Abstract:
A snake trap system includes a snake trap apparatus having a top portion and a bottom portion, a trigger, a guide member to guide falling motion of the top portion, a live bait trap, and a cover for covering the live bait trap when the top portion falls. The system includes a live bait catching trap, and a transporter for transporting the live bait between the live bait catching trap and the snake trap apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of provisional patent application No. 61/139,806 to Stephen D. Irons, filed on Dec. 22, 2008, entitled Snake Trap System. Application No. 61/139,806 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a system and apparatus for trapping snakes. More particularly, this invention is directed to an apparatus or device for safely trapping snakes using live bait. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,878, a snake trap has a housing which includes an entrance for snakes. A triggerable trap door closure is provided. 
         [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,472, an animal trap is shown having a primary trap with sliding doors, a sensor, and battery. A release trap is also provided. 
         [0006]    There is a need for an apparatus or system for safely trapping snakes, which is portable and needs no power source. Further, there is a need for an apparatus or system for safely trapping snakes, which includes use of live bait and which is relatively simple in construction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device is provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides an apparatus or system for catching snakes which is portable, needs no power source, and is relatively simple in construction. 
         [0008]    The device according to the present invention includes a snake trap apparatus having a top portion and a bottom portion, a trigger, a guide member to guide falling motion of the top portion, a live bait trap, and a cover for covering the live bait trap when the top portion falls. The system includes a live bait catching trap, and a transporter for holding the live bait and also for transporting the live bait to a central portion of the snake trap apparatus. 
         [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is top elevational view of a lower trap portion for a snake trap system, according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1  showing a trip member, according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom elevational view of the lower trap portion of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the lower trap portion of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is side elevational view of a live bait transporter used in the snake trap system of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the live bait transporter of  FIG. 5 , as viewed from the right of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is bottom elevational view of the live bait transporter of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the live bait transporter disposed on the lower trap portion. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a bottom elevational view of an upper trap portion used in the snake trap system of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the upper trap portion used in the snake trap system of the present invention, in a raised position showing a lower portion of an enclosure member. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are side elevational views of the upper trap portion of  FIG. 10 , showing an opening in the side wall. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11C  shows a removeable cover in relation to an opening in the side wall. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a view of the upper trap portion of  FIG. 11 , as viewed from the right of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of the trip mechanism on the lower trap portion. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a schematic side view, partly in section, schematically showing the elements of the trip mechanism of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of a snake removal basket for the system of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the snake removal basket of  FIG. 15 , as seen from the left of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a top elevational view of the snake removal basket of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged side elevational view of a door portion of the snake removal basket of  FIG. 15 , showing a door operating member. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the snake trap assembled in an operating position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a schematic view of the operation of the snake trap of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a schematic sectional view of the enclosure member in a closed position of the trap, in an enclosing position over the live bait transporter. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 22A and 22B  show views of a slidable clamp portion of the snake trap system, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]      FIG. 20  is a simplified schematic view of the operation of a snake trap system  100 . In this view, an upper trap portion  360  is disposed over a lower trap portion  120 , in an operational position “A” in which the snake trap system  100  is in an “open” position for trapping a snake. This view also shows the upper trap portion  360  in dashed outline in a closed position “B” which traps the snake.  FIG. 20  additionally shows a guide member  400 , which guides movement of the upper trap portion  360  during motion between the “A” and “B” positions. An enclosure member  380  is shown attached to the upper trap portion  360 , and a live bait transporter  260  is shown disposed on the lower trap portion  120 . Details of the snake trap system  100  are shown and described in greater detail below with regard to  FIGS. 1-19  and  21 - 22 B. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a top elevational view of the lower trap portion  120  for the snake trap system  100 . As seen here, the lower trap portion  120  has a rigid grating  140  and a central base  160 . The central base  160  supports the live bait transporter  260  and also provides a fixed support for the guide member  400 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1  showing a trip member  180  and a hook  200 . The trip member  180  has opposite ends; specifically a distal free end  185  and an opposite end  187 . The opposite end  187  of the trip member  180  is anchored to the lower trap portion  120  by a U-shaped member  182  (see  FIG. 20 ), such that the trip member  180  is pivotable about the U-shaped member  182 . One end of the trip member  180  adjacent to the lowermost portion thereof (and also adjacent to the U-shaped member) has a hollow channel portion  184  (see  FIG. 14 ). The hook  200  is anchored at one end by a chain segment  202  to the lower trap portion  120 , and a middle portion of the hook  200  is supported by a chain  440 , which exerts an upward force (discussed in further detail hereunder with regard to  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0036]    The lowermost end  442  of chain  440  is formed into a hook  460 . The lowermost end  442  is attached slideably along the hook  200 , and is disposed at a central curve  206  formed in the hook  200  in  FIG. 2 . The free end of the hook  200  is secured by frictional engagement within the hollow channel portion  184  of the trip member  180 . 
         [0037]    In operation, the trip member  180  is set as shown in  FIG. 2 , such that downward pressure on the distal free end (at the left of  FIG. 2 ) causes pivoting rotation of the trip member  180  about the U-shaped member  182 , which frees the frictionally-engaged end of the hook  200  from the hollow channel portion  184  of the trip member  180 . The upward force exerted by the chain  440  on the hook  200  causes it to move upward, freeing the hook  200  and enabling the lower hooked end  442  of the chain  440  to slide along the hook  200  until the hooked end  442  is completely free of the hook  200 . Since the upper trap portion  360  is held up by the weight of the chain  440 , the release of the chain  440  results in falling of the upper trap portion from the open position “A” to the closed position “B”. 
         [0038]    When the trip member  180  is horizontally oriented, it takes the least amount of force to release the hook  200  and thereby actuate the trap  100 . This is because left end  208  of the hook  200  is disposed closer to the edge of the open end of the hollow channel  184 . Thus, in a horizontal orientation, even the weight of a mouse can trip the trap to close. As the distal free end  185  of the trip member  180  is raised while the trip member  180  is still frictionally engaged to the hook  200 , the force required to trip it becomes greater. This is because the left end  208  of the hook  200  is disposed deeper in the hollow channel  184 ; or stated another way, the left end  208  of the hook  200  is disposed further from the edge of the open end of the hollow channel  184 , rendering the trip member  180  less sensitive to weight. In this position the raised position of the trip member  180  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) is suitable for trapping a snake (of a type which is heavier than a mouse). 
         [0039]    In use, the snake trap system  100  is set to catch a mouse, using any suitable bait material such as peanut butter placed on the distal end  185  of the trip member  180 . When the mouse trips the snake trap system  100  the mouse is trapped. The mouse is removed, as discussed below, by the live bait transporter  260  and later used as bait in the center of the lower trap portion  120  of the snake trap system  100 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a bottom elevational view of the lower trap portion  120  of  FIG. 1 . A pair of bores  700  is shown. The lowermost arm portions of the guide member  400  pass through the bores  700  and are fixedly secured to the lower trap portion  120  by nuts; alternatively, they can be fixed by welding, or glue. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the lower trap portion  120  of  FIG. 1 , showing a top edge  220  and a bottom side  240 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is side elevational view of the live bait transporter  260  used in the snake trap system  100 . The transporter  260  includes a wire mesh cage body portion  300 , a hinged door  280 , a hinge  340 , and a trip member  320  which can be used either to prop open the door  280  or as a handle for manually opening the door  280 . The hinged door  280  is preferably spring-biased toward a closed position; alternatively, the opening and closing of the door  280  may be done manually. 
         [0043]    When the mouse is trapped inside the snake trap system  100 , the live bait transporter  260  is secured to the opening  800  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) formed in the side of the upper trap portion  360  with the door  280  propped open, so that the mouse will enter. The slideable clamp  720  is used to engage a mesh doorway  262  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the live bait transporter  260 , while teeth  760  (shown in  FIG. 11A ) engage the opposite side of the transporter doorway  262 , thus holding the transporter  260  in place over the opening  800 . 
         [0044]    Once the live bait transporter  260  is secured over the doorway  800 , the live bait transporter  260  is covered with a dark cloth to provide a safe-looking environment for the mouse. In addition, some bait, such as peanut butter, can be placed inside the live bait transporter  260  to draw the mouse into the live bait transporter  260 . 
         [0045]    When the mouse enters the live bait transporter  260 , it is removed from the snake trap system  100  and the door  280  is closed. The transporter, with the mouse inside, can then be placed in the interior of the snake trap system  100  when it is in the open position “A” of  FIG. 20 . The trip member  180  is then set for the weight of a snake as discussed hereinabove, and the scent of the mouse then attracts a snake into the trap. 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the transporter  260  of  FIG. 5 , as viewed from the right of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  is bottom elevational view of the transporter of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the transporter  260  disposed on the lower trap portion  120 , in an operational position. Here, if live bait such as a mouse is disposed in the transporter  260 , the transporter  260  protects the live bait. The live bait attracts a snake. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is a bottom elevational view of the upper trap portion  360  used in the snake trap system  100  of the present invention. In this view, the hollow interior of the enclosure member  380  is visible. 
         [0050]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the upper trap portion  360  used in the snake trap system  100 , in a raised position showing a lower portion of an enclosure member  380 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are side views of the upper trap portion  360  of  FIG. 10 , showing an opening  800  therethrough and also showing a slideable clamp  720  and teeth  760  disposed on either side of opening  800 . The slideable clamp  720  and teeth  760  can be used to hold a removeable cover  382  in place over the opening  800  (see  FIG. 11C ). The cover  382  rests on ledge  680  when secured over the opening  800 . Alternatively, the slideable clamp  720  and teeth  760  can be used to clamp the doorway of the live bait transporter or the snake transporter basket  520  (shown in  FIG. 15 ) to the snake trap  100  by gripping the sides of the wire mesh doorway of either the live bait transporter  260  or the snake transporter basket  520 , so that the opening of the snake trap  800  is aligned with the opening of either the snake transporter basket  520  or the live bait transporter  260 . The slideable clamp  720  is slideable to extend over the cover  382 , or engage with the side of the mesh wire doorway of either the snake transporter basket  520  or live bait transporter  260 ; the clamp  720  has a plurality of teeth (shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 22A and 22B ). Also, a side of the upper trap portion adjacent to the opening  800  includes teeth  760  (also discussed and shown hereunder with regard to  FIGS. 22A and 22B ). Together, the slideable clamp  720  and the teeth  760  can clamp an article therebetween, as discussed herein. 
         [0052]    With regard to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the guide member  400  is shown supporting a pulley  420 , the chain  440 , and the hook  460  disposed at the lowermost end  442  of chain  440 . The upper trap portion  360  has an eye  480  secured thereto, which anchors the chain  440 . In operation, the upper trap portion  360  is raised by sliding it along the guide member  400 , which thereby lowers the hook  460  until it can engage with the hook  200  of the lower trap portion  120 . The chain  440  is secured to the eye  480  by a ring  500 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 12  is a view of the upper trap portion  360  with the enclosure member  380  visible. 
         [0054]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of the trip mechanism on the lower trap portion  120 , and is similar to  FIG. 2  except that the trap has been “tripped” in  FIG. 13 . The trip mechanism includes the trip member  180 , which secures the hook  200  when the hook  200  is tensioned upwardly by a force applied by the chain  440  (shown in, e.g.,  FIG. 11A ). Thus, in the open position “A” of  FIG. 20 , the chain  440  is able to support the entire weight of the upper trap portion  360 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 14  is a schematic side view, partly in section, schematically showing the elements of the trip mechanism of  FIG. 13 . Here, the trip mechanism has just become separated by action of the trip member  180  due to the weight of a snake thereupon. The weight of the snake causes movement of the trip member  180  in the rotational direction “R”, releasing the hook  200  to move in the direction “S”, and thus releasing the hook  460  to move in the direction “T” under the force applied by the weight of the upper trap portion  360 . Thus, in this view, the tripping has just occurred, and the upper trap portion  360  is proceeding to start falling downwardly to trap the snake. 
         [0056]      FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of a snake removal basket  520  for the system  100  of the present invention. The snake removal basket  520  is shown with a handle  540 , a mesh body  560 , a top  580 , a bottom  600 , a doorway  620 , and an operating member  640  for operating a hinged door  660 . The doorway  620  is secured to the opening  800  of  FIG. 11A  by the clamping action of the teeth of the slideable clamp  720  and the teeth  760 , so that the snake removal basket  520  can be secured in place while removing a snake. By covering the snake removal basket  520  with a cloth, the snake can be lured out of the interior of the snake trap system  100  via the opening  800  and into the interior of the snake removal basket  520 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the live bait trap  520  of  FIG. 15 , as seen from the left of  FIG. 15 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 17  is a top elevational view of the live bait trap  520  of  FIG. 15 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged side elevational view of a doorway portion  620  of the snake removal basket  520  of  FIG. 15 , showing the door operating member  640  extending through the bottom  600 . The hinged door  660  is shown in an open position in this view. 
         [0060]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the snake trap  100  assembled in an operating position corresponding to position “A” of  FIG. 20 . In this view, the slideable clamp  720  is shown having teeth  780 , and also shows the opening  800  and the adjacent teeth  760 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 20  is a simplified schematic view of the operation of the snake trap  100  of  FIG. 19 . This view has been discussed in detail hereinabove. 
         [0062]      FIG. 21  is a schematic sectional view of the enclosure member  380  in a closed position “B” of the trap  100 , in an enclosing position over the transporter  260 . 
         [0063]      FIGS. 22A and 22B  are enlarged, schematic view of the slideable clamp  720  shown in  FIG. 19 . As seen in  FIGS. 22A and 22B , the slideable clamp  720  and teeth  760  can extend over a cover  382 , which rests on ledge  680  (see  FIG. 11A ), to secure it in place over opening  800 . The slideable clamp  720  has a plurality of teeth  780 , which are schematically illustrated. A recess  740  is disposed in a wall adjacent the opening on the opposite side of the slideable door  720 , and a plurality of teeth  760  are disposed in the recess. One purpose of the teeth  760  and  780  is to secure the doorway portion  620  of the snake removal basket  520  of  FIG. 15  to the opening  380  so that a trapped snake can enter the snake removal basket  520  and be secured therein. The teeth  760  of and  780  can also be used to secure the doorway portion  280  of live bate transporter  260  of  FIG. 6  to the opening  380  so that a trapped mouse can enter the live bait transporter  260  and be secured therein. 
         [0064]    The teeth  760  and the teeth  780  can be larger or smaller, or fewer in number, or longer, and all such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0065]    The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.