David A Swift

US Patent:

6609328, Aug 26, 2003

Filed:

Jan 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/043161

Inventors:

David W. Swift - Lititz PA
Christopher T. Rich - Lancaster PA

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

A01M 2302

US Classification:

43 98

Abstract:

An electronic animal trap incorporating an inclined plane trap assembly is capable to preclude an animal on the tilting floor member of the trap assembly from engaging the top and/or side edges of the door member of the trap assembly in an attempt to escape from the trap by pulling the door member down to thereby unblock access to the entrance opening. An electronic circuit is connected to a bottom plate so that when animals weight causes the inclined ramp to lower and contact the bottom plate the circuit is completed and the animal receives a charge of sufficient power to cause electrocution. A plastic version of the electronic animal trap assembly enables many of the structural elements to be economically manufactured and easily assembled.

US Patent:

6735899, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Dec 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/320688

Inventors:

David L. Anderson - Lititz PA
Michael J. Gehret - Lititz PA
David W. Swift - Lititz PA
Christopher T. Rich - Lititz PA

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

A01M 2302

US Classification:

43 98

Abstract:

An electric or electronic animal trap wherein the housing includes a pair of spaced electrodes or charge plates in a killing chamber intermediate the trap entrance and a source of bait. Interposed in the pathway to the electrodes is at least one diverter which discourages a target animal from reversing direction before it is electrocuted. In one embodiment, juxtaposed to the entrance are at least two diverter members angularly offset relative to each other to define a maze-like path to lead a target animal to the charge plates for electrocution while discouraging reversal of direction and protecting against direct access to the charge plates through the entrance opening by children, pets or non-target species. A diverter or barrier plate may be carried by the housing cover to extend into the space between the electrodes when the cover is closed, the lower edge of the barrier being spaced from the housing floor a limited distance to force a target animal to squeeze under the barrier as it passes to the second electrode making escape before electrocution difficult. This design may be utilized in combination with a spaced, upwardly extending diverter or barrier plate to block direct access to the pair of electrodes from the entrance opening.

US Patent:

6775947, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Nov 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/704538

Inventors:

David L. Anderson - Lititz PA
Michael J. Gehret - Lititz PA
David W. Swift - Lititz PA
Christopher T. Rich - Lititz PA

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

A01M 2302

US Classification:

43 98, 43 61

Abstract:

An electric or electronic animal trap wherein the housing includes a pair of spaced electrodes or charge plates in a killing chamber intermediate the trap entrance and a source of bait. Interposed in the pathway to the electrodes is at least one diverter which discourages a target animal from reversing direction before it is electrocuted. In one embodiment, juxtaposed to the entrance are at least two diverter members angularly offset relative to each other to define a maze-like path to lead a target animal to the charge plates for electrocution while discouraging reversal of direction and protecting against direct access to the charge plates through the entrance opening by children, pets or non-target species. A diverter or barrier plate may be carried by the housing cover to extend into the space between the electrodes when the cover is closed, the lower edge of the barrier being spaced from the housing floor a limited distance to force a target animal to squeeze under the barrier as it passes to the second electrode making escape before electrocution difficult. This design may be utilized in combination with a spaced, upwardly extending diverter or barrier plate to block direct access to the pair of electrodes from the entrance opening.

US Patent:

6796081, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Nov 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/704544

Inventors:

David L. Anderson - Lititz PA
Michael J. Gehret - Lititz PA
David W. Swift - Lititz PA
Christopher T. Rich - Lititz PA

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

A01M 2302

US Classification:

43 98

Abstract:

An electric or electronic animal trap wherein the housing includes a pair of spaced electrodes or charge plates in a killing chamber intermediate the trap entrance and a source of bait. Interposed in the pathway to the electrodes is at least one diverter which discourages a target animal from reversing direction before it is electrocuted. In one embodiment, juxtaposed to the entrance are at least two diverter members angularly offset relative to each other to define a maze-like path to lead a target animal to the charge plates for electrocution while discouraging reversal of direction and protecting against direct access to the charge plates through the entrance opening by children, pets or non-target species. A diverter or barrier plate may be carried by the housing cover to extend into the space between the electrodes when the cover is closed, the lower edge of the barrier being spaced from the housing floor a limited distance to force a target animal to squeeze under the barrier as it passes to the second electrode making escape before electrocution difficult. This design may be utilized in combination with a spaced, upwardly extending diverter or barrier plate to block direct access to the pair of electrodes from the entrance opening.

US Patent:

D503019, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Oct 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

29/192001

Inventors:

David W. Swift - Lititz PA, US
Edward J. Holliday - Hummelstown PA, US
Christopher T. Rich - Leola PA, US

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

3003

US Classification:

D30127

US Patent:

6889629, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Oct 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/687867

Inventors:

David W. Swift - Lititz PA, US
Edward J. Holliday - Hummelstown PA, US
Christopher T. Rich - Leola PA, US

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

A01K039/01

US Classification:

119 522

Abstract:

A bird feeder wherein a housing includes a plurality of modular hopper elements with a floor underlying and supporting the hopper elements and a roof overlying the hopper elements, the hopper elements including impermeable side walls juxtaposed to form a hopper assembly of maximum capacity and minimum footprint and a front wall with feed apertures to enable birds to access bird food within the hopper element. Each hopper may be selectively removed and replaced without disturbing the other elements. In one embodiment, the hopper elements form segments of an inverted frustoconical hopper assembly which may be selectively and individually removed from the bird feeder without disassembling the housing. In another embodiment, each of the hopper elements is rectangular in transverse cross-section, and comprises a pair of spaced, generally triangular, parallel impermeable side walls interconnected by a pair of spaced, generally rectangular, front walls angled from the upper portion of the hopper element to the lower portion thereof, with the parallel impermeable side walls of adjacent hopper elements being juxtaposed in the housing and a plurality of feed apertures defined in each of the angled front walls adjacent the lower end thereof. A seed catcher may be provided underlying each hopper element with a depression formed in the floor of the housing to position the seed catchers.

US Patent:

7263950, Sep 4, 2007

Filed:

Feb 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/066433

Inventors:

David W. Swift - Lititz PA, US
Edward J. Holliday - Hummelstown PA, US
Christopher T. Rich - Leola PA, US

Assignee:

Woodstream Corporation - Lititz PA

International Classification:

A01K 39/01

US Classification:

119 578, 119 522

Abstract:

A bird feeder wherein a housing includes a plurality of modular hopper elements with a floor underlying and supporting the hopper elements and a roof overlying the hopper elements, the hopper elements including impermeable side walls juxtaposed to form a hopper assembly of maximum capacity and minimum footprint and a front wall with feed apertures to enable birds to access bird food within the hopper element. Each hopper may be selectively removed and replaced without disturbing the other elements. In one embodiment, the hopper elements form segments of an inverted frustoconical hopper assembly which may be selectively and individually removed from the bird feeder without disassembling the housing. In another embodiment, each of the hopper elements is rectangular in transverse cross-section, and comprises a pair of spaced, generally triangular, parallel impermeable side walls interconnected by a pair of spaced, generally rectangular, front walls angled from the upper portion of the hopper element to the lower portion thereof, with the parallel impermeable side walls of adjacent hopper elements being juxtaposed in the housing and a plurality of feed apertures defined in each of the angled front walls adjacent the lower end thereof. A seed catcher may be provided underlying each hopper element with a depression formed in the floor of the housing to position the seed catchers.

US Patent:

20030226513, Dec 11, 2003

Filed:

Jun 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/166070

Inventors:

David Swift - Lititz PA, US
Edward Holliday - Lititz PA, US

International Classification:

A01K061/02

US Classification:

119/057800

Abstract:

A gazebo-style bird feeder wherein a housing includes a plurality of modular hopper elements with a floor underlying and supporting the hopper elements and a roof overlying the hopper elements, the roof being movable relative to the floor to enable the hopper elements to be selectively removed from the housing to be cleaned, refilled or replaced when empty. The roof may simply rest on a plurality of vertical posts and be otherwise unattached to the posts with a rope having opposed ends connected to the floor and an intermediate portion passing through apertures in the roof and forming a loop for attachment to a supporting element. Each of the hopper elements is preferably rectangular in transverse cross-section, and comprises a pair of spaced, generally triangular, parallel sides interconnected by a pair of spaced, generally rectangular, sides angled from the upper portion of the hopper element to the lower portion thereof, with the parallel sides of adjacent hopper elements juxtaposed in the housing. A plurality of apertures may be defined in each of the angled sides adjacent the bottom portion of each hopper element through which birds may access bird food within the hopper element. A seed catcher may be provided underlying the lower portion of each hopper element and extending outwardly from each of the angled sides below the apertures, with a depression formed in the floor of the housing to receive the seed catchers and position the hopper elements relative to each other and relative to the housing.