap into existing objects like waste bins, flower pots, or staircase steps, using an integration frame with holes and access openings to allow pest access while maintaining a seamless appearance, allowing for easy servicing and blending into the environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional bait station is used, then pest control function is provided, but it is movable and exposed to elements, making it impractical and unsafe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebait station stabilityVSAvoidbait station mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bait station is integrated with existing urban objects such as waste bins, flower pots, or staircase steps by combining the bait chamber with the integration frame that forms part of the object's structure. This merging eliminates the problem of bait stations being movable or exposed to elements, as they become fixed components of the integrated object while maintaining pest control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If a bait station is placed in visible locations, then pest attraction is enhanced, but it competes with other urban features and may deter use in urban areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepest attraction effectivenessVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The integration frame serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the bait chamber, forms the outer surface of the integrated object, and creates access openings for pests. This multi-functionality allows the bait station to be integrated into existing urban objects without adding visual clutter, as the same structure serves both aesthetic and functional purposes.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The integration frame is designed to match the local aesthetic qualities of the existing object it is integrated with. The outer surface of the integration frame is formed to correspond with the appearance of the integrated object (waste bin, flower pot, staircase step), creating a seamless visual appearance while maintaining the necessary functional features for pest access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If a bait station is integrated into existing objects, then visual impact is minimized and usability is enhanced, but access for servicing must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebait station accessibilityVSAvoidintegration structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bait station is divided into separate functional components: the bait chamber that can be removed for servicing, and the integration frame that remains integrated with the existing object. This segmentation allows the bait chamber to be accessed and serviced independently while maintaining the integrated structure, reducing the complexity of servicing the integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The integration frame acts as an intermediary structure that connects the bait chamber to the existing object. It provides a standardized interface with access openings that facilitate pest access while also serving as the mounting structure for the bait chamber, thereby simplifying the overall integration and servicing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3852523B1Bait station
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 FALKENHARD GYLELECTRICLDE HLDG APS
  • EP3852523B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3852523B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP3852523B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3a

AI summary

Bait stations for attracting pests such as rats are ugly and may be lost or stolen. There is a need for a bait station that is not lost or stolen. This is solved by providing a two-part bait station (200) for attracting pests (10), such as rodents and especially rats, the bait station comprising: - an enclosed bait chamber (210) for storing pest poison or a pest trap, - a receiving part (230) for removably receiving said bait chamber (210) and said bait chamber (210) during use, wherein said two part bait station is formed with an integration frame (220) for at least partly enclosing said two-part bait station (200) and wherein said integration frame (220) forms at least part of the exposed outer surface of the lower ground- contacting part of an object (1) not primarily being a bait station (200), such as a waste bin, a step of a staircase or a flower pot and wherein said bait chamber (210) is formed with access openings (215) and said integration frame (220) is formed with holes (222), the holes and access openings positioned in a manner whereby access for a pest is allowed from an outside environment of the integration frame (220), through said holes (215) and said access openings (222) into said bait chamber (210), when the bait chamber is accommodated in said receiving part.