Patent ID: 9603351
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: A01M

Claim:
1. A mechanical entrapment device for entrapping a pest, the mechanical entrapment device comprising: a base, the base comprising at least one wall and an outer perimeter edge, wherein each at least one wall extends vertically from the outer perimeter edge of the base, the base further comprising a base spring trigger, an upper shell, the upper shell pivotally mounted to the base, the upper shell defined by a shell front end for engaging with the at least one wall, a shell rear end, an inner surface and an exterior surface, the upper shell further comprising a shell latching member extending from the shell rear end, wherein the base and the upper shell define an interior of the mechanical entrapment device, a spring coiled around an upper shell pin, wherein each end of the spring is connected to the upper shell, wherein the spring exerts a force on the upper shell causing the upper shell to close upon the base, a tongue disposed on the base by a tongue support structure, the tongue having a tongue bait end and a tongue support end, wherein the tongue is pivotally mounted on the upper shell pin, the tongue support structure comprising a channel through which the upper shell pin passes, the tongue further comprising a tongue longitudinal aperture and a tongue ledge disposed at one end of the tongue longitudinal aperture, the tongue further comprising a wide section at the tongue bait end that terminates into a narrow section toward the tongue support end, wherein the tongue bait end is positioned above the base spring trigger, the tongue comprising a first aperture disposed on the wide section of the tongue bait end, wherein the first aperture is fixedly disposed above the base spring trigger, a pair of rails disposed in a parallel configuration on the tongue substantially parallel to the tongue longitudinal aperture, a bait holder, the bait holder extending along a longitudinal axis of the base, wherein the longitudinal axis of the base is parallel to the tongue longitudinal aperture, and slidably engaged within the rails, the bait holder defined by a bait end, the bait holder further defined by a bait holder support end, the bait holder further comprising a bait holder longitudinal aperture substantially aligned with the tongue longitudinal aperture, the bait holder comprising a narrow section at the bait end that terminates into a wide section toward the bait holder support end, wherein the wide section of the bait holder is substantially equivalent in width to a distance between the rails and the narrow section of the bait holder is substantially narrower in width than the distance between the rails, wherein the bait holder can be detached from the mechanical entrapment device when the narrow section of the bait holder is positioned between the rails, wherein further the bait holder cannot be detached from the mechanical entrapment device when the wide section of the bait holder is positioned between the rails, wherein the bait end of the bait holder comprises a significantly concave shape configured for receiving a predetermined quantity of bait, wherein the bait end of the bait holder mates with the first aperture of the tongue bait end above the base spring trigger when the bait holder is fully slidably inserted into the mechanical entrapment device, a trigger catch member comprising a trigger catch member notch end and a trigger catch member tongue end, a notch disposed at the trigger catch member notch end for securing the shell latching member when the upper shell is pivoted around the upper shell pin to an open position, wherein when the upper shell is pivoted into the open position the shell latching member travels to securely engage with the notch in the trigger catch member notch end, causing the trigger catch member tongue end to pivot upward between the tongue longitudinal aperture and the bait holder longitudinal aperture to position on top of the tongue ledge, whereby a downward force exerted by the trigger tongue end when it is disposed onto the tongue ledge causes a downward force on the tongue support end, causing the tongue bait end and the bait holder bait end to both pivot upwardly, causing the base spring trigger to extend into a locked position, wherein when a pest is entrapped in the interior of the mechanical entrapment device, the weight of the pest as it consumes bait disposed in the bait end of the bait holder exerts a downward force on the tongue bait end, causing the trigger catch member tongue end to pivotally lift above and release from the tongue ledge, causing the trigger catch member notch end to disengage from the shell latching member, causing the spring to release stored energy and pivot the upper shell to a closed position onto the base, forming a cavity between the upper shell and the base that traps the pest within the interior of the mechanical entrapment device.