Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2167867
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an humane, automatically
resetting, rodent trap functional to collect and/or kill a
multiplicity of rodents.
Background of the Invention
The single, or double, spring loaded, cheese baited
mousetrap is a common household item. Deleteriously, however, this
trap is most inhumane in its method of executing the mouse, namely
by ensnaring it and breaking its neck. Additionally, it is
normally limited to a single victim, and requires manual emptying
and cleaning before it can be reset. Furthermore, the trap,
because of its forceful snapping action presents a danger to
children and pets alike.
Another commonly used method of ridding a building of
mouse infestation is by the use of poisons. Unfortunately, the
placement of poisons poses a potential threat to children and pets
who may inadvertently ingest said poisons. Furthermore, the mouse
having consumed the poison will often die in inaccessible places,
thus forming health risks.
During the past few years, it has been determined that
certain species of mice, exemplary of which are deer mice, carry
hantavirus, an often deadly disease if caught by man.
Thus, there continues to exist a need for a mousetrap,
which is functional to entrap more than one mouse, and/or be
reusable, which acts in a humane manner, and which involves minimal
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or no handling of the mouse carcase thus decreasing the risk of
transmission of hantavirus or other health risks.
Summary of the Invention
Advantageously, the trap of the instant invention
provides a humane trap wherein the mice are merely collected for
disposal as desired. For instance, in cold climates, the mice may
be left in the trap to die of exposure to low temperatures or
starvation. Furthermore, the trap is functional to entrap many
mice over a period of time, and thus the trap does not require
constant attention. Additionally, the trap in its mechanical
operation poses no danger to humans or pets. Furthermore, the part
in which the mice are finally collected for disposal may be locked
to prevent unauthorized access. It will be clear, too, that such
a trap may be used to safely obtain rodents for laboratory
purposes.
Broadly stated the invention is related to an automatic resetting
rodent trap which comprises : a housing; a generally hollow drum
rotatably mounted within said housing, said drum defining an entry
passage extending horizontally therethrough, said drum further
defining a slide therein; a trigger operatively connected to said
drum whereby actuation thereof causes the drum to rotate in a first
direction to seal off said entry passage; a communication means
associated with said trigger and said drum slide; means associated
with said drum for reversibly rotating the latter to thereby reopen
said entry passage thus resetting said trap; passage means
operatively connected to said slide and being functional to prevent
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the rodent returning to said drum; and removable rodent collection
means for retaining said rodents therein.
Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the automatic resetting
rodent trap.
Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the automatic setting
rodent trap taken from the opposite side to that of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of the rodent trap of figure 1 set
prior to the entry of the rodent therein.
Figure 4 is a side view of the rodent trap of figure 1 with
the rodent entrapped in the bait and trigger chamber section
thereof and having actuated the trigger.
Figure 5 is a rear view section of the rodent trap taken
through the line V-V of figure 3 wherein the front entry
passage is open and the trigger is in the set position.
Figure 6 is a rear view section of the rodent trap taken
through the line VI-VI of figure 4 wherein the front entry
passage is closed and release of the trigger has permitted the
drum to rotate counterclockwise through 90.
Figure 7 is a side view of the rodent trap of figure 1 showing
the exit of the rodent through the rear drum aperture into the
exit passage.
Figure 8 is a side-sectional view depicting entry of the
rodent into the collection section of the rodent trap of
figure 1.
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Having reference to the accompanying drawings, there is
provided an automatic resetting rodent trap 1. Whilst the trap
will be described specifically referring to mice, evidently such a
trap would be functional for various species of rodent and the
description is to be considered non-limitative in that respect.
The mousetrap 1 defines a housing 10 which broadly
defines a drum bearing section 12, a bait and trigger section 14,
communication means, preferably a flexible pipe 16, between the
bait and trigger section 14 and a drum section exit passage 18, and
a mouse collection section 20.
In the drum bearing section 12, there is provided a drum
22 rotatably mounted on an axle 24 secured to an internal support
wall 26.
The drum 22 defines front and rear plates 28 and 30
respectively, connected by means of a circumferential band 32. A
circular entry hole 33 extends through the front housing wall into
an entry passage 34 formed in said drum 22. It will be evident
that the drum and subsequent passageways defined herein will be
sized to accommodate the animal one seeks to trap. An aperture 40
is formed in the circumferential band 32 and extends into an
internal slide 42 which terminates at an exit hole defined in the
rear plate 30.
Internally the drum 22 is divided by means of a cruciform
structure 36 into four quadrants. Entry passage 34 and slide 42
with its exit hole in the rear plate lie in adjacent quadrants. A
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stop member 44 is positioned on the drum 22 and adapted to engage
stop members 45 and 47 during rotation thereof. Rivets 46 provide
an appropriate counterweight to ensure desired control of the drum
rotation. A semi-circular shroud 48 encircles drum 22 functioning
to protect exit of the mouse from the slide 42 and aperture 40.
Having particular reference to figures 3 and 4, there is
depicted the bait and trigger section 14, the trigger 50 being
generally shown in said section. The trigger 50 comprises a
trigger plate 52 pivotally mounted at pivot point 54 and having an
extension 56 lying beneath the mouse collection section 20. The
extension 56 functions to limit movement of trigger plate 52.
From the trigger plate 52 upwardly extends an arm 53 mounted at
pivot point 51. Therefrom, said arm 53 is pivotally connected to
a leg 55 which in turn is pivotally connected at pivot point 57 to
an inverted U-shaped trigger guide 61 and at pivot point 59 is
connected to a trigger needle 58. Trigger needle 58 extends
through an aperture 60 formed in wall 26 to contact drum 22 and
upon actuation thereof, withdraws from said drum 22 thereby causing
the latter to rotate through ninety degrees in a clockwise
direction. A bait box 68 carries the cheese therein.
Flexible pipe 16 is connected at point 17 to an aperture
15 formed in the bait and trigger section 14 connecting said pipe
16 at point 19 to the aperture 40 formed in the drum band 32.
As stated earlier, the slide 42 defines an exit hole on
rear plate 30 to connect with the rear exit passage 18 which in
turn connects to an aperture 80 formed in the wall 27 of the mouse
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collection section 20. A generally spoon shaped trap 74 is
pivotally mounted at point 76 within passage 18 to prevent return
of the mouse to the drum 22.
An internal support wall 27 separates the bait and
trigger section from the mouse collection section 20. The
collection tray 78 is slidably mounted within the trap 1 for
removal therefrom to empty the collected mice. The tray 78 is
provided with a slider member 82 functional to block aperture 80
which is provided to allow the mouse to enter therein but block its
exit therefrom during emptying of the tray.
It is contemplated that several materials of construction
may be employed for the trap. However, it has been determined that
metal is the preferred material because of the astonishing ability
of mice to chew through may materials such as wood.
It will be evident to one skilled in the art that access
means to the bait box and suitable viewing means for the collection
box will be required in the housing walls.
In operation, the mouse enters the trap 1 through
aperture 33 and enters the bait and trigger section 14 via entry
passage 34. Upon entry therein, the trigger 50 actuates trigger
needle 60 which releases the drum 22 thereby enabling it to rotate
clockwise through ninety degrees thus blocking off the entry
passage and aligning band aperture 40 with the flexible pipe 16.
This prevents the mouse exiting the trap via passage 34 and to
proceed via pipe 16 to slide 42.. The mouse enters slide 42 via
flexible pipe 16, whereby its weight causes the drum to rotate in
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an anti-clockwise direction aligning plate exit hole with the drum
exit passage 18, through which the mouse passes into collection box
78. Simultaneously, the drum rotation reopens entry passage 34.
