Patents by Inventor Tracy M. Matzen

Tracy M. Matzen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11166448
    Abstract: An animal trap apparatus having a collection of individual components is mounted onto a rim of a bucket and comprises a plank having a bait receiving end and a mounting end, with a fulcrum feature therebetween. The fulcrum feature may have a non-circular cross section. A bracket with a notch is received by the rim of the bucket while a receiving feature having an occluded open end is configured to receive the fulcrum feature. In use, the plank is configured to pivot about the fulcrum feature in a forward direction when an animal approaches the bait receiving end thereby placing the animal trap apparatus in a tripped condition whereby the bait receiving extends downwardly toward the closed bottom of the bucket and the animal falls into the cavity. The individual components may be formed of a food-grade material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Rickey Mouse Company, LLC
    Inventor: Tracy M. Matzen
  • Patent number: 10945425
    Abstract: An animal trap apparatus is mounted onto a rim of a bucket and comprises a plank having a bait receiving end and a mounting end, with a fulcrum feature therebetween. A bracket with a notch is received by the rim of the bucket while a receiving feature configured to receive the fulcrum feature. When the animal trap apparatus is in a loaded condition, the plank is in a loaded position whereby the mounting end of the plank extends generally horizontally outwardly from the bucket sidewall and the bait receiving end extends over the cavity of the bucket. In use, the plank is configured to pivot about the fulcrum feature in a forward direction when an animal approaches the bait receiving end thereby placing the animal trap apparatus in a tripped condition whereby the bait receiving extends downwardly toward the closed bottom of the bucket and the animal falls into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Rickey Mouse Company, LLC
    Inventor: Tracy M. Matzen
  • Publication number: 20190320642
    Abstract: An animal trap apparatus having a collection of individual components is mounted onto a rim of a bucket and comprises a plank having a bait receiving end and a mounting end, with a fulcrum feature therebetween. The fulcrum feature may have a non-circular cross section. A bracket with a notch is received by the rim of the bucket while a receiving feature having an occluded open end is configured to receive the fulcrum feature. In use, the plank is configured to pivot about the fulcrum feature in a forward direction when an animal approaches the bait receiving end thereby placing the animal trap apparatus in a tripped condition whereby the bait receiving extends downwardly toward the closed bottom of the bucket and the animal falls into the cavity. The individual components may be formed of a food-grade material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: The Rickey Mouse Company, LLC
    Inventor: Tracy M. Matzen
  • Publication number: 20190059353
    Abstract: An animal trap apparatus is mounted onto a rim of a bucket and comprises a plank having a bait receiving end and a mounting end, with a fulcrum feature therebetween. A bracket with a notch is received by the rim of the bucket while a receiving feature configured to receive the fulcrum feature. When the animal trap apparatus is in a loaded condition, the plank is in a loaded position whereby the mounting end of the plank extends generally horizontally outwardly from the bucket sidewall and the bait receiving end extends over the cavity of the bucket. In use, the plank is configured to pivot about the fulcrum feature in a forward direction when an animal approaches the bait receiving end thereby placing the animal trap apparatus in a tripped condition whereby the bait receiving extends downwardly toward the closed bottom of the bucket and the animal falls into the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: The Rickey Mouse Company, LLC
    Inventors: Tracy M. Matzen, Mike Deckard, James Sellers