Abstract:
An improved mousetrap has an upper jaw pivotally mounted with a lower jaw, and a bait platform mounted between the upper and lower jaws, The bait platform acts as a trigger to initiate jaw closure when depressed. A circumferential spring for closing the jaws around the bait platform encircles the jaws and is retained in a retaining groove of the lower jaw. The upper jaw has a rear, lower corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are open; and a rear, upper corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are closed. Contractile force of the spring pulls the spring from the lower corner toward the upper corner, to complete jaw closure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit and priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/168,864, filed Apr. 13, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    People wishing to eliminate mice and other rodents from a building or area often use a mousetrap to trap and kill the animals. Some mousetraps have a metal bail pivoted to the middle of a base with a torsion spring. To set the trap, the user rotates the free end of the bail toward one end of the base, engaging the free end with a catch, against the force of the spring. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,340 to Schildt, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a mousetrap wherein two jaws are pivoted together and encircled by a single continuous garter-like spring, which is positioned at or slightly behind the pivot axis. Thus, the spring does not exert any closing force upon the jaws when the jaws are in the open position; rather, the spring aids in holding the jaws open. A teeter-totter trigger with a bait platform connects with the upper jaw. When a mouse exerts downward pressure on the bait platform, i.e., in attempting to remove the bait, the upper jaw is rotated slightly forward. The continuous spring then slides upward/forward along the upper jaw, causing the upper jaw to snap shut against the lower jaw. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,544 to Leyerle, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a rodent trap with entrapping teeth. When the trap is sprung, the teeth interdigitate and close together to catch rodents therebetween. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In embodiments, an improved mousetrap includes an upper jaw pivotally mounted relative to a lower jaw. A bait platform mounted between the upper and lower jaws acts as a trigger to initiate jaw closure when depressed. A circumferential spring for closing the jaws around the bait platform encircles the jaws and is retained in a retaining groove of the lower jaw. The upper jaw has a rear, lower corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are open, and a rear, upper corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are closed. Contractile force of the spring pulls the spring from the lower corner toward the upper corner, to complete jaw closure. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, in a mousetrap having pivotal upper and lower jaws joined with a continuous garter spring, an improvement includes a bait receiving location, e.g., a cup in some embodiments, mounted on a bait platform, proximate a pivot point of the jaws; and a cutout in a rear portion of the upper jaw, for accessing the bait cup when the jaws are closed. A pair of vertical sidewalls prevent access to the bait cup from the sides of the trap. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, an improved mousetrap includes a base, a lower jaw mounted with the base and an upper jaw pivotally mounted with the lower jaw. A bait platform mounts between the upper and lower jaws, acting as a trigger to initiate jaw closure when depressed. A pair of sidewalls extend vertically from the base and outside of the upper and lower jaws, to prevent access to the bait platform from the sides of the mousetrap. A circumferential spring for closing the jaws around the bait platform encircles the jaws and is retained in a retaining groove of the base. The upper jaw includes a rear, lower corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are open, and a rear, upper corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are closed. Contractile force of the spring pulls the spring toward the upper corner, to complete jaw closure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an improved mousetrap in an open, set position, according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the mousetrap of  FIG. 1 , in a closed, sprung position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the mousetrap if  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the closed, sprung mousetrap shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross-sectional side view through the closed, sprung mousetrap of  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross-sectional side view through the open, set mousetrap of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    For ease of discussion, the trap detailed herein is referred to as a mousetrap. However, it will be appreciated that the disclosed trap may be used to capture and/or kill any rodent or small animal. Thus, the use of the term “mousetrap” in these descriptive materials should not be construed as an indication of limited utility or in any other way restrictive in terms of scope. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a mousetrap  100  in open (set) and closed (sprung) positions, respectively. For purposes of the following description,  FIGS. 1 and 2  are best viewed together. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows mousetrap  100  in open, set position. Mousetrap  100  includes an upper jaw  102  and a lower jaw  104  configured with a base  105 . Lower jaw  104  may be formed with base  105 , or lower jaw  104  may be separately formed and mounted with base  105 . 
         [0017]    Upper teeth  106  extend downward from upper jaw  102 , and lower teeth  108  extend upward from lower jaw  104 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , lower teeth  108  are backed by a rail  110 . A continuous, encircling band or spring  112  holds upper and lower jaws  102 ,  104  together. Spring  112  may be a garter-like metal spring, an elastic band, a rubber band or a band or spring of another strong, stretchable material having contractile properties. When trap  100  is set, spring  112  is stretched to rest in a lower corner  113  formed by an upwardly extending tail portion  114  of upper jaw  102  (see  FIG. 2 ). A retaining groove  116  holds spring  112  in place underneath and along base  105 /lower jaw  104 . 
         [0018]    A pair of substantially vertical sidewalls  118  mount with lower jaw  104 /base  105  and extend upwards to approximately the height of upper jaw  102 , when trap  100  is open. As shown, sidewalls  118  are formed with arcs imitative of the path of upper jaw  106  as trap  100  closes. Sidewalls  118  are also shown tapering downwards from front to back of trap  100 . However, sidewalls  118  may take alternate shapes and sizes. 
         [0019]    A bait platform  120  mounts with trap  100  such that the platform and a bait cup  122  are exposed when trap  100  is open. A textured portion of bait platform, such as ridges  124 , provide traction for a mouse or other rodent attempting to climb atop bait platform  120  to reach bait in bait cup  122 . A foot portion  125  of upper jaw  102  joins with or pivots with bait platform  120 . See description of  FIG. 4 , below. When a mouse exerts downward pressure on bait platform  120 , platform  120  “teeter-totters” under the mouse&#39;s weight, triggering trap  100  and closing upper jaw  102  slightly. The slight closure of upper jaw  102  reduces an angle α between upper jaw  102  and base  105 /lower jaw  104 . Upon reduction of angle α, compressive force of spring  112  snaps upper and lower jaws  102 ,  104  shut. For example, spring  112  contracts, sliding from lower corner  113  to an upper corner  126  formed by upper jaw  102  and a retainer  128 , closing jaws  102 ,  104 . See also  FIG. 4 . Upper teeth  106  shut against rail  110 , which is for example lower in height than lower teeth  106 . Lower teeth  108  extend farther forward than lower teeth  106 , such that trap  100  closes with an underbite. Jaws  102 ,  104  thereby close further than jaws with interdigitating teeth (i.e., the interdigitating teeth described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,544, cited above), enabling the jaws to collapse further and create an offset bite at the interface of the vertically overlapping teeth  106  and  108 , rather than the end-to-end bite of conventional teeth sets which are coplanar and mesh. Once trap  100  has collapsed on the rodent, the underbite relationship between teeth  106  and  108  also forms an additional obstacle to a rodent attempting to back out or pull a limb out of trap  100 . When trap  100  is closed, lower teeth  108  form a “fence” or barrier to escape. Rather than pulling/moving straight back to escape a conventional trap, the rodent must pull/move back and up, over the barrier in order to overcome retention. 
         [0020]    Mousetrap  100  may thereby decrease rates of rodent escape. In one embodiment, the underbite of trap  100  (e.g., the spacing between upper and lower jaws  102 ,  104  when trap  100  is closed) is about ⅛″. Lower teeth  108  may be formed with lower jaw  104 , or lower teeth  108  may be fastened to lower jaw  104  with adhesive, screws, snaps or other fasteners. 
         [0021]    Sidewalls  118  block rodents from accessing bait via the sides of trap  100 , and may thus decrease incidences of stolen bait while increasing catch and kill ratios. Because rodents cannot access bait from the sides of trap  100 , but must enter the trap, maiming and escape are less likely, and kills more likely, than with conventional traps such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,340 and 6,415,544 (briefly outlined above). 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of trap  100 , showing additional detail of bait platform  120  and lower jaw  104 /base  105 . Bait platform  120  is shown with two rear and two side tabs  130 ,  132  extending from a pair of platform arms  134 . Arms  134  bend proximate wings  132  and angle upwards towards tabs  130 . When trap  100  is opened, i.e., by pressing downward on tail portion  114 , an inner surface of tail  114  contacts rear tabs  130 , pressing arms  134  down and elevating a trigger portion  136  (indicated in dashed outline) of platform  120 . See  FIG. 5   b . When arms  134  are pressed down, platform  120  for example rocks or pivots on side tabs  132 , within channels  138  in lower jaw  104 . When trap  100  is open, a downwardly-extending tip  140  of tail portion  114  rests upon a stopper  142  configured with lower jaw  104 /base  105 . It will be appreciated that the bend in platform arms  134  may be varied (e.g., the angle increased or decreased) or the height of stopper  142  be increased or decreased to alter trigger sensitivity as desired. 
         [0023]    Lower jaw  104 /base  105  includes a pair of intermediate vertical walls  144 . When trap  100  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 4 , foot portion  125  of upper jaw  102  rests behind and substantially parallel to walls  144 . Jaws  102 ,  104  are closed together, and bait cup  122  is exposed for emptying/reloading. A user may safely remove and/or reload bait in bait cup  122  without having to reach into the mouth of an armed trap. As shown in  FIG. 4 , foot portion  125  may include a cutout  145  to facilitate access to bait cup  122 . Bait cup  122  may be about ⅛″ to 3/16″ or taller in height, to prevent overflow of bait into the back of trap  100  when trap  100  is open and bait platform  120  tilts rearward. The height of cutout  145  may vary according to the height of bait cup  122 , for example to facilitate placement of bait in bait cup  122 . 
         [0024]    When trap  100  is set, foot portion  125  of upper jaw  102  pivots against walls  114 , along a base  146 . See also  FIG. 5   b . Spring  112  slides from corner  126  to rest in corner  113 , securing jaws  102 ,  104  in open position with tip  140  of upper jaw  102  resting against stopper  142 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are cross-sectional side views of mousetrap  100  in closed and open positions, respectively. According to one embodiment,  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show lower jaw  104  mounted with base  105 . Base  105  includes retaining groove  116 , and jaw  104  includes stopper  142 . For clarity of illustration, not all components of trap  100  are shown in each figure. Thus,  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are best viewed together with the following description. 
         [0026]    When closed, as in  FIG. 5   a , upper teeth  106  contact rail  110  of lower jaw  104 . Lower teeth  108  overlap upper teeth  106  in an overbite, posing an additional barrier to escape from trap  100 . Bait platform  120  is substantially flush with the inner, bottom aspect of lower jaw  104 , except where platform arms  134  angle upward from lower jaw  104  at the bend proximate tabs  132  (see  FIG. 3  and the description thereof). Platform arms  134  are exposed at the open, back end of trap  100 . Bait cup  122  is accessible via cutout  145  (see  FIG. 4 ). Spring  112  spans trap  100  laterally. Whether open or shut, spring  112  is located in a first position resting in retaining groove  116  of lower jaw  114 . When the trap is in closed position, the opposite portion of spring  112  is located in an upper corner  126  of upper jaw  102 . Contractile force of spring  112  maintains trap  100  in the closed position. 
         [0027]    Advantageously, a user may remove a trapped rodent from trap  100  without touching the rodent. To do this, the user pinches tail portion  114  to lower jaw  104 /base  105 , opening jaws  102 ,  104 . The trapped rodent may then be disposed of, e.g., by opening the trap over a garbage can. 
         [0028]    Likewise, trap  100  may be reloaded with bait without having to reach between jaws  102 ,  104 . As shown in  FIG. 5   a , bait cup  122  is accessible from the rear of trap  100 , via cutout  145 . Trap  100  may thus be safely baited without the risk to a user&#39;s fingers that is posed when a user must reach into a conventional trap (e.g., those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,340 and 6,415,544) to bait it. 
         [0029]    Once baited, trap  100  may be set by pressing tail portion  114  to lower jaw  104 /base  105 . Base  146  of foot portion  125  pivots against walls  114  to open upper jaw  102 . Now that upper jaw  102  has been rocked backward, the slope of surface  127 , and the influence of gravity together cause spring  112  to slide into a second position nested in lower corner  113 . Contractile force of spring  112  keeps spring  112  proximate lower corner  113 , maintaining trap  100  in open, set position since the spring  112  is now over center of the axis of rotation for the upper jaw  102 . Tail portion  114  presses tabs  130  down such that arms  134  are substantially flush with lower jaw  104 /base  105 , from tabs  130  to tabs  132 . From tabs  132  forward (e.g., from tabs  132  to the distal end of trigger portion  136 ), bait platform  120  extends upward between open jaws  102 ,  104 . Sidewalls  118  (only one shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b ) prevent access to bait cup  122  from the sides of the trap. Contrary to conventional traps, mousetrap  100  prevents mice from sneaking bait from the sides of the trap. Sidewalls  118  force mice in search of base into trap  100  and over trigger portion  136 , increasing catch rates and simultaneously decreasing maimings that may occur when a rodent triggers a trap by reaching for bait via a side. 
         [0030]    Upper jaw  104  (e.g., tail portion  114  and foot portion  125 ) closes with lower jaw  104 /base  105  to likewise block access to bait cup  122  from the rear of trap  100 . Thus, access to the bait is completely precluded from the back and sides, and a rodent must access bait cup  122  from between jaws  102 ,  104 , for example by climbing upon trigger portion  136  of bait platform  120 , and thereby triggering trap  100 . Bait cup  122  is positioned sufficiently far back on bait platform  120  so that rodents cannot reach bait without stepping onto trigger portion  136 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , bait cup  122  is positioned partially within cutout  145 . 
         [0031]    In the above-described Figures, sidewalls  118  are shown extending upwards from lower jaw  104 /base  105 . However, it will be appreciated that trap  100  may alternatively include a fixed or removable canopy for covering at least a portion of trap  100 . The canopy may include downwardly extending sidewalls, to replace or augment sidewalls  118 . 
         [0032]    It will be understood that certain changes may be made in the above systems and methods without departing from the scope hereof; thus, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover generic and specific features described herein, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.