Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to rodent bait stations and more particularly to bait stations having some provision for maintaining a record of the service history in 
     Rodent bait stations are closed containers which dispense rodent bait containing rodenticide. The stations have openings which allow the free passage of targeted rodents, but are small enough to prevent children, pets, and other nontargeted species from having access to the bait. 
     A facility suffering from a rodent infestation will be provided with one or more rodent bait stations positioned along the paths which rodents frequent. Typically, a certain number of bait stations will be permanently installed. With time, the bait within the stations will be consumed, or may become soiled or damaged due to time and environmental factors. At regular intervals a pest control operator services each bait station. At each service visit a pest control operator may merely examine the contents of the station, or, if necessary, clean and replenish the station with bait. In order to provide a record of these visits, bait stations have been provided with service record labels, cards, or tags. These records usually have a writing surface with preprinted lines to receive entries noting each service visit. The labels are sometimes affixed to the exterior or interior of the station with adhesive, are attached to the station with a wire, or are loosely received within the base. However, to provide supervisors with evidence that a particular station has at least been opened on a particular visit, it is desirable to position the service record sheet within the station. Writing surfaces positioned within the base are subject to contamination from the bait and rodent droppings and dirt. Writing surfaces adhesively or permanently affixed to the lid can be difficult to write upon, as the bait stations are often fixed to the ground. 
     What is needed is a rodent bait station with a convenient removable connection between a service record card and the bait station lid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The rodent bait station of this invention has a plastic lid which is hinged to a rodent bait containing base. A card holder protrudes from the inside surface of a lid upper wall. Tabs extend inwardly from two side rails extending from the inside surface, with a flexible service record card being retained between the tabs and the inside surface. In advertent dislodgment of the card from between the side rails is prevented by front and rear members. The card is readily removed from the card holder by being flexed and extracted over the front member. The tabs may have beveled front surfaces to facilitate insertion of the card. The card is marked with indicia to indicate the service history of the bait station. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a rodent bait station which releasably retains a service record card within the lid. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rodent bait station having a service record card which is rapidly removable and replaceable on the interior of the lid. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a rodent bait station with a hinged lid which securely retains a service record card throughout the motion of the lid with respect to the base. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the bait station of this invention and the service record card for use with the bait station. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the bait station of FIG. 1, taken along section line  2 — 2 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the bait station of FIG. 1 taken along section line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the card holding structure of the lid of the bait station of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view, cut away in section, of the bait station and service card of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-5, wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, a bait station  20  and a service record card  22  for use therein are shown. The service record card  22  is a thin flexible sheet member formed, for example, of a die cut plastic, card, or paper sheet. The service record card  22  has a surface suited to receive writing, and is preferably preprinted with the outlines of a calendar or table providing a convenient location for a pest control operator to make notations indicating service of the bait station  20 . The preprinted outlines and notations comprise indicia  24  which delineate a reviewable record of the frequency of service of the bait station  20 . A conventional card having a punched hole for attachment by a wire to the exterior of a bait station may be used, or the punched hole may be omitted as illustrated. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the bait station  20  has an upwardly opening molded plastic base  26  which is dimensioned to accommodate the targeted rodent  28 . The base  26  may be, for example, about 11 inches on a side to accommodate rats. The base  26  has a bottom wall  30  with upwardly extending side walls  32 . Two circular rodent openings  34  are formed in opposed base side walls  32 . Interior walls  36  extend upwardly from the bottom wall  30  and define a rodent passageway extending between the rodent openings  34  and two bait containment compartments  38 . The bait containment compartments retain bait  40  for consumption by targeted animals. The bait  40 , although shown generically as a cube, may be in the form of extruded bait units such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,113, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. For ease in cleaning the base  26 , a single sheet thermoformed tray, not shown, may be positioned within the base to overlie the bottom wall and the interior walls  36 . Such a tray would have openings which align with the rodent openings  34  and would support rodent bait within the compartments. 
     A lid  42  is connected to the base  26 . The lid may be integrally formed with the base  26 , or, as shown, may be formed as a separate part with a snap connection to the base. The lid  42  is preferably connected to the base along one or several hinge segments  44 , which permits the lid to be pivoted between a first position in which the lid covers the base  26 , and a second position which reveals the base for servicing. The lid  42  has an upper wall  46  from which side walls  48  extend. The lid side walls  48  terminate in a lid flange  50  which, in the lid closed position, overlies a base flange  52  which extends outwardly from the base side walls  32 . Two barriers  53  extend downwardly from the lid upper wall  46 . The lid upper wall  46  is preferably formed with several segments for stiffness and shedding of dust and moisture. A central segment  54  of the upper wall  46  is substantially planar and extends parallel to the bottom wall  30  when the lid is closed on the base  26 . The lid upper wall  46  has an inside surface  56  which faces the base  26  when the lid is closed on the base. The inside surface  56  of the lid upper wall  46  is readily accessible when the lid is opened. 
     A card holder  58  is formed on the lid  42  to retain the service record card  22  throughout the range of movement of the lid with respect to the base  26 . The card holder  58  is preferably integrally molded with the lid  42 . As shown in FIG. 5, a first side rail  60  projects from the upper wall inside surface  56  approximately one-quarter inch. A second side rail  62  is positioned sidewardly from the first side rail the width of the service record card  22 , and also projects from the upper wall inside surface  56 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, three tabs  64  extend from each side rail  60 ,  62 . Each tab  64  extends inwardly from the side rail about {fraction (1/16)} inch toward the opposing side rail. Each tab  64  has portions spaced from the upper wall inside surface  56  to define a recess  66 , shown in FIG.  2 . The recesses  66  located between the tabs  64  and the upper wall inside surface  56  receive the edges of the service record card  22 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     A rear member  68  protrudes from the upper wall inside surface  56  adjacent each side rail  60 ,  62 , and at a position between the first side rail  60  and the second side rail  62 . The rear members  68  may be formed as right angle extensions from the side rails and may be the same height as the side rails, or of a slightly greater height, for example an additional projection from the side rail of about 0.62 inches. It should be noted that the side rails need not be continuous, nor need they extend the entire length of the service record card. 
     A front member  70 , as shown in FIG. 4, is spaced from the rear members  68  approximately the length of the service record card  22 . The front member  70  is positioned between the first side rail  60  and the second side rail  62  and protrudes from the upper wall inside surface  56  a distance approximately the same as, or slightly greater than, the protrusion of the side rails, for example an additional 0.062 inches. The front member  70  may be approximately semispherical in shape and is preferably centered between the side rails  60 ,  62 . Or, when the front member has a greater height than the side rails, as illustrated, the front member  70  may be cylindrical with a semispherical top. 
     To facilitate insertion of the service record card  22  beneath the side rail tabs  64 , each tab is preferably formed with a front bevel surface  72 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The front bevel surface  72  is inclined with respect to the upper wall inside surface  56  and faces the front member  70  and the upper wall inside surface. As shown in FIG. 5, when the service record card  22  is inserted within the card holder  58 , the card must pass over the front member  70  and then beneath the tabs  64  until further insertion is blocked by the rear members  68 . Once inserted, the service record card  22  is removably retained between the rear members and the front member, between the side rails  60 ,  62 , and between the tabs  64  and the inside surface of the upper wall. The card  22  will be retained on the lid  42  while the lid is pivoted between the closed and opened positions. Nevertheless, the card  22  is readily flexed to pass over the front member  70  for convenient extraction from the card holder  58  and removal from attachment to the lid  42 . Once removed, any notations on the service record card are rapidly made, and the card  22  is returned to its position within the holder  58  without resort to any ties, fasteners, or adhesives. Likewise, when the time comes to replace the card with a new one, this is readily done. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the lid is preferably provided with two pairs of barbed prongs  74  which engage with ledges  76  positioned along the base flange  52 . The prongs  74  retain the lid in a closed position, and restrict tampering with the bait station  20 . A pest control operator having a two-pronged key, however, may readily open the station. Holes  82  are provided in the base and the lid to allow the lid to be locked to the base. In addition, side mounting holes  84  are formed in a side wall to allow the bait station to be mounted or secured sidewardly. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the lid may be provided with an integrally molded pin  78  which protrudes downwardly from the lid flange  50  about ⅛ inch. An integrally molded spring  80  is formed on the base flange  52  beneath each pin  78 . The spring is a segment of plastic which is surrounded by a slot on three sides, such that the spring  80  is resiliently deformed downwardly when the lid is latched to the base. However, when the key is inserted to free the prongs  74  from the ledges  76 , the springs  80  will push up on the pins  78 , causing the lid flange to lift up slightly from the base flange, facilitating opening of the bait station. 
     It should be noted that the bait station may accommodate an interior mechanical rodent trap, such as is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/560,382, filed Apr. 28, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 1