DESCRIPTION TEXT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rodent trap.

More specifically, in the context of the present invention, the term rodents is intended to mean infesting commensal synanthropic rodents.

BACKGROUND

It is known that, as a rule, the common pieces of a rodent trap comprise simple tilting walkways equipped with non-return hatches or rotating planes driven by electro-mechanisms powered by batteries, the latter subject to operating blocks caused by the delicacy of the mechanism that often deactivates because the electrical system has many points of weakness.

Traps equipped with an electronic circuit are typically powered by a rechargeable battery pack with high autonomy and include one or more infrared sensors which, once the presence of the pest is detected, command the opening of a hatch that causes it to fall into a capture bucket.

However, these systems have the disadvantage that, if the sensor gets dusty (and in industrial environments this risk is certainly present), the capture does not take place.

Compressed air powered traps are also provided wherein, as in the previous described trap, the capture system is activated by a photocell.

However, these systems have the disadvantage that the compressed air system is unreliable, while the photocell system is subject to operational limitations.

In general, therefore, the capture mechanisms known so far present different vulnerabilities from the point of view of wear and erosion by the atmospheric and chemical agents to which they are exposed. The environments of application of these mechanisms are vast and heterogeneous and sometimes expose the mechanism to extreme weather conditions such as humidity, water, heat, cold and chemical agents that trigger erosive processes against the electro-mechanical parts.

A further drawback of the current capture mechanisms is that related to the exposure of the mouse or rat carcass to the surrounding environment. To date, no mechanisms are known that totally isolate the prey carcass from the surrounding environment, thus exposing the operator to stench and sometimes to pathogens and therefore to risks of direct contamination.

Thus the synanthropic rodent trapping mechanisms known so far have as drawbacks: a) a high exposure to breakages due to deterioration of electromechanical parts; b) an impossibility in implementing trapping strategies based on rodent weight in order to avoid catches of non-target animals; c) a rodent killing system having advanced ethical properties; d) a gathering system that exposes the rodent carcass to the surrounding environment.

The object of the present invention is therefore to solve the above mentioned problems by means of an innovative series of capture solutions.

A further object of the invention is to create a rodent trap on the basis of detecting the weight of the rodent itself.

A further object of the invention is to create a vacuum collection system that allows to pursue the ethical purpose of suppressing the synanthropic rodent by anoxia in ethically acceptable times below 90 seconds.

Another object of the invention is to isolate the rodent carcass by enclosing it in a special vacuum sealed membrane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The described objects are obtained by a rodent trap comprising a capture tunnel, a killing system and a storage system of rodent carcasses, where the capture tunnel is superimposed on the killing system which is, in turn, superimposed on the storage system, where the capture tunnel is equipped with at least one feeder for rodent and a tilting platform which can rotate from a first closed position in which it offers support to the rodent entering the trap, to a second open position that leads the rodent to fall towards the killing system, wherein said trap comprises one or more sensors for detecting the weight of the rodent as it passes, where said sensors are electronically connected to a control unit, so that the activation of the sensors at the passage of the rodent induces the control unit to activate an actuator that allows the tilting platform to rotate from the first closed position to the second open position.

Among the advantages of this embodiment, it is noted that it allows a selective capture of the rodent by discriminating it on the basis of weight. In fact, it is known that specimens of the rodent order, depending on their age, breed and species, can have weight sizes ranging from 6 (African Pygmy Mouse) to 500 grams (Rattus norvegicus or sewer rat), limiting us to species that can be caught with the device of the invention. It is currently impossible with other systems on the market to act on this range by making prey captures defined in the weight.

In addition, the feeders placed in the middle of the corridor allow, by inserting the feed at the top, to expose the bait for catching the target animal to have the advantage of attracting the animal accurately on the hatch for the capture.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the capture tunnel comprises two substantially vertical walls placed between the tilting platform and is open upwards.

In other words, the corridor or capture tunnel thus constituted allows light to enter from the top allowing the target animal to move in an illuminated space to have the advantage of increasing the animal's confidence in the surrounding environment. According to an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is programmable in such a way as to bring the tilting platform into the open position, depending on a lower limit of rodent weight limit.

Among the advantages of this solution is that the central processing and telecommunication unit analyzes the measurements made by the passage detection sensors and according to the capture strategies decides whether to activate the electro-mechanical actuator and start the hatch opening procedure, offering the advantage of being able to undertake weight-based capture strategies by means of sensors for example of the capacitive type.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises a telecommunication module configured to receive configurations and send data relating to measurements and events.

Furthermore, the control unit comprises an energy storage power module, which allows the mechanism to operate even in the absence of electrical power with the advantage of not depending on a continuous energy source.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the sensors for detecting the weight of the rodent on its passage are FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) type sensors.

Such sensors offer the advantage of being able to undertake weight-based capture strategies and reduce the likelihood of breakage due to wear of mechanical parts.

Further characteristics of the invention can be deduced from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the invention are evident from an examination of the figures illustrated in the attached tables, where: figure 1 illustrates a rodent trap according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 2-3 illustrate two views of a first embodiment of a capture system of the rodent trap of Figure 1 ;

Figures 4-5 illustrate two views of a second embodiment of a capture system of the rodent trap of Figure 1 ;

Figures 6-7 illustrate two views of an embodiment of a storage system of the rodent trap of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 illustrates, in section, the storage system in figures 6-7 in the open position; and

Figure 9 illustrates, in section, the storage system in figures 6-7 in closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With initial reference to figure 1 , a rodent trap according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, globally indicated with the reference numeral 10.

By the term mouse (or rodent) trap is meant, in the present description, an ecological, because it does not use poison or rodenticide, technological, because it uses electronic boards and technological sensors, ethical, because it suppresses rodents in times deemed ethical within 90 seconds of capture, and effective, because it attracts rodents with natural food baits by capturing considerable quantities of mice and rats (from 20 to 80 depending on the inserted mode), according to the various embodiments of the invention.

Specimens of the rodent order capturable with the device of the present invention, depending on age, breed and species may have weight sizes ranging from 6 (African Pygmy Mouse) to 500 grams (Rattus norvegicus or sewer rat).

The rodent trap 10 comprises a capture system 20, a killing system 40 and a storage system 50.

The rodent trap 10 is also equipped with an effective food catching system that catches the rodents to capture them more easily, through small (positioned on the steps of the two stairs) and large (positioned inside at the capture corridor) feeders. Figures 2-3 illustrate two views of a first embodiment of a rodent trap capture system of Figure 1 .

The capture system 20 comprises a capture tunnel 21 for rodents, the floor of which is constituted by a tilting platform 33.

The tilting platform 33 can rotate from a substantially horizontal closed position in which it offers support to the mouse entering the trap, to an inclined or vertical open position that leads the mouse to fall towards the killing system 40.

The tilting platform 33 rotates by means of a shaft 24 which rotates on bearings 23 provided in respective coupling elements 22 of the bearings 23 to a substantially vertical wall of the capture tunnel 21 .

The tilting platform 33 is provided with upper supports 30 and lower supports 31 and is fixable horizontally by means of magnetic coupling by means of upper magnets 28, placed on the capture tunnel 21 , and lower magnets 32 placed on the tilting platform 33.

The capture tunnel 21 also provides a feeder 25 adapted to contain feed to attract rodents and a relative coupling 29 of the feeder 25.

To the capture tunnel, rodents can access thanks to the presence of a double ladder that is instrumental to allow the approach and ascent of the target rodent to the tunnel above the trap.

The electrical components of the capture system 20 are powered by a power supply 36 and the capture system 20 is operated by a control unit 35.

In particular, one or more sensors 34 are provided for detecting passage and measuring the weight of the rodent, connected to the aforementioned control unit 35, i.e. as FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) sensors 14.

The activation of the FSR sensors when the rodent passes causes the control unit 35 to activate an actuator 6 (located on the relative support 7).

In particular, the control unit 35 analyzes the measurements carried out by the passage detection sensors 14 and according to the set capture strategies, decides whether to activate the electro-mechanical actuator 6, which operates on the principle of the electro-lamp, to start the opening procedure of the tilting platform 33 which functions as a hatch, offering the advantage of being able to undertake weight-based capture strategies.

The rodent trap 10 can also provide a capture counting device consisting of an LCD display and a protective casing, which receives from the control unit 35 the information regarding the number of captures made since the last emptying operation, offering the advantage of preventing the operator from opening the system for verifying captures.

Figures 4-5 illustrate two views of a second embodiment of a capture system 20’ of the rodent trap of Figure 1 .

This second embodiment differs from the first by the different position of the feeder 25 and the power supply 36, but is substantially analogous in operation to the embodiment of Figure 2.

Figures 6-7 illustrate two views of one embodiment of a killing system 40 and storage system 50 of the rodent trap of Figure 1 .

In particular, the killing system 40 provides a pair of motors 44, placed on respective supports 46, said motors 44 acting on a welding plate 42 to bring it towards a closing plate 43.

The movement of the welding plate 42 occurs as a result of a recirculation guide 41 . The described mechanism also comprises a plurality of drive rollers 47 of bags 52 within which the rodents are stored.

As an alternative to recirculating guides, other types of movement can be used such as bearings or sliding bars without departing from the scope of the invention.

This mechanism makes it possible to comply with the Animal Welfare requirement in compliance with the ethical criteria of non-bloody death in force and to protect the operator from stench and pathogens.

In a still preferred embodiment, the device can have an electrocution synanthrope rodent killing system anchored to the tilting platform equipped with conductive plates which, if shorted by the rodent body, generate a voltage discharge greater than 10,000 volts causing the rodent to die within a few seconds. Note that this system can be inserted to comply, in countries where it is provided, with the regulation of "animal welfare" which requires the obligation to suppress rodents carrying dangerous diseases, but with an acceptable and well-defined level of cruelty.

Figure 8 illustrates, in section, the storage system 50 of Figures 6-7 in the open position.

Such vacuum-packing killing system is in a waiting condition and the plastic membrane of the bag 52, specially stretched, acts as a container for the fall of the animal.

Figure 9 illustrates, in section, the storage system 50 of Figures 6-7 in the closed position.

The storage system 50 is then represented in a capture condition where the animal, once dropped from the hatch of the tilting platform 33, is trapped inside the membrane of the bag 52 and suppressed in anoxic mode, sucking the air and creating a vacuum condition, in compliance with the ethical criteria of non-bloody death in force.

Still with reference to figure 9, the bag 52 is closed after completing the vacuum suction process, and the membrane sealing process takes place allowing to obtain a total isolation of the animal safeguarding the operator from stench and pathogens.

Air suction means are therefore provided within the membrane of the bag 52.

In an alternative variant of the invention, the system can also be operated without providing the ethical option of vacuum.

In this case the animal falls into a bucket or capture container filled with a liquid solution to cause death by rapid drowning. Naturally, amendments or improvements may be made to the invention as described, dictated by contingent or particular reasons, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.