Patent Publication Number: US-2022217968-A1

Title: Electronic rat trap with internal barrier structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/021,527, filed Jun. 28, 2018, which is a non-provisional application based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/526,521, filed on Jun. 29, 2017 the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to the field of electronic rodent traps and, more particularly, to an electronic rodent trap with an internal barrier structure that reduces escapes and thereby improves the rate of catch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic rodent traps like those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,899 (“the &#39;899 patent”) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,947 (“the &#39;947 patent”), which are commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention, include a pair of spaced killing plates. When a rodent makes contact with both plates simultaneously, a killing cycle is triggered during which a high voltage pulse train is delivered to the plates to electrocute the rodent. The &#39;899 patent and the &#39;947 patent are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     It has been found that with some electronic rodent trap designs, particularly those for rats, the rat is able to escape by jumping rearward out of the trap when the killing cycle is initiated. This can occur even with a trap having a three-killing-plate design like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,466 (“the &#39;466 patent”) which is also commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention; the &#39;466 patent is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     The trap design disclosed in the &#39;899 patent includes multiple barrier elements but, having a hinged cover with a barrier, is best suited for mice. In addition, the barrier elements are placed with respect to only two plates, also best suited for mice. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for an electronic rat trap that reduces or eliminates rodent escapes during delivery of the high voltage killing cycle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, the present invention is directed to an enclosure-type electronic rat trap having an interior accessed through a trap entrance and a rat pathway that leads from the entrance to a baited end opposite the entrance. Along the rat pathway between the entrance and the baited end are three plates in spaced relationship and a barrier that extends into and constricts the pathway to reduce the ability of the rat to escape the trap once the rat has traveled along the pathway sufficiently to engage the barrier. 
     As described in the &#39;466 patent, the three plates are coupled to a high voltage circuit and include a center ground plate flanked on its forward or inner side with a first high voltage plate and on its rearward or outer side with a second plate that is electrically coupled with the first plate. As used herein, “forward”, “front” and “inner” refer to that side nearest the closed or baited end of the trap, and “rearward”, “rear” and “outer” refer to that side nearest the open or entrance end of the trap. 
     According to one embodiment, the barrier includes a baffle wall that extends downwardly from the trap ceiling into the trap enclosure so that the bottom edge of the baffle wall is positioned at a specific height above the plates and at a specific longitudinal distance from the forward edge of the center ground plate. More particularly, the vertical distance between the bottom edge of the baffle wall and the ground plate is between about 1.00 inch and about 2.50 inches, and preferably is about 1.78 inches, and the horizontal distance between the bottom edge of the baffle wall and a vertical plane in alignment with the forward edge of the center ground plate is at least 1.50 inches, and preferably is about 2.34 inches. 
     In use, when a killing cycle is initiated in response to the rat coming into contact with the forward and center plates simultaneously, the position of the rat in the trap is such that the bottom of the barrier pins the torso of the rat against the floor so that it cannot jump up in an effort to move rearwardly and escape being shocked. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the baffle wall has a blade-like edge that digs into the rat&#39;s torso to more effectively immobilize the rodent during the killing cycle. The baffle wall may be planar or may have a tapered or top-down diminishing thickness with the bottom or lowermost end forming the blade-like edge. The barrier could also be formed as a plurality of individual members that extend downwardly in a stalactite manner and are laterally spaced from, but sufficiently close to, one another so as to form a grate-like wall for confining the movement of a rat&#39;s body within the trap in like manner to the solid barriers described herein. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic rat trap having a housing body that defines a trap enclosure with a ceiling and a floor, the trap floor having at least three or more plates on the floor of the rat pathway for receiving a high voltage pulse train upon activation of a killing cycle, and a barrier extending downwardly from the ceiling, a bottom end of the barrier being positioned at a specific height above the plates and in a particular longitudinal relationship therewith to prevent upward movement of a rat when its position in the trap activates the killing cycle. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic rat trap in accordance with the preceding object in which the trap has three killing plates including a center ground plate flanked by front and rear high voltage plates, the lowermost edge of the bottom end of the barrier being between about 1.00 inch and about 2.50 inches, and preferably about 1.78 inches, in vertical distance above the center plate, and at least about 1.50 inches, and preferably about 2.34 inches, rearwardly of a vertical plane that extends upwardly from the forward edge of the center ground plate. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic rat trap in accordance with the preceding objects in which the barrier includes a baffle wall having a blade-like lowermost edge that digs into the torso of the rodent should the rodent attempt to jump upwardly upon trap activation. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic rat trap in accordance with the preceding objects in which the baffle wall has a tapered or top-down diminishing thickness with the bottom or lowermost end narrowing to the blade-like edge. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic rat trap in accordance with the preceding objects that is cost effective to make and use, reliable in operation, and which effectively prevents rodent escape upon initiation of a killing cycle. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective cut-away view of an electronic rat having three killing plates and a downwardly extending barrier embodied as a planar baffle wall in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  shows the cut-away view of the rat trap as shown in  FIG. 1  but with a rat positioned under the baffle wall and in contact with the rear and center killing plates. 
         FIG. 2B  shows the cut-away view of the rat trap as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  with the rat positioned under the baffle wall but with the rat having moved further forward into the trap so that, now being in contact with the center and front killing plates, a killing cycle will be initiated. 
         FIG. 3  is a transparent perspective view of a rat trap like that shown in  FIG. 1  but with a barrier embodied as a baffle wall of diminishing thickness from top to bottom in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a planar side view of the rat trap shown in  FIG. 3  illustrating the dimensional relationship between the bottom of the baffle wall and the killing plates. 
         FIG. 5  is an opposite side perspective view of a rat trap like that shown in  FIG. 1  but with the planar baffle wall being provided with supporting panels or ribs. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the rat trap shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C  are right side views of three barriers of diminishing thickness formed as a rear-side tapered baffle, a front-side tapered baffle and a triangular baffle tapered on both the front and rear sides, respectively. 
         FIG. 8  is a view, as taken from either end of the trap, of an alternative barrier configuration including a generally planar wall having an arched bottom edge. 
         FIG. 9  is a view, as taken from either end of the trap, of another alternative barrier configuration including a plurality of members laterally spaced from one another across the width of the trap to form a grate-type baffle wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B , the present invention is directed to an electronic rat trap generally designated by reference numeral  10 . The rat trap includes an upper wall assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  12 , and a floor  14  spaced from one another and joined by a left side  16  and a right side  18  (see  FIG. 3 ); the right side  18  of the trap  10  has been removed in  FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B  in order to show the trap interior which is generally designated by reference numeral  17 . As used herein, “left” and “right” have been designated with reference to the view of the trap as taken from the trap entrance end  20 . 
     The entrance end  20  of the rat trap  10  is open to provide rats with access to the interior of the trap while the opposite baited end, generally designated by reference numeral  22 , is closed by an apertured wall  24 . The apertures or openings  26  in the wall  24  allow for better detection of the scent of the bait from outside the trap in order to attract nearby rats and hopefully entice the same to enter the trap through the open entrance end  20 . The openings also encourage the rat, once having moved sufficiently into the trap, to move forward, i.e., toward the openings, when it starts being shocked. In the embodiment shown, one of the apertures  26  is fitted with a bait plug  27  for holding bait. 
     Inside the rat trap  10 , at least three, and possibly more, killing plates are positioned on the floor  14  in spaced relationship to create a pathway  21  for the rat from the entrance end  20  to the baited end  22  as indicated by the arrow  21 . A barrier, generally designated by reference numeral  28 , extends downwardly from the trap ceiling  32  into the trap interior  17  and serves to restrict the height of the trap interior  17  to prevent upward movement of the rat at the point of the barrier. In addition, the fixed nature of the trap ceiling renders the trap impervious to any upward pressure the rat may apply to the ceiling  32 , and particularly the barrier  28 , should the rat make an effort to escape. 
     The barrier  28  may be embodied as a planar baffle wall (see  FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B ), a planar baffle wall with support ribs  31  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) or as a tapered barrier or baffle wall  130  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). As viewed from the right side of the trap, the tapered barrier may be formed as a rear-side tapered baffle as shown in  FIG. 7A , a front-side tapered baffle as shown in  FIG. 7B , or a triangular baffle with both the front and rear sides being tapered as shown in  FIG. 7C . Alternatively, the barrier may be embodied as a generally planar wall  140  with an arched bottom edge  142  as shown in the end view of  FIG. 8 , as a grate type wall generally designated by reference numeral  150  having a plurality of laterally spaced members  152  as shown in the end view of  FIG. 9 , or with any other configuration that would serve to create a height restricting barrier in the trap interior at the specified point of barrier placement therein. 
     In the embodiment shown, the plurality of killing plates are positioned adjacent one another along the pathway  21  and include a first plate  34  nearest the baited end  22 , a second plate  36  spaced rearwardly from the first plate  34 , and a third plate  38  spaced rearwardly from the second plate  36  to be nearest the entrance end  20 . The first and second plates  34 ,  36  are the active plates which, when connected through contact with both by a known impedance such as a rat, initiate activation of a high voltage output circuit generally designated by reference numeral  40 . The third plate  38  is electrically connected to the first plate  34  and automatically goes to the voltage level of the first plate  34  when the circuit  40  is activated in the manner described in the &#39;466 patent previously incorporated by reference herein. 
     The barrier  28  embodied as baffle wall  30 ,  130  is positioned along the longitudinal length of the trap so that the downward projection of the barrier  28  from the ceiling  32  is above the second or center plate  36 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2B , the planar baffle wall  30  is sized so that a bottom end generally designated by reference numeral  42  thereof is positioned with the blade-like bottom edge  46  at a specific height above the plates and at a specific longitudinal distance from the forward edge  44  of the center ground plate  36 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the baffle wall  130  has a diminishing thickness as it extends downwardly from the ceiling  32 , with the bottom end  142  of the baffle tapering to a blade-like lowermost edge  146 . As shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C , the diminishing thickness may be achieved with a rear-side tapered baffle ( FIG. 7A ), a front-side tapered baffle ( FIG. 7B ) or a triangular baffle having both the front and rear sides tapered ( FIG. 7C ). 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the positioning of the barrier  28  in the trap interior  17 , whether embodied as a planar baffle wall  30  or a tapered baffle wall  130 , provides a vertical distance between the lowermost edge  46 ,  146  of the baffle wall  30 ,  130  and the second or center plate  36  of between about 1.0 inch and about 2.5 inches, and preferably about 1.78 inches. The horizontal distance between the lowermost edge  46 ,  146  of the bottom end  42 ,  142  of the baffle wall and a vertical plane  48  that extends upwardly from and in alignment with the forward edge  44  of the center plate is at least 1.5 inches, preferably at least 1.75 inches, and more preferably is about 2.34 inches. With this positioning of the barrier relative to the center plate, and upon any upward movement of the rat when it starts being shocked, the barrier will contact the rat behind the middle of its back to prevent the rat from pushing off of the front plate. 
     In use, the rat enters the trap  10  through the entrance end  20  and moves along the pathway  21  toward the baited end  22  as shown in  FIG. 2A . When the rat has moved sufficiently forwardly into the trap interior  17  to contact the first or forward high voltage plate  34  and the center ground plate  36  simultaneously, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the circuit  40  is activated to deliver a high voltage pulse train to the first and second plates  34 ,  36 . Upon activation of the first plate, the third plate  38  becomes energized a few milliseconds later. As evident from  FIG. 2B , the position of the rat when the killing cycle is activated is such that, upon any upward movement of the rat, the bottom edge  46 ,  146  of the baffle wall  30 ,  130  restricts the torso of the rat between the floor  14  of the trap and the baffle wall  30 ,  130  so that the rat cannot jump upward or push off from the front plate in an effort to move rearwardly and escape electrocution. In addition, unlike traps having hinged covers like that shown in the &#39;899 patent, the fixed nature of the trap ceiling of the rat trap according to the present invention renders the trap impervious to any upward pressure the rat may apply in its efforts to escape. 
     The foregoing descriptions and drawings are illustrative of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in other shapes, and other configurations of the present invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.