Rodent station

A rodent station for capturing or trapping mice, rats or other rodents may provide one or more rodent entry points and is sized to receive one or more rodent suppression devices, such as conventional snap traps, ramp traps, glue boards, etc. The rodent station may present a high contrast entrance that is relatively darker than the station enclosure. The station opening size may be adjustable to accommodate both mice and/or rats. An interior receptacle for station maintenance records or other printed material may also be included.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to pest elimination, and in particular to rodent traps.

BACKGROUND

Rats, mice and other rodents are a cause of concern for businesses and homeowners alike. Rodents are an indication of unsanitary conditions, and their history of spreading disease may frighten customers. Because they often live and travel in garbage, sewers and other unsanitary areas, rodents can spread bacteria and disease such asSalmonella, E. coliand dysentery. A single rodent sighting can drive a customer away for good or result in inspection evaluations that negatively impact a business. Rodents may also destroy valuable food inventory, and their gnawing and burrowing may cause costly structural damage.

Many homes and businesses deploy a variety of traps, such as mechanical or bait-based traps, throughout a business' physical premises and facilities to achieve a reduction and/or elimination of rodents. These actions can be undertaken to insure inspection compliance, to maintain sanitary conditions, reduce spoilage, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and/or increase consumer confidence.

Physical inspections of each and every trap at a facility may be performed at desired time intervals (e.g., daily, weekly or monthly). During these inspections, a technician may insure that captured rodents are removed from the trap, that the trap is in working order, and that the trap is still in the proper location. Records of trap maintenance may be kept on labels affixed to the interiors or exteriors of the trap. The labels are difficult to write on, and may fall off or become unreadable due to weathering. Moreover, if labels are accessible to rodents, the rodents may chew on, defecate on or otherwise soil the labels, raising sanitary, and disease concerns for maintenance personnel, as well as possibly making the labels unreadable.

SUMMARY

In general the disclosure is directed to a rodent station for capturing or trapping mice, rats or other rodents. The rodent station may be sized such that one or more rodent traps, such as conventional snap traps, ramp traps, glue boards, etc., may be placed within the rodent station. The rodent station may provide one or multiple rodent entry points. The rodent station may present a high contrast entrance that is relatively darker than the station enclosure. The station opening size may be adjustable to accommodate both mice and rats.

In one example, a rodent station comprises an elongate enclosure body having an interior sized to receive at least one rodent suppression device, the enclosure body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first opening, an end cap sized to fit over the second end of the enclosure body, the end cap having second opening, and at least one door insert, sized to fit within at least one of the first opening or the second opening, the at least one door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the first or the second opening.

In another example, a rodent station comprises an elongate enclosure body having an interior sized to receive at least one rodent suppression device, the enclosure body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first opening, an end cap sized to fit over the second end of the enclosure body, the end cap having second opening, a first door insert, sized to fit within the first opening, the first door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the first opening, a second door insert, sized to fit within the second opening, the second door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the second opening, and a rodent snap trap positioned within the interior of the enclosure body.

In another example, a rodent station comprises an elongate enclosure body having an interior sized to receive at least one rodent suppression device, the enclosure body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first opening, an end cap sized to fit over the second end of the enclosure body, the end cap having second opening, a first door insert, sized to fit within the first opening, the first door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the first, a second door insert, sized to fit within the second opening, the second door insert including a face plate that prevents passage of a rodent, and one or more rodent suppression devices, designed to enclose, retain, or kill rodents or other small mammalian pests sized to fit within the enclosure body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general the disclosure is directed to a rodent station that captures and/or traps mice, rats, or other rodents. Although described herein generally for use with rodents, the rodent station may also be used to trap other small mammals. The rodent station may permit entry of rodents from one or more openings. The size of the opening(s) may be adjustable to accommodate either mice, rats, or both. One or more rodent suppression devices, designed to enclose, retain, or kill rodents or other small mammalian pests, may be placed within the rodent station. The one or more rodent suppression devices may include, for example, conventional snap traps, ramp traps, glue boards, or any other lethal or non-lethal rodent traps. The rodent station may present a high contrast entrance that is relatively darker than the station enclosure that may attract mice exhibiting startle behavior. A receptacle for maintenance records or other printed material may also be included.

FIG. 1Ais a perspective view of the exterior of an example rodent station10viewed from a first end2.FIG. 1Bis a perspective view of the exterior of an example rodent station10viewed from a second end4. Example rodent station10includes a housing12formed by a generally elongate enclosure body6and at least one end cap18. Enclosure body6may be generally shaped to be positioned proximate a building wall (with the elongated portion facing the wall). Although in this example enclosure body6has a generally rectangular width-wise cross-section, it shall be understood that enclosure body could also be constructed having a generally square, arched or other shaped width-wise rectangular cross-section, and that the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

In some examples, enclosure body6may be fabricated as an integral injection molded plastic member, such as polypropylene or other suitable injection molded material. For some applications, such as food service, enclosure body may be fabricated from an impact and shatter resistant material. End cap18may be constructed of similar material. However, enclosure12and end cap18may also be made of other materials such as metal, galvanized metal, stainless steel, painted metal, nylon, etc., and the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

End cap18may be constructed with a snap-in-place, slide in place, or other removable mechanism that allows access to interior portion of rodent station10. For example, end cap18may be removed for maintenance, cleaning, or for placement of one or more rodent suppression devices such as a snap trap, ramp (i.e., teeter totter) trap, glue board or other appropriate rodent suppression device.

In this example the first end2of enclosure body6may include a generally arch-shaped opening20. Similarly, as shown inFIG. 1B, end cap18may include a generally arch-shaped opening19. It shall be understood that an arch-shape is but one example of opening shapes that may be used, and that the openings19and/or20may take on other alternative shapes, and that the disclosure is not limited in this respect. One or more removable door inserts, such as door inserts14and66, are sized to fit within openings19and20. Door insert14includes an opening11that is relatively smaller than opening20. Door insert66is a blocking door insert that prevents entry or exit of rodents into or out of rodent station10. In this example, openings19and20and the one or more removable door inserts14,66allow the number and/or size of the rodent entry point(s) into rodent station10to be adjusted. For example, when door insert14is positioned within opening19and/or20, the relatively smaller sized opening11into rodent station10permits entry of smaller sized rodents, such as mice, while preventing larger rodents, such as rats, from entering. When the door inserts14and/or66is removed, corresponding openings20and19are large enough to permit entry of both smaller and larger sized rodents.

In this example, door inserts14,66may include one or more tabs16A and/or16B by which door inserts14,66may be inserted into and/or removed from enclosure12. However, it shall be understood that other mechanisms for inserting door inserts14,66into rodent station10may also be used and that the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

Certain rodents, such as mice, exhibit startle behavior when they first enter a facility. Once they enter a building through a door or other opening, rodents tend to move along the walls as they seek a hiding place. With this in mind, rodent station10may include a high contrast door opening designed to attract mice exhibiting such startle behavior when they first enter a facility. For example, door insert14may be fabricated so that it is relatively darker than the color of enclosure12. This may help to give the door insert14and consequently rodent station10the appearance of a hole or hiding place. To that end, door insert14may be fabricated from a relatively darker material than enclosure12, or painted so that it is relatively darker than the color of enclosure12.

FIG. 2Ais a perspective view of the exterior of an example rodent station10with no door insert in opening20.FIG. 2Bis an enlarged perspective view of first end2of rodent station10with no door insert in opening20, through which a portion of the interior of rodent station10may be seen. In this example, a door receiving recess30is generally shaped to receive a door insert, such as door insert14,66, so that when the door insert is fitted into place within opening20, the exterior side of the door insert is flush with the exterior side of first end2. The interior side walls of enclosure12may further include length-wise extending extensions forming a first shelf34A (shown inFIG. 2B) and a second shelf34B (not seen inFIG. 2B). First shelf34A and second shelf34B, together with floor50, form channels36A and36B, respectively. Channels36A and36B (channel36B not seen inFIG. 2B) are sized to receive externally directed flaps72A and72B, respectively, of a conventional ramp-type rodent trap, such as that shown inFIG. 4. Shelf34A and shelf34B and also channels36A and36B may extend from first end2to second end4so that ramp traps may be inserted at either first end2and/or second end4of rodent station10.

FIG. 3Ais a perspective view of a first example door insert14. Door insert14includes a face plate13including an opening11. In this example, opening11is relatively smaller than openings19,20in enclosure body6, and is sized to permit entry of smaller rodents such as mice. Example door insert14includes engagement members16A and16B. In this example, door engagement members16A and16B are deformable and may be pressed inwardly. Door insert14may be placed into rodent station10by pressing one or both of engagement members16A and16B inwardly, positioning door insert14within the door receiving recess, and releasing engagement members16A and16B so that outwardly extending tabs15A and15B extend behind associated edges of door receiving recess30. Similarly, to remove door insert14, one or both of engagement members16A and16B may be pressed inwardly so that tabs15A and15B also move inwardly, thus permitting door insert14to be removed from rodent station10.

Door insert14may also include one or more visibility holes15. Visibility holes15permit a user to easily view whether a rodent has been captured within rodent station10. Door insert14may also include a trap cover17extending rearwardly from faceplate13above opening11. In this example, trap cover17blocks rodent exit via a slotted opening on the top of some conventional ramp traps, such as ramp trap70shown inFIG. 4. However, it shall be understood that door insert14need not include a trap cover, and that the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

FIG. 3Bis a perspective view of another example door insert13. Example door insert13is a blocking door insert that includes a solid face plate23. Door insert13is sized to fit within an opening19and/or20and may thus be used to completely block one of the openings19and/or20, thus preventing a rodent from entering rodent station10via that opening. Although example door insert13is shown with a solid face plate23, it shall be understood that any face plate designed to prevent rodent passage may be used. For example, face plate23could be constructed in a manner such as door insert66shown inFIG. 1B, in which the faceplate includes a plurality of holes, each of the holes small enough to prevent passage by a rodent. Other example blocking door inserts could be constructed of a screen-type material, bars, a perforated material, or any other material that would prevent passage of a rodent. Although not shown in this example, door insert13may also include one or more visibility holes of the type shown inFIG. 3A. In this example, door insert13includes door engagement tabs21A and21B that may be similar to door engagement mechanisms16A and16B as described above and via which door insert13may be positioned within either one of the openings19or20.

Rodent station10may be configured as either a uni-directional rodent station or a bi-directional rodent station. That is, rodent station10may be configured to include a single rodent entry point (uni-directional) or two rodent entry points (bi-directional). For example, if rodent station10is to be bi-directional, rodent station10may be configured by leaving openings19and20without door inserts, thus providing two relatively larger sized entry points into rodent station10. As another example of a bi-directional configuration, both openings19and20could be fitted with a door insert such as door insert14to provide two relatively smaller sized entry points into rodent station10. As yet another example of a bi-directional configuration, one opening19or20could be fitted with a removable door insert14and the other opening19or20could be left without a door insert, thus providing two rodent entry points into rodent station10, one relatively larger entry point and one relatively smaller entry point. Alternatively, if rodent station10is to be configured as a uni-directional rodent station, one of openings19or20may be fitted with a blocking door insert such as blocking door insert22,66, while the other opening is either left without a door insert or is fitted with a door insert such as door insert14.

FIGS. 3C and 3Dare a front view and a bottom side view, respectively, of another example door insert24. In this example, door insert24includes a hook25and a catch26. Catch26includes a space8for receipt of an edge of the door receiving recess30. In use, door insert24is positioned within opening19,20such that hook25extends behind one edge of door receiving recess30and opening23of catch26receives another edge of the door receiving recess30. Although in this example door insert24is shown as including one hook25and one catch26, it shall be understood that door insert24may include one or more hooks and/or one or more catches, and the disclosure is not limited in this respect. In addition, many other mechanisms for engaging a door insert within an opening of the rodent station housing may also be used, and are also contemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure. These hook and catch variations may also be used with a blocking door insert such as blocking door inserts22,66.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional side view of the example rodent station10ofFIG. 1. InFIG. 4, there are no door inserts positioned within openings19or20. Rodent station10includes an interior cavity40defined by the interior walls of enclosure12. In general the interior walls of enclosure12may be fabricated such that discontinuities in the rodent-accessible surfaces of interior40are minimized. This may help reduce damage from rodent activities such as gnawing, chewing, or scratching and/or increase clean-ability. However, it should be appreciated that any surface profiles may be used and that the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

Shown via phantom line inFIG. 4is one of the length-wise extending extensions forming shelf34as described above with respect toFIG. 2B. As described above, channel36is defined by the lower side of shelf34and the floor50. In this example, enclosure12of rodent station10includes an inclined floor that may help to direct any water that may accumulate in rodent station10out of the enclosure12. In this example, a raised footing37may be provided at the base of first end2. Raised footing37elevates first end2with respect to second end4such that floor50is relatively higher at first end2and inclines downwardly toward second end4. However, it shall be understood that inclined floor may be ramped in the opposite direction, or may be ramped from the center towards both ends, and that the disclosure is not limited in this respect. In addition, other mechanisms for providing an inclined floor may also be used, and the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

Rodent station10may also include a receptacle46located in the interior of enclosure12for storing and protecting printed materials. As shown in this example, receptacle46may be defined by an interior shelf45and the ceiling of enclosure12. Receptacle46may be useful for storing maintenance records or other printed materials which may be removed, written upon, and returned during maintenance of station10. Other materials, such as instruction manuals, warnings, etc. may also be stored in receptacle46as desired. As shown this example, receptacle46may be isolated (e.g., by end cap18and the shelf45) from any rodent accessible areas within enclosure12to prevent rodents from gnawing on any printed materials stored therein and/or to prevent moisture from entering receptacle46. In other examples, receptacle46may be accessed by a separate access door or other closure that restricts access by rodents.

Rodent station10is flexible in the sense that it may be configured in any number of ways. Multiple combinations of the enclosure12, door inserts, and/or conventional rodent suppression devices may be used to configure rodent station10to fit a variety of rodent-trapping situations.

For example, rodent station10may be combined with a conventional ramp or teeter-totter type rodent trap.FIG. 5is a perspective view of a conventional ramp or teeter-totter type rodent trap.FIG. 7is a cross-sectional side view of the example rodent station10ofFIG. 1having a ramp trap70positioned therein. This configuration may be used in a non-lethal trap application, where trapping but not killing of rodents is desired. Conventional ramp-type trap70includes a passage-shaped housing71in which a weighted ramp76and a door74are positioned. Housing71may further include externally directed flaps72A and72B extending along a bottom edge of each length-wise side of the housing71. In use, a mouse or other rodent crawls up the ramp76causing the ramp to tip, levering door74into place to cut off escape. Since the rodent cannot go back it continues into the trap until it steps off the ramp, at which point gravity resets ramp76and door74back to their original position.

As mentioned above, door insert14may also include a trap cover17. In this example, trap cover17blocks rodent exit via a slotted opening78located the top of conventional ramp traps, such as ramp trap70.

In one example, to position ramp trap70within rodent station10, externally directed flaps72A and72B may be slid within channels36A and36B, respectively (see alsoFIG. 2B) until trap70is completely within the housing12. End cap18may then be locked into place on second end4, and door insert14positioned within the opening19in end cap18. A blocking door insert22,66may also be positioned within opening20at first end2of rodent station10.

In the event that a ramp trap or other rodent suppression device is not to be inserted into channels36A and36B, a removable floor insert (not shown) having similarly sized externally directed flaps could be slid into channels36A and36B. Such a floor insert may also include a raised center portion sized such that the top of the raised center portion of the floor insert was level with the shelves34A and34B when the floor insert is positioned within the grooves36A and36B.

As another example, rodent station10may be combined with a conventional snap-type rodent trap.FIG. 6is a perspective view of a conventional snap-type rodent trap. This configuration may be used in a lethal trap application, where trapping and killing of rodents is desired. Conventional snap trap90includes a base92and a spring-loaded bar/trip mechanism94.FIG. 8is a cross-sectional side view of the example rodent station10ofFIG. 1having a conventional snap trap90positioned therein. Trap90may be placed at either first end2or second end4of rodent station10. As another example, two traps90may be placed inside of rodent station10. In the example shown inFIG. 8, rodent station10is bidirectional; that is, a rodent may enter rodent station10via either opening19or opening20. In examples where trap90is a rat trap, neither of openings19or20contain a door insert. In examples where trap90is a mouse trap, either one or both of openings19or20may contain a door insert such as door insert14. As another example, if rodent station were to be used unidirectionally, one of openings19or20may include a blocking door insert such as door insert22.

A stop52formed in floor50may help to keep trap90in the proper position within rodent station10or to prevent trap90from excessive movement within rodent station10.

As another example configuration,FIG. 9is a cross-sectional side view of the example rodent station10ofFIG. 1having a conventional glue board96and a conventional ramp-type trap70positioned therein. In this example, trap90is a mouse trap. A door insert14may be positioned on the second end4(on the side containing the ramp trap) and a door insert22may be positioned on the first end2(on the side containing the glue board).

Although in this example a conventional glue board and a conventional ramp trap are shown, it shall be understood the rodent station described herein may be used with any type of rodent trap, including any type of lethal or non-lethal rodent trap, or any combination thereof.

In some examples, rodent station10may include tether and/or anchor capability. This may allow the station to be tethered/anchored to a wall, floor, or other object.FIG. 10is a perspective view of an example rodent station10and an example mounting bracket60. Bracket60may be generally sized to receive enclosure12. Bracket60may include, for example, a tether aperture62via which bracket60and therefore rodent station10may be tethered to a strap, rope, chain or other tether mechanism and thus anchored to a wall, floor, or other object. Alternatively or in addition, bracket60may include screw anchor holes or other anchoring mechanism via which bracket60and thus rodent station10may be anchored to a wall, floor, or other object. In this example, bracket60is sized to fit within anchor receiving recess48of enclosure12(see, e.g.,FIG. 4). Recess48may help to prevent anchor60from excessive sliding or falling off of rodent station10. Enclosure12may also include raised anchor guides64A and64B which may also prevent anchor60from sliding off of rodent station10.

Various examples of the invention have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.