GB1567803A

GB1567803A - Apparatus for laying posoned bait for rat control

Info

Publication number: GB1567803A
Application number: GB2460677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BETTERMANN oHG NEUWALZWERK
Current assignee: BETTERMANN oHG NEUWALZWERK
Priority date: 1976-06-22
Filing date: 1977-06-13
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: FR2355450A1; ES457638A1; NL7706701A; IT1081361B

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR LAYING POISONED BAIT FOR RAT CONTROL (71) We, NEUWALZWERK BETTER MANN OHG of Postbox 400, D-3750 Menden 1, Germany, (Fed Rep); a German company do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to an apparatus for laying poisoned bait, especially for controlling rats and other harmful rodents or pests, comprised of a container with access holes and at least one bait holder located in the interior of the container, which holder may be provided with bait through a closable opening in the container.

To control rats and other harmful rodents, poisons are used in solid, granular or powder form and may be, for example, anticoagulat ing coumarine compounds which do not lead to death until days after absorbing the poison, whereby it has been found that the pests often expire in their hideouts remote from the original location of the poison.

To protect such poisons at the place of laying from the effects of weather and also to make it difficult for larger animals than rats or the like to remove the poison, it is known to cover the poisoned bait with stones at the regular runs of the rats or the like. Such protective measure however, is inadequate.

A far safer laying of poisons is presented by an already frequently used bait deposit comprised essentially of a parallelopiped wooden box. The wooden box open at the top and safely closable with a cover having a recommended base area of about 40 X 50 cm and a height of about 30 cm and a square bolt hole in both end walls close to a longitudinal wall and dose to the ground each having an edge length of about 6 cm. Furthermore, a wall is provided in the interior of the wooden box on the floor for forming a bait trough and has a height of about between 3 and 5 cm and extends from one end wall to the other.

Such a bait deposit, however, requires a relatively large erecting surface. Moreover, this deposit also requires considerable means and measures to make it weatherproof.

It is an object of the invention to provide for improved possibilities for pest control with minimized danger to larger living creatures and to take the habits and behaviour of rodents still better into consideration than hitherto.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for laying poisoned bait, comprising an elongate tubular container having an apertured portion or member for receiving means for securing such to a support surface, and at least one bait holder for restricting movement of bait and located in the interior of the container and chargeable through a closable charging opening of a side of the container; said tubular container having a permanently open access opening at at least one end of a cross section of such size as to permit passage of rats or the like animals to be poisoned but not to permit passage by larger creatures, and said container being of such shape and/or length that the bait holder is located so as to be inaccessible to larger creatures than said rats or the like.

In this manner an apparatus is provided which is substantially more compact and space saving than the known apparatus and therefore may be safely placed at runs used by rats, for example on narrow wall ledges which was hitherto not possible because of the lack of space for bulkier known apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus in accordance with the invention is distinguished by a considerably lower material expenditure. The removal of the poison by larger creatures than rats or the like rodents is prevented in a manner better than hitherto. Also the apparatus in accordance with the invention operates without causing fright to the animals despite the inherent caution of rodents.

It has thus been found preferable for the container to have a length of at least 80 cm and for the bait holder to be located centrally of the longitudinal extension of the container so that the poisoned bait provided in the container cannot be reached by children.

The cross section of the openings may be optional, for example, circular or oval in profile although preferably, they are square inside cross section.

To induce rats or the like to find the bait, air-permeable holes are provided in the container walls which, however, are omitted in the region of the bait holder to make access by children to the bait difficult even when they might possibly use a tool for this.

A favourable further development of the subject matter described above resides in that the shape and/or dimension of the tubular container and/or the bait holder are such that the tubular container has a passage for rats or the like having an at least substantially constant inside cross-section and extending from one container opening to the other container opening.

These measures permit the rodents to leave the compact, tubular container without having to change their direction. This substantially reduces the inherent caution of rodents to enter spaces with no escape, whilst it has been found from experience that birds avoid containers with through passages.

In a preferable and further development of the invention the container is provided with a slalom-like passage for the vermin. This arrangement further considerably impedes the picking-up and/or removal of poison by larger creatures and especially by children. Moreover, this measure permits the container to now be fashioned more compactly than hitherto and so as to save space and be more unobstrusive than hitherto.

In addition the container may have a longitudinal extension deviating from a straight line such that it is arcuate. A further favourable embodiment is characterised by a wavy line or zig-zag shaped container. A preferred embodiment of the invention resides in that in a preferably extended container, several partitions are located spaced one behind the other beginning alternately at one or other upright side wall but extending substantially to the centre of the container.

It is also particularly advantageous to provide transparent paruuons and preferably such that perforated or slotted partitions are provided, whereby the inside cross sections of the holes or the like are somewhat smaller than the inside cross-section of the passage. Latticelike partitions may also be used.

A further alternative embodiment which may be preferable under certain circumstances resides in that the partitions are made of a translucent material, for example, of glass.

In a further alternative embodiment which is favourable from a manufacturing point of view, the container is assembled from a channel and a cover which is preferably detacheable and which complements the channel to form a tubular body.

Moreover, the device may be advantageously and conveniently checked for traces of rats over its entire length to ascertain whether rats have been present. An apparatus adapted in such a manner may be easily and thoroughly cleaned. In this connection, a favourable development is characterised by the feature that the partitions are retained on the container cover extending over the whole length, whereby the container cover in the region of its end portion is preferably hingedly connected to the channel-shaped container portion and whilst there is provided, at the other end portion, a locking device such as a combination or key lock corresponding or cooperating with the channel-shaped container portion. The lock may be on the channel portion if desired and engage the cover.

In a further preferred alternative embodiment of the invention an integral tubular container is provided open at the end face and having a lockable wall aperture located merely in the region of the bait holder. For further adaptation of the aforesaid device to the living habits of rats or the like, a preferred embodiment is distinguished by the provision of a bait tray having upright defining walls which have inwardly facing edge portions forming collecting channels.

In this manner the dangers of rodents spreading the poisoned bait, and the removal of poisoned bait by tilting the container is considerably reduced over the whole length of container passable by the rodents since, the bait is retained against slipping in the collecting channels located in the tray or trough when the container is tilted.

Moreover, the aforesaid configuration of the poisoned bait holder also permits the container to be inclined without endangering larger creatures any more than when placed horizontally.

A favourable further development is characterised by the feature that in the trough a second tray or trough may be provided which has a smaller base area and has edge portions forming collecting channels whereby the capacity of the trough and the collecting channels may be considerably increased without interfering with the picking up of bait by the rats.

In certain circumstances it may be preferable to provide the bait holder on the underside of the container covet An embodiment especially suitable for powdered or granular bait is characterised by the feature that a bait silo is provided in the container and leads downwards into the trough and terminates with spacing from the base of the trough.

A further favourable embodiment is characterised by the feature that a bait silo penetrating the container ceiling or the container cover and directed into a trough located in the interior of the container is provided and has a lockable charging aperture accessible from the outside.

Clamps may also be used as bait holders when using solid baits. In a particularly simple alternative embodiment spit-like or bifurcated bait holders are provided.

The container is preferably made of a rodent-resistant material e.g. steel and preferably has an anti-corrosion surface or coating.

It has been proved preferable for at least the container base to be lined on the inside with insulating material preferably pasted with wood panels. Furthermore, the walls of the container are preferably formed as laminated panels wherein the intermediate plies com prised of insulating material.

In this manner also condensation caused by weather influences is reliably prevented or minimised in containers made of metal.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I is a perspective view of one embodi ment of apparatus for laying poisoned bait; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment with a cover in a raised position; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus of Fig. 2 but with the cover in the dosed position; Fig. 4 is a cross section through the apparatus of Fig. 2 but with the cover in the closed position; Figs. 5 and 6 are two detailed views corresponding to Fig. 3 of alternative embodiments; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a further em embodiment taken on the line VIl-VIl of Fig.

8; Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line VIlI-VIlI of Fig. 7; Figs. 9 to 12 are plan views of further possible shapes of embodiments of the apparatus; and Fig. 13 is a cross-section through a still further embodiment of the invention.

Apparatus are illustrated for laying poisoned bait for the purpose of rodent control and all have a tubular container 1 open at its end face. The bait, may for example, be poisoned with anti-coagulant coumarine compounds. The clear cross-section of each apparatus is determined by the size of rodents which it is intended to poison. The rectangular profiled container 1 has a clear width of about 6 cm and a clear height of about 7 cm and a length of about 80 cm in the embodiment.

A bait holder 2 is located in the interior of the container 1 and centrally of the longitudinal extension of the container.

Holes 3 are formed in the side walls of the container 1 for scenting.

In the examples shown in Fig. 1 to 8 and 12, the container 1 is assembled from a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped channel 4 and a cover 5. An apertured portion or member (not shown) is provided for receiving means for securing the container to a support surface.

In Fig. 1 the cover 5 is formed as a sliding cover and the bait holder as a chamber open at the top. Apertures 7 are formed in cross walls 6 which define a chamber and rats or other rodents or vermin can pass through the apertures to remove bait.

The sliding cover 5 may be locked in a closed position by means of a bolt 8.

In Figs. 2 to 3, the cover 5 is hingedly connected at one end portion to the channel 4 by means of an axle 9. A locking device 11 is provided at the other end portion of thecover and is actuable by means of a key (not shown) and cooperates with the inwardly facing edge portions 10 of the channel 4.

Securing straps or plates 12 are provided on the base of the channel and pivotable about verticle axles and are provided for connection to base anchors (not shown).

All of the components are made of firegalvanised steel plate.

In Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6 the poisoned bait holder 2 is formed as a trough 13 by means of a strip of galvanised steel plate having a width corresponding to the clear width which is inserted in the container 1.

Upright wall portions of this steel strip terminate in inwardly bent edge portions 14 which form collecting or retaining channels for the bait when the container 1 is inclined.

In order to make removal of the bait from the trough 13 difficult, when the container 1 is tilted about its longitudinal axis, trough 10, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is also provided with longitudinally extending, inwardly bent edge portions 14.

An additional but shorter trough 13' is shown in Fig. 5 and is inserted in trough 13 to increase the capacity of the collecting channels.

Fig. 6 shows a bait holding device 2 in which a bait silo 15 leading into the trough 13 is mounted on the cover 5 and is provided with a charging aperture closable with a screw cap 16 and accessible from the outside.

In the apparatus shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the elongate container 1 is formed as a zigzag or slalom-like passage by means of several perforated partitions 17 alternately secured to one and the other side wall and which partitions extend beyond the centre line of the container 1.

It is possible with an apparatus so formed for scent holes to be also developed as bolt holes, but at least one partition 17 is to be located between these and the poison holder 2 so as to avoid increasing the danger of poison being picked up by children or larger creatures than rats.

In the apparatus described above, however, it still has to be ensured that when forming the scent holes 3 as bolt holes the shape and spacing of the scent holes from the poisoning holder 2 must be such that the bait holder cannot be reached through the bolt holes.

Moreover, a wooden panel 18 is glued to the base of the container 1 and is positively fixed in the container by base end portions 19 embracing the end faces of the wooden panel.

Fig. 9 shows a zig-zag-shaped container 1.

In Fig. 10 a wavy container 1 is shown. The shape of the container in Fig. 10 and the arcuate container shapes shown in Fig. 11 and 12 substantially in the same manner as the partitions 14 make bait removal by creatures larger than rats very difficult.

In the container 1 shown in Fig. 13, both the channel 4 and the cover 5 are double walled and the space between the walls is filled with insulating foam 20. As in the earlier described embodiments the containers shown in Figs. 9 to 13 each have a bait holder chargeable through a closeable opening and also an apertured portion or member (not shown) for receiving means for securing the container to a surface.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for laying poisoned bait, comprising an elongate tubular container having an apertured portion or member for receiving means for securing such to a support surface, and at least one bait holder for restricting movement of bait and located in the interior of the container and chargeable through a closable charging opening of a side of the container; said tubular container having a permanently open access opening at at least one end of a cross section of such size as to permit passage of rats or the like animals to be poisoned but not to permit passage by larger creatures, and said container being of such shape and/or length that the bait holder is located so as to be inaccessible to larger creatures than said rats or the like.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the container has a length of at least 80 cm and the bait holder is located centrally of the longitudinal extension of the container.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which the access opening cross-sections of the container have square cross-sections.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which air holes are formed in the container walls and are spaced from the bait holder.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the tubular container and/or the bait holder are so formed by shaping and/or dimensioning that the tubular container has a pasage for rats or the like with the clear cross-section of which passage remaining at least substantially constant and extending from one container opening to the other container opening.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which the container has a slalom-like rodent passage.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the container open at one end face has a longitudinal arcuate extension deviating from the straight.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claims 6 and 7 in which the container is shaped as a wavey line or is of zig-zag shape.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which in a preferably extended container several partitions located with spacing one behind the other beginning alternately at one longitudinal wall of the container or at the longitudinal wall opposite thereto with each facing towards the centre of the container and preferably extending at least to the centre line of the container.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the partitions are transparent or translucent.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claims 9 and 10 in which perforated or slotted partitions are provided and the clear openings of which are smaller than the container orifices with regard to their clear cross-section.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claims 9 and 10 in which wire mesh-like partitions are provided.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which partitions of translucent material, such as glass, are provided.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 in which the container is assembled from a channel and a preferably detachably located cover complementing the latter to torm a tubular body.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claims 9 to 14 in which the partitions are retained on the container cover and extend over the whole length.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the container cover in the region of its end portion is connected to the channelshaped container part and carries a locking device on the other end portion cooperating with the channel-shaped container part; said locking device adapted to be actuated with a key or is a combination lock.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16 in which the container is a one-piece, tubular container open at the end face and has a closable wall opening located merely in the region of the bait holder.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 in which the bait trough has upright defining walls which have inwardly facing edge portions at the top to form collecting channels.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, in which a second trough is inserted in the trough and has edge portions forming collecting channels which are smaller with regard to its base surface.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1, 3 or 5 in which the bait holder is located on the cover or ceiling of the container.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. holder 2 must be such that the bait holder cannot be reached through the bolt holes. Moreover, a wooden panel 18 is glued to the base of the container 1 and is positively fixed in the container by base end portions 19 embracing the end faces of the wooden panel. Fig. 9 shows a zig-zag-shaped container 1. In Fig. 10 a wavy container 1 is shown. The shape of the container in Fig. 10 and the arcuate container shapes shown in Fig. 11 and 12 substantially in the same manner as the partitions 14 make bait removal by creatures larger than rats very difficult. In the container 1 shown in Fig. 13, both the channel 4 and the cover 5 are double walled and the space between the walls is filled with insulating foam 20. As in the earlier described embodiments the containers shown in Figs. 9 to 13 each have a bait holder chargeable through a closeable opening and also an apertured portion or member (not shown) for receiving means for securing the container to a surface. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for laying poisoned bait, comprising an elongate tubular container having an apertured portion or member for receiving means for securing such to a support surface, and at least one bait holder for restricting movement of bait and located in the interior of the container and chargeable through a closable charging opening of a side of the container; said tubular container having a permanently open access opening at at least one end of a cross section of such size as to permit passage of rats or the like animals to be poisoned but not to permit passage by larger creatures, and said container being of such shape and/or length that the bait holder is located so as to be inaccessible to larger creatures than said rats or the like.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, in

which a bait storage silo is located in the container and leads at the bottom into a trough and terminates with spacing from the base of the trough.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which a trough is located in the interior of the container and penetrates the container ceiling or the container cover and has a lockable charging opening accessible from the outside.

23. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22 in which clamps or clips are provided as a bait holder.

24. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22 in which the bait holders are spit shaped or bifurcated.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 24 in which the container is made of steel preferably with anticorrosion surface.

26. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25 in which the container base is lined on the inside surface with an insulating material.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which the walls of the container are formed as sandwich or laminated panels with the intermediate plies being made of insulating material.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, in which the insulating material is a wood panel or panels.

29. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.