AU700343B2 - Baiting device - Google Patents

Description

I 2- i

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

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466,4 RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: RONALD JOSEPH FOORD RONALD JOSEPH FOORD KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

"BAITING DEVICE" PM8746 FILED OCTOBER 13, 1994 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: I; 2 The present invention relates to a baiting device. In particular, the baiting device of the present invention may be used to bait animal pests including rabbits.

Bait intended for such pests is typically laid on the ground in a trail at the required location using a bait laying machine. However, with such a conventional baiting system, other animals, not only the pests, have access to the bait. Further, the bait is not confined to a specific area but can migrate to other locations by animal movement or be carried by the wind.

Hence, such a conventional baiting system has disadvantages.

The present invention seeks to provide a baiting device which alleviates at least some of the above disadvantages.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a baiting device including a housing having no base and a bait dispenser, the housing being positioned, in use, on the ground, wherein, in use, the housing has at least one opening for entry of an animal into the housing and the dispenser is arranged to dispense bait, in use, on the 6 d5 ground inside the housing whilst also being capable of receiving bait at a point outside the housing. i i The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the O accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a first embodiment of a baiting device 20 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the baiting device shown in Figure 1; ooFigure 3 is an end view of the baiting device shown in Figure 1; oo Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of the baitin, drvice shown in 0ooo g Figure 1; *P'000 S 25 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a baiting device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Figure 6 is an end view of the baiting device shown in Figure 5; and, Figure 7 is a partly cut-away side view of the baiting device shown in Figure In Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a baiting device 10 including a housing 12 and a bait i r dispenser 14.

The housing 12 has at least one opening 16.

An animal to be baited is able to enter (and leave) the housing 12 through the opening 16.

Preferably, there are two openings 16.

Preferably, the second opening 16 is provided in the housing 12 such that the dispenser 14 is positioned between the two openings 16.

However, the housing 12 may be provided with any suitable number of openings 16.

The housing 16 has a roof20, side walls 22 and end walls 24.

Preferably, the housing 12 has no base.

The opening 16 is provided in the end walls 24.

referably, the side and end walls 22 and 24 of the housing 12 slope outwardly from the roof 20. This makes the housing 12 more stable and less likely to be tipped over when positioned on the ground. Also, it enables housings 12 to be stacked.

The bait dispenser 14 is arranged to dispense bait inside the housing 12.

The dispenser 14 has an opening 26 from which bait is able to exit the dispenser 14.

Preferably, the dispenser 14 is arranged such that the opening 26 is spaced a short distance above the ground, e.g. 10mnn, when the baiting device 10 is positioned on the ground.

The wall of the dispenser 14 tapers, as shown at reference numeral 28, to a nozzle The opening 26 is provided at the end of the nozzle 9c~ The dispenser 14 is provided with a filler opening 32 which can be accessed exterior of i the housing 12. The filler opening is closed offwith a cap 34.

Preferably, the dispenser 14 is provided in two parts 36 and 38, as can be seen in Figure 4.

The parts 36 and 38 are provided with respective flanges 40 and 42. The flanges 40 and 42 are provided around openings 44 and 46 at the ends of the parts 36 and 38, respectively, spaced from the openings 26 and 32.

The flanges 40 and 42 are provided with holes 48.

The roof 20 of the housing 12 is provided with an opening (not visible in the drawings).

Holes (also not visible in the drawings) are provided in the roof 20 of the housing 12 around the aforesaid opening.

The part 36 is provided inside the housing 12 and the part 38 is provided outside the housing 12.

The holes 48 in the flanges 40 and 42 are aligned with the corresponding holes in the roof with the parts 36 and 38 on opposite sides of the roof 20. The parts 36 and 38are held in place by bolts 50 passing through the aligned holes 48 in the flanges 40 and 42 and the corresponding holes in the roof 20. The bolts 50 are retained by nuts 52 inside the housing 12.

Preferably, a gasket 54 is provided between the flange 42 of the part 38 (outside the housing 12) and the roof 20 of the housing 12. The gasket 54 is provided with holes 56 for the bolts 50 to pass therethrough.

The manner of operation and use of the baiting device 10 will now be described.

The baiting device 10 is assembled by affixing the parts 36 and 38 of the dispenser 14 to the roof 20 of the housing 12 using the bolts 50, nuts .52 and gasket 54 previously described. (The baiting device 10 may be sold in its disassembled condition to facilitate p packaging.) The baiting device 10 is then placed on the ground at the required location.

The cap 34 is removed and the bait is poured into the dispenser 14, When the bait is first poured into the dispenser 14 it falls through the dispenser 14 and out of the opening 26 and gathers on the ground around the nozzle 30. As more bait is coo poured into the dispenser 14 it fills the dispenser 14. The cap 34 is then replaced.

pop" The bait may be of any suitable form. Typically, the bait comprises a mixture of oats and poisoned oats.

Animals to be baited, such as rabbits, are able to enter the housing 12 via the openings 16 to feed, Eventually, the animal will take a poisoned oat on one of its visits

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*00000 0 0 0 .0.000 0 00 *0 0 0 0* OP 0 0 00 000 0 C 0 00 0 0000 000000 0 000000 000000 0 to the baiting device As bait is taken by animals entering the housing 12, firthier bait falls down in the dispenser 14 and out of the opening 26 so that there is always a heap of bait on the ground around the nozzle The baiting device is particularly suitable for use on farms where pests such as rabbits and mice may be common.

The baiting device 10 encloses the poisoned bait so that other animals, such as birds, pets and sheep etc, are not able to enter the housing 12.

Further, the baiting device 10 prevents the bait from being spread from the site at which the baiting device 10 is placed.

Accordingly, the baiting device 10 is more effective in the baiting of animal pests and also environmentally friendly by mr inising its impact on other animals.

In Figures 5 to 7, there is shown a baiting device 10' in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The game reference numbers are used in Figures 5 to 7 of the second embodiment, as were used in Figures 1 to 4 of the first embodiment, to denote the same items.

The baiting device 10' of the second embodiment is the same as the baiting device 10 of the first embodiment except that the shape of the housing 12 is semri-cylindrical.

The housing 12 of the baiting device 10' of the second embodiment is provided with a pair of openings (obscured) in each side thereof surrounded by short sleeves Pegs can be inserted into these openings surrounded by the short sleeves 60 and pushed into the ground to hold the baiting device 10' in place.

The side walls 22 of the housing 12 of the baiting device 10 of the first embodiment may also be provided with such openings surrounded by short sleeves The manner of use and operation of the baiting device 10' of the second embodiment is the same as the baiting device 10 of the first embodiment.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed p I 6 to be within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (8)

1. A baiting device for rabbits including a housing having no base and a bait dispenser, the housing being positioned, in use, on the ground, wherein, in use, the housing has at least one opening for entry of an animal i'to the housing and the bait dispenser is arranged to dispense bait, in use, on the ground inside the housing whilst also being capable of receiving bait at a point outside the housing.

2. A baiting device according to claim 1, wherein the bait dispenser has an outlet disposed above ground level such that a supply of bait can gather in a heap below the outlet and be replenished from the bait dispenser when bait is removed from the heap.

3. A baiting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispenser has a first part and a second part, the first part including an inlet means and the second part including an 4 .5 outlet means, the first and second parts being joined together such that the first part is located externally of the housing and the second part is located internally of the housing. OO0 °0 00 o °o 0

4 A baiting device according to claim 3 wherein the bait dispenser has a cap provided on the filler opening to seal the opening.

5. A baiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 6:000 o0o housing includes a roof, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls wherein the side walls and end walls slope outwardly from the roof. i, 0 25

6. A baiting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the housing is semi-cylindrical in shape.

7. A baiting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any orne of the accompanying drawings. N 7a DATED THIS 10H DAY OF NOVEMBER 1998. 'I I,. j RONALD JOSEPH FOORD By his Patent Attorneys LORD AND COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA *o*~oe 0 6O gg 0 00 o v 0 0 I 0 00 00 00 0 0@ 00 00 0 0 I 0 0 0 8~~ ~Q. A I

8 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a baiting device(10) for animal pests. In particular, the present invention relates to animals including rabbits and mice. Previous baiting systems include laying bait on the ground in a trail. This system has disadvantages since the bait may be easily scattered and other animals have access to the bait. The baiting device of the present invention includes a housing (12) and a bait dispenser The housing(12) has at least one opening (16) for entry of an animal into the housing(12) and the bait dispenser (14) may be formed of two parts (36,38). The housing(12) typically includes a roof(20), a pair of side walls(22) and a pair of end walls(24) which slope outwardly from the roof. This facilitates storage and stability of the baiting device :o oe 6