GB2230930A

GB2230930A - Weight-activated animal traps

Info

Publication number: GB2230930A
Application number: GB8910084A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Vincent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-03
Filing date: 1989-05-03
Publication date: 1990-11-07
Also published as: GB8910084D0

Abstract

An animal trap, more especially a rodent trap, comprises an enclosure 10, and entrapment member 16 mounted for vertical movement relative to the enclosure, said member having a platform 20 and means defining an entrapment zone above the platform, spring means 2b biasing the entrapment member upwardly into an open position in which an animal can enter an entrapment zone, whereupon the weight of the animal on the platform will cause the entrapment member to descend into the enclosure to a closed position of the entrapment zone, at least in part defined by the wall of the enclosure, so as to trap the animal, and a resettable latch means 28 which is released when the entrapment member so descends thereby to maintain the entrapment zone in its closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

Title Improvements in Animal Traps Field of the invention This invention relates to an animal trap, more especially but not exclusively a trap for rodents such as mice, and hence generally referred to herein as a rodent trap.

Background to the invention Shown rodent traps typically comprise a hoop which can be latched into an open position against the action of the strong spring. When the rodent enters the trap to reach and/or take bait placed therein, in an appropriate position, the animal triggers the trap by releasing the latch, whereupon the hoop springs down on the animal at high speed, with the intention of killing the animal in situ. Sometimes the animal is only maimed by the trap, and may or may not be able to escape.

It is a general aim of this invention to provide an improved and more humane rodent trap, more especially a trap which aims to avoid killing or injuring the animal, but which captures the animal for enabling its subsequent release at a remote site, if appropriate or desired.

The invention According to the invention, an animal trap, more especially a rodent trap, comprises an enclosure, an entrapment member mounted for vertical movement relative to the enclosure, said member having a platform and means defining an entrapment zone above the platform, spring means biassing the entrapment member upwardly into an open position in which an animal can enter the entrapment zone, whereupon the weight of the animal on the platform will cause the entrapment member to descend into the enclosure to a closed position of the entrapment zone, at least in part defined by the wall of the enclosure, and a resettable latch means which is released when the entrapment member descends into its second position, thereby to maintain the entrapment zone in its closed position.

It will be understood that the overall dimensions of the trap and the strength of the spring means will be selected in accordance with the size and weight of the animal to be trapped. For example, these dimensions will be greater and the spring stronger if a rat is to be trapped than if a mouse is to be trapped. It may also be possible to employ a still larger version of the trap to catch stray cats or the like.

In one simple and convenient arrangement, the enclosure has an open top, and the entrapment zone lies immediately above this open trap in the open position. The entrapment member may have a roof spaced above the platform in order to define the entrapment zone. Descent of the roof below the open top of the enclosure then closes the entrapment zone. The enclosure may have a fixed cover to prevent an animal climbing on to the roof when the trap is open, undesirably operating the trap without entering the entrapment zone.

In the arrangement above described, it may be convenient for the enclosure to be provided with an upstanding central post on which the entrapment member can slide.

The resettable latch means may act between the post and the entrapment member, or between the lid and the entrapment member, to be automatically released into its latching condition when the entrapment member has descended to a predetermined position in which the entrapment zone is closed. Such latch means may comprise a spring catch or a detent means, for example.

An alternative arrangement have may an enclosure with one or more apertures, for example in its side wall, giving access to the entrapment zone in its open position.

Moreover, it is also possible to employ an entrapment member with an apertured side wall enabling access to the entrapment zone, the apertures becoming non-aligned when the entrapment member descends.

In the case of an entrapment member having a side wall, the enclosure and the entrapment member may fit together in a generally telescopic manner, whereby a central post is not required.

One or more windows of transparent material may be provided to enable the user to check whether or not the trap has operated successfully.

Description of embodiment A practical arrangement of mouse trap in accordance with the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows tne open trap in vertical cross-section; and Figure 2 shows the closed trap in similar manner.

Referring to the drawings, a generally cylindrical enclosure 10 has an open top. The enclosure also has a central upstanding post 12 surmounted by a cover 14.

Beneath the cover and vertically slidable into the enclosure 10 on the central post 12 is an entrapment member 16 which comprises a central sleeve 18 connecting between a platform 20 and a roof 22, which together define an entrapment zone 24. The entrapment member 16 is biassed upwardly, into the position shown in Figure 1, by a relatively light spring 26 acting between the base of the enclosure and the underside of the platform. In this open position of the trap, the platform 20 is approximately level with the open top of the enclosure 10.

A resettable latch in the form of a spring catch 28 is provided beneath the fixed cover 24. The catch 28 is latched by retention within the sleeve 18 of the entrapment member when the trap is open.

In use, the open trap is baited by placing suitable food on the platform 20. When a mouse climbs on to the platform 20 to reach the food, the weight of the animal on the platform causes the entrapment member rapidly to descend to the position shown in Figure 2, in which the entrapment zone 24 is closed because the roof has descended at least to the level of the open top of the enclosure 10. At this time, the spring catch 28 is released from the sleeve 18 of the entrapment member and springs out to engage the upper side of the roof of the entrapment member, thereby to maintain closure of the trap.

The trapped animal is unharmed, and if appropriate the complete trap may be taken to a remote site and opened to release the animal.

Various modifications of the above-described and illustrated arrangement are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An animal trap comprising an enclosure, an entrapment member mounted for vertical movement relative to the enclosure, said member having a platform and means defining an entrapment zone above the platform, spring means biasing the entrapment member upwardly into an open position of the entrapment zone, in which position an animal can enter the entrapment zone, whereupon the weight of the animal on the platform will cause the entrapment member to decend into the enclosure to a closed position of the entrapment zone, at least in part defined by the wall of the enclosure in which position the animal is prevented from leaving the entrapment zone, and a resettable latch means which is released when the entrapment member so descends, thereby to maintain the entrapment zone in its closed position.

2. An animal trap according to claim 1 in which the enclosure has an open top, and the entrapment zone, when in the open position, lies immediately above the open top.

3. An animal trap according to either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the entrapment member includes a roof space above the platform in order to define the entrapment zone, the arrangement being such that descent of the roof below the open top of the enclosure closes the entrapment zone.

4. An animal trap according to claim 3 in which the enclosure includes a fixed cover to prevent an animal climbing onto the roof when the trap is open, thus operating the trap without entering the entrapment zone.

5. An animal trap according to any of the preceding claims in which the enclosure includes an upstanding central post on which the entrapment member can slide.

6. An animal trap according to claim 4 in which the resettable latch means acts between the cover and the entrapment member so as to be automatically released when the entrapment member has descended to a predetermined position in which the entrapment zone is closed.

7. An animal trap according to claim 5 in which the resettable latch means acts between the post and the entrapment member to be automatically released when the entrapment member has descended into a predetermined position in which the entrapment zone is closed.

8. An animal trap according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the latch means comprises a spring catch or a detent.

9. An animal trap according to any of the preceding claims in which the enclosure includes a side wall having one or more apertures, giving access to the entrapment zone in its open position.

10. An animal trap according to claim 9 in which the entrapment member includes an apertured side wall enabling access to the entrapment zone, the apertures of the entrapment member and the enclosure becoming non-aligned when the entrapment member descends.

11. An animal trap according to claim 10 in which the enclosure and the entrapment member fit together in a generally telescopic manner, and which does not include a central post.

12. An animal trap according to any of the preceding claims in which there is provided a window of transparent material which enables the user to check whether or not the trap has operated successfully.

13. An animal trap according to any of the preceding claims when so arranged as to function as a rodent trap.

14. An animal trap substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.