Mouse trap

Abstract

An animal trap is provided which includes spring-loaded cupped members for grasping an animal. The cupped members include two sets of opposed arms which are connected in a manner so as to move in unison. The cupped members are biased to a closed position and a trigger holds the cupped members apart to allow entry by an animal. The trigger may slip, break, or be eaten through to release the cupped members. The cupped members enclose an animal when the trigger is released.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal trap, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the animal trap illustrating the curved arms, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the animal trap illustrating opposing one-piece jaws, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention illustrating a single hinge and an adjustable closing force;

FIG. 5A is an end view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is an end view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention showing trigger held horizontally between opposing arms;

FIG. 6 an end view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention showing the arms in a closed position; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention showing a closure limiting screw.

Claims

1. An animal trap comprising: opposing cupped members;at least one hinge, said hinge is mounted between said opposing cupped members; anda trigger, said trigger is adapted to hold said opposing cupped members to an opened position, whereupon release of said trigger, said opposing cupped members are adapted to snap to a closed position, thereby trapping an animal therebetween.

2. The animal trap of claim 1, wherein said cupped members comprise two sets of curved arms, wherein said two sets of arms comprise a first set of arms and a second set of arms, said first set of arms is attached to a first backbone and said second set of arms is attached to a second backbone.

3. The animal trap of claim 2, wherein said first backbone and said second backbone are adjacently positioned, said first backbone is adapted to cause said first set of arms to open or close together, and said second backbone is adapted to cause said second set of arms to open or close together.

4. The animal trap of claim 3, wherein said first set of arms and said second set of arms are hingedly connected via said hinge to allow for the opening and closing of said first set of arms and said second set of arms, said hinge comprises end pieces between which said first backbone and said second backbone are hingedly mounted via pins.

5. The animal trap of claim 2, further comprising an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism is adapted to bias said first set of arms and said second set of arms towards a closed position.

6. The animal trap of claim 5, wherein said adjustment mechanism is adapted for adjustably setting and for selectively controlling hinged displacement or a diametrical measure of displacement of said first set of arms and said second set of arms in the closed position, thereby allowing a user to control whether an entrapped animal is deprived of life or harmlessly captured.

7. The animal trap of claim 5, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a first lever attached to said first backbone and a second lever attached to said second backbone, said first lever and said second lever includes a spring being suitably held therebetween, thereby facilitating cooperation of said first lever, said second lever and said spring to bias said first set of arms and said second set of arms towards a closed position.

8. The animal trap of claim 7, wherein said spring is captive over a screw, said screw provides a means for adjustably setting hinged displacement of said first set of arms and said second set of arms between an opened position and a closed position.

9. The animal trap of claim 8, wherein said screw is adapted to allow for selective control of a diametrical measure of displacement of said first set of arms and said second set of arms in the closed position, said screw threadedly engages a nut being mounted behind said second lever, said screw is advanced into said nut in order to allow a greater diametrical measure of displacement of said first set of arms and said second set of arms upon closing of the animal trap, and wherein said screw is withdrawn from said nut to reduce the diametrical measure of displacement of said first set of arms and said second set of arms upon closing of the animal trap, the animal trap is therefore selectively adjustable to limit injury to an animal caught therein.

10. The animal trap of claim 1, wherein said trigger is held horizontally between one arm of said first set of arms and one opposing arm of said second set of arms, wherein each end of said trigger resides in a dimple formed along an inner sidewall of both said one arm and said one opposing arm in order to provide said trigger with a stable position, said trigger is adapted for holding said first set of arms and said second set of arms in an opened position which is releasable to a closed position when an animal is positioned between said first set of arms and said second set of arms and where the animal causes contact or engagement with said trigger, or when said trigger slips, breaks, or is eaten through.

11. The animal trap of claim 2, wherein each of said first set of arms and each of said second set of arms include a dimple formed along an inner sidewall thereof for receiving a respective end of said trigger in order to provide said trigger with a stable position, said trigger is adapted for holding said first set of arms and said second set of arms in an opened position which is releasable to a closed position when an animal is positioned between said first set of arms and said second set of arms and where the animal causes contact or engagement with said trigger, or when said trigger slips, breaks, or is eaten through.

12. The animal trap of claim 1, wherein said opposing cupped members are each defined of a one-piece jaw, wherein each said one-piece jaw defines an arcuate shape.

13. An animal trap comprising: opposing cupped members, wherein said cupped members comprise two sets of curved arms, wherein said two sets of curved arms comprise a first set of arms and a second set of arms, said first set of arms is attached to a first backbone and said second set of arms is attached to a second backbone, wherein said first backbone and said second backbone are adjacently positioned, said first backbone is adapted to cause said first set of arms to open or close together, and said second backbone is adapted to cause said second set of arms to open or close together;a pair of hinges, said pair of hinges is mounted between said opposing cupped members or said first set of arms and said second set of arms, said first set of arms and said second set of arms are hinged via said pair of hinges to allow for the opening and closing of said first set of arms and said second set of arms, said pair of hinges comprises end pieces between which said first backbone and said second backbone are hingedly mounted via pins; anda trigger, said trigger is adapted to hold said opposing cupped members to an opened position, whereupon release of said trigger, said opposing cupped members are adapted to snap to a closed position, thereby trapping an animal therebetween.

14. The animal trap of claim 13, wherein said first set of arms has a proximal arm and a distal arm defining a greater curvature than the remaining arms of said first set of arms, and said second set of arms has a proximal arm and a distal arm defining a greater curvature than the remaining arms of said second set of arms.

15. An animal trap comprising: opposing arms, said opposing arms are adapted for securely holding an animal therebetween, said opposing arms each extend upwardly into a lever, said opposing arms are connected by hinge portions;a pin, said pin extends through said hinge portions, and a spring resides over said pin, said spring is adapted to bias said opposing arms into a closed position; anda trigger, said trigger is adapted for holding said opposing arms in an opened position.

16. The animal trap of claim 15, wherein said trigger is releasable when an animal is positioned between said opposing arms and where the animal causes contact or engagement with said trigger, or when said trigger slips, breaks, or is eaten through, thereby actuating said opposing arms into a closed position.

17. The animal trap of claim 16, wherein said trigger defines a finger and an integral, elongated stem extending perpendicularly therefrom, said trigger includes an arcuate-shaped brace molded integral to said stem below said finger, said finger is adapted to be inserted within an aperture defined through a first hinge portion of said hinge portions, said brace includes opposing ends adapted to engage an inner sidewall of each said opposing arms, said brace of said trigger functions to temporarily lock said opposing arms in an opened position, whereupon contact or engagement by an animal with said trigger actuates release of said finger from said aperture of said first hinge portion, and actuates disengagement by said brace from said opposing arms, thereby causing said spring to immediately bias said opposing arms into a closed position.

18. The animal trap of claim 16, wherein said trigger is held horizontally between said opposing arms in order to provide said trigger with a stable position, said opposing arms are released to a closed position when said trigger slips, breaks, or is eaten through, or is engaged or contacted by an animal.

19. The animal trap of claim 15, further comprising: an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism is adjustable for selectively controlling hinged displacement or a diametrical measure of displacement of said opposing arms, thereby allowing said opposing arms to securely hold an animal therebetween and to allow a user to control whether an entrapped animal is deprived of life or harmlessly captured.

20. The animal trap of claim 19, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a closure limiting screw, said closure limiting screw is mounted between levers of said opposing arms.