MXPA06006270A - Method and apparatus for extermination of pests - Google Patents

Abstract

An extermination device for exterminating pests includes a holder, trigger mechanism (6) and a resilient ring (8) mounted on the holder. When a pest actuates the trigger mechanism (6), the ring (8) is released from the holder onto the pest, thereby killing the pest in a humane manner. A cover may be provided to protect the trigger mechanism (6) from dirt and animals larger than target pest size. A loading device (50) having a tapering body adapted to allow a resilient ring (8) to be expanded from the narrow end to the wide end of the tapering body, wherein the wide end includes a formation (51, 52) adapted to engage with a holder of an extermination device.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE EXTERMINATION OF HARMFUL ANIMALS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the extermination of harmful animals, in particular rats, weasels and other harmful animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In several countries such as New Zealand, introduced animal species have had a detrimental effect on plants, birds, insect and other indigenous or native life. In an attempt to control and exterminate the harmful animals, whether introduced species or not, a large number of different traps and similar mechanisms have been designed to capture and / or annihilate the harmful animals. One difficulty with many of these traps is that the trapped animal does not die in a humanitarian way and this may be of particular interest. A typical trap that is inhumane is the type of trap generally known as a snare trap that has a set of jaws to hold a part of the damaging animal. Normally in snare traps, a harmful animal is retained until it either dies naturally or is alternatively annihilated by the person handling the trap. REF: 173589 In the known traps, including the mouse traps, the body of the harmful animal joins the trap. This leads to waste, since some squeamish owners will rather throw the whole trap instead of emptying it and readjusting the trap. This also sometimes leads to the trap getting dirty, especially if the trap is not emptied quickly and the body of the harmful animal is broken down. This can affect the operation of the trap. US 2,247,066 and US 5,177,896 both describe a trap in which a slipknot is released over a harmful animal. An elastic band or spring is arranged to retain the sliding knot around the damaging animal, without tightening the sliding knot. Neither the spring nor the elastic band tighten by themselves enough to annihilate the harmful animal. The slip knot is tightened when the animal tries to escape - as with any conventional trap, restricting the animal in an inhuman way. Both traps are proposed to capture a living animal. For example, in US 2,247,066, the dock is arranged to limit the minimum size of the sliding knot to retain the animal without damaging it (see page 2, right column, lines 38 to 70). These traps are therefore both restriction devices instead of extermination devices. Additionally, in US 2,247,066 and US 5,177,896 the animal, once in the trap, remains attached to the trap by the sliding knot. This is necessary where the animals are going to be captured alive and the traps should therefore be checked on a regular basis. However, it is undesirable in devices for the extermination of harmful animals, where the traps can not be checked regularly and the harmful animal remains decomposed. This results in a dirty trap, and can affect the operation of the trap. Also, if an animal is still attached to the trap, it is unlikely that another damaging animal will approach the trap to activate the drive mechanism. JP 2003-070408 and JP 2001-333683 both describe a device for attaching a bell to a rat. The bell is held in place by an elastic band. However, the elastic band does not annihilate the rat. An object of the invention is to provide an extermination device that allows the extermination of a harmful animal in a fast, efficient and humane manner, or at least provide the public with a useful choice. A further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, user-friendly, versatile, lightweight means for exterminating harmful animals that offers at least one useful alternative choice. A further object of the invention is to provide a means for exterminating a harmful animal that substantially eliminates the risk of killing wildlife that is intended to be saved or preserved by the use of the killing means, or at least provides the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the invention provides an extermination device, comprising a support and a driving mechanism, the support that is configured to retain an expanded resilient ring, wherein the extermination device is configured to release the free resilient ring of the exterminating device such that it contracts around a harmful animal when the drive mechanism is actuated by the damaging animal, thereby exterminating the damaging animal. In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for exterminating a harmful animal, comprising the steps of: retaining an expanded resilient ring in a support; and it must release the free resilient ring from the support such that it contracts around a harmful animal when a driving mechanism is actuated by the damaging animal, thus exterminating the harmful animal. In a third aspect, the invention provides a loading device having a tapered body adapted to allow a resilient ring to expand from the narrow end to the wide end of the tapered body, wherein the wide end includes a formation adapted to be coupled with a support of an extermination device. In contrast to the prior art, the invention provides a device for killing harmful animals where a rubber ring is released on a harmful animal to kill the harmful animal. In particular, the invention relates to an extermination device, not a restriction or retention device. The mechanisms described in the prior art are not suitable for use in this device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the side of an extermination device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the extermination device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a terminal view of the extermination device; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the side of the extermination device; Figure 5 is a plan view of the extermination device; Figure 6 is a vertical section through an example of an extermination device incorporating a re-loading and / or adjustment mechanism with a plurality of resilient rings; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an example of an extermination device having an internal drive mechanism; Figure 8 is a plan view of the device of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a front plan view of a further embodiment of an extermination device; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a rear plan view of the device of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a side plan view of the device of Figure 9, showing internal characteristics; Figure 13 shows the drive mechanism of the device of Figure 9; Figure 14 shows the drive mechanism of the device of Figure 9; Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 9, showing the device after it has been actuated and has released the resilient ring; Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 12, showing the device after it has been actuated and has released the resilient ring; Figure 17 is a perspective view of a cover for use with the extermination device of Figure 9; L Figure 18 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 9 and the cover of Figure 17 in an assembled state; Figure 19 is a plan view of a loading device for use with the extermination device of Figure 9.

Description of the invention Now examples of the invention will be described with reference to the appended figures. The first example in Figures 1 to 5 of the figures shows the actual size of an extermination device designed for rats or weasels. It will be appreciated that for other animals the total size and total dimensions of the extermination device may be made larger or smaller as needed to accommodate the size of the obese target animals. In Figure 1 there is shown an extermination device including a support 100 and a front cover 3. The support 100 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 4. The support 100 comprises a central section 1 and a cover 2, and is tubular, with an internal hole 4. The support may be of circular cross section as shown in the figures, and may have another suitable cross section. The diameter of the hole 4 is chosen to suit the target harmful animal and the tube has an entrance or open mouth 5 at a first end where the harmful animal enters. For small harmful animals such as mice, rats and weasels, the diameter is preferably in the range of 25 to 40 mm. For larger damaging animals such as wildcats, opossums and cats, the diameter is preferably in the range of 60 to 100 mm. The second end of the support 100 is formed by the cover 2, creating a closed region in which food or an attractant is placed. The extermination device has an actuator operated by a drive mechanism 6 shown in Figure 3. To adjust the drive mechanism, it is pushed back into a slot 25 and to the right (as shown in Figure 4), such that sits in a notch 24 in the holder. When a damaging animal enters the trap, the drive mechanism 6 moves exactly (as shown by arrow 7 in Figure 3), so that it is released from the notch and forced forward by a spring 20 to release the resilient ring 8. The resilient ring 8 is mounted relative to the mouth 5 of the extermination device in a releasing position, adjacent to the open mouth 5, such that after it slides out of the open mouth 5 it contracts around whatever is inside the open mouth 5. the open mouth 5 of the support 100. Other driving mechanisms are also suitable. The resilient ring 8 may be formed of natural or synthetic rubber or a composite material. It can also be formed of metal in the form of a spring, or at least partially of rigid material with a deflection means tending to force together the sides of the ring. While the resilient ring is preferably circular in shape, it can be formed, for example, of a rectangle of resilient material with a hole cut through it. Other configurations may also be suitable. The resilient ring 8 has a normal diameter that is significantly smaller than the diameter of the support in the release position so that in the release of the open mouth 5 it shrinks to its normal size which is less than the size of the neck of the damaging animal objective. In the activation of the drive mechanism 6 by a damaging animal whose head is inside the mouth 5, the rubber or compound ring 8 catches whatever is in the mouth of the extermination device. Any animal or harmful animal that activates the sliding arm 6 has therefore immediately placed around its neck a resilient ring that will cut off the blood and air supply to the animal, thereby annihilating it in human form. Of course, the ring is sized and the material used for the ring is chosen to create sufficient inward force to achieve that purpose. After the release of the ring, the harmful animal and the ring are released from the device. Since the ring 8 is not retained by the extermination device, the animal can still move away from the site of the extermination means, so that another harmful animal will be able to actuate the driving mechanism. That also means that the body of the harmful animal is not attached to the device, allowing a person to readjust the device with a new ring without touching the body of the harmful animal. Also, if the harmful animal moves away from the device, the device will not be affected by the rotten remains of the harmful animal. This also allows an automatic recharging mechanism to be used, as described below. As shown in Figure 1, a front cover 3 can be provided and designed to protect against accidental travel of the sliding arm. The front cover 3 has an opening 9 to allow a damaging animal to have access to the opening 5. The front cover 3 connects to the support on the surface 10 and is positioned so that the target animal can still reach and operate the mechanism. drive. In the second example shown in Figure 6, the extermination device has parts similar to those incorporated in the first example referred to by the same numbers. In this case, the extermination device has an automatic loading mechanism. The loading mechanism includes a mobile shaft 11 with a ratchet mechanism 12 operated by the drive mechanism 6. The movement of the shaft 11 is under the deviation of a spring 13. The shaft 11 includes the stops 14. A cover 15 is provided with a hinge to allow access to the mechanism when it is reloaded with additional rings 8. In use when a harmful animal attempts to eat the attractive bait 16, it turns to the driving mechanism 6. A first ring is released from the release position, contracting around the neck of the damaging animal. The spring 13 will then be pushed forward and the drive mechanism will be readjusted to its next notch, ready to be traversed again. The forward movement of the shaft 11 has the following in the succession of rings 8 to the release position adjacent to the mouth 5 of the support 100. Figures 7 and 8 show a third example of an extermination device according to the invention. This example differs from the device described above in that the drive mechanism is located within the support. This protects the drive mechanism from dirt, branches and the like, which can prevent proper operation. The actuator operates in a manner similar to that described above. These figures also show the device with a base plate 21 for mounting the extermination device in a suitable position. The base plate 21 preferably includes the holes 22, 23 to facilitate assembly. In Figures 9 to 19 a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Figure 9 is a front plan view, and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the extermination device 1, showing the drive mechanism 6, the firing pin 30 and the resilient ring 8. With reference to the Figure 13, the firing hammer 30 includes a generally cylindrical section 32 and a projection 33. The cylindrical section 32 slides on the rod 35, which is attached to the rear surface of the device housing by a screw 36, as shown in FIG. Figure 11. A spring 34 is mounted on the rod 35 to urge the firing pin 30 along the rod 35 toward the resilient ring 8. With reference to Figure 14, the drive mechanism 6 is formed integrally with a lug 31 and is attached to the housing of the device by a screw 37. In the upright position shown in Figure 12, the firing pin compresses the spring 34 and is held in position by the lug 31, as shown -better in l Figure 9. When a damaging animal enters the trap, forcing upwardly the drive mechanism 6, the drive mechanism rotates about the pivot around the screw 37, such that the tab 31 does not further restrict the movement of the hammer 30. of shot. The firing hammer slides along the rod 35 towards the resilient ring 8. The projection 33 forces the resilient ring 8 of the support onto the damaging animal. The position of the extermination device in the fired position is shown in Figures 15 and 16. In practice, a strong firing mechanism such as that described above is regulated. This is because the resilient ring must be stretched over the support. Since the ring is dimensioned and resilient enough to block the blood and air supplies from the damaging animal, the inward force created by this stretch is large, so that forcing the ring out of the support requires a great force. Figure 17 shows a cover 42 for use with the extermination device of this mode. The cover 42 includes a base section 40 and the cylindrical section 41. The base section 40 may include holes and / or slots to secure the extermination device to the ground, a tree, etc. The device shown in Figures 9 to 16 is assembled with the cover 42, as shown in Figure 18. Figure 18 shows the device and the cover in a partially assembled state. The device is pushed into the cover through the cylindrical section 41. In a fully assembled state, the device will rest against the end 43 of the cover. This arrangement protects the mechanism of the device from contamination by dirt, etc., and prevents animals larger than the diameter of the cylindrical section 41 from activating the trap. Figure 19 shows a loading device for use with the extermination device of Figures 9 to 16. The loading device includes a generally conical section 50 and a coupling section 51. In use, the device is adjusted in the upright position and the coupling section 51 is inserted into the device, such that the shoulder 52 sits flush with the open mouth 5 of the device. Then a resilient ring 8 can be forced along the section 50 in general conical and in the release position in the extermination device. The charging device is then removed. The device can be placed in any position where a target harmful animal may have access. The device can be placed on the ground, in a tree or attached to a table or pole, as an example. While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or limit in any way the scope of the appended claims to this. detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, apparatus and representative method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, divergences of these details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the applicant's general inventive concept. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. - CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. Extermination device, characterized by comprising a support and a driving mechanism, the support that is configured to retain an expanded resilient ring, in wherein the extermination device is configured to release the free resilient ring of the exterminating device such that it contracts around a harmful animal when the drive mechanism is actuated by the damaging animal, thereby exterminating the damaging animal.
2. 2. Extermination device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is tubular and is open at a first end and closed at a second end.
3. 3. Extermination device according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive mechanism is located inside the support.
4. 4. Extermination device according to claim 3, characterized in that a bait or attractor is placed such that the drive mechanism is between the first end and the bait or attractant.
5. An extermination device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes a firing member, wherein the support is configured to retain the resilient ring in a release position and the firing member is biased toward the release position, and wherein the firing member and drive mechanism are arranged such that the firing member is released from an upright position and forces the resilient ring away from the support, when the driving mechanism is actuated.
6. 6. Extermination device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the resilient ring is made of natural or synthetic rubber.
7. The extermination device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the resilient ring is made of a composite material.
8. 8. Extermination device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a dimension of a support opening is in the range of 25 to 40 mm.
9. The extermination device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a dimension of an opening of the support is in the range of 60 to 100 mm.
10. An extermination device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the support is configured to retain a plurality of expanded resilient rings and to retain a first of the resilient rings expanded in a release position, and the extermination device is configured to releasing the first of the expanded resilient rings when the drive mechanism is actuated and to move a second of the expanded resilient rings to the release position when the first of the expanded resilient rings is released from the release position.
11. 11. An extermination device according to claim 10, characterized in that it also comprises a deflection means configured to apply the force to the second of the resilient rings, towards the release position.
12. The extermination device according to claim 11, characterized in that the deflection means is coupled to the drive mechanism.
13. An extermination device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is configured to release the resilient ring, such that it contracts around the neck of the damaging animal.
14. 14. Method for exterminating a harmful animal, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: retaining an expanded resilient ring in a support; and releasing the free resilient ring from the support such that it contracts around a harmful animal when a driving mechanism is actuated by the damaging animal, thus exterminating the harmful animal.
15. 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that it also comprises the step of placing a bait or attractant in the support such that the driving mechanism is between the first end and the bait or attractant.
16. Method according to any of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the step of retaining the expanded resilient ring comprises retaining a plurality of expanded resilient rings, and the step of releasing the resilient ring comprises releasing one of the plurality of resilient rings expanded.
17. 17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the step of retaining the expanded resilient ring comprises retaining a first of the plurality of resilient rings expanded in a release position, the method also comprising the step of moving a second of ios. expanded resilient rings to the release position when the first of the expanded resilient rings is released.
18. Method according to any of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that it uses the extermination device of any of claims 1 to 13.
19. 19. Loading device having a tapered body adapted to allow a resilient ring to expand from the narrow end to the wide end of the tapered body, characterized in that the wide end includes a formation adapted to be coupled with a support of an extermination device.
20. 20. Charging device according to claim 19, characterized in that it is in combination with an extermination device of any of claims 1 to 13.