Refillable Rodent Bait Station With Segmented Housing And Latching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rodent bait stations are typically single-use, non-refillable, pose safety risks due to handling of contaminated parts, and are inaccessible to children and pets, with refill mechanisms that require keys and obscure bait levels and rodent presence.
Innovation Solution
A reusable bait station with a housing and bait receptacle that can be refilled without direct contact, featuring a releasable latching mechanism and displaceable tabs for secure bait storage, allowing easy adult access while preventing child or pet access, and transparent components for visual bait level and rodent presence monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a key mechanism is used to secure the bait station against children and pets, then safety is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bait station is divided into two main segments: a housing and a removable receptacle. The receptacle can be easily removed by adults for refilling while the housing remains secured against children and pets. This segmentation allows the safety function to be provided by the housing structure while the receptacle provides easy access for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism uses dynamic elements including spring-loaded arms and movable lugs that automatically engage when the receptacle is inserted and can be released by applying force to release tabs. This dynamic behavior provides child resistance during normal use while allowing easy opening by adults who can apply sufficient force.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the bait station is made opaque for security, then safety is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is made opaque in most areas for safety, but specific local regions are made transparent or translucent. The front wall and rear wall include transparent portions that allow visual inspection of bait levels and rodent presence without compromising the overall security of the bait station.
3Ease of operation
If the bait station requires handling of contaminated parts for refilling, then ease of operation deteriorates, but device complexity improves
Solution Approach 1:
The bait receptacle is extracted as a separate removable component from the housing. Users can remove the receptacle without touching the housing, which remains contaminated. The receptacle is designed to be easily detached and reattached, allowing users to refill bait while minimizing contact with contaminated surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable receptacle acts as an intermediary between the user and the contaminated housing. Users interact with the clean receptacle for refilling operations, while the housing remains isolated and contained. This intermediary component protects users from direct contact with contaminated surfaces.
4Ease of operation
If the opening is located away from the wall for accessibility, then ease of operation improves, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bait station is designed to be placed against a wall, utilizing the wall surface as a support dimension. The opening is positioned on the side of the housing that faces away from the wall, allowing rodents to access the bait by following the wall while users can approach from the opposite side for refilling operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A refillable bait station for pest control includes a housing, a bait receptacle operable for insertion into said housing. and a releasable latching mechanism associated with said housing and operable for releasably securing said bait receptacle within said housing.