Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
The object of this invention is to provide the
trapper with a new, simple and improved all-weather
humane power snare trap, which has a weight of less
than three pounds and yet is capable of humanely killing
all fur-bearing animals, up to and including the size
of a coyote, without resorting to a larger sized and
a heavier trap.
There are many factors that limit the use of
previously known power snare traps. A few of the most
obvious of which are:
1. Trigger systems with too many moving parts,
which make them subject to freeze-up.
2. Trigger systems not sensitive enough.
3. Trigger systems that rely on the use of a
foot-pad for triggering.
4. Many of the traps are too heavy or cumbersome
for easy transportation and easy storage.
5. Many of the traps are impossible to conceal,
which makes them impractical for trapping
some animals, e.g. fox and coyote.
6. In many of them, their usefulness is limited
to trapping one or two different species of
fur-bearing animals, for the above reasons.
7. I have experimented with a power snare as
illustrated in United States Patent No.,
3,837,110, dated September 24, 1974, Inventor:
Camiel J. Coquyt; it is effective, when used
to trap some animals, but I have experienced
some malfunction in the trigger system
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during cold weather. Another disadvantage
of the above patent is that it can not be
used for fo~ or coyote because of the pro-
truding lever, which is quickly sensed by
these animals as an obstruction and which
causes them to make a sharp detour.
8. I have used both the conventional ordinary
snare trap and the leg traps for over 40
years, and of the two trapping devices, I
would have to say the snare is the most cruel
by far. I have known a fox to chew off a
1/8 inch steel cable in a matter of a few
hours, only to find it, a week later, dying
from a deep, infected wouhd around the neck.
9. I have found that even snare locks have
proven not to be very effective in the
elimination of this problem.
The advantages of my invention, over the previous
art, are as follows:
My invention will eliminate the above difficulties
and will supply the trapper with a self-contained
humane power snare that has a wide range of use; is
light in weight; is of all steel construction for
durability; has few moving parts to create problems;
yet is simple to set and conceal from the view of
animals, and also comparatively cheap to manufacture.
My triggering system is simple, yet more sensitive
and less vulnerable to freeze-up than other patented
power snares. The spring action is unique in that it
combines leverage with automatic locking action to
make a quicker kill. In other words, as the spring
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advances from the depressed position along the power
lever, it increases pressure on the snare reaching its
maximum pressure at full extension of the spring.
Because of the increased pressure that can be obtained
using leverage in conjunction with the power of the
spring, my invention is more capable of making a
quicker kill than ordinary spring pressure traps.
My invention can be totally concealed from the
view of the animal, leaving an unobstructed path leading
to the snare. This is a very important feature when
trapping fox, bobcat or coyote. Because of the sus-
picious nature of these animals, even the snare, if
not properly concealed, will act as a deterrent.
My invention serves to eliminate the above, and
other disadvantages of the previous art.
I have field-tested my idea for the past two
trapping seasons and have found it to be a very humane
and effective trap. It is designed to kill the animal
almost instantly, rather than just hold it secure.
My use of the power lever makes this possible. My
trigger system was especially designed to resist
malfunction from changing weather conditions and also
for sensitivity. When in the set position, it can be
totally concealed from the view of the animal approaching
from either direction, except for the snare.
My trigger mechanism is operated by the shank of
the snare. Once the animal inserts its head through
the noose of the snare, as it continues forward, only
a few ounces pressure on the snare-shank triggers the
trap and makes the kill. On tests made, I have not
seen a fox live for a maximum period of over five
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minutes after being caught in this manner.
Although my invention was developed expressly for
fox, bobcat and coyote, I have found it very effective
on all other smaller fur-bearing animals. Two types of
snare can be used with my invention, the noose type, or
the special fixed type. ~oth are equally effective.
The advantage of the fixed type is that it allows
rabbits and other small animals to pass through the
snare-loop without triggering the trap.
In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments
of my invention in which the same numbers are used to
indicate the same parts:
FIGURE 1: Illustrates an isometric view of the trap
showing all its parts in working position.
FIGURE 2: Is a lateral or side view of the trap,
showing all the parts, with safety catch
in position.
In the drawings the number 1 indicates a circular
rod-like member looped at each end, herein called the
power lever, the number 2 indicates a coiled spring
having two elongated ends, both looped at the extrem-
ities thereof, one of the looped ends being indicated
by the number 2a, the other end being disposed and
adapted to be held by eye-bolt and nut means to the
under-side of an oblong rectangular member which is
curved and notched at one end and squared at the other
end thereof and is herein referred to as the trap base 3,
the number 4 illustrates a circular rod member curved
at one end and looped at the other end and is herein
referred to as the safety catch, the looped end of the
safety catch 4 is adapted to be held in place on the
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base 3 by an eye-bolt and nut 5, the number 6 indicates
a conventional nut and bolt which holds a truncated U-
shaped member having a circular perforation in each
end thereof, this truncated U-shaped member is indicated
by the number 7, and is herein referred to as the
trigger retainer, a second truncated U-shaped member
is transversely super-imposed over the first truncated
U-shaped member 7 and is indicated by the number 8
and is herein referred to as the stablizer bar 8, both
members 7 and 8 are held in place on the base 3 by
the nut and bolt 6, the number 9 indicates a right-
angularly shaped circular member having a loop at one
end thereof and having the other end thereof flattened
on the underside thereof, the number 9 is herein
referred to as the trigger lever, the number 10
indicates a conventional cotter-pin which holds the
trigger lever 9 in place through the circular per-
forations in the trigger retainer 7, the number 11
indicates the flattened underside of the trigger lever
9, the number 12 indicates a circular member looped
at one end, having its other end curved and grooved
and is herein referred to as the trigger catch 12,
the number 13 indicates a conventional noose-type
snare and the number 14 indicates an eye-bolt which
holds one end of the spring 2 under the base 3 and also
holds one looped end of the power lever 1. The
spring 2 is adapted to be removably attached to and
separated from, the base 3 by the eye-bolt and nut 14
which eye-bolt also holds the power lever 1.
The mode of use and operation of my invention
is as follows:
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Place eye-bolt 14 through aperture in trap base 3,
place curved other end of spring 2 around eye-bolt 14
under the base 3 and tighten the nut of the eye-bolt
14 sufficiently to hold the end of spring 2.
Then place the end of spring 2 in the notch in
the curved end of the trap base 3, and completely
tighten nut holding the eye-bolt 14. Set trap on a
firm surface in an upright position, where it is so
held by the curved end of base 3 and the stabilizer
bar 8. Attach trap by known conventional means such
as a chain or any other known means to a tree-trunk
or other suitable object, or use any other suitable
means in order to hold trap in required position,
manually position the power lever 1 through the ring
end 2a, at one end of spring 2.
With one hand depress the spring 2 while at the
same time with the other hand push the power lever 1
forward until it is parallel to the base of the trap 3.
Then secure safety hook 4 over the power lever 1. The
trap is now ready for the attachment of the snare 13.
First pass snare shank 13 through the opening in the
trigger lever 9 and secure snare 13 to the end of power
lever 1. When snare 13 is in position, press power
lever 1 down. While holding the trigger lever 9 in
an upright position, place the trigger catch 12 under
the flattened underside 11 of the trigger lever 9,
then remove the safety hook 4. The trap is now set.
Once an animal inserts its head into snare 13, the
slightest movement of the snare 13 will release trigger
catch 12 from underneath the flattened underside 11
of the trigger lever 9. This immediately releases
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the power lever 1 running through the end 2a o~ the
spring 2 and attached to eye-bolt 14, the end 2a of
the spring 2 is thus also automatically released,
which results in the power lever 1 being drawn back
by the coiled spring 2 with great force, which in
turn draws the snare 13 holding the neck of the animal
whose head is within the snare 13, suddenly, forcibly
and tightly against the trigger lever 9, thus humanely
killing the animal.
The above disclosure and specification embodies
my invention and discovery and all matters contained
therein should be deemed to be illustrative and not
to be in a limiting sense
As this invention may be embodied in forms
other than, or varying from, my invention, I claim as
my invention and discovery all the forms of same which
may be deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of
my appended claims.
