Patent ID: 6868633

Claim:
An improved combination spring-activated mole trap and foot bar, said mole strap includes two u-shaped members pivotally connected together, each said u-shaped member including an upper arc section and two extending legs, said legs being aligned to form two pairs of clamping jaws, said pair of clamping jaws being biased so that when released, said clamping jaws converge to kill a mole located therebetween, the mole trap also including a trigger rod pivotally attached to one clamping jaw that selectively holds both said clamping jaws in an opened, biased position when set and, automatically released when sufficiently moved by a mole, thereby causing said jaws to converge and kill a mole, the improvement comprising: a. a pair of handles longitudinally aligned and extending from said upper arc member enabling said mole trap to be held in a vertically aligned position and inserted into a mole tunnel opening; b. a limiting means for said trigger rod to prevent excessive upward rotation of the trigger rod when said clamping jaws converge; c. a pivoting trigger plate capable of engaging the end of said trigger rod, said trigger plate being z-shaped with an upper trigger plate and a lower trigger plate, said lower plate being offset from said upper trigger plate so that said lower trigger plate is placed closer to a mole burrowing under said trap when said trigger rod engages said upper trigger plate, and; d. a foot bar enabling said jaws to be manually separated by the user's foot pressed downward onto said mole trap, said foot bar including an elongated bar with an arc-engaging surface at one end, so that when said mole trap is aligned longitudinally on a support surface, said arc-engaging surface placed against said upper arc portion on one said u-shaped member and the user's foot placed on said elongated bar to force said clamping jaws apart into a set position.