Patent Abstract:
A bait station is formed of a single unitary member which is folded to bring a first portion into contact with a second portion. An intermediate portion connects the first and second portions. The bait station includes a pair of passageways which lead from opposite edges of the bait station to a central recess portion. A block of rodenticide material is located in the recess portion and the passageways are angled to prevent access to the rodenticide material by children.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of pest control and more particularly, to a rodent bait station. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The prior art related to pest control includes the following U.S. patents. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,953,868 to Chambers for a Device for Safely Administering Poison to Insects, Rodents and the Like, shows a poison carrying base which is connected to a protective cover. An opening between the base and the cover allows insects and rodents to eat the poison while preventing children from getting at the poison. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,536 to Baker for a Bait Station, shows a device with the overall configuration of a capital letter H. Openings are provided at the ends of the arms of the H and bait containing bins are located on either side of the central connecting passageway between the arms of the H. The location of the bait containing bins makes access by children difficult. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,669 to Demarest et al. for an Insect Bait Device, shows a feeding device which is formed by joining two substantially identical housing portions to form an enclosure. The portions are joined by sonic welding, radio frequency welding, solvent welding, or heat sealing. The housings contain an insect bait pad which is held on a ledge which is formed within the enclosure. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,225 to Brandi for an Insect Feeding Station shows a device which has a base for carrying poison and a cover. The base has a luminous color under the poison to make removal of the poison easily detectable and outer walls with openings to allow entrance by an insect and walls or baffles to prevent access to the poison by a probe. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,585 to Demarest, et al. for a Bait Station for Crawling Insects shows a base with a cover fastened to the base. The base includes a bait cup with a bait cup wall. The cover includes a shell that defines a walkway between the shell and the bait cup wall. The shell also includes a roof that spans the space defined by the shell wall. An antechamber is defined by a side support and by the shell wall. The floor of the antechamber is continuous with the floor of the walkway. A door in the shell admits insects into the antechamber and the side support restricts straight line access to the bait cup. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,983 B1 to Spragins for an Insect Baiting and Trapping Station includes a base, a cover and an insert which is locked between the base and the cover. The insert is in the form of a glueboard to which inserts a stick or a tray. The tray holds a toxic bait or attractant that the insect takes back to its nest. The base and the cover are locked together with a resilient catch and the device requires two hands to open the cover. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,768 B1 to Johnson et al., for a Bait Station with a Screw-Off Child Resistant Lid has a base with a cylindrical sidewall with three openings to passageways which lead to an internal feeding chamber containing rodent bait. The passageways are configured to provide multiple rodent feeding positions at the feeding chamber. A dome-shaped lid covers the base and has finger recesses for gripping the lid. The lid and the base have resiliently deformable portions which lock the lid and the base to prevent a child from opening the lid. 
         [0010]    Despite the developments of the prior art, there remains a need for an effective bait station which is capable of controlling pests. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a rodent bait station which provides a visual status of the condition of the bait. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a rodent bait station which can fit conveniently into a corner. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a rodent bait station which can store sufficient bait for feeding several rodents for several days to provide proper toxic effect. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a rodent bait station which prevents access to the bait except for feeding. 
         [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a rodent bait station which prevents unwanted access to the bait by children. 
         [0016]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rodent bait station which can be manufactured efficiently in quantity resulting in a relatively low unit cost. 
         [0017]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent hereinafter. 
         [0018]    In accordance with the present invention, a rodent bait station is provided which is formed as a single unitary member which includes a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion which connects the first and second portions. The unitary member is folded bringing the first and the second portions into mutual contact. 
         [0019]    The first and second portions and the intermediate portion define a pair of passageways which lead from the exterior of the bait station to a recess formed in the interior of the bait station. A block of rodenticide is located in the recess. The rodenticide can be accessed by rodents who enter the passageways. The passageways are angled preventing access to the rodenticide by children. 
         [0020]    The first and second portions are connected by a plurality of projections and complementary cavities which hold the first and second portions in secure contact. The unitary member is made of clear plastic enabling a user to monitor the consumption of the rodenticide. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of a rodent bait station made according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the rodent bait station of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-section view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale, taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an overall perspective view of the rodent bait station of  FIG. 1  with the rodent bait station shown in a disassembled flat state; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary overall perspective view generally similar to  FIG. 6  showing a rodenticide block in place. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    With reference to the drawings, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-7  a rodent bait station  10  made in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0030]    The rodent bait station  10  is formed as a single unitary member  12  portions  14 ,  16  of which are folded to form the assembled unit  18  shown in  FIG. 1 . A block of a rodenticide material  20  is positioned in a recess  22  which is formed in the unit  10  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The unitary member  12  is formed as a molded or vacuum formed member having a plurality of recesses and projections which will be described presently. 
         [0031]    As is shown in  FIG. 6 , the bait station  10  includes the first portion  14  and the second portion  16  which are connected by a flat intermediate portion  24 . 
         [0032]    The first portion  14  includes a first platform  26  and a second platform  28 . The first platform  26  is supported by the walls  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  48 . The walls  30 ,  36  incline inwardly relative to the edges  66 ,  68  of the intermediate portion  24 . The walls  34 ,  32  incline toward each other forming the configuration of a capital letter V. 
         [0033]    The first portion  14  also includes the second platform  28 . The second platform  28  is supported by the walls  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 . The walls  58 ,  64  are in general alignment with the edges  38 ,  40  of the first portion  14  and also in general, alignment with the edges  66 ,  68  of the intermediate portion  24 . The walls  60 ,  62  are inclined toward each other forming the configuration of a capital letter V and are joined together by a curved portion  70 . 
         [0034]    The walls  36  and  46  are generally parallel and the walls  30  and  54  are generally parallel. The walls  44  and  56  are generally perpendicular to the edges  38  and  40 . 
         [0035]    Each of the walls  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 , previously described, project from the surface  72  of the first portion  14 . 
         [0036]    A triangular projection  74  is formed by the walls  76 ,  78 ,  80  which project from the surface  72 . The projection  74  includes the surface  82 . The walls  76 ,  78  are inclined toward each other and are generally parallel to the walls  34  and  32 , respectively. The wall  80  is generally parallel to the walls  44 ,  56 . 
         [0037]    The walls  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  80  form the recess  22  for the storage of the generally rectangular block of rodenticide material  20  as will be presently described. 
         [0038]    The second portion  16  is generally similar to the first portion  14  and includes a first platform  90  and a second platform  92 . The first platform  90  is supported by the walls  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  101 . The walls  94 ,  100  incline inwardly relative to the edges  66 ,  68  of the intermediate portion  24 . The walls  96 ,  98  incline toward each other forming the configuration of a capital letter V. 
         [0039]    The second portion  16  also includes a second platform  102 . The second platform  102  is supported by the walls  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 . The walls  118 ,  124  are in general alignment with the edges  38 ,  40  of the first portion  14  and the edges  66 ,  68  of the intermediate portion  24 . The walls  120 ,  122  are inclined toward each other forming the configuration of a capital letter V and are joined together by a curved portion  126 . 
         [0040]    The walls  100  and  106  are generally parallel and the walls  94  and  114  are generally parallel. The walls  104  and  116  are generally perpendicular to the edges  38  and  40 . 
         [0041]    Each of the walls  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  previously described project from the surface  128  of the second portion  16 . 
         [0042]    A triangular projection  130  is formed by the walls  132 ,  134 ,  136  which project from the surface  128 . The projection  130  includes the surface  138 . The walls  132 ,  134  are inclined toward each other and are generally parallel to the walls  98  and  96  respectively. The wall  136  is generally parallel to the walls  104 ,  116 . 
         [0043]    The walls  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  130  define the recess  84  which complements the recess  20  for the storage of the generally rectangular block of rodenticide material  20 . 
         [0044]    A key feature of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  and includes a plurality of projections or nipples typically identified by the reference number  140  in  FIG. 5  which fit a plurality of corresponding cavities typically identified by the reference numeral  142  in  FIG. 5 . Each of the cavities  142  is generally square in plan view with walls  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150  and rounded corners  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  158 . 
         [0045]    The projections  140  are each generally cross-shaped in plan view as shown in  FIG. 5  with arms  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  168 . The surfaces  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178  of each of the projections  140  are rounded and are proportioned to closely fit against and bear against the corresponding adjacent surfaces of the walls  150 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148  respectively of the cavities  142 . 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 6 , the various cavities and projections have been identified by individual reference numbers as will be presently described. 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6  during assembly, the unit  10  is folded from the condition shown in  FIG. 6  to the condition shown in  FIG. 1 ; the projection  180  fits into the cavity  182 ; the projection  184  fits into the cavity  186 ; the projection  188  fits into the cavity  190 ; the projection  192  fits into the cavity  194 ; the projection  196  fits into the cavity  198 ; and the projection  200  fits into the cavity  202 . 
         [0048]    The projections and cavities described above enable the portions  14 ,  16 , to interlock as shown in  FIG. 1  and to retain the rodenticide block  20  in a secure manner. The interlocking projections and cavities described above are illustrated for reference in broken lines  220  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0049]    The various inclined walls  36 ,  44 ,  54 ,  30 ,  76 ,  34 ,  78 ,  32 ,  100 ,  106 ,  98 ,  132 ,  96 ,  134 ,  94 ,  114  enable the rodent bait station  10  to form inclined channels  210 ,  212  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  6  which allow a rodent to enter the bait station  10  in the directions shown by the arrows  216 ,  216  and to eat the rodenticide block  20  while limiting undesired access to the block  20  by children. 
         [0050]    The inclined surfaces  60 ,  62 ,  120 ,  122  allow the rodent bait station  10  to be placed in corners formed by adjacent walls thereby facilitating access by rodents. 
         [0051]    The rodent bait station  10  is preferably made of clear and flexible plastic which enables a user to easily monitor the consumption of the rodenticide block  20  and enables the unitary member  12  to be folded as described thereby bringing the first and second portions  14 ,  16  into contact. 
         [0052]    The foregoing specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein are for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention, without departing from a main theme thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0