Victim-closed Patents (Class 43/67)
  • Patent number: 4856225
    Abstract: A gopher trap has a wire base frame with elongate limbs connected by a cross member at a distal end of the trap. Wire jaws are pivotly mounted on the respective limbs adjacent the distal end. The limbs are connected at the proximal end of the trap by a transverse pin which carries a pivotal jaw actuator plate and a pivotal trigger pan. The trigger pan is attached to an elongate trigger rod which extends under the length of the actuator plate to the distal end of the trap. The actuator plate embraces the respective jaws for opening and closing same and is spring urged away from the base frame to bias the jaws into closed position. The trap may be set by depressing the actuator plate and allowing the trigger pan to pivot forwardly so that the distal end of the trigger rod can engage under the cross member at the distal end of the base frame. The trap is sprung when a rodent pushes the trigger pan rearwardly and disengages the trigger rod from under the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Radesky, Carl B. Brandt, Gerald A. Thomas, William E. Aksins
  • Patent number: 4829701
    Abstract: A bird cage and trap wherein a bird, upon entering cage, steps upon a pivotal grate which is attached to a triggering means which is, in turn, supporting open a trap door. Weight of bird causes the grate to pivot and triggers the trap door. The trap door can also be locked open using the same triggering means positioned in a slightly different manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: J. A. ImBrogno
  • Patent number: 4830975
    Abstract: A PRIMOS (Planar Recessed Isolated MOS) transistor and a method for fabricating same is described wherein the source and drain in a semiconductor body are separated by a recess. A gate oxide is disposed on the body in the recess, with conductive gate material thereon. Oxide regions are positioned on each side of the gate, such oxide regions being substantially thicker in cross-section than the gate oxide. The method described teaches fabrication of this device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Bovaird, Reza Fatemi
  • Patent number: 4557067
    Abstract: An animal trap comprising an elongated housing having open and closed ends, a door pivotally mounted at its lower end on the housing adjacent the open end and movable between an upright closed position wherein it closes the open end and an open position wherein it is disposed within the housing in a substantially laterally extending position near the bottom of the housing. The door is biased to the closed position. A panel is pivotally connected at one end to the housing and extends generally laterally within the housing near the bottom thereof toward the closed end. An elongated pawl member is pivotally connected at one end with the adjacent end of the panel opposite to the one end thereof, and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the housing. The pawl member has a tooth at its opposite end and is urged in an upward direction. The tooth is positioned to engage the door when it is moved to the open position to retain the door in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Heung Y. Ha
  • Patent number: 4554758
    Abstract: A tunnel trap comprising an elongated tubular housing, a rear cover closing the housing rear end and a door pivotally mounted adjacent the front end of the housing. The door is pivotally mounted for movement between an open position permitting access to the housing interior and a closed position closing access to the housing interior from the front end. Springs bias the door towards the closed position. Latches releasably engage the door to maintain the door in an open position against the bias of the springs or in a closed position for locking the door. A trigger mechanism is coupled to the latch maintaining the door open to release such latch permitting movement of the door towards its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignees: Bobby Lockhart, O. D. Bradsher, Jr.
    Inventor: Michael P. Molloy
  • Patent number: 4546568
    Abstract: An animal trap wherein the housing is formed of sheet metal and the trap door is of a mesh construction wherein the animal can in no way gain access to one carrying the trap or one disposed adjacent to the trap. At the same time, the animal may be identified through the open-mesh trap door. The trap door is normally disposed in a recessed position underlying the vertical wall; and, when released by a control mechanism actuated by a trap pan, the door will automatically fall by gravity to a trap-closing position. The door is then locked in this trap-closing position by means of a latch rod which has a roughened or threaded surface which interlocks with a clip. The housing, being formed of sheet metal and being substantially imperforate, may be utilized for the purpose of destroying the animal either by drowning or gassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Inventor: Edwin E. Seyler
  • Patent number: 4471721
    Abstract: A trapdoor for a birdhouse, particularly one constructed to attract purple martin birds, so as to trap in a compartment of the house species of undesirable birds, such as sparrows. The door includes an opening to permit the undesirable birds to enter a compartment of the birdhouse. A pivotal gate is secured to the door behind the opening and is retained by a trigger mechanism in an unblocking position above the opening. When a bird enters the compartment through the opening and alights on the trigger mechanism, the gate is released and drops by gravity across the opening to trap the bird within the compartment. The trapdoor includes structure for positively locking the gate against inadvertent pivotal trapping movement should the birdhouse or trapdoor be moved or displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Nature House, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur E. Vail
  • Patent number: 4468883
    Abstract: The trap has a ring shaped passage with a door which, when opened, extends into the passage so that a mouse can only enter the passage in one direction. A bait trail in the passage extends around to the back side of the door where it can be pushed closed by a mouse, or released by the mouse and closed by a spring. Magnetic or spring means are disclosed for holding the door in the closed position. An attractant dispenser is provided for dispensing fresh attractant near the back side of the door when the trap is to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Environmentally Safe Products, Corp.
    Inventor: Charles G. D. Williams
  • Patent number: 4418493
    Abstract: This invention relates to an animal trap comprising a system of interconnected modular units including a gate which is treadle-operated by an entering animal to snap to latched-closed position from an open position adjacent the floor of the trap. The trap includes a disabling device to permit pre-baiting. As a special feature for preventing contamination, it includes a hermetically-sealed capture module with a plastic bag liner, which may be disengaged from the system for disposal purposes. A device is also disclosed for automatically resetting the trap on a periodic basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Inventor: Carmel T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 4356655
    Abstract: A mechanically operable animal trap which traps and disposes of small animals, such as rodents, in an environmentally safe manner and including a housing having a one-way entrance actuated by a treadle adjacent an inaccessible source of food and a ladder leading to a one-way chute connected to a source of disposal, such as water, for disposing of the animal in an economical, pesticide-free manner requiring little attention and supervision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Inventors: Alberto T. Morante, Roger Morante
  • Patent number: 4232472
    Abstract: An improved animal trap in which the animal may be made to expire due to hypercapnia rather than through impact or trauma. The trap includes a generally air-tight enclosure having the shape of a hollow prismoid defined by a relatively long, rectangular, bottom wall, a relatively short rectangular wall of a width equal to that of the bottom wall, a rear wall exending perpendicularly to the bottom wall at one end edge thereof and joined to the top wall at a corresponding end edge thereof, and first and second side walls in the form of a four-sided irregular polygon, there being an obliquely extending door opening at the end of the enclosure opposite to the rear wall. A door member is provided which is pivotally mounted proximate the door opening and is biased to assume a normally closed, sealing relationship with respect to the door opening. The door is adapted to be propped open by means of a latch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: The Earl Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl L. Muelling
  • Patent number: 4155193
    Abstract: An automatic trap comprising an outer cage and a drum-shaped inner cage rotatably disposed about an axle within the outer cage. The outer cage has an outer opening which is, in the operative position of the trap, aligned with an inner opening formed in the inner cage to permit entry of a small animal into the inner cage. Within the inner cage there is pivotally and non-rotatably disposed a treadle means on the axle. The treadle means engages at its lower, free end a slot in a smooth side wall of the inner cage, thereby locking the inner cage in place when the trap is in its operative position. The treadle means is then actuated when the animal entering the inner cage contacts the treadle means, thereby releasing it and causing the inner cage to rotate relative to the outer cage by movement of the animal. The inner cage is then locked by a locking means disposed in the outer cage which locks the inner cage in a position in which the outer and inner openings are no longer aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Inventor: Wallace J. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 4151673
    Abstract: An animal trap includes a box-like housing having a capture compartment and a storage compartment. An elevated access opening is presented on one side of the housing and is adjacent to a primary platform which is pivotally mounted in the capture compartment and has a normal, level condition and a tilted, capture position. In its normal condition, the primary platform blocks passage to the storage compartment; in its tilted position the elevated access opening is blocked and the storage compartment is accessible. A tilt booster is carried by the primary platform and presents a secondary platform or plank arranged on a fixed fulcrum in a manner to cause sudden tilting of the primary platform under the weight of an animal and blocks its escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Inventor: Delmer E. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4138796
    Abstract: A repeating animal trap assembly comprising a capture unit and a holding unit with means releasably associating the two units. The capture unit defines a compartment having at least one entry opening and at least one exit opening. The holding unit defines an enlarged compartment having an entry opening which in the assembled relationship of the units is aligned with the exit opening of the capture unit to provide communication between the compartments in the two units. Doors are provided for the capture unit entry and exit openings with means for automatically closing the entry doors and opening the exit door when an animal is totally within the capture unit compartment. Preferably, the animal is frightened by a light flashing and passes into the holding unit compartment where further means are actuated to automatically close the exit door and open the entry doors to the capture unit compartment so that additional animals may be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Souza
  • Patent number: 4103448
    Abstract: A repeating animal trap of the inclined plane type including a collection means defining an enlarged container for confining animals with at least one trap means set in an opening in the wall thereof. The trap means includes a pivoted floor means and a pivoted door means. The floor means is normally biased to a first position in which the exit from the trap into the container is totally blocked with the door means in this position being opened at the entrance to the trap so that already confined animals cannot escape through the trap while additional animals can enter the trap. When an animal enters the trap it tilts the floor means to a second position which simultaneously raises the door means and blocks the entrance while unblocking the exit thereby permitting an animal within the trap means to enter the container while precluding his escape from the trap means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Souza