Self-Resetting Animal Trap

A trap for animals that automatically resets and preserves bait. The self-resetting animal trap includes an upper chamber having a bait chamber removably covered by an entrance gate and a bait lid, respectively. A trap gate forms a floor of the upper chamber, wherein a lower chamber for receiving a trapped animal is disposed therebeneath. The trap gate, entrance gate, and bait lid are pivotally connected to one another and move between a set configuration and a trap configuration. In the set configuration, the entrance gate and bait lid are open, and, in the trap configuration, the trap gate is open. The trap is biased to the set configuration due to a counterweight disposed on an end of the entrance gate. The counterweight is offset when an animal is disposed on the trap gate, thereby moving the self-resetting animal trap to the trap configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an animal trap. The present invention provides a self-resetting animal trap operated via gravity and configured to automatically reset.

Rodents and other pests create environmental problems for landowners, homeowners, and the like. For example, birds and squirrels tend to infest gardens and houses where they cause damage attic roofs, sidewalks, food, and plants. The use of traditional animal traps has been a prevalent method for controlling unwanted animal populations for many years. However, these traps have several limitations that have become increasingly apparent. Firstly, traditional animal traps often require electricity or gas to function, which makes them dependent on external power sources and limits their usage in remote areas.

Additionally, many traditional animal traps have overly complex mechanical operations, which can make them difficult to set up and maintain. This can lead to traps malfunctioning, which can result in the animal escaping or being harmed. Furthermore, traditional animal traps can also cause harm to the trapped animal. This can happen if the animal is not killed quickly and humanely, or if the trap causes injury to the animal before it is killed.

Many traditional traps use bait that must be continuously replaced, adding to the cost and inconvenience for the user. This can lead to significant expenses and additional labor in order to maintain the trap and feeding the unwanted rodent. Therefore, there exists a need for a more efficient and humane animal trap that operates exclusively via gravity, automatically resets and preserves the bait used to trap the animal.

In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements and methods from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement for a self-resetting animal trap. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of self-resetting animal traps now present in the known art, the present invention provides a self-resetting animal trap wherein the same can be utilized for trapping an animal, via gravity, while preserving the bait.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a self-resetting animal trap comprising a lower chamber and an upper chamber, wherein the upper chamber comprises an entrance gate and an opposing trap gate, wherein the entrance gate provides access to an interior volume of the upper chamber and the trap gate provides access to an interior volume of the lower chamber.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a self-resetting animal trap comprising a bait chamber having a bait lid, wherein the bait chamber is disposed within the upper chamber and connected to the entrance gate such that the bait lid and the entrance gate open and close simultaneously.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a self-resetting animal trap wherein the trap gate, entrance gate, and bait lid are pivotally connected to one another and move between a set configuration and a trap configuration. In the set configuration, the entrance gate and bait lid are open, and the trap gate is closed, and, in the trap configuration, the entrance gate and bait lid are closed, and the trap gate is open. The trap is biased to the set configuration due to a counterweight disposed on an end of the entrance gate. The counterweight is offset when an animal is disposed on the trap gate, thereby moving the self-resetting animal trap to the trap configuration. Once the trap gate releases the animal into the lower chamber, the counterweight automatically returns the trap to the set configuration.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a self-resetting animal trap wherein the lower chamber comprises an exit door.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a self-resetting animal trap that utilizes gravity to reset the trap without the need for electricity, gas, or complex mechanical operation so it can be used easily, even in remote locations.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a self-resetting animal trap that does not harm the trapped animal and can be used in a humane manner.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a self-setting animal trap that uses bait that can be preserved and reused, reducing the cost and inconvenience for the user.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a self-setting animal trap that automatically resets itself after each successful trapping, allowing it to trap multiple animals without the need for manual resetting.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved new a self-resetting animal trap that has all of the advantages of the known art and none of the disadvantages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for trapping an animal while preserving the bait. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment(s) of the invention. References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Referring now toFIGS.1and2, there are shown perspective views of an embodiment of the self-resetting animal trap, wherein the self-resetting animal trap is in a set configuration and a trap configuration, respectively. The current views are partially cutaway to better illustrate an interior of the animal trap without the hinderance of an exterior sidewall (shown in broken lines). The self-resetting animal trap1000comprises an upper chamber1100disposed above a lower chamber1200, wherein the upper chamber1100is configured to temporarily receive an animal and the lower chamber1200is adapted to receive the animal until a user is ready to remove the animal from the trap1000. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower chambers1100,1200are each composed of interconnected wires forming a cage having a series of openings. In alternate embodiments, the chambers are composed of any suitable structure configured to receive an animal, such as chambers having rigid, solid walls or soft, flexible walls. The purpose of the wires forming the cage-like structure of each chamber is to prevent an animal from easily escaping or damaging the chambers by chewing therethrough. The series of openings further allow the animal to breath when trapped within the lower chamber1200.

The lower chamber1200comprises a base1210configured to rest atop a surface, a sidewall1220, and an upper end1230. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower chamber1200comprises a rectangular shaped cross section, however, in alternate embodiments, the lower chamber comprises any suitable cross-sectional shape. In alternate embodiments, the self-resetting animal trap1000is configured to be suspended from a secondary structure, such as a tree, such that the base is not in contact with a support surface.

The upper chamber1100is partially disposed through the upper end1230of the lower chamber1200and comprises an entrance gate pivotally secured to an open upper end1110thereof and a trap gate1120forming a floor of the upper chamber1100. In the illustrated embodiment, the entrance gate1110is disposed above the lower chamber1200and the trap gate is disposed within the interior volume of the lower chamber1200. The trap gate1120provides access to the lower chamber1100when in an open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the entrance gate1110and trap gate1120entirely cover their respective opening of the upper chamber1100.

The entrance gate1110and trap gate1120are pivotally connected to each other via a pair of rods1130. Each pivot rod1130comprises a first end connected to the entrance gate and a second end connected to the trap gate, along the same side of the upper chamber1100. The trap gate1120is configured to open within the lower chamber1200when weight from an animal is received thereupon. In this way the self-resetting animal trap1000uses gravity to trap and contain the animal within the lower chamber1200. In the illustrated embodiment, the entrance gate1110and the trap gate1120open on opposite sides. The entrance gate1110is configured to open at a front side1500of the self-resetting animal trap1000and the trap gate1120is configured to open at a rear side1510of the self-resetting animal trap1000.

A bait chamber1300is disposed within the upper chamber1100and configured to lure the animal therein. The bait chamber1300comprises a bait lid1310and a wall1320extending from a sidewall1130of the upper chamber1100, such that a closure is formed when the bait lid1310is resting along the wall1320. In the shown embodiment, the bait lid1310is connected to the entrance gate1110via a rod1330, such that the entrance gate1110and bait lid1310close and open simultaneously. In the illustrated embodiment, the bait lid1310and entrance gate1110are parallel to one another such that when the entrance gate1110and bait lid1310are horizontal, the upper chamber1100and bait chamber1300are closed.

The self-resetting animal trap1000comprises a biasing member, such as a counterweight1400that extends from the upper chamber1100. In the illustrated embodiment, the counterweight1400extends from and is coplanar with the entrance gate1110to maintain the entrance gate1110and bait lid1310in an open position until the weight from the animal is received upon the trap gate1120and offsets the counterweight1400. The weight of the counterweight1400is dependent upon the type of animal the user is attempting to trap. A heavier counterweight1400is used for larger animals and a lighter counterweight1400is used for smaller animals. In some embodiments, the counterweight1400is interchangeable. In the illustrated embodiment, the counterweight1400is a rectangular member that is disposed on the exterior of the sidewall1130of the upper chamber1100and pivots about a perimeter edge of an uppermost end thereof.

In other embodiments, the biasing member comprises a spring operably connected to the entrance gate such that the biasing force urges the entrance gate open. In other embodiments, the biasing member is a magnet.

Referring now toFIGS.3and4, there is shown a side view and a front view of an embodiment of the self-resetting animal trap wherein the self-resetting animal trap is in a trap configuration, respectively. In the illustrated views, the intersecting wires of each chamber are removed for clarity of the details. In the illustrated embodiments, the lower chamber1100comprises an exit door1600disposed along the sidewall1220to allow the user to selectively remove the animal therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the exit door1600comprises a locking mechanism1610, such as a latch. The exit door1600comprises a pivotally connected to the lower chamber1200on an opposing side of the locking mechanism1610.

In some embodiments, a perimeter of the trap gate1120comprises barbs1140in order to deter the animal from manipulating the trap gate1120to attempt to reenter the upper chamber1100once disposed in the lower chamber1200.

In the illustrated embodiment, the trap gate1120, entrance gate1110, and bait lid1310are pivotally connected to one another and move between a set configuration and a trap configuration. In the set configuration, the entrance gate1110and bait lid1310are open, and the trap gate1120is closed (as seen inFIG.1). In the trap configuration, the entrance gate1110and bait lid1310are closed, and the trap gate1120is open. The self-resetting animal trap1000is biased to the set configuration due to a counterweight1400disposed on an end of the entrance gate1110. The counterweight1400is offset when an animal is disposed on the trap gate1120, thereby moving the self-resetting animal trap1000to the trap configuration. Once the trap gate1120opens into the lower chamber1200, the animal falls into the lower chamber1200. As soon as the weight of the animal is no longer on the trap gate1120, the counterweight1400automatically returns the trap1000to the set configuration. Therefore, the trap1000is continuously reset and configured to trap multiple animals.

As a result, once the animal is within the upper chamber1100, the trap gate1120immediately starts opening and the bait lid1310simultaneously closes, thereby preventing access to the bait chamber1300and preserving the bait6000for the next trap or animal.

The illustrated embodiment of the self-resetting animal trap1000is only gravity activated and does not require the use of springs or other mechanical methods to move the device between a set configuration and a trap configuration. The use of a counterweight eliminates some of the problems associated with springs, such as rusting or stretching, which can change the amount of force applied by the spring.

Referring now toFIGS.5and6, there is shown a perspective view of a lower chamber of an embodiment of the self-resetting animal trap and a front view of a lower chamber of an embodiment of the self-resetting animal trap, wherein the second, fourth and fifth sides are transitioning to a collapsed configuration, respectively. The walls of the lower chamber in the present illustrations are transparent for clarity. In some embodiments, the upper chamber is separable from the lower chamber1200, for compact storing. In the illustrated embodiment, an opening1240is formed in the upper end1230of the lower chamber1200when the upper chamber1100is removed therefrom. The remaining walls of the lower chamber1200are hingedly secured to one another and can be folded into the base1210. In the illustrated embodiment, a first sidewall1245and an opposing third sidewall1250of the lower chamber1200are configured to fold toward the base1210thereof. The base1210forming a planar floor of the lower chamber1200. Once the first and third sides are folded, a second side1250and an opposing fourth side1255are configured to fold toward the base, such that the sides of the lower chamber are stacked on one another in a collapsed configuration. In other embodiments, the fifth side1260or top side is connected between the fourth and second sides and is configured to fold therewith onto the base.