Abstract: There is provided, for an animal trap having a portion which attaches to an animal when the latter springs the trap, said portion being capable of being affixed with respect to the terrain, the improvement of providing a shock-absorbing capability to the trap. This capability arises through the provision of an apparatus through which the previously mentioned portion can be affixed with respect to the terrain. The apparatus includes a resilient member between the portion attaching to an animal and the fixed location with respect to the terrain, the resilient member being in parallel with a substantially non-resilient connection also between the portion which attaches to an animal and the location of fixing with respect to the terrain. Thus, if the trapped animal should lunge away from the trap, the resilient member will absorb at least some of the resulting shock so that injury to the animal can be minimized.

Abstract: There is provided an animal trap which is specific to a given range of animal weights. The trap has a frame, and a spring-arm pivotally mounted at one end to the frame and having at the other end apparatus for entraining a cable. The spring-arm can swing from a horizontal position to an upwardly extending position, and is spring-biased toward the latter. A trip lever can move between two positions, in one of which it retains the spring-arm in the horizontal position, and in the other of which it releases the spring-arm. An animal stepping on the trip lever can cause it to release the spring-arm. The cable is anchored at one end and has at the other end a loop adapted to be placed so as to surround the trip lever. Apparatus is provided for avoiding the springing of the trap by an animal lighter than the given range of animal weights for which the trap is specific, this apparatus including a spring urging the trip lever toward the position in which it retains the spring-arm horizontally.

Abstract: There is provided an animal trap construction, in which a coil spring is adapted, upon springing of the trap, to cause a swing arm to pivot upwardly through a vertical arc, and tighten a noose around the leg of an animal. The coil spring is contained between two upstanding brackets, and an end portion of the swing arm, bent at right angles to the latter, passes centrally through the spring, and passes through the two brackets. A first bushing of cylindrical form is fixed within the end of the spring remote from the bend location between the swing arm and its end portion, the first bushing having a smaller-diameter cylindrical extension passing through an aperture in the respective bracket. A second bushing is provided at the other end of the coil spring, the second bushing having a flange which is adapted to be located between the coil spring and the respective bracket. The end portion of the swing arm passes through both bushings.

Abstract: This invention provides a planting apparatus which includes a mobile frame mounted on wheels or the like and adapted to be towed over the ground. An arm is swingably mounted to the frame and extends rearwardly from the mounting location. The arm carries a dibble on its moveable end, which is adapted to cut into the ground during forward travel of the mobile frame. A planter is carried by the arm rearwardly of the dibble and is adapted to support a seedling for planting in the cut made by the dibble. Means is provided to dislodge the seedling from the planter into the cut. Detection means is provided for detecting when the dibble has cut to a predetermined depth into the ground, and for activating the dislodging means whenever that depth is reached. The arm is swung regularly toward and away from the ground, such that the dislodging means fails to operate if the dibble achieves less than the pre-determined depth due to an obstacle. Thus seedlings are planted only where no obstacles are located.