Patent ID: 8499488
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
1. A rodent trap comprising: a box enclosing a trap compartment and having at least a first mouse opening therein providing communication into the trap compartment, the box having a bottom wall; an elongated tube within the trap compartment, the tube having first and second opposite side walls, a first open end in communication with the first mouse opening and a second end in communication with the trap compartment; an elongated tilt ramp within the tube having an entrance end adjacent the mouse opening of the box and having an exit end adjacent the exit opening of the tube; a ramp hinge pivotally mounting the tilt ramp within the tube for tilting movement about a hinge axis from a first position wherein the entrance end is adjacent tele bottom wall of the box adjacent the mouse opening and the exit end is elevated above the entrance end, to a second position wherein the exit end is lowered from the first position; a bias member connected to the tilt ramp and biasing the tilt ramp to the first position, the bias member yielding in response to the weight of a mouse adjacent the exit end of the tilt ramp to perm the tilt ramp to move to the second position; a first boss having a boss receptacle mounted to the first side wall of the tube and a second boss having a boss receptacle mounted to the second side wall of the tube; the ramp hinge comprising a ramp hinge pin having a first pin end pivotally mounted within the receptacle of the first boss and having a second pin end pivotally mounted within the receptacle of the second boss, whereby the pivotal movement of the first and second pin ends within the receptacles of the first and second bosses reduces the frictional force resisting tilting movement of the tilt ramp in response to the weight of the mouse; a flap mounted to the tube by a flap hinge and engaging the tilt ramp adjacent the entrance end of the tilt ramp, the flap being pivotal about the flap hinge from an open position permitting a mouse to enter the entrance end of the tube to a closed position closing off the entrance end of the tube in response to the movement of the tilt ramp from the first to the second position; and at least one dimple located between the tilt ramp and the flap for reducing the frictional force between the tilt ramp and the flap during movement of the flap from the open and closed positions in response to movement of the tilt ramp from the first to the second position.