Patent ID: 7363744
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
1. A rodent trap comprising: a housing having first and second opposite ends, an upper wall, a lower wall, a rear wall and an entrance opening; a partition within the housing forming a trap compartment that is defined by a portion of the upper wall, a portion of the lower wall, and the rear wall of the housing and by the partition; a clam shell within the trap compartment having an upper half and a lower half separated by a living hinge, the clam shell having the upper half thereof being adjacent the portion of the upper wall, the lower half thereof being adjacent the portion of the lower wall defining the trap compartment; an elongated paddle member within the housing having a central axis and a plurality of paddles extending outwardly in a radial direction, the paddle member being mounted within the housing for rotation about the central axis; a spring urging the paddle in a first rotational direction; a trip member depressible by the rodent entering the housing through the opening therein from an untripped position holding the paddle against rotational movement to a tripped position permitting the paddle member to rotate, causing the paddles to rotate and sweep the live rodent into the trap compartment; the clam shell being in an open position within the trap compartment and being movable in response to manipulation by an operator to a closed position wherein the upper and lower halves hinge about the living hinge and move into sealed relationship with one another to trap the live rodent within the clam shell without having to touch the live rodent.