Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CHEMICALS TO RODENTS
SPECIFICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for treating
rodents particularly wild rodents with a chemical substance.
In some instances, treatment. of wild rodents can be beneficial
to the public health. It is an object of the invention to
provide an apparatus that can be placed in an outdoor area to
treat wild rodents in the area with a chemical substance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an
apparatus for applying a chemical to rodents. The apparatus
includes an enclosure having at least one peripheral opening
for allowing entrance of rodents into the enclosure. The
enclosure includes at least one applicator in the form of a
suspended flexible web arranged to contact rodents entering
the chamber and having the chemical on the web.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there
is provided an apparatus for applying a chemical to rodents
comprising an enclosure having at least one peripheral
opening allowing entry of rodents into said enclosure, said
enclosure including at least. one applicator arranged to
contact rodents entering said chamber, wherein the
applicator comprises a flexible web suspended into said
enclosure and having said chemical on said flexible web,
whereby said web contacts rodents passing thereunder.
For a better understanding of the present
invention, together with other and further objects,
reference is made to the following description, taken in
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conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope
will be pointed out in the appended claim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top view showing an apparatus
according to the present invention with the top fully open.
Figure 2 is a side view of the Figure 1 apparatus
showing the arrangement with the top in a nearly closed
condition.
Figure 3 is a front elevation view of an
applicator useful in the Figure 1 embodiment.
Figure 4 is a side view of the Figure 3 applicator.
Figure 5 is a front elevation view of an alternate
applicator.
Figure 6 is a front elevation view of another
alternate applicator.
Figure 7 is a side view of the Figure 6 applicator.
Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of an
enclosure according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of the Figure
8 enclosure.
Figure 10 is a partial sectional view of an
alternate enclosure.
Figure 11 is a side elevation view of an alternate
applicator for use with the Figure 10 enclosure.
Figure 12 is a front elevation view of another
applicator according to the invention.
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Figure 13 is a side view of the Figure 12 applicator.
Fiwre 14 is a front elevation view of another applicator according to the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in a
fully opened
condition. The apparatus includes a lower member 12 and an upper member 14
which Are
hinged together at 16 to form a boxlike enclosure that can be swung open and
closed. Members
12 and
14 are preferably made of plastic, such as injection molded plastic. A
suitable enclosure is
available from Bell Laboratories of Madison, Wisconsin and sold under the
product name
"Protects 1r. Bait Station". The enclosure is 6" x 5 '/~ " and 3" high. The
enclosure has a durable
hinge 16 connecting the upper member 14 and the lower member 12 and includes a
screw lock to
secure the enclosure in a closed condition so that children or larger animals
are not able to open
the enclosure and reach the contents thereof.
Lower member 12 includes sidewalk openings 28 which are visible in the side
view of
Figure 2 and which are arranged in an appropriate size to pezmit the entry of
a rodent such as a
mouse. Inside member 12 there is a provided an interior wall 18 which
separates the enclosure
into air entry passageway having openings 28 and an inner bait chamber in
which there is
provided a bait 24. Bait 24 is preferably a solid bait mounted on a steel
horiaontal rod 22 which
keeps the bait off any moisture on the floor of the enclosure. Interior wall
18 has an opening 20
by which a rodent may enter the inner bait chamber, The top cover member 14 is
provided with
three applicator mounting slots 26a, 26B and 26C. Applicators 32 each comprise
a flexible web
which is suspended to extend within enclosure 10. Applicator 32 shown in
Figure 3 is arranged
to have a fabric web 36 pass through one of slots 26 and to have horizontal
support member,
comprising metal rod 34, engage the top 14 of enclosure 10 so that the fabric
webs 36 of
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applicators 32 are suspended to hang into regions A, B and C respectively of
enclosure 10 when
cover 14 is in the closed position. Accordingly, when a rodent enters the
chamber and moves
through regions A, B or C, the flexible fabric web 36 of the applicator 32
will rub across the fur
or skin of the rodent and apply a small amount of the chemical thereon to the
skin or fur of the
rodent.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the applicators are arranged in
positions
where a rodent is likely to pass when exploring the inside of the enclosure.
In particular, the
rodent will be entering by one of openings 28 and be attracted to bait 24 in
the inner bait
chamber of the enclosure. In reaching the bait 24 the rodent is likely to pass
through and contact
with either applicator 32A or 32B in the passageway from opening 28 to opening
20 and
thereafter also contact applicator 32C while passing through opening 20 and
approaching bait 24.
It will be understood by those familiar with the art that different size,
shape and
configuration of enclosures may be use in accordance with the invention and
that the particular
location of applicators 32 in such enclosures may be at different locations
according to the
arrangement ofpassages in the enclosures.
It should be additionally recognized that it may be advantageous to provide
applicators 32
in a configuration wherein they can be easily replaced with new applicators to
provide a renewed
supply of chemicals.
Figures 3 through 14 illustrate various embodiments for applicators and
applicator
mounting arrangements according to the invention. The applicators shown in
Figures 3 to 7
include a flexible web which has a horizontal mounting member for engaging the
enclosure and
from which the flexible web is suspended within the enclosure to rub over a
rodent passing
through the enclosure, In particular, it is desired to have the web rub over
the ear lobes and
contact behind the ears of the rodent, a place where rodents cannot remove the
chemical.
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The applicator 32 of Figures 3 and 4 includes a fabric web 36, which may be
felt, cotton,
wool or similar absorbent web material. A horizontal support rod 34 passes
through a loop 40
formed by web 36 at the upper end by seam or glue strip 38. A semicircular
cutout 42 at the
lower edge of web 36, opposite horizontal support 34 provides a passage which
is lower in the
height of the opening than the anticipated height of the rodent, so that the
fabric of web 36 rubs
across the back, head and ears of the rodent passing through.
An alternate applicator 43 shown in Figure 5 includes a web 46 of similar
material having
vertical slits 47 forming flexible strips which hang into a passageway through
which a rodent
may pass in the manner of a beaded curtain. The resulting strips of the web 46
likewise rub
against the back of a passing rodent. Applicator 43 is suspended from
supported 44 which is in a
loop formed by seam 48.
Applicators 32 and 43 may be arranged so that their respective webs pass
through slots 26
while the support rods engage the top wall 14 of the enclosure.
Another version of applicator 50 shown in Figures 6 and 7 includes both
semicircular
opening 52 and slits 57 in web 56. Horizontal support 54 may be a U-shaped
plastic part to
which the web 56 is glued and may sit in top of cover 14 or may be engaged by
internal support
slots 60 formed on the interior walls of enclosure 10 as shown in Figures 8
and 9,
Alternatively, a horizontal support bar 62 may be provided across a passageway
as shown
in Figure 10, preferably having pointed holders 64 for receiving applicator 70
having web 72 and
optionally U-shaped support member 74 as shown in Figure 11.
Applicator 80 shown in Figures 12 and 13 includes a plane web 82 which is
formed with
a perpendicular portion 84 at the top edge. An adhesive strip 86 is applied to
portion 84 to
enable attachment to the interior of top wall 14 of enclosure 10.
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Applicator 90 shown in Figure 14 includes web 94 with perpendicular portion 94
and
adhesive strip 96. Cutouts 98, preferably triangular in shape, invite
contacting passage by a
rodent. The base opening of cutouts 98 along the lower edge of web 92 are
arranged to be
narrower than the width of a rodent.
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