Signals and indicators – Indicators – Rotary indicator with actuating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-02-27
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Rotary indicator with actuating means
C116S200000, C116S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192825
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for detecting rodents.
The positive detection of rodent infestation, before rodenticides are employed, is desirable. The Food Industry, for instance, is particularly sensitive about this and prefers rodenticides to be used only after an infestation has been positively identified by other means. Furthermore, detection of rodents during a control program, e.g., rodenticide baiting, can be a useful aid to confirm that the bait selected is appropriate. Unfortunately, when a bait is used the absence of bait consumption does not always indicate successful control.
There are four main methods currently employed to detect rodent infestation. These are:
1. census baiting using untreated foodstuffs or blank rodenticide formulations (i.e., formulations containing no active ingredient);
2. tracking patches where small areas of loose particulate matter (for example, gypsum, silversand and carbon black) are laid down to detect footprints;
3. visual inspection of a suspected site to identify rodent damage, droppings, hair or other signs; and
4. sophisticated detectors which employ complex and expensive electronic equipment (e.g., detectors which rely on detecting body heat radiated by a rodent positioned close to a sensor).
All of these main methods have drawbacks. For instance, census baiting relies on the acceptance of the bait by the rodents and, as is the case with rodenticide baiting, negative results do not prove the absence of rodents. The use of census baits of a similar type to a rodenticidal formulation can also reduce the acceptance of that rodenticidal formulation, if subsequently used. Tracking methods currently employ “messy” dusts, dyes or pigments that are sensitive to environmental factors such as moisture, air movement and vibration. Furthermore, experience has shown that excessive use of tracking dusts, apart from the mess created, can be repellent to rodents. Visual inspection methods are time consuming and require considerable expertise to distinguish between “old ” and “fresh ” signs. Live rodents are rarely seen except where the infestation level is high. Finally, sophisticated electronic detectors are costly, consume power and require expert maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting rodents which does not suffer from the disadvantages associated with the current methods discussed above, and which can provide positive evidence of the presence or absence of a rodent infestation.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for the detection of rodents comprising a generally hollow container having an aperture to allow entry into the container and exit from the container by a rodent, and having an indicator to indicate that a rodent has exited the container through the aperture.
Typically, the indicator comprises a flexible barrier located across the aperture and will have a portion which is capable of being displaced through the aperture from an interior position in the container to an exterior position of the container by the movement of a rodent through the aperture from the interior to the exterior of the container. The detector would be set, before use, by locating the displaceable portion of the barrier at the interior of the aperture, inside the container. When a rodent passes through the aperture, although the barrier will be disturbed it will not be displaced through the aperture. However, when the rodent exits the container the flexible barrier will be pushed by the rodent such that the displaceable portion is pushed through the aperture, and it remains located on the exterior of the container after the rodent has departed. If the same or another rodent subsequently enters the container through the aperture, the indicator will be displaced such that it will be relocated on the interior of the container. The rodent, when it exits will, however, displace the flexible barrier so that it remains outside the aperture unless a rodent enters the container. Thus, once the position of the indicator has been set initially before use, any displacement of the indicator to an exterior position will be positive evidence that a rodent has entered and then exited the detector device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1292050 (1919-01-01), Raney
patent: 3778922 (1973-12-01), Clark
patent: 686 922 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 0 395 135 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2 544 586 (1984-10-01), None
Gutierrez Diego
Pruchnic Jr. Stanley J.
Sorex Limited
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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