Patent ID: 6035575
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A one-way entrance gate adapted for mounting to a marine animal trap of the type including walls bordering a chamber and including an entrance frame in one or more of the walls, the entrance frame bordering a trap opening sized to permit a marine animal to enter the chamber, and the entrance frame including spaced-apart top and bottom portions, comprising:a hinge member having a length and mountable to the entrance frame, the hinge member defining a guide space located substantially adjacent the entrance frame when the hinge member is mounted to the entrance frame; anda plurality of rigid bails spaced apart along the length of the hinge member, each of the bails having a pivot end and a free end, the pivot end of each bail rotatably mounted within the guide space of the hinge member so that the guide space and the pivot end together form an articulating joint that constrains the movement of the bail between closed and open positions, the bails sized to span between the top and bottom portions of the entrance frame when in the closed position, the bails rotatable toward the open position by a marine animal entering the chamber of the trap, the bails when in the closed position blocking the egress of a marine animal from the chamber through the trap opening.