IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,006,622
Granted Patent B2
US 11,006,622 · App. 15/038,104 · Granted May 18, 2021

Pest-management apparatuses with separator to direct rodent movement and/or improve rodent contact with adhesive

Inventors: Eric Snell (Bedford, TX); Ethan Vickery (Bedford, TX); Larry Covington (Bedford, TX)
Assignee: VM PRODUCTS, INC.
A01M25/004A01M23/02A01M23/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,006,622
App. No.
15/038,104
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Pest-management apparatuses (e.g., stations), such as, for example, that can configured to permit a rodent to enter and retrieve a bait and/or become trapped (e.g., adhesive or a snap-trap).

Claims (29)

1. A pest-management apparatus comprising:

a base;

a lid configured to be coupled to the base such that the base and the lid cooperate to define a chamber having at least one entrance opening sized to permit a rodent to enter the apparatus;

a divider extending from one of the lid and the base; and

one or more separators, each having a length, configured to be coupled to the base such that if the lid and base are coupled together to define the chamber, the one or more separators:

separate the chamber into a first portion within which the divider is disposed and a second portion;

are positioned relative to the divider to prevent a rodent from traversing the first portion of the chamber between the one or more separators and the divider;

prevent a rodent from accessing at least the second portion of the chamber except by climbing over the one or more separators, and

permit the rodent to climb over a majority of the length(s) of the one or more separators.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , where a lower boundary of the one or more separators contacts a floor of the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , where a lower boundary of the one or more separators is spaced from a floor of the base.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , where an upper boundary of the one or more separators is spaced from the lid by a distance of greater than 0.25 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the one or more separators comprise a translucent material or a transparent material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the one or more separators comprise an elongated member having a planar configuration.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the base defines two grooves configured to receive portions of the one or more separators.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , where at least one of the base and lid comprises a scented plastic.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the first portion is configured to resist a rodent's exit from the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the one or more separators are substantially perpendicular to the base.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the apparatus comprises two entrance openings.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , where the two entrance openings are disposed on substantially opposite sides of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , where the divider is configured to prevent a rodent from entering the apparatus through one of the two openings and exiting the apparatus through the other of the two openings without first passing through a rodent capture portion of the chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , where the divider is further configured to prevent a rodent outside the apparatus from seeing one of the two openings through the other of the two openings.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , where at least one of the base and the lid comprises a sidewall, and the apparatus is configured such that if the lid is coupled to the base in a closed configuration, the divider extends from the sidewall.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , where the divider is unitary with the sidewall.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the chamber has at least one secondary opening sized differently than the entrance opening.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , where at least one of the base and the lid comprises a sidewall at least partially defining an external perimeter of the apparatus, the sidewall configured to discourage a rodent from climbing onto the lid of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , where at least one of the base and the lid comprises at least one protrusion extending outwardly relative to the chamber, the at least one protrusion configured to discourage a rodent from traveling in at least one non-vertical direction away from the at least one entrance opening.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a solid floor.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , where at least one of the one or more separators has a constant height along a majority of the length.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2024
From: VM PRODUCTS, INC.
To: VMIP, LLC
Reel/Frame 069306/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2018
From: SNELL, ERIC; VICKERY, ETHAN; COVINGTON, LARRY
To: VM PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046201/0406 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61907699 · Nov 22, 2013
Related Publication 20160286783A1 · Oct 6, 2016