Patent Publication Number: US-2011047858-A1

Title: Trap

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a trap and, more particularly, to a trap for catching animals. 
     Propagation of animals in an environment without native predators may become a disaster to ecology. As an example, brown tree snakes on Guam have almost caused extinction of most of the birds and lizards on this island and often caused electricity outage. The brown tree snakes slipping into the houses are also a threat to infants. The brown snakes may be carried to other islands by airplanes and ships. Control of the population of animals of certain species is necessary. One of the methods for controlling the population of animals is using traps. However, most conventional traps are either complicated or ineffective in catching animals. 
     Thus, a need exists for a trap for effectively catching animals while having a simple structure. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of catching animals by providing, in a preferred form, a trap including a cage defining a capture space having an opening in an upper end of the cage. A cover is pivotable about a pivot axis between a closing position closing the opening and a revealing position revealing the opening. The cover includes a first end and a second end having a spacing to the pivot axis smaller than the first end of the cover. A counterweight device is mounted to the second end of the cover to bias the cover to the closing position. The cover moves to the revealing position when an animal moves to the first end of the cover, such that the animal falls into the capture space. 
     In the most preferred form, a first magnetic member is mounted on one of the cage and the cover, and a second magnetic member is mounted on the other of the cage and the cover. The first and second magnetic members attract and engage with each other when the cover is in the closing position, maintaining the cage in the closing position. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded, perspective view of a trap according to the preferred teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the trap of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the trap of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the trap of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial, cross sectional view of the trap of  FIG. 2  according to section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a partial, cross sectional view of the trap of  FIG. 2  according to section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of the trap of  FIG. 2  illustrating operation of the trap. 
     
    
    
     All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. 
     Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “lower”, “upper”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “longitudinal”, “radial”, “horizontal”, “inward”, “spacing”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A trap according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in the drawings and generally designated  10 . According to the preferred form shown, trap  10  includes a cage  11  having front and rear plates  15  and  16  spaced along a first axis X. Cage  11  further includes first and second side plates  18  extending between front and rear plates  15  and  16  and spaced along a second axis Y perpendicular to first axis X. Cage  11  further includes a bottom plate  20  extending between lower ends of front and rear plates  15  and  16  and lower ends of first and second side plates  18 . In the most preferred form shown, each of front and rear plates  15  and  16 , first and second side plates  18 , and bottom plates  20  includes a plurality of meshes. Furthermore, front and rear plates  15  and  16 , first and second side plates  18 , and bottom plates  20  together define a capture space  21  having an opening  22  defined between upper ends of front and rear plates  15  and  16  and upper ends of first and second side plates  18  and spaced from bottom plate  20  along a third axis Z perpendicular to first and second axes X and Y. Furthermore, the upper end of rear plate  16  includes first and second pivotal seats  24  spaced along second axis Y. Each of first and second pivotal seats  24  is a tube in the most preferred form shown and includes a first end  26  fixed relative to the upper end of one of first and second side plates  18  and a second end  28  spaced from first end  26  along second axis Y. Second ends  28  of first and second pivotal seats  24  are spaced along second axis Y Each of first and second pivotal seats  24  has a longitudinal hole  30  extending from second end  28  through first end  26  along second axis Y Each of first and second pivotal seats  24  further includes a coupling portion  34  formed on an outer periphery  32  thereof and extending along second axis Y A bait board  36  is mounted in opening  22  and contiguous to the upper end of front plate  15 . In the most preferred form shown, bait board  36  is fixed by screws  38  to the upper ends of first and second side plates  18 . 
     According to the preferred form shown, a cover  12  is pivotably mounted to cage  11  between a closing position closing opening  22  and a revealing position revealing opening  22 . Cover  12  includes first and second ends  40  and  42  spaced along first axis X and top and bottom faces  44  and  46  spaced along third axis Z and extending between first and second ends  40  and  42 . Two axle seats  48  are mounted to bottom face  46  of cover  12  and spaced along second axis Y Each axle seat  48  includes a hole  50  receiving a bearing  52  through which an axle  54  extends. Each axle  54  extends into longitudinal hole  30  of one of first and second pivotal seats  24 . Thus, cover  12  can pivot relative to axles  54  and cage  11  about a pivot axis defined by axles  54  and parallel to second axis Y In the most preferred form shown, a spacing between first end  40  of cover  12  and the pivot axis along first axis X is larger than a spacing between second end  42  of cover  12  and the pivot axis along first axis X. When cover  12  is in the closing position substantially parallel to bottom plate  18 , first end  40  of cover  12  is contiguous to bait board  36  and closes opening  22 . On the other hand, when cover  12  is in the revealing position inside cage  11 , opening  22  is revealed ( FIG. 7 ). 
     According to the preferred form shown, a counterweight device  13  is mounted to second end  42  of cover  12  to bias cover  12  to the closing position. Namely, opening  22  is normally closed by cover  12  under action of counterweight device  13 . In the most preferred form shown, counterweight device  13  includes two brackets  58  each having an upper end  62  in the form of a plate fixed to top face  44  of second end  42  of cover  12  and a lower end  64  having a hook. Counterweight device  13  further includes two counterweights  60  mounted to lower ends  64  of brackets  58 . Thus, the torque imparted to second end  42  of cover  12  is not smaller than the torque imparted to first end  40  of cover  12 . 
     According to the preferred form shown, a support device  14  includes a first magnetic member  66  mounted on cage  11  and a second magnetic member  68  mounted on cover  12 . In the most preferred form shown, support device  14  includes a board  70  having a side  72  fixed by screws to coupling portions  34  of first and second pivotal seats  24 . First magnetic member  66  includes two magnets fixed on a top face  71  of board  70 . Second magnetic member  68  includes a metal strip fixed to bottom face  46  at second end  42  of cover  12  and extending along second axis Y. When cover  12  is in the closing position closing opening  22 , first magnetic member  66  and second magnetic member  68  attract and engage with each other to securely retain cover  12  in the closing position. 
     In use, trap  10  according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is placed in a home range of animals, such as snakes, to be caught. A bait  73  is placed on bait board  36 . In a case that an animal  74  (such as a snake) lured by bait  73  crawls onto cover  12  and moves from second end  42  towards first end  40  of cover  12 , cover  12  remains in the closed position if the torque imparted to cover  12  by the weight of animal  74  is not greater than the magnetic attraction between first and second magnetic members  66  and  68 . However, when animal  74  moves near first end  40  of cover  12 , the arm of force from animal  74  to the pivot axis of cover  12  is increased, such that the torque imparted to cover  12  by the weight of animal  74  increases to an extent greater than the magnetic attraction between first and second magnetic members  66  and  68 . Thus, first end  40  of cover  12  pivots inward into cage  11 , and animal  74  falls into cage  11 . After animal  74  has fallen into cage  11 , the torque imparted by animal  74  to cover  12  disappears. As a result, cover  12  returns to its closing position under the action of counterweight device  13 , and animal  74  is trapped in cage  11 . 
     Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, first and second magnetic members  66  and  68  can exchange. Specifically, second magnetic member  68  can includes two magnets fixed on top face  71  of board  70 , whereas first magnetic member  66  can include a metal strip fixed to bottom face  46  at second end  42  of cover  12 . 
     Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.