ANIMAL TRAP WITH SIMPLIFIED, HIGH SPEED OPERATION
First Claim
1. An animal trap comprising:
- a cage including a top, sides, a front door, a rear, and a bottom to form an enclosure for an animal, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure and a roof facing an exterior 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 animal access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block animal exit from the enclosure;
a hold-close assembly connecting the ceiling to the door to selectively lock the door in the lowered position, the hold-close assembly movable to release the door from a locked condition and further movable to bias and raise the door; and
a remote interface structure having a linkage to the door through a connecting link and through the hold-close assembly, the link extending rearward from the hold close assembly to the remote interface structure, the remote interface structure forcibly movable horizontally adjacent to the roof between a first position and a second position wherein horizontal motion of the remote interface structure causes the door to rise from the lowered position to the raised position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A live animal trap with improvements to ease of use, reliability and cost is disclosed. A simple repeatable one-hand set action 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 rear door is fitted next to a bait location to allow near vertical access for bait placement and unattended, unobstructed release. A changeable torque arm 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. The front door can be opened and set by a remotely located rooftop interface.
1 Citation
19 Claims
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1. 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 for an animal, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure and a roof facing an exterior 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 animal access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block animal exit from the enclosure; a hold-close assembly connecting the ceiling to the door to selectively lock the door in the lowered position, the hold-close assembly movable to release the door from a locked condition and further movable to bias and raise the door; and a remote interface structure having a linkage to the door through a connecting link and through the hold-close assembly, the link extending rearward from the hold close assembly to the remote interface structure, the remote interface structure forcibly movable horizontally adjacent to the roof between a first position and a second position wherein horizontal motion of the remote interface structure causes the door to rise from the lowered position to the raised position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An animal trap comprising:
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a cage including a top, sides, a front opening, a front door, a rear, and a bottom to form an enclosure for an animal, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure and a roof facing an exterior of the enclosure; the front door pivotally attached to the cage at a door pivot location including a raised set position and a lowered position, the set position exposing an interior of the cage to allow animal access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block animal exit from the enclosure; a hold-close assembly pivotally attached to the cage at a location spaced from the door pivot location, the hold-close assembly connected to the door to selectively lock the door in the lowered position, the hold-close assembly movable to release the door from a locked condition; and a remote interface structure outside of the enclosure positioned rearward of the front opening, a connecting link extending between the hold-close assembly and the remote interface structure, the remote interface structure movable laterally to cause the connecting link to also move laterally, the respective lateral motions converted at the hold-close assembly to a vertical motion of the hold-close assembly to cause the hold-close assembly to lift the door toward the raised position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An animal trap comprising:
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a cage including a top, sides, a front opening, a front door, a rear, and a bottom to form an enclosure for an animal, the top including a ceiling facing an interior of the enclosure and a roof facing an exterior of the enclosure; the front door pivotally attached at the ceiling including a raised set position and a lowered position, the raised set position exposing an interior of the cage to allow animal access into the enclosure, the lowered position confining the interior of the cage to block animal exit from the enclosure; a hold-close assembly including a lift lever and a lower link, the lift lever is pivotally attached at a first pivot to the cage at the front opening of the cage at the top of the cage, the lift lever pivotally connected to the lower link at a second pivot rearward of the front opening, the lower link further being connected to the door, and the lift lever extends downward from the top of the cage toward the door in the lowered position of the door; and a rib of the lift lever positioned below the first pivot and above the second pivot in the lowered position of the door, the rib forming a lift lever grip including a rear of the rib usable to forcibly rotate the lift lever outward from the front opening and upward to cause the door to move to the door raised set position. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification