Animal trap with simplified, high speed operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An animal trap for enclosing the animal, comprising:
- a cage including a top, sides, a front door, a rear, and a bottom to form an enclosure, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure;
the front door pivotally attached at the ceiling including a raised position and a lowered position, the raised position exposing an interior of the cage to allow access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block exit from the enclosure;
a hold-close assembly connecting the ceiling to the door including a two-bar link with an upper link pivotally attached at the ceiling at a separate and spaced first location from the pivotal attachment of the front door, the upper link pivotally attached to a lower link at second movable location, and the lower link is pivotally attached to the door at a third movable location; and
a folded condition of the hold-close assembly with the lower link of the hold-close assembly being disposed below the ceiling to extend adjacent to the upper link in the door raised position, the upper link extending rearward from the first location toward the front door pivotal attachment, the lower link extending rearward from the third movable location, the links of the hold close assembly being released to cause the second movable location to move forward as the door moves toward the lowered position including an unfolded position of the hold close assembly wherein the hold close assembly extends from the ceiling down to a lower location of the door.
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Abstract
A live animal trap with improvements to ease of use, reliability and cost is disclosed. A simple repeatable one-hand set action unlocks both a primary and a secondary lock and lifts a front entry door. A hold-close assembly trips to secure the front door without sliding motions. A low friction latch and trip links thereto provide consistent set action resistant to shaking and undesired trip. A changeable torque arm and preload provides adjustable trip force. A trip tray is spaced above a floor to require a small set-up motion to access the bait and further ensure trip.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An animal trap for enclosing the animal, comprising:
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a cage including a top, sides, a front door, a rear, and a bottom to form an enclosure, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure; the front door pivotally attached at the ceiling including a raised position and a lowered position, the raised position exposing an interior of the cage to allow access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block exit from the enclosure; a hold-close assembly connecting the ceiling to the door including a two-bar link with an upper link pivotally attached at the ceiling at a separate and spaced first location from the pivotal attachment of the front door, the upper link pivotally attached to a lower link at second movable location, and the lower link is pivotally attached to the door at a third movable location; and a folded condition of the hold-close assembly with the lower link of the hold-close assembly being disposed below the ceiling to extend adjacent to the upper link in the door raised position, the upper link extending rearward from the first location toward the front door pivotal attachment, the lower link extending rearward from the third movable location, the links of the hold close assembly being released to cause the second movable location to move forward as the door moves toward the lowered position including an unfolded position of the hold close assembly wherein the hold close assembly extends from the ceiling down to a lower location of the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An animal trap for enclosing the animal, comprising:
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a cage including a top, sides, a front door at a front cage opening, a rear, and a bottom, to form an enclosure, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure; the front door pivotally attached at the ceiling including a raised position extending from the pivotal attachment and a lowered position angled toward the bottom, the raised position exposing an interior of the cage to allow access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block exit from the enclosure; a primary lock at the cage front, the primary lock including a hold-close structure, the primary lock moving with the front door as the front door moves toward the lowered door position, the primary lock including a link to the door to hold the door in the closed position; a secondary lock to selectively restrain the primary lock in a locked condition, the secondary lock having a separate mechanical action from the primary lock wherein the front door cannot freely move from the lowered position to the raised position by exclusive action upon the primary lock; and the primary lock and the secondary lock each having an interface with the respective interfaces being at the front cage opening and spaced apart by less than about 8 inches wherein the primary and secondary locks are operable together and simultaneously during a front door raising action. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An animal trap, comprising:
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a cage including a top, sides, a front door, a rear, and a bottom to form an enclosure, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure; the front door pivotally attached at the ceiling including a raised position and a lowered position, the raised position exposing an interior of the cage, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage; a hold-close assembly connecting the ceiling to the front door having bar links including an upper link pivotally attached to the ceiling at a separate and spaced first location from the pivotal attachment of the front door, the upper link pivotally attached to a lower link at second movable location, and the lower link is pivotally attached to the door at a third movable location; a biasing member for actuating the hold-close assembly to bias the front door into the lowered position; a lock slidably engaging the hold-close assembly; and the lock including a detent segment that selectively engages the hold-close assembly to lock the hold-close assembly and the front door in the lowered door position. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification