Abstract:
A repeating animal trap assembly comprising a capture unit and a holding unit with means releasably associating the two units. The capture unit defines a compartment having at least one entry opening and at least one exit opening. The holding unit defines an enlarged compartment having an entry opening which in the assembled relationship of the units is aligned with the exit opening of the capture unit to provide communication between the compartments in the two units. Doors are provided for the capture unit entry and exit openings with means for automatically closing the entry doors and opening the exit door when an animal is totally within the capture unit compartment. Preferably, the animal is frightened by a light flashing and passes into the holding unit compartment where further means are actuated to automatically close the exit door and open the entry doors to the capture unit compartment so that additional animals may be captured. Both electrical and mechanical means are disclosed to operate the various doors and in the preferred embodiments the doors are balanced so that they remain in a given position once they have been moved to that position without expending any energy until the actuating means are again energized to move the doors to their alternate position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a repeating animal trap assembly and relates more particularly to a mouse or rat trap adapted to catch and confine a number of animals while automatically resetting itself. 
     Although the concepts of the instant invention are equally applicable to traps for animals of any size, devices of this type are primarily utilized in connection with the trapping of mice and rats. Repeating animal traps have been known heretofore, many such prior art traps being of the inclined plane type wherein the weight of an animal is utilized to move various elements within the trap blocking escape until the animal is confined and then automatically resetting the trap to enable the capture of additional animals. 
     Such prior art devices are quite useful for many applications, but in some instances have been rather complicated to manufacture increasing the manufacturing costs and, additionally, resulting in more frequent break-downs minimizing the effectiveness and increasing the cost of maintenance with such devices. 
     Yet, there is still a need for a repeating animal trap particularly adapted for large scale commercial use which provides for positive powered actuation of the trapping mechanisms. 
     Moreover, there remains a need for an industrial level repeating animal trap which is modular in construction so that individual portions can be readily replaced either for maintenance purposes or during disposal of captured animals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a repeating animal trap assembly which is modular in construction having separable capture and holding units which when associated with each other produce a compact, highly efficient apparatus. 
     A further object of this invention is the provision of a repeating animal trap assembly wherein the automatic operation of the various trap doors is either electrically or mechanically actuated with a minimum of energy requirement so as to ensure a long life and low level of maintenance requirement. 
     Along the same lines, it is an object of this invention to provide a device of the type described wherein the various trap doors are weight balanced so as to maintain them in a given position until moved by the presence of an animal within the trap and then, once moved to an alternate position, to maintain them in that position without expenditure of further energy until another animal enters the trap. 
     Yet a further object of the instant inventive concept is to provide a repeating animal trap assembly which ensures positive capture of an animal once it has passed fully within the trap with no means of escape. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, but highly efficient, mechanism for actuating the various doors so as to minimize the cost of manufacture and maintenance of the assembly. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a modular repeating animal trap wherein the capture unit and the holding unit may be placed at remote locations, such as on opposite sides of a building wall, enabling the capture of animals within a building and the removal of the animals from the assembly outside the building. 
     A further feature of the assembly, according to this invention in a preferred embodiment, is to provide light means associated with the device so that when the animal is within the capture unit it will be frightened by a flashing light causing the animal to quickly run into the holding unit enabling the device to be available for capture of further animals as expeditiously as possible. 
     Other and further objects of this invention reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts and features of construction. Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as will be seen from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the repeating trap assembly according to the instant inventive concept; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the internal portions of the capture unit taken substantially along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to Figure, with the operating elements of the capture unit in an alternate position; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the assembled unit taken substantially along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the circuitry utilized in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6; 
     FIG. 8 is a view of a modified capture unit embodiment, partially in cross-section and partially in elevation, with the operating elements being shown in alternate positions in dotted lines; and 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a repeating animal trap assembly according to the instant inventive concepts wherein the capture unit and the holding unit are remotely located on opposite sides of a building wall or the like. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, a repeating animal trap assembly according to the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and will be seen to comprise a capture unit means designated generally by the reference numeral 12, and a holding unit means designated generally by the reference numeral 14. In the assembled relationship shown in FIG. 1, the capture unit 12 and the holding unit 14 are releasably secured to each other in associated relationship by any conventional latch means such as designated by the reference numeral 16. It is to be understood that although, according to the preferred embodiments of this invention, the capture and holding units are separable so as to enable either unit to be readily replaced for maintence or for removal of captured animals, in the broadest concepts of this invention the units may be integrally formed or permanently affixed. 
     The capture unit 12 comprises basically a housing means designated generally by the reference numeral 18, which in the embodiment shown includes a removable cover portion 20 and internal frame portion 22 defining an elongated capture unit compartment 24 having entry openings 26, 28 at opposite ends, and an exit opening 30 intermediate the ends and substantially at right angles to the elongated compartment 24. Entry door means 32, 34 and exit door means 36 are slidably supported in the frame 22 in an obvious manner and for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter. 
     The capture unit means 12 further includes an actuating means designated generally by the reference numeral 38 and in the embodiment shown comprising a pair of lever arms 40, 42 and a pair of solenoids 44, 46. 
     The actuating means 38 are operatively associated with a power means which, in the embodiment shown takes the form of a D.C. battery 48. 
     Finally, the capture unit 12 includes, as a basic component, trigger means designated generally by the reference numeral 50 to initiate the power means 48 to cause movement of the actuating means 38 in a manner and for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter. The trigger means 50 comprises a pair of normally opened micro switches 52, 54 (note particularly FIGS. 2 and 6) associated respectively with a treadle means 56 and a door 58 closing a passageway between the capture and holding unit compartments as will be described in further detail hereafter. 
     The holding unit means 14 comprises basically a housing 60 which defines within it a holding unit compartment 62 having a holding unit entry opening 64 and in the embodiment shown including a cover member 66 hinged at one edge 68 and closable as by a latching means 70 to provide access to the holding unit compartment 62 for removal of captured animals. 
     If desired, a handle means, such as shown at 72, may be incorporated on either or both units to enable the individual units or the assembled units to be readily carried from place to place. 
     According to the preferred embodiment shown, a passageway means 74 defines a passageway 76 extending at right angles to the elongated dimension of the capture unit compartment 24 and in the assembled relationship of the units as shown particularly in FIG. 5, having portions passing through the holding unit entry opening 64 into the holding unit compartment 62 to establish communication between the capture unit compartment 24 and the holding unit compartment 62. The door means 58 referred to previously will be seen as hingedly attached at its upper end 78 to the passageway means 74 and as normally resting under its own weight on the walls of the passageway means in the position shown in FIG. 6 in which it substantially blocks the end of the passageway means within the holding unit compartment 62. In this position, it will be seen that the door rests on the micro switch means 54, maintaining the micro switch means 54 in its normally open position. 
     In order to preclude escape of animals confined within the holding unit compartment 62 on disassembly of the capture and holding units 12, 14, respectively, holding unit entry door means 80 are hingedly secured adjacent the holding unit entry opening 64 and biased by spring means 82 toward a position which would block or close the holding unit entry opening 64. However, as will be seen particularly in FIG. 5, when the units are assembled the passageway means 74 pushes the holding unit entry door means 80 open to provide access between the capture unit compartment 24 and the holding unit compartment 62. When the units are separated the spring means 82 close the door means automatically thereby completely confining captured animals within the holding unit compartment 62. 
     Returning now to the actuating means 38, it will be seen that the lever member 40 has one end pivotally secured as by a lost motion hinge means 84 to the top of the capture unit entry door means 34, while the lever member 42 has a similar connection at 86 to the other capture unit entry door means 32. The opposite ends of the lever members 40, 42 are pivotally secured as by a common lost motion hinge 88 to the top of the capture unit exit door means 36. Each lever means is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as by pivot means 90, 92 in such a manner that rocking of either lever member about its respective pivot means will automatically result in a reverse rocking of the other lever member about its respective hinge means through the intermediary of the common connection to the capture unit exit door means 36. 
     By particularly comparing FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that with the lever members 40, 42 in the position shown in FIG. 3, the capture unit entry door means 32, 34 are in a raised or opened position unblocking the capture unit entry openings 26, 28, while the capture unit exit door means 36 is in a lowered position blocking the capture unit exit opening 30, whereas with the lever members 40, 42 in the position shown in FIG. 4, the capture unit entry openings 26, 28 are blocked by the capture unit entry door means 32, 34, respectively, and the capture unit exit opening 30 is unblocked since the capture unit exit door means 36 has been raised. 
     Rocking of the lever means 40, 42 between the respective positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is conveniently accomplished by the solenoids 44, 46 which include core elements 94, 96, respectively, the end portions of which are pivotally secured as at 98, 100 to the lever member 40 on opposite sides of the pivot member 90. Of course, the solenoid means 44, 46 includes conventional coil elements 95, 97 (note FIG. 7) surrounding their respective coils. Thus, when the solenoid 44 is energized its core member 94 is urged downwardly to move the lever members 40, 42 to the position shown in FIG. 4, and when the solenoid 46 is energized its core member 96 is moved downwardly to move the lever members 40, 42 to the position shown in FIG. 3. 
     While two separate solenoids have been shown as operatively connected to opposite sides of the pivot member of one of the lever members, it should be understood that, in the broader aspects of the invention, a single solenoid could be utilized having a pair of electrical coils with opposite windings to enable movement of its core member in either direction by energizing a selective coil. Additionally, if two solenoids are utilized, their respective coil elements could be operatively associated with different lever means in an obvious manner to perform the same basic function. 
     Energizing of the solenoid 44 from the power means 48 is accomplished by closing the micro switch means 52 as will be seen from the schematic electrical diagram shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, energizing of the solenoid means 46 occurs when the micro switch means 54 is closed. 
     As indicated previously, the micro switch means 52 is maintained in a normally opened position and is closed by engagement with an element 102 secured to a rod 104 slidably carried in a bracket 106 secured to the frame 22, having its lower end 108 fixed to the treadle means 56, with spring means 110 normally urging the treadle means 56 in an upwardly direction about its pivotal support 112 at which point the element 102 does not engage the micro switch means 52. Note particularly FIGS. 2 and 6. However, when an animal has entered the capture unit compartment 24 and is fully within the entry door, it will engage and step on the treadle means 56, lowering the same against the urging of the spring means 110 and causing engagement of the element 102 with the micro switch means 52 to close the same and complete the circuit through the solenoid means 44, pushing the lever members to the position shown in FIG. 4. At this point, the animal is totally confined within the capture unit compartment 24, although the capture unit exit opening 30 is unblocked. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive concept, a light means 114 is included in the circuit with the micro switch means 52 so that on closing the micro switch means 52 the light means 114 is energized and a flash of light passes downwardly into the capture unit compartment 24 through an opening in the top thereof as shown in dotted lines at 116 in FIG. 2. This flash of light frightens the animal causing it to pass through the capture unit exit opening 30 into the passageway 76. 
     Once the animal steps from the treadle means 56, the spring means 110 will return it to its original or raised position opening the micro switch means 52 and breaking the circuit to the light means 114, as well as the solenoid means 44. Yet, since in the preferred embodiment of this invention, the weight of the capture unit exit door means 36 is substantially equal to the total combined weight of the capture unit entry door means 32, 34, the lever members 40, 42 and the door means will remain in the position of FIG. 4 even though no further energy is flowing to the solenoid means 44. 
     As the animal passes through the passageway 76 it encounters the door means 58 which, as will be seen particularly in FIG. 6, has a slanted forward face facilitating lifting of the door means 58 about the hinge means 78 in the direction of the arrow 118 of FIG. 6 so that the animal can pass into the holding unit compartment 62. As soon as the door means 58 is moved upwardly, the micro switch means 54 closes thereby completing the circuit to the solenoid means 46 and moving the lever members 40, 42 and the respective door means to the position shown in FIG. 3. At this point, the animal can no longer re-enter the capture unit compartment 24, since the capture unit exit opening 30 is blocked by the capture unit exit door means 36. 
     Once the animal has passed under the door means 58 it will be confined within the holding unit compartment 62 and the door means, under influence of its own weight, will return to the position shown in FIG. 6, the space 120 beneath the door means being inadequate for the animal to return to the passageway 76. The door means is designed to provide the opening 120 so that an animal within the passageway 76 will appear to have an escape if it continues in that direction. In any event, even if an animal within the holding unit compartment 62 is capable of raising the door means 58 by nudging it upwardly, it will be blocked from re-entry into the capture unit compartment 24 by the capture unit exit door means 36. 
     Once a number of animals have been captured within the holding unit compartment 62, the cover member 66 may be opened to remove the animals or, preferably, the entire holding unit 14 may be separated from the capture unit 12 and replaced by an empty holding unit into so that the animals can be removed and disposed of in any desired manner at a remote location. It should be noted that it is never necessary to touch the animals since they can merely be dumped from a holding unit a body of water and drowned. Alternatively, a poisoned food can be maintained within the holding unit compartment 62. 
     Additionally, the repeating animal trap assembly can be baited in any desired manner, the bait being placed, for example, on the treadle means 56 to attract animals into the capture unit compartment 24. 
     By reference to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the passageway means 74 can be sufficiently elongated so as to pass through an opening in a building wall schematically shown at 125. In this manner, a number of capture units 12 can be placed within a building, such as a warehouse or a factory, with the animals passing through the building wall 125 into holding units 14 located exteriorly of the building. This enables an exterminator or the like to constantly remove captured animals without ever having to enter the building, replacing the holding units with empty modules as necessary. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 8, in which a mechanically operated embodiment of a repeating animal trap assembly in accordance with the concepts of the instant invention is shown. Since many elements of the embodiment of FIG. 8 are similar to or the same as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, such elements will be marked with the same reference numeral followed by the suffix &#34;a&#34; for ease of understanding. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the power for movement of the lever member 40a, 42a is provided by a pair of spring-actuated windup motor means 130, 132. Such devices are conventional and could include springs of the coil torsion type or the flat clock-like motor springs. In any event, devices of this nature commonly incorporate a conventional escapement means which, when actuated, releases the spring means and permits the motor means to rotate about its axis to a point determined by the relative dimensions of the escapement means. In the preferred embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 8, the escapement means is designed to permit one full rotation each time the motor means is actuated. Details of this device are not disclosed since any common spring-actuated windup motor means having a conventional escapement arrangement could be utilized. 
     Each motor means 130, 132 is provided with a disc or plate 134, 136 carrying a pin means 138, 140 extending outwardly therefrom, so that the pin means rotates in the direction of the arrows shown on the discs 134, 136 when the motor means 130, 132 are actuated. 
     It will be seen that the pin means 138, 140 are so arranged as to engage the lever member 42a on opposite sides of its pivot member 92a during rotation to move the lever members 40a and 42a and the associated door means from the full line position shown in FIG. 8 which corresponds to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 for the previous embodiment, to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 8 which corresponds to the arrangement of the elements shown in FIG. 3 for the earlier embodiment. 
     The escapement means are actuated, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, by any conventional linkage triggered in any of a variety of manners. For example, linkage means 142 are shown as secured to a portion of the treadle means 56a so as to energize the motor means 130 when an animal steps on the treadle means 56a within the capture unit compartment 24a to move the lever members 40a, 42a and the associated door means to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 8. A further treadle means 144 can be provided within the passageway between the capture and holding unit compartments with linkage means 146 adapted to energize the motor means 132 once the animal has passed through the capture unit exit opening 30a, thereby returning the lever members 40a, 42a and the associate door means to the solid line position shown in FIG. 8. 
     Except for the substitution of mechanical power means for the electrical power means of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, the embodiment of FIG. 8 operates in a comparable manner as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. 
     The manner of operation of a repeating animal trap assembly according to any of the embodiments of this invention is believed readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. Moreover, one with ordinary skill in the art could obviously modify the construction to utilize alternating current power means or other well known mechanical power means for those shown and described above without departing from the instant inventive concepts. 
     The various elements of the apparatus may be made from any conventional material including metal, plastic or comparable materials of manufacture. 
     It will now be seen that there is herein provided a repeating animal trap assembly which is quite versatile in operation, extremely efficient, simple and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and which satifies all of the objectives of the instant inventive concepts identified above, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.