Systems and methods for trapping animals

• US 9,237,743 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noble Research Institute, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaskamp, Joshua, Gee, Kenneth L., Rhines, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGESS, MARC R
• Application Number:
  US14/256,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20150296766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 43/58, 43/60, 43/61, 43/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/00 Kind of animal
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/00 Traps for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/20 with dropping doors or slides
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 23/22 with dropping covers
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/19 characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45113 Animal handling, milking robot
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

A system and methods for trapping animals including an enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area. The enclosure may be movable from the suspended position to a lowered position to enclose a trap area. The system further includes a user-directed control system to remotely control the position of the enclosure in order to trap animals within the enclosure.

Claims

1. A system for trapping animals comprising:

a first enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area and is movable from a raised position to a lowered position;

a second enclosure having a plurality of vertical support members arranged about a centerline, wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are concentrically arranged relative to the centerline, and the first enclosure is configured to slideably engage the second enclosure to enable the first enclosure to rotate about the centerline to effect movement to and from the lowered position;

a release mechanism comprising a pivotable member having a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion and a pivot support located therebetween, wherein the second engagement portion is configured to releaseably engage the first enclosure when the first enclosure is in the raised position; and

an actuator, selectable between at least an engaged position and a disengaged position, to releaseably engage the pivotable member, wherein in the engaged position, the actuator engages and retains the first engagement portion of the pivotable member, and in the disengaged position, the actuator releases the first engagement portion of the pivotable member and allows the pivotable member to rotate about the pivot support,

wherein when the actuator is in the engaged position, the actuator engages the pivotable member and the pivotable member engages the first enclosure, the actuator in the disengaged position effects the release of the pivotable member from the actuator, the pivotable member pivots about the pivot point and releases the first enclosure to allow the first enclosure to rotate from the raised position to the lowered position and enclose the trap area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first enclosure comprises one or more wire panels.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second enclosure comprises one or more wire panels.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cross-brace coupled between at least two support members.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a lifting mechanism, coupled to the second enclosure, configured to be attachable to the first enclosure, wherein when attached to the first enclosure, the lifting mechanism effects a rotation of the first enclosure relative to the second enclosure to raise the first enclosure into the raised position.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a camera to allow a user to view the trap area from a remote location; and

a control system, operably coupled to the actuator, to allow the user to select between the engaged position and the disengaged position from the remote location thereby dropping the first enclosure.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a motion detector to detect motion at the trap area; and

a controller, coupled to the motion director and camera, to activate the camera upon detected motion by the motion detector and to notify the user through the control system.