Device for the control of mice and other rodents
First Claim
1. A device for entrapping animals, said device comprising:
- a housing defining a first openable end for permitting an animal to enter said housing;
said housing comprising means for selectively closing said first end of said housing;
a supporting element for movably mounting said housing thereon, said housing including means cooperating with said supporting element for mounting said housing at a preselected, inclined angular orientation relative to said supporting element such that said supporting element engages said means for closing said first end of said housing;
said housing and said supporting element being separable from each other;
said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing being actuated by predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element for disengaging said supporting element from said means for closing said first end of said housing;
said housing, said supporting element, and said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing being operatively associated such that the weight of an animal entering said housing through said first end thereof causes said predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element to disengage said supporting element from said means for closing said first end of said housing to actuate said means for closing said first end of said housing.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for controlling mice and other rodents includes a tubular housing having an opened rear end, a closed front end and a spring element for selectively closing the rear end. The housing is mounted at an inclined angle relative to a supporting platform which opposes the force of the spring element and maintains the rear end of the housing in its opened position when the housing is mounted on the supporting platform. An attractant induces mice or other rodents into the housing which, as a result of the weight of the rodent, pivots relative to the supporting platform resulting in disengagement of the rear end of the housing and the supporting platform. Upon disengagement, the spring element closes the rear end of the housing entrapping the rodent therein. Breathing openings covered by a removable seal can be provided in the housing to dispose of the trapped rodent in a living state.
14 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A device for entrapping animals, said device comprising:
-
a housing defining a first openable end for permitting an animal to enter said housing; said housing comprising means for selectively closing said first end of said housing; a supporting element for movably mounting said housing thereon, said housing including means cooperating with said supporting element for mounting said housing at a preselected, inclined angular orientation relative to said supporting element such that said supporting element engages said means for closing said first end of said housing;
said housing and said supporting element being separable from each other;said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing being actuated by predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element for disengaging said supporting element from said means for closing said first end of said housing; said housing, said supporting element, and said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing being operatively associated such that the weight of an animal entering said housing through said first end thereof causes said predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element to disengage said supporting element from said means for closing said first end of said housing to actuate said means for closing said first end of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device for entrapping animals, said device comprising:
-
a housing defining a first openable end for permitting an animal to enter said housing; said housing comprising means for selectively closing said first end of said housing; a supporting element for movably mounting said housing thereon,said housing including means cooperating with said supporting element for mounting said housing at a preselected, inclined angular orientation relative to said supporting element; said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing including a spring operatively associated with said housing proximate to said first end of said housing for exerting a resilient force in a direction to close said first end;
.said supporting element including means for opposing the resilient force of said spring to maintain said first end of said housing in an opened position when said housing is mounted in said inclined angular orientation relative to said supporting element; said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing being actuated by predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element; said housing, said supporting element, and said means for selectively closing said first end of said housing being operatively associated such that the weight of an animal entering said housing through said first end thereof causes said predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element to actuate said means for closing said first end of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A device for entrapping animals, said device comprising:
-
a longitudinally extending housing defining a first openable end for permitting an animal to enter into said housing; a spring operatively associated with said housing and positioned proximate to said first end for selectively closing said first end of said housing as a result of resilient forces applied by said spring on said housing; a supporting element for movably mounting said housing thereon, said supporting element comprising means for engaging said spring and opposing the resilient forces exerted by said spring for maintaining said first end of said housing opened when said housing is mounted on said supporting element;
said housing being separable from said supporting element;said housing and said spring being configured such that said housing extends in an upwardly inclined orientation relative to said supporting element when said housing is mounted to said supporting element, said housing defining a pivot axis for movement thereof relative to said supporting element as a result of the weight of an animal entering into said housing through said first end; said housing, said spring, and said supporting element being operatively associated and arranged such that predetermined movement of said housing relative to said supporting element causes said spring to disengage and be removed from said supporting element for actuating said spring to close said first end of said housing for entrapping an animal therein.
-
-
16. A method for entrapping animals within a housing, said method comprising the steps of:
-
removably mounting a housing having a first open end defined thereon to a supporting element at a predetermined, inclined angular orientation relative to said supporting element such that the first open end of said housing is engaged on said supporting element and is maintained in an opened position; moving said inclined housing relative to said supporting element as a result of the weight of an animal entering said housing through said first open end; and closing said open end of said housing after said housing moves a predetermined distance relative to said supporting element to disengage said housing from said supporting element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification