Abstract:
A pathogen-proof and humane rodent trap that asphyxiates the rodent inside of a small airtight compartment so that the dead animal cannot act as a source for production or distribution of infectious organisms, and can be safely disposed of. Two embodiments are shown, one comprising two telescoping tubular members compressed together by a rubber band or the like, and a break-away bait stick is lodged between the two tubular members to hold them apart. When a rodent chews the bait stick it breaks away, compressing the tubular members together and sealing off the entrance aperture. In another embodiment, a single cantilevered tubular member is used, and it rests on a central fulcrum to allow tipping one way or another. A trap door is folded under one end of the tubular member and it snaps shut when the tubular member is tipped. Both designs are humane and sanitary, simple to use, effective, child and pet safe, small, disposable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTION(S)  
       [0001]     The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/583,857; filed: Jun. 29, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to rodent traps and, more particularly, to efficient and effective designs for rodent traps that produce a positively hermetic seal to trap a rodent and every associated contaminant (including urine, blood, feces, odors, fleas, ticks, mites, and infectious pathogens) inside of a small sealed container for safe and sanitary disposal. The traps also impart a humane death by asphyxiation.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Background  
         [0005]     The true danger of rodents lies in the pathogens and parasites that they carry. The greatest deficiency of conventional rodent traps is that infectious pathogens can be transmitted to humans after the rodent has been trapped. Indeed, pathogen-carrying parasites often begin searching for another host even before their existing host is completely dead. No available trap completely prevents the leakage or exchange of every contaminant such as urine, blood, feces, odors, fleas, mites, ticks, and microscopic pathogens.  
         [0006]     In just the last 10 years, 25 new diseases were added to the already existing list of 60 rodent to human transmissible diseases. As the world becomes densely populated and disease outbreaks become more problematic, the need for hygienic methods of rodent control will only intensify. At the same time, consumers are leaning toward more humane rodent traps that kill by less nihilistic methods. The traditional methods of poison, glue, electrocution, or crushing force violate emotional constraints and fail to control the aforementioned contaminants. Of particular importance, rodent fleas, ticks, and mites, a major source for transmission of infectious microbes from rodents to humans, are most likely to feed on humans when rodent control is being done because these tiny insects begin leaving their dying hosts within minutes in search of new hosts. The effect is that with unsealed traps, recently killed animals can be more infectious to humans than decomposing animals.  
         [0007]     The best attempts to deal with these problems have been suffocation traps. U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,493 to Jordan issued Dec. 6, 1983 discloses an animal trap comprising a system of interconnected modular units including a gate, which is treadle operated by an entering animal to snap to a latch closed position from an open position adjacent the floor of the trap. The trap has a sealed capture module with a plastic bag liner, which may be disengaged from the system of interconnected modular units for disposal purposes.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,883 to Williams issued Sep. 4, 1984 shows a trap with a magnetic door frame which helps pull the door closed and keep it closed. A seal is formed by the door so that the trapped mouse will suffocate.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,673 to Paglia issued Jul. 12, 1994 shows a magnetic animal trap assembly in which the animal will suffocate. A magnetic door provides a seal when closed.  
         [0010]     Unfortunately, these devices rely on relatively complex and expensive triggering and sealing mechanisms to trap the rodent. Although they claim suffocation, none of these devises claim to be impervious to the leakage of liquids or gases. It is very difficult to produce a 100% hermetic container using plastic bags or magnetic seals, especially in inexpensive, mass produced products. Most critically, the leakage of only a single drop of contaminated fluid from a trap can contain billions of infectious pathogens. Likewise, the leakage of the most minute amount of airborne pathogens can also result in contamination. To be effective for the control of rodent borne pathogens, a hermetic trap must be positively and reproducibly hermetic, and must remain securely closed after usage and disposal.  
         [0011]     It would be greatly advantageous to provide a rodent trap that seals the rodent inside of a positively hermetically-sealed trap using a minimum of component parts. Because it is thus sealed, the dead animal cannot act as a source for production or distribution of pathogens, and can be safely disposed of while sealed inside of the trap. The present invention accomplishes the foregoing with a humane and sanitary rodent trap with a positively hermetic double seal that is simple to use, effective, child and pet safe, small, disposable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The present device kills the animal quickly, quietly, and humanely, eliminating the need for the traditional use of force, electricity, glue, or poison. The positive and secure hermetic seal allows the tripped trap to be left unchecked indefinitely without risk of any contamination, not only eliminating disease risks posed by unchecked traps, but adding convenience and efficiency to rodent control.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved rodent trap that seals the dead or dying rodent, as well as the associated parasites and pathogens, in a hermetic container to avoid contagion hazards as well as odors.  
         [0013]     It is another object to provide to provide a more humane rodent trap that relies on quick asphyxiation and not poisons, neck-snapping, glue, or anything that could harm children or pets.  
         [0014]     It is another object to provide a rodent trap that seals the rodent inside of an airtight hermetically-sealed trap using a minimum of component parts.  
         [0015]     It is another object to provide a simple, inexpensive, safe, effective, and most importantly sanitary rodent trap with a simple operating mechanism, and a minimal volume to ensure that asphyxiation is extremely quick.  
         [0016]     It is another object to provide a hermetically-sealed rodent trap by which rodents remain locked in a sealed tube and never have to be touched for discarding. The closed traps and rodents can be disposed of in a sterile manner.  
         [0017]     These and other objects are accomplished by a rodent trap that seals the rodent inside of an airtight hermetically-sealed compartment so that the dead animal cannot act as a source for production or distribution of infectious organisms, and can be safely disposed of in the trap.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, the rodent trap comprises an outer tubular member that is open at one end and closed at the other, and an inner tubular member open at one end and closed at the other with at least one entrance aperture for the rodent proximate the closed end. The inner tubular member is telescopically inserted into the outer tubular member. A biasing member such as a rubber band is coupled between the inner tubular member and outer tubular member for compressing the two together. However, a novel break-away bait stick is lodged between the inner and outer tubular members to hold them apart such that the entrance aperture remains accessible to rodents. When a rodent enters through the entrance aperture to reach the bait stick and chews thereon, the bait stick will break away. The biasing member compresses the inner and outer tubular members together and seals off the entrance aperture.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment, the rodent trap comprises a cantilevered tubular member closed at one end and open at the other for entry of the rodent. The tubular member includes a central fulcrum for resting on a surface and thereby allowing tipping one way or another; A trap door is hinged to the open end of the tubular member and articulates between a folded position beneath the tubular member and a closed position closing off the tubular member open end. A biasing member (rubber band) pulls the trap door from the folded position to the closed position upon release of the trap door from the folded position (this occurring by the rodent passing over the fulcrum and tipping the tubular member off the trap door).  
         [0020]     In these and other embodiments the invention is hermetic, humane, sanitary, simple to use, effective, child and pet safe, small, disposable, and inexpensive to manufacture. It kills the rodent quickly, quietly, and humanely, eliminating the need for the traditional use of force, electricity, glue, or poison. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a sterile and humane rodent trap  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side exploded view of the sterile and humane rodent trap  10  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the sterile and humane rodent trap  10  of  FIGS. 1-2  illustrating the flange  24 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a sterile and humane rodent trap  100  according to the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the rodent trap  100  illustrating the hinge  136  and trap door  122  in a cocked position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a sterile and humane rodent trap  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The rodent trap  10  generally comprises an outer tubular member  14  that is open and one end and closed at the other, a telescoping inner tubular member  12  open at one end and closed at the other, with at least one entrance aperture  22  for the rodent near the closed end, a biasing member  18  coupled to both the inner tubular member  12  and outer tubular member  14  and adapted for compressing the two together to complete the trapping action, and a break-away bait stick  16  by which a rodent initiates the trapping action. In use, the bait stick  16  is loaded by lodging between the corner at the closed end of the outer tubular member  14  and the edge of inner tubular member  12  as shown (the bait stick  14  may be pre-loaded as such at the place of manufacture), and then coupling the biasing member  18  between the inner tubular member  12  and outer tubular member  14  to compress the two, thereby retaining the bait stick  16  in place. It has been found that the simplest way to pre-load the bait stick  16  is to insert it on the floor of the outer tubular member  14 , insert the inner tubular member  12  until the bait stick  16  is lodged, and then rotate the inner tubular member  12  with respect to the outer tubular member  14  approximately 180 degrees to arrive at the angled configuration as illustrated. The rodent trap  10  is then placed where a rodent will encounter it. A rodent will enter the trap through door  22  to reach the bait stick  16 . When the rodent nibbles part way through the bait stick  16  it snaps due to the compressing force of the biasing member, allowing the inner tubular member  12  and outer tubular member  14  to slide together. This closes and seals off the aperture  22 , forming the primary hermetic seal, and traps the rodent therein. The rodent dies humanely of asphyxiation in a short time.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a side exploded view of the sterile and humane rodent trap  10  of  FIG. 1 . The inner tubular member  12  is closed at one end by a tapered flange  24  and open at the other end, the open end being insertable into outer tubular member  14 . The extent of inner tubular member  12  may be formed with a cylindrical cross-section as shown, or alternatively may be formed with a rectilinear cross-section such as a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, spiral, or otherwise as a matter of design choice. The use of the words “tubular” or “tube” throughout this specification are intended to mean a hollow member or section that is not necessarily cylindrical. In any such case the shape of inner tubular member  12  must fit closely inside the outer tubular member  14  and yet allow free telescoping motion. The tapered flange  24  serves as a stop to limit insertion into the outer tubular member  14 , and also serves as the second of two sealing points to ensure the hermetic seal. Both tubular members  12 ,  14  are preferably formed of opaque plastic to give a visual indication of its contents, but may be formed of glass, cardboard or any other structurally suitable material.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the sterile and humane rodent trap  10  of  FIGS. 1-2  illustrating the flange  24 . Preferably, the junction of the flange  24  with the extent of inner tubular member  12  is tapered as shown at (A). The purpose of the tapered flange (A) is several-fold: 1. The taper provides the stop for the sliding motion of the tripped trap and does so in a silent manner that eliminates the typical slamming or snapping sound of a typical trap that rodents quickly learn to avoid. 2. As the tubes spring towards the closed position, the taper acts to wedge the tubes together, forming the second hermetic seal. 3. As the tubes spring into the closed position, the taper acts to wedge the tubes together, locking them together with sufficient friction such that they are not easily or accidentally pulled apart during collection and disposal. The flange  24  may also have an integral catch  26  for the biasing member  18 , which may be a conventional rubber band or spring. The inner tubular member  12  also has at least one (and preferably two opposing apertures  22  through which the rodents may gain entry for so long as the inner member  12  remains in its extended position. Aperture(s)  22  are preferably formed flush through the inner tubular member  12  so as to be closed tightly against the outer tubular member when slid therein. This ensures a second hermetic seal (supplemental to the flange  24 ), this double seal ensuring that no air or matter may enter or escape. The opposing end  32  of the inner tubular member  12  is angled downward toward the bottom, and the rim at the bottom is formed with a small notch  34  to seat the bait stick  16 .  
         [0030]     The outer tubular member  14  is likewise closed at one end and may include a flange  36  with feet or a flat footing to give the trap  10  a stable foundation on a flat surface. The flange  36  may also have an integral catch  38  for the biasing member  18 . The open end of the outer tubular member  14  slides over the inner tubular member  12 , the two being formed with conforming cross-sections to fit closely together and yet allow free telescoping motion.  
         [0031]     The biasing member  18  couples both the inner tubular member  12  and outer tubular member  14  together and compresses them against the loaded bait stick  16 . The biasing member  18  may be a simple rubber band, or a spring or any other suitable elastic member. The biasing member could be located on the outside or the inside of the trap. When the break-away bait stick  16  breaks, the trapping action comprises the inner tubular member  12  sliding freely into the outer tubular member  14 .  
         [0032]     The bait stick  16  has specific structural qualities and serves as a frangible strut when loaded to continue to hold the trap  10  open until a rodent nibbles and weakens it, at which point it collapses suddenly. In a preferred embodiment the bait stick  16  may be formed of small chips of meat, or other material attractive to an animal, compression molded together by a binder such as resin in the same manner that wooden particle board is made for lumber. The dimensions of the bait stick  16  approximate those of a conventional match stick. The controlled materials and dimensions result in a bait stick  16  that has a consistent and reproducible breaking strength under pressure. The bait stick  16  is preferably fashioned such that the animal must chew it near the center (where the supporting strength is weakest). This is accomplished either by concentrating the food or attractant near the center, or by coating the ends with a non-attractant coating. Inciting the rodent to chew the bait stick  16  in a focused area at the center will result in the most rapid failure. There are a number of advantages to using the bait stick  16  as a frangible supporting member. The trap  10  does not need to be baited or set by the user, but can come pre-baited and set from the factory. Because the bait itself serves as the holding device (rather than merely mounted on a holding device as in conventional traps), it is impossible for a rodent to eat the bait without springing the trap. Moreover, it eliminates the need for more complex, more expensive, and more failure prone triggering mechanisms as described above in the prior art. The bait stick  16  is designed for single use. It is destroyed upon use (the trap  10  cannot be reset and reused), thereby assuring that contaminated animals and traps remain enclosed upon disposal.  
         [0033]     If desired the bait stick  16  can be impregnated with additives such as caffeine or epinephrine to increase metabolism and induce more rapid asphyxiation of the trapped animal. The bait stick could be ridged or tubular or otherwise shaped to be conducive to faster and more uniform structural failure.  
         [0034]     In operation, when the break-away bait stick  16  breaks, the trapping action comprises the inner tubular member  12  sliding freely into the outer tubular member  14 , thereby sealing off the apertures  22  and trapping the rodent therein. The double hermetic seal ensures that the rodent meets a timely and humane fate. Moreover, the double (redundant) hermetic seals ensure that once the trap  10  is sprung no air or matter, in particular fleas, mites, ticks, feces, urine, blood, pathogens, microbes, or odors can be exchanged between the inside and outside of the closed trap  10 . Because it is sealed, the dead animal cannot act as a source for production or distribution of infectious organisms. Because of the hermetic seal, the trap  10  can be left unchecked indefinitely with no risk of contamination or unsanitary conditions. The hermetic seal results in quick asphyxiation, producing fast, painless, and non-traumatic death (unlike the traditional methods of poison, glue, electrocution, or crushing force) whereby the animal lays quietly in the trap and makes no attempt to chew or claw its way out, allowing for lightweight construction. Death from asphyxiation produces no obvious physiological symptoms, reduction of physical and intellectual performance occurs without the individual (even in humans) being aware. Because the trap is sealed, and because the animal feels no pain and quickly becomes increasingly stuporous the trapped animal makes no noise. Additionally, the trap itself makes no noise when tripped. These advantages greatly reduce the tendency of rodents to develop common evasive behavior known as trap shyness.  
         [0035]     The above-described trap  10  design is simple and easy to manufacture, comprising only two open ended tubes  12 ,  14  connected by a band  22  or spring to pull them together. The trap  10  is also very robust and cannot be easily set off when setting the trap, by external jostling, or by animals climbing on or around the exterior of the trap. The tapered flange  24  results in the tubes being effectively stuck together after the trap is sprung, preventing inadvertent opening and loss of the hermetic seal which would result in exposure to contaminants and defeat the purpose of a hermetic trap. The trap can be set up on un-level or irregular surfaces and will operate in any position. The trap can easily be scaled for different sized animals. The trap can be modified for live capture if the outer tube is perforated.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a sterile and humane rodent trap  100  according to the present invention. The rodent trap  100  generally comprises a cantilevered tubular member  112  closed at one end and open at another for entry of the rodent, the open end being closable by a trap door  122  for trapping the rodent. As before the tubular member  112  is preferably opaque to allow a vague view of the contents, and may be formed with a cylindrical cross-section as shown or alternatively with a rectilinear cross-section such as a square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon or otherwise as a matter of design choice. In this embodiment the tubular member  112  may be a conventional test tube. The tubular member  112  is cantilevered at the bottom center by legs  132  or any other fulcrum. The trap door  122  is preferably hinged to the rim of tubular member  112  at the open end. The hinge  144  may be a simple resilient flap joining the trap door  122  to the tubular member  112 , and hinge  144  may be integrally molded with the tubular member  112  and trap door  122 . The trap door  122  is biased closed against the open mouth of the tubular member  112  by a biasing member  140  coupled between the tubular member  112  and trap door  122 . Again, the biasing member  18  may be a simple rubber band, or a spring or any other suitable elastic member. Biasing member  140  is attached at one end to the floor of tubular member  112  by a catch  142  which may be integrally molded to the floor, and is attached at the other end to the inside of the trap door  122  by a catch  146  which may be integrally molded to the trap door  122  (preferably at the exact center). The rodent trap  100  is placed where a rodent will encounter it, and is set by inserting some bait and sliding it to the closed end of tubular member  112  (the bait may be pre-loaded at the manufacturer). Next, the trap door  122  is opened against the bias of biasing member  140  and is tucked underneath the tubular member  112 . When lying flat on a surface and cantilevered onto the cocked trap door  122 , the weight of the tubular member  112  will retain the trap door  122  in its cocked position underneath the tubular member  112 . This “setting” or “hold open” mechanism relies on the weight of the trap itself and, in addition, the trap door  122  is hidden under the trap, making it more inviting and less threatening to rodents.  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the rodent trap  100  illustrating the hinge  136  and trap door  122  in a cocked position. The rodent has free access to the bait through the open end of the tubular member  112 . However, once it crosses the fulcrum of legs  132  its weight will cause the tubular member  112  to tip downward at the closed end  124 , and upward at the open end. The upward tilting at the open end allows the trap door  122  a degree of freedom to begin to pivot closed, and once it begins to close the biasing member gains considerable leverage against the trap door  122  and the trap door will snap shut to entrap the rodent therein. Specifically, when the trap door  122  is fully open (270 degrees) the biasing member exerts minimal force for closure (the force instead being directed toward the hinge  144 ). However, when the rodent tips the trap  100 , the trap door  122  gains freedom to close slightly, changing the angle with which the biasing member  140  pulls on the trap door  122 , thereby resulting in a sudden and forceful closure of the trap door  122 . Additionally, once the trap  100  has sprung, the orientation of the biasing member  140  across the end of the trap is such that a rodent attempting to back out of the trap will deflect the biasing member  140  causing it to pull the lid tighter still. The closure of the trap door  122  against the tubular member  112  not only traps the rodent therein, but also forms a hermetic seal. Consequently, the rodent dies humanely by asphyxiation. Unlike the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the trap door  122  forms just a single hermetic seal, but testing has shown that the tension of the biasing member  140  can be adjusted to ensure that no air or matter may enter or escape. It also helps that the catch  146  is centrally located in the trap door  122  so that the biased closure imparts an even pressure around the rim of the tubular member  112 , ensuring a uniform seal. This embodiment is more amenable to being reset and reused, but is preferably discarded to assure that contaminated animals and traps remain enclosed upon disposal. It is also noteworthy that this embodiment may be formed from only three component parts 1) tubular member  112  (which may be a conventional test tube); 2) trap door  122  and hinge  144 , and 3) biasing member  140 .  
         [0038]     In all of the foregoing embodiments and suggested variations, a simple, inexpensive, safe, effective, and most importantly clean rodent traps  10 ,  100  are disclosed with simple operating mechanisms that do not rely on poisons, neck-snapping, glue, or anything that could harm children or pets. Because the relative volume of the tubular trap is so small as compared to the rodent, asphyxiation is extremely quick. Thinner and lighter materials can be used because the rodent has very little time to chew or claw its way out of the trap, and this in turn results in low material costs. Moreover, the traps are hermetic: the rodents remain locked in a sealed tube and never have to be touched for discarding. The closed traps and rodents can be disposed of in a sterile manner. This is especially beneficial in locations where extra cleanliness is required, such as hospitals, restaurants, or food processing plants. Even if the trap is not checked regularly, the animal carcass is sealed away inside the tube for later disposal. It can be left set over weekends or vacation breaks, any place and any time that regular monitoring is not convenient.  
         [0039]     Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. In all such cases an effective rodent trap is provided that imparts a humane death by asphyxiation in a positively hermetically-sealed container for sanitary disposal. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.