Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying – Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2002-06-04
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
Poison holders
C043S058000, C043S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06397517
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rodent bait stations and rodent traps.
Rodents are persistent pests, presenting a continual threat to health and goods wherever humans dwell or carry on business. Rodents continue to be a source of disease and economic damage through spoilage of food and non-food items alike. Although ancient scourges such as bubonic plague are rare, rodents are linked to such modem diseases as spirochetal and tick-borne diseases and hantavirus disease.
Rodents are generally controlled through poison or traps. Poison and traps have been placed within specialized containers, called bait stations, to prevent children, non-targeted animals, and unauthorized individuals from coming into contact with the poison or the trap. Bait stations are designed to isolate the poison or trap from ready access to all but the targeted rodents. A typical bait station has a plastic or metal box within which is placed a trap or poison bait. Typically, bait stations are placed along walls and other places where rodents are likely to frequent. To prevent animals or children from gaining access to the contents of bait stations by tipping or shaking, a bait station is often screwed or nailed to the floor or other structure. To maintain the effectiveness of the bait station, the bait must be replaced periodically or traps within the bait station must be emptied and reset. Bait is often in the form of grain mixed with paraffin and rodenticide which is cast or extruded into blocks, Such blocks are resistant to spoilage due to moisture and serve to prevent the targeted rodents from scattering the bait.
What is needed is a bait station which can easily be opened while affixed to the floor and which can accommodate bait or a trap and positively position the bait or trap within the bait station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The bait station of this invention incorporates an injection molded body with an openable lid joined to the body by an integrally formed living hinge. The body defines a rectangular box having a passageway defined by two aligned holes. The passageway is positioned adjacent and parallel to a first side of the box. The hinge is formed along a second side of the box perpendicular to the first side. In use, the first side and the passageway are positioned along a wall so that the hinge is perpendicular to the wall and the lid can readily be opened without interference from the wall even if the body is fixedly mounted to the floor adjacent the wall. The side of the lid opposite the hinge is lockable to the body along a third side by twin prongs, which prevent opening without a key. The interior of the body is divided by a raised wall which runs parallel to the side adjacent the passageway. The raised wall is broken into two equal parts by an opening leading away from and perpendicular to the passageway. The opening leads into a blind passageway terminating at a fourth wall of the body opposite the first wall. The passageway and the co-joined blind passageway form a T-shaped interior arrangement to the bait station interior. Partial walls on either side of the blind passageway which extend from the raised wall to the fourth body wall form feeding areas between the partial walls and the second and third sides. Within each feeding area on each side of the blind passageway two raised protrusions are surrounded by raised rings. Bait blocks having axially extending central holes fit over the raised protrusion, and are clamped between the raised rings and cooperating structure depending downwardly from the lid. A mechanical trap is positioned on two of three raised bosses aligned along the blind passageway. The mechanical trap has portions which inter-fit with the bosses to positively position the mechanical trap within the blind passageway. The bait station will normally be used with either bait blocks or a mechanical trap.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bait station suitable for use with rodenticide bait or a mechanical trap.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bait station which facilitates access when affixed against a wall.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bait station which positively holds bait blocks.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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PROTECTA® Bait Station, ©Bell Laboratories, Inc., Available web site: http://www.bellabs.com/cgi/products.cgi?op=p&nm=domeprotbs.
Johnson Daniel C.
Leyerle Rick
Ark Darren W.
Bell Laboratories, Inc.
Lathrop & Clark LLP
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