Abstract: A humane animal trap including a coil spring mounted on a frame and having its ends adapted to be spread apart when the trap is set. One end of the spring is held by a latch pivotally mounted for sideways movement on the frame. This latch is shaped so that, in order to hold the spring, it must be held by one end of a trigger which is mounted for vertical swinging movement on the frame. When the trigger is struck by an animal, it swings upwardly thus disengaging the latch and causing the one end of the spring to move downwardly towards the other end of the spring.

Abstract: An animal trap having an upstanding frame member mounted on a base, a metal anvil bar connected at one end to the frame and extending outwardly from the frame generally parallel to the base, a metal striker bar positioned above and generally parallel to the anvil bar, said bars being connected at their outer ends to a spring adapted to urge the striker bar forcibly towards the anvil bar, a trigger pan mounted below the two bars and connected to a trigger arm extending upwardly along the frame, a latch arm swivelly mounted on the upper portion of the frame and containing a notch or recess such that when the striker bar is moved upwards against the force of the spring away from the anvil bar, the bar fits into the notch, said latch having an extended arm contacting the upper end of said trigger bar such that the trigger bar is operative to trigger the latch arm from the set position on movement of the pan and allow the latch arm to swing free and the striker bar to move towards the anvil bar.