AU638449B2 - Feeder device - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 255122

I

8~4

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act FORM COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Ladgjed: Accepted: Published: S. SO S. S *5 S

*SSS

S

5@5000

S

0S Se

S

C

50 0 0

S

Priorityi Related Art: Applicant(s): V--R--Rd1ey7. W. Ridely, 76 River Street MANILLA NSW 2346

AUSTRALIA

S.J. Baker and B.A. Baker Address for Service: ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 0060 0

OSOS

SOS.

00 55 0 *005 0

SOS...

0

S

005550 0 Complete specification for the invention entitled "Feeder device" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 0 i i 1, 1 1, 1 ZPi 04 711"" 1 5020 FF.DER DEVICE The present invention relates to a feeder device, and in particular to a feeder device which is adapted to supply poison bait to animals, particularly to pests such as rats and mice.

The present invention is particularly suitable for the poisoning of rodents such as rats and mice in agricultural areas, however the present invention can also be modified for domestic and industrial purposes, for the poisoning of pests.

At present, there are a large number of baiting devices, which are utilised to poison pests. A major problem with such

S

devices is that they are not designed in a suitable construction such that they only poison rodents such as rats and mice. Such prior art devices usually enable other animals such as birds, possums, cats and other small animals to eat the poison bait. This is because suitable feeding means were not provided on such prior art devices to prevent these latter animals from reaching the poison bait.

The present invention seeks to provide a feeder device for supplying poison bait to animals, particularly rats and mice, which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art poison bait feeder devices.

The present invention also seeks to provide a feeder device which is particularly suitable for agricultural purposes, but which may also be adapted for household and industrial use.

The present invention also seeks to provide a feeder device which not affected by rain and other environmental 2 AMD/2049a AMD/0708a -3effects.

In its broadest aspect, the invention provides a feeder device for supplying poison bait to animals such as rats and mice, comprising: an elongate tunnel member, having open ends through which said animals may pass; a feed area, defined by a pair of baffles provided in substantially a central portion of said tunnel member, said animals being able to pass over said baffles to reach said ,0,0 0 feed area; and a hopper member supplied substantially intermediate of and above said feed area, to regulate the supply of said oees*: poison into said feed area as said poison is cunsumed by said animals.

Preferably, the present invention provides a feeder device each of said tunnel member and said hopper member are tubular in shape.

In a further preferred embodiment the present invention provides a feeder device wherein a lower end of said hopper member is provided with a constriction to constrict the otherwise free flow of said poison from said hopper to said feed area.

oo: Also preferably, attaching means for attaching said device to a substrate surface are provided.

The present invention will be more fully understood by the following detailed dascription thereof, in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates the feeder device for supplying poison bait to animals sucn as rats and mice.

1 AMD/0708a 4 The feeder device as illustrated and generally designated by the numeral 1 comprises a tunnel member 2 through which animals may pass, and hopper member 3 intermediate the ends of the tunnel member 2, which is adapted to supply feed into a central portion of the tunnel member 2. Whilst the embodiment herein described is particularly illustrated for supplying poison bait to rats and mice, it should be understood that a more general form of the invention is a feeder device which is adapted to supply feed (not necessarily poisonous) to any type of o animal.

*O 0 The feeder device 1 hereinafter described is particularly suited to supplying poison bait to rats and mice. The tunnel member is preferably a black pipe or galvanised water pipe of approximately 3.2 to 4 mm wall thickness, being approximately Im in total length. The hopper member 3, as shown, is also a tubular shaped member of approximately 0.5m length, provided with a lid 4 at an upper end thereof, and is flattened at the lower end thereof in the portion which enters the tunnel member 2. The upper end of the hopper member 3 is also preferably provided with a handle 6 which may be closed over the lid 4, and tightened thereover. If required, a padlock may also be provided through the lid 4 and the handle 6 to prevent removal of the lid 4 from the hopper 3. The lower end 5 of the hopper member 3 is flattened within the tunnel base member 2 such that rats and mice may freely pass through the tunnel member 2 from end to end. The provision of the flattened end 5 of the hopper member 3 also enables control of the amount of poison bait into the feed area, generally designated by the numeral 7.

The tunnel base member 2 is also shown having a pair of baffles 8 welded into a slot which is cut in the lower portion of the tunnel base member 2, approximately 0.25m from the ends thereof, as illustrated in the preferred embodiment. The baffle members 8 form a stopping means, preventing the poison bait being scratched from outside the feeding area 7, and also prevents water from entering into the feeding area 7. The ends of the tunnel base member 2 are also shown having a flat plate welded across them, to prevent the entry of hands or small animals into the feeding areas 7. If required, the plate may also be provided within the top of the hopper 3 for the same e*:e purpose.

In use, rats and mice can enter through the end of the tunnel base member 2, climbing over the baffle member 8 and s*os entering the feeding area 7 wherein the bait may be consumed.

The rodent may then either pass through to the other side of the base member 2 to exit the opposite end, or it may exit either the same end as that which it entered. This ensures that the animals do not die within the pipe, but rather leave the feeding area before dying.

To prevent the feeder device from being removed or being upended, the baffles 8 may be provided in an shaped AI4D/2049a section, such that screws or like retaining means may be supplied therethrough and affixed to the ground surface or floor.

The present invention therefore provides a feeder device which enables a year-round, waterproof, troublefree feeding-station, with the added safety feature that the poison bait is kept out of reach of children, pets, birds and other small animals.

The feeder device which has been hereinbefore described is particularly suitable for agricultural purposes. Obviously for industrial and domestic purposes a feeder device of smaller o size would be preferable. Also, whilst the feeder device has Sbeen hereinbefore described as being of circular cross-section, obviously, any desired cross-section may be applicable to this

S

invention.

It will be understood -hat the said feeder device may be constructed of plastic or similar synthetic material, necessitating some structural changes. The small domestic models may utilise a solid poison mass, thus rendering the vertical self-feeder hopper unnecessary.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the invention as hereinbefore can be modified such that any S type of feed or poison bait, liquid or solid, may be supplied via the hopper into the feeding area.

It will be understood that many variations and modifications will also be envisaged by a person skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications should however be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as broadly described herein.

6 2PAD/2049a

Claims (5)

1. A feeder device for supplying poison bait to animals such as rats and mice, comprising: an elongate tunnel member, having open ends through which said animals may pass; a feed area, defined by a pair of baffles provided in substantially a central portion of said tunnel member, said animals being able to pass over said baffles to reach said feed area; and a hopper member supplied substantially intermediate of and above said feed area, to regulate the supply of said poison into said feed area as said poison is consumed by said animals. S.

2. A feeder device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tunnel member and said hopper member are tubular in shape.

3. A feeder device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a lower end of said hopper member is provided with a constriction to Sconstrict the otherwise free flow of said poison from said hopper to said feed area.

4. A feeder device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein attaching means for attaching said device to a substrate surface are provided.

5. A feeder device, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 14th day of April, 1993. 0:06 0**000 M WALKER.-M BAKER, W RIDLEY, S BAKER and B BAKER By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE