Abstract:
A snare system includes a trap body including an aperture, a trigger plate assembly disposed within the trap body such that the trigger plate assembly is accessible through the aperture, a snare assembly placeable about the trap body, and at least one snare release assembly operatively linked with the trap body. The trigger plate assembly is movable between an armed position and an activated position. The snare release assembly normally biases the trigger plate assembly into the armed position. Furthermore, the snare release assembly disengages the snare assembly from the trap body when the trigger plate assembly moves from the armed position to the activated position. Upon disengagement from the trap body, the snare assembly moves to capture an animal&#39;s limb.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for capturing game or pests and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation to an apparatus that employs a snare. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Trapping is the use of a device to remotely catch an animal and is employed for a variety of reasons, including hunting, pest control, and wildlife management. In particular, traps are effective in protecting livestock and agriculture from pests and predators such as coyotes and feral hogs. 
     Due to an exploding population and the lack of natural predators, feral hogs have become a problem in the United States. Feral hogs are omnivores and are opportunistic when it comes to food sources eating crops as well as livestock. In addition, to reach tubers and worms, feral hogs root the soil changing the soil&#39;s mineral properties as well as water infiltration rates, which has a negative impact on agriculture and vegetation. 
     Traps have become an effective way to control the feral hog population and limit their impact on agriculture, livestock, and the environment. Many different methods are used to trap feral hogs including box traps, corrals, and snares. Box traps and corrals are expensive, immobile, and may become less effective over time. Specifically, the feral hogs often learn from their keen sense of smell not to approach the box trap or corral. Conversely, snares are inexpensive, portable, and may be placed on trails and pathways that are used by feral hogs. Moreover, the snare and the triggering system for the snare can be buried to make the snare harder to detect for feral hogs and other pests or game. In addition, multiple snares may be employed in a given area to increase their effectiveness. 
     Accordingly, a game snare that is inexpensive, portable, and that can be buried would be useful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a snare system comprises a trap body including an aperture, a trigger plate assembly disposed within the trap body, a snare assembly placeable about the trap body, and at least one snare release assembly operatively linked with the trap body. 
     The trap body includes a wall defining an opening and having an inner surface and an outer surface, a lip atop the wall that defines the aperture, at least one release slot in the wall, at least one hinge bracket disposed within the trap body that aligns with the release slot, and a bottom plate. A base secures to the bottom plate to cover the opening of the trap body. 
     The trigger plate assembly includes a trigger plate and legs coupled with the trigger plate. The trigger plate assembly inserts within the opening of the wall such that the legs abut the lip and the trigger plate aligns with the aperture. The trigger plate assembly is accessible through the aperture of the trap body and movable between an armed position and an activated position. In the armed position the legs abut the lip and the trigger plate aligns with the aperture. 
     The snare assembly includes a wire having a first end formed into a loop and second end. The snare assembly further includes a stop secured to the wire adjacent the loop and a swivel stop that receives the wire therethrough and couples with the second end of the wire to form a snare. The snare assembly still further includes a biasing member disposed over the wire between the stop and the swivel stop. The biasing member biases the swivel stop from a loading position to a capture position. 
     The snare release assembly includes a snare release coupled with the hinge bracket of the trap body that moves between a normally charged position and a release position. In addition, the snare release disengages the snare assembly from the trap body when the trigger plate assembly moves from the armed position to the activated position. The snare release assembly further includes an actuator coupled with the snare release and a biasing member coupled with the snare release. 
     The snare release includes a trigger tab and a snare tab. The trigger tab engages with the actuator and a first member of the biasing member. The snare tab engages with a coil of the biasing member and couples with the hinge bracket of the trap body. A second member of the biasing member abuts the inner surface of the wall of the trap body such that the biasing member biases the snare release into the normally charged position, whereby a portion of the snare tab extends through the release slot of the trap body. The portion of the snare tab extending through the release slot and the trap body form a pocket for receiving the snare assembly therein. Furthermore, in the normally charged position, the actuator contacts the trigger plate assembly to maintain the trigger plate assembly in the armed position. 
     When a force is applied to the trigger plate, the trigger plate overcomes the biasing member and moves the snare release from the normally charged position to the release position. As a result, the portion of the snare release extending through the release slot pivots to eliminate the pocket and release the snare assembly from the trap body. Upon release from the trap body, the biasing member of the snare assembly biases the swivel stop from the loading position to the capture position thereby ensnaring an animal&#39;s limb. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a snare system according to the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the snare system. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view in perspective illustrating the snare system. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view illustrating the snare system. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the snare system in an armed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the snare system in a release position. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the snare system capturing an animal&#39;s limb. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components or steps. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a snare system  10 . The snare system  10  includes a snare assembly  100 , a trigger plate assembly  200 , a trap body  300 , a snare release system  400 , and a base  500 . The snare assembly  100  includes a wire  110 , a swivel stop  120  that moves between a loading position and a capture position, a biasing member  130 , a stop  140 , and retaining clips  151  and  152 . The wire  110  can be any suitable material, however, in the preferred embodiment the wire  110  is a steel cable. The swivel stop  120  includes a first member  121  and a second member  122 . The first member  121  includes an aperture  123  that receives a second end of the wire  110  therethrough and the second member  122  includes an aperture  124  that receives and secures the second end of the wire  110 . In particular, the second end of the wire  110  passes through the aperture  123  of the first member  121  and inserts into the aperture  124  of the second member  122 . After the wire  110  inserts into aperture  124  of the second member, the wire  110  secures to the second member  122  using any suitable means such as a threaded nut. Once the wire  110  secures to the second member  122 , the wire  110  forms a snare  105 . 
     The stop  140  includes an aperture  145  that receives the first end of the wire  110  such that the wire  110  passes through the aperture  145 . After passing through the aperture  145 , the stop  140  secures to the wire  110  using any suitable means such as a friction fit created through crimping. Furthermore, once the first end of the wire  110  passes through the aperture  145  of the stop  140 , the wire  110  forms a loop  150  that is maintained by the retaining clips  151  and  152 . The loop  150  allows the snare assembly  100  to secure to an immobile object such as a tree, fence post, or stake. 
     The biasing member  130  inserts over the wire  110  such that a first end of the biasing member  130  abuts the stop  140  and a second end of the biasing member  130  abuts the first member  121  of the swivel stop  120 . The biasing member  130  biases the swivel stop  120  from the loading position to the capture position. In the preferred embodiment, the biasing member  130  is a spring. 
     The snare assembly  100  assembles in the following manner. The aperture  145  of the stop  140  receives the first end of the wire  110  such that the wire  110  passes through the aperture  145 . After passing through the aperture  145 , the stop  140  secures to the wire  110  at a desired distance from the loop  150 . Furthermore, once the first end of the wire  110  passes through the aperture  145  of the stop  140 , the wire  110  forms the loop  150  wherein the retaining clips  151  and  152  are placed onto the wire  110  to maintain the loop  150 . The biasing member  130  inserts over the wire  110  at the second end until the first end of the biasing member  130  abuts the stop  140 . Thereafter, the second end of the wire  110  inserts through the first member  121  and into the second member  122  of the swivel stop  120 . In particular, the second end of the wire  110  inserts through the aperture  123  of the first member  121  until the second end of the biasing member  130  abuts the first member  121 . Furthermore, the second end of the wire  110  inserts and secures into aperture  124  of the second member  122  using any suitable means such as a threaded nut. After inserting through the aperture  123  of the first member  121  and securing to the second member  122 , the wire  110  forms the snare  105 . 
     The snare assembly  100  operates in the following manner. The loop  150  secures to an immobile object such as a tree, fence post, or stake. The biasing member  130  through engagement with the swivel stop  120  and the stop  140  biases the swivel stop  120  from the loading position to capture position. In particular, as the biasing member  130  biases the swivel stop  120  from the loading position to the capture position, the swivel stop  120  guided by the aperture  123  moves along the wire  110  such that the diameter of the snare  105  is reduced thereby allowing the capture of an animal&#39;s limb. Operation of snare assembly  100  in combination with the other components of the snare system  10  will be described in greater detail herein. 
     The trigger plate assembly  200  includes a trigger plate  210  and legs  211 - 214 . The trigger plate  210  connects to the legs  211 - 214  using any suitable means such as welding. The trigger plate assembly  200  inserts within the trap body  300  and moves between an armed position and an activated position. Specifically, when an animal steps on the trigger plate  210  of the trigger plate assembly  200 , the trigger plate assembly  200  moves from the armed position to the activated position. The legs  211 - 214  guide and maintain the trigger plate assembly  200  within the trap body  300  as the trigger plate assembly  200  moves between the armed position and the activated position. The movement of the trigger plate assembly  200  between armed position and the activated position will be explained in greater detail herein. 
     The trap body  300  includes a wall  301  defining an opening  304  and having an inner surface  302  and an outer surface  305 , a lip  307  atop the wall  301  that defines an aperture  310 , release slots  315  in the wall  301 , and a bottom plate  320  that allows the trap body  300  to secure to the base  500 . The trap body  300  further includes hinge brackets  311 - 314  that connect to the lip  307 , the inner surface  302  of the wall  301 , or both using any suitable means such as spot welding. The hinge brackets  311 - 314  align with a respective release slot  315  and include apertures  330  that allow the securing of the snare release system  400 . The outer surface  305  of the wall  301  receives the snare assembly  100  when moved to the loading position. 
     The hinge brackets  311 - 314  receive the snare release system  400 . In particular, a portion of the snare release system  400  secures within the hinge brackets  311 - 314  and allows the snare release system  400  to pivot within the hinge brackets  311 - 314 . In addition, the release slots  315  of the trap body  300  receive a portion of the snare release system  400  that moves within the release slots  315  to release the snare assembly  100  from the trap body  300 . The snare release system  400  is activated by the trigger plate assembly  200  resulting in a portion of the snare release system  400  pivoting within the hinge brackets  311 - 314  and a portion of the snare release system  400  moving upwards within the release slots  315  to release the snare assembly  100  from the outer surface  305  of the wall  301 . Once the snare assembly  100  is released from the outer surface  305 , the swivel stop  120  of the snare assembly  100  moves from the loading position to the capture position thereby reducing the diameter of the snare  105  and allowing the capture of an animal&#39;s limb. 
     The snare release system  400  includes snare release assemblies  401 - 404 . The snare release assemblies  401 - 404  are identical and each includes a snare release  410 , an actuator  415  which is a screw in the preferred embodiment, a biasing member  420 , and a retaining clip  425 . The snare release  410  includes a snare tab  411  and a trigger tab  412 . The snare tab  411  includes an aperture  413  and the trigger tab  412  includes an aperture  414 . The aperture  413  of the snare tab  411  receives the retaining clip  425  and the aperture  414  of the trigger tab  412  is threaded to receive the actuator  415 . The biasing member  420  includes a first member  431 , a second member  432 , and a coil  433 . The first member  431  of the biasing member  420  forms a loop  435 . 
     The snare assemblies  401 - 404  assemble and install within the hinge brackets  311 - 314  of the trap body  300  in the following manner. The loop  435  of the biasing member  420  is placed onto the trigger tab  412 . The actuator  415  inserts through the loop  435  of the biasing member  420  and through the aperture  414  of the trigger tab  412 . The actuator  415  maintains the biasing member  420  engaged with the trigger tab  412 . The snare assemblies  401 - 404  are placed within the hinge brackets  311 - 314  of the trap body  300  and the retaining clip  425  inserts through the apertures  330  of the hinge brackets  311 - 314 , the aperture  413  of the snare tab  411 , and the coil  433  of the biasing member  420 . Insertion of the retaining clip  425  through the apertures  330  of the hinge brackets  311 - 314 , the aperture  413  of the snare tab  411 , and the coil  433  of the biasing member  420  allows the snare assemblies  401 - 404  to pivot within the hinge brackets  311 - 314 . Furthermore, the retaining clip  425  is bendable to allow retention of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  within the hinge brackets  311 - 314 . 
     After the snare assemblies  401 - 404  secure within the hinge brackets  311 - 314 , a portion of the snare releases  410  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  extends through the release slots  315  of the trap body  300 , the biasing members  420  abut the inner surface  302  of the wall  301 , and the actuators  415  reside against the trigger plate assembly  200 . Specifically, the snare tabs  411  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  insert through a respective release slot  315  of the trap body  300 , the second members  432  of the biasing members  420  abut the inner surface  302  of the wall  301 , and the actuators  415  reside against the trigger plate  210  of the trigger plate assembly  200 . Once the actuators  415  of the snare release assemblies  401 - 404  reside against the trigger plate  210 , the biasing members  420  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  bias the trigger plate assembly  200  into the armed position. Likewise, the biasing members  420  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  bias the snare releases  410  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  into a normally charged position that allows placement of the snare assembly  100  around the trap body  300  in the loading position. 
     The snare releases  410  move between the normally charged position and a release position that disengages the snare assembly  100  from the trap body  300 . Specifically, in the normally charged position, the snare tab  411  of the snare release  410  pivots away from the lip  307  to form a pocket  501  with the outer surface  305  of the wall  301 . The pocket  501  receives the snare  105  of the snare assembly  100 . Conversely, in moving to the release position, the snare tab  411  pivots towards the lip  307  to eliminate the pocket  500  and remove the snare  105  of the snare assembly  100  from the outer surface  305  of the trap body  300 . As described above, removing the snare  105  of the snare assembly  100  from the outer surface  305  of the trap body  300  moves the swivel stop  120  of the snare assembly  100  from the loading position to the capture position. 
     The snare system  10  assembles in the following manner. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the trap body  300  is aligned such that the opening  304  of the wall faces upward and the lip  307  and aperture  310  faces downward. The trigger plate assembly  200  then inserts within the trap body  300 . Specifically, the trigger plate assembly  200  inserts within the opening  304  of the wall  301  such that the legs  211 - 214  reside against the inner surface  302  of the wall  301  and the trigger plate  210  aligns with the lip  307  and the aperture  310 . The snare release assemblies  401 - 404  are then installed and secured within the trap body  300  as described above. Once the snare release assemblies  401 - 404  are installed and secured within the trap body  300 , the biasing members  420  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  bias the trigger plate assembly  200  into the armed position. Likewise, the biasing members  420  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  bias the snare releases  410  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  into the normally charged position. The base  500  then connects to the bottom plate  320  of the trap body  300  using any suitable means such as bolts thereby sealing the trigger plate assembly  200  and the snare assemblies  401 - 404  within the trap body  300 . After the trigger plate assembly  200  and the snare assemblies  401 - 404  seal within the trap body  300 , the snare assembly  100  is ready for placement on the trap body  300 . 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate the trapping of an animal using the snare system  10 . The operator locates a suitable position for the snare system  10 . Once a suitable position is found, the trap body  300  is placed on the ground or buried such that the aperture  310  of the trap body  300  and the trigger plate  210  of the trigger plate assembly  200  is facing upward. As described above, the biasing member  420  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  biases the snare release  410  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  into the normally charged position and the trigger plate assembly  200  into the armed position. The loop  150  of the snare assembly  100  secures to an immobile object such as a tree, fence post, or stake. The swivel stop  120  of the snare assembly  100  is moved into the loading position and the snare  105  is placed over the outer surface  305  of the trap body  300  and into the pocket  500  formed by the snare release  410  of the snare release assemblies  401 - 404  and the outer surface  305  of the trap body  300 . 
     When an animal such as a feral hog, coyote, or the like steps on the trigger plate  210  of the trigger plate assembly  200 , pressure from the animal&#39;s weight overcomes the biasing members  420  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  causing the trigger plate assembly  200  to move from the armed position to the activated position and the snare releases  410  of the snare assemblies  401 - 404  to move from the normally charged position to the release position. In particular, in moving from the armed position to the activated position, the trigger plate assembly  200  acting through the actuators  415  applies a force to the trigger tab  412  causing the snare releases  410  to move from the normally charged position to the release position. In moving to the release position, the snare tabs  411  of the snare releases  410  pivot towards the lip  307  to eliminate the pocket  500  and remove the snare  105  of the snare assembly  100  from the outer surface  305  of the trap body  300 . Once the snare  105  is removed from the trap body  300 , the biasing member  130  biases the swivel stop  120  of the snare assembly  100  from the loading position to the capture position. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the swivel stop  120  guided by the aperture  123  moves along the wire  110  such that the diameter of the snare  105  is reduced capturing the animal&#39;s limb. 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing description; rather, it is defined only by the claims that follow.