Abstract:
A mouse or rodent trap including a housing having an elongated rotatable paddle member therein and an insert within the confines of the trap housing. A trigger assembly engages the paddle member and releases the paddle member for rotation when the trigger assembly is engaged by the mouse or rodent entering the housing. The mouse or rodent is then swept into the insert which is then closed and removed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to animal traps and more particularly to a mouse trap having an insert which provides for safely and cleanly disposing of rodents such as mice and rats. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Mouse and rodent traps have been designed in many ways throughout the years. Some of the earlier animal traps include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,758,852 dated May 20, 1930; U.S. Pat. No. 2,433,913 dated Jan. 6, 1948; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,576 dated Oct. 3, 2000. Each of these mouse or rodent traps generally sweeps a rodent or mouse into an area of a trap in which the rodent cannot escape. Typically, the area in which the mouse is swept into is an interior cavity of the housings of the mouse trap. 
   Because the rodents are alive when they are swept into the trap, the rodent caught within the trap will continue to produce excrement that dirties the interior surface of the trap. The rodent typically also shed hair within the confines of the trap. Additionally, if the rodent has been injured while being swept into the confines of the traps, there is the potential for blood to be found on the interior surface. 
   Each of the aforementioned contaminants pose potential health hazards to humans. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rare, but serious life-threatening disease that results mainly through the inhalation of tiny airborne droplets of fresh or dried droppings, urine, or saliva left by infected rodents. Mouse hair can also carry the virus as it is often coated with rodent excrement and saliva. HSP is contracted by having direct contact with the rodent excrement and the subsequential touching, scratching or rubbing of the nose, mouth or eye region. It has been reported that 38% of all reported HSP victims in the U.S. have died because of exposure to the Hantavirus. Over 300 cases have been diagnosed since May 1993. 
   In addition to the potential lethal Hantavirus, rodents are also known to carry the West Nile Virus and Arana Virus. Rodents also can be carriers of other pests, i.e., fleas that can be secondary carriers of additional diseases. The Center for Disease Control has indicated that nearly 18% of inner city children are allergic to proteins found in mouse urine. 
   It is therefore a primary feature of the present invention to provide a design for a mouse trap that has a removable insert for storing captured rodents. 
   A further feature of the present invention is to provide an insert comprised of an upper and lower half. 
   A further feature of the present invention is utilizing a living hinge to connect the upper and lower halves of an insert for a mouse or rodent trap. 
   Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of handles via depressions in the upper and lower halves of the rodent trap insert. 
   Still another feature of the present invention is the inclusion of interlocking parts on the upper and lower halves of the insert that facilitate creation of a container to contain a trapped rodent. 
   Another feature of the current invention is the provision of a disposable insert. 
   A further feature of the current invention is to provide an insert that can be formed of an opaque material that hinders the viewing of a trapped rodent or rodents within the container formed by the insert. 
   Another feature of the present invention is the inclusion of attack holes in the trap housing to distract the rodent from chewing on the insert and focusing its attention on the metal housing. 
   Yet a further feature of the present invention is the provision of a method of trapping a mouse within an insert of a mouse or rodent trap to facilitate removal of the rodent without having to touch the trapped rodent. 
   An insert for a mouse or rodent trap and a method of accomplishing these and other features will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a clam-shelled insert within a mouse or rodent trap that facilitates removal of a trapped rodent from the trap without having to touch the rodent. Preferably, the insert is utilized with a mouse or rodent trap that includes a housing having an elongated rotatable paddle member within the housing. The paddle member is typically connected to a trigger assembly that releases the rotatable paddle when a mouse or rodent steps upon the trigger assembly. When the rotatable paddle rotates, it sweeps the mouse or rodent into a holding area within the confines of the trap housing. 
   The holding area of the present invention is designed to receive the clam-shelled insert. This insert is typically made of a disposable plastic with two halves connected by a living hinge. After the mouse or rodent is swept into the confines of the clam shell, the two halves can be pressed together to form a closed container about the rodent. This enables an individual to easily remove the rodent from the confines of the trap without letting it escape. The mouse or rodent is effectively confined to the interior of the clam shell. 
   The clam shell insert is formed to easily fit within one end of the trap housing. When it is in the open position, it is preferable that the lower half of the insert fit against the lower edge of the opening that the rodent passes through. Additionally, the upper half of the clam shell can be fitted above the upper edge of the opening to the rotatable paddle and a formed slot that prevents the upper edge of the clam shell from prematurely closing. Further yet, attack holes are positioned in the housing walls to distract the mouse or rodent from chewing on the plastic of the clam shell. 
   The plastic clam shell insert is formed with two generally elongated triangular shaped halves that are generally symmetrical to each other. Ideally, hand holds or depressions are formed in the exterior surface of the clam shell to facilitate easy and a consistent removal of the trapped rodent within the closed clam shell. Additionally, the long edge of each half of the clam shell is formed with inter-locking tabs and protrusions that hold the clam shell container closed after it has been removed from the confines of the trap housing. Additional grooves and/or depressions can be utilized in the formation of the clam shell insert to facilitate easy insertion and removal of the insert within the confines of the trap. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of an insert in a mouse or rodent trap. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the central compartment, paddle, and trap compartment of the mouse or rodent trap. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an insert for a mouse or rodent trap in an open position. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an insert for a mouse or rodent trap in the closed position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention is described as it applies to its preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended that the invention cover all modifications and alternatives, which may be included within the scope of the invention. 
   Referring to the drawings, the numeral  10  generally designates a mouse or rodent trap. Trap  10  includes a housing  12  having a bottom wall  14 , side walls  16 ,  18 , and end walls  20 ,  22 . The upper and end edges of side walls  16  and  18  include side flanges  26  which are adapted to engage slide tracks  28  on the opposite sides of the top cover  24  and removable end wall cover  22 . Top cover  24  and the end wall cover  22  are also provided with handles  30  for facilitating the sliding movement of the covers  22  and  24 . Each of the walls and/or covers may be constructed as a whole or independently of metal, plastic or wood and may be either opaque or transparent. 
   The housing  12  includes an upper partition  32  and a rear partition  34  which together form a rear compartment  36  and a trap compartment  38 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The rear partition  34  includes a curved portion  39  which is adjacent a paddle member  50 . Side walls  16  and  18  are provided with a hole  44  therein for permitting a mouse or rodent to enter a central compartment  40  formed between the paddles  50  and curved portion  39  of the trap&#39;s rear partition  34 . A spring  49  yieldably urges the paddle  50  in a first rotational direction designated by arrow  51 . 
   The paddle  50  is engaged by a trip assembly  42  that holds the paddle  50  in rotational position. When the trip assembly is stepped upon/depressed by a rodent, the paddle  50  rotates in the direction of arrow  51 . When the paddle  50  is rotated, the rodent or mouse is swept out of the central compartment  40  and into the trap compartment  38 . 
   A clam shell insert  60  within the trap compartment  38  receives the mouse.  FIG. 1  shows the insert  60 . The insert  60  has an upper half  62  and a lower half  64  separated by a living hinge  66 . The insert&#39;s  60  upper half rests against the upper partition  32  and the top cover  24 . The lower half  64  rests against the bottom wall  14  of the rodent trap  10 . The rearward portions  68  of the upper and lower half  62  and  64  are positioned within the trap compartment  38  such that they are positioned against the removable rear wall  22 . 
   The rear portion  68  of the two halves can be formed with depression  70  that facilitates closing and removal of the insert  60  when at least one mouse or rodent is trapped within the trap chamber  38 . Preferably, the depressions  70  are formed with enough space to allow multiple fingers to be used to remove the insert  60 . Other depression shapes or numbers of depressions may be used to facilitate the closure and removal of the insert  60  from the trap  10 . 
   Tab  72  and corresponding protrusion  74  can be utilized to seal the insert  60  in a closed position (as seen in  FIG. 4 ). Other methods of interlocking/sealing the two halves together could include tabs and slots, adhesives or an external seal that could hold the two halves together. Additionally, the two halves  62  and  64  could be held together by a rubber band or string looped about the exterior of the insert. 
   It is preferable that the two halves  62  and  64  are formed such that when they are inserted into the trap compartment  38  that the halves  62  and  64  leave exposed attack holes  76 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . These holes are formed in the side walls  16  and  18  to provide distractions to the rodent within the trap compartment  38 . A mouse or rodent constantly chews on objects to continually sharpen their front teeth. To prevent the rodent or mouse from chewing at the insert  60 , the holes  76  are formed in the sides  16 ,  18  to provide a surface made of more resilient material than the disposable insert  60  to sharpen their teeth upon. 
   The trap  10  is preferably used with an insert by first inserting the insert  60  into the confines of the trap compartment  38  of the trap  10 . The covers  22  and  24  are then replaced on the trap  10 . The trigger mechanism is then set and the trap  10  is placed in a likely place that rodents travel. When a rodent travels through the hole  44  and triggers the assembly, the paddle  50  rotates to sweep the mouse into the trap compartment  38  and insert  60 . 
   After the mouse is trapped within, the end cover  22  is removed. The operator then inserts their fingers into the handles or depressions  70  of the insert while pressing the two halves  62  and  64  together. The mouse or rodent is then trapped within the insert  60 . The two halves are then sealed together via the sealing mechanism and the entire package (with mouse or rodent trapped within) is then disposed of. The operator&#39;s hands never come in contact with the mouse or fecal matter of the rodent. All the aforementioned are removed at the same time, leaving the interior of the trap  10  relatively clean. The process is then repeated by inserting a new insert  60 . 
   A general description of the present invention as well as the preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been set forth above. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will recognize and be able to practice additional variations in the methods and systems described which fall within the teachings of this invention.