RODENT STATION

• US 20120174469A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wagner, Christopher C., Gardner, Douglas B., Anderson, Jay R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/60
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/00 Traps for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/005 with sticky surfaces for insects A01M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/08 with approaches permitting entry only
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/16 Box traps

Abstract

A rodent station for capturing or trapping mice, rats or other rodents may provide one or more rodent entry points and is sized to receive one or more rodent suppression devices, such as conventional snap traps, ramp traps, glue boards, etc. The rodent station may present a high contrast entrance that is relatively darker than the station enclosure. The station opening size may be adjustable to accommodate both mice and/or rats. An interior receptacle for station maintenance records or other printed material may also be included.

Claims

1. A rodent station comprising:

an elongate enclosure body having an interior sized to receive at least one rodent suppression device, the enclosure body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first opening;

an end cap sized to fit over the second end of the enclosure body, the end cap having second opening; and

at least one door insert, sized to fit within at least one of the first opening or the second opening, the at least one door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the first or the second opening.

2. The rodent station of claim 1 wherein the at least one door insert is relatively darker in color than the enclosure body.

3. The rodent station of claim 1 wherein the first opening and the second opening are substantially the same size.

4. The rodent station of claim 1 further comprising at least one blocking door insert sized to fit within at least one of the first opening or the second opening, the at least one blocking door insert including a face plate that prevents passage of a rodent.

5. The rodent station of claim 4 wherein the at least one blocking door insert includes an engagement member deformable from an engaged position to an unengaged position.

6. The rodent station of claim 1 wherein the at least one door insert includes an engagement member deformable from an engaged position to an unengaged position.

7. The rodent station of claim 1 further comprising an interior receptacle disposed within the enclosure body, wherein the interior receptacle is accessible to a human user and the interior receptacle is isolated from a rodent accessible area of the enclosure.

8. The rodent station of claim 7 wherein the interior receptacle is accessible to the human user upon removal of the end cap from the enclosure body.

9. The rodent station of claim 7 wherein the interior receptacle is defined by at least one interior wall of the enclosure.

10. The rodent station of claim 7 wherein the interior receptacle stores a maintenance record for the rodent station.

11. The rodent station of claim 1 wherein the rodent suppression device includes at least one of a lethal rodent trap or a non-lethal rodent trap.

12. The rodent station of claim 1 wherein the rodent suppression device includes at least one of a conventional rodent snap trap, a conventional ramp trap, or a glue board.

13. A rodent station comprising:

an elongate enclosure body having an interior sized to receive at least one rodent suppression device, the enclosure body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first opening;

an end cap sized to fit over the second end of the enclosure body, the end cap having second opening;

a first door insert, sized to fit within the first opening, the first door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the first;

a second door insert, sized to fit within the second opening, the second door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the second opening; and

a rodent snap trap positioned within the interior of the enclosure body.

14. The rodent station of claim 13 wherein the first door insert is relatively darker in color than the enclosure body.

15. The rodent station of claim 13 wherein the first opening and the second opening are substantially the same size.

16. A rodent station comprising:

an elongate enclosure body having an interior sized to receive at least one rodent suppression device, the enclosure body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first opening;

an end cap sized to fit over the second end of the enclosure body, the end cap having second opening;

a first door insert, sized to fit within the first opening, the first door insert including a rodent entry point that is relatively smaller than the first;

a second door insert, sized to fit within the second opening, the second door insert including a face plate that prevents passage of a rodent; and

one or more rodent suppression devices, designed to enclose, retain, or kill rodents or other small mammalian pests sized to fit within the enclosure body.

17. The rodent station of claim 16 wherein the one or more rodent suppression devices includes at least one of a rodent snap trap, a ramp trap, and a glue board.

18. The rodent station of claim 16, further comprising a mounting bracket sized to receive the enclosure body.

19. The rodent station of claim 16 wherein the one or more rodent suppression devices comprises a ramp trap positioned within the interior of the enclosure body such that an entrance to the ramp trap is proximate the rodent entry point of the first door insert.

20. The rodent station of claim 16, further comprising an interior receptacle disposed within the enclosure body, wherein the interior receptacle is accessible to a human user upon removal of the end cap and wherein the interior receptacle is sized to store a maintenance record for the rodent station.