US4035946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trap for slugs and snails
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-24
•
Granted: 1977-07-19
•
Expires: 1996-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An inner container is loosely mounted in an outer container so that it will float on water that may collect in the outer container. A cover mounted on and spaced above the outer container sheds rain water and provides an access for snails and slugs over the upper edges of both containers to poisoned bait positioned in the bottom of the inner container. The outer container is partly buried below the ground and should the ground become flooded so that water runs through the pest entries, the upper lip of the inner container blocks the flow of water to the inner container which will then float upwardly within the outer container and thus keep the poison bait from becoming water soaked or flowing outwardly to the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace Thomas Rapp
- 👤 Wallace A. Rapp
- 👤 Gertrude A. Rapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 05:02
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M25/00; A01M25/002; A01M25/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
A pest trap comprising an outer container, an inner buoyant container within said outer container, and means for providing a pest access path to the interior of said inner container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pest trap comprising an outer container, an inner buoyant container within said outer container, and means for providing a pest access path to the interior of said inner container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trap of claim 1 wherein said inner container is mounted within said outer container for vertical movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The trap of claim 2 wherein each said container includes upstanding side walls, wherein said outer container includes port means for permitting flow of water into said outer container, and wherein the upper edge of said side walls of said inner container extend to an elevation higher than said port means when said inner container is in a relatively lower position, whereby water flowing into said outer container via said port means will not flow into said inner container and the latter will float upon water contained in said outer container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The trap of claim 3 wherein said outer container includes means for permitting drainage of water therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The trap of claim 4 including cover means for restricting entry of falling water into said containers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The trap of claim 5 wherein said cover means comprises a rain shedding body, a plurality of supports mounting said body to and above said outer container, and a peripheral flange on said body extending downwards toward said outer container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The trap of claim 4 wherein said port means comprises an upper portion of the side wall of said outer container and wherein said wall of said inner container includes a lip extending above said upper portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The trap of claim 7 wherein said lip comprises a surface inclined upwardly and inwardly from the upper portion of the side wall of said inner container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The trap of claim 7 wherein said lip comprises a flange extending inwardly and downwardly from the upper portion of the side wall of said inner container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A trap comprising an outer cup apertured at a bottom portion thereof and having an upper edge, said cup adapted to be positioned at least partly below ground with said upper edge substantially at ground level, an inner buoyant cup within said outer cup having a continuous upper edge positioned above said outer cup upper edge, a cover for said cups, and means for supporting said cover above said cups.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A trap comprising an outer cup apertured at a bottom portion thereof and having an upper edge, said cup adapted to be positioned at least partly below ground with said upper edge substantially at ground level, an inner buoyant cup within said outer cup having a continuous upper edge positioned above said outer cup upper edge, a cover for said cups, and means for supporting said cover above said cups.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The trap of claim 10 wherein said cups are relatively dimensioned to provide a space between the inside of said outer cup and the outside of said inner cup for reception of water flowing over the upper edge of said outer cup.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trap of claim 10 including means for providing a liquid flow path from upper portions of said outer cup to the bottom of the interior of said outer cup.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trap of claim 12 wherein said means for providing a liquid flow path comprises the outer surface of said inner cup and the inner surface of said outer cup.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The trap of claim 10 wherein said cover includes a peripheral flange extending downwardly to a level near the upper edge of said outer cup.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A pest trap comprising a container having a bottom and upstanding side walls, said container adapted to contain pest bait, means on upper edges of said side walls for defining an entry to the interior of said container, and means responsive to water in said trap for blocking said entry to block flow of water into said container and to block movement of bait from said container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
A pest trap comprising a container having a bottom and upstanding side walls, said container adapted to contain pest bait, means on upper edges of said side walls for defining an entry to the interior of said container, and means responsive to water in said trap for blocking said entry to block flow of water into said container and to block movement of bait from said container.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The trap of claim 15 wherein said means for blocking said entry comprises an outer container circumscribing said first mentioned container and having side walls with upper edges positioned below said upper edges of said first mentioned container, and means for providing said first mentioned container with positive buoyancy within said outer container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The trap of claim 16 including a cover mounted to and above said outer container, whereby said first mentioned container will float upon water in said outer container and the upper edges of the side walls of said first mentioned container will approach said cover to block said entry.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The trap of claim 17 wherein said cover is impervious to air and includes a downwardly extending peripheral portion for entrapping a pocket of air beneath the cover in the presence of water rising about the trap, said first mentioned container being positioned to float upwardly to project said upper edges thereof into a pocket of air entrapped beneath said cover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |