Abstract:
A pest control device ( 10 ), and a method of suppressing a pest, which can be discretely and easily placed, serviced and removed from the proximity of areas where pests, including rodents and insects, are likely to frequent, including the area near the floor-wall juncture ( 54 ) behind shelving ( 44 ) and/or products ( 52 ) or equipment. The pest control device ( 10 ) has a pest suppression device ( 18 ) having an ingress for the pest and an elongate arm ( 20 ) having a proximate end ( 24 ) and a distal end ( 26 ), the proximate end ( 24 ) of the elongate arm ( 20 ) connected to the pest suppression device ( 20 ) communicating with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end ( 26 ) of the elongate arm ( 20 ) to the ingress. The pest suppression device ( 10 ) may be mounted on a platform ( 12  or  14 ) and the elongate arm ( 20 ) mounted instead to the platform ( 12  or  14 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The field of the invention relates generally to pest control devices and, particularly, to rodent or insect control devices where the rodent or insect is trapped or poisoned.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Controlling and catching pests, including rodents, is a continuing issue for many, especially commercial entities, particularly those involved in the food industry. This issue is particularly significant where pests, such as rodents or insects, are located, or travel, in hard to reach areas, making it difficult to set, retrieve and service traps.  
           [0003]    Considerable art relative to trapping of rodents has been developed over the years.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,380, Fornal, Sr., Rodent Enclosure, describes an enclosure housing for capturing a live rodent unharmed having a baited enclosure chamber, a one way entrance, having an open portal, a level ramp, pivotally mounted in the entrance portal chamber of the enclosure adapted for movement between a level access position and an inwardly and downwardly tilted position to provide access and to automatically return to the level position for preventing escape.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,781, Vine, Mouse Trap, describes a trap for capturing mice or other rodents. The device includes a main body having an entrance ramp leading thereinto. A bait container is positioned within the main body to attract a mouse towards a pivotally mounted trap door. A holding compartment positioned beneath the trap door receives the mouse within a removable drawer. The drawer includes an insertable screen which permits removal of the drawer and transport of the mouse to an exterior area for release thereof.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,852, Sarff, Rotating Cylinder Rodent Trap, describes a trap for capturing rodents within a bucket. The device includes an axle having a cylinder rotatably positioned therein. A mounting assembly secures the axle across an open upper end of a container. A ramp extends from ground surface to the upper end of the container, whereby a comestible paste applied to the cylinder will lure a rodent up the ramp and onto the cylinder which rotates to deposit the rodent into the container.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,171, Hershey, Multiple-Catch Mouse Trap, describes a container with a lid having a plurality of open entrance aperture tubes combined with similar apertures possessing one way passage devices and a bait compartment to induce mice and the like to pass through the one way passage device. It is adapted for use with a variety of standard commercial containers, such as five gallon plastic buckets, oil drums, and trash cans, containing additional bait and captured mice. The one way passage device is located on the top of the container and is utilized for the purpose of preventing mice from reversing their direction and exiting the trap.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,824, Fiore, Jr., Rubber Band Powered Mousetrap, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,020, Fiore, Jr., et al, Rubber Band and Spring Powered Mousetraps, describe tunnel-type mousetraps having a central trapping mechanism powered by a rubber band or a coil spring. If a rubber band is used, it is wound between an anchor plate in the top wall of the tunnel and a striker plate that fits over the anchor plate and has end walls with trapping apertures that project downwardly through the tunnel. The rubber band urges the striker plate upwardly, and the trap is set by pushing down on the striker plate to engage a pivotal trigger carried by the anchor plate. When a mouse enters the tunnel and dislodges the trigger, the striker plate springs upwardly under the force of the rubber band traps the mouse&#39;s neck in one of the trapping apertures. The trigger may be scented to attract mice and may hold a sunflower seed as additional bait. To provide the trap with a longer shelf life, the rubber band may be replaced by a coil spring fitted between the anchor plate and the striker plate.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,354, Carnwath, Bi-Directional Tunnel Rat Trap, describes a tunnel trap for use on paths normally used by rates and has two trips operated sequentially. A rat entering either end of the tunnel activates one trip and advances into the tunnel, activating the other trip, releasing the spring driven striker. The elements of the trap are specifically proportioned to assure that regardless of which direction the rat is passing through the tunnel, it will be trapped and killed.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,274, Smith et al, Rodent Trap, describes a rodent trap for drowning a plurality of rodents and other small pests without the need for resetting the trap is disclosed. The device includes a ramp engageable to a rim of a conventional pail and a rotating body positionable horizontally within the pail. The pail is partially filled with water or a mixture of water and ethylene glycol in such manner that the rotating body is free to rotate a distance above the water or mixture line. The rotating body includes a cylindrical body rotatably mounted to a shaft in such a manner that a rodent or like pest is unable to feed upon a rodent-attracting substance such as peanut butter spread on the cylindrical body without stepping upon the cylindrical body and thereby causing the cylindrical body to rotate and force the rodent or like pest into the water or mixture water and ethylene glycol.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,623, Celestine, Rodent Trap, describes a rodent trap which includes a central housing interior into which a rodent is lured by bait and enters on a rodent entry ramp and inside which is located a rotating trap door that is operated by a high speed DC motor which is actuated by an infrared sensor positioned inside the housing. The motor is engaged to rotate the trap door and timed by a cam switch to return to a closed position and ready to operate for the entry of the next rodent. When the rodent falls through the trap door, it falls into a rodent box which is received by an insertion in the housing lower section. The entry ramp facilitates rodent entering the trap at an elevation above the rodent box located in the lower portion of the trap.  
           [0012]    Other traps for rodents are shown in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,624, Schmidt, Mousetrap; U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,784, Oscarsson, Rodent and Small Animal Trap; U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,512, Krenzler, Mouse Trap; U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,663, Fields, Multiple Live Mouse Trap; U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,034, Robin et al, Rodent Trap; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D-382,039, Zyra, Mouse Trap With Ramp and Spinning Bait Bobbin.  
           [0013]    The above art describes a myriad of devices intended to trap rodents and similar creatures. However, the art all assumes relatively easy access to the place where the rodents are located or are traveling. None of the art addresses the problem of placing, retrieving and maintaining traps in locations which are hard to access.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    Typically, pests, including rodents and insects, prefer to keep out of sight and prefer to keep in relatively confined spaces. Such pests generally prefer to travel, for example, along the intersection of a floor, shelf, or other horizontal surface, and an adjacent wall. This makes the place most likely to intercept a pest, in order to effectively trap the pest, largely inaccessible. In a building, e.g., a warehouse, goods are likely to be placed relatively close to the walls preventing easy access to the wall. The use of shelves particularly limits the availability of access to wall/floor intersection and the positioning of articles on the shelves limits the availability of access to the proximity of the shelves and the wall. A particularly good place to trap such pests is under shelving near the back and in close proximity to the wall in front of which the shelving is placed. This is a very difficult location to place, retrieve and maintain pest traps. Additional areas which are particularly lucrative for trapping pests but which are relatively inaccessible include areas under counters and behind equipment.  
           [0015]    Observed rodent activity in areas having food located on shelving, such as grocery stores, has been primarily on the floor under the shelving along the back wall of the shelf. In addition, the rodent activity is often under a shelf in the middle of a floor with no vertical wall nearby. It would then be desirable to create a pathway to direct the rodent activity. For the most effective results, it is preferable to have a rodent control device located in the area most frequented by the rodents. This is a particularly difficult area in which to place, service and remove a rodent control device.  
           [0016]    In some cases, it may be necessary to remove product from the shelves and, even, partially disassemble the shelving in order to gain access to the area most frequented by the rodents.  
           [0017]    The present invention provides a pest control device, and a method of suppressing a pest, which can be discretely and easily placed, serviced and removed from the proximity of areas where pests, including rodents and insects, are likely to frequent, including the area near the floor-wall juncture behind shelving and/or products or equipment or on the floor under shelving or counters where no vertical wall is nearby.  
           [0018]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a pest control device for controlling a pest having a pest suppression device having an ingress for the pest and an elongate arm having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end of the elongate arm connected to the pest suppression device communicating with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end of the elongate arm to the ingress.  
           [0019]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a pest control device for controlling a pest having a platform allowing for mounting of a pest suppression device having at least one ingress for the pest and an elongate arm having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end of the elongate arm connected to the platform allowing communication with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end of the elongate arm to the platform in the vicinity of the ingress.  
           [0020]    Preferably, the elongate arm articulates with respect to the pest suppression device.  
           [0021]    Preferably, the pest control device has a generally planar surface, wherein the generally planar surface is horizontal when the pest control device is in use, wherein the elongate arm has a major axis, and wherein is the major axis of the elongate arm is positioned horizontally when the pest control device is in use.  
           [0022]    Preferably, the pest control device has generally planar upper and lower surfaces, the generally planar upper and lower surface being horizontal when the pest control device is in use.  
           [0023]    Preferably, the elongate arm pivots along the generally planar surface.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the pest suppression device comprises a trap or poison.  
           [0025]    Preferably, the pest control device has a plurality of elongate arms, each having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end of each of the plurality of elongate arms being connected to the platform allowing communication with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end of each of the plurality of elongate arms to the platform.  
           [0026]    Preferably, the distal end of at least one of the plurality of elongate arms is extendible and retractable with respect to the pest suppression device.  
           [0027]    Preferably, at least one of the plurality of elongate arms comprises a planar sheet mounted vertically to the pest suppression device and has a top edge and wherein the top edge of the distal end of the planar sheet has a plurality of serrations allowing the extendibility of the at least one of the of plurality of elongate arms to be extendible in a plurality of detent positions.  
           [0028]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of suppressing a pest, where the pest is expected to be found near a juncture between a horizontal surface and a vertical surface and where access to the juncture between the horizontal surface and the vertical surface is difficult to access. A pest control device is place on the horizontal surface distant from the juncture of the horizontal surface and the vertical surface. The pest control device has a platform allowing for mounting of a pest suppression device having at least one ingress for the pest and an elongate arm having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end of the elongate arm connected to the platform allowing communication with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end of the elongate arm to the platform in the vicinity of the ingress. The distal end of the elongate arm is moved in proximity of the juncture of the horizontal surface and the vertical surface. In this way a pathway from the juncture of the horizontal surface and the vertical surface to the pest suppression device is facilitated.  
           [0029]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of suppressing a pest, where there is an opening between a horizontal surface and a bottom of a shelf, the shelf having a front edge and a rear edge. The method includes placing a pest control device on the horizontal surface at a position underneath the shelf and positioned between the front edge and rear edge. The pest control device has a platform allowing for mounting of a press suppression device having at least one ingress for the pest and an elongate arm having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end of the elongate arm connected to the platform allowing communication with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end of the elongate arm of the platform in the vicinity of the ingress. The distal end is moved to a position between the front edge and rear edge when the pest control device is placed, whereby a pathway from under the shelf to the pest control device is created. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]    The foregoing advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pest control device of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a platform used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pin used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is a plan view of an elongate arm used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred use of the pest control device of the present invention; and  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pest control device of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]    In FIG. 1, pest control device  10  comprises an upper platform  12  and a lower platform  14  held spaced apart by pins  16 , one pin  16  located at each corner of the upper platform  12  and lower platform  14 . The area between upper platform  12  and lower platform  14  forms an area adapted for the placement of a pest suppression device  18 .  
         [0038]    Elongate arms  20  are attached to pins  16  at each of the corners of upper platform  12  and lower platform  14 . In one embodiment, pins  16  have a slot  22  through which the distal end  26  of elongate arm  20  is inserted. This allows elongate arm  20  to slide back and forth through slot  22  either extend distal end  26  of elongate arm  20  further from platforms  12  and  14  or to retract distal end  26  of elongate arm  20  to be closer to platforms  12  and  14 . Preferably, the top edge of elongate arm  20  has a serrated edge  28  which, while still allowing elongate arm  20  to slide through slot  22 , provides detent positions for elongate arm  20 .  
         [0039]    Pins  16  inserted through holes  30  in upper platform  12  and lower platform  14  allow pins  16  to pivot allowing elongates arms  20  to also articulate along the plane of the major surface of upper platform  12  and lower platform  14 .  
         [0040]    Pest suppression device  18  may be any of a wide variety of commercially available suppression devices, including traps and poison. Traps may be any of a variety of single or multiple catch traps and may be rodent or insect traps depending on the desired use of pest control device  10 . In one preferred embodiment, pest suppression device may be any of a variety of glue pads capturing any pest, including a rodent or insect, to come into contact with the glue pad. Pest suppression device  18  may also be an integral component of the pest control device  10 .  
         [0041]    In FIG. 2, lower platform  14  is shown in top planar view. Holes  30  are formed in lower platform  14  to allow pins  16  (FIG. 1) to be inserted. Detents  32  are formed in the proximity of holes  30  which allow elongates arms  20 , when inserted through pins  16 , to be positioned in a plurality of detent positions. One or more tabs  34  may be formed in lower platform  14  to allow for pest suppression device  18  to be affixed to lower platform  14 . While particular dimensions of lower platform  14  are not important, other than being large enough to house or secure pest suppression device  18  and small enough to allow pest control device to be placed where it is to be used. In one preferred embodiment, lower platform  14  is sized to accommodate a pest suppression device of approximately 10.5 inches (26.6 centimeters) by 7 inches (17.8 centimeters).  
         [0042]    While not explicitly shown in a separate view, upper platform  12  may be similar to lower platform  14 . It should be recognized that detents  32  and tabs  34  need not necessarily be formed into both lower platform  14  and into upper platform  12 . Rather, these features, if desired, may be formed into either of lower platform  14  or upper platform  12 , or both. Also, detents  32  may be formed in one the elements and the tabs  34  formed in the other. Any combination is permissible, e.g., detents  32  for one elongate arm  20  may be formed in one element and detents  32  for another elongate arm  20  be formed in the other.  
         [0043]    Pin  16  is illustrated in FIG. 3. Pin  16  may be formed from a plastic material and could be sized to fit in holes  30  of upper platform  12  and/or lower platform  14 . In a preferred embodiment, pin  16  has a head  36 , a shank consisting of two prongs  38  forming slot  22 . Two prongs  38  are tapered to allow pins  16  to be more easily inserted through holes  30 .  
         [0044]    As mentioned above, the distal end  26  can be inserted through slot  22  in pin  16 . Serrated edge  28  allows elongate arm to have a plurality of detent positions depending on the distance that proximate end  24  in inserted through slot  22 . In a preferred embodiment, guide lines  40  are marked on the side of elongate arm  20  for use a guide in determining the distance which elongate arm  20  is inserted through slot  22 . A slight lower tip  42  may be formed at the distal end  26  of elongate arm to allow distal end  26  of elongate arm to rest on the same horizontal surface on which lower platform  14  is placed.  
         [0045]    While shown as a planar element in FIG. 4, elongate arm  20  could be formed from many other shapes including U-shapes and boxes, which still facilitate a pathway for the pest to be controlled from distal end  26  of elongate arm  20  to proximate end  24  of elongate and, ultimately, to pest suppression device  18 .  
         [0046]    The components of the pest control device  10  could be constructed from any of a variety of materials including, but not limited to plastic, cardboard and metal.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5 illustrates one possible use of pest control device  10 . Shelving ( 44  and  46 ) is shown positioned on the floor  48  adjacent a vertical wall  50 . Items  52  are normally stocked on shelving  44 . In a typical environment, there is some space, but not a great deal of space, between shelving  44  and floor  48 . Since pests, particularly rodents, are known to prefer to locate and travel in an out of the way space such as the juncture  54  between floor  48  and wall  50  and since shelving  44  and/or items  52  prevent easy access to juncture  54 , it is difficult to set place, service and retrieve a prior art pest control device from this location.  
         [0048]    However, pest control device  10  of the present invention may readily be placed, serviced and retrieved from this location. One of elongate arms  20  of pest control device  10  may be adjusted (extended and/or pivoted) so that the distal end  26  of that elongate arm  20  is in the area of juncture  54  when pest control device  10  is place under shelving  44 . Alternatively, elongate arm  20  may already be in an acceptable position. Once elongate arm  20  is positioned in an acceptable manner, pest control device  10  may easily be placed under shelving  44 , if desired, and with distal end  26  of elongated arm  20  in the area of juncture  54 .  
         [0049]    Positioned in this manner, at least one of the elongate arms  20  facilitates a pathway from the area of juncture  54 , where pests are commonly known to frequent, to the area of the pest suppression device  18  which doesn&#39;t have to be positioned proximate to juncture  54  but, rather, may be positioned nearer to the front of shelving  44  allowing for easier access.  
         [0050]    As can be seen, pest control device  10  can be easily inserted into a difficult to access location, e.g., under shelving. The adjustability of elongate arms  20  allow elongate arms  20  to be extended or retracted and pivoted about the horizontal plane so that distal end  26  of at least one of the elongate arms may be positioned in the area most frequented, e.g., juncture  54 , by the pests to be controlled.  
         [0051]    While pest control device  10  is illustrated as having four elongate arms  20 , it is to be recognized and understood that, in alternative embodiments, pest control device  10  may be constructed of only one elongate arm  20 , or other numbers of elongate arms as may be desired. In a preferred embodiment, pest control device  10  has a plurality of elongate arms  20 , which allows distal end  26  of at least one the elongate arms  20  to be placed in the area where the pests to be controlled are most likely to frequent or to travel through. At the same time, another of the plurality of elongate arms  20  may be used as a handle by the person installing pest control device  10  to place pest control device  10  and, as a consequence, the proper placement of distal end  26  another of the plurality of elongate arms  20 . This allows a great deal of flexibility and ease of placing, servicing and removing pest control device  10 .  
         [0052]    While FIG. 5 has been described with use next to a wall  50 , it is understood the present invention may be used when the shelving is on the floor, away from a wall  50 . In such instances, the pest control device  10  creates a pathway under the shelving in the middle of a floor which discourages a pest from wandering out from under the shelving into public view, but rather directs a pest to suppression device  18 . The pest control device is placed either under one shelf approximately in the middle of that shelf, or in the instances where two shelves are placed back-to-back, the pest control device  10  would be placed preferably in the middle of the two shelves. It is, of course, understood that the exact location as to where underneath the shelves the pest control device  10  is located is variable, but proximate the middle of the single shelf or the middle of the combined shelving shelves is preferred. The distal end  26  of at least one of the elongate arms  20  extends from the platform  14  and provides for a pathway into the pest control device  10 . The other distal ends  26  of the other arms  20 , if utilized, may also be used to create additional pathways into the pest control device  10 . Alternately, as previously described, the elongate arms  20  may also be used as a handle to position the pest control device  10  under the shelving, preferably between the front edge and rear edge of the shelving.  
         [0053]    It is anticipated that pest control device will most likely be placed on a horizontal surface. However, other placements are contemplated. As an example, pest control device may be placed on an inclined surface where desired, or may be placed on a vertical surface (with proper attachment) in appropriate circumstances.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of pest control device  10 . In this embodiment, elongate arms  20  are connected directly to pest suppression device  18 . In an example, pest control device  18  is a glue pad having a support surface  56  and a pad of glue  58 . In this embodiment, elongate arms are shown coupled to pest suppression device  18  in a manner similar to the coupling of elongate arms  20  to pest control device  10  using pins  16 . It is recognized that alternative means of attachment are also contemplated. Also, it is to be recognized and understood that while the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 shows a pest control device  10  with four elongate arms  20  that other embodiments in which only one or another number of elongate arms is envisioned.  
         [0055]    Thus, there has been shown and described a novel pest control device and a novel method of suppressing a pest. It is to be recognized and understood that various changes, modifications and adjustments may be made to the above described invention without departing from the scope of the claims.