Patent ID: 8042299
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
1. A mole trap comprising a base assembly including a first horizontal portion, a second horizontal portion that is parallel to and spaced from the first horizontal portion, a first transverse portion that is integral with the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion, a second transverse portion that is spaced from the first transverse portion and integral with the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion, a base aperture encircled by the first transverse portion, the first horizontal portion, the second transverse portion, and the second horizontal portion, and a third horizontal portion that is integral with the first transverse portion and the second transverse portion and parallel to the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion and bisects the base aperture; a first vertical guide rod with a first guide rod lower end anchored to the base assembly near a third horizontal portion first end and at the first transverse portion, and a second vertical guide rod with a second guide rod lower end anchored to the base assembly near a third horizontal portion second end and at the second transverse portion; an upper movable frame including a cross beam portion that is parallel to the third horizontal portion of the base assembly, a left side beam portion integral with a cross beam portion left end, a right side beam portion integral with a cross beam portion right end, a left vertical bore through the upper movable frame that telescopically receives a first vertical guide rod upper end, a right vertical bore through the upper movable frame that telescopically receives a second vertical guide rod upper end, a first vertical guide stop on the first vertical guide rod upper end, a second vertical guide stop on the second vertical guide rod upper end, and wherein the first vertical guide stop and the second vertical guide stop limit vertical movement of the upper movable frame away from the base assembly; a first coil spring with a first spring upper arm and a first spring lower arm, a first spring upper arm free end slidably mounted on the first vertical guide rod, a first spring lower arm free end slidably mounted on the first vertical guide rod, a second coil spring with a second spring upper arm and a second spring lower arm, a second spring upper arm free end slidably mounted on the second vertical guide rod, a second spring lower arm free end slidably mounted on the second vertical guide rod, and wherein the first coil spring and the second coil spring bias the upper movable frame upward and away from the base assembly; a first U-shaped rod with a first side portion, a second side portion and a lower transverse bar and wherein an upper end of the first side portion passes upward through a first vertical bore through the first transverse portion of the base assembly adjacent to the first horizontal portion, an upper end of the second side portion passes upward through a second vertical bore through the first transverse portion of the base assembly adjacent to the second horizontal portion, and wherein the upper end of the first side portion and the upper end of the second side portion are both clamped to the left side beam portion of the movable frame and move up and down with the movable frame; a second U-shaped rod with a first side portion, a second side portion and a lower transverse bar and wherein an upper end of the first side portion passes upward through a first vertical bore through the second transverse portion of the base assembly adjacent to the first horizontal portion, an upper end of the second side portion passes upward through a second vertical bore through the second transverse portion of the base assembly adjacent to the second horizontal portion, and wherein the upper end of the first side portion and the upper end of the second side portion are both clamped to the right side beam portion of the movable frame and move up and down with the upper movable frame; a lower horizontal pin fixed to the third horizontal portion, extending transversely toward the second horizontal portion of the base assembly, and wherein the lower horizontal pin is positioned an equal distance from the first vertical guide rod and the second vertical guide rod, an upper horizontal pin fixed to the cross beam of the upper movable frame and extending transversely in the direction of the second horizontal portion of the base assembly, a catch tension link pivotally attached to the upper horizontal pin and having an edge surface and a tension link recess in the edge surface and wherein the tension link recess receives the lower horizontal pin on the base assembly to hold the upper movable frame in a lowered position with the first coil spring and the second coil spring tensioned; and a bracket including a first flange, a second flange, bores through both flanges that receive the lower horizontal pin and pivotally attach the bracket to the lower horizontal pin and the base assembly, a tension link slot in the bracket, at least one release surface on the bracket, a bracket arm that extends outward from the bracket, a mole sensor attached to the bracket arm that pivots the bracket arm about the lower horizontal pin, in response to movement of the mole sensor by moles, moves the at least one release surface on the bracket into engagement with the edge surface of the catch tension link and forces the catch tension link to pivot about the upper horizontal pin and free the lower horizontal pin from the tension link recess thereby freeing the upper movable frame to be moved upward by the first coil spring and the second coil spring.