BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a snare trapping system.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a trigger mechanism of the snare trapping system.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the trigger mechanism in a set position.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the trigger mechanism in a tripped position.
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the trigger mechanism in the tripped position.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the snare trapping system in the set position near a trail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIG. 1, snare trapping system 10 may include trigger mechanism 12 operatively connected to anchor line 14. Anchor line 14 may be attached to an anchor. The anchor may be any object or assembly capable of securing system 10 to the ground, such as a stick, a bush, or a rebar driven into the ground. Another example of a suitable anchor to which anchor line 14 may be secured is the anchor assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,143.
With reference to FIG. 2, trigger mechanism 12 may include base 24, pivot arm 26, and trip line extension 28. Base 24 and pivot arm 26 may be formed of any durable material, such as metal or plastic. Trip line extension 28 may be formed of any durable material, such as metal or plastic. Pivot arm 26 may be pivotally connected to base 24.
With reference to FIGS. 2-5, base 24 may include slot 30 in its distal end. Pivot arm 26 may include arched finger 31 and recess 32 on its distal end and aperture 33 in its proximal end. In a set position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), slot 30 and arched finger 31 of pivot arm 26 may align to create trigger aperture 34 through recess 32 and a proximal end of slot 30. In a tripped position (shown in FIG. 4), pivot arm 26 may be rotationally displaced from base 24 such that arched finger 31 is not aligned with slot 30 such that an object retained through trigger aperture 34 in the set position may be released through slot 30 in the tripped position.
A portion of trip line extension 28 may be disposed through aperture 33 of pivot arm 26. In the set position, a portion of trip line extension 28 may be disposed in second slot 35 (shown in FIG. 4) in the proximal end of base 24. In the tripped position, trip line extension 28 may be disposed completely outside of second slot 35 in the proximal end of base 24.
Pivot arm 26 may include first member 36 and second member 38 (shown in FIG. 5) disposed on opposing sides of base 24. Trip line 40 may be operatively connected to trip line extension 28 on trigger mechanism 12. Trip line 40 may be formed of any string material, such as fishing line, nylon string, or steel wire. Trip line 40 is preferably formed of a thin string material.
With reference to FIG. 1, main line 42 may be selectively connected to trigger mechanism 12. Main line 42 may be formed of rope, parachute cord, or galvanized cable. In one embodiment, main line 42 may be connected to trigger mechanism 12 through connection ring 44 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), which may be disposed through trigger aperture 34 when trigger mechanism 12 is in the set position. Main line 42 may also be operatively connected to snare loop 46. In one embodiment, main line 42 and snare loop 46 are tied together. Alternatively, main line 42 and snare loop 46 may be integrally formed. In one embodiment, system 10 includes two snare loops 46. Snare loop 46 may be formed of any type of rope, such as nylon rope or galvanized cable.
As shown in FIG. 6, snare trapping system 10 may be employed near trail 50. A user may locate a spring pole near trail 50, such as spring pole 52. Alternatively, a user may cut a spring pole and place it near trail 50, such as by using a T-post and metal hose clamps. As understood by a skilled artisan, spring pole 52 should be strong enough to support the weight of a large animal. On the opposite side of trail 50 from spring pole 52, the user may tie anchor line 14 to any natural or man-made anchor existing or placed beside trail 50 that will securely hold system 10. With trigger mechanism 12 in the set position, the user may bend spring pole 52 down toward the anchor and attach main line 42 to spring pole 52 such that the end of spring pole 52 is approximately three feet above the ground. The user may then tie trip line 40 to support 54, such that trip line 40 extends horizontally across trail 50. Support 54 may be any upwardly extending member, such as a stick, a rebar, or a cane stalk. The user may then place snare loops 46 on the ground in the trail, with the two snare loops 46 on opposite sides of trip line 40. The user may cover snare loops 46 with brush, such as leaves, sticks, pine needles, or grass. The user may arrange snare loops 46 such that each has a diameter of about one foot, and such that snare loops 46 are about two to three inches apart.
When trip line 40 is actuated by an animal, trip line 40 pulls trip line extension 28 of trigger mechanism 12. Trip line extension 28 pulls pivot arm 26 such that it pivots from alignment with base 24 into the tripped position, releasing connection ring 44 and main line 42 as trigger aperture 34 opens. Because spring pole 52 was held down by main line 42, spring pole 52 then travels in an upward direction pulling main line 42 and snare loops 46 upwardly. Simultaneously, snare loops 46 may close around a portion of the animal, such as the animal's foot or hoof, trapping the animal. Snare loops 46 may lift an animal's foot or hoof above the ground. Alternatively, the animal may be trapped by lifting the entire animal above the ground. In yet another alternative, the animal may be trapped on the ground by snare loops 46 closing around a portion of its body. Snare trapping system 10 may be used to trap animals such as hogs.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments are illustrative only and that the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalents, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those skilled in the art from a review hereof.
Patent Application
20140259875
