GB2423004A

GB2423004A - Foldable animal trap

Info

Publication number: GB2423004A
Application number: GB0602180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melvin Brian Driver
Original assignee: MDC Exports Ltd
Current assignee: MDC Exports Ltd
Priority date: 2005-02-09
Filing date: 2006-02-03
Publication date: 2006-08-16
Also published as: GB0602180D0; GB0502616D0

Abstract

An animal trap incorporating a foldable structure including a base unit (1), two side walls (7,8) pivotally connected to opposite sides of the base unit, a top (9) pivotally connected to one of the side walls (8 )at a location remote from its pivotal connection to the base unit (1) to be foldable to lie against its associated side wall, and two end frames/walls (3,4) pivotally connected to the end regions of the base unit, the arrangement being such that the end frames/walls when in their raised positions serve to define the cage forming erected positions of the side walls and top. The cage may have a treadle plate (35) which when operated by an animal closes door (18). The cage may also have a sliding door (17).

Description

ANIMAL TRAP

This invention relates to animal traps incorporating a cage for a trapped animal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a readily transportable animal trap of the kind that after trapping provides an animal handling cage for a live animal that is free to move within the cage.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an animal trap incorporating a foldable structure including a base unit, a top, side and end walls, wherein the top, end and side walls are foldable within the into the base unit so as to provide a folded/package configuration for the purposes of transportlstorage In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided an animal trap incorporating a foldable structure including a base unit, two side walls pivotally connected to opposite sides of the base unit, a top pivolally connected to one of the side walls at a location remote from its pivotal connection to the base unit to be foldable to lie against its associated side wall, and two end frames/walls pivotally connected to the end regions of the base unit, the arrangement being such that the end frames/walls when in their raised positions serve to define the cage forming erected positions of the side walls and top.

Preferably the base unit is of such Construction that the end frames/walls are foldable to lie within the base unit to allow the top and side walls to be folded as to nest with respect to the base unit above the folded end frames/walls.

In a preferred construction a closure member is pivotally mounted to one of the end frames/walls at a location remote from the pivotal connection of the associated frame/wall with the base unit in such manner that the closure member is able to close off the associated cage end when positioned against the frame and when pivoted inwardly and upwardly relative to the frame when the latter is in its erected position to provide an animal entrance opening to the cage.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an animal trap incorporating a foldable structure including base unit and a top, side and end walls that are foldable between an erected cage forming setting and a cage folded setting in which the top, side walls, and the end walls fold towards the base unit for the purposes of transportlslorage, and wherein one end wall incorporates a frame pivotally mounted to the base unit, there being a closure member pivoted to the frame in such manner that the member is able to close off the cage end when positioned against the frame and when pivoted upwardly relative to the frame to provide an animal entrance opening, and including a latching mechanism for holding the closure member in an open position, and latching mechanism 1 5 release means operable by the presence of an animal for releasing the latching of the mechanism to allow the closure member automatically to close off the cage entrance..

Broadly, according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an animal trap comprises a foldable cage like housing having at one end an animal entrance opening closable by a door, and including means for holding the door in an open position, means responsive to the weightlpresence of an animal within the housing for operating means for automatically allowing the door to return to its closed position, and means for locking the door in the closed position following its return to the closed position.

Preferably a readily removeable secondary door is mountable to the frame at the other end of the housing to facilitate exiting of an animal from the cage.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 schematically illustrates the general formation and form of an embodiment of a foldable cage animal trap when in its erected setting for use, Figure 2 very schematically illustrates the foldable trap cage of Figure 1 when folded for transportation and/or storage; Figure 3 very schematically illustrates a first stage in the erection of the cage trap, Figure 4 schematically illustrates a later stage in the erection of the cage trap of the previous Figures; Figure 5, schematically illustrates an embodiment of a door member latching and release mechanism when in its triggered setting; and Figure 6 illustrates the latching embodiment of Figure 5 following triggering by the presence of an animal such as a cat or dog..

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the cage like trap shown therein includes a shallow 1 5 tray like base unitlstructure I including side walls 2, shallower end walls 3 and 4 and a base 5.

Mounted to the base structure is a mesh formation 6 including two side wall forming parts 7 and 8 and a top forming part 9.

Since the mesh formation 6 is required to be effectively foldable flat, one longer edge 10 thereof is pivotally connected to the adjacent longer edge 11 of the top part 9 by means of three spaced clips 12.

Similarly one longer edge 13 of the side part 8 is pivotally connected to the adjacent longer edge 14 of the top part 9 by means of three spaced clips 12 The thus formed mesh structure 6 is itself pivotally connected to the side walls of the base structure by means of clips 14.

In other words, as so far described the two side walls are readily foldable to lie relatively flat in the base tray structure. This requirement effectively defines the height of the cage formation The side walls 7 and are maintainable in a raised position as illustrated in Figure 1 by two end frames 15 and 16 the bases of which are pivoted to the ends of the base structure by so that these end frames can be folded between an erected position as shown in Figure I in which they retain the mesh side walls 7 and 8 in their raised positions, and a folded or lowered position in which they lie on the structure base 5 as indicated in Figure 2.

The frames 15 and 16 are maintained in their raised or erected positions by spring snap acting clips 17.

A door forming member 18 (Figure 2) is pivotally mounted to the non pivoted end of the end frame 15 so as to be inwardly upwardly pivotable relative to this frame and thus to the mesh structure 6. This end of the cage is intended to provide the inlet end to the cage like trap.

The door forming member 18 is retained in its raised position by means of a latching arrangement that is intended to be releasable by the presence of an animal within the cage like trap to be discussed herein after.

The frame 16 at the other end of the cage trap is provided with guides 19 for slidably receiving a plate (not shown in Figure 1) that effectively closes off the opening defined by the frame 16. This end of the cage is in use regarded as the animal release end of the cage like trap.

In practice, the plate is transparent and can conveniently be formed from glass or a suitable plastics sheeting.

A primary function of the use of a plate readily slidable in guides is to enable rapid and easy removable when it is required to open this end to allow release of an animal.

When the trap as so far described is in its folded setting it will be appreciated that the end frames and their associated closure members will be lowered to lie in the base structure and the mesh construction will be folded with the top resting upon the folded down side walls.

Conveniently the facing side wall 2 is provided with a carrying handle 20 and a 1 5 spring clip 21 that serves to retain the mesh structure 6 in its closed setting.

This closed setting is schematically indicated in Figure 3.

To erect the mesh structure the clip 21 is opened and the top part 9 and the side wall 8 is pivoted upwardly as indicated by the arrow 22.

The side wall 7 is them pivoted upwardly and outwards as illustrated by the arrow 23 to bring the side wall 7 to its vertical raised position to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. This operation automatically sets the top 9 into its raised horizontal position.

The end frames 15 and 16 are respectively pivoted upwards to their vertical positions as indicted by the arrows 24. Once the frames reach their vertical positions the snap acting clips 17 are engaged with the top part 9 of the mesh structure. Once the frames are thus clipped in position the side walls 7 and 8 are firmly held in position thereby to form a firm cage providing construction.

Once the end frames have been so positioned it is necessary to set the trap. To do this the pivoted door member needs to be set into its raised position and held in the raised position to provide an open entrance to the trap.

As has been mentioned the door member is retained in its raised position by a io latching mechanism that is arranged to be released by the presence of an animal in the cage trap.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, as mentioned these Figures illustrate an embodiment of a latching mechanism for use with the cage trap as previously discussed In the figures 5 and 6 the mesh structure 6 is not illustrated for reasons 1 s of clarity. The latching mechanism includes a door locking unit 25 that is provided for locking the pivoted door member 18 in its closed position. This locking unit 25 includes a generally U shaped frame 26 of such dimensions that the base 27 of the U frame 26 can bridge the door member 18 when in a raised position as shown in the Figure 5. The free ends 28 of the legs 29 of the frame 26 are deformed to extend at right angles to the legs 29 to enable the pivotal mounting of the U frame 26 to the bottom side rails 2. In other words the free ends of 28 the U frame legs 29 provide pivot axes for the frame 26 The U frame 26 is so dimensioned that when the door member 18 is in its closed position, this being shown in Figure 1, the frame 26 is able to fall to a generally horizontal door locking position in which the base 27 of the U lies closely adjacent to the bottom of the door member 18 thereby preventing the member moving out of its closed setting until the U frame 26 has been moved to a raised position as is shown in the Figure 5.

To enable unlocking of the door the U Frame 26 is provided with an externally located release lever 30 that connected with one of the pivoted ends 28 of the frame legs 29.

As so far discussed to open the door the U frame 26 is raised by pressure on the release lever 30 and once the U frame 26 has been lifted to the position shown in Figure 1 the door member 18 can be moved to its open position as shown in Figure 5.

The door is lockable in its open position by a catch mechanism 31 This catch mechanism 31 includes a resiliently loaded axially displaceable latch bar 32 slidably mounted in a support bracket 33 mounted to the top part 9 by way of a suitable mounting plate 33A. One end of the bar 32 is adapted so as to be able to latch with a catch means 34 provided on the door member 18.

1 Since the purpose of the cage as so far discussed is to retain any animal that enters the cage use is made of the weight/presence of the animal within the cage to cause the automatic closure of the door member 18.

Generally, in order to attract animals sufficiently for them readily to enter the cage suitable bait is positioned at a location near to the end of the cage remote from the entrance to ensure that the animal is drawn into the cage sufficiently to ensure that it is clear of the arc of closing swing of the door It will be appreciated that if the door should partially close before the animal is fully within the cage it could be possible for the animal to escape before the door can close fully In the present case the cage is provided with animal weight/presence detecting means 35 located adjacent to the end of the cage remote from the in let door end and intermediate the inlet door end and the location of any bait.

The weight/presence detecting means 35 includes a treadle plate 36 pivotally mounted to the side walls 2 This plate 36 bridges the width of the floor 5 with its free edge 37 closer to the end of the cage with the transparent plate l9A than the pivotal axis thereof As will be seen from the Figures the treadle plate 36 is set a short distance from the cage end having the transparent closure sheet 22 that is sufficient to enable placement of a bait 38 in advance of the free edge 37.

The treadle plate is coupled by way of a Bowden type cable 39 to the latching bar 32. The length of the cable 39 is such that when the treadle plate 36 is upwardly inclined as indicated in Figures 1 and 5 the latching bar 32 is set to its door engaging position, and when the treadle plate 36 is horizontal i.e., lying against 1 5 the floor panel 15 the latching bar 32 is retracted to its door releasing position as indicated in Figure 6.

Initially assuming that the door member 18 is closed and the U frame 26 is raised by means of the external operating lever to its raised position as shown in Figure 1 the trap is set by swinging the door member inwardly to the raised position (shown in Figure 5) whilst holding the U-frame 26 in the raised position. When the door member and the U-frame in these positions the resilient loading of the latching bar 32 causes the latter to engage with the latching means 33 provided on the door thereby to hold the door and thus the U frame 26 in the positions shown. The displacement of the latching bar 32 by way of the Bowden cable 39 lifts the treadle bar to the position shown in Figure 1.

Following such setting of the trap or before if considered convenient the transparent plate l9A is raised and bait 38 is placed in the bait position as indicated. The transparent sheet 19A is then returned to the housing end closing position shown in the Figures.

As is schematically indicated in Figure 6 when an animal such as a dog, cat etc., has entered the cage sufficiently for the animal to exert a loadlpressure on the raised treadle plate 36 the latter moves to its horizontal setting and automatically by way of the Bowden cable 39 retracts the latching bar 32 thereby automatically enabling door member 18 to close.

In practice, the animal can be conveniently removed from the trap cage by placing the entrance of a further cage (not shown) having an slidable animal inlet door adjacent to the trap cage end having the slidable sheet 19A. After which the slidable sheet 19A and the door of the further cage are opened thereby to enable the animal in the cage to be urged into the further cage. Once the animal has 1 5 moved into the further cage the door thereof is replaced thereby freeing the trap cage for further use.

A small door 40 is provided in the top part 9 of the mesh structure to enable any requisite feeding etc., of a trapped animal prior to opening the release plate 19A.

Claims

I An animal trap incorporating a foldable structure including a base unit, a lop, side and end walls, wherein the top, end and side walls are foldable within the into the base unit so as to provide a folded/package configuration for the purposes of transportlstorage
2. An animal trap incorporating a foldable structure including a base unit, two side walls pivotally connected to opposite sides of the base unit, a top pivotally connected to one of the side walls at a location remote from its pivotal connection to the base unit to be foldable to lie against its associated side wall, and two end frames/walls pivotally connected to the end regions of the base unit, the arrangement being such that the end frames/walls when in their raised positions serve to define the cage forming erected positions of the side walls and top.
3. An animal trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base unit is of such construction that the end frames/walls are foldable to lie within the base unit to 1 5 allow the top and side walls to be folded as to nest with respect to the base unit above the folded end frames/walls.
4. An animal trap as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a closure member is pivotally mounted to one of the end frames/walls at a location remote from the pivotal connection of the associated frame/wall with the the base unit in such manner that the closure member is able to close off the associated cage end when positioned against the frame and when pivoted inwardly and upwardly relative to the frame when the latter is in its erected position to provide an animal entrance opening to the cage.
5. An animal trap as claimed in claim 4, and including readily releasable means for maintaining the closure member in its raised door opening position, and wherein the readily releasable means is arranged to be responsive to the presence of an animal within the trap.
6. An animal trap as claimed in claim 5, wherein the readily releasable means includes a latching mechanism for holding the closure member in its raised position relative to the frame and thus the base unit.
7. An animal trap as claimed in claim 6, wherein the latching mechanism is operationally associated with release means operable by the presence of an animal at a predetermined location within the trap, the arrangement being such that said presence of the animal at said location automatically triggers the latching mechanism to release the closure member to return to its closed position and thus the entrance to the trap. .
8. An animal trap as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means operable by the 1 5 presence of an animal within the trap includes a pivotal plate that is arranged to be settable into a raised position when the closure member is raised to its open setting, and released in response to the animal applying weight to the plate to press it downwards
9 An animal trap as claimed in claim 8, and including means for locking the closure member in its closed position.
10. An animal trap as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking means includes a generally U shaped frame of such dimensions that the base of the U frame can bridge the closure member, and wherein the free end regions of the legs of the U frame are pivotally mounted to the base unit in such manner that the base of the frame bridges the closure member, the arrangement being such that when the frame is raised the closure member can be opened and when the U frame is lowered to lie length ways of the base unit the frame is maintained in its closed position.
11. An animal trap as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism serves additionally to retain the U shaped frame and thus the closure member in its raised position relative to the base unit when retaining the closure member in its raised position..
12.. An animal trap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the latching mechanism so co-operates with the release means operable by the presence of an animal within the erected trap as to allow the U shaped frame to drop and in so doing cause the closure member automatically to move towards its frame to close off the animal entrance to the trap.
13. An animal trap as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the other one of said frames includes a readily removeable door.

1 5
14. An animal trap as claimed in claim 13, wherein the door includes a panel slidably mounted in said other one of the frames
15. An animal trap comprising a foldable cage like housing having at one end an animal entrance opening closable by a door, and including means for holding the door in an open position, means responsive to the weightlpresence of an animal within the housing for operating means for automatically allowing the door to return to its closed position, and means for locking the door in the closed position following its return to the closed position.
16. An animal trap constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.