Animal trap

• US 4,706,407 A
• Filed: 07/02/1986
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melvin M. Melton
• Original Assignee: Melvin M. Melton
• Inventors: Melton, Melvin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosby, Gene P.
• Application Number:
  US06/881,909
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 43/69, 43/107
• US Class Current: 43/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/103 for crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/12 automatically reset
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/011 Crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/04 with tipping platforms

Abstract

An animal trap especially suited for trapping rodents such as rats and other small animals, in one embodiment comprising a generally cylindrical or rectangular container having a movable top adapted for limited rotation in one direction about a pair of centrally positioned fulcrum points in response to the animal'"'"'s weight on one side of the top on which is provided a suitable bait. The top is normally positioned horizonally fully covering the interior of the container. Upon activation of the top in response to the animal'"'"'s weight on the trigger side of the top, the top rotates to a substantially vertical position causing the animal to fall into the container and permitting the top to reset itself horizontally for trapping another animal. The trap is preferably configured to cause the animal to have all of his weight on the non-trigger side of the top before it goes after the bait on the trigger side of the top. A suitable ramp may be provided leading up to the non-trigger side of the top to promote such behavior. An additional embodiment of the invention, also using the animal'"'"'s weight to activate an otherwise balanced horizontal surface, is especially configured for trapping insects such as cockroaches and the like.

Claims

1. An animal trap especially suited for catching insects and comprising:

a fully enclosed container having a top surface, a portion of said top surface having a slot exposing the trigger side of an elongated swinging door, said door having a non-trigger side that is marginally heavier than said trigger side, said trigger side and said non-trigger side being obtusely angled relative to one another and being integral to one another at a fulcrum positioned beneath said top surface, whereby the weight of an insect on said trigger side rotates said swinging door until said non-trigger side engages said top surface.