Abstract:
The disclosure is directed to a mouse trap for insertion through the opening in the top of a pop can. The trap is formed of one piece stainless spring steel and includes a can-engaging element affixed to a can-engaging clip for engaging opposed surfaces of the pop can top. An intermediate element is affixed to the can-engaging element and to support element which, in turn, is affixed to a bait support element. The trap obstructs the can opening when the trap is in the release or sprung position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a mouse trap and more particularly to a mouse trap used with a container including a pop can. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   One of the more commercially available mouse traps is the Victor mouse trap which kills the trapped mouse. Some users do not like handling the mouse carcass and others believe killing mice with the Victor type traps is inhumane. Poisons have been developed for killing mice but some users do not like the mess of finding or failing to find the poisoned mice. 
   Live traps have been developed for humanely trapping mice and some of the live traps are disposable. The present trap is a live type trap and is applied to the opening in containers including conventional pop cans. The trap may be disposed of along with the container or it may be reused by simply removing the trap from the container. The trapped mouse may be disposed of or freed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of this invention to provide a novel mouse trap which is insertable into the opening of an empty container having an opening in the top of the container, and, when released from a cocked position traps a mouse within the container. 
   The novel trap is formed from a single piece of stainless spring steel which bent into a generally triangular shape having a bait support element extending from one of the flat elements forming the triangle, and a can-engaging element extending from another element. When the trap is inserted through the opening of a container including an empty pop can such that the bait support element obstructs the opening in the can, the trap is in an uncocked position. When the bait support element is pushed inwardly, the trap will be shifted and held in a cocked position by a detent on one of the trap elements. When the trap is sprung, the bait engaging element is moved to the release position and obstructs the can opening thereby trapping the mouse alive within the can. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the novel trap; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary elevational side view of a upper portion of a pop can with parts thereof broken away showing the pop top in the initial stage of opening; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded fragmentary elevational side view similar to  FIG. 2  showing removal of the pull tab and the inward folding of the sealing flap; 
       FIG. 4  is side elevational view of the trap and can top illustrating the trap within the pop can but in an uncocked position; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 4  but illustrating the trap in the cocked position; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view similar to  FIGS. 4 and 5  and illustrating the direction of movement of a trap element when the trap is sprung; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the pop can top and trap taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 6  and looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the opening in the pop can top while the trap is on a cocked position; and 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevational view similar to  FIG. 7  but illustrating the disposition of the trap in the sprung or release position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that one embodiment of my novel one-piece trap, designated generally by the reference numeral  10 , is thereshown. The trap  10  is formed of stainless spring steel and is insertable into an empty pop can  11  as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Any container having an opening in one end thereof may be used instead of a conventional pop can. However, pop cans are a preferred embodiment. 
   The pop can  11 , in which the trap  10  is inserted, is of conventional construction and is formed of metal and includes a cylindrical wall  12 , a bottom wall  13  and a top wall  14 . The top wall  14  is provided with a pull tab  15  which is attached to a sealing flap  16 . When the tab  15  is pulled the sealing flap moves downwardly as shown in  FIG. 2 . The pull tab  15  may be detached from the sealing flap  16 . The sealing flap will extend downwardly from the top wall  14  and a user may push the tab adjacent the inner surface of the top  14  as best seen in  FIG. 3 . 
   Access to the interior of the pop can is then available through the opening  17 . The pop can  11  thus described is the construction of any of the pop cans containing the popular soft drinks or soda. The pop can  11  will be emptied before the trap is inserted into the interior thereof. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that the one-piece trap  10  has a generally triangular shaped configuration. The trap is formed primarily in a bending operation from flat, stainless steel spring stock and includes a substantially flat elongate can-engaging element  18  having a barb  19  struck therefrom. 
   One end of the can-engaging element  18  is integral with one end of a substantially flat elongate intermediate element  20  and forms an acute angle  29  therewith. The intermediate element  20  has side edges  26 . One end of substantially flat, elongate support element  21  is integral with the other end of the intermediate element  20  and forms an acute angle  30  therewith. The support element  21  has a locking detent  22  struck therefrom but slightly spaced from the bend line with the intermediate element  20 . The locking detent is also located midway between the side edges  21   a  of the support element  21 . 
   An elongate, substantially flat bait support element  23  extends angularly from and is integral with the other end of the support element  21 . The outer end of the bait support element is bent to define a bait holder  24 . The bait, preferably peanut butter B, is placed in the trough  25 . The bait support element  23  has a barbs  26  struck from the side or longitudinal edges thereof. The barbs  26  define points which project inwardly of the pop can when the trap is in the uncocked or sprung position as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   An elongate substantially flat, can-engaging clip  27  is integrally formed with the other end of the can-engaging element  18  and extends angularly therefrom. The can-engaging clip  18  has pointed barbs  28  struck from the side edges  27   a  thereof. The side edges  27   a  of the can-engaging clip  27  also include beveled portions  27   b  which terminate in an outer edge  27   c.    
   It will be noted that can-engaging element  18  and the support element, element  21  converge towards each other and define an acute angle  31  with each other when the trap is in the uncocked position. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it will be seen that when the trap is first inserted into the can, the bait support element will extend into obstructing relation to the opening  17  of the can  11 . This position illustrates the trap in the uncocked position, or the sprung or release position. It will also be noted that the can-engaging clip  27  is positioned within the can and adjacent the can top wall  14  and sealing flap  16 . The can-engaging element  18  is positioned exteriorly of and adjacent the outer surface of the can top wall. 
   When the trap  10  is shifted to the cocked position, the bait support element  23  is pushed inwardly from its position in  FIG. 4  to the position in  FIG. 5 . As the bait support element is moved to the cocked position, away from the opening  17  the support element  21  will be moved interiorly of the can  11  until the lock detent is snapped against the can-engaging clip  26  to lock the trap in the cocked position. The bait support element  23  and the support element  21  actually constitute a bait support means. Similarly, the lock detent  22  and the con-engaging clip  28  comprise locking means. 
   While different kinds of bait material may be used, it is preferred that peanut butter be used. Mice have an acute sense of smell and will readily sense the smell of peanut butter and be attracted to the trap. The trap may be stabilized and prevented from rolling by positioning a shoe or book against the can. The mouse M will enter the can and spring the trap from the cocked position ( FIG. 5 ) to the sprung position ( FIG. 4 ). 
   In the uncocked or released position, the bait support element  23  engages the inner surface of the can defining the opening  17  thereby obstructing the opening as shown in  FIG. 8 . The barbs  26  on the side edges of the bait support element  23  prevent the mouse M from attempting to escape around side edges of the bait support element  23 . 
   It will be seen that the mouse M when attempting to eat the bait material (peanut butter), will cause the locking detent  22  to become dislodged from the can-engaging clip  27 , thereby releasing the bait support element  23  from the cocked position. The release of the compressed spring energy (compressed elements  18  and  20 ) provide the energy for snapping the bait support element to the closed position. The engagement of the can top by the barbs  28  on the can-engaging clip  27  and the barb  19  on the can-engaging element  18  help retain the trap in the cocked position. 
   For live release of the trapped mouse M from the can, the trap  10  is simply removed from the can. Alternatively, the can may be discarded with the trap and mouse within the can. The novel trap is therefore reusable or is disposable. This novel trap and pop can arrangement allows the user to avoid handling a mouse carcass. 
   While the novel trap device has been disclosed for use in trapping mice, the device may also be used as a trip device for electrical systems. 
   From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel mouse-trap which is of simple and inexpensive construction, but which efficiently functions for live humane trapping of mice.