CA2003581A1 - Collapsible animal trap - Google Patents

Collapsible animal trap

Info

Publication number
CA2003581A1
CA2003581A1 CA 2003581 CA2003581A CA2003581A1 CA 2003581 A1 CA2003581 A1 CA 2003581A1 CA 2003581 CA2003581 CA 2003581 CA 2003581 A CA2003581 A CA 2003581A CA 2003581 A1 CA2003581 A1 CA 2003581A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
closure
panel
entrance
trap
edge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2003581
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph Maurice G. Cormier
Robert Joseph Gauvin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2003581 priority Critical patent/CA2003581A1/en
Publication of CA2003581A1 publication Critical patent/CA2003581A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A collapsible animal trap comprises a parallelepiped trap body having opposed ends, an animal entrance opening at one of the ends and a baiting and animal exit opening at the other of the ends, an entrance closure secured to the trap body adjacent the entrance opening, the entrance closure being movable between an open position whereat the entrance opening is open to permit entry of an animal therethrough and a closed position whereat the entrance opening is closed to prevent exit of an animal therethrough, an exit closure secured to the trap body adjacent the exit opening for selectively opening and closing the exit opening, and an entrance closure activating device for maintaining the entrance closure in an open position and for releasing the entrance closure when engaged from the interior of the body whereby to permit the entrance closure to move from the open position to the closed position.

Description

X0~358~1L

l`he present invention relates to a live animal trap and, more spec;~ical]y, to a collapsible live animal trap.

BA~KGROUND 03i TEIE IN~ENTION
Live animal traps are well known in the art. Generally, such traps are comprised of a box-like cage having one or more openings to allow an animal to enter the trap and/or to release the animal. Some known traps are not collapsible and therefore are difficult to store, transport and handle. Known collapsible traps tend to be complex having a relatively large number of moving parts. Other traps are formed with relatively complex trap door operating mechanisms and therefore are relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF 1~; INVENT~ON
The present in~ention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and specifically to provide a collapsible live animal trap having few movingparts with a simple but secure trap door operating mechanism.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a collapsible animal trap comprising a parallelepiped trap body having opposed ends, an animal entrance opening at one of the ends and a baiting and animal exit opemng at the other of the ends, an entrance closure secured to the trap body adjacent the entrance opening, the entrance closure being movable between an open position whereat the entrance opening is open to permit entry of an animal therethrough and a closed position whereat the entrance opening is closed to prevent exit of an animal therethrough, an exit closure secured to thetrap body adjacent the exit opçning for selectively opening and closing the exitopening, and an entrance closure activating device for maintaining the entrance closure in an open position and for releasing the entrance closure when engaged from the inte}ior of the body whereby to pennit the entrance closure to move from the open position to the closed position.

:,: .,. ~

~G~35~3~

BP~EF DESCRIPrION OF lf~; DRAV~'INGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the fol]owing description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein: ~IGURE 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the col]apsible animal trap of the present invention;
~GURE 2 is a left end view of the animal trap of FIGURE 1 illustrating the trap in the process of being collapsed;
~lGURE 3 is a partially broken, right side elevational view of the trap of ~GIJRE 2;
~IGURE 4 is a view similar to lFlGURE 2 but illustrating the trap in a semi-collapsed position;
~GIJRE ~ is a view similar to ~IGURES 2 and 4 illustrating the trap in a fully coDapsed position;
~GURE 6 is a partia]ly broken, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the trap illustrating the animal entrance closure and the entrance closure activating mechanism; and ~GURE 7 is an enlarged, broken, cross-sectional view of the exit end of the animal trap shou~ng the exit opening closure in a closed position and in 2C an opened position in phantom lines.

DESCRIPIION OF PREFERR~D EMBODIM[ENT
With reference to ~GURE 1 of the drawings and by way of overview, a preferred embodiment of the animal trap 10 of present invention will be seen to comprise a parallelepiped trap body 12 having opposed ends 14 and 16, an animal entrance opening 18 at end 14, and a baiting and animal exit opening ~0 at the other end 16. An entrance closure 22 is secured to the trap body adjacent entrance opening 18. The entrance closure is movable between an open position whereat the opening is open to permit ently of an animal therethrough and a closed position whereat the opening is closed to prevent exitof an animal therethrough. An exit closure 24 is secured to the trap body adjacent exit openinlg 20 for selectively opening and closing the exit opening in ~035~.

order to place bait in the trap or re]ease a trapped anirnal. An entrance closure activating means 30 disposed within the trap body is provided for maintaining the entrance closure in an open position and for releasing the entrance closure when activating means 30 is engaged from the interior of the body whereby to permit the entrance closure to move from its open position to its closed position.
The trap body is comprised of four rectangular wire mesh panels including a bottom panel 32, a top panel 34 and a pair of opposed side pane]s 36 and 38, the panels defining entrance opening 18 and exit opening 20.
Securing and hinge means 40 are provided for securing the panels together in edge-to-edge relation whereby to define a tubular body having an longitudinal passage 42 extending therethrough. As best shown in FIGIJRES 2-5, hinge means 40 are operable to permit the trap body to undergo a h~o stage collapse in which, in a first stage (~IGURES 2 and 4), side panel 38 moves into juxtaposition with bottom panel 32 while the other side panel 36 moves into juxtaposition with top panel 34. In the second stage of collapse, side panel 36 and top panel 34 move as a unit into juxtaposition with panel 3B and bottom panel 32 (~GURE S) The compact shape illustrated in FIGI~E 5 facilitates, shipping, storage and handling of the trap.
As already mentioned, entrance closure 22 is movable between an open position whereat entrance opening 18 is open to permit entry of an animal therethrough and a closed position whereat the entrance opening is closed ~o prevent exit of an animal therethrough. The entrance closure comprises a first rectangular wire mesh closure panel 44 having its top edge 46 pivotally secured to top panel 34 adjacent one end edge 48 thereof to permit the entrance closure to move from its open position to its closed position under the influence of gravity. As best shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 6, the length of panel 44 is greater that the height of opening 18 and side panels 36 and 38. Thus, in assembly and use, panel 44 extends inwardly and downwardly in its unset position (FIGURES 1 and 6). Entrance closure 22 further includes a second closure panel 50 pivotally secured to an edge 52 of the first closure panel remote from the edge 4~ by hinges 53. Closure panel 50 extends inwardly of ~ .
~ : :

3 ~8~11 the body and rests on the bottom panel 32 in the closed position of the entrance closure. The primary purpose of panel ~0 is to provide further securityagainst an animal opening closure 22 after it has trapped itself. More specifically, in order to open closure 22, the anima] will have to push panel q4S outwardly. This wou]d be extremely difficult because of the greater length of panel 44 than the height of the entrance opening. However, even without this feature, it would then have to step on panel ~0 to do so. Thus, it will apply anoutward force on panel ~4 and an inward and opposite force on panel 50. If the animal succeeds in moving panel M outwardly to some extent, it would trap itself between the two panels 44 and a0.
As shown in FIGURE 7, exit closure 24 comprises a substantially rectangular wire mesh panel 6~ having wire mesh top and side stub walls 62 extending perpendicularly from the edges 64 of the panel. Walls 62 are secured together to define a rigid, unitary exit closure body. One edge 64 of the closure is pivotally secured by hinges 65 to the bottom edge 66 of the trap body for pivotal movement between an open position whereat the exit closure is pivotally removed from exit opening 20 and a closed position (shown in phantom lines in ~GIlRE 7) whereat the exit closure closes the exit opening and the stub waDs telescopically receive the adjacent end of the animal trap in a snug fit relation so as to impart rigidity to the trap body. Releasable fastening means 68, in the form of a hook or the like, is provided for secur~ng the exit closurein its closed position.
With reference to FIGIJRE 6, entrance closure activating means 30 comprises a substantially rectangular wire mesh panel 70 disposed within the trap body. Panel 70 is pivotally secured by hinges 73 along one edge 72 to bottom panel 32 of the trap body for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the body. A flexible wire 74 has one end 76 secured to edge 78 of the activating panel remote from edge 72. The other end 80 of the wire is releasably engageable with the entrance closure. The wire being operable to maintain the entrance closure in the open position thereof and the activating panel in a position ]pivotally removed from the bottom panel of the trap body so that when a dowrlward force is applied to the activating panel, such as would 358~l occur when an animal has entered the trap, panel 70 will pivot downwardly and ill so doing will retract the wire and release it from engagement with the entrance closure. T~us, in turn will permit the entrance closure to move under gravity from its open position to its closed position. The intermediate portion 5 of the wire is threaded through openings of the wire mesh top panel of the trap body while the free end of the wire is threaded through openings in the wire mesh of the closure panel. T~lis produces sufficient friction between the wire and the panels to both hold the closure open and the activating panel in its raised position.
A U-shaped anchor 82 having a pair of parallel arms 84 and a connecting portion 86 connecting the arms is provided for anchoring the trap body into the ground and imparting still further rigidity to the trap body. Connecting portion86 extends transversely of and is pivotally secured by hinges 88 to the exterior- of the top panel of the trap body. The arms extend parallel and in close proximity to the side panels of the trap body. The length of arms 84 is greater than the height of the side panels so as to permit the free ends of the arms to be driven into the ground. Anchor 82 is pivotally secured to the tTap body so as to permit the arms to be moved from a position in which the arms extend perpendicularly of the plane of the top panel, in which position the arms prevent transverse collapse of the trap body, to a position extending parallel to the plane in which the trap may be collapsed. To facilitate handling, a handle gO is secured to the top panel 34 as shown.
It is believed that the operation of the present invention will be apparent from the preceding description. Assuming the trap is initially in its collapsed position illustrated in ~GURE 5, assembly is very simple. First, side and top panels 36 and 34, respectively, are pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in ~GURE !; to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Handle 90 may now be grasped and pull upwardly and to the right to the position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2. In so doing, entrance closure 22 will assume the position shown in solid lines in ~GURE 6. Panel 70 will be rest on bottom panel 32.
Exit closure 24 is then pivoted from its storage position shown in FIGIJRES 2-5 to its closed position shown in FIGIJRES 1 and 7. All that remains is to engage . ~ .., ;

~ .. . .

5~

the entrance closure. I~is is achieved by threading wire 74 through the openings in panel 34 and then through sirrlilar openings in panels 44 and/or 50.Bait may be placed into the trap using exit closure 24. If the trap is used on an earthen surface, anchor 82 may be driven into the ground; othervise, its 5 tips may be allowed to rest on the grounld. It will be understood that either case, the anchor will assist in providing rigidity to the trap. The trap is collapsed by following the reverse procedure. It will be noted that panels 44, 50 and 70 The slope of panel 44 will ensure that it slides rearwardly into the trap as the first stage of described earlier is effected. Panel 70 ~ ill inhçrently 10 remain in juxtaposition with bottom panel 32.
It will be understood that various modifications and alterations may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

, ~

Claims (21)

1. An animal trap, comprising:
a parallelepiped trap body having opposed ends, an animal entrance opening at one of said ends, a baiting and animal exit opening at the other of said ends;
an entrance closure secured to said trap body adjacent said entrance opening, said entrance closure being movable between an open position whereat said entrance opening is open to permit entry of an animal therethrough and a closed position whereat said entrance opening is closed to prevent exit of an animal therethrough;
an exit closure secured to said trap body adjacent said exit opening for selectively opening and closing said exit opening; and entrance closure activating means for maintaining said entrance closure in an open position and for releasing said entrance closure when engaged from the interior of said body whereby to permit said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position.
2. An animal trap as defined in claim 1, said trap body comprising four rectangular wire mesh panels including a bottom panel, a top panel and a pair of opposed side panels, and means for securing said panels together in edge-to-edge relation whereby to define a tubular body having an longitudinal passage therethrough.
3. An animal trap as defined in claim 2, said securing means being operable to permit said body to undergo a two stage collapse in which in a first stage, one side panel moves to a position adjacent and substantially parallel to said bottom panel and the other side panel moves to a position adjacent and substantially parallel to said top panel and, in a second stage, said other sidepanel and said top panel move as a unit to a position adjacent and substantiallyparallel to said one said panel and said bottom panel.
4. An animal trap as defined in claim 3, said securing means comprising a plurality of hinge members operable to pivotally interconnect adjacent edges of adjacent panels and permitting said adjacent panels to be pivoted from a perpendicular disposition to a parallel, slightly spaced apart disposition.
5. An animal trap as defined in claim 1, said entrance closure comprising a first rectangular wire mesh closure panel having one edge pivotally secured tosaid top panel adjacent one end edge thereof whereby to permit said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position under the influence of gravity.
6. An animal trap as defined in claim 5, said entrance closure further including a second closure panel secured to an edge of said first closure panel remote from said one edge, said second closure panel extending inwardly of said body and resting on said bottom panel in said closed position of said entrance closure, said first closure panel having a length greater than the correspondingdimension of said entrance opening.
7. An animal trap as defined in claim 1, said exit closure comprising a substantially rectangular wire mesh panel having wire mesh stub walls extending perpendicularly from each of the edges of said panel and secured together to define a rigid, unitary exit closure body, one edge of said closure being secured to one edge of said trap body for pivotal movement between an open position whereat said exit closure is pivotally removed from said exit opening and a closed position whereat said exit closure closes said exit opening and said stubwalls telescopically receive the adjacent end of said animal trap in a snug fit relation so as to impart rigidity to said trap body.
8. An animal trap as defined in claim 7, further including releasable fastening means for securing said exit closure in said closed position thereof.
9. An animal trap as defined in claim 1, said entrance closure activating means comprising a substantially rectangular wire mesh closure activating pane]
disposed within said trap body and pivotally secured along one edge of said activating panel to a bottom panel of said trap body for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said body and a wire having one end secured to the edge of said activating panel remote from said one edge thereof, said other end of said wire being releasably engageable with said entrance closure, said wire being operable to maintain said entrance closure in said open positionthereof and said activating panel in a position pivotally removed from said bottom panel of said trap body whereby when a downward force is applied to said activating panel, said wire is retracted and released from engagement from said entrance closure, permitting said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position thereof.
10. An animal trap as defined in claim 9, a portion of said wire intermediate its ends being engageable with a top wall of said trap body.
11. An animal trap as defined in claim 1, further including U-shaped anchor means having a pair of parallel arms and a connecting portion connecting one end of each said arm, said connecting portion extending transversely of and being secured to the exterior of a top wall of said trap body, said arms extending parallel and being in close proximity side walls of said trap body andhaving a length which is greater than the height of said side walls so as to permit the free ends of said arms to be driven into the ground.
12. An animal trap as defined in claim 11, said anchor means being pivotally secured to said trap body so as to permit said arms to be moved from a position whereat said arms extend perpendicularly of the plane of said top wall in which said arms prevent transverse collapse of said trap body to a position extending parallel to said plane in which said trap may be collapsed.
13. An animal trap as defined in claim 4, said entrance closure comprising a first rectangular wire mesh closure panel having one edge pivotally secured tosaid top panel adjacent one end edge thereof whereby to permit said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position under the influence of gravity.
14. An animal trap as defined in claim 13, said entrance closure further including a second closure panel secured to an edge of said first closure panel remote from said one edge, said second closure panel extending inwardly of said body and resting on said bottom panel in said closed position of said entrance closure.
15. An animal trap as defined in claim 14, said exit closure comprising a substantially rectangular wire mesh panel having wire mesh stub walls extending perpendicularly from each of the edges of said panel and secured together to define a rigid, unitary exit closure body, one edge of said closure being secured to one edge of said trap body for pivotal movement between an open position whereat said exit closure is pivotally removed from said exit opening and a closed position whereat said exit closure closes said exit opening and said stubwalls telescopically receive the adjacent end of said animal trap in a snug fit relation so as to impart rigidity to said trap body.
16. An animal trap as defined in claim 15, further including releasable fastening means for securing said exit closure in said closed position thereof.
17. An animal trap as defined in claim 16, said entrance closure activating means comprising a substantially rectangular wire mesh closure activating panel disposed within said trap body and pivotally secured along one edge of said activating panel to a bottom panel of said trap body for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said body and a wire having one end secured to the edge of said activating panel remote from said one edge thereof, said other end of said wire being releasably engageable with said entrance closure, said wire being operable to maintain said entrance closure in said open positionthereof and said activating panel in a position pivotally removed from said bottom panel of said trap body whereby when a downward force is applied to said activating panel, said wire is retracted and released from engagement from said entrance closure, permitting said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position thereof.
18. An animal trap as defined in claim 17, a portion of said wire intermediate its ends being engageable with a top wall of said trap body.
19. An animal trap as defined in claim 18, further including U-shaped anchor means having a pair of parallel arms and a connecting portion connecting one end of each said arm, said connecting portion extending transversely of and being secured to the exterior of a top wall of said trap body, said arms extending parallel and being in close proximity side walls of said trap body andhaving a length which is greater than the height of said side walls so as to permit the free ends of said arms to be driven into the ground.
20. An animal trap as defined in claim 19, said anchor means being pivotally secured to said trap body so as to permit said arms to be moved from a position whereat said arms extend perpendicularly of the plane of said top wall in which said arms prevent transverse collapse of said trap body to a position extending parallel to said plane in which said trap may be collapsed.
21. An animal trap, comprising:
a parallelepiped trap body having opposed ends, said trap body comprising four rectangular wire mesh panels including a bottom panel, a top panel and a pair of opposed side panels, said panels defining an animal entrance opening at one of said ends and a baiting and animal exit opening at the other of said ends, and means for securing said panels together in edge-to-edge relation whereby to define a tubular body having an longitudinal passage therethrough, said securing means being operable to permit said body to undergo a two stage collapse in which in a first stage, one side panel moves to a position adjacent and substantially parallel to said bottom panel and the other side panel moves to a position adjacent and substantially parallel to said top panel and, in a second stage, said other side panel and said top panel move as a unit to a position adjacent and substantially parallel to said one said panel and said bottom panel;
an entrance closure secured to said trap body adjacent said entrance opening, said entrance closure being movable between an open position whereat said entrance opening is open to permit entry of an animal therethrough and a closed position whereat said entrance opening is closed to prevent exit of an animal therethrough, said entrance closure comprising a first rectangular wire mesh closure panel having one edge pivotally secured to said top panel adjacent one end edge thereof whereby to permit said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position under the influence of gravity, said entrance closure further including a second closure panel secured to an edge of said first closure panel remote from said one edge, said second closure panel extending inwardly of said body and resting on said bottom panel in said closed position of said entrance closure;
an exit closure secured to said trap body adjacent said exit opening for selectively opening and closing said exit opening, said exit closure comprising a substantially rectangular wire mesh panel having wire mesh stub walls extending perpendicularly from each of the edges of said panel and secured together to define a rigid, unitary exit closure body, one edge of said closure being secured to one edge of said trap body for pivotal movement between an open position whereat said exit closure is pivotally removed from said exit opening and a closed position whereat said exit closure closes said exit opening and said stub walls telescopically receive the adjacent end of said animal trap in a snug fit relation so as to impart rigidity to said trap body and releasable fastening means for securing said exit closure in said closed position thereof;
entrance closure activating means for maintaining said entrance closure in an open position and for releasing said entrance closure when engaged from the interior of said body whereby to permit said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position, said entrance closure activating means comprising a substantially rectangular wire mesh closure activating panel disposed within said trap body and pivotally secured along one edge of said activating panel to a bottom panel of said trap body for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said body and a wire having one end secured to the edge of said activating panel remote from said one edge thereof, said other end of said wire being releasably engageable with said entrance closure, said wire being operable to maintain said entrance closure in said open position thereof and said activating panel in a position pivotally removed from said bottom panel of said trap body whereby when a downward force is applied to said activating panel, said wire is retracted and released from engagement from said entrance closure, permitting said entrance closure to move from said open position to said closed position thereof, a portion of said wire intermediate its ends being engageable with a top wall of said trap body;
and U-shaped anchor means having a pair of parallel arms and a connecting portion connecting one end of each said arm, said connecting portion extending transversely of and being secured to the exterior of a top wall of said trap body, said arms extending parallel and being in close proximity side walls of said trap body and having a length which is greater than the height of said side walls so as to permit the free ends of said arms to be driven into the ground, said anchor means being pivotally secured to said trap body so as to permit said arms to be moved from a position whereat said arms extend perpendicularly of the plane of said top wall in which said arms prevent transverse collapse of said trap body to a position extending parallel to said plane in which said trap may be collapsed.
CA 2003581 1989-11-22 1989-11-22 Collapsible animal trap Abandoned CA2003581A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2003581 CA2003581A1 (en) 1989-11-22 1989-11-22 Collapsible animal trap

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2003581 CA2003581A1 (en) 1989-11-22 1989-11-22 Collapsible animal trap

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2003581A1 true CA2003581A1 (en) 1991-05-22

Family

ID=4143608

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2003581 Abandoned CA2003581A1 (en) 1989-11-22 1989-11-22 Collapsible animal trap

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2003581A1 (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5669331A (en) Animal carrier
US5862624A (en) Cage traps
US5778594A (en) Two door animal trap
US5549073A (en) Collapsible cage
US5345710A (en) Trap for small animals
US6681720B1 (en) Wire cage
US5353541A (en) Collapsible crab trap with a center bait feeder and weighted side doors
US4272906A (en) Closeable fish net
US4310984A (en) Rodent and animal trap
US5016926A (en) Latching mechanism
US4342172A (en) Animal trap
US4682441A (en) Animal trap
US4982525A (en) Collapsible lobster or crab trap
US20040181995A1 (en) Collapsible crab trap
US6618985B1 (en) Mouse trap
CA2003581A1 (en) Collapsible animal trap
US5347747A (en) Animal trap
DE4007051A1 (en) Picking up dog excrement - involves scissors arms with gripping parts and device for bagging it inconspicuously
GB2183983A (en) Collapsible animal cage
US4930819A (en) Latching mechanism
DE1981135U (en) CAMPING TRAILER WITH TENT.
US4308682A (en) Humane animal trap
WO2008014758A1 (en) Device for picking up material, in particular dog excrement, with a retaining device
AU676442B1 (en) Snake trapping device
DE19816764A1 (en) Container capable of extension and collapse

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead