Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
13~5~
This invention relates to an animal trap~ and more
particularly to a disposable trap for small animals
which allows the user to discard the trap containing the
captured animal without any exposure to the animal.
The most common type of trap used for small
animals, such as mice, is of the spring loaded type
which may be repeatedly set and baited for catching a
number of mice, one after the other. This type of trap
is provided with a relatively strong spring so as to be
capable of killing the mouse as it snaps shut, but
occasionally, depending on the mouse 15 pOS i tion when the
trap is tripped, the mouse is only wounded and is held
until it can be destroyed or freed by the user. The
chore of removing the mouse from the trap, whether dead
or alive, is unpleasant to most users, and additionally,
the procedure required in baiting and setting the trap
is a sufficiently intricate operation that it frequently
results in a scare to the user, if not in bruised
fingers, in the event the spring loaded member slips
from the user's fingers or the trap is otherwise
accidentally tripped.
As a result of the above disadvantages with the
most commonly used mouse traps, there have been
developed traps having an enclosure, usually a cage
provided with a trap door arrangement, into which one or
more mice may enter and remain until the user destroys
the captured mice or removes them to a different area
for release. Such structures are usually large and
expensive, and requires some handling, or at least
visual contact with the captives.
There have been further certain proposed disposable
forms of small animal traps which allow capture of an
animal, usually one mouse at a time, with the view of
disposing of the trap and captured mouse at the same
time. In the main, however, these traps have been of a
13~5~
sufficiently intricate design, often having a number of
parts, some of which are moving parts, that the manufac-
turing and assembling costs are such, the user feels
that in spite of the unpleasantness of the more commonly
used devices, it is too costly to buy a trap that has
only a one-time use.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a disposable trap which is of a very economical struc-
ture and which allows the user to dispose of the
captured animal without visual or other type of contact
with it.
According to the present invention, there is
provided a small animal trap which includes an enclosure
formed by a thin wall of resilient plastic defining a
chamber of a si~e to readily house the animal and having
a door flap in and separated from the surrounding wall
by slits in the wall, a portion of the wall adjacent the
door flap being integrally attached to the door flap by
a non slitted hinge portion such that the resiliency of
the thin-walled plastic allows the door flap to be
forcible bent to an animal admitting open condition but
normally biases the door flap to a closed condition
flush with the surrounding wall. A trip means is
connectable between the door flap and the wall for
holding the door flap in the open animal admitting
condition, the trip means in a connected position being
readily disconnectable by activity of an animal entering
or within the chamber for permitting the door flap to
return to the flush closed condition.
More specifically, the complete wall and door flap
of the enclosure constitutes a integral unit molded of
plastic.
In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, the
trip means includes an elongated tension member arranged
to be connected at one end to the door flap and at the
131~2
other end to the wall at a location substantially
diametrically opposed to the door flap for holding the
door flap in an inwardly bent open condition .
In the accompanying drawings with show an embodi-
ment of the invention, as an example:
Figure I is a perspective view of the enclosure of
the present invention with the door flap held in an open
condition;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view as seen along
the line 2--2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but with
the door flap in a closed condition;
Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of
the wall of the enclosure showing an opening in the wall
providing a connection for the trip means;
Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1,
but of another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 cross sectional view of the embodiment of
Figure 5 as seen from the line 6--6 of Figure 5, but
with the door flap in a closed position; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of alternative
embodiment of the trip means as used in the embodiment
of Figure 5.
In Figures 1 to 3, the reference character 10
denotes the small animal trap of the present invention.
The trap 10 includes an enclosure 11 defining a chamber
12 of a size to readily house an animal, such as a
mouse, for which the trap is to be set. The enclosure
has a door flap 13, and a trip means 14 is connectable
between the door flap 13 and enclosure 11 for holding
the door flap in an animal admitting open condition as
shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The enclosure 11 is shown as being cylindrical in
shape, having a circular, flat bottom or base 15, a
upwardly projecting side wall 16 in the shape of a
cylinder, and a circular, flat top 17. It is apparent
~ 3 ~
that the enclosure may be of other shapes, such as a
sphere with a flat base, conical or cubical, preferably
with rounded corners. The top 17 in the illustrated
embodiment could be rounded or domed shape, and the side
wall 16 could be frusto-conical as an alternative. It
is important, however, that the enclosure does not have
any inwardly projecting corners which might be gnawed by
a captured animal. The enclosure could be designed to
permit the opening of the top, for example, to enable
the units to be stacked, one within the other, but it is
believed desirable, particularly for the sake of
economy, to mold the base, side walls and top as
integral unit of a thin-walled nature so as to use as
little material as possible and to form a very light
structure. Various types of plastics could be used, but
again for the sake of low cost, the same type of plastic
as used in food containers can used, it only being
necessary that the plastic is resilient and not excep-
tionally soft. The interior of the enclosure 11 is
preferably molded very smooth. The dimensions used can
vary, of course, depending on the type of animal to be
trapped, but for normal mice, for example, the enclosure
may be approximately 11 cm. in height, with a diameter
of 10 cm
In the illustrated embodiment, the door flap 13 is
defined by three slits, a pair of spaced parallel slits
20, 20 which extend vertically from upper ends which are
spaced below top 17, and are joined at their lower ends
by a substantially horizontal slit 21. The slits 20, 20
and 21 may be formed in the molding process or can be
cut subsequent the removal of the enclosure 11 from the
mold. As shown the door flap 13 is rectangular, but the
slits 20, 20 could diverge or converge so that the shape
of the door flap is trapezoidal. Alternatively, the
slits 20, 20 could continue to converge downwardly until
they join so that the door flap is triangular. The
bottom edge of the door flap 13 formed by the slit 21 is
above the base 15 so that there is a portion of the wall
,
. .
1 3 ~
16 belo~.v the door flap. The upper ends of the slits 20,
are laterally spaced and are below the top 17, as
indicated above, so that the door flap is integral with
the wall 16 at the top and therefore forms an non-
slitted hinge portion 22 between the upper portion of
the door flap and the wall thereabove. Accordingly, the
resiliency of the thin-walled plastic enclosure normally
biases the door flap to a position in which it is flush
with the surrounding wall. The edges of the door flap
are therefore not exposed to a captured animal so as to
be accessible for gnawing. Moreover, because the door
flap is completely closed once the animal has been
trapped,and there are no other significant accessible
openings, the captures animal cannot be seen once the
door has been closed, the plastic, of course, being
preferably opaque. With the sale of each disposable
trap, a small plastic bag and a bag tie can be supplied
for use in disposing of the trap and animal.
The trip means 14 is an elongated mernber, which for
the sake of simplicity in molding, may be formed
completely separate from the enclosure 11. As shown,
the member may be a very thin strand 24 which is
flexible or relatively rigid and has means at opposite
ends for connecting it between the door flap and the
portion of the wall 16 diametrically opposite the door
flap, the distance between the connecting means being
less than the distance across the chamber 12 so that
when the trip means is in place, the door is held in a
position bent back into the chamber. As is readily
apparent form Figure 2, the bending takes place mainly
along the hinge portion 22 which is on a line substan-
tially extending between the upper ends of slits 20, 20,
and the door flat is held back from its normal position
to provide sufficient room therebelow to allow the
animal to crawl through the open above the edge of the
wall provided by slit 21.
The door flap 13 is provided with a small aperture
13155~2
or opening 23 immediately above the slit 21 which
defines the bottom edge of the door flap, the size of
the opening 23 being slightly greater than the elongated
member or strand 24. The connecting means at the
associated end of the strand 24 is provided with an
enlargement 25 which engages the exterior surface of the
door flap surrounding the opening 23 so that it cannot
be pulled through the opening. As may most readily be
seen in Figure 4, the connecting means in wall 16
diametrically opposite the door flap is in the form of a
small aperture or opening 26. The opening 26 is formed
by two spaced vertical leg portions 27, 27 joined at the
upper ends thereof by a transverse portion 28 so as to
provide an inverted U-shape opening. Formed integrally
with the wall 16 and extending upwardly between the leg
portions 27, 27 of the opening, is a small tab 30 having
an upper edge 31. The connecting means at the end of
the elongated member or strand 24 opposite to enlarge-
ment 25 is a short portion 32 of the strand 24 which is
turned at a substantial right angle relative to the
remainder of the strand so as to form a small hook.
As can best be seen in Figure 4, the length of the
short portion 32 may be less than the depth of the
transverse portion 28 so that if the trip means 14 is
pushed up, the lower end of the hook clears the upper
edge of the tab 30 so that the outer end of the trip
means is pulled into the chamber 12 due to the resilien-
cy provided by the hinge portion 22 of the door flap 14.
In practice, the resiliency of the hook and the tab 30
may permit sufficient bending of these elements that the
hook can disengage even before the short portion 32 has
been raised only a small distance relative to the tab.
The width of vertical portions 27, 27 of the opening 26
is greater than the thickness of the strand 24 and its
short end portion 32 so that as the trip means is pushed
sideways in either direction, the hook clears the end
edges of the tab and the outer end of the trip means is
again pulled into the chamber 12 as the door flap
returns to its normal flush position relative to the
,
~31~2
wall 16. Also the resiliency of the hook and the tab
may be selected to permit relative bending of one or
both in the event a substantial downward force is
applied to the elongated member and thereby allow the
hook to clear the tab.
In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 26 is
located above the level of the opening 23 so that the
elongated member or strand 24 slopes downwardly from the
opening 26 even when the door flap 13 is in a fully open
condition. This ensures a better hooking action between
the short portion 32 and the tab 32, and additionally,
there is a tendency for the animal to enter the chamber
completely below the strand and the raise up under it
and cause immediate disengagement of the trip means.
The trip means 14 can be supplied to the user in
the same box which contains the enclosure 11, or if sold
without a container, the trip means could be simply
adhered to the outside of the enclosure. Alternatively
if sold in a quantity, the same number of trip means 14
could be supplied is a separate container. When the
user wishes to set the trap, the end of the trip means
14 having the hook is first threaded thought the opening
23 from the outside of the door flap 13, and the entire
strand 24 is pushed though the opening until the
enlargement engages the door flap. The door flat is
then pushed inwardly with the user's finger until the
short portion 32 can be pushed though the opening 26 and
hooked over the upper edge 31 of the tab 30. Thus when
the door flap is released, it is held in the animal
admitting condition shown in Figures 1 and 2.
As an alternative, it is possible to mold the trip
means permanently attached to the inside surface of the
door or to otherwise attach it subsequently to molding,
but this arrangement may, of course, add to the manufac-
turing costs.
13~r3~2
There is preferably adhered to the strand, inter-
mediate its ends, bait 33 to which the animal is
attracted by smell and is tempted to eat. On entering
the chamber 12 thought the opening provided by the bent
in door flap 13, its initial activity may result in the
strand 24 being bumped sufficiently hard to cause
disengagement of the hook from the tab 30 so that the
door flap closes and traps the animal. As shown in
Figure 3, the trip means simply falls to the floor or
base 15 as the door flap closes. In the event the trip
means is not disengaged by the animals movement, the
animal's biting at the bait will be sufficient to cause
immediate disengagement of the hook. The bait may be
applied to the strand 24 in such a manner that as the
animal bites at the bait, the strand will be severed
which will have the same effect as the hook being
disengaged so that the door flap will spring closed.
Once the animal has been trapped, it is not
necessary for the user to again open the door flap as
the enclosure and the anirnal contained therein may be
discarded. It is possible to include in the bait 33 a
substance which is lethal to the animal so that it
quickly perishes after being caught. If it is believed
preferable not to treat the bait on the trip means with
the lethal substance because the trip means may be
externally exposed as sold, the bait and the lethal
substance or the lethal substance alone could be applied
to an internal surface of the chamber 12.
The connecting means at both ends of the trip means
14, can be made in the same hook form and the door could
be provided with an opening of the same form as opening
26 so that the strand 24 could be tripped from either
end, but for ease of setting, the illustrated arrange-
ment is believed preferable.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the trap 10a
is provided with a bottom plate or horizontal flange 35
,
.
,
~ 3 ~
which may be in the same plane as bottom or base 15 and
projects a few centimeters outwardly from the side wall
16a. The flange 35 stabilizes the trap so that motion
of a trapped animal within the enclosure does not cause
the trap to tip and roll.
Also to reduce the tendency of the trapped animal
to gnaw at the edge of the door flap 13a, there is
provided a pair of vertically extending rounded ribs 36,
36 on the inside of wall 16a located immediately
adjacent the vertical slits 20a, 20a at the edges of the
door flap 13a. The ribs 36, 36 extend from the bottom
16a to the top 17a and also stiffen the side wall 16a in
the area of the door which enhances the resiliency which
effects the return of the door flap to the closed
position.
The manner in which the trip means 14a attaches to
the door flap is of a different nature. The trip means
14a consist of a thin rigid rod or bar member 40 which
has a flat hook or tab 37 which is normal to the axis of
the bar member or preferably slants backward at a slight
angle. The tab 37 is relatively thin and has a pointed
lower tip 38. As best seen in Figure 5, instead of an
opening, such as 23 in the above described embodiment,
the door has a pair of closely spaced horizontal slits
41, 41 near the bottom edge, the slits being longer than
the width of tab 37, and being separated by a strip 39
of the door flap disposed therebetween . The rod member
40 is longer than the diametrical width of the enclosure
so that when the door is closed, the rod member 40 can
be inserted through the opening 27 on the opposite side
of the trap, and pushed, tab first, until the tab 37
engages the door. The rod member can then be pushed to
a position so that the tip 38 can be maneuvered through
the top slit 41, on the outside of the door flap between
the slits, and then through the bottom slit 41. While
this operation is being carried out, the rod member 40
is held by an outer tail portion 42 of the rod member
~ 3 ~
which still projects out through the opening 27 because
of the greater length of the rod member.
Once the tab 37 is hooked into the slits 41, 41 of
the door flap 13a, the rod member is pulled back to open
the door flap until the small hook 32a corresponding to
the short portion 32 of the above embodiment can be
hooked over the tab 30. The hook 32a is spaced inward
from the outer end of tail portion, of course, so that
as the hook 32a is positioned to engage the tab 30 the
door flap is pulled to the fully open position, and the
hook is preferably slanted slightly toward the inner end
of the rod member 40. Between the tab 37 and the hook
32a the rod member 40 is provided with a bait box 33a.
The enclosure shown in Figure 5 is not formed as an
integral unit, but of two separate pieces, the bottom
piece 16a' being in the form of a short collar section
of a diameter to slidingly receive the top piece 16a"
which is in the form of an inverse cup. The collar
section has sufficient height to slightly overlap the
bottom of the door opening so as to provide a stop
against the door flap being pushed outwardly.
Another manner in which a stop can be provided to
prevent the door being pushed outward by an entrapped
animal is to adhere a short narrow piece of plastic
material across the bottom of the door opening once the
enclosure has been molded as an integral unit as
described in the first embodiment above.
As indicated above the entire, the enclosure 11 is
preferably opaque so that when the door is closed, the
trapped animal cannot be seen. When the flap door is
found closed, one can normally tell if the enclosure
contains an animal because the weight of an empty
enclosure is very light as compared to one containing
the animal. However, if desired, the enclosure can be
made semi-transparent or have a transparent spot to
facilitate checking a sprung trap.
131~2
It will be readily apparent that additional
variations would be obvious to those skilled in the art
~without departing from the spirit of the invention as
defined in the appending claims.
I 1
.` '. ,
