Abstract: A repeating animal trap particularly for rodents such as rats and mice has a trapping passageway into which animals are attracted due to their inherent curiosity. A trigger within the passageway is tripped by animal pressure and this sets in motion a reciprocatory sweeping mechanism which sweeps the animal from the passageway into an adjacent collecting compartment. The reciprocatory mechanism then returns to its initial position in which it defines longitudinal walls of the passageway to effectively prevent an animal in the collection compartment from pushing its way back into the passageway. A constant force coil spring is used to power the sweeping mechanism with a control system that insures only a single reciprocation of the sweeping mechanism each time the trigger is activated so that the trap operates effectively on successive animals throughout the range of displacement of the spring.

Abstract: A rotating frame animal trap has a specific form of frame design for insuring that the maximum clamping force between the jaws is developed at a jaw opening which corresponds to the dimension of a target animal. This frame design also produces generally increased clamping forces compared with known traps over a range of jaw openings smaller than the target opening.

Abstract: A conventional form of mouse trap having a U-shaped sprung jaw pivotally mounted on a baseboard is provided with a novel form of pivotal bait pedal forming part of the trigger mechanism of the trap. The bait pedal molded in plastic, has a snap-on mounting arrangement for pivotally attaching same on the baseboard and has a system whereby the sensitivity of the trigger mechanism can be adjusted. Preferably the pedal has a size and shape to cover substantially the entire area enclosed by the trap jaw.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container such as a fishing tackle box having a pull-out stacking tray structure, the individual trays of which are connected at their ends by pivotal linkages for attachment to opposite side walls of the container so that the trays can be stacked one above another at the top of the container or pulled out cantilever-wise by extension of the linkages. Attachment of the linkages to the container side walls is by way of intermediate members having elements which slot into fittings provided on the interior walls of the container. This arrangement facilitates final assembly of the container. The intermediate members can be formed to define compartments between the ends of the trays and the container side walls. A spinner-bait rack is also disclosed which fits into one of the compartments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a padded jaw animal trap with a shock absorber means built into the padding on each jaw in order to reduce the peak loads encountered when the jaw closes on an animal's leg. A cavity is provided between the padding face and the jaw of the animal trap such that the cavity separates the animal's leg from the steel jaw. The cavity may be filled with a gas, liquid or foamed elastomer in order to perform its function of reducing the initial shock loads when the trap closes about an animal. Preferred embodiments include an apparatus to retain the padding on the jaw of an animal trap along with a U-shaped jaw construction which facilitates mounting of padding material on an animal trap jaw.

Abstract: A single use disposable animal trap particularly suited for entrapment of rodents and the like, the invention comprises a housing of dimensions only slightly greater than the site of the animal which is to be trapped, the housing having an entrance opening and a pivoting inclined plane mounted internally of the housing. An animal entering the trap biases a rear portion of the inclined plane downwardly, a forward portion of the inclined plane thereby camming a door member into place over the entrance opening. In a preferred embodiment, a shoulder-like detent formed on the inner wall of the door member abuts a forward edge portion of the inclined plane, thereby to maintain the door member in place over the entrance opening and to prevent escape of the animal from the trap.

Abstract: A portable escape ladder comprises a bracket for gripping over a building window ledge, a pair of chains suspended from the bracket and supporting a series of spaced transverse rungs therebetween and optional stand-off devices attached at least to some of the rungs to hold the ladder a fixed distance from the building wall. There is provided a form of connection between the rungs and the chains in which the ends of the rungs are pressed flat and formed with an opening in which the junction of a pair of chain links is captively held. The optional stand-off devices comprise substantially flat frames with upright extensions fitting in bores formed in the respective rungs and fastened in place by snap nuts on the ends of the uprights.

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.

Abstract: An improved trigger mechanism particularly useful with a rotating frame animal trap, the present trigger mechanism comprises a rotary universal joint which allows angular displacement of the trigger mechanism about a frame of the trap on which said trigger mechanism is pivotally carried. Free ends of spaced prongs extending from the trigger mechanism toward the interior of the trap contact an animal entering the trap from any direction, sufficient force caused by such contact angularly displacing the trigger mechanism to spring the trap.

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.

Abstract: An animal trap comprising a base, a pair of generally U-shaped jaws journaled in said base for pivotal movement toward and away from each other between fully open and fully closed positions, U-spring means associated with the jaws and normally operative from a compressed to a released condition to pivot the jaws toward each other to the fully closed position and animal actuated trigger means for releasing the spring means. At least one of the jaws has a generally cylindrical elongated jamb or spacer element mounted thereon which extends toward the other jaw and abuts it in the jaws closed position to maintain the jaws at least slightly spaced apart even in the fully closed position. In one form of the invention, the jamb element includes a generally rectangular longitudinally extending slot therein which receives and is received within a generally rectangular notch in the jaw, which notch opens toward the other jaw.

Abstract: Keeper means for facilitating the removal of an arm of a coil spring actuator from a rotating frame type of animal trap. The keeper is an elongated sleeve one end of which slips over the end of the open ring which is disposed at the terminus of one arm of the coil spring actuator. The other end of the sleeve is slotted on opposite sides in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sleeve to accommodate the arm of the spring transverse to said axis. Thereby affecting closure of the ring. The engagement between the sleeve and arm is maintained by a cotter pin which passes through the end of the sleeve. The sleeve can be disengaged easily by removing the cotter pin and sliding the sleeve back over the ring thereby opening the ring so that it can be removed from the side of the trap.

Abstract: An animal trap, particularly a mouse trap or the like, in combination with a package therefor wherein the trap is normally urged into a collapsible container forming part of the package, such as a paper bag, by a resilient means in the form of a rubber band or the like, with a limited stop means being provided to temporarily maintain the trap outside the container until an animal triggers the trap at which time the impact causes the trap to jump the stop and be withdrawn into the container. The trap and the trapped animal are thus encased by the package and can be disposed of without contact by the user.

Abstract: A boat comprising a hull and at least one seat therefor, each seat extending transversely across the hull and being supported by telescoping guide members for movement along a vertical path between a lowered position wherein the seat rests on shoulders defined by portions of the hull, and a raised position wherein the seating surface is approximately at the level of the gunwales, the seat carrying flotation so as to automatically move the same to the raised position in the event of swamping of the boat, with stops associated with the guide members for automatically locking the seat when it reaches the raised position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for use with a tackle box or other container is disclosed. The latch assembly includes a latch top segment, a latch bottom segment and a receiver, all of which may be manufactured by injection molding. The latch assembly includes the feature that no separate pins or rivets are required either to assemble the components or to attach the latch assembly to the container with which it is employed.

Abstract: A trigger assembly for the use in animal trap assemblies, in which the trap generally comprises rotating-frame type traps of the "Conibear" type, for example, which includes forcibly urged, mutually pivoted similar frame members and sides of which are pivoted against actuator means from a "set" position towards a "closed" position, and in which the trigger assembly generally defines an animal "run" having approaches from opposite sides, and which the trigger assembly comprises a plate member intermediately pivoted and operatively associated with exposable abutment means so that the mutually pivoted similar frame members of the trap will be dislodged from a "set" position due to a slight downward pressure on a lever-forming portion of the plate member when an animal approaches from either of the opposite sides of the animal "run" defined by the trap.

Abstract: An animal trap assembly comprising a rotating-frame type trap of the "Conibear" type in which a pair of similar frame members are pivotally connected on a common pivot axis, and are forcibly urged by actuator means operatively connected to the sides from a "set" position towards a "closed" position. The trap includes an assembly for forming an animal "run" having approaches at opposite sides, and in which the approaches include at least one of the transverse ends of the mutually pivoted similar frame members. The "run" forming assembly, includes plate members forming a relatively wide and upstream lever area in which slight impact will result in "triggering" the trap.