WO2010022795A1

WO2010022795A1 - Animal trap

Info

Publication number: WO2010022795A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/061438
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Couvreur; Dennis Walstad; Gabriel Le Laidier
Original assignee: Swissinno Solutions Gmbh
Priority date: 2008-08-29
Filing date: 2008-08-29
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

An animal trap for catching animals dwelling in underground passages comprises a closing part (3), which can move between a closed position and an open position and is provided with spikes (2). The spikes (2) can penetrate into the ground as far as the passage to kill the animal. A securing part allows the closing part (3) to be held in the open position above the ground while at the same time the spring elements (4) are pretensioned. The trap has a triggering mechanism with a triggering part (5), which can be put in place above the ground and is designed in such a way that, to release the closing movement of the closing part (3), the triggering part (5) can be activated by the animal as it passes through the passage and the resultant local raising of the ground. The trap also has a housing (6), which can be placed above ground and can accommodate the closing part (3) with the spikes (2), the securing arrangement and the spring elements (4), at least in the open position.

Description

animal trap

The invention relates to an animal trap for catching animals staying in underground passages according to the preamble of claim 1. With such animal traps, for example, moles can be caught. The animal traps are placed over underground passages and fixed by means of supporting pikes in the ground. Then the trap can be set or tensioned. Fixing the trap in the ground causes a local narrowing of the corridor. As soon as an animal crosses the corridor in the area of the animal trap, the ground rises above it. This earth movement is received by a trigger part, whereupon the animal trap is triggered. The animal is then killed in the corridor by means of pikes in the corridor.

Generically comparable traps have become known, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,494,335, US Pat. No. 4,776,128 or DE 25 33 096. These animal traps each have a pecking closure. The closing part can be biased by means of a helical compression spring in an open position. The individual components of these animal traps are more or less free. The risk of injury in case of incorrect manipulation or false triggering of the above-ground part of the animal trap is relatively large. The traps are further characterized by an unfavorable catch result, since only relatively small closing forces can be exerted.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known and in particular to provide an animal trap, which is characterized by safe handling and safe operation. This object is achieved with an animal trap having the features of claim 1. The animal case has an above-ground placeable housing, in which the closing part with the skewers, the retaining arrangement and the at least one spring element is receivable at least in the open position. As a result, the safety in handling and operation can be significantly increased. The risk of injury critical components of the animal trap can be completely or almost completely hidden in the housing. Another advantage of the arrangement is that the components arranged in the interior of the housing are protected from the effects of the weather (eg rain), which has a positive effect on the life of the animal trap.

In a first embodiment, the housing can consist of two shell parts, which can be assembled along a longitudinal central axis. This can be created in a particularly simple manner, a cavity in which the closing part with the skewers, the retaining arrangement and the at least one spring element in the open position are receivable. The longitudinal central axis can correspond to the working axis of the closing part which is movable between a closed position and an open position.

In terms of manufacturing technology, it can be advantageous if the shell parts form identical housing halves which can be assembled on a plane extending through the longitudinal central axis. The shell parts may be plastic injection molded parts. The two shell parts can be detachably (for example screwed) or permanently (welded, glued, riveted, etc.) connected to each other.

An efficient animal trap can be achieved if the release part is pivotally mounted on the housing. The pivot axis of the release part can thereby transversely to the direction of movement of the closing run partly or to the longitudinal central axis. The trigger member may have a stop surface for applying the trigger member to the ground. For example, the triggering part may be trough-shaped, wherein the trough bottom may form the stop surface. The trigger part serves as a kind of probe, which can absorb earth movements.

It may be particularly advantageous if the trigger part is applied outside the housing. In this embodiment, the trigger part can be particularly easily attached to the housing pivotally.

The housing may have two side walls lying opposite one another, preferably lying approximately parallel to one another, wherein a support spike for fixing the animal trap in the ground can be fastened or fastened on each side wall.

The animal trap may have at least one support spike for fixing in the ground, which is provided with at least one barb. Such barbs cause a stabilization of the fixation in the soil. Such barbs may also be beneficial in combination with conventional animal traps. The use of an overground placeable housing is not mandatory.

The support spit can be formed from a metal sheet. The one or more barbs may be formed on the support spike, wherein the barbs can be created by punching and bending operations, protruding from the plane of the metal sheet metal sheet segments. Such barbs can be made particularly simple and inexpensive. The at least one supporting spit can have a plurality of barbs, preferably arranged at regular intervals relative to one another. This further improves the stable anchoring of the animal trap in the ground.

The handling and user-friendliness can be improved if at least one support spike is mounted in the longitudinal direction displaceable on the housing, wherein in the retracted position of the support spit advantageous approximately completely rests against the housing. This arrangement also has the advantage that the animal trap can be stored to save space and the risk of injury when handling the case can be further reduced.

On the housing side guide segments can be arranged, between each of which a support spit is approximately slidably feasible. The support pikes are so easy to move in and out.

The at least one support spike may have on one side a tip for easy insertion into the ground and on the opposite side an approximately right-angled protruding bend. The bend serves for example as a stop for shoes. By applying a compressive force on the bend, the trap can be easily plugged into the soil.

The housing may have at least four longitudinally extending side walls separated by longitudinal edges. It may be particularly advantageous if the housing is configured, for example, cuboid or almost cuboid. A stable anchoring of the animal trap in the ground can be achieved if the animal trap has two support pikes, which are each arranged in the region of a longitudinal edge.

It may be particularly advantageous if the two support pikes are arranged with respect to a plan view in the longitudinal direction in the region of diagonally opposite edges on the housing.

The catch result can be improved if two spaced-apart skewer arrangements are fastened to the closing part with spits each arranged in rows. A series of skewers may each have at least two, preferably about four skewers. The side of each skewer assembly, a spit can be arranged, which continues approximately in the row of skewers. Thus, in the plan view, the respective skewers and supporting spits would be approximately on the same line.

The spring element may be a leg spring. The use of torsion springs has the advantage that even large closing forces are advantageously possible. The catch rate can be significantly improved. The use of torsion springs could also be beneficial on its own in combination with conventional animal traps. Consequently, a housing would not necessarily be part of such an animal trap.

In a further embodiment, the animal trap for applying the spring preload may have two leg springs. This embodiment has the advantage that large closing forces are possible, which is why one could also use relatively weak and / or small individual springs. The at least one leg spring can have a screw portion which can be accommodated for the tensioning movement through a lateral opening or in a bulge in the housing at least in the closed position. The opening is advantageously dimensioned such that the clamping movement of the screw portion and the adjoining portions is not disturbed. Because of the possible risk of injury, the dimensions should be selected so that there are no too large gaps between spring element and opening.

The closing part can be movable in such a way from the closed position to the open position (clamping movement) that, when the open position is reached, the closing part can be blocked independently with the aid of the retaining arrangement operatively connected to the triggering mechanism. To set the case so that only the closing part must preferably be moved by means of a handle piece. The blocking takes place automatically without the need for further measures. The ability to block independently ensures easy handling of the animal trap.

It may be advantageous if the closing part is mechanically blocked in the open position. A retaining arrangement may for this purpose have a retaining part with at least one attached thereto or molded thereto support segment, which is supported in the open position on an attack segment of the release part.

Further, it may be advantageous if the release mechanism is in operative connection with the retaining arrangement in the open position such that the closing part can be activated in the closing direction during a movement of the triggering part. This can ensure that when removing a fixing in the ground taut animal trap will automatically defuse them. Thus, the risk of accidents can be further reduced. With this arrangement, it is possible in a simple manner to prevent sharp (ie tensioned or open-ended) animal traps from being used improperly or misappropriated by users.

The retaining part may have a cooperating with the closing part support shoulder, which is supported in the open position on a locking member of the closing part.

If the support shoulder is assigned to a holding segment, it can be advantageous if the blocking member contains at least one leading edge on which the holding segment can be moved at least during the opening movement.

The closing part may have a handle projecting out of the housing, with the aid of which the closing part can be brought into the open position.

Further advantages and individual features of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and from the following description of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of an animal trap according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the animal trap in an open position,

FIG. 3 shows the animal trap according to FIG. 2, in which, however, one housing half has been dismantled, FIG. 4 shows the animal trap in a closed position,

FIG. 5: the animal trap according to FIG. 2 with the housing half removed,

FIG. 6 shows the animal trap in the closed position with the housing half removed from a different angle,

FIG. 7 shows the animal trap in open position with disassembled housing half from a different angle,

FIG. 8 shows the animal trap during a tensioning operation with retracted supporting spikes in a further view,

FIG. 9a: a perspective view of a closing part for the animal trap,

FIG. 9b: the closing part from a different angle,

FIG. 10: a perspective view of a retaining part for the animal trap,

11 is a perspective view of a trigger part for the animal trap,

FIG. 12 shows the retaining part and the triggering part of the animal trap in the open position,

Figure 13, the trigger mechanism and the retaining arrangement of the animal trap during the tensioning movement just before reaching the open position in a side view, and

FIG. 14 shows the triggering mechanism and the retaining arrangement according to FIG. 11 in a front view in a slightly reduced representation 1.

FIG. 1 shows the individual components of the animal trap described in detail below. The case consists of the following components: two housing halves 7, 7 ', a closing part 3, a triggering part 5, a retaining part 10, two supporting spikes 8, 8' and two spring elements 4, 4 'designed as torsion springs. The housing halves 7, 7 ', the closing part 3 (with the exception of the 2 designated skewers 2), the trigger member 5 and the retaining member 10 may be made of plastic. These plastic parts can be easily manufactured in an injection molding process. The support pikes 8, 8 'and the spring elements 4, 4', however, consist of metallic materials, which advantageously stainless steel is used.

FIG. 2 shows an animal trap composed of the mentioned components. The designated animal case 1 is used to catch animals staying in underground passageways. The animal trap 1 contains for this purpose pike 2, with which, for example, moles are killed when crossing the corridor in the area of the trap. The skewers 2 are fastened to the closing part movable in the s direction (closing direction). Of this closing part only a handle 9 can be seen in Figure 2. The above-ground placeable housing 6 consists of two shell parts 7 and 7 '. The two shell parts form identical housing halves which can be assembled on the plane passing through the longitudinal center axis A. Since almost all movable components are housed in the housing, the animal trap also meets higher security requirements. Among other things, for safety reasons, the skewers 2 but also in open position against the case of falling case something. Of course, the animal trap could also be designed in such a way that the skewers would be completely received in the housing in the open position. The housing is approximately cuboid and has four longitudinally extending side walls. Two opposing side walls are denoted by 11, 11 '.

In Figure 2, the trigger part 5 is further recognizable, which is pivotally mounted on the housing 6. The trigger part 5 is hinged on the outside of the housing 6. The associated pivot axis is denoted by Rl. With R2 a pivot axis of the (not visible here) retaining member is designated. The exact operation of the trigger mechanism for triggering the closing movement and the retaining arrangement for holding the open position is mainly explained with reference to the following figures 12 to 13 in detail.

The housing 6 has two mutually opposite side walls 11, 11 ', wherein on each side wall depending a support spit 8, 8' is fixed for fixing the animal trap in the ground. Each support spit has a plurality of barbs 12, arranged at regular intervals relative to one another, which are arranged next to one another, the row of barbs extending in the longitudinal direction. The support spit consists of a metal sheet, and the barbs 12 are formed on the support spike 8. The barbs 12 are in the present case by punching and bending operations created, from the plane of the metal sheet outstanding sheet metal segments. The support pikes have a tip 14 on one side and an approximately right-angled bend 15 on the opposite side, via which the animal trap can be inserted into the ground by applying a compressive force. In the view according to FIG. 2, it can be clearly seen that with respect to a plan view in the longitudinal direction predetermined by the axis A, the supporting lugs 8, 8 'are arranged on the housing in the region of diagonally opposite longitudinal edges 16, 16'.

In Figure 3, the animal trap is shown, in which one of the shell parts of the housing has been removed, whereby the viewer a view into the interior of the animal trap is made possible. The triggering mechanism and the retaining arrangement of the case consist of the triggering part 5, the retaining part 10 and the closing part 23. To apply the spring preload for the open position, the animal trap 1 has two torsion springs 4 and 4 '. In this case, one of the spring legs is connected to the housing and the other leg with the closing part. The closing part 3 is movable from the closed position (see the following figure 5) into the open position such that when the open position is reached, the closing part 3 can be independently blocked with the aid of the retaining arrangement operatively connected to the triggering mechanism.

The triggering of the trap is as follows: The bottom-side trigger part 5 includes a stop surface 27 which can be applied to the ground. When an animal passes the passage, the soil rises locally and the triggering part is served around the axis R1. This pivoting movement is transmitted to the retaining part 10. In this case, the retaining part 10 pivots about the R2 axis and releases the closing part, as a result of which the closing part springs downwards in the s direction under spring force. In Figure 4, the animal trap 1 is shown in a closed position. In this representation of the case is clearly visible that each support spigot 8, 8 'is arranged laterally on each of a number of skewers 2.

In Figure 6 is approximately recognizable that the closing part 3, two spaced Spiessanordnungen are fixed with each arranged in rows 2 pikes. Each row or skewer arrangement has four skewers 2 which run parallel to each other. In Figure 7, the animal trap 1 is in the open position. The retaining member 10 is by means (not shown here) releasably held on the trigger part 5 that it reacts even with minor earth movements. The retaining part 10 is in turn connected in the closed position with the closing part 3. The release movement of the retaining part 10 is finally the closing part 3 free, whereupon the accelerated by spring force closing movement is set in motion.

Figure 8 shows how the closing part can be brought into an open position (opening direction indicated by arrow e). The force required for clamping the trap for this purpose is designated by F. The screw portion of the leg spring 4, which is designated by 18, obviously moves slightly to the side during the tightening of the catch. For a smooth mechanical functioning during the entire clamping movement therefore an opening 19 is provided in the corresponding side wall of the housing. FIG. 8 shows the support pikes 8, 8 'in the retracted position. The longitudinally displaceable on the housing support spit lies completely in this position on the housing 6. On the housing wall 11 lateral guide segments 13 can be seen. These guide segments ensure a guided sliding movement of the support tines. As shown for example in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the closing part 3 consists of a closing body 28 forming a frame, to which a grip piece 9 is formed. At the lower end of the closing body 28 are spit receptacles 24, can be used in the skewer and fixed therein. The closing part can be a one-piece molding which can be produced in a simple manner, for example by an injection molding process. The closing body 28 is connected to the handle 9 via two longitudinal webs extending. Between the webs provided with holes 23 section is arranged. This hole 23 serves in each case for receiving and fixing one end of a leg of the spring element. In the illustration according to FIG. 9b, locking members designated by 21 can be seen, with the aid of which the closing part can be held in the open position. The locking members 21 are integrally formed on the closing body 28.

FIG. 10 shows a retaining part 10 for the retaining arrangement. The retaining part 10 has two axis segments, via which the retaining part is pivotable about the axis R2. At the lower end of the retaining part 10, a support segment 25 is arranged, which is supported in the open position on a corresponding attack segment of the release part (see the following figure 11). Furthermore, there are two segments on the retaining part 10 with support shoulders 22 which serve to hold the open position as abutment surfaces for the mentioned locking members of the closing part (see also the following figure 13). The respective segments have leading edges, which allow passing of the locking members during the clamping movement. In Figure 11, a trigger part 5 is shown. The trigger part is designed as an injection molded part and contains a trough-shaped body. The bottom of the tub forms the stop surface 27. At the mutually opposite side walls of the tub are attack segments 26th arranged, which are in operative connection with the support segment 25 (Figure 12). In the open position, the support segments 25 of the retaining part are supported on the attack segment in the pivoting direction. As soon as the stop surface 27 moves upward or the trigger part is swung out, the support is released and the support segment is past the attack segment 26, whereby the trap is triggered.

The structure and operation of the trigger mechanism and the retaining arrangement is then also apparent from Figures 13 and 14. In Figure 13, the soil is indicated by B. In a case provided, the stop surface 27 of the release part 5 is flat and is located in an approximately vertical position to the longitudinal central axis. When the trigger member 5 swings out in the m direction, the support of the support segment 25 of the retaining member 10 is lifted at the attack segment 26 of the triggering part. This causes a pivoting movement of the retaining member 10 in the n direction, whereupon the support of the locking member 21 is canceled on the support shoulder 22. As a result, the closing part 3 is released, whereupon it can move in the s direction. The closing process can also be triggered in a pivoting movement of the trigger member 5 in the opposite direction to the m-direction. This is mainly because the animal trap should not be removed from the ground in a taut state. The present triggering mechanism ensures that users can not be injured in the event of improper operation. Also, by using the present pivotal trip piece 5, the trap could not be tensioned in the air (i.e., without ground contact with the stop surface of the trigger part).

Claims

claims

1. animal trap for catching in underground passages animals containing a movable between a closed position and an open position with peg (2) provided closing part (3), wherein the closing part (3) under spring bias of at least one spring element (4, 4 ') by a retaining arrangement in the open position over the soil is durable and wherein in the closed position the skewer (2) can penetrate into the ground to the corridor for killing the animal, a trigger mechanism with a mountable above the ground trigger part (5), preferably such is configured such that, in order to trigger the closing movement of the closing part (3), the triggering part (5) can be activated when the animal passes through the gangway and the local elevation of the ground caused thereby, characterized in that it has a housing (6) which can be placed above ground. in which the closing part (3) with the pegs (2), the retaining arrangement and the at least one spring element (4) are receivable at least in the open position.

2. animal trap according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (6) consists of two shell parts (7, 7 '), which along a longitudinal central axis (A) are composable.

3. Animal trap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shell parts (7, 1 ') form identical housing halves which can be assembled on a plane passing through the longitudinal center axis (A).

4. Animal trap according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the shell parts (7, 7 ') are injection-molded parts made of plastic.

5. animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the trigger part (5) is pivotally mounted on the housing (6).

6. animal trap according to claim 5, characterized in that the release part (5) on the outside of the housing (6) is articulated.

7. Animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (6) has two opposing side walls (11, 11 '), wherein on each side wall a support spit (8) is fixed for fixing the animal trap in the ground.

8. animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has at least one support spit (8) for fixing the animal trap in the ground, which is provided with at least one barb (12).

9. animal trap according to claim 8, characterized in that the support spit (8) is formed of a metal sheet and that the one or more barbs (12) on the support spike (8) are formed, wherein the barbs (12) created by punching and bending operations , From the plane of the metal sheet outstanding sheet metal segments are.

10. animal trap according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the at least one support spit (8) has a plurality of barbs (12), preferably arranged at regular intervals to each other, in a along a Longitudinally extending row on the support spit (8) are arranged.

11. Animal trap according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the at least one support spit (8) is mounted longitudinally displaceable on the housing (6), wherein in the retracted position of the support spit (8) completely against the housing (6).

12. Animal trap according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that on the housing (6) lateral guide segments (13) are arranged, between which in each case a support spit (8) is approximately slidably feasible.

13. Animal trap according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the at least one support spit (8) on one side of a tip (14) and on the opposite side has an approximately right-angled bend (15) through which the animal trap through Applying a compressive force in the ground can be inserted.

14. Animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the housing (6) has at least four longitudinally extending, by longitudinal edges (16, 16 ') of each other separate side walls (11, 11').

15. animal trap according to one of claims 7 to 13 and claim 14, characterized in that it comprises two Stützspiesse (8, 8 ') which are each arranged in the region of a longitudinal edge (16, 16').

16. animal trap according to claim 14, characterized in that the two support spits (8, 8 ') with respect to a plan view in the longitudinal direction in the region of diagonally opposite longitudinal edges (16, 16 ') on the housing (6) are arranged.

17. animal trap according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the closing part (3) has two spaced Spiessanordnungen each with rows arranged in spits (2) are attached.

18. animal trap according to claim 17, characterized in that laterally at each skewer arrangement a support spit (8, 8 ') is arranged, which continues approximately the row of skewers (2).

19. Animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the spring element is a leg spring (4, 4).

20. animal trap according to claim 19, characterized in that it has for applying the spring bias two leg springs (4, 4 ').

21. animal trap according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the at least one leg spring (4, 4 ') has a screw portion (18) for the clamping movement through a lateral opening (19) or in a bulge in the housing (6) is received at least in the closed position.

22 animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the closing part (3) is movable from the closed position to the open position (clamping movement), that upon reaching the open position, the closing part (3). can be independently blocked by means of the retaining arrangement operatively connected to the triggering mechanism.

23. Animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the release mechanism in the open position is so in operative connection with retaining arrangement, that the closing part (3) in a movement of the trigger part (5) is activated in the closing direction.

24. animal trap according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the closing part (3) for moving from the closed position to the open position, a handle (8) which is guided inside the housing (6).