Patent ID: 6230434
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
An animal trap comprising:a housing having opposite ends, an entrance chamber, a trap chamber, an entrance opening communicating with said entrance chamber;an elongated paddle member within said housing having a central axis and a plurality of paddles extending radially outwardly therefrom, said paddle member being rotatably mounted within said housing for rotation about said central axis;a first anti-backspin member attached to said housing;a second anti-backspin member attached to said paddle and being retentively engaged by said first anti-backspin member to permit said paddle to rotate in said first direction and to prevent rotation of said paddle in a second direction opposite from said first direction;a spring operably secured by said second anti-backspin member and yieldably urging said paddle member in a first rotational direction for causing one of said paddles to push an animal from said entrance chamber into said trap chamber;a trigger assembly comprising a rotatable member having radially extending arms, an animal actuated trip member, and a trip return member;said rotatable member being movable from a latched position wherein said radially extending arms engage said paddle member to prevent rotation thereof to an unlatched position permitting said rotatable member to rotate in response to said spring;said trip member being in an untripped position engaging said rotatable member to prevent rotation thereof, and being movable in response to engagement by an animal to a tripped position permitting said rotation member to move to said unlatched position; andsaid trip return member being movable from an inoperative position to an operative position in response to rotation of said paddle member wherein said trip return member engages said trip member and returns said trip member from said tripped position to said untripped position.