Abstract:
A cage-type animal trap made of wire mesh having a roof and a front end provided with an animal access opening. A door movably mounted at the front end operates in an opened position to reveal the access opening and in a closed position to block the access opening. A hand grip mounted on a rail positioned on the roof moves bi-directionally between a first position near the front end of the trap and a second position near the rear end of the trap. An actuating cable has one end secured to the bottom of the door and another end Secured to the hand grip so that when the hand grip is moved by the user from a first position with the door closed to a second position with the door opened the trap can be set by a latch mechanism which releasably holds the hand grip in its second position. A pedal is movably mounted inside the trap with a trigger rod secured to the pedal and to the latch mechanism so that when an animal enters the trap, the weight of the animal moves the pedal from a first position to a second position for causing the trigger rod to move the latch thereby releasing the hand grip resulting in the handgrip moving from its second position to its first position and the door moving from the opened position to the closed position thus trapping the animal inside the trap. A paddle mechanism maintains the hand grip in its first position, and a door lock at the bottom of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. Finally, the latch mechanism is adjustable to allow the user to adjust the weight sensitivity of the pedal so that only an animal of predetermined weight can move the pedal to trip the trap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to cage-type animal traps of the kind generally used outdoors for trapping small to medium sized animals without harming the trapped animal. Such traps commonly comprise a cage of metal wire mesh or the like with a door held open by a trigger mechanism until an animal is lured into the trap by suitable pre-inserted bait. After the animal enters the interior of the trap, the animal&#39;s weight pressed against the trigger actuates a trip which releases and closes the door, thereby trapping the animal inside the cage. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Cage traps of the prior art have specific setting and releasing mechanisms which typically consist of a pan, a trigger rod, a latching device, a door, a locking device and sometimes a spring member. To set the trap, the locking device must be disengaged. A door is then opened and a latch is set. The location of each of these components on the trap requires the use of two hands. In order to release the trapped animal, once again the locking device must be disengaged, the door must be open and the latch set. Again, these steps require the use of two hands and involve close contact with the animal. There is thus a need for a cage-type trap that provides the user with an easy, essentially one-handed method of setting the trap. There is also a need for a cage-type trap where the user can easily release a trapped animal without subjecting the user to close contact with the trapped animal. 
   Another problem with the prior art cage traps is the trigger or actuation mechanism used to initiate the door closure. There is thus a need for a system for providing an adjustable trigger which is sensitive to weight thereby distinguishing among large and small animals so that the trap will not be inadvertently tripped by a small animal that is not a target of the trap. 
   It is to the solution of these and other problems that the present invention is directed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a cage-type animal trap that includes a wire mesh animal enclosure made up of a base, a pair of opposed sidewalls emanating from the base, a rear wall secured to the sidewalls and the base, a roof secured to the tops of the sidewalls and the rear wall, and a front end provided with an animal access opening defined by the base, sidewalls, and roof. A door is movably mounted at the front end and operates in an opened position to reveal the animal access opening and in a closed position to block the animal access opening. An elongated rail is positioned on the roof along the longitudinal axis of the roof. 
   A hand grip is mounted on the rail to move bi-directionally between a first position toward the front end of the trap and a second position toward the rear wall of the trap. An actuating cable has one end secured to the bottom of the door and another end secured to the hand grip. As such, when the hand grip is in the first position forwardly on the rail the door is in the closed position and when the hand grip is in the second position rearwardly on the rail the door is in the opened position. A latch mechanism is mounted at the rear end of the trap to releasably hold the hand grip in its second position. 
   The trip mechanism is in the form of a pedal movably mounted in the animal enclosure with a trigger rod secured to the pedal and to the latch mechanism. When an animal enters the animal enclosure, the weight of the animal moves the pedal from a first raised position to a second lowered position for causing the trigger rod to move the latch mechanism thereby releasing the hand grip. Releasing the hand grip results in the handgrip moving from its second position to its first position and the weight of the door moving the door from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. 
   A paddle mechanism is located at the front end of the trap to lock the hand grip in its first position when the door is in the closed position. A door lock is positioned at the bottom of the door to prevent the door from being opened from inside the trap by a trapped animal. Finally, an adjustment mechanism is provided at the rear of the trap to allow the user to adjust the weight sensitivity of the pedal so that only an animal of predetermined weight can move the pedal to trip the trap. 
   It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a cage trap having an improved mechanism for safely and easily setting the trap. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cage trap having an improved mechanism for safely and easily releasing an animal from the trap. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a cage trap which can be safely and easily set, and a trapped animal can be safely and easily released, by the user using only one hand. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cage trap having an improved mechanism for distinguishing among animals of different weights so that the trap will only trip if an animal exceeds a predetermined weight. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cage trap having a door lock to prevent a trapped animal from opening the trap door and escaping from the trap. 
   Additional objects of the invention include, for example, the provision of a cage trap which is durable, reliable and user friendly, which is animal friendly and which traps the animal safely in a humane manner, and which can be manufactured from readily available components and in a cost-effective manner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of this specification including the accompanying drawings. While intending to illustrate the invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present inventive trap in a set position with the door of the trap opened. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2A  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the wire mesh removed to more clearly show the trap in a set position. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the trap of  FIG. 1  in an intermediate position with the door half way between the opened and closed positions. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the trap of  FIG. 1  in a tripped position with the door closed. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a view taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11A  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 13  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the wire mesh removed to more clearly show the trap in a tripped position. 
       FIG. 14  is a rear plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the detail highlighted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 16  is a plan view showing how a pivot structure is mounted to the top of the door forming part of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 17  is a plan view showing how a pivot structure is mounted to the top of the pedal forming part of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 18  is a fragmentary view of a spring used in the door mechanism of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of a front actuating assembly forming part of the present invention. 
       FIG. 20  is a partial view of the top of a rear latch assembly forming part of the present invention. 
       FIG. 21  is a bottom perspective view of the rear latch assembly shown in  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 22  is a closeup of a portion of the rear latch assembly as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
       FIG. 23  is an exploded perspective view of the rear latch assembly forming part of the present invention. 
       FIG. 24  is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of an edge portion of the roof in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing integral clip elements used to secure the roof to the upper edge portions of the side walls. 
       FIG. 25  is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the clip elements of the roof in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  are engaged with the wire mesh at the upper edge portions of a side wall of the cage housing. 
       FIG. 26  is a fragmentary view of a sidewall showing the use of crimped rings to assemble the cage walls in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 27  is a fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment of the latching mechanism forming part of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 ,  7  and  8 , the cage trap of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . Trap  10  includes a box-like cage having an elongated base  12  and opposed sidewalls  14  and  16  preferably formed and folded from a single piece of wire mesh. The sidewalls emanate from the longitudinal edges  18  and  20  of the base  12  in an upward direction. The walls  14  and  16  define planes that are essentially parallel to each other. 
   As seen particularly in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in the preferred form of the invention, the base  12  and side walls  14 ,  16  include wire elements  13 ,  15  welded at their crossing points to form generally rectangular apertures  17 , with the side walls bent up at right angles from the base. The rectangular apertures are approximately 1″ square. 
   The rear wall structure  36  of the trap is also made from a sheet of wire mesh in a generally rectangular configuration to form rear wall  22 , having a bottom edge  24  and a top edge  26 , and two sidewalls  28  and  30 . 
   The two side walls  28  and  30  emanate perpendicular to and away from the rear wall. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the lower half of walls  22 ,  28  and  30  of the wire mesh contains openings  25  that are approximately ½″ by 1″. The top half of the same walls of the wire mesh contains openings  27  which are approximately 1″ square. 
   The rear wall structure  36  is positioned so that the bottom edge  24  mates with the rear edge  21  of base  12 . In like manner, the rear sidewalls  28  and  30  overlap the base sidewalls  14  and  16 . 
   The rear wall structure  36  is attached to the base wall structure through the use of a series of circular wire rings that are strategically crimped in place as shown, for example, by crimped rings  32  in  FIG. 26 . For ease of review, the crimped rings are only shown in  FIG. 26  with the realization that they are present in all of the views of the wire mesh. Further, the arrangement of the crimped rings  32  in  FIG. 26  is by way of example. Any arrangements of the rings that hold the wire mesh together are contemplated. 
   The basic cage structure is completed through the mounting of an elongated cover or roof  40  which may preferably be stamped from sheet metal. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  14 , the rectangular roof generally consists of a piece of sheet metal formed to provide a front edge  42 , side edges  44  and  46 , and rear edge  48 . The sheet metal is bent at the rear edge  48  to provide a downwardly extending rectangular shaped flange  50  that is integral with the full length of the transverse edge  48 . 
   The sheet metal is also bent upwardly at the side edges  44  and  46  to provide upwardly extending flanges  54  and  56  and then bent downwardly to form longitudinally extending flanges  64  and  66  that span the full lengths of the longitudinal side edges  44  and  46 , respectively. With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  15  and  25 , the flange pairs  54 - 64  and  56 - 66  define elongated channels  53  and  55  that fit over and receive the top edges of walls  14  and  16 , respectively. 
   Defined along the surface of flange  54  of the cover  40  are a series of stamped tabs  62  ( FIGS. 1 ,  24  and  25 ). Similar tabs  62  are defined along the surface of flange  56  of the roof. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  14 , the roof  40  is positioned and secured to the previously assembled wire mesh structure in the following manner. The elongated cover  40  is positioned so that the longitudinally extending channels  53  and  55  receive the top portions of the side walls  14  and  16  and the rear wall  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 25 , using side wall  14  as an example, the top portion of the side wall is positioned within the channel  53  defined by flanges  54  and  64 . The bendable tabs  62  are then pressed inwardly ( FIGS. 24 and 25 ) in the direction of flange  64  and in this way, the bent tabs capture the upper portion of the side wall  14  so that it cannot be separated from the roof structure. Similar action takes place with regard to the bendable tabs  62  of flanges  56  and  66  in order to secure the top portion of side wall  16  to the cover. The rear depending flange  50  extends over the top portion of the rear wall  22  to provide a cover therefor. 
   A shown in  FIGS. 1 and 15 , a wire re-enforcing frame  111  is secured about the opening  81  of the cage to the wire mesh of the cage by suitably spaced bent fasteners  113 . The top  115  of the wire frame  111  spans across the top of each flange  54  and  64  to provide a support for the actuating cable  34 . When fully assembled, the various elements constituting the cage define a vacant interior  70  for receiving an animal that is to be trapped. 
   In order to hold an animal within the enclosure, a trap door mechanism must be provided. Such a mechanism is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  10 ,  16 , and  18 . The trap door mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral  80 , includes an elongated door  58  preferably made of sheet metal. With reference to  FIG. 16 , the upper portion of the door  58  contains a yoke  60  that is generally U-shaped with straight leg portions  86  and  88  extending outwardly beyond the side edges  71  and  72  of the door panel. The lower portion  74  of the yoke is secured to the door panel through the use of bent tabs  75  and  76  formed in the door. The straight leg portions of the yoke are secured to the side edges of the door panel through the use of bent tabs  77  and  78  also formed in the door. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cylindrically-shaped ends  86  and  88  of the yoke  60  are received in mounting holes  102  and  104  defined in the flange portions  56  and  66 . The holes  102  and  104  are positioned aft of the front opening  81  of the cage about one-third of the length of the longitudinal axis of the cage. 
   A door lock plate  106  is positioned horizontally and secured by fasteners  107  along the lower edge  108  of the door panel. Alternatively, the lock plate  106  could be an integral component of the door  58  if stamped or otherwise formed in the door. A rectangular-shaped locking wire yoke  110  has a lower portion  112  which wedges up against the corner created by the upper edge  114  of the door lock plate and the outer surface  68  of the door when the door is in the closed position. See  FIG. 8 . The ends  116  and  118  of the yoke are rotatably positioned in mounting holes  122  and  124 , respectively, provided in the flanges  56  and  66 . The mounting holes  122  and  124  are located forward of the mounting holes  102  and  104  provided for the door and aft of the front end  81  of the trap. A torsion wire spring  126  is provided to bias the yoke in a downward direction toward the door. See  FIG. 18 . 
   The bottom portion  128  of the door lock plate contains a transversely extending hole  130  ( FIG. 2A ) which receives one end  132  of the actuating cable  34 . The cable  34  passes beneath the bottom of the yoke  110  and over the surface  68  of the door panel in an upward direction to pass over the top  115  of the wire frame  111  and over the cover  40 . The cable is held in place on bottom portion  128  by crimp  96 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a rear latch assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  150 , is mounted on top of the roof  40  along the trap longitudinal axis A. The rear latch assembly  150  includes a pair of spaced mounting holes  152  and  154  defined on wing portions  156  and  158  emanating from a housing  160 . The assembly is fastened to the rear portion of the roof with suitable fasteners such as screws or the like (not shown) passing through the mounting holes. Mounted about a third of the distance aft of the front  81  of the trap also along the longitudinal axis A is a front actuating assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  170 . This assembly contains a housing  172  from which emanates mounting wings  174  and  176  that contain holes  177  and  178  for receiving mounting screws or the like (not shown). 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the top portions of both the front actuating assembly  170  and the rear latch assembly  150  include cylindrical bores  145  and  146 , respectively, which are arranged spaced from and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the roof. These bores are shaped to receive an elongated cylindrically shaped rod  138 . An elongated hand grip  134  contains a bore  136  through its longitudinal axis. This bore is sized so that grip  134  may be slidably mounted on the rod  138 . 
   As shown in FIGS.  5  and  10 - 12 , the rear portion  118  of the hand grip  134  contains a recess  116  and a vertically oriented support member  90  that glides along the roof surface as the grip slides along the rod  138 . The front end of the grip  134  contains a forwardly extending handle cable pocket  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 11A , the pocket  100  consists of a longitudinally extending bore  98  that receives the other end of the cable  34 . This end of the cable is held in place also through a wire crimp  96 . The forwardmost portion of the handle cable pocket  100  contains a transverse cross piece  94  which, as will be explained later, engages with the front actuating assembly to provide a safety lock to prevent the hand grip  134  from sliding rearwardly, thereby insuring that the door of the trap stays closed during transport. 
   The recess  116  defined in the rearward end  118  of the handle  134  is defined in part by an indented ledge  92  that is shaped to mate with a rear latch  157  in a manner to be described hereinafter. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 10-12 , and  19 , the front actuating assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  170 , consists of basically four parts, a front housing  172 , a front paddle mechanism  171  that is movably mounted within the housing, and a torsion wire spring  173  that is secured to the front paddle to bias the paddle in the downward direction relative to the front actuating assembly  170 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 19 , the front paddle mechanism  171  consists of a cylindrical shaft  175  which terminates in a paddle handle  167  that can be moved by the thumb or fingers of the user in order to rotate the front paddle  171 . About half way along the cylindrical axis of shaft  175 , an engaging foot  179  is defined. The engaging foot contains an extended downwardly projecting toe  148  which, in use, engages with the cross bar  94  of the hand grip  134  in order to hold the handle in place after the trap has been tripped and the door panel is closed. With reference to  FIG. 11A , it can be seen that the spring  173  biases the engaging foot  179  into the area  100  defined behind the cross bar  94  in the hand grip  134 . 
     FIG. 19  shows how the front actuating assembly  170  may be assembled. As oriented in  FIG. 19 , the cylindrical housing  172  is supported on a pair of downwardly-extending walls  41  and  43  that mate respectively with mounting wings  174  and  176 . Each of the walls contains a cutout  166  that is sized to allow passage of the engaging foot  179  from outside the actuating assembly  170  into a space  45  defined between the walls  41  and  43 . The top  47  of each cutout defines half of a round hole to receive the smaller cylindrical portions of shaft  49 . A U-shaped wedge  51  is inserted from underneath the housing  172  so that each leg  57  and  59  fills the spaces  166 . The top  61  of each leg is shaped to complete the round hole for rotatably receiving the portions  49  of shaft  175 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  12 ,  17  and  20 - 23 , the rear latch assembly  150  consists of essentially five pieces. The first piece is a rear housing  151 . At the aft end of the rear housing there is a vertically extending bore  153  which is sized to receive a cylindrically shaped spring tensioner  155 . Defined within the interior of the rear housing  151  is an opening to receive a rear latch  157 . A rear housing insert  159  holds the latch  157  in place so that it may rotate about a transverse axis B. The rear end of the rear latch  157  contains a bore  161  for receiving one end of a compression spring  163 . The other end of the compression spring in received within a cylindrical indentation  165  formed in the bottom of the spring tensioner. The forward end of the rear latch  157  contains a latching mechanism  121 . This latching mechanism includes a downwardly projecting hook  123  having an opening  125  for receiving and holding the top section  141  of a rectangular-shaped yoke wire member  143  that has its free ends  135  and  137  secured to pedal  19  near the top edge by bent tabs  82  and  84 , respectively. 
   The pedal  19  serves as the trip mechanism in accordance with the present invention. The bottom end of pedal  19  is rotatably secured to the bottom of the cage by bent crimps  79  which are evenly spaced along the bottom edge and bent around one of the wires of the wire mesh. The front end of the rear latch also includes a ledge  127  for receiving and holding the latch portion  92  at the rear  118  of the hand grip  134 . 
   In order to set the trap  10 , it is first placed on the ground or supporting surface. The front paddle  171  of the front actuating assembly  170  is then rotated in a clockwise direction by the user manipulating paddle handle  167 , thus rotating the engaging foot  179  out of the cross bar opening  100  of the hand grip  134 . This allows the user to move the handle along the longitudinal axis of the rod  138  in a rearward direction toward the rear latch assembly  150  with one hand, while the handle grip is also supported by the glide member  90 . It is again noted that the actuating cable  34  passes underneath the lower portion  112  of the locking wire yoke  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  10  and  13 . This arrangement of components assures that the locking wire yoke  110  automatically disengages from the lock plate  106  as the hand grip  134  is moved away from its forward position adjacent the front actuating assembly  170 . Accordingly, a trapped animal can be released by a person located at the rear of the trap by disengaging the hand grip  134  from the front actuating assembly  170  and moving the hand grip  134  rearwardly on rail  138 . 
   Once the hand grip  130  is released from the front assembly  170 , the grip  134  can be moved rearwardly until the recess  116  of the grip engages the upward portion of the latch  127  so that the latch holds the handle in its rearwardmost position. Rearward movement of the handle  134  results in the cable  34  moving in a rearward direction to rotate the door  58  about ends  86  and  88  in an upward direction and set the door in a loaded position. Having accomplished this action with one hand, the trap is now set awaiting the entrance of an animal to activate the trap. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , in order to entice the animal into the trap, a suitable bait is inserted into the interior of the trap aft of the pedal  19 . When the animal enters the trap and steps on the pedal  19 , the pedal is rotated in a downward direction which causes the top section  141  of the yoke or trigger rod  143  to pull the latch  121  in a downward direction thereby releasing the recess  116  of handle  134  from engagement with the latch ledge  127 . When this happens, the weight of the door  58  causes the door to rotate in a downward direction to rapidly close the interior space  70  and trap the animal within the cage  10 . As used herein, the term “trigger rod” is intended to have its broadest meaning and can include cable or other trigger mechanisms to release handle  134  from latch ledge  127  when pedal  19  is rotated to its downward position. In addition, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the trigger rod  143  could be a single rod and could be formed with latch mechanism  121  as one piece, such as by molding; and the pedal  19  could also be integral with the rod  143 . Other trip mechanisms with which the animal interacts, as by pulling, could be substituted for pedal  19  and be formed as part of the trigger rod. 
   Downward rotation of the door  58  also moves the handle grip  134  to its forwardmost position with cross-piece  94  moving past engaging foot  179 , to lock the hand grip  134  into the front actuating assembly. At the same time, as best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 18 , the downwardly biased yoke  112  through the urging of torsion spring  126  presses up against the top surface  68  of door  58  and is lodged in the corner created by the upper edge  114  of the door lock plate  128  and the top surface  68  of the door when the door is in the closed position. Under these conditions, if the animal tries to open the door, the bottom of the yoke will press against the door latch plate preventing the animal from rotating the door in an upward direction. 
   When the user desires to release a trapped animal, the user follows a procedure similar to setting the trap. The engaging foot  179  of the front actuating assembly  170  is disengaged from the handle cable pocket  100  at the front end of the hand grip  134  by the user manipulating the paddle handle  167 . The grip  134  is then free to slide rearward on rail  138  by the user&#39;s hand to open the door  58  by the pulling action of cable  34 . Initial rearward movement of the grip  134  tensions the actuating cable  34  which causes the locking yoke  110  to be lifted in an upward direction disengaging from the top edge  114  of the door lock plate  106  by the urging of the end  132  of the actuating cable  34 . Sliding the grip  134  to its most rearward position engages the grip to the latch mechanism  150  which resets the trap. 
   Another feature of the present invention is an adjustable pedal sensitivity feature. This is accomplished, as shown in  FIG. 23 , by providing an upwardly extending ledge  101  near the bottom circumferential ledge  103  of the spring tensioner  155 . When the spring tensioner  155  is rotated within the vertically extending bore  153 , the compressive force on the spring  163  may be changed by the displacement of the spring tensioner  155  in a downward direction against one end of the spring  163  based on the clearance provided within the assembly through the use of a series of indentations  105 A- 105 E positioned radially about the bottom  109  of the bore  153  within the rear housing  151 . In this way, the tension required on the pedal to activate the trap can be adjusted so that if a small animal enters the trap, the weight of the animal will not trip the trap. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments described herein. Modifications and variations of the above described embodiments of the present invention are possible as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, as shown in  FIG. 27 , the moving hand grip  134  and rail  138  system could be eliminated. The cable  34  could terminate in a simple hook  23  at the latch end. The hook structure would include glide member  90  to support the hook to facilitate tripping the trap. This embodiment would not be as user friendly and would require a separate carrying handle but does work for functionality. In addition, the pedal  19  and trigger rod  143  could be replaced with a combination bait holder/rod that would activate the latching mechanism when it was pulled or moved a certain distance.