Patent ID: 7216457

Claim:
A one-piece mouse trap formed of stainless spring steel for insertion through the opening in the top of an empty container, and being shiftable between cocked and released positions, comprising an elongate container-engaging element having one end thereof integral with one end of an elongate intermediate element and forming an acute angle therewith, locking means on the intermediate element, an elongate support element having one end thereof integral with the other end of said intermediate element and forming an acute angle therewith, said container-engaging element, intermediate element and support element presenting a triangular configuration when the trap is in the released position, an elongate bait support element having one end thereof integral with the other end of the support element and extending angularly therefrom, means on the bait support element defining a bait holder, and a container engaging clip integral with the other end of said container-engaging element and forming an acute angle therewith, said trap being adapted for insertion through the opening in the top of the container for positioning the container-engaging clip against the inner surface of the container top and for positioning the bait support member interiorly of the container in obstructing relation to the opening in the container top when the trap is in the release position, the bait supporting member being adapted for movement angularly away from the opening in the container top and for moving the support element interiorly of the container for locking the locking means with the container engaging clip to lock the trap in the cocked position, the support element being disposed interiorly of the container when the trap is in the cocked position, whereby when the trap is sprung, the locking means will disengage from its locked position and the bait support member will be shifted into obstruction relation with the container opening.