Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns rodent traps. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention concerns rodent traps with biased capture arms for capturing rodents when triggered, which can detect if a rodent has been captured.

Background of the Invention

It is advantageous to be able to determine remotely when rodent traps have captured a rodent, and/or been triggered without capturing a rodent, so that the presence of a rodent is known, and so that the trap can be reset.

WO 2017/149163 A1 (Arctic Systems APS) published 8 September 2017 discloses a monitoring device for a rodent snap trap, which provides a base comprising a motion sensor to detect if motion activity corresponding to a snap of the snap trap has occurred. However, this may not be reliable in detecting if a rodent has been captured, or even if the trap has been struck, kicked or the like rather than having snapped.

WO 2015/052694 A1 (Traptec Limited) published 16 April 2015 discloses a monitoring device for a rodent trap, where a housing comprises a micro-switch, and the rodent trap is supported by the housing, switching the micro-switch. When the rodent trap is triggered, this causes the rodent trap to disengage from the micro switch. However, it does not indicate if a rodent has been caught, only if the trap has been triggered.

It would be desirable to provide a rodent trap that can reliably determine if a rodent has been captured, and indicate this remotely, while also being simple in construction. It would further be desirable if existing traps could be used with the means to determine if a rodent has been captured and transmit that information being added to the existing trap, and for such traps to be usable in the same locations as the existing traps.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively and/or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide improved rodent traps.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a rodent trap comprising:

a capture arm, wherein the capture arm is biased from an armed position to a triggered position;

a latch arranged to hold the capture arm in the armed position;

a trigger arranged, when pressed by a rodent, to release the latch so that the capture arm moves from the armed position to the triggered position to capture the rodent by exerting a force on the rodent;

wherein the rodent trap further comprises a captured switch;

and wherein the capture arm and trigger are arranged so that if a rodent is captured by the capture arm, the force exerted on the rodent by the capture arm is transmitted to the trigger, to move the trigger to switch the captured switch to indicate that a rodent has been captured.

In this way, the fact that a rodent has been captured (as opposed to the trap being triggered but without a rodent being captured) can be detected and indicated by the switch, based on only the behaviour of the capture arm and trigger when a rodent is captured. This means that no complicated additional mechanism is required in order to detect when a rodent is captured, all that is required is the existing capture arm and trigger, as well as the captured switch, of course.

When no rodent is captured by the capture arm, no force is transmitted from the capture arm to the trigger, and so the captured switch is not switched. This may occur, for example, because the capture arm and trigger are sized so that the trigger is within the perimeter of the capture arm when in the triggered position. This means that when no rodent is caught, the capture arm will not exert any force on the trigger. However, when a rodent is caught, it will be caught between the capture arm and the trigger, and so the capture arm exerts a force on the rodent, which in turn exerts a force on the trigger.

Advantageously, the trigger is mounted around an axle, and when a first end of the trigger on a first side of the axle is moved by the force from the capture arm, the second end of the trigger on the second side of the axle is moved to switch the captured switch. This allows the captured switch to be positioned away from the end of the trigger arm where a rodent will be caught, simplifying the design and construction of the rodent trap.

Preferably, the rodent trap further comprises an armed switch, to indicate if the rodent trap is armed. In this case, advantageously the latch is arranged, when the latch is holding the capture arm in the armed position, to switch the armed switch to indicate that the rodent trap is armed. Preferably, the force exerted on the latch by the capture arm when the latch is holding the capture arm in the armed position moves the latch to switch the armed switch to indicate that the rodent trap is armed. Similarly to detecting when a rodent is captured, this means that no complicated additional mechanism is required in order to detect when the rodent trap is armed.

Preferably, the rodent trap further comprises an electronics module comprising the captured switch, wherein the electronics module is arranged to transmit a corresponding captured signal indicating if a rodent has been captured. Where an armed switch is present, the electronics module preferably also comprises the armed switch, and is arranged to transmit a corresponding armed signal indicating that the rodent trap is armed. The transmittal of captured signal (and armed signal if appropriate) allows it to be identified remotely when the rodent trap requires servicing, i.e. re-arming when a rodent is captured or the rodent trap is triggered with a capture occurring.

The electronics module may only transmit the captured signal when a rodent is captured, to indicate that the rodent trap needs to be reset. Similarly, the electronics module may only transmit the armed signal when the rodent trap is triggered, again to indicate that the rodent trap needs to be reset. However, it will be appreciated that the electronics module may transmit signals in many other ways. To give just some examples, the electronics module may also transmit a signal to indicate that it is still armed, or that no rodent has been triggered; the electronics module may transmit signals indicating its current status periodically, or in request to a received request for its status. Many other possibilities will be apparent to the skilled person.

The electronics module may transmit signals using radio signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile telephone signals, lights, noises and/or any other suitable methods.

Advantageously, the rodent trap further comprises:

a base on which the capture arm is mounted;

a shoe permanently fixed to the base;

wherein the electronics module is removably fixed to the shoe. This allows the (generally cheaper) trap and shoe to be replaced when required, while the (generally more expensive) electronics module can be reused.

Preferably, the shoe comprises a fixing to hold the electronics module in position on the shoe.

Preferably, the shoe comprises an opening through which the captured switch extends to allow it to be in contact with the trigger. Where an armed switch is present, preferably the shoe comprises an opening through which the armed switch extends to allow it to be in contact with the latch. The opening for the captured switch and the armed switch may be the same opening.

Advantageously, the cross-sectional footprint of the shoe and electronics module are within the cross-sectional footprint of the base, so that the shoe and electronics module do not increase the cross-sectional footprint of the rodent trap. This allows the rodent trap with electronics module to be easily positioned in the same locations in which the rodent trap without electronics module was positioned.

Advantageously, the electronics module comprises one or more replaceable batteries. This allows the batteries to be easily replaced, in particular when low on stored electrical energy. This may advantageously be done when the rodent trap is being serviced.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a rodent trap comprising:

a base;

a capture arm mounted on the base, wherein the capture arm is biased from an armed position to a triggered position;

a latch arranged to hold the capture arm in the armed position;

a trigger arranged, when pressed by a rodent, to release the latch so that the capture arm moves from the armed position to the triggered position to capture the rodent by exerting a force on the rodent;

wherein the rodent trap further comprises:

a shoe permanently fixed to the base;

an electronics module removably fixed to the shoe, wherein the electronics module is arranged to detect if a rodent has been captured, and to transmit a corresponding captured signal indicating if a rodent has been captured.

This allows the (generally cheaper) trap and shoe to be replaced when required, while the (generally more expensive) electronics module can be reused.

Preferably, the shoe comprises a fixing to hold the electronics module in position on the shoe.

Preferably, the electronics module comprises a captured switch that is switched when a rodent is captured. Advantageously, the captured switch is switched by the trigger. Preferably, the shoe comprises an opening through which the captured switch extends to allow it to be in contact with the trigger.

Preferably, the electronics module is further arranged to detect if the capture arm is in the armed position or the triggered position, and to transmit a

corresponding armed signal indicating if the trap is armed. Preferably, the electronics module comprises an armed switch which is switched when the capture arm is triggered. Advantageously, the armed switch is switched by the latch. Preferably, the shoe comprises an opening through which the armed switch extends to allow it to be in contact with the trigger. The opening for the captured switch and the armed switch may be the same opening.

Advantageously, the cross-sectional footprint of the shoe and electronics module are within the cross-sectional footprint of the base, so that the shoe and electronics module do not increase the cross-sectional footprint of the rodent trap.

Advantageously, the electronics module comprises one or more replaceable batteries.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice verso.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a trap, shoe and electronics module a rodent trap according to a first embodiment of the invention when unassembled;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the trap and shoe of Figure 1 when

assembled;

Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the attachment of the electronics module to the assembled trap and show of Figure 2;

Figure 3b shows a perspective view of the trap, shoe and electronics module of

Figure 1 when assembled;

Figure 3c shows a close-up view of a part of the electronics module of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a close-up view of a part of the switch mechanism of the rodent trap of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows an underside view of the electronics module of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the electronics module of Figure 1;

Figures 7a and 7b show perspective views of the rodent trap of Figure 1 in an armed state;

Figures 7c and 7d show perspective views of the rodent trap of Figure 1 in a

triggered state;

Figures 8a, 8b, and 8c show side and cross-sectional views of the rodent trap of

Figure 1 in an armed state, a triggered state, and a triggered and caught state, respectively;

Figures 9a and 9b show perspective views of the rodent trap of Figure lwith a lanyard attachment; and

Figure 9c shows a close-up view of the lanyard attachment of Figures 9a and 9b.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a rodent trap according to a first embodiment of the invention when unassembled. The rodent trap comprises a trap 100, a shoe 200, and an electronics module 300.

The trap 100 comprises a capture arm 102, shown in Figure 1 in the triggered position. Prior to being triggered, the capture arm 102 is held in an armed position, as shown for example in Figure 4a. The trap 100 is a sprung rodent trap comprising a spring 106 that biases the capture arm 102 around an axle 104 towards the triggered position. When in the armed position, a first end 102a of the capture arm 102 is held in position by a latch 108. When a force is applied to the trigger 110, the first end 102a of the capture of arm 102 is released from the latch 108, allowing the spring 106 to bias the capture arm 102 into the triggered position (as shown in Figure 1). When in operation, the force provided to the trigger 110 to cause the capture arm 102 to move from the armed position to the triggered position is normally provided by the weight of a rodent stepping on the trigger 110. The trap 100 also comprises a receptacle 112 to contain rodent bait. The receptacle 112 is positioned so that it is accessible via a hole 110a located roughly in the middle of the trigger 110, so that a rodent presses on the trigger 110 when trying to get the rodent bait.

The shoe 200 has a base formed of flanges 204, with holes 214a and 214b located in the flanges 204. The shoe 200 also has an upper part forming a fixing 202 with a central slit 206.

As shown in Figure 2, the shoe 200 is fixed to the top surface of the trap 100. In particular, the flanges 204 of the base of the shoe 200 are positioned on the upper surface of the trap 100, with the holes 214a and 214b being aligned with

corresponding holes 114a and 114b in the top surface of the trap 100. The shoe 200 is then permanently fixed to the trap 100 by screws fixed through the holes 114a, 114b, 214a and 214b or by any other suitable means. As the flanges 204 sit flat on the upper surface of the trap 100, the flanges 204 ensure that the shoe 200 is stable on the trap 100, and ensures that the orientation of the shoe is always the same when attached to a rodent trap.

The shoe 200 has a width that is less than or equal to the width of the trap 100, so that when the shoe 200 is attached to the trap 100, the trap 100 and shoe 200 together have the same footprint as the trap 100 by itself.

As can be seen, the trigger 110 of the trap 100 extends through one open end of the shoe 200, while the latch 108 extends through the other open end of the shoe

200.

As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the electronics module 300 is attached to the shoe 200. As discussed in more detail below, the electronics module 300 detects whether the rodent trap is in either the armed or triggered position, and whether the rodent trap is in the captured or uncaptured state. Using this information, the module can provide information about the state of the rodent trap, and whether the trap is armed, triggered, or triggered and captured (i.e. rodent has been captured by the trap).

The electronics module 300 is attached to the shoe 200 by being slid onto the fixing 202 of the shoe 200 from the end of the trap 100 comprising the trigger 110. The latch 202 of the shoe 200 engages with a receiving portion (not shown) on the underside of the electronics module 300, so that the electronics module 300 is "locked" in place when attached to the shoe 200. In particular, the electronics module 300 is removably rather than permanently attached to the shoe 200, as it can be unattached by being slid back off the fixing 202 of the shoe 200.

As described in more detail below, the electronics module 300 comprises an armed switch 310 and a captured switch 312, which extend through the slit 206 of the shoe 200.

The electronics module 300 has a curved rear surface, and as can be seen in Figure 3b (and also in Figures 7b and 8a), this allow the first end 102a of the capture arm 102 to pass freely over it when the rodent trap moves between the armed position and the triggered position.

The electronics module 300 comprises a battery housing 302 that takes three standard AAA-type batteries. When the electronics module 300 is attached to the shoe 200, the battery housing 302 extends past the top of the first end 102a of the capture arm 102. This does not obstruct the first end 102a of the capture arm 102, because the first end 102a of the capture arm 102 does not move past the battery housing 302 when in the triggered position. This is because the movement of the first end 102a of the capture arm 102 when triggered is limited by the position of the second end 102b of the capture arm 102, when it abuts against the base of the rodent trap 116 in the triggered position. The second end 102b of the capture arm 102 is larger than the perimeter of the battery housing 302, and is such that when the trap 100 is in the armed position, the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 extends around the outside of the battery housing 302. When moving from the armed position to the triggered position, the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 can pass freely around the outside of the battery housing 302 and abut against the base of the rodent trap. Figure 3c shows a close-up view of the electronics module 300. In this figure, it can be seen that the rodent trap is armed, as the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 is in the armed position. It can be seen that the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 will be able to pass easily over the battery housing 302 of the electronics module 300.

The electronics module 300 comprises push buttons 304, 306a, 308a and indicator lights 306b, 308b to permit control of the functions of the electronics module 300, and indication of its status.

Like the shoe 200, the electronics module 300 has a width that is less than or equal to the width of the trap 100, so that when the trap 100, shoe 200 and electronics module 300 are assembled together, they have the same footprint as the trap 100 by itself. This allows the shoe 200 and electronics module 300 to be retrofitted onto existing rodent traps, without the resulting assembled rodent trap requiring a larger floor area, so allowing it to be used in the same locations as the existing traps.

Figure 4 provides a detailed view of the switches 310, 312 of the electronics module 300. Each switch 310, 312 is attached to a biasing spring (310d and 312d respectively) that biases the switch into the released (i.e. not pushed, "off") position by biasing it in a downwards direction. The switches 310, 312 are in fact movable bars that in turn press or release micro-switches 310e, 312e respectively.

Figure 5 shows the underside of the electronics module 300. Extending from the underside of the electronics module 300 are the switches 310 and 312. When the electronics module 300 is attached to the shoe 200, both of the switches 310 and 312 extend through the slit 206 of the shoe 200. As discussed above, this allows the switches 310, 312 to be part of electronics module 300 while engaging with the latch arm 108a and the rear end of the trigger 110b, which are part of trap 100.

The electronics module 300 also has engagement portions 314 that engage with the fixing 202 that locks the electronics module 300 into position when it is attached to the shoe 200.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the electronics module 300. The battery housing 302 comprises a battery cover 316. The battery cover 316 holds the batteries 320 in place when the electronics module 300 is assembled. The dotted line 330 illustrates how the battery cover 316 fits against the batteries 320 when the electronics module 300 is assembled. The electronics module 300 also comprises the printed circuit board assembly 322. The printed circuit board assembly 322 further comprises battery contacts 326, for electrical connection with the batteries 320.

The printed circuit board assembly 322 also comprises an antenna 324. The antenna 324 transmits and receives wireless signals to communicate with other devices, said devices may be wireless internet routers, or mobile telephones for example.

The battery housing 302 also has a barcode 318, which provides a unique identifier by which the electronics module 300 can be identified. Attached to the base of the electronics module 300 is a switch mechanism assembly 328, comprising the switches 310, 312.

Figures 7a to 7d show a perspective view of the assembled rodent trap 400. More specifically, Figures 7a and 7b show the assembled rodent trap 400 in the armed position, and Figures 7c and 7d show the assembled rodent trap 400 in the triggered position.

As seen in Figure 7a, in the armed position, the trigger 110 is raised and parallel to the base of the rodent trap 116. The receptacle 112 is fixed to the base of the rodent trap 116, and sits between the base of the rodent trap 116 and the lower surface of the trigger 110. The top of the receptacle 112 is just beneath the upper surface of the trigger 110. In this manner, the rodent must place part of its body on the trigger 110 in order to get to the bait (not shown) held by the receptacle 112. Also shown in the armed position is the second end 102b of the capture arm 102, which extends from the axle 104 in a direction substantially vertically relative to the horizontal. Also shown are projections 116a that extend from the base 116. When the trap 100 is in the triggered position (without a rodent having been captured), the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 is pressed against the projections 116a by the spring 106, as seen in Figure 7c. Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show a side view of the assembled rodent trap 400 respectively in each of its three possible states, i.e. armed, triggered, and triggered and captured. Each figure also shows a corresponding cross-sectional view of the assembled rodent trap 400 in the same state, to illustrate the inner mechanics of the apparatus in the different states.

Figure 8a shows the assembled rodent trap 400 in the armed state. In this state, the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 is substantially vertical, and the trigger 110 is substantially horizontal. As mentioned above, the electronics module 300 comprises an armed switch 310 and a captured switch 312. The switches 310, 312 move up and down, providing the armed signal 310a and captured signal 312a, by which the electronics module 300 determined the status of the rodent trap 400. As can be seen, the armed switch 310 is moved by the latch arm 108a, while the captured switch 312 is moved by the trigger 110.

In particular, when as in Figure 8a the latch arm 108a is raised due to it holding the capture arm 102 in the armed position, latch arm 108a pushes the armed switch 310 upwards, giving the armed signal 310a a value of 1 (i.e. "on"). In contrast, the trigger 110 in the horizontal position as in Figure 5a does not contact the captured switch 312, and so the captured signal 312a has a value of 0 ("off"). Thus, the combination of an armed signal 310a of 1 and a captured signal 312a of 0 is indicative of the assembled rodent trap 400 being in the armed state.

Figure 8b shows the assembled rodent trap 400 in the triggered state (but nothing has been captured), in which the second end 102b of the capture arm 102 is substantially vertical, and the trigger 110 is substantially horizontal. In this state, the latch arm 108a is no longer raised, and so no longer pushes the armed switch 310.

(As well as being pushed downwards by the armed switch 310 itself, the latch arm 108a may move downwards by virtue of gravity, or by being biased by a spring or the like.) As a result of the armed switch 310 no longer being pushed, the armed signal 310a has a value of 0. The trigger 110 is still in the horizontal position, as the first end 102a of the capture arm 102 falls outside the perimeter of the trigger 100. As a result, the trigger 100 still does not contact the captured switch 312, so the captured signal 312a still has a value of 0. Thus, the combination of an armed signal 310a of 0 and a captured signal 312a of 0 is indicative of the assembled rodent trap 400 being in the triggered state.

Finally, Figure 8c shows the assembled rodent trap 400 in the triggered and captured state. In this state, again the armed switch 310 is no longer pushed by the latch arm 108a, so the armed signal 310a has a value of 0. However, in this state the trigger 100 is no longer in a substantially horizontal position. Rather, the presence of a rodent (not shown) caught by the first end 102a of the capture arm 102 causes the trigger 110 to be pushed downwards, as the downward force from the first end 102a of the capture arm 102 is transmitted to the trigger 110 via the body of the captured rodent. This causes the rear end of the trigger 110b to move upwards, pushing the captured switch 312 upwards, giving the captured signal 312a a value of 1. Thus, the combination of an armed signal 310a of 0 and a captured signal 312a of 1 is indicative of the assembled rodent trap 400 being in the triggered and captured state.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the electronics module 300 can determine the status of the rodent trap 400 from combination of the armed signal 310a and captured signal 312a, and indicate that using indicator lights 306b, 308b and/or send an appropriate message via a wireless signals in any appropriate way, various of which will be apparent to the skilled person.

Figure 9a shows a trap 100 and shoe 200 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, with a lanyard 402 attached to the shoe 200. Figure 9b shows the assembled rodent trap 400 with the lanyard 402 attached to the shoe 200. When assembling the assembled rodent trap 400, after attaching the shoe 200 to the trap 100, the narrow end of the lanyard 404 is fed into a receiving portion 208 of the shoe 200. When the electronics module 300 is then attached to the top of the shoe 200, as shown in Figure 9b, the narrow end of the lanyard 404 is locked in place, and cannot be removed without first removing the electronics module 300. The lanyard 402 also comprises a securing end 406. The securing end 406 can be locked/secured to any appropriate immovable object, such as a radiator pipes, hook screwed/driven into a floor/wall or the like. This securing of the assembled rodent trap 400 acts as a deterrent to anyone who may wish to steal the assembled rodent trap 400.

Figure 9c is a close up of the narrow end of the lanyard 404 and the receiving portion 208.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein.