NZ248145A - Animal controller with returnable movable platform and poison applicator - Google Patents

Description

24 8 1 45 fx £ ti , I 14°EC Wo- r-1 i PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $260.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional Nos: 248145 & 264009 Dated: 14 July 1993 nnd 10 June 1994 (respectively) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL DEVICES I Brian Maxwell Cauty a Britisji citizen of Wyllie Road, RD1, Warkworth hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 24 8 1 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL DEVICES ttcchntcal field This invention relates to an improved animal control device, and in particular a device designed to kill possums, rabbits, and any other animal commonly considered to be damaging to the environment or detrimental in any other way.

BACKGROUND ART This invention is designed to kill possums or other various pests such as feral cats, rats, fitches and the like and can be adapted to kill rabbits or bird pests by self administered hypodermic injection of lethal poison. The invention herein described, can also be used without a hypodermic needle to deliver lethal poisons to a pest animal that kill by dermal absorption.

The unattended destruction of mainly introduced animal pest in an efficient, safe, humane and cost effective way is desirable.

In the absence of any effective biological control, the next best alternative must be a mechanical predator which is target specific, one shot kill, no wasted poison, relatively safe to man (effective antidote) is not susceptible to weather, wasting poison, and or bait, effective against a wide range of pests depending on how and where the invention is deployed and what bait lure is used, is unpowered, that is, no motors, batteries or power packs of any kind, capable of continuing to function at O" Celsius, weighing less than two kilograms and relatively compact allowing for easy manual deployment in bush terrain. It is envisaged that the poison 2 & 1 h 5 reservoir will contain up to 250 ml of liquid poison sufficient to kill 1000 possums, for example, given an average dose of .250 ml. The 'tested' proposed poison is of the Organo Phosphate chemical group and has a distinct advantage over the more commonly used poison '1080' in that it poses a very low risk of secondary poisoning (especially dogs) and has a proven record of being environmentally safe.

Published results of broad cast aerial drops of poison carrots or cereal based pellets using mainly 1080 by the Department of Conversation have resulted in costs of up $5.50 and up to 1 kg of poison bait per kill not to mention the non target animals affected such as deer, pigs, sheep, goats and some native birds. Another major disadvantage of oral type poison bait is that wet weather can completely wash the poison away as well as causing the palatable attractiveness of the bait to reduce markedly.

One object of the present invention is to provide a means of overcoming the problems and shortcomings of 'oral' type poison baits as discussed above, with an "alternative delivery system".

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. 3 24 8 1 nrSCI.qsurf, of invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal control device including a movable platform, an application means and a return means, the animal contact device configured so that the movement of the platform allows the application means to contact the animal, the return means configured to allow the platform to return substantially to its original position once the animal moves from the platform.

In the remainder of the specification we shall refer to the present invention as an animal control device. Use of this term is intended to include any device which interacts with animals in any way. Thus, although many embodiments of the present invention will interact with an animal in such a way so as to apply a substance to the animal, and in some instances, to apply a lethal dose of a substance to the animal, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to limited to devices of this sort.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the animal control device may include a movable platform. This platform may be any surface which allows an animal to place all, or partially all its weight upon the platform. In many embodiments of the present invention once the animal has placed part or all of its weight on the platform, the platform shall respond by moving in a particular way. i In further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the movable platform may be mounted substantially horizontally on the animal control device, and this may encourage the animal to attempt to stand or sit on the platform. In-many embodiments, once this happens, it is 248145 envisaged that the weight of the animal shall trigger the movement of the platform, which in many embodiments shall be a substantially downwards movement. However, it should be appreciated that other versions of the present invention may include platforms which move by rotating about an axis, or perform any other movement.

In further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the animal control device shall include an application means. This application means may include any device which interacts with an animal to apply a substance to, or influence in any other way, an animal.

In further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the application means may be a needle of any sort. In these embodiments, the needle may puncture the skin of the animal once the animal comes in contact with the needle. In some embodiments, as a result of this happening, the needle may inject a substance such as poison into the animal. In some embodiments, the injection may be sufficient to kill the animal after a short period of time. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to application devices of this sort, and many other application devices may also be used.

For example, in further embodiments of the present invention, the application device may be a mechanism which allows a substance to be spread onto the animal, or may be any other form of device. For example, further embodiments of the present invention may include an application device such as a brush or other means which allows a substance to be placed on the animal once the animal comes in contact with the device. Many other application devices may also be envisaged. 248145 In still further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the animal control device may include a return means! This return means may be any device which interacts with the platform in such a way so as to return the platform to substantially its original position once the animal leaves the platform. For example, the return means may be any form of elastic material, or may be a spring of any sort, or may be any other similar apparatus.

By providing a return means, it is envisaged that in embodiments where the invention is used to kill animals, a number of animal kills may be made without the need for manual resetting of the device. In this way, it has been found that the present invention is extremely efficient in killing animals, as an operator only needs to set the device in position originally, and the device may then be used to kill a number (and often hundreds) of animals.

This gives the present invention vast advantages over previous ways of killing animals. In particular, many previous animal killing devices could only kill a single animal before manual intervention needed to be made to reset the trap, or remove the animal from the vicinity of the device. In the present invention, embodiments that apply poison beneath the skin of the surface of an animal allow the animal to escape from the vicinity of the device, and then to subsequently die. In this way, new animals are not deterred from approaching the device by obvious danger signs (such as dead bodies), and the present device has been found to be i extremely efficient in controlling animal numbers.

In further embodiments of the present invention the animal control device many include a guide means to influence the movement of the 248145 movable platform. In this specification, the term "guide means" is intended to apply to any apparatus used to influence the movement of the platform. For example, the guide means may be a series of channel type apparatus, allowing the platform to move up and down the channels, or may be sliding tracks of similar description, or may be ropes, pivot points, or any other device.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the platform may be mounted on the guide means and configured to move along the guide means when the animal is positioned on the platform. In these embodiments, it is envisaged that movement of the platform shall expose the application means to the animal, and allow the application means (for example the needle) may contact the animal and perhaps inject poison into the animal. However it should be appreciated that other embodiments of the present invention also operate in a similar way, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to devices that include movable platforms necessarily mounted on guide means.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the application means may include a way in which the amount of substance to be applied to the animal is controlled. For example, the application means may include any device that may apply only a limited amoimt of substance to the animal. In fact, in preferred embodiments of the present invention it is envisaged that the amount of substance to be applied to the animal may depend on characteristics of the animal itself, and in particular the i weight of the anim&l. In these embodiments, it is envisaged that the greater the weight of the animal, the more substance (e.g. poison) will be applied to the animal, which results in more efficient killing of animals 7 2 A ft 14 5 by ensuring that all animals (regardless of weight) receive an appropriate dose of poison.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of controlling animal populations including the use of animal control devices substantially as already discussed, and including the steps of (a) mounting the device on a substantially vertical service, and (b) attaching a bait or lure to the device.

In these embodiments, the vertical surface may be a tree, post, or any other convenient device.

Also, in these embodiments, the bait or lure may be any substance which attracts the animal intended to be killed by the device. For example, if the animal intended to be killed is a possum, the lure may be any of the possums preferred foodstuffs. However, the type of bait or lure is not intended to be limited by the scope of this specification in any way.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there provided a method of controlling animal populations including the use of an animal control device and characterised by the steps of (a) positioning a platform in a position whereby an animal may mount the platform, and (b) positioning an application means so that the application means may come in contact with animal once the animal has mounted the platform, and 8 91\ # i 4 5 % (c) positioning a return means to allow the device to substantially reset itself once contact with the animal has been made.

In this specification the term "substantially reset" refers to any process whereby the device returns to, or nearly returns, to its original configuration.

Brief Description of Drawings Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a close-up view of part of the device illustrated in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a close-up view of a different part of the device illustrated in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a close-up view of a different part of the device illustrated in Figure 1. best modes for carrying out the invention Figure 1 shows two views an animal control device 100. In Figure la a view of device 100 is shown in an untriggered position and in Figure lb the device is shown in a triggered position. 9 The invention is designed to be 'set' by nailing in an upright position to a tree, post or building using the brackets shown in Figure 1. The height of setting must be a minimum of 350 mm above the ground or any other obstruction to provide sufficient room for the mechanism to travel when tripped by an animal (not shown). Other factors which should be considered when determining the height of setting must be the possible presence of children and other non target animals which may be at risk.

All or any of the component materials used in the construction of this invention could be metal or plastic type. The preferred material used in this description is predominantly aluminium to achieve as light a weight as possible.

The targeted animal is attracted by a lure/bait 2 under a lid 3 in the top of the hood 4. The hood surrounds, covers, and extends above the front of the body 5 sufficiently to accommodate the lure but open to access by an animal only from a position directly above the front face of the body 6. The body is constructed substantially to a channel profile material along its length which conveniently provides a flat front face suitable to mount the sliding track assembly 7 and a cavity on the reverse side to accommodate an protect a poison reservoir 8. The aforementioned hood is designed to protect the lure from the weather and to prevent access to said lure by any means other than a position directly above the poison needle 9 which is concealed below the centre of the platform 10. A U-shaped hole or well 11 in the centre of said platform, open the front body I side, of a size that will permit the by-passing of the entire needle and pump assembly 12 when tripped, actually accommodates said needle and pump assembly in that it incorporates a curved shield 13 below the platform which surrounds the pump assembly on all but the side 2481 45 adjacent to the body front, also acts as the main support for said platform.

As is best shown in Figure 4, both the platform and shield are fixed by rivets 14 to and form an integral part of the sliding track assembly 7 which is constructed of two parallel sliding tracks 15 which are mounted on four polyethylene 'glides' or bearings 16. This is best shown in Figure 2.

The end profile of said tracks resembles a rectangular hollow section approximately 20 mm x 12 mm outside dimensions provided with a slot along the length of the track on the widest side fronting the body sufficient to loosely accommodate the polyethylene glides. The four glides provide for an up and down direction of travel for the entire sliding track assembly parallel with the front face of the body. One glide is fixed close to the front edge on each side of the body near the base and one glide is fixed halfway up the front of the body close to each edge.

Still as shown in Figure 2, all four glides are secured by screws 17. The upper glides 16 act as a bottom travel limit stop against stops 18 secured inside the top end of the sliding tracks by screws which also secure the top of the trigger plate assembly 19. The lower ends of the sliding tracks extend below the body front by a distance equal to their own width and are joined by a connecting bracing member 20 which ensures that the spacing of the sliding tracks remains constant and parallel to ensure the friction free travel of the sliding track assembly. The aforementioned member 20 also acts as a stop against the bottom end of the body front to prevent the sliding track assembly from travelling further upwards during the reset action than the trigger and catch assembly 21 requires.

The top end of the parallel sliding tracks are connected on their front face by two rivets and two screws 22 to a plate 19 equal to the spaced outer width of the sliding tracks and extending approximately 50 mm down the sliding tracks front. The top of said plate is folded over 180° to provide an aperture 23 to accommodate the hinge pin 24 which extends the width of the said plate and provides for the hinged fixing of the trigger 25 in a suitably sized rebated notch 26 near the centre of said plate. A small spring 27 returns the trigger to the set position. Downward pressure on the trigger 25 causes the latch 21 to be ejected away allowing the sliding track assembly to drop down tinder the weight of the animal which must be greater than that exerted by the reset spring 28 which is responsible for the sliding track assembly returning upward to the set position after the injected animal has left. The top of the rest spring is fastened inside the top end of the body to one side by a clamp and screw 29 and the bottom end is attached to the bottom track assembly member 20 by a clamp and hook 30. The reset spring 28 (best shown in Figures 2 and 4) can be constructed of any suitable material although my preference as shown is flat elastic strap (as used in clothing). The latch 21 is pivotally hinged and provided with a light return spring 31 mounted on a base 32 riveted to the upper inside centre end of the body and protruding out of and almost level with the top of the body through a V-shaped notch 26 in the centre of the top front of the body so as to suitably engage the related trigger mechanism.

It is essential if this invention is to work properly that the entire weight of the target animal is on the platform 10 and or track assembly prior to the trigger being tripped. This causes the animal and the entire sliding t track assembly to drop down causing the animal to become impaled on the needle 9. The degree of pump actuation is determined by the body weight of the animal, the heavier the animal the greater the dose delivered by the pump because of the greater leverage applied by the 24 8 1 A 5 spring loaded pump actuation roller 33 against the peristaltic hose 34 thereby expelling more poison toward the needle. A lighter animal would cause less roller travel. The outward arc of travel 35 (possibly up to 80°) during pump actuation by the needle stem 36 tends to push the injured animal off the platform which at this stage has reached the bottom 'stop' limit of travel.

This action enables the animal to extricate itself from the needle and having left all contact with the invention, the reset springs return the pump and the entire sliding track assembly back to the reset position immediately ready for the next victim. The peristaltic hose automatically reprimes by its very nature as soon as the pressure applied to it is relieved by the springs 37 and 38 returning the pump assembly to the set position.

The needle and pump assembly 12 illustrates the preferred design which incorporates the main components as being the needle stem 36 comprising the hypodermic needle 9 which is secured to the needle stem by a threaded retaining nut 39 (see Figure 2) flanged on one side so as to clamp the base of the needle to the upper end of the needle stem. This top nut provides for the replacement of the needle in the event of damage. The needle stem 36 is provided with a male thread at the lower end suitable to screw into a female threaded bush 40 provided as a composite part of the top end of the pump bed arm 41. The needle stem is screwed down through said bush a distance of approximately 1 cm which is sufficient td provide a male attachment 42 for the top end of the soft elastic peristaltic pump hose 34.

The pump lies against and parallel with the outer side of the pump bed arm which-thereby provides the base for the resistance necessary for the 13 roller 33 to squeeze the pump hose against during actuation. The pump bed arm is pivotally hinged at its lower end and attached by a hinge pin 43 to the top outer end of the pump base 44 constructed in a channel shape along its length of a size suitable to closely accommodate said pump arm and to position the pump arm at an angle that is calculated to engage the abdomen area of the falling animal on the platform above. The pump base is secured by set screws to the centre bottom front of the body. A small reset spring 37 attached at the upper end to a pin through the pump bed arm under the aforementioned hinge pin and at the lower end to the bottom end of the base 44 ensures that the pump bed arm retvirns to the reset position after actuation.

The peristaltic pump hose fixed at the top end to the bottom of the protruding needle stem contains two non return valves of a suitable size to fit inside the pump hose. The discharge valve 45 is positioned as close as possible to the needle stem and the inlet valve 46 inside the lower end of the pump hose. The lower inlet valve is fitted to a small hose 47 at the lower end which passes through a hole 48 inside the lower end of the pump base to a poison reservoir 8 housed behind the body front and protected by an access door 49 at the back side. Said access door is hinged from the lower rear of the body screws 50. The pump actuation roller arm 51 is basically channel shaped along its length, of a size to closely fit over the outside of the base, is pivotally hinged by a pin 38 (which is also part of a spring) at the bottom end of and through the base to the base.

Said pin spring is bent at right angles on both outsides of the roller arm bottom end and extends in an upward direction 38. On one side said pin spring extends close to and parallel with the roller arm to the top end and at a location just above the inlet valve position it is bent at 90° from the 248 1 bottom base through hinge point 38 on the other side of the roller arm. The spring is tensioned by pushing this end inward and clipping under the protruding end of the aforementioned hinge pin 43.

The poison reservoir 8 is designed to contain a quantity of liquid able to be accommodated within the lower body confines allowing that the rear access door 49 can be closed to protect said reservoir, which is best constructed of a suitable soft, pliable preferably plastic, material capable of collapsing completely in order that any vacuum caused by the subsequent drawing of its contents does not impede the pump's ability to reprime. The poison reservoir is a completely sealed replaceable bag, designed with safety to the operator in mind in that it should be disposable after use (by burning), no decanting of poison required, therefore no risk of spillage and especially during transport.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. 24 8 145/26 4 00 9 WHAT I CLAIM IS An animal control device including a movable platform, an application means and return means, the animal control device configured so that the movement of the platform allows the application means to contact the animal, the return means configured to allow the platform to return substantially to its original position once the animal moves from the platform. An animal control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movable platform is mounted on a guide means and configured to move along the guide means when an animal is positioned on the platform. An animal control device as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the contact of the animal with the application means allows an amount of substance to be applied to the animal. An animal control as claimed in claim 3 wherein the amount of substance to be applied to the animal is dependent on the weight of the animal. An animal control device as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the application means applies a lethal dose of poison to the animal. An animal control device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the guide means include at least one sliding track. An animal control device as claimed in claim 3, or any one of claims 4 through 6 when dependent upon claim 3, wherein the application means injects the substance into the animal. -— 248145/ An animal control device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the application means is a hypodermic needle. An animal control device as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the return means is an elastic strap. An animal control device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the return means is a spring. A method of controlling animal populations including the use of an animal control device as claimed in any one of the above claims and including the steps of (a) mounting the device on a substantially vertical surface, and (b) attaching a bait or lure to the device. A method of controlling animal populations including the use of an animal control device and characterised by the steps of (a) positioning a platform in a position whereby an animal may mount the platform, and (b) positioning an application means so that the application means may come in contact with the animal once the animal has mounted the platform, and (c) positioning a return means to allow the device to substantially reset itself once contact with the animal has been made. An anirpal control device substantially as herein described and with reference to and is illustrated by the accompany drawings. 17 248145/264009 14. A method of controlling animal populations substantially as herein described and with reference to and is illustrated by the accompanying drawings. BRIAN MAXWELL CAUTY by his attorneys 18 V