Patent ID: 8336250
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
1. A large ground engaging animal trap, comprising: respective upper and lower metallic ring shaped elements rigidly and strongly connected one to the other by intermediate rigid uprights at spaced intervals around peripheries of said ring shaped elements so as to form an integral rigid drum shaped frame defining an interior and an exterior of said trap, a top and bottom rim, said ring shaped elements and rigid uprights being comprised of a rigid metal suitable for trapping and retaining at least one wild hog; at least one planar door also connected between said ring shaped elements and extending between two of said rigid uprights, said at least one planar door being disposed within a circumference of said rigid drum shaped frame and creating an opening through a curved side portion of said drum shaped frame, said at least one door being capable of being moved between a first open position and a second closed position, said at least one planar door being formed by rigid steel members formed as a rectangle with heavy wire mesh spanning across said rectangle, movement of said at least one planar door to said closed position being accomplished by a trip mechanism that is tripped by rooting of said at least one wild hog within said trap when said trap is in use; heavy wire mesh rigidly attached, so as to resist the escape of a wild hog, to and forming said curved side portion and a flat top of said drum shaped frame, leaving an open bottom rim of said drum shaped frame, said lower metallic ring shaped element being devoid of any mesh extending across a diameter thereof so as to leave a completely open bottom, wherein said opening provides exclusive ground level entrance and exit passage from said interior of said trap when said trap engages said ground thereby closing off said open bottom, and a ground engaging stake wherein in use, said at least one planar door is held in the open position by a rope having one end attached to said at least one planar door and an intermediate portion slung over a rigid support and a free end held against the ground by said ground engaging stake, whereupon, when said free end is released by animal rooting activity within said trap, said at least one planar door moves to the closed position, wherein said trap is formed by said curved side portion, said flat top and said at least one planar door, said curved side portion defined by said upper and lower metallic ring shaped elements, said rigid uprights and said heavy wire mesh.