Entrapment apparatus

A trap entangling vermin with adhesive material includes a pair of elongate ribs vacuum formed at central locations in the bottom wall of the tray carrying the adhesive material. The ribs are elongate and angled substantially at 45 degrees to the side walls positively to space apart the adhesive materials of two like traps placed in open faced relationship even when the traps are not in good registration. The ribs are hollow, opening to below the bottom wall, and have a uniform, substantially triangular shape along their length, with a radiused apex to increase the spot of contact between two engaging ribs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to vermin traps using adhesive material to 
hold the vermin, and particularly relates to such traps having open faces 
and in which two traps are arranged in facing relationship in one package 
for transport and sale. 
Adhesive, non-toxic traps for vermin such as mice are known. They comprise 
a shallow, flat plastic tray containing a thick layer of pressure 
sensitive adhesive material. The tray is set in any desired location and 
any mouse stepping on the adhesive becomes entrapped or entangled therein. 
The tray then is removed and disposed of along with the entangled vermin. 
These traps use adhesive materials that are generally insensitive to 
normal heat variations in a room but adhere strongly to objects to which 
they come in contact. An example of such a trap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,438,584. 
A problem sometimes occurs with these traps during handling of the trays 
when they are removed from their packaging. Forces applied centrally to 
the two facing traps of adhesive materials in the noted packages, can 
bring into contact the normally spaced adhesive materials of each trap. 
This causes the adhesive materials of each tray to flow and stick to one 
another. These forces generally result from the unintended squeezing of 
the trays between the user's fingers upon removal of the confronting trays 
from the packaging. 
Previously, this problem was addressed by providing confronting contacting 
pins on the trays periphery to minimize the compressibility of the trays. 
These pins did not maintain the necessary spacing in the centers of the 
trays. Auxiliary separate spacers were sometimes placed in the center of 
the confronting trays to prevent the compression of the trays. To my 
knowledge, there has not been provided the uniquely shaped spacer ribs to 
be described which are formed integrally with the trays referred to. The 
trays in which the adhesive materials are carried and spacers used 
therewith need to be reliable and as inexpensive as possible to be 
competitive in the market and because the user will ultimately throw them 
away after entrapping or entangling the vermin. The unique spacer rib 
structure to be described reliably and inexpensively minimizes the 
compressibility problem referred to. These trays typically are formed of 
vacuum formed sheet plastic material in inexpensive molds. The spacer rib 
structure referred to is formed by these molds in a manner where the rib 
structure and other portions of the tray can be made to loose tolerances 
and yet the spacer rib structure will always contact the spacer rib 
structure of a confronting tray made from the same mold. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a unique centrally located spacer rib structure 
which is elongated and angled relative to the tray side walls. When two 
similar trays with such rib structures are placed in confronting relation, 
the elongated and angled ribs of the two trays will cross one another even 
when the trays are made to loose tolerances. This is to be compared with a 
spacer rib structure which is parallel to the tray sides or the use of 
spacer pins both of which require a more precise alignment of the trays 
and spacer ribs formed therein. 
In particular, the preferred tray to carry a layer of adhesive material in 
forming a vermin trap has a bottom wall, four peripheral side walls and an 
open top face. The tray is preferably formed from a sheet of vacuum formed 
thermoplastic material, The side walls extend from the bottom wall to 
above the top surface of the adhesive material to effect the desired 
spacing. Additionally, there is one, and preferably two, elongate and 
angled ribs extending from the bottom wall to above the top surface of the 
adhesive material at points centrally located between the side walls. 
Preferably, the two ribs are arranged at a 45 degree angle to the side 
walls and have a length approximately four times their base width. Two 
like trays, from the same or different tooling, arranged in facing 
relationship will thus have their ribs engage against one another at 
substantially right angles and support the bottom walls against forces 
applied centrally thereof. The angle of the ribs and their lengths ensures 
that the ribs of the two trays will engage one another even when made with 
the least expensive tooling and packaging procedures where the confronting 
trays are packaged or handled with the trays mis-aligned. 
The shape of each rib preferably is of triangular cross section with the 
base at the bottom wall and is uniform along its length. The peak of the 
rib is not pointed but has a radius approaching a flat surface to increase 
the size of the spot at which the two ribs contact or engage. The rib 
structure alone is thus very strong even when formed of thin plastic 
material. The ribs are not solid but are hollow. 
Each rib is centrally located on the bottom wall between the side walls. 
This serves well to maintain the desired spacing between the adhesive 
materials of the two facing traps where the flex strength of the bottom 
wall is weakest. Additionally as desired, intermediate spacer projections 
or mounds can be formed adjacent the side walls and equally spaced between 
the corner projections or mounds to space the adhesive materials of the 
two facing trays at points remote from the elongated angled spacer ribs of 
the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the previously known vermin traps 10 and 40 shown therein 
each comprise an elongated, low tray or container 12 and 42 containing a 
layer of adhesive material 14 and 44. 
Tray 12 has a bottom wall 16 and four side walls 18, 20, 22 and 24 
upstanding at the periphery of bottom wall 16. Tray 12 also has four 
spacing mounds 26, 28, 30 and 32 arranged in the corners of tray 12. 
Mounds 28 and 32, arranged in opposite corners of tray 12, are cone shaped 
with a peak extending up from bottom wall 16 to above the top surface of 
the adhesive material 14. Mounds 26 and 30, also arranged in opposite 
corners of tray 12, extend upwardly from bottom wall 16 to above the top 
surface of adhesive material 14 and terminate in a cup-like structure. 
Tray 42 likewise has bottom wall 46 and side walls 48, 50, 52 and 54 
upstanding from the bottom wall at the periphery thereof. Tray 42 also has 
spacing mounds 56, 58, 60 and 62 arranged in the corners of the tray. 
Spacing mounds 58 and 62 are cone shaped with a peak extending upwardly 
from bottom wall 46 to above the top surface of adhesive material 44. 
Mounds 58 and 62 are in opposite corners of the tray. Spacing mounds 56 
and 60, located in opposite corners of the tray 42, also extend upwardly 
from bottom wall 46 to above the top surface of adhesive material 44 and 
terminate in a cup-like structure. 
Traps 10 and 40 thus form adhesive holding container having open top faces 
34 and 64. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the traps 10 and 40 typically are brought into 
face-to-face relationship for packaging, transport, storage and sale. For 
example, trap 40 can be rotated to be upside down. The upper peripheral 
edges or side walls of the trap engage against the like peripheral edges 
or the peripheral side walls of the other trap, and the spacing mounds of 
each trap engage with the spacing mounds of the other trap normally to 
space apart the adhesive materials 14 and 44 of each trap. This results in 
a free space 70 between the adhesive materials 14 and 44 within the two 
facing traps. 
The problem that occurs with these known traps is that minimal forces 
applied centrally of the bottom walls by such an index finger 72 and a 
thumb 74 squeezing the bottom walls together during removal of the trays 
from the packaging to be described brings into engagement the pressure 
sensitive adhesive materials 14 and 44 of each trap. These materials stick 
to one another, and when the forces are released, there is an irregular 
and undesirable shifting of adhesive material from one trap to the other, 
negatively affecting the distribution of adhesive material in one or the 
other trap. The flexing or.bending of the bottom walls is not prevented by 
the side walls or the spacing mounds, which are located peripherally of 
the tray bottom walls. The thinness of the tray bottom walls results in 
little rigidity in the areas central of each tray so that small forces can 
easily bring into contact the adhesive materials 14 and 44. 
Structure shown in FIGS. 3 through 9 that is similar to that shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2 is indicated by like reference numerals having a prefix numeral 1. 
Reference numerals 10 through 64 of FIG. 1 indicate structure respectively 
identified in FIG. 3 by references numerals 110 through 164. For example, 
side wall 24 in FIG. 1 corresponds to a similar side wall indicated by 
reference numeral 124 in FIG. 3. 
Referring to FIG. 3, vermin traps 110 and 140 in addition to the structure 
substantially described earlier in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, include 
spacing ribs 180, 182, 184 and 186. Tray 110 further includes a pair of 
cylindrical spacing mounds 190 and 192 while trap 140 includes a pair of 
cylindrical spacing mounds 194 and 196. The ribs and cylindrical spacing 
mounds extend upwardly from the bottom wall of each tray to above the top 
surface of the adhesive materials 114 and 144. 
Ribs 180 through 186 serve to rigidify the central areas of the bottom 
walls of traps 110 and 140 and reduce the ability of the bottom walls to 
flex under normal forces applied thereto to bring into contact the 
adhesive materials. Additionally, the ribs are located so that when the 
trays are brought into face-to-face relationship, the ribs will engage 
against one another and positively space the adhesive materials of one 
tray from the adhesive material of the other. 
Cylindrical spacing mounds 190 through 196 serve to space apart the bottom 
walls of the two traps in the areas adjacent to the side walls in between 
the earlier described spacing mounds in the corners of each tray. 
Referring to FIG. 4, vermin trap 140 has been turned upside down and is 
placed in face-to-face relationship on top of trap 110. In this 
face-to-face relationship, traps 110 and 140 are slid into a packaging or 
package bag 200 together with a pair of sanitary cover boards 202 and 204. 
This forms a neat package that easily can be transported, stored and sold. 
In operation, one sanitary cover board is unfolded and is inserted into 
the open face of a vermin trap such as 110. The covered vermin trap 110 
then is placed in any desired location at which the presence of vermin has 
been determined. A vermin such as a mouse 206 that steps on the adhesive 
material 114 of the trap becomes entangled therein and is unable to 
extricate himself. The entire trap 110 including cover board 202 then is 
disposed of as desired. Cover board 202 can be made of any desired 
material such as cardboard. Referring to FIG. 6, the ribs are arranged to 
be at about 45 degree angles with the side walls of each tray. 
When the traps are brought into facing relationship, the ribs 180 and 184 
engage against and cross each other and the ribs 182 and 186 engage 
against and cross each other at substantially right angles. The angular 
relationship of the ribs to the walls and to one another when in facing 
relationship are important to ensure contact under varying conditions. 
This contact maintains the adhesive materials in the two traps spaced from 
one another and out of contact to avoid the previously described problem. 
The trays 112 and 142 can be made in identical molds. In any event, the 
molds are made to be as inexpensive as possible to minimize the cost of 
the tray. As such, there can be small dimensional differences in the mold 
structures forming the ribs 80, 82, 84 and 86. These differences include 
the height, size and in particular, the location of the ribs between the 
side walls. Arranging the alongated ribs at the selected 45 degree angle 
to the side walls ensures that ribs manufactured in the same or different 
molds always will engage and contact one another to maintain the desired 
spacing between the adhesive materials of the two traps. 
The angle and lengths of the ribs additionally accommodate the trays being 
arranged in face-to-face relationship with their side walls and support 
cones substantially out of registration with one another while still 
maintaining the adhesive materials of the two traps spaced from one 
another. This mis-alignment can be present while the trays are in packaged 
condition or can be caused by a shifting of the trays while being removed 
from the packaging involved. Beyond the particulars of the molds used to 
make the tray of each trap, this improper registration is important 
because often the cone peaks and cup structures of the support mounds of 
the trays cannot exactly register with one another due to variations 
between molds. The ribs thus address the problem of improper registration 
and provide a solution not contemplated by previous structures. The 
location, arrangement and lengths of the ribs thus provides structure 
positively ensuring the spacing of the adhesive materials of the two traps 
from one another under a variety of shipping, storing and use conditions. 
The particular structure of the ribs further provides this positive 
spacing that could not otherwise be provided by simple support mounds. 
In FIG. 6, rib 186 is also shown in dashed line outline to illustrate that 
even when substantially misaligned with underlying rib 182, engagement can 
still occur to maintain the spacing between the adhesive materials of the 
two traps. 
Supplemental to the ribs 180, 182, 184 and 186, the trays additionally are 
provided with support mounds 190, 192, 194 and 196 located laterally of 
the trays 112 and 142 along the side walls thereof and between the other 
support mounds. Support mounds 190 through 196 have been determined to 
beneficial in addition to the ribs in maintaining the adhesive materials 
of the two traps spaced from one another. 
In FIG. 7, the peaks of the support mounds 128 and 162 engage with the 
recesses of the cup structures of support mounds 160 and 126 respectively. 
This not only maintains the desired spacing between the trays or traps but 
also serves to prevent or minimize the possibility of lateral shifting of 
the traps relative to one another in their face-to-face relationship 
except under extreme mis-alignment conditions where the four sets of 
support mounds in the corners of each trap do not mate or exactly engage 
with one another to obtain the results shown in FIG. 7. While this result 
may be attained in some or part of the engagement of the corner support 
mounds, such engagement cannot always be depended upon because of the 
inexpensive manufacture of the trays. The ribs 180, 182, 184 and 186 
ensure the desired spacing of the adhesive under even most extreme 
mis-alignment conditions. Central support mounds 192 and 194 desirably 
engage one another. In practice, the central support mounds 192 and 194 
may be slightly offset from one another. In FIG. 8, the corner support 
mounds 126 and 128 engage with the corner support mounds 158 and 160 
respectively. This again is the ideal situation where the peaks of the 
cones exactly engage with the cup structures of the mating support mound. 
In FIG. 9, support rib 180 has side walls 210 and 212 upstanding angled 
inwardly from bottom wall 116 and terminating in a top wall 214. Side 
walls 210 and 212 and top wall 214 form a substantially triangular hollow 
cross section extending the length of rib 180 with the hollow 216 opening 
to below the bottom wall 116 of trap 110. The base of the triangle is at 
the bottom wall and the peak of the rib is flat as defined by top wall 
214, to increase the size of the spot at which the ribs 180 and 184 
contact or engage. The cross section of rib 180 is uniform along its 
length. Rib 184 has end walls 220 and 222 and top wall 224 forming a 
hollow 226 opening to above bottom wall 146 of trap 140. Top wall 214 of 
rib 180 and top wall 224 of rib 184 thus engage or contact against one 
another to effect the desired spacing feature. While the side walls, top 
walls and hollows of ribs 180 and 184 specifically are identified with 
reference numerals, all four of the ribs 180, 182, 184 and 186 include 
like structure not specifically identified for clarity of the drawing. The 
rib side walls, top walls and end walls are formed of the bottom wall 
material during a vacuum forming or other desired molding process. The 
geometric arrangement of the wall material contributes to its strength 
resulting in a positive means for resisting substantial compression forces 
between the two facing traps. Not only does the wall material of the rib 
structure provide sufficient support for the ribs themselves, but the ribs 
also strengthen the bottom walls against bending or flexure caused by 
forces applied thereto. 
Variations of the embodiment described are possible while remaining within 
the invention claim hereafter. For example, the number, placement, angle 
and dimensions of the ribs can be varied to effect the desired spacing 
function. Additionally, centrally located support mounds can be added in 
locations as desired to supplement the spacing function of the ribs. 
Within the scope of the claims hereafter appended, the invention can be 
practices as desired.