Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a low profile tilt-ramp trap. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a typical prior art low profile tilt-ramp trap. This trap is of the type manufactured under the trademark Tin Cat® by Wood Stream Corporation, Lititz, Pa. 17543. The prior art trap is designated generally by the numeral  100 . It includes a box  102  which encloses a trap compartment  104 . Providing entrance into the trap compartment  104  is a mouse hole  106 . 
     Within the box  102  is a tube  108  having a tube entrance opening  110  adjacent the mouse hole  106  and having a tube exit opening  112  providing communication into the trap compartment  104 . 
     Within the tube  108  is a two piece tilt ramp  114  comprising a first ramp  116  and a second ramp  120 . First ramp  116  is pivoted about an axis or pin  118  and second ramp  120  is pivoted about a second pivot point or pin  122 . Second ramp  120  includes a counter weight  124  which biases the second ramp to the position shown in FIG.  5 . The first ramp  116  includes an entrance end  128  opposite from the exit end  130 . The second ramp  120  includes an entrance end  132  and an exit end  134 . 
     A mouse entering the trap enters through the mouse hole  106  and proceeds up the first ramp  116  while the ramp  116  is in its position shown in FIG.  5 . As the mouse proceeds to the second ramp  120 , the weight of the mouse causes the second ramp  120  to tilt to the position shown in FIG.  6 . This articulates the first ramp  120  with the second ramp  116 , and causes the exit end  130  of the first ramp  116  to swing upwardly and engage a downwardly extending flap  126  formed integrally with the tube  108 . 
     A mouse  138  which is poised on the second ramp  120  causes the ramp to tilt downwardly and hold the first ramp  116  against the downwardly extending flap  126 . This closes the tube to prevent any exit of the mouse  138  from the tube. The only outlet for the mouse  138  is through the tube exit opening  112 . 
     One disadvantage of the prior art device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 relates to the space  136  below the exit end  134  of second ramp  120 . As several mice are accumulated in the trap compartment  104  it is possible that a mouse can enter into the space  136 . Then when a new mouse proceeds through the mouse opening  106  to rest upon the second ramp  120 , the mouse below prevents the second ramp  120  from moving downwardly. Thus the trap looses its ability to trap additional mice. 
     Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved low profile tilt-ramp trap. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved trap which prevents mice already within the trap from moving beneath the tilt ramp to prevent other mice from entering the trap. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved low profile tilt-ramp trap that has a transparent lid for viewing the contents of the trap. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved low profile tilt-ramp trap which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and efficient in operation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects may be achieved by a rodent trap comprising a box having a top wall, a bottom wall, end walls, a front wall and a rear wall enclosing a trap compartment. At least a first mouse opening is in one of the front, rear, or side walls of the box. An elongated tube is within the trap compartment. The tube has an open entrance end in communication with the first mouse opening and has an open exit end providing communication into the trap compartment. The tube has a vertical wall partially covering the exit opening of the tube for permitting a mouse to enter the trap compartment from the tube. 
     An elongated tilt ramp is within the tube and includes an entrance end adjacent the mouse opening of the box and an exit end adjacent the exit opening of the tube. A hinge pivotally mounts the tilt ramp within the tube for tilting movement about a hinge axis from a first position wherein the entrance end is adjacent the bottom wall of the box and the mouse opening and the exit end is elevated above the entrance end, to a second position wherein the exit end is lowered from the first position. 
     A flap is provided on the exit end of the tilt ramp. The flap is in covering relation over the exit opening of the tube when the tilt ramp is in its first position and is removed from covering relation over the exit opening of the tube when the tilt ramp is in its second position. A bias member is connected to the tilt ramp and biases the tilt ramp to its first position. The bias member will yield in response to the weight of a mouse adjacent the exit end of the tilt ramp to permit the tilt ramp to move to its second position. The bias member may be a weight, a spring, or any other device that raises the tilt ramp to its first position. 
     According to another feature of the invention, a panel partially blocks the exit opening of the entrance tube and prevents mice from moving below the exit end of the tilt ramp when the tilt ramp is in its first position. 
     According to another feature of the invention the flap on the exit end of tilt ramp cooperates with the panel to block the exit opening of the tube when the tilt ramp is in its first position. 
     According to another feature of the invention the box includes a top wall hinged to move from a closed position enclosing the trap compartment to an open position providing access to the trap compartment. The entrance tube and the tilt ramp are carried by the top wall during movement of the top wall between its open and closed positions. The top wall may be transparent to permit viewing of the contents of the trap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the low profile tilt-ramp trap of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the trap of FIG. 1, showing the lid hinged to its open position. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the tilt ramps in their lowered position. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to view  3  and  4  respectively, showing prior art construction of prior art tilt-ramp traps. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings the numeral  10  generally designates the low profile tilt-ramp trap of the present invention. Trap  10  is in the form of a box  11  having a bottom wall  12  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ), a front wall  14 , a rear wall  16 , an end wall  18 , an opposite end wall  20 , and a top wall  22  that is hinged for opening and closing. These walls form an enclosed trap compartment  24 . Three ribs  70  are provided to add strength. Also a pair of lift tabs  68  facilitate opening of top wall  22 . A mouse opening  26  is provided in one or more of the walls,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . In the drawings there are two mouse openings  26  shown in the opposite end walls  18 ,  20 . There are also a plurality of insect openings  64 . 
     A pair of tubes  30  are mounted to the under side of the top wall  22  as can be seen in FIG.  2 . When the top wall  22  is closed the tubes  30  are in registered alignment with the two mouse openings  26 . 
     Each tube comprises a tube front wall  32 , a tube back wall  34 , and a tube floor  36  and a tube top wall  37  which are attached to the top wall  22  to form a square shaped tube having a tube entrance opening  38  and a tube exit opening  40 . A tube end panel  42  extends upwardly at the tube exit opening, and forms a partial block of the tube exit opening  40 . A tube closure flap  43  angles downwardly and forwardly from top wall  37  toward tube entrance opening  38 . The bottom walls  36  of the two tube openings each are provided with a plurality of cleaning openings  66  for cleaning and letting in light. 
     Within each of the tubes  30  is a tilt ramp  44  having an entrance end  46  and an exit end  48 . Exit end  48  is provided with a downwardly extending flap or flange  50 . A pivot or hinge  52  is provided by a pivot pin  54  and enables the tilt ramp  44  to pivot about a horizontal axis. The entrance end  46  of tilt ramp  44  is provided with a counter weight or biasing member  56  which urges the tilt ramps  44  to the position shown in FIG.  4 . 
     In this position the downwardly extending flaps or flanges  50  cooperate with the upwardly extending tube end panels  42  to completely block the tube exit opening  40 . This will prevent any mice that are within the trap compartment  24  from entering the tubes  30 . It also will prevent the mice from moving beneath the exit ends  48  of the tilt ramps  44 . This overcomes the prior art problem where mice can move beneath the tilt ramp and prevent the tilt ramp from yielding to an additional mouse entering the trap. With the present invention the mice within compartment  24  cannot move beneath the tilt ramp  44  and therefore they do not prevent other mice from entering the trap. 
     The trap may be provided with a glue board  58  (FIG. 2) to which mice may become attached. A closure plate  60  is pivoted about closure pivot  62  for pivotal movement from an open position (FIG. 4) to a closed position (FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of the tilt ramps  44  before a mouse enters the trap. The mouse first enters the mouse opening  26  and proceeds up one of the ramps  44  which are in the position shown in FIG.  4 . As the mouse  138  approaches the exit end  48  of the trap, the weight of the mouse causes the tilt ramp  44  to pivot to the position shown in FIG.  3 . This pivotal movement causes the closure plate  60  to pivot upwardly to engage the closure flap  43  and prevent the mouse  138  from retreating or exiting from the tube entrance opening  38 . In this position the downwardly extending flap or flange  50  slides over the upwardly extending panel  42  so as to open the exit opening  40  of the tube  30 , and the mouse  138  may enter the trap compartment  24 . As soon as the mouse steps down from the ramp  44 , the counter weight  56  causes the ramp to move again to its initial position shown in FIG.  4 . In this position the flap  50  and the panel  42  block the space  136  beneath the ramp  44  so as to prevent mice from moving beneath the ramp  44  and preventing blocking the entrance of other mice into the trap. The top wall  22  of box  11  is shown to be opaque, but it is also possible to make the top wall transparent so as to enable viewing of the contents of trap  10 . 
     In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention ass further defined in the following claims.

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