Abstract:
A live animal trap is described that uses a bucket as an animal container. A trap assembly is attached to the open end of the bucket. The trap assembly has a frame with a pivotally mounted door that is released when a food reservoir is moved towards the open end of the bucket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to Brewer, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/542,135, entitled “Live Animal Trap Assembly and Bucket Combination” filed on Feb. 05, 2004 and is incorporated by reference herein, with priority claimed for all commonly disclosed subject matter.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to the field of animal traps for live capture of animals.  
       RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Animal traps of various kinds have been used throughout the history of man. In recent years there has been an increased need for traps that are used to capture animals for relocation and other purposes. The description of one such trap is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,327, issued Aug. 26, 2003 of Stoico. Other sources containing descriptions of animal traps include catalogs, manufacturer&#39;s literature, etc. that are available at sporting good stores and sports shows. The price of traps is variable, but it is desirable to keep the price as low as possible and at the same time still have a functional trap. The invention of Stoico has two doors, multiple actuation arms and springs and is fairly complex. Many of the traps in catalogs and at shows are complex and have a corresponding high cost. What is needed is a less expensive and less complex animal trap.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0004]     Generally, the present invention provides a new apparatus and method for combining an inexpensive conventional bucket with a novel attachable trap assembly. In one embodiment the trap assembly mounts to the bucket with screws or rivets. The trap assembly has a gravity-actuated door that is released by a trigger rod located within the bucket and extending through a frame. The bucket rests on its side and is partially supported by the trap assembly.  
         [0005]     Various features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates an animal trap with a trap assembly coupled to a container.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates details of the trap assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bucket that is combined with the parts shown in  FIG. 2  to form the animal trap of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     The present invention generally pertains to animal traps and uses a conventional heavy-duty bucket or other container in combination with a trap assembly  100 . The trap assembly may be fabricated with a variety of materials and is adapted to couple to a container such as a bucket as will be seen. In general, animal traps are dimensioned to correspond with the size of the animal to be trapped and a variety of baits may be used to attract the animal. Because a heavy-duty bucket, such as a high density polyethylene (“HDPE”) bucket, is generally inexpensive and tough enough to contain animals HDPE buckets are preferred as the container that is attached to the trap assembly of the present invention. Preferably the trap assembly is made of metal, chosen for high strength and low cost. Environmental factors must also be considered when selecting materials for the animal trap  100  described herein. For example, materials that are toxic or harmful in some way are considered undesirable. Any materials that have the strength and durability to contain an animal would fall within the scope of the present invention. Containers may have a variety of shapes, such as a cylindrical shape, a rectangular shape, and other known shapes.  
         [0011]     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown an animal trap  200  comprised of a bucket  6  and a trap assembly  100 . The bucket  6  is shown with part of its side removed for illustration purposes. The bucket  6  may be viewed more clearly in  FIG. 3 . The trap assembly  100  is attached to the bucket  6  and is comprised of a door assembly  5  and a rod assembly  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]     In one embodiment the door assembly  5  has a door  10  attached to a frame  11  with hinges  12 . The door  10 , when not held in place by rod assembly  20 , may pivot between a horizontal position (the open position) as shown in  FIG. 1  and a vertical position (the closed position) as shown in  FIG. 2 . The frame  11  has an opening, preferably with a square shape, that is dimensioned slightly larger than the door  10  so that when the door is in the closed position it fits within the frame opening. Preferably the door has perforations, sized to allow fresh air in and small enough keep an animal contained. The frame  11  in one embodiment has a foot  18  on its bottom edge that rests on the ground and provides a stabilizing support for the animal trap  200 .  
         [0013]     The door  10  of the door assembly  5  is shown in a horizontal or open position and is held in the open position by a hook  30 , generally J-shaped, on one end of a support rod  4 . The door is typically in either a fully open position as shown in  FIG. 1  or in a fully closed position as shown in  FIG. 2 . A carrying handle  9  is attached to the top edge of the frame  11 .  
         [0014]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a door lock bar  3  is shown near the top of the frame  11  and positioned under the support rod  4 . When the support rod  4  is moved in the x-direction (horizontally outward) the hook  30  of the support rod  4  no longer supports the door and gravity causes the door  10  to drop or swing down to the closed position. When the door  10  is in the closed position, gravity also pulls the lock bar  3  downward until it rests against bar stops  14 . The bar stops  14  limit the vertical drop of the lock bar  3  and thereby allow the lock bar to stay in a position that holds the door  10  closed. When the door  10  is closed and secured by the lock bar  3 , an animal is securely contained within the animal trap  200 . In one embodiment, the lock bar  3  and the bar stop  14  are attached together (when the door  10  is closed) with ties, twisted wire or some other well-known reversible connector. The handle  9  on the top of the door assembly  5  is provided as a grip for carrying the animal trap  200 . The door assembly  5  is preferably attached to the bucket  9  by screws, rivets, or other well-known means using the holes  7  on a flange  16 . The flange  16  extends horizontally from the back of the frame  11  (in the negative x-direction). The flange  16  preferably is dimensioned to fit snuggly within interior walls of the bucket  9  or other shaped container.  
         [0015]     The rod assembly  20  is used to hold the door open using the hook on one end of the support rod  4 . The rod assembly  20  comprises the support rod  4 , an adjustment tube  2  and a trigger rod  1 . The trigger rod  1  is essentially L-shaped with one arm of the L oriented horizontally and the other arm oriented vertically. The adjustment tube  2  connects the support rod  4  to the trigger rod  1  with set screws. The adjustment tube  2  is a hollow cylinder whose interior diameter is dimensioned to accept one end of the support rod  4  and one end of the trigger rod  1 . The set screws extending with in the adjustment tube allow for adjustment of the horizontal length of the rod assembly as would be understood by those skilled in the art.  
         [0016]     A food reservoir  8  is attached to the bottom end of the vertical leg of the trigger rod  1 . The food reservoir  8  holds bait to attract an animal and is dimensioned and shaped to move along the downward side of the bucket  9 . Preferably, the food reservoir  8  has a radius on its bottom edge that is about the same as the radius of the bucket  6 . When an animal enters the animal trap and pulls or moves the food reservoir  8  in the x-direction (outward direction) thereby moving the rod assembly  20 , the hook on the support rod  4  no longer supports the door  10 . When the door  10  pivots to a vertical position as seen in  FIG. 2  then the door lock bar  3  drops downward thereby securing the door  10  in the closed position as described above.  
         [0017]     Details of the door assembly  5  and the rod assembly  20  are shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , the door  10  is shown in the closed position. The lock bar  3  preferably is a rod with a channel  40  on each end. In one embodiment, as shown, the channels  40  are formed by bending J-shapes in each end of the lock bar  3 . The channels are dimensioned to allow the lock bar  3  to slide freely up and down the vertical outside edges of the frame  11 . It is generally desirable that the lock bar  3  only be removable when pushed upward beyond the top edge of the frame  11 . The bar stops  14  prevent removal of the lock bar  40  from the bottom of the frame  11 .  
         [0018]     It should be further emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.