Abstract:
A device for setting a trap for a fur-bearing animal is described. The device provides leverage for a hunter to set and release a trap without exerting substantial force on the trap. A method for using the device to set and release traps is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This continuation application claims priority of provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/973,666 filed on Apr. 1, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The trap setting device and method are in the field of devices for trapping animals. More specifically, the trap setting device and method are in the field of devices to assist in the arming of fur-bearing animal traps. 
         [0003]    Arming and setting a trap for animals requires substantial physical hand strength. The environment in which a hunter typically has to set a trap (snow, muddy ground, rough terrain, etc.) creates difficulty and safety issues. The devices themselves are dangerous and the process of setting the traps by hand creates the potential for falls, accidental trap activation, injury to a hunter&#39;s hands, or an inability to arm and set the trap. The trap setting device described herein gives a hunter the leverage to pull the trap spring down to set the trap by hand, with minimal effort and safer operation. It also allows the hunter to safely release the trap spring as well, which is another point of potential injury. 
         [0004]    Other devices for setting similar traps have to be set on the ground and a user has to use body strength and use their feet to apply pressure to the device and the trap in order to set it. Since the ground may be rough or muddy, and the device may be slick due to rain or snow, a trap setting device that has to operate on the ground and requires a lot of physical strength, is extremely difficult and dangerous. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In embodiments, the trap setting device comprises a base member for receiving and holding a trap, the base member having a first end that is bent at a right angle to the remainder of the base member, a top bar, and a connector plate having an upper portion and an angled lower portion. The first end of the base member is fixedly attached to the angled lower portion of the connector plate, and a first end of the top bar is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the connector plate such that a second end of the top bar pivots toward a second end of the base member. 
         [0006]    A method for using the trap setting device comprises the steps of pivoting the top bar to an open position, placing a trap on the base member with the spring disposed away from the base member, pivoting the top bar to a closed position to twist the spring, engaging the trigger assembly to secure the spring, releasing the top bar and removing the trap from the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a depiction of a fur-bearing animal trap in use. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the trap setting device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the trap setting device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the trap setting device in use on a trap. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the trap setting device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the trap setting device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a depiction of a fur-bearing animal trap is depicted in use on an animal. The trap setting device is a hand held device for setting a trap  100  for a fur-bearing animal. In typical use of the trap  100  an animal inserts its paw into an opening  102  on the trap  100  that contains bait. The insertion of the paw into the trap releases a spring  104  that clamps the trap shut, firmly holding the animal&#39;s paw in the trap. The trap is set by compressing or twisting the spring  104  and locking it in place by connecting bar  106  to trigger  108 . As described above, the process of manually setting the trap by compressing or twisting the spring  104  and simultaneously connecting bar  106  to trigger  108  can be difficult and unsafe. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , perspective views of the trap setting device are depicted. 
         [0015]    Base member  200  is provided for receiving and holding the trap  100  with a first end that is bent at a substantially right angle to the remainder of the base member  200 . In a preferred embodiment the base member  200  comprises a metal bar that is bent into a U shape with upturned ends  202  to hold the trap. The upturned ends  202  create a space through which parts of the trap may be inserted during use of the device as shown in  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments of the trap setting device the base member  200  may be a sheet or plate of material which may be cut or bent to shape, and may have a central opening or a groove to hold the trap  100  in place. 
         [0016]    Connector plate  204  is attached to the upturned ends  202  of base member  200 . The connector plate supplies the leverage to apply pressure to the trap spring  104  for a successful trap set. In some embodiments, the connector plate  204  comprises a lower angled portion  206  attached to the base member  200 , and an upper portion  208  for pivotally holding a top bar  212 . In some embodiments the connector plate will be flexible to provide additional leverage to the user of the device. In a preferred embodiment the connector plate  204  is attached to the base member  200  by welding. 
         [0017]    In the depicted embodiment, top bar  212  is formed from a metal bar bent into a U shape with two ends of the bar disposed substantially parallel to and slightly separated from each other. In other embodiments of the trap setting device the top bar  212  may be formed from a sheet or plate of material cut with holes as necessary for the operation of the device. 
         [0018]    The top bar  212  compresses the spring  104  and allows the user to set and manipulate the bar  106  and trigger  108  of the trap  100  while holding the spring in a compressed position. The first end of top bar  212  is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the connector plate. In the depicted embodiment, the pivotal attachment comprises holes  210  which have a diameter or size sufficiently larger than the metal bar used to form top bar  212  to allow the top bar  212  to pivot up and down. In other embodiments of the trap setting device a hinge or other type of pivotal connection may be utilized in place of the holes  210 . 
         [0019]    In the depicted embodiment one or more pins or wire  300  is used to secure the top bar  212  in the holes  210 . The holes  210  may be spaced apart as necessary to allow top bar  212  to have the necessary clearance for the trap. The pins  300  are inserted through one or more holes in the end of top bar  212  and spread or twisted to prevent slippage. In other embodiments the top bar  212  may be welded to a hinge attached to connector plate  204  or otherwise secured to the upper portion  208  of the connector plate  204 . In some embodiments of the device, multiple sets of holes  210  may be provided to allow for the adjustment of the top bar  212  for various sizes and types of traps. The multiple sets of holes may be disposed to allow the top bar  212  to be moved closer to or farther away from base  200 , or to allow various widths of top bar  212  to be used with the device. In some embodiments the sets of holes are spaced closer to and farther away from the base member  200  to allow for adjustment of the size of the trap. 
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment of the trap setting device, top bar  212  is formed by cutting a metal bar ( 3/16″ or ¼″ metal rod) to 21 inches long. The metal bar is bent in the middle to create a ¾ “loop (90 degree), resulting in 10 inch long metal bar  212 , which is now 2 bars with ¾” opening between them. One hole is drilled through both ends of the top bar rod. The 2 metal rod loose ends are inserted into the 2 holes in the connector plate  204  and secured by pins  300  through the holes in the top bar rod ends. Similarly in a preferred embodiment base member  200  is formed by cutting a metal bar ( 3/16″ or ¼″ metal rods) to 25 inches long. The metal bar is bent in middle to create a ¾″ loop (90 degrees), resulting in a 14 inch long metal bar  200 . Then 2 inches on each loose end  202  of the metal rod is bent 90 degrees upwardly. These ends are welded onto the connector plate  204 . A preferred embodiment of the connector plate  204  is solid metal 2⅝″ long by 1½″ wide with two holes  210  drilled in the upper portion  208 , ¾″ a part. A hinge or spring can be used instead of metal connector plate  204 . The size of the parts may be changed to fit varying types and sizes of traps. Metals used for the device include angle iron, steel bars and other metal types. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, base member  200  is a length of angle iron disposed lengthwise with the two edges thereof disposed upwardly and the corner thereof disposed downwardly forming a groove to hold the trap. A first end of the angle iron is attached to the connector plate  204  by welding the upwardly turned edges to the plate  204  with the length of the angle iron extending substantially perpendicular to the connector plate  204  to form base  200 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the trap setting device in use on a trap is depicted. In order to use the trap setting device, top bar  212  is opened to position  400 . Then a trap  100  is inserted into the trap setting device and rests on base member  200  and against connector plate  204 , with the spring  104  and trigger assembly components  106  and  108  disposed toward top member  212 . In the depicted embodiment, the trigger assembly components  106  and  108  are disposed between the arms of the U shaped top bar  212 , though in other embodiments for other traps  100  this may be different. The user then exerts pressure on the trap setting device to by squeezing second end  404  of top bar  212  toward second end  406  of base member  200  until top bar  212  is in position  402 . This movement of top bar  212  brings it in contact with the spring  104  of the trap  100 , and compresses or twists the spring  104  as necessary to arm the trap  100 . Due to the leverage provided by the top bar  212  and connector plate  204  the user can hold the spring in a compressed position easily. The user can then quickly and safely set the trap by engaging the trigger mechanism, shown in this embodiment as bar  106  and trigger  108 , while keeping his fingers and hand away from the spring mechanism. The user then releases the pressure on top bar  212  and base member  200 , and removes the trap  100  from the trap setting device. The trap  100  is then ready to be placed for use trapping an animal. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of a second embodiment of the trap setting device is depicted. In this alternative embodiment, a hinge  501  is incorporated into or attached to connector plate  204  and to top bar  212 . This allows the top bar to be pivoted as necessary to compress the spring and set the trap. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of a third embodiment of the trap setting device is depicted. In this alternative embodiment, an additional set of holes  602  is provided for receiving top bar  212 . This allows the device to be adjusted for use with varying sizes of traps. Also in this depicted embodiment, the base member  200  comprises angle iron  600 . The angle iron  600  is attached to connector plate  204  by extensions  606 , which may be formed as part of connector plate  204  or separate therefrom. The extensions  606  provide hole  604  which provides clearance for the trap to be inserted into the device. 
         [0025]    Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention, and may utilize other materials than those described where appropriate. 
         [0026]    It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.