Patent ID: 12245580

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Embodiments of the present application are directed to an animal trap system, method and device for safely capturing live creatures (e.g., lizards). Specifically, the creature capturing system is able to comprise an open cage formed by a floor, a ceiling, one or more side walls and a top opening, wherein the sidewalls extend vertically at an acute angle between a perimeter of the flat base and a perimeter of the ceiling and the top opening is defined by an aperture in a central portion of the ceiling, an elevated frame including a plurality of support beams extending above a height of the ceiling of the open cage and a bait container coupled with at least one of the support beams of the elevated frame such that the bait container is suspended above the top opening of the open cage. As a result, the system provides the advantage of cheaply and safely capturing multiple creatures (e.g., lizards) utilizing a single trap without the need for power or complex electronics. It should be noted that although the description below is with respect to capturing lizards, other types of creatures are able to be captured using the apparatus100in the same manner.

FIGS.1A-1Cillustrate a perspective, front and top views, respectively, of an animal trap apparatus100according to some embodiments. As shown inFIGS.1A-1C, the animal trap apparatus100comprises an enclosure or cage102, a frame104, a bait container106and one or more coupling lines108for coupling the bait container106to the frame104. In some embodiments, the apparatus100includes one or more additional bait containers106′ for positioning within the enclosure102. In some embodiments, as described in detail below, some or all of the frame104and/or coupling lines108are able to be omitted.

FIG.2illustrates a perspective view of the enclosure102according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.2, the enclosure comprises a floor202, a ceiling208having a top opening206and a plurality of side walls204extending upward from the floor202to the ceiling208at an angle99(seeFIG.1B). In some embodiments, the angle99is able to be between 40 and 50 degrees (e.g., 45 degrees) in order to enable the lizards to easily climb the outside of the enclosure102, but not scale the inside of the enclosure102or jump out of the enclosure102. In some embodiments, the length of the side walls204is 10 to 12 inches (e.g. 11 inches) and the depth of the enclosure102between the floor202and the ceiling208is 7 to 8.5 inches (e.g. 8 inches) in order to enable the lizards to climb the side walls204, but also prevent the lizards from escaping the inside of the enclosure102. Alternatively, the length of the side walls204is 7 to 15 inches and/or the depth of the enclosure102between the floor202and the ceiling208is 5 to 10.5 inches (e.g., 8 inches) in order to enable the lizards to climb the side walls204, but also prevent the lizards from escaping the inside of the enclosure102.

In some embodiments, the side walls204, ceiling208and/or floor202of the enclosure102are formed by a grid of (metal, plastic and/or wooden) bars such that the enclosure102is a cage. In such embodiments, the gaps in the grid are able to be smaller than the size of a creature such as a lizard. For example, the gaps in the grid are able to be 1 cm by 1 cm or smaller. Alternatively, the gaps in the grid are able to be 5 cm by 5 cm or smaller. Alternatively, one or more of the side walls204, ceiling208and/or floor202of the enclosure102are able to be formed by plastic, metal and/or wood sheets. In such embodiments, the sheets are able to have one or more holes (that are smaller than the size of a creature (e.g., lizard)) to facilitate the climbing, by the lizards and/or viewing of the lizards within the enclosure102. Alternatively, or in addition, the sheets are able to be continuous such that they do not have holes/gaps. In such embodiments, the material forming one or more of the sheets is able to be partially or fully transparent such that the captured lizards are able to be viewed, within the enclosure102and the lizards are able to view any bait positioned within the enclosure.

Although as shown inFIG.2, the floor202, ceiling208and/or top opening206have a rectangular perimeter, different shaped perimeters are able to be used (e.g., circular, ovular, square, triangular, or any other shape). Further, although as shown inFIG.2the perimeters of the floor202, ceiling208and/or top opening206are the same, two or more of the floor202, ceiling208and/or top opening206are able to have differently shaped perimeters. In particular, the top opening206is able to have a differently shaped perimeter to that of the ceiling208and/or floor202in order to ensure the lizards cannot reach the bait container106. For example, the top opening206is able to have a perimeter that matches the bottom perimeter of the bait container106to ensure that the lizards are kept an equal distance from the bottom of the bait container106regardless of which side of the top opening206they are on. In some embodiments, the junction between one or more of the side walls204and/or between the side walls204and the ceiling208is able to be rounded such that those walls form a seamless ramp from the floor202to the ceiling208and/or top opening206.

In some embodiments, the enclosure102is able to comprise an inward lip (not shown) that extends from the entire perimeter of the top opening206into the cavity of the enclosure102in order to block/hinder the lizards from being able to climb the inside of the enclosure102and back out of the top opening206. For example, the inward lip is able to extend in a direction perpendicular to the ceiling208(e.g., downward) into the cavity. Alternatively, the inward lip is able to extend at an acute angle with respect to the ceiling208such that it points in a direction away from the middle of the enclosure. In some embodiments, the floating edge of the inward lip is able to be sharp, serrated and/or pointed (e.g., having sharpened bar tips or a sharpened sheet edge) in order to further deter climbing over the lip. In some embodiments, the length of the lip as measured from the perimeter of the top opening206is less than or equal to a fifth of the height of the enclosure102(e.g., the distance between the floor202and the ceiling208). Alternatively, the lip is able to be omitted.

FIG.3illustrates a perspective view of the frame104according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.3, the frame104comprises a base formed by a plurality of base support beams302, one or more elevated beams306and one or more vertical beams304extending up from the base and coupling the base beams302with the elevated beams306. Although as shown inFIG.3, the frame104comprises four base beams302, four vertical beams304and four elevated beams306forming a rectangular prism, more or less base, vertical and/or elevated beams are able to be used and the frame104is able to form other shapes (e.g., cylinder, triangular prism, or other shape). In some embodiments, the frame104is 30 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 18 inches tall. Alternatively, the frame104is able to have other dimensions.

In some embodiments, the size and shape of the base of the frame104substantially matches the size and shape of the floor202of the enclosure302(e.g., slightly larger such that the enclosure102fits within the base of the frame104). The base of the frame104is able to have bottom and/or lips that support and/or couple to the bottom and perimeter of the floor202of the enclosure102to hold the enclosure in place within the frame104. Alternatively, the base of the frame104is able to be omitted and the frame104is able to be positioned around and/or above the enclosure102with the elevated beams306being supported by the vertical beams304. In such embodiments, the vertical beams304are able to be coupled to or not coupled to the enclosure102. For example, the vertical beams304are able to be coupled to one or more points of the perimeter of the floor202of the enclosure102, coupled to the side walls204and/or ceiling208of the enclosure102(and extending upward therefrom), or a combination thereof. Additionally, as shown, inFIG.3, the elevated beams306are able to comprise one or more coupling lines108for coupling the bait container106such that it is suspended over the top opening206. Alternatively, one or more of the lines108are able to be replaced or supplemented with elevated beams306that extend above the top opening206and coupled to the bait container106such that the elevated beams306directly support the bait container106over the top opening206.

FIG.4illustrates a perspective view of the bait container106according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.4, the bait container is able to have a rigid body402that forms a housing around an inner cavity404for receiving the bait. The body402is able to include a top access door406that when opened provides access to the inner cavity404and then is able to be closed to prevent the bait from escaping. Further, body402of the bait container106is able to comprise a handle408for coupling to the frame104(and holding the container106), one or more transparent walls410and/or air holes412that enable the bait to be viewed, heard and/or smelled from within the bait container106.

As shown inFIGS.1A-1C, the enclosure102is able to be positioned within the frame104and the coupling lines108are able to couple the bait container106to the elevated beams306of the frame104such that the bait container106is suspended above a top opening206of the enclosure102. In some embodiments, the bottom of the bait container106is 2 to 4 inches (e.g., 3 inches) higher than the ceiling20of the enclosure102and/or a lateral distance between an outer perimeter of the bottom of the bait container106and the perimeter of the top opening206is 2 to 4 inches (e.g., 3 inches). Alternatively, the bottom of the bait container106is able to be 1 to 10 inches higher than the ceiling208of the enclosure102and/or a lateral distance between an outer perimeter of the bottom of the bait container108and the perimeter of the top opening206is able to be 1 to 10 inches. Alternatively, the coupling lines108are able to be omitted and one or more of the elevated support beams306are able to protrude over the enclosure102and/or top opening206such that the bait container106is able to couple directly to the elevated beams in order to be suspended over the top opening206. As described above, the base beams302of the frame104is able to support at least a portion of the bottom and or perimeter of the floor202of the enclosure102such that the enclosure102moves with the frame104.

In some embodiments, the enclosure102is able to be coupled to the frame104(e.g., welded, glued, or otherwise affixed) and/or is able to fit snugly on top of the bottom of the base beams302and/or within the vertical beams104and/or within a perimeter lip of the base beams302. Alternatively, the coupling lines108, the vertical beams304, the elevated beams306and/or the entire frame104are able to be omitted and the bait container106is able to be positioned and/or coupled the floor202of the enclosure102. In such embodiments, the bait container106is able to be positioned within the enclosure102(and/or coupled to the floor202of the enclosure102) such that it is beneath the top opening206of the enclosure.

In operation, the enclosure102and frame104are able to be positioned in a desired location. After the bait container106is filled with bait and suspended over the top opening206(e.g., via the coupling lines108), lizards scale the side walls204of the enclosure102and fall into the top opening206as they attempt to catch the bait. The lizards are then unable to escape the enclosure102due to the angle99of the side walls204with respect to the floor202of the enclosure. In some embodiments where the frame104is omitted, the enclosure102is able to be placed in the desired location with the bait container106positioned within and/or coupled to the floor202of the enclosure102(e.g., below the top opening206). Then, again, after the bait container106is filled with bait, lizards scale the side walls204of the enclosure102and fall into the top opening206as they attempt to catch the bait.

FIG.5illustrates a method of operating an animal trap apparatus for safely capturing live creatures (e.g., lizards) according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.5, a user positions the animal trap apparatus in a desired location having a number of creatures at the step502. The user couples the bait container to at least one of the support beams such that the bait container is suspended above the top opening of the open cage at the step504. The user places bait into the bait container at the step506. In some embodiments, the method further comprises positioning a secondary bait container positioned within the open cage and placing bait in the secondary bait container. As a result, the method provides the advantage of enabling the animal trap apparatus to be easily moved into various desired positions for attracting and capturing multiple live creatures such as lizards.

Thus, it is clear that the animal trap apparatus, method and device described herein has numerous advantages. Specifically, the animal trap system100is able to comprise an open cage formed by a floor, a ceiling, one or more side walls and a top opening, wherein the sidewalls extend vertically at an acute angle between a perimeter of the flat base and a perimeter of the ceiling and the top opening is defined by an aperture in a central portion of the ceiling, an elevated frame including a plurality of support beams extending above a height of the ceiling of the open cage and a bait container coupled with at least one of the support beams of the elevated frame such that the bait container is suspended above the top opening of the open cage. As a result, the system provides the advantage of cheaply and safely capturing multiple creatures, such as lizards, utilizing a single trap without the need for power or complex electronics.

The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are able to be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although angles ranging from 40 to 50 (e.g., 45) degrees are described herein as they relate to being parallel with the ground or the base of the frame and/or floor of the cage other angles are able to be used (e.g. 25 to 65). Further, again, although the apparatus, method and device are described herein with respect to capturing lizards, the capturing of other types of small animals is contemplated.