Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
4'~
This invention relates to an animal trap and, more particularlg,
to an animal trap of the substantiaIly ~ wire type. In other word3,
the present invention relates to an animal trap Or the type wh~rein tbe ~ain
components are made of interconnected bent wires.
The animal trap of the above type which has been proposed
so far is made of bent wire ~aws an~ torsion spring wires separate from
the ~aws and connected thereto, such as by metal rings slidably enga2ing
the ~aws. There results a multiplicity of parts, a relatively thick pack-
aBe srrangement thereof and loose interconnection of me~al parts~ in
particular oY the rings which thus proouce rattling and annoyance while tra
porting the trap.
It is a general ob~ect of the present invention to provide
an improved animal trsp of the above type, and in particular to provide an
animal trap which is relatively safe to operate; which folds flat for ease
oP transportation and storage; which does not include movable parts produc-
ing rattling and annoying displacement upon transportation; and which
is not actuated by small animal~. -
It is a more specific ob~ect oY the present invention to
provide an animsl trap Or the above type, which includes two cloYing
~aws, the closing of which i8 equalized for equal forceful closing of both
~aws.
It is another more speciric ob~ect of the present invention
to provide an animal trap Or the above type, wherein the actuating springs
are integrally formed with the baYe and a ~aw, while achieving a relatively
8i3plc and flat construction.
It is a further ob~ect of the pres~nt invention to provide
an ani~al trap Or the abovo type, which includeY a tripper device allowing rl
non-operation by small animals ana for ad~ustment of the play before
actuation Or the latch.
The ~bove and other obJects and advantag&~ Or the pressnt
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invention will be better understood with refererce to the following
detailed description o~ a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated,
by way Or e~a ple, in the acco~panylng drawings, in which2
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal trap according to the
preQont invention and shown in closed po i~ion;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same trap but in open poQition3
Figures 3 and 4 are an end and a ~ide elevation VieWQ, respectively,
of the snlmal trap in the open position of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a side view of the latch and tripper device ~orming
part of the ani~sl trap and sho~n in latching position,
as in Flgure 2;
Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a clamp farming part of the
latch; and
Figure 7 i9 a perspective view ~llustrating the opening o~ the
animsl trap.
The illustrated an~ trap includes a pair oP torsion
springs 1, esch having B pair of outwardly pro~ecting legs 2 and 3. The
two torJion Jprings 1 are la~erally spaced apart, and 80 are the two out-
wsrdly pro~ecting le~9 2 ~hlch aro rigidly interconnected by a trans- -
verse rod, or wire 4. Another wire 5 interconnects the two torsion springs
1 by means of their end hoo~s 5~. The outwardly pro~ecting legs 2 and
tho trans~erse rod, or wire ~, cooperatively Porm a rectangulsr base
with the a#d~tance of the interconnectinB ~ire 5.
The outwardly pro~ecting legs 3 of the torsion ~pringQ 1
aro intogrally ~or~ed with a transverse cro-~b~r, or wira 6. ~he latter
~or~s 8 rectangular ~rame, or Jaw~ in cocperation with the outwardly
proJectlng legs 3. ThU8~ this rectangular ~aw is ~ormed with a centr~l
aperture ha~ing the leg~ 3 ~tending along the laterally opposite sidss
theroof and the crossbar 6 extending outwardly at the oppo3ite end
rolative to the torslon spr~ng~. Thu~, the first J~w i8 def~ned by the leg8
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3 snd the cro3sbar pirots angulsrly at the tor~ion springs 1 between an
open latched position, as shown in Fi~res 2, 3, and 4, and a closed or
animal trspping position~ a~ Yho~n in Figure 1.
The outer end portlon 7 of each outwardly pro~ecting leg 2 is bent
upward relative to the remsinder Or the base and rorms an eye loop at the
very end. A second rectangular ~aw, cr frame, is pivotally eDgaged in
the eye loops defined by the outer end portions 7. This second rectan-
gular ~aw includes a pair of lsterall~r spaced-apsrt arms 8 snd a crossbsr
9 integrslly formed ~ a bent wire or rod and definiDg a centrsl aperture.
The free end 10 of esch latersl srm 8 pro~ects lateraUy outwardly~ is
pivotslly ongsged in the corresponding eye loop; and cooperatively defines
the pivot a~ciJ of tho second ~aw. ~ach lateral arm 8 is also formed with
a laterally e~tendiDg portion 11 intermediate the ends thereof to form
an abutment for the corresponding lateral ~ido of the first Jaw.
A latch operati~ely connects the two ~aws in open and cocked
~osltion, as shown in Figures 2 to 5. This latch includes an arm 12
pivoted on the cros~bar 9 of the 8econd ;~AW and notched at 13 at the
outer free end to form a hook. The latch also includes a clamp 14
engaged over the crossbar 6 of the first ~aw and formed with a notcb 15
extending lower on one side of this crossbar than on the other.
L~n inverted V-shape tripper device, or wire 16, has an in~er-
mediate laterally bont portlon 15' engaged in the clamp 14 and pointiDg into
the lowest end of the notch 15. The oppoqite ends of the triDper ~ire
down~rardly pro~ect on the opposite sides of the clamp 14 and may be ad~ust-
ab~ ~pread apart to vary tho pivotal play o~ ths tripper wire relative
to the clarnp 14. Tl~ t is, if the tripper wire 16 is spread wider,
tho bent portlon thereof ln the clamp 14 uses less 2~pace in the latter
and i8 allowed more pirotal play back and ~orth longitudinally o~ the
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p before pivoting of the clamp itself. Thus, the small animals may
pivot the tripper wire 16 without pivoting of the clamp 1~ around the
: crossbar 6. It will be readily understood that pivoting of the clamp
14 one way or the other lifts and releases the hook, or lever 12, causing
the springs 1 to close the first jaw and the second jaw, the latter by
action of the sides 3 on the shoulders 11.
It will be noted thst the sensitivity of the tripper device
can be increased or decreased by bending more or less the intermediate
portion 15~ with consequent decrease or increase of the friction between
portion 15l and olamp 14.
A holddown wire 17 removably hooks to one of the torsion
springs 1 to be used for opening of the trap, as shown in Fi~ure 7. The
trap may thus be firmly and saf dy held by enga~ement of one foot on
the holddown wire 17 and the other foot ovcr one end portion 7. Both
hands may thus safely be used to raise the two jaws to a cocked position
- and to engage the two latch members 12 and 14 with each other.
It will be noted that the two jaws can be raised beyond the
cocked position of ~i~ure 4 to a position wherein abutments 11 will
engage a portion of sides further away from springs 1 so that the two
jaws can re~ain in open position, even when lever 12 is released. Thus,
the trapper can, with safety, reach between the open jaws, for instance~
to remove trapped animal~. The trap is also safe because it is never
locked in closed position, contrary to conventional traps using a pair
of sprins-loaded eyes embracln6 and sliding along the sides o~ the jaws.
Therefore, even if a tr~pper's limb is accidentally cau~ht between the
jaws, the trapper can still open the jaws to release himself.
The cocked position of the jaws tsee Fig. 4) is automatic-
ally reached when notch 13 of arm 12 fits notch 15 of clamp 14 and around
wire 6. In this cocked position, a straight imaginary line joining
pivot point 10 and abutment 11 makes an an~le slightly ~reater than 90
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.th the portion Or side 3 below abut~ent 11, ~o that, upon release
:- by ar~ 12, ~ides 3 ~ill movo to the closed position under ~ction Or
æprings 1.
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