Abstract:
A method and apparatus for electrocution and disposal of pests, the apparatus including a reusable power source and a low cost disposable container. The reusable power source includes batteries and a circuit to provide a high voltage and low current signal to the disposable container, to electrocute small pests without presenting a risk to humans or pets. The disposable container is constructed from low cost material, for example, cardboard or plastic, and in one embodiment may be nested for efficient retail packaging. The nesting may be accomplished using tapered disposable containers or a series of decreasing size containers. A container floor includes conducting surfaces formed or glued on the floor. Internal leads and connector surfaces are similarly formed on sides and a rear of the container. The connector surfaces are configured to connect to the power source.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/406,452 filed Mar. 18, 2009, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to pest management and in particular to a low cost disposable container for containing and disposing of an electrocuted pest. 
         [0003]    Pests such as rodents present both a nuisance and a heath risk at residences, farms, ranches, and recreational areas. Additionally, urban areas, factories, restaurants, etc. often face rodent infestations. Various mechanical traps are available but generally include some type of grasping mechanism which may be difficult to set and cause discomfort or injury if released on a user&#39;s hand. Poisons are also commonly used, but may create their own health risks. For these and other reasons, users are often reluctant to use traditional measures. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,269,091 and 5,949,636 disclose portable pest electrocution devices which overcome some of the issues present in mechanical traps and poisons. The &#39;091 and &#39;636 patents describe electrical circuits for sensing the presence of a pest and creating a high voltage signal to electrocute the pest. Unfortunately, both devices require removal of dead pests from the device for disposal. Such removal may involve accidental contact with the dead pest, or an unpleasant experience. Pests are also known to carry diseases, and contact with them may present a heath risk. The &#39;091 and &#39;636 patents are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a method and apparatus for electrocution and disposal of pests, the apparatus including a reusable power source and a low cost disposable container. The reusable power source includes batteries and a circuit to provide a high voltage and low current signal to the disposable container, to electrocute small pests without presenting a risk to humans or pets. The disposable container is constructed from low cost material, for example, cardboard or plastic, and in one embodiment may be nested for efficient retail packaging. The nesting may be accomplished using tapered disposable containers or a series of decreasing size containers. A container floor includes conducting surfaces formed or glued on the floor. Internal leads and connector surfaces are similarly formed on sides and a rear of the container. The connector surfaces are configured to connect to the power source. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for electrocution and disposal of pests. The method includes providing a power source providing a high voltage and low current signal for electrocution of the pests without presenting risks to humans and a low cost disposable container. Leads are connected from the power source to the low cost disposable container, the leads having a female connector and the low cost disposable container having a male connector. The power supply is switched on and the user waits for a pest to be electrocuted. After the pest has been electrocuted, the power supply is switch OFF and the leads are disconnected from the low cost disposable container. The low cost disposable container containing the electrocuted pest is then disposed of without requiring handling the dead pest. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another of the invention, there is provided a low cost disposable container disconnectably connectable to a high voltage and low current power source. The low cost disposable container is foldable to a flat form for packaging and configurable into a container for use. The low cost disposable container includes conducting areas for making contact with the pest to electrocute the pest, and in one embodiment, to sense the presence of the pest. The container contacts and extensions connecting the conducting areas to the container contacts are preferably integrally formed as a thin layer of electrically conductive material glued to the interior of the low cost disposable container or formed on the interior of the low cost disposable container. The interior of the low cost disposable container may be formed from a cutout of a flat sheet and is preferably formed from plastic or a paper product and more preferably from a paper product. The low cost disposable container may thus be disposed of after each use. 
         [0008]    In accordance with yet another of the invention, there is provided a low cost nestable disposable container. The nestable disposable container may be tapered to allow nesting, or a series of decreasing size containers to allow nesting. Such nesting facilitates retail packaging. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a low cost disposable container according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2D  is a rear view of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the low cost disposable container taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2A  showing a container floor having three conducting areas. 
           [0016]    Cancelled. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  shows a cutout according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  shows a second cutout according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4C  shows a third cutout according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4D  shows a fourth cutout according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container for a large rodent. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4E  shows a fifth cutout according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container for a small rodent. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5A  shows a top view of the low cost disposable container in a flat folded form suitable for retail packaging according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5B  shows an edge view of the low cost disposable container in the flat folded form suitable for retail packaging according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a top perspective view of a high voltage, low current, power source with leads and a female connector according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a bottom perspective view of the high voltage, low current, power source with leads and a female connector according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6C  is a top perspective view of a second high voltage, low current, power source with a female connector attached directly to the power source according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7A  is a front view of the female connector according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the female connector according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7C  is a top view of the female connector according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the female connector according to the present invention taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 7B . 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second power source according to the present invention having a mouth for receiving the low cost disposable container. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10A  is a front view of the second power source. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10B  is a side view of the second power source. 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the second power source taking along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10B . 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a multi-mouth power source according to the present invention having mouths for receiving several low cost disposable containers. 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a multi-connector power source according to the present invention having several connectors for connecting to several low cost disposable containers. 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is a multi-room container according to the present invention having multiple rooms for electrocuting multiple pests. 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  is perspective view of a power source with an attached connector according to the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a low cost disposable container with a connector passage in the top according to the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 17  shows the power source with an attached connector attached to the low cost disposable container with a connector passage in the top according to the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 18  shows a springed connector according to the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 19  shows a springed contact connector according to the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 20  shows and angled connector according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 21  shows an activation switch included in the connector according to the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 24A  is a perspective view of a tapered nestable low cost disposable container according to the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 24B  is a perspective view of four tapered nestable low cost disposable containers nested according to the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 23A  shows perspective views of four nestable low cost disposable container according to the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 23B  is a perspective view of four decreasing size nestable low cost disposable containers nested according to the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 24  is a diagram of a circuit providing sensing, and a high voltage and low current signal according to the present invention suitable for use in the power source. 
           [0050]      FIG. 24A  shows an element U 6  of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 24B  shows an element IC 2  of  FIG. 24 . 
       
    
    
       [0052]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0053]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0054]    A perspective view of a low cost disposable container  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 , a front view of the low cost disposable container  10  showing the front  10   a  of the low cost disposable container  10  is shown in  FIG. 2A , a side view of the low cost disposable container  10  showing the right side  10   b  of the low cost disposable container  10  is shown in  FIG. 2B , a top view of the low cost disposable container  10  showing the top  10   c  of the low cost disposable container  10  is shown in  FIG. 2C , and a rear view of the low cost disposable container  10  showing the rear  10   d  of the low cost disposable container  10  is shown in  FIG. 2D . The low cost disposable container  10  is connected to a power source  30  (see  FIG. 6 ) to provide apparatus for electrocuting pests, and in particular, small rodents. The low cost disposable container  10  thus has walls comprising the front  10   a , the right side  10   b , the top  10   c , the rear  10   d , the floor  10   e , and the left side  10   f  (not shown). 
         [0055]    The low cost disposable container  10  is preferably constructed from non-conductive material, for example, a plastic or a paper product and more preferably from a paper product, and may be folded into a flat folded form for packaging for sale. Paper construction is preferred over plastic because rodents are often more comfortable around paper products and odors released by plastics may repel rodents. In the instance of either material, the electric quality of the container  10  is preferably provided by applying a conductive material to the paper or plastic material used to construct the container. In one embodiment, the container  10  is constructed of a paper and plastic laminate. 
         [0056]    The low cost disposable container  10  includes an entry  12  in the front  10   a  allowing pests to enter the low cost disposable container  10 . The rear  10   d  includes a passage  11  allowing insertion of a connector  36  (see  FIG. 6 ) and a sensor port  13  allowing insertion of a sensor  50  (see  FIG. 6A ) into the container. The connector  36  includes spaced apart connector contacts  40   a - 40   c  (see  FIG. 8 ) which electrically connect with spaced apart container contacts  24   a - 24   c  to electrically connect the power source  30  to the low cost disposable container  10 . 
         [0057]    A cross-sectional view of a top surface of a flat cutout for forming the low cost disposable container  10  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2A  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Three conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  reside on a floor  10   e  of the low cost disposable container  10 . The conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  are preferably a metal foil glued to the floor  10   e  or a coating deposited on the floor  10   e . Each of the conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  is preferably connected to the power source  30  by separate electrical connections and cooperate with the power source  30  to provide sensing and electrocution functions. The power source  30  senses the resistance between the first conducting area  14   a  and second conducting area  14  to sense the presence of a pest in the low cost disposable container  10 . Once the presence of the pest is sensed, a high voltage and low current signal is connected between the first and second conducting areas  14   a  and  14   b , and between the second and third conducting areas  14   b  and  14   c , thereby electrocuting the pest when the pest contacts both the first and second conducting areas  14   a  and  14   b  or contacts both the second and third conducting areas  14   b  and  14   c . Leads  34  and a female connector  36  disconnectably electrically connect to electrical contacts  24   a - 24   c  (see  FIG. 4A ). residing on an interior surface of the low cost disposable container  10 . A lip  44   b  (see  FIG. 7A ) enters the low cost disposable container  10  through the passage  11  and lip  44   a  and the lip  44   b  sandwich the side  10   b  to form the electrically connection between the electrical contacts  24   a - 24   c  and contacts  40   a - 40   c  (see  FIG. 8 ) on the lip  44   b.    
         [0058]    A second embodiment of the low cost disposable container  10  includes a single conducting area  14  residing on the floor  10   e  of the low cost disposable container  10 . A circuit to conduct electricity to electrocute the pest is completed through conducting inner faces of the floor, walls, and/or ceiling of the low cost disposable container  10 , or through an external ground. 
         [0059]    A cutout  10   a ′ according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container  10  is shown in  FIG. 4A . The cutout  10   a ′ may be cut out from any flat sheet, and is preferably cut out from a paper product or a plastic, and more preferably cut out from a paper product. The cutout  10   a ′ includes a bonding tab  20   a  and a bonding area  20   b  for bonding to form a closed flat folded form  10 ″ (see  FIGS. 5A and 5B ). The cutout  10   a ′ further includes tabs  16  and cuts  18  which cooperate for configuring the flat folded form  10 ″ into the low cost disposable container  10 . 
         [0060]    The conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  are highlighted by shading in  FIG. 4A , and extensions (or conducting paths)  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c  of the conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  electrically connect the conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  to spaced apart container contacts  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  forming a male connector  24  provided to make electrical contact with the spaced apart lead contacts  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   c  of the female connector  36  (see  FIG. 8 ). The extensions  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c  may be any electrically conductive structure, for example, wire leads, or conductive material glued or formed on the cutout  10   a ′, but are preferably conductive material glued or formed on the cutout  10   a ′, and more preferably, the conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c , the extensions  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c , and the spaced apart container contacts  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  are all glued or formed as a single step and are continuous layer of conductive material glued or formed as a single step. For example, the conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c , the extensions  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c , and the spaced apart container contacts  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  may all be a metal (for example aluminum) glued onto the cutout  10   a ′. The spaced apart container contacts  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  may alternatively be connected to the conducting areas  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  by wire leads, but at greater manufacturing cost. 
         [0061]    A second cutout  10   b ′ according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container is shown in  FIG. 4B . The cutout  10   b ′ is similar to the cutout  10   a ′ (see  FIG. 4A ) except that the spaced apart container contacts  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  reside on the end  10   d.    
         [0062]    A third cutout  10   c ′ according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container is shown in  FIG. 4C . The cutout  10   c ′ is similar to the cutout  10   a ′ (see  FIG. 4A ) except that the conducting area  14   c , the extensions  25   c , and the container contact and  24   c  eliminated, and the remaining spaced apart container contacts  24   a  and  24   b  reside on the end  10   d.    
         [0063]    A fourth cutout  10   d ′ according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container for a large rodent is shown in  FIG. 4D . The cutout  10   d ′ includes tab  16  for engaging slot  18 , and adhesive  19  for attachment to form the low cost disposable container. The mouth  11  is on the top surface  10   c  the container. The container  10   d ′ has a length L 1 , a width W 1 , and a height H 1 . The length L 1  is preferably approximately 210 mm, the width W 1  is preferably 93 mm, and the height H 1  is preferably approximately 80 mm. 
         [0064]    A fifth cutout  10   e ′ according to the present invention suitable for construction of the low cost disposable container for a small rodent is shown in  FIG. 4E . The cutout  10   e ′ includes tab  16  for engaging slot  18 , and adhesive  19  for attachment to form the low cost disposable container. The mouth  11  is on the top surface  10   c  the container. The container  10   e ′ has a length L 2 , a width W 2 , and a height H 2 . The length L 2  is preferably approximately 156 mm, the width W 2  is preferably 45 mm, and the height H 2  is preferably approximately 40 mm. The conducting areas  14   a  and  14   b  are recessed approximately a distance R from the entry to prevent or resist a user making contact with the conducting areas  14   a  and  14   b  and being shocked. The recess R is preferably approximately 70 mm. 
         [0065]    A top view of the low cost disposable container in a flat folded form  10 ″ suitable for retail packaging, according to the present invention, is shown in  FIG. 5A  and an edge view of the low cost disposable container in the flat folded form  10 ″ suitable for retail packaging is shown in  FIG. 5B . The cutout  10   a ″,  10   b ″, or  10   c ″ is folded to overlap and glue (or otherwise adhere) the bonding tab  20   a  and a bonding area  20   b  for bonding to form a closed flat folded form  10 ″. 
         [0066]    A top front perspective view of a high voltage, low current, power source  30  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6A  and a bottom perspective view of the power source  30  is shown in  FIG. 6B . The power source  30  may include an ON/OFF switch  32  on a top surface  30   a  and a safety switch  33  on a bottom surface  30   b . The switch  32  activates the power source  30 . Activation of the power source  30  provides power to circuits (see  FIG. 24 ) in the power source  30 , but does not necessarily provide a high voltage signal to the conducting areas  14 . Preferably, the power source includes a circuit monitoring the resistance between conducting areas  14  of the container  10 . The presence of a pest is detected by a drop in resistance between any two of the conducting areas  14 , and the upon sensing the low resistance, the high voltage circuit in the power source is activated to electrocute the pest. In one embodiment, the high voltage signal remains on for about two minutes to ensure the electrocution of the pest, but the time may vary depending on the current and voltage provided, and the size of the expected pest, which is related to the size of the container  10 . The power source  30  may be activated by other means, for example, by the safety switch  33 , by sensing connection to the container  10 , by installing batteries, or by remote control, and a power source having any switching to activate the power source is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0067]    The safety switch  33  is preferably a simple plunger type switch which disables (de-activates) the power supply  30  when the power supply is not lying on a flat surface ready for use. For example, the power supply  30  is disabled when lifted to prevent accidental shocks to a user. Leads  34  and a female connector  36  are connected to the power source  30  for connection to the low cost disposable container  10 . As an alternative to sensing resistance between the conducting areas  14 , a sensor  50  may be inserted into the container  10  for detecting the presence of a pest in the container and may be electrically connected to the power source  30  by a lead  34  which may include multiple conductors to support the functions of the sensor  50 . The sensor  50  may be an IR sensor, a motion sensor, a distance sensor, or any sensor suitable for detecting the presence of a pest in the container  10 . The sensor  50  and connector  36  may also be integrated into a single plug or connector. When the sensor  50  detects the presence of a pest in the container  10 , the high voltage circuit in the power source  30  is activated to electrocute the pest. 
         [0068]    A top perspective view of a second high voltage, low current, power source  30 ′ according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6C . The female connector  36  and sensor  50  are attached directly to the power source  30 ′. 
         [0069]    A front view of the female connector  36  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7A , a side view of the female connector  36  is shown in  FIG. 7B , a top view of the female connector  36  is shown in  FIG. 7C , and a cross-sectional view of the female connector  36  taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7B  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The connector  36  is a split female connector in that the connector contacts  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   c  reside on a second lip  44   b  facing a first lip  44   a , the lips  44   a  and  44   b  are generally parallel and separated by a split (or slot)  38 , and thus are not on an exterior surface of the connector  36 . The connector  36  is generally inserted into the low cost disposable container  10  through the passage  11  to electrically connect the power source to the low cost disposable container  10 . 
         [0070]    The connector  36  is called a female connector even though the container  10  is shown with a mouth  11  (see  FIG. 2D ) for the connector  36  to be inserted into because the electrical contacts  24   a - 24   c  reside on an interior surface of the connector  36  to prevent or reduce the chance of shocking a user. While such female connector is preferred, a pest electrocution device having a power source with a male connector, for example prongs for insertion into the container  10 , is also intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0071]    A perspective view of a third power source  30 ″ according to the present invention, having a mouth  46  having surfaces  46 ′ including a back  49   a , a side  49   b , a floor  49   d  and a roof  49   c  for receiving the low cost disposable container  10 , is shown in  FIG. 9 , a front view of the third power source  30 ″ is shown in  FIG. 10A , a side view of the third power source  30 ″ is shown in  FIG. 10B , and a cross-sectional view of the second power source taking along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10B  is shown in  FIG. 11 . The mouth  46  allows the low cost disposable container  10  to be inserted into the third power source  30 ″ for use, and to be removed for disposal. Contacts  48  reside on or near the back  49   a  of the interior of the third power source  30 ″ for making electrical contact with the low cost disposable container  10 . Alternatively, the low cost disposable container  10  may include male contacts extending from the inserted end of the low cost disposable container  10  for insertion into a female connector inside the third power source  30 ″. 
         [0072]    A multi-mouth power source  30 ′″ according to the present invention having mouths for receiving several low cost disposable containers  10  is shown in  FIG. 12 , a multi-connector power source  30 ″″ according to the present invention having several connectors for connecting to several low cost disposable containers  10  is shown in  FIG. 13 , and a multi-room container  10 ′″ according to the present invention having multiple rooms for electrocuting multiple pests is shown in  FIG. 14 . The power sources  30 ′″ and  30 ″″ are otherwise similar to the power sources  30 ,  30 ′, and  30 ″, and the container  10 ′″ is otherwise similar to the container  10 . 
         [0073]    The multi-mouth power source  30 ′″ may also have a single large mouth  46  accepting a container having multiple chambers for executing multiple pests, the three connectors  36  attached to the power source  30 ″″ may also be combined into a single connector, and the multi-room container  10 ′″ may accept separate multiple connectors  36  or a single connector with additional contacts. 
         [0074]    A perspective view of a power source  60  with an attached connector  36  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 15 , a perspective view of a low cost disposable container  62  with a connector passage  11  in the top is shown in  FIG. 17 , and the power source  60  attached to the low cost disposable container  62  is shown in  FIG. 17 . The connector passage  11  is along one side of the top of the disposable container  62 , but may be on either side, or at the rear of the disposable container  62 . The attached connector  36  may be on one side of the power source  60  or at the rear, and is positioned to insert into the connector passage  11  when the power source  60  is resting on the top of the disposable container  62 . 
         [0075]    The power source  60  may include a switch  32 , a battery compartment door  61 , and/or a terminal  63  for a charger and/or a pair of connectors  65  for directly connecting to an electrical outlet. The attached connector  36  comprise two fixed opposing lips which sandwich the side or rear of the disposable container  62 , or may be a fixed insertable lip and a spring loaded external lip  64 , similar to one side of an alligator clip as shown in  FIG. 18 . The attached connector  36  may further be a single insertable lip with flexible contacts  66  which are biased to rest against the side of rear of the disposable container  62  as shown in  FIG. 19 , or be formed at a shallow angle A, such that the contacts are pushed against the inside wall or rear of the disposable container  62  as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0076]    A switch  68  included in the connector  36  is shown in  FIG. 21 . The power source  60  may include the switch  32  or the switch  68 . The switch  68  will generally only activate the power source  60  when the connector  36  is electrically connected to the container  62 . The switch  68  may be a plunger type switch or a cantilever type switch, and performs the functions of the switch  32 , or may be an additional switch providing safety function. 
         [0077]    A perspective view of a tapered nestable low cost disposable container  70  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 22A , and a perspective view of four tapered nestable low cost disposable containers  70  nested is shown in  FIG. 22B . The nested containers require less volume for packaging thus reducing shipping costs and shelf space. 
         [0078]    A perspective view of four nestable decreasing size low cost disposable containers  80   a - 80   d  according to the present invention are shown in  FIG. 23A  and a perspective view of the four disposable containers  80   a - 80   d  nested according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 23B . The disposable containers  80   a - 80   d  share the advantages of the disposable container  70 , but are limited in the number of containers which may be nested and retain a useful size, however providing greater volume saving because all of the series of disposable containers may fit into the first largest disposable container in the series. 
         [0079]    A diagram of a preferred circuit providing sensing and a high voltage and low current signal according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 24  and elements U 6  and IC 2  of the circuit are shown in  FIGS. 24A and 24B  respectively. The circuit is suitable for use in the power source, although other circuits, including those discloses in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,269,091 and 5,949,636 incorporated by reference above, are also suitable. While the power source is preferably battery powered, the power source may also be a plug in power source adapted to plug into a typical wall outlet, for example, 115 or 120 volt AC power. The power source may also be configured to accept either battery or wall outlet power. 
         [0080]    The power source and container according to the present invention may also be individually water proof and/or the power source and container may be used with a water proof housing which resists the entry of water and allows the entry of pests. 
         [0081]    Various means of detecting the presence of a pest in the container  10  are known in the art, and a pest electrocution device with a disposable container as described above using any method of detecting the presence of a pest to trigger the device is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0082]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.