A MONITORING DEVICE, A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF A TRAP FOR VERMIN

摘要

A monitoring device (1) for monitoring springing of a mousetrap (2) comprises a housing (15) on which the mousetrap (2) is supported. A micro-switch (19) located in the housing (15) is held in an open circuit second state by the action of the mousetrap (2) on an engagement member (23) which in turn acts on an actuator arm (20) of the micro-switch (19) for retaining the micro-switch (19) in the open circuit second state. Springing of the mousetrap (2) results in the mousetrap (2) being disengaged from the monitoring device (1), thereby disengaging the engagement member (23). This in turn results in the micro-switch (19) transitioning from the open circuit second state to its normally closed circuit first state. A microprocessor (41 ) on detecting the change of state of the micro-switch (19) operates a transmitter (46) to transmit an alert signal for reception by a remote central communications apparatus, which in turn relays the alert signal to a remote central control station.