Patent ID: 7610716

Claim:
A method of collapsing a collapsible trap comprising: providing a trap comprising an upper resilient hoop, a lower resilient hoop, one or more gates to allow for entry by animals into said trap, and two or more detachable hinged connectors which are attached to and retain said upper hoop and said lower hoop in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship when said trap is extended, each of said connectors also being attached to said one or more gates to allow for entry by animals into said trap, said one or more gates arranged perpendicularly to said upper hoop and said lower hoop when said trap is extended; detaching said two or more connectors from one of said upper hoop and said lower hoop; collapsing said upper hoop directly on said lower hoop such that said upper hoop and said lower hoop form a substantially coaxial arrangement; compressing opposite sides of said substantially coaxial arrangement towards one another to form a substantially hourglass configuration; continuing compressing said opposite sides until said opposite sides contact one another, forming a substantially lemniscate structure comprising a first lobe and a second lobe; twisting said first lobe 180° with respect to said second lobe about a longitudinal axis of said substantially lemniscate structure; and folding said first lobe onto said second lobe about a centre of said substantially lemniscate structure.