Rodent Trap with Remote Activation and Inactive Acclimation Phase

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Rodent traps, such as glue boards, often fail to capture rodents due to their foreign appearance and smell, as well as the rodents' ability to sense and avoid them, and existing traps are ineffective in allowing rodents to become accustomed to the trap before activation.

Innovation Solution

A bait station rodent trap that initially deploys in an inactive state, allowing rodents to become accustomed to it, and can be remotely transitioned to an active state, where the trap is activated, trapping the rodent after it has become familiar with the trap's path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a glue board or traditional rodent trap is deployed in an active state immediately, then the trap may capture rodents quickly, but rodents will sense and avoid the trap due to its foreign appearance, smell, and threatening nature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapture speedVSAvoidcapture success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trap is deployed in an inactive state first, allowing rodents to become accustomed to its presence without threat. This preliminary period of non-aggression builds rodent confidence and reduces avoidance behavior, ensuring higher capture success when activation occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The trap transitions dynamically between inactive and active states. The ability to switch states allows the system to adapt to rodent behavior patterns, initially presenting as non-threatening and then activating when conditions are favorable for capture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the trap is kept in an inactive state for an extended period, then rodents become more accustomed and less hesitant, but the time to actual capture increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverodent acceptanceVSAvoidtime to capture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors rodent behavior and environmental conditions to determine the optimal moment for activation. This feedback mechanism ensures activation occurs when rodents have sufficiently accustomed themselves to the trap, maximizing capture probability while minimizing unnecessary delay

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The trap employs periodic checking or monitoring during the inactive phase, allowing for strategic activation decisions. This periodic approach balances rodent acclimation time with timely capture objectives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If manual activation of the trap is required, then the user can control when the trap activates, but the user must be physically present at the trap location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoiduser travel time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Manual mechanical activation is replaced with remote electronic or wireless activation capabilities. This substitution allows users to activate the trap from a distance, eliminating the need for physical presence at the trap location while maintaining full control over activation timing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

A remote communication system acts as an intermediary between the user and the trap mechanism. This intermediary enables command transmission without requiring direct physical interaction, allowing users to activate traps remotely and safely

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3188593B1Rodent trap having improved apparatus to trap rodents
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 AP&G CO INC
  • EP3188593B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3188593B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP3188593B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A rodent trap may be in an active or inactive state, with the inactive state being first set to enable the rodent to enter the trap without feeling threatened, and after a desired period of time, the trap becomes activated such that the rodent which became comfortable in the previously inactive trap then becomes trapped.