Abstract: A bait station is mounted to a base. The bait station has the general shape of a box with a locking hinged lid. The box has side walls with openings so that rodents can enter into the box and gain access to poison bait or a mechanical trap. The base has a lower tray for receiving a weight. The bait station is releasably mounted to the base by a locking mechanism employing resilient finger which pass between a shroud on a side wall of the box to engage with portions of the wall forming an opening which is partly covered by the shroud so the fingers can be unlocked only by gaining access to the interior of the bait station box.

Abstract: A mole trap has a tough plastic base with downwardly extending fixed blades. Movable plastic blades are pivotably connected to the base and urged into a sprung condition by springs. A two-segment lever extends between the base and a catch which is pivotably mounted to the base. A trigger extends through a central opening in the catch and has a post which protrudes beneath the catch where it can be actuated by the targeted mole. Operation of the trigger post causes the lever to release from its engagement with the catch so that the movable blades close on and strike the mole positioned beneath the trap. The trigger has a release tab extending from the lever, allowing convenient release from the set position, and an upwardly protruding set arm allowing trigger depression from a point exterior to the handle into its desired set configuration.

Abstract: A bait station system has a bait station mounted to a base. The bait station has the general shape of a box with a locking hinged lid. The box has side walls with openings so that rodents can enter into the box and gain access to poison bait or a mechanical trap. The base has a lower tray for receiving a weight. The lower tray has a lower surface which may be glued, attached by a screw, bolt, or earth anchor to a planar surface. The bait station is releasably mounted to the base by a locking mechanism which can be unlocked only by gaining access to the interior of the box forming the bait station.

Abstract: A mole trap has a tough plastic base with downwardly extending fixed blades. Movable plastic blades are pivotably connected to the base and urged into a sprung condition by springs. A two-segment lever extends between the base and a catch which is pivotably mounted to the base. A trigger extends through a central opening in the catch and has a post which protrudes beneath the catch where it can be actuated by the targeted mole. Operation of the trigger post causes the lever to release from its engagement with the catch so that the movable blades close on and strike the mole positioned beneath the trap. The trigger has a release tab extending from the lever, allowing convenient release from the set position, and an upwardly protruding set arm allowing trigger depression from a point exterior to the handle into its desired set configuration.

Abstract: A molded plastic base has a cylindrical side wall with three rodent access openings to passageways which lead to an internal feeding chamber containing rodent bait, the passageways providing multiple rodent feeding positions at the feeding chamber. A dome-shaped lid has finger recesses permitting the lid to be gripped and rotated with respect to the base. A latch secures the lid, for release without the need for a key. Narrow flanges extend inwardly from the lid to engage beneath outwardly protruding flanges on the upper parts of the base side wall. A portion of the base side wall is resiliently deflectable inwardly such that rotation of the lid causes a cam surface tooth to be depressed by a lid flange. Once past the tooth, the resilient side wall portion returns to its original condition locking removal of the lid until the side wall portion is depressed from the outside.

Abstract: A molded plastic base has a cylindrical side wall with three rodent access openings to passageways which lead to an internal feeding chamber containing rodent bait, the passageways providing multiple rodent feeding positions at the feeding chamber. A dome-shaped lid has finger recesses permitting the lid to be gripped and rotated with respect to the base. A latch secures the lid, for release without the need for a key. Narrow flanges extend inwardly from the lid to engage beneath outwardly protruding flanges on the upper parts of the base side wall. A portion of the base side wall is resiliently deflectable inwardly such that rotation of the lid causes a cam surface tooth to be depressed by a lid flange. Once past the tooth, the resilient side wall portion returns to its original condition locking removal of the lid until the side wall portion is depressed from the outside.

Abstract: A rodent trap particularly adapted for rats has a plastic base to which a plastic upper jaw is pivotably mounted by a steel pin. A spring is engaged between the base and the upper jaw and urges the jaw to close upon the base. A trigger is pivotably mounted by the pin to ears which project upwardly from the base. A catch mechanism operates to restrain the upper jaw in a set position until the trigger is actuated. A plastic bait container has radially protruding flanges which permit it to be extended through a hole in the base beneath the trigger and secured to the base such that the bait within the container is accessible through another hole in the trigger. In one embodiment, the bait container is generally cylindrical and is twisted into place. The bait container is readily removed for replenishment.

Abstract: A molded plastic base has a rodent runway which extends from two inlet openings to a single rodent containment compartment. Pivotable ramps are positioned in the rodent runway adjacent each inlet opening. A plastic lid is slidingly engaged with the base, and is movable along the axis of the rodent runway. The lid has downwardly extending tabs which have inclined inside and outside surfaces, and barriers extending between each pair of tabs. The inclined surfaces of the tabs engage inclined protrusions which project upwardly from the ramps when the lid is slid open and closed, the engagement between the inclined surfaces causes the ramps to pivot out of the way of the barriers, facilitating smooth and uninterrupted opening and closing of the lid on the base.

Abstract: A molded plastic base has a rodent runway which extends from two inlet openings to a single rodent containment compartment. Pivotable ramps are positioned in the rodent runway adjacent cacti inlet opening. A plastic lid is slidingly engaged with the base, and is movable along the axis of the rodent runway. The lid has downwardly extending tabs which have inclined inside and outside surfaces, and barriers extending between each pair of tabs. The inclined surfaces of the tabs engage inclined protrusions which project upwardly from the ramps when the lid is slid open and closed, the engagement between the inclined surfaces causes the ramps to pivot out of the way of the barriers, facilitating smooth and uninterrupted opening and closing of the lid on the base.

Abstract: A plastic jaw or striker with downwardly facing teeth is pivotally mounted to a plastic base with mating upwardly facing teeth. A plastic trigger hangs from the base, and a coil spring extends between the jaw and the base rearward of the trigger. The spring holds the jaw in the set position, by engaging the rear of the jaw against the rear of the base. The trap is tuned to be not overly sensitive, avoiding springing of the trap by vibrations or insubstantial rodent entry. The spring or tension axis does not go through the trigger, simplifying construction and arrangement of parts. The open position is limited by the jaw engaging the base. The jaw is just over-center when set, such that a small movement towards closure does not trigger it. The trigger requires fairly large movement, facilitated by the raised pivot axis, to trigger the trap.

Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for covering the discharge end of a cup dispenser that stores a plurality of cups in a nested stack. The diaphragm includes an inner continuous edge defining a central discharge opening through which the bottom of the outermost cup in the stack extends to be grasped and withdrawn from the stack. The inner continuous edge is configured in a polygonal shape to retain the stack of cups to be dispensed while permitting the outermost cup in the stack to be withdrawn from the stack. Preferably, the inner continuous edge is hexagonal in shape.

Abstract: A cup dispenser includes a housing for storing a plurality of cups nested in a stack. The cup dispenser has an annular collar surrounding the exterior of the housing. An annular retaining ring carries a cup holding member that is removably mounted on the collar such that the cup holding member is disposed over the discharge end of the housing to control removal of cups from the stack. The collar and housing have a locking arrangement which cooperates to permit relative movement of the collar and housing between a locked position and an unlocked position where the collar and housing can be separated. Portions of the collar and locking arrangement exposed to the interior of the housing preferably are substantially free of crevices or cavities which can trap bacteria.

Abstract: A modular assembly of diverse electrical components for operation of an outboard motor including a box in which the components are inserted and/or mounted and prewired. External leads are organized for passage through a few specially located openings in the box for external connection. The fully assembled and prewired assembly is enclosed with a demountable cover and attached directly to the engine block. The modular assembly alleviates indiscriminate component mounting and corresponding disarray of interconnecting lead wires. In addition the moisture and corrosion resistance of the components is enhanced.