Bait box for separating a feeding location bait box for separating a feeding location

A bait box including a housing; a feeding location arranged in the housing and configured for a poison bait, wherein the feeding location is arranged in an air cushion in the housing so that the feeding location is accessible for a rodent from an outside of the bait box through an entry arranged at a lower end of the housing; and a separation element which defines a liquid space with a liquid within the housing when the liquid rises outside of the housing above a threshold level above which accessibility of the feeding location is not provided to the rodent any more, wherein the liquid space extends from the threshold level to the separation element and separates the feeding location from the liquid space, wherein the housing is closed air tight besides the entry so that the air cushion is captured in the housing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference German Patent Application DE10 2016 107 226.5 filed on Apr. 19, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to bait box

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A bait box and a method of the generic type recited supra are known from DE 10 2014 102 034 A1. The known bait box includes a bell shaped housing in which an air cushion is captured and the feeding location is configured in the air cushion. The bait box includes a float that is vertically guided in the housing. A lower edge of the float is defined as the threshold level. As long as the liquid does not rise above the threshold level the float is arranged below an entry for a rat which entry leads vertically from below into the housing of the bait box. When the liquid rises the float with the feed location floats up until it contacts an edge that is circumferentially arranged around the entry. Separation elements configured as seal elements are arranged at the edge and at the float of the known bait box wherein the seal elements close the intermediary space between the edge and the float so that they separate the feeding location in the housing from a liquid space with the liquid outside of the housing. This way the known bait box prevents the poison from being flushed out of the bait box and prevents a contamination of the liquid with the poison bait.

The known bait box with the edge circumferentially extending in the housing and the float with the seal ring has a configuration which requires precise adjustment of the components to each other.

In particular liquid flowing in a sewer channel can be highly loaded with solids which also deposit in the housing of the known bait box and at the float when the liquid rises. The deposits can impede the float floating up in the housing and can also impair the sealing effect of the sealing element so that the feeding location of the known bait box is submerged and the poison bait gets into the liquid. The known bait box therefore has to be frequently checked for deposits and replaced or cleaned in a complex manner when required.

DE 20 2016 002 386 U1 discloses a bait box with a detector, DE10 2014 112 804 A1 discloses a bait box with a feeding location on a float and DE 928 497 B discloses a bait box with a wall holder

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the invention to simplify the configuration of the bait box and the method for separating the feed location from rising liquid.

The object is achieved according to the invention by improving upon the known bait box so that the separation element is the air cushion. The invention is based on the fining that the captured air cushion already prevents a rise of the liquid beyond a bottom side of the air cushion. The bait box according to the invention avoids moving parts and seal elements that are required in the prior art.

The object is achieved by a bait box including a housing; a feeding location arranged in the housing and configured for a poison bait, wherein the feeding location is arranged in an air cushion in the housing so that the feeding location is accessible for a rodent from an outside of the bait box through an entry arranged at a lower end of the housing; and a separation element which defines a liquid space with a liquid within the housing when the liquid rises outside of the housing above a threshold level above which accessibility of the feeding location is not provided to the rodent any more, wherein the liquid space extends from the threshold level to the separation element and separates the feeding location from the liquid space, wherein the housing is closed air tight besides the entry so that the air cushion is captured in the housing when the liquid arises in the housing, and wherein the separation element is the air cushion.

The object is achieved by a method for separating a feeding location in a housing of a bait box for a poison bait, wherein the feeding location is arranged in an air cushion in the housing so that the feeding location is accessible for a rodent from an outside of the bait box through an entry arranged at a lower end of the housing; and a separation element which defines a liquid space with a liquid within the housing when the liquid rises outside of the housing above a threshold level above which accessibility of the feeding location is not provided to the rodent any more, wherein the liquid space extends from the threshold level to the separation element and separates the feeding location from the liquid space, wherein the housing is closed air tight besides the entry so that the air cushion is captured in the housing when the liquid arises in the housing, the method comprising the step: configuring the separation element as the air cushion.

Advantageously a bait box according to the invention includes a tubular housing that is closed at a top end and includes an entry for the rodent at a bottom end. The housing can be made for example from a commercially available ground sewer pipe made from hard PVC that is closed by a blind cover on top.

Advantageously the entry leads into the housing in a radial direction. An entry of this type can be easily milled or sawed into a ground sewer pipe in the radial direction. The radial entry prevents a blockage by arranging the housing too tight above a base of the sewer or above an obstacle. Alternatively in a simpler embodiment of the bait box the axial opening at a lower end of the tubular housing can form the entry.

Advantageously the air cushion envelopes the feeding location. When it is assured that the feeding location is completely enveloped by the air cushion at any time any additional securing against flushing the poison bait out with the liquid becomes redundant. Alternatively the feeding location can be for example floated up into the air cushion by the rising liquid.

Advantageously a chamber in which the feeding location is configured is radially attached to the housing. A chamber of this type can be configured for example by a radial branch off from the ground sewer pipe. In the chamber the rodent can eat the poison bait easily. Alternatively the poison bait can be arranged at an upper end of the housing in a simpler embodiment of the bait box.

Further advantageously a base of the chamber drops in outward direction starting from the housing. The dropping base prevents an unintentional fall out of the loose portions of the poison bait from the chamber and from the housing. Alternatively a chamber with non-dropping base can for example include a threshold in a transition to the housing.

Advantageously a replaceable cover with the poison bait is arranged at the bait box. The replaceable cover with the poison bait facilitates on the one hand side adaptation of the poison bait to different legal conditions, climate conditions and different rodents.

Alternatively a float is vertically guided in the housing and the feeding location is configured on the float. A float of this type always sits on top of the liquid as long as it is not prevented from floating up by installations or deposits in the housing. The feed location is thus effectively protected against being submerged by the liquid.

Advantageously an identification element for identifying the bait box is readable touch free. An identification element of this type facilitates quickly controlling an identity of the bait box.

Advantageously the bait box is supportable by a support at a wall of a sewer element. Thus, a position of the bait box in the sewer element can be easily predetermined.

Improving upon the known method it is proposed according to the invention that the divider element is an air cushion that is captured in the bait box. The method according to the invention is performed with a bait box according to the invention and is characterized by the advantages described supra.

Advantageously the air cushion is compressed by the rising liquid. Also the compressed air cushion prevents a rise of the liquid beyond its bottom side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The first bait box1according to the invention illustrated inFIG. 1includes a tubular housing2with a chamber3in which a poison bait4is arranged and a feeding location5for a rat that is not illustrated.

The housing2is made from a sewer ground tube DN100 and has a diameter of 6-10 cm and a height of 7-25 cm. The housing2is closed air tight at an upper end8by a cover9that is screwed on and includes an entry11for the rat at an open lower end10. The threshold level12, thus the highest liquid level at the bait box1at which liquid level access for the rodent is provided without any obstacles is arranged at a level of the lower edge13of the housing2.

The chamber3is configured at a distance of 10 to 14 cm above the lower edge13in a radial branch15of the housing2also configured with DN100 and closed air tight by a second cover16that is screwed on. The poison bait4is glued onto an inside of the cover16.

A first identification element18is enclosed in a wall17of the housing2and a second identification element19is enclosed in the second cover16wherein the identification elements are RFID chips with a permanent unique identifier. In the first cover9at an upper end8of the housing2a documentation device20with a passive infra-red sensor is integrated for presence determination.

The infra-red sensor detects a rodent entering the bait box1based on body heat of the rodent. When the rodent remains in the bait box1for at least one minute feeding at the poison bait4is presumed and stored with a time stamp in a data memory of the documentation device20.

In another non-illustrated bait box1according to the invention the documentation device20for presence determination is provided with a radio based location and distance sensor (radar).

The documentation device20automatically reads the identifiers of two identification elements18,19when the bait box1is assembled and stores the identifiers in the data memory. The documentation device20includes a transmit and receive module for wireless communications, in particular a RFID module for local area communications and provides the data stored in the data memory upon request through the RFID module.

When the bait box1is configured for use in a sewer shaft absolute co-ordinates of the sewer shaft in the form of geo referenced data and also information regarding the position in text like e.g. the proximal street address, the side of the street with driving direction or geographic direction and regarding the associated sewer is stored in the associated data memory. If available the documentation device20also reads an identifier of the sewer shaft automatically when the bait box1is inserted into the sewer shaft and automatically stores the sewer shaft identifier in the data memory. When the data is read out the documentation device20links its own unique identifier with the captured data through a hash value, e.g. MD5.

The first cover9, the second cover16are replaceable and facilitate configuring the bait box1according to requirements, e.g. with different poison baits and different documentation devices and sensors.

The first bait box1is configured for use in sewers in which it is not submerged in liquid by more than 100 cm above the threshold level. Up to this upper limit the air cushion21captured in the bait box1is only compressed enough so that it limits the rise of the liquid above the liquid cavity22configured between the threshold level12and the chamber3. Thus, the air cushion21encloses the feed location5of the bait box1in any operating condition and thus effectively prevents the poison bait4from being flushed out.

FIG. 2illustrates a second bait box23according to the invention which also includes a tubular housing24, but without a chamber radially connected to the housing24. Instead the feeding location25is configured on a cylindrical float26that is vertically supported in the housing24. A poison bait27is glued onto the float26. The float26is made from foamed polystyrol that is painted impact resistant and has a height28of 6 cm. A documentation device with a passive infra-red sensor for presence detection is integrated in the float26wherein the documentation device corresponds to the first bait box1.

The housing24is made from a sewer ground tube DN 100 with a height29of 30 cm and includes four circular entries318 cm above a lower edge30of the housing24for the rodent wherein the entries have a diameter32of 3 cm respectively. The housing is closed with a welded cover34at an upper end33and provided at a lower end35with a removable clamp36which prevents the float26from dropping out. The threshold level37is arranged below the entries31by the height28of the float26.

When the liquid rises above the threshold level the float26initially floats up as soon as the liquid reaches the upper edge38of the entries31and the air cushion39captured there above is compressed.

The second bait box23is configured for use in sewers in which it is submerged by several meters without the poison bait27coming in contact with the liquid. In order to prevent penetration of water spray through the entries31, for example when high pressure flushing the sewer, the entries31can be surrounded by a downward open collar that is not illustrated.

FIG. 3illustrates a third bait box40according to the invention configured as a variant of the first bait box1. The chamber41includes a base43that slopes downward at an angle42of 10° relative to horizontal in an outward direction so that also fragments of the poison bait cannot unintentionally move from the chamber into the housing44and from there into the liquid in the chamber.

FIG. 4illustrates the third bait box40in a view from below and two additional bait boxes45,46according to the invention which are fixed by a non-illustrated holder at a wall47of a sewer shaft48. The fourth bait box has a rectangular tube cross section49and otherwise corresponds to the first bait box1. The fifth bait box46essentially corresponds to the third bait box40but includes a profile of the chamber50that is slightly cambered along the wall so that a free cross section of the chamber is restricted as little as possible in narrow sewers.

REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS