# US 10,869,470 B2 · Device for holding bait for rodents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,470 B2 - Document ID: US10869470B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/543,896 - Filed: 2015-02-18 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-19 - Assignees: Jürgen Buchstaller - Applicants: Wolfgang Bittlinger; Jürgen Buchstaller - Inventors: Wolfgang Bittlinger; Jürgen Buchstaller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869470B2 ## CPC - A01M 25/004: {Bait stations, i.e. boxes completely enclosing the bait and provided with animal entrances} - A01M 25/002: {Bait holders, i.e. stationary devices for holding poisonous bait at the disposal of the animal} - A01M 1/2005: {Poisoning insects using bait stations (A01M1/10 takes precedence)} - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS ## Abstract An apparatus for holding bait for rodents that includes a housing that can be inserted into a manhole, the housing having one or more bait platform, a passage through the housing for rodents to access the bait platform, and optionally a mechanism to prohibit exposure of bait on the bait platform to the environment containing the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus (1) for holding a bait (2) for rodents, comprising: a housing (3) adapted to be inserted into a manhole, said housing comprising a housing wall that defines a cavity, the housing wall having a closed top section, a continuous sidewall and an at least partially open bottom section, at least one bait platform (8) arranged in the housing (3) delimiting at least one passage opening (9) through which a rodent can gain access to bait (2) arranged in the housing (3); wherein the housing has a given internal volume and the material comprising the housing wall is impervious to fluid the closed top section and the continuous sidewall configured to develop a counter-pressure in the cavity when water enters the housing (3) or rises within the housing (3), which counter-pressure opposes rise of the water within the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bait platform (8) comprises two or more bait platforms (8) arranged in the housing (3), each delimiting at least one passage opening (9) through which a rodent can gain access to bait (2) arranged in the housing (3). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an intermediate space (9a) formed between two adjacently arranged bait platforms (8). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage opening (9) of a first bait platform (8) is arranged offset to the at least one passage opening (9) of another bait platform (8) arranged next to the first bait platform (8). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one bait platform (8) is arranged at least partly with a bait platform section running at least partly with an inclination or a curvature relative to at least one other bait platform (8). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bait platform (8) is provided in at least some sections with a surface structuring that influences the flow of water flowing along it. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bait platform (8) is configured designed with two or more openings passing through it in at least some sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bait platform (8) is configured to at least partly extend through the housing (3) in a spiral or helical form. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one closing body (15) mounted movably relative to the at least one bait platform (8), wherein in an open position the closing body (15) is moved away from the at least one bait platform (8) such that the respective at least one passage opening (9) delimited by the bait platform (8) is exposed, and, in a closed position is moved toward the at least one bait platform (8) such that the respective at least one passage opening (9) delimited by the bait platform (8) is closed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the closing body (15) comprises at least one float. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one receiving chamber (31) formed or arranged in a receiving space (5) delimited by the housing (3), such that electrical electronic components of the apparatus (1) is optionally arranged in said receiving chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one receiving chamber (31) configured to contain an electrical and/or one or more electronic components of the apparatus (1), which receiving chamber (31) comprises a receiving-chamber-base body (44) which delimits a receiving chamber volume (43) for receiving electrical or electronic components of the apparatus (1), said receiving-chamber-base body (44) at least partially protruding into the cavity of the housing (3). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the receiving chamber (31) is releasably fastenable on the housing (3), wherein the receiving chamber (31) is configured to be releasably fastened on the housing (3) by interaction of at least one fastening section (45) on the housing (3) with at least one fastening section (46) on a receiving chamber base body (44). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the receiving chamber (31) is configured on the housing (3) and mounted rotatably relative to the housing (3), thereby being adapted to rotate between a fastened position in which the at least one fastening section (45) on the housing (3) and the at least one fastening section (46) on the receiving-chamber-base-body (44) interact in a form-fitting manner so that the receiving chamber (31) is releasably fastened on the housing (3), and a release position in which the at least one fastening section (45) on the housing (3) and the at least one fastening section (46) on the receiving chamber base body (44) do not interact so that the receiving chamber (31) is releasable from the housing (3). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the receiving chamber (31) has in a region of an upper exposed cover section (53) at least one tool working region (54) configured to engage in form fitting manner with an optional tool (55) such that, when engaged with the tool (55) rotational movements can be transferred to the receiving chamber (31) to convert the receiving chamber (31) from the fastened position into the release position and vice versa. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bait holding device (12) for holding at least one bait (2), wherein the bait-holding device (12) is configured on a section of a receiving chamber (31) protruding into the cavity on the housing (3). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one monitoring device (83) configured to monitor at least one part of the cavity delimited by the housing (3) configured in or on at least one receiving chamber (31), said receiving chamber (31) configured to be arranged in the cavity (5) delimited by the housing (3), wherein at least one electrical or an electronic component of the apparatus (1) is positioned in said receiving chamber (31). ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a water surge protection element (61) configured to prevent the penetration of water into the cavity delimited by the housing (3). ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fastening device (73) adapted for releasable fastening of the housing (3) to a manhole wall of a sewer system (4), wherein the fastening device (73) comprises at least one first fastening element (74) extending around the housing (3) on the outside circumference, and at least one second fastening element (75) adapted to fasten the first fastening element (74) on the wall of the sewer system (4). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second fastening element (75) comprises at least one fastening-element section (75a) extending around the housing (3) on a top side of the housing (3) in at least some sections and being releasable on an exposed portion of the top side of the housing (3). ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one guide device (97) configured to moveably guide the housing (3) inserted into a manhole (96) relative to a wall of the manhole (96). ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the guide device (97) comprises at least one wheel-type or roller-type guide element (98) by means of which the housing (3) can be guided on the wall of the manhole (96). ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one wheel-type or roller-type guide element (98) is mounted on a holding device (99) that is configured or arranged on the housing (3), wherein the wheel-type or roller-type guide element (98) can be braced against the wall of the manhole (96) via the holding device (99). ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the guide device (97) comprises at least one gearwheel-type or toothed rack-type linear guide element (103) on the housing (3) and at least one corresponding gearwheel or toothed rack-type linear guide element (104) on a sewer wall side by means of which the housing (3) is capable of being guided movably linearly on the wall of the manhole (96). ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the guide device (97) comprises at least one drive device that is capable of being coupled to at least one guide element (98, 103, 104) and is configured to transmit a drive force inducing a drive movement in the at least one guide element (98, 103, 104) to the at least guide element (98, 103, 104). ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the guide device (97) comprises at least one rod-type guide element (105) that is capable of being fastened in the manhole (96) and is arranged on the housing (3) or passes through said housing (3), wherein the housing (3) is guided to be movable relative to the rod-type guide element (105). ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one float (106) configured or arranged in or on the housing (3). ### Claim 28 A manhole, comprising an apparatus (1) for holding a bait (2) for rodents, the apparatus comprising: a housing (3) adapted to be inserted into the manhole, said housing comprising a housing wall that defines a cavity, the housing wall having a closed top section, a continuous sidewall and an at least partially open bottom section, at least one bait platform (8) arranged in the housing (3) delimiting at least one passage opening (9) through which a rodent can gain access to bait (2) arranged in the housing (3); wherein the housing has a given internal volume and the material comprising the housing wall is impervious to fluid the closed top section and the continuous sidewall configured to develop a counter-pressure in the cavity when water enters the housing (3) or rises within the housing (3), which counter-pressure opposes rise of the water within the cavity.