Systems and methods for trapping animals
First Claim
1. A system for trapping animals comprising:
- a cable;
an enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area by the cable;
a release mechanism comprising a pivotable member having a first leg and a second leg, the pivotable member configured to rotate about a pivot support between an engaged position and a released position, the pivotable member in the engaged position supporting the cable to hold the enclosure in a suspended position, the pivotable member in the released position releasing the cable to allow the enclosure to fall from the suspended position and enclose the trap area;
an actuator having an extended position and a retracted position, the actuator in the extended position holding the pivotable member in the engaged position, the actuator in the retracted position releasing the pivotable member to allow the pivotable member to rotate into the released position; and
a camera to allow a user to view the trap area from a remote location; and
a control system operably coupled to the release mechanism to allow the user to release the release mechanism from the remote location thereby dropping the enclosure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for trapping animals includes a cable and an enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area by the cable. A release mechanism includes a pivotable member, and the pivotable member is configured to rotate about a pivot support between an engaged position and a released position. The pivotable member in the engaged position supports the cable to hold the enclosure in a suspended position, and the pivotable member in the released position releases the cable to allow the enclosure to fall from the suspended position and enclose the trap area. The system further includes an actuator, which in an extended position holds the pivotable member in the engaged position. In a retracted position, the actuator releases the pivotable member to allow the pivotable member to rotate into the released position.
144 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for trapping animals comprising:
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a cable; an enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area by the cable; a release mechanism comprising a pivotable member having a first leg and a second leg, the pivotable member configured to rotate about a pivot support between an engaged position and a released position, the pivotable member in the engaged position supporting the cable to hold the enclosure in a suspended position, the pivotable member in the released position releasing the cable to allow the enclosure to fall from the suspended position and enclose the trap area; an actuator having an extended position and a retracted position, the actuator in the extended position holding the pivotable member in the engaged position, the actuator in the retracted position releasing the pivotable member to allow the pivotable member to rotate into the released position; and a camera to allow a user to view the trap area from a remote location; and a control system operably coupled to the release mechanism to allow the user to release the release mechanism from the remote location thereby dropping the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for trapping animals comprising:
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a support structure; an enclosure slidingly coupled to the support structure to allow the enclosure to move between a suspended position and a lowered position; a release mechanism operably coupled to the enclosure and configured to hold the enclosure in the suspended position when the release mechanism is engaged and to drop the enclosure to the lowered position when the release mechanism is released, wherein the release mechanism comprises a pivotable member having a first leg and a second leg, the pivotable member configured to rotate about a pivot support between an engaged position and a released position, the pivotable member in the engaged position holding the enclosure in the suspended position, the pivotable member in the released position releasing the enclosure to fall from the suspended position to the lowered position; a camera to allow a user to view a trap area beneath the enclosure; a control system operably coupled to the release mechanism to allow the user to release the release mechanism thereby dropping the enclosure; and an actuator having an extended position and a retracted position, the actuator in the extended position holding the pivotable member in the engaged position, the actuator in the retracted position releasing the pivotable member to allow the pivotable member to rotate into the released position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for capturing animals, the method comprising:
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providing a system comprising; a cable; an enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area by the cable; a release mechanism comprising a pivotable member having a first leg and a second leg, the pivotable member configured to rotate about a pivot support between an engaged position and a released position, the pivotable member in the engaged position supporting the cable to hold the enclosure in a suspended position, the pivotable member in the released position releasing the cable to allow the enclosure to fall from the suspended position and enclose the trap area; an actuator having an extended position and a retracted position, the actuator in the extended position holding the pivotable member in the engaged position, the actuator in the retracted position releasing the pivotable member to allow the pivotable member to rotate into the released position; and a camera to allow a user to view the trap area from a remote location; and a control system operably coupled to the release mechanism to allow the user to release the release mechanism from the remote location thereby dropping the enclosure; suspending the enclosure above the trap area; viewing the trap area from the remote location; transmitting a drop signal from the remote location to drop the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification