Retracting tunnel rodent trap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11185066-B2
Application number	US-201916724219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2019
Priority date	Jan 10, 2013
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

A rodent trap covered base defines an enclosed interior accessible through a sliding plastic tunnel defining a passageway for rodents into the interior. The tunnel has a projecting strike member, and is biased by an underlying spring to a retracted position. A trigger engaging member extends from the tunnel to be retained by a catch on a trigger mounted to the base. When a rodent passes through the tunnel into the base interior, it is directed by barriers towards a rodent attracting bait. To reach the bait, the rodent must press against a pivotably mounted trigger, thereby dislodging the trigger from the trigger engaging member which releases the tunnel to be driven by the spring to retract along parallel tracks to bring the strike plate forcibly against the rodent within the trap, usually killing it, and closing the trap, which is then presented covered within the trap for disposal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rodent trap comprising:
a base having a base floor, an interior wall that defines a base interior, and an opening that communicates with the base interior;
a strike member mounted to the base for linear travel between a first extended position and a second retracted position, the strike member being mounted on a top of the base floor, the strike member comprising a tunnel element extending through the opening in the interior wall, the tunnel element defining at least one entryway allowing access to the base interior;
a biasing member arranged to bias the strike member toward the retracted position; and
a trigger coupled to the rodent trap, the entire trigger being exterior of the strike member when the strike member is in the first extended position and the second retracted position, the trigger having a trigger catch arranged to hold the strike member in the first extended position, wherein, when the trigger catch dislodges from an outside surface of the strike member, the strike member linearly travels to the second retracted position.

2. The rodent trap of claim 1 , further comprising a trigger spring biasing the trigger towards the strike member.

3. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a platform projecting beyond the base interior, wherein the platform extends from the base floor.

4. The rodent trap of claim 3 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring, wherein a channel in the platform of the base receives the spring.

5. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein at least one guide track is formed in the base to receive a projection from the strike member to guide it along a desired path.

6. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein the tunnel element defines a passageway passing through the interior wall opening to communicate with the base interior, and the trigger is spaced sidewardly therefrom.

7. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein the strike member has a trigger engaging member which engages the trigger catch, and wherein an entrance compartment is defined within the base interior, and wherein a trigger compartment is alongside the entrance compartment and in communication therewith, wherein the trigger engaging member has a horizontal wall projecting from an exterior side wall of the strike member, and a vertical wall extending upwardly from the horizontal wall to face towards a rodent entering the trigger compartment from the entrance compartment.

8. The rodent trap of claim 7 , wherein a strike plate extends from the trigger engaging member vertical wall, and the strike plate is positioned to strike the rodent within the base interior when the trigger is triggered.

9. The rodent trap of claim 1 , further comprising a bait cup positioned within the base interior between the trigger and the strike member.

10. The rodent trap of claim 1 , further comprising a lid connected to the base to define the base interior, the lid having a barrier wall extending downwardly into the base interior, and wherein the base has a barrier wall extending upwardly into the base interior, the lid barrier wall and the base barrier wall extending between an entrance compartment and a trigger compartment, the trigger being pivotably mounted to the base.

11. The rodent trap of claim 1 , further comprising:
indicia associated with the base to indicate whether the trap is set or has been activated, the indicia being spaced from one another; and
indicator portions of the strike member extending outside the base interior and pointing to one of the spaced indicia depending on whether the strike member is in the first extended position or the second retracted position.

12. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein:
the base has at least one guide track extending outside the base interior;
the tunnel element is mounted to the base, the tunnel element further comprising portions extending into the at least one base guide track, wherein the tunnel element is mounted for travel on the base between the first extended position in which the at least one entryway is accessible by a rodent when it is exterior to the base interior, and the second retracted position;
the biasing member comprises a spring extending between the base and the tunnel element;
the spring biases the tunnel element towards the second retracted position; and
the tunnel element is configured to travel, guided by the at least one guide track, to the second retracted position under the urging of the spring, such that the tunnel element will strike portions of the rodent upon release of the strike member by dislodgement of the trigger catch by the rodent.

13. The rodent trap of claim 12 , wherein the base has a platform projecting beyond the interior wall, and wherein the at least one guide track is formed on the platform of the base.

14. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein a rodent moving through the at least one entryway into the base interior and against the trigger will dislodge the trigger catch from an outer surface of the strike member to release the strike member to linearly travel to the second retracted position.

15. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein the trigger does not contact the strike member when the strike member is in the second retracted position.

16. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein the strike member has a trigger engaging member that projects from the strike member tunnel element, the trigger engaging member engaging the trigger catch when the strike member is in the first extended position.

17. The rodent trap of claim 1 , wherein the at least one entryway is exterior to the base interior when the strike member is in the first extended position.

Assignees

• Oms Invest Inc

Inventors

• Walsh James R
• Johnson Daniel C

Classifications

• A01M23/30 Primary

  Break-back traps {, i.e. mouse-trap type} · CPC title

• A01M23/16 Primary

  Box traps · CPC title

• A01M23/00

  Traps for animals · CPC title

• A01M23/36 Primary

  with arrangements for piercing the victim · CPC title