Method and apparatus for extermination of pests

Abstract

An extermination device for exterminating pests includes a holder, trigger mechanism and a resilient ring mounted on the holder. When a pest actuates the trigger mechanism, the ring is released from the holder onto the pest, thereby killing the pest in a humane manner. A cover may be provided to protect the trigger mechanism from dirt and animals larger than target pest size. A loading device having a tapering body adapted to allow a resilient ring to be expanded from the narrow end to the wide end of the tapering body, wherein the wide end includes a formation adapted to engage with a holder of an extermination device.

1 . A vermin extermination device comprising:
 a housing, said housing having a closed passage therein with an open end;   a trigger device having a trigger, said trigger placed along said open end of said closed passage;   a ring release mechanism connected to said trigger mechanism; and   at least one resilient ring, said ring release mechanism releasing said at least one resilient ring after said at least one resilient ring is expanded, upon configuration of said at least one expanded resilient ring and actuation of said trigger device by said vermin, onto said vermin,   said at least one expanded resilient ring, upon release by said ring release mechanism onto said vermin, detaches from said vermin extermination device so as to be free therefrom and contracts onto said vermin,   whereby said vermin is killed.   
     
     
         2 . The extermination device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the housing is configured to hold a plurality of expanded resilient rings and to hold a first one of the expanded resilient rings at a release position, and   the extermination device is configured to release the first one of the expanded resilient rings when the trigger device is actuated and to move a second one of the expanded resilient rings to the release position when the first one of the expanded resilient rings is released from the release position.   
     
     
         3 . The extermination device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a biasing means configured to apply a force to the second one of the resilient rings, towards the release position. 
     
     
         4 . The extermination device according to  claim 3 , wherein the biasing means is coupled to the trigger device. 
     
     
         5 . The extermination device according to  claim 1 , configured to release the at least one expanded resilient ring, such that it contracts around a neck of the vermin. 
     
     
         6 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 loading device means having a tapering body adapted to allow said resilient ring to be expanded from a narrow end to a wide end of the tapering body, wherein the wide end includes a formation adapted to engage with said housing of said vermin extermination device.   
     
     
         7 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vermin are selected from the group consisting of mice, rats, stoats, polecats, possums and other animals considered vermin. 
     
     
         8 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 7 , wherein the diameter of said common passage for said vermin is selected from the group consisting of about 25-40 mm, about 60-100 mm, and diameters consistent with said vermin. 
     
     
         9 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said extermination device is affixable to an object or surface selected from the group consisting of the ground, a tree, a pole, a post, a board, a horizontal surface and a vertical surface. 
     
     
         10 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein a bait or attractant is placed within said closed passage prior to configuring said vermin extermination device to kill said vermin. 
     
     
         11 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger device is disposed within said closed passage. 
     
     
         12 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spring means for assisting the ring release mechanism in releasing said at least one expanded resilient ring.   
     
     
         13 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 12 , wherein said spring means, upon actuation of said trigger device by said vermin, applies a force to said ring release mechanism, forcing said at least one expanded resilient ring onto said vermin. 
     
     
         14 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 13 , wherein said expanded resilient ring is disposed on said housing adjacent the open end thereof, whereby said force from said spring means pushes said at least one expanded resilient ring free of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein said housing comprises a notch at said open end, said spring means connected to said trigger device through said notch, said spring means, upon actuation by said vermin, applying said force to said at least one expanded resilient ring along said notch,   whereby said spring means pushes said at least one expanded resilient ring off said housing onto said vermin.   
     
     
         16 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 12 , wherein said spring means, upon actuation of said trigger device by said vermin, applies a lateral force to said expanded resilient ring. 
     
     
         17 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 12 , wherein said extermination device is armed by a user contracting said spring means. 
     
     
         18 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 12 , wherein said trigger device comprises:
 a firing means having a cocked position and a release position, and   said spring means for biasing said firing means when in said cocked position to said release position,   whereby upon actuation of said trigger device by said vermin, said firing means, through action by said spring means, moves from said cocked position to said release position.   
     
     
         19 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 18 , wherein said firing means, under the action of said spring means, pushes said at least one expanded resilient ring free of said extermination device and onto said vermin. 
     
     
         20 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , further comprising leverage means for leveraging the energy input in arming said at least one expanded resilient ring to release said at least one expanded resilient ring. 
     
     
         21 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 20 , wherein said extermination device is armed by a user placing said at least one resilient ring onto said ring release mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 20 , wherein said leverage means comprises:
 a firing means having a cocked position and a release position, and   a biasing means for biasing said firing means when in said cocked position to said release position,   whereby upon actuation of said trigger device by said vermin, said firing means, through action by said biasing means, moves from said cocked position to said release position.   
     
     
         23 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 22 , wherein said firing means, under the action of said biasing means, pushes said at least one expanded resilient ring free of said extermination device and onto said vermin. 
     
     
         24 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said resilient ring is made of a material selected from the group consisting of: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, a composite material and a metal. 
     
     
         25 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one expanded resilient ring has a configuration selected from the group consisting of: circular and rectangular. 
     
     
         26 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one expanded resilient ring, upon release, contracts to a normal size, the contracted resilient ring at said normal size having an inner diameter less than a neck size of a vermin. 
     
     
         27 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger device and said ring release mechanism are connected to said housing. 
     
     
         28 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a cover, said cover engaging the open end of said housing, said cover having a second open end thereof, said vermin entering said second open end and engaging said ring release mechanism.   
     
     
         29 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 28 , wherein a user arms said trigger device and said ring release mechanism on said housing while said cover is separate from said housing, and wherein said user then connects said housing and said cover, arming the vermin extermination device. 
     
     
         30 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 interlocking means for connecting said housing with said cover.   
     
     
         31 . The vermin extermination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder has a configuration selected from the group consisting of tubular and rectangular. 
     
     
         32 . A method of exterminating vermin, the method comprising employing the vermin extermination device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         33 . A method of exterminating vermin comprising:
 loading at least one resilient ring onto a ring release mechanism, said at least one resilient ring loaded being expanded thereby;   setting a trigger device having a trigger;   positioning said trigger along an open end of a holder, said holder having a closed passage therein; and   placing a bait or attractant within said closed passage,   wherein upon actuation of said trigger by a vermin, triggering the release of said at least one expanded resilient ring from said extermination device onto said vermin such that said at least one expanded ring is free from said extermination device,   whereby the at least one released expanded resilient ring contracts upon and kills said vermin.   
     
     
         34 . The method of exterminating vermin according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 arming said extermination device by a user contracting a spring means, said spring means providing the energy to activate said extermination device after actuation by said vermin.   
     
     
         35 . The method of exterminating vermin according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 arming said extermination device by a user expanding said at least one resilient ring onto said ring release mechanism, said at least one expanded resilient ring providing the energy to activate said extermination device after actuation by said vermin.   
     
     
         36 . The method of exterminating vermin according to  claim 33 , wherein a plurality of said resilient rings are loaded onto said ring release mechanism, and wherein said ring release mechanism releases one of said plurality of resilient rings onto said vermin. 
     
     
         37 . The method of exterminating vermin according to  claim 36 , further comprising, after said one resilient ring is released, moving a second of said resilient rings to a release position. 
     
     
         38 . A method of exterminating a pest, comprising the steps of:
 holding an expanded resilient ring on a holder, said expanded resilient ring posed along an open end of a closed passage of said holder, a bait or attractant being placed within said closed passage; and   releasing the expanded resilient ring free of the holder such that it contracts around a pest free from said holder when said pest actuates a trigger mechanism,   thereby exterminating the pest.   
     
     
         39 . A kit for a vermin extermination device comprising:
 a housing, said housing having a closed passage therein with an open end;   a trigger device having a trigger, said trigger when configured placed along said open end of said closed passage;   a ring release mechanism when configured connected to said trigger mechanism; and   at least one resilient ring, said ring release mechanism when configured releasing an expanded resilient ring placed thereon, upon actuation of said trigger device by said vermin, onto said vermin;   said expanded resilient ring, when configured and upon release by said ring release mechanism onto said vermin, detaches from said vermin extermination device and contracts onto said vermin,   whereby said vermin is killed by the configured vermin extermination device.