Abstract: An animal trap, according to one embodiment, includes: a first portion having upper and a lower ends; a second portion in sliding relationship with the first portion, the first and second portions being relatively positionable between cocked and deployed positions; a biasing mechanism for biasing the first and second portions towards the deployed position; a trigger mechanism for selectively locking the first and second portions in the cocked position; and an end unit removably coupled to the lower end of the first portion. The end unit includes: a base; at least two unique members extending from a bottom end of the base; and a bottom portion coupled to a distal end of each of the unique members. A first end of each of the unique members is coupled to the base, while each of the distal ends are at a second end of each of the unique members.

Abstract: An animal trap, according to one embodiment, includes: a first portion having upper and a lower ends; a second portion in sliding relationship with the first portion, the first and second portions being relatively positionable between cocked and deployed positions; a biasing mechanism for biasing the first and second portions towards the deployed position; a trigger mechanism for selectively locking the first and second portions in the cocked position; and an end unit removably coupled to the lower end of the first portion. The end unit includes: a base; at least two unique members extending from a bottom end of the base; and a bottom portion coupled to a distal end of each of the unique members. A first end of each of the unique members is coupled to the base, while each of the distal ends are at a second end of each of the unique members.

Abstract: The invention provides a trap for capturing and/or killing a mouse, the trap comprising: an enclosure comprising a base connected to at least one movable part and which houses a trigger; the trigger comprising an adhesive section; wherein the at least one movable part is urged against the force of a biasing means from a first position wherein the trap is in a closed state into a second position in which the trap is in a set state; wherein the at least one movable part is maintained in the second position by releasably engaging the trigger; and wherein the trap is triggered upon the mouse contacting the adhesive section and elevating the trigger so as to disengage the trigger from the at least one movable part so that it moves from the second position to the first position under the force of the biasing means.

Abstract: An animal trap has a base, an upper jaw pivotally coupled with the base so that it is movable between a closed position and an open position, and a set arm that is pivotally coupled with the upper jaw and moveable between a collapsed position and an open position. In its open position, the set arm provides a lever whereby application of a force to the set arm moves the upper jaw toward its open position. A method for trapping an animal includes moving a trap between a first position, where the upper jaw is closed, and the set arm is collapsed, and a second position, where the upper jaw is closed and the set arm is open. The method further includes the step of moving the trap between a second position and a third position in which the upper jaw is open, and the set arm is open.

Abstract: An animal trap has a base, an upper jaw pivotally coupled with the base so that it is movable between a closed position and an open position, and a set arm that is pivotally coupled with the upper jaw and moveable between a collapsed position and an open position. In its open position, the set arm provides a lever whereby application of a force to the set arm moves the upper jaw toward its open position. A method for trapping an animal includes moving a trap between a first position, where the upper jaw is closed, and the set arm is collapsed, and a second position, where the upper jaw is closed and the set arm is open. The method further includes the step of moving the trap between a second position and a third position in which the upper jaw is open, and the set arm is open.

Abstract: Trap for mice and rats comprising two legs (1, 2) with jaws (9, 10), where one leg (1) is horizontally moveable towards a fixed leg (2) via an intermediary link (5-8). The fixed leg rests on a base-plate (3) and has a cover-lid (4) at the top. The legs (1, 2) are fitted with grip handles (11, 12) at the opposite end. The jaws (9, 10) are acted upon by a draw spring (22) or spring clip (31), whose direction of force works near the fulcrum of the legs (1, 2) in the open position of the trap. The closing movement is triggered by a bait-carrier (17, 18) with lever (16) fitted between the legs (1, 2), and which is flexibly suspended at the back. Its reverse movement is stopped by a stop device (26) behind the grip handle of the fixed leg. The bait-carrier (17, 18) can move in several directions, upwards, downwards and outwards. The bait can be mounted in and under the bait-carrier (17, 18, 28).

Abstract: This invention relates to a mouse trap having retractable biting portions. It includes a base, a movable portion, and a trigger. The base has a front seat which has a lower outer edge and several receiving holes. The movable portion is disposed on the base and has a front frame portion and a restoring force generating element. The front frame portion is disposed with an upper outer edge and a plurality of retractable biting portions. These retractable biting portions are corresponding to the receiving holes. The restoring force generating element is able to urge the movable portion moving from the first position to the second position. So, it can capture a mouse quickly. The protruded length of each retractable biting portion is automatically adjusted. Hence, the captured mouse will not bleed so it is sanitary. The capture method is humane without sacrificing its capturing result. The safety of the product can be enhanced. Plus, the biting depth is automatically adjusted.

Abstract: An improved mousetrap has an upper jaw pivotally mounted with a lower jaw, and a bait platform mounted between the upper and lower jaws, The bait platform acts as a trigger to initiate jaw closure when depressed. A circumferential spring for closing the jaws around the bait platform encircles the jaws and is retained in a retaining groove of the lower jaw. The upper jaw has a rear, lower corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are open; and a rear, upper corner for retaining the spring when the jaws are closed. Contractile force of the spring pulls the spring from the lower corner toward the upper corner, to complete jaw closure.

Abstract: A plastic jaw or striker with downwardly facing teeth is pivotally mounted to a plastic base with mating upwardly facing teeth. A plastic trigger hangs from the base, and a coil spring extends between the jaw and the base rearward of the trigger. The spring holds the jaw in the set position, by engaging the rear of the jaw against the rear of the base. The trap is tuned to be not overly sensitive, avoiding springing of the trap by vibrations or insubstantial rodent entry. The spring or tension axis does not go through the trigger, simplifying construction and arrangement of parts. The open position is limited by the jaw engaging the base. The jaw is just over-center when set, such that a small movement towards closure does not trigger it. The trigger requires fairly large movement, facilitated by the raised pivot axis, to trigger the trap.

Abstract: A trap for rodents, moles, or other burrowing animals, comprising: a handle; two pairs of opposed legs rotatably mounted on the handle; a spring biasing each pair of opposed legs in a sprung position wherein the two legs of each pair of opposed legs are adjacent one another; means for rotating the two pairs of opposed legs about the handle to a set position wherein the two legs of each pair of opposed legs are separated from one another, thereby forming a passage for the animal; a latch for holding the two pairs of opposed legs in the open position; and a trigger for releasing the latch, whereby the two pairs of opposed legs will snap rapidly to the sprung position, thereby trapping and killing the animal.

Abstract: A jaw type trap constructed from elongated bendable stock such as wires or rods. The entire body frame of the trap and the spring can be made from a single elongated piece of stock material solely formed by appropriate bending and a minimum of welded or brazed attachments. This is particularly useful as a miniature novelty trap such as a toy, Christmas ornament or item of jewelry.

Abstract: An animal trap which is capable of operating in a confined space such as that of a hole. The trap comprises of a pair of jaws which are urged to a closed position and prevented from being opened once closed by a compression spring. A trigger mechanism is used to latchably maintain the said jaws in a open position and provides a animal with a means to disengage the said latch. The said jaws are pivotally mounted to and between two side frames which are secured to a circular base frame.

Abstract: A device attachable to at least one of the co-acting jaws of a steel jawed trap for capturing an animal. The device has at least one cushion assembly that includes an elongated carrier frame attachable to at least one jaw of the trap, and spaced apart cushion members secured to the carrier frame. The cushion members project outwardly from the carrier frame and are in a parallel alignment to one another to engage a limb of the animal and cushion and distribute the force of the jaws of the trap to reduce animal injuries.

Abstract: The animal trap features two shackles (1, 1a) produced from flat or iron rod, such shackles being situated opposite each other in plate hinges (4) and turnable therein about mutually offset pins (5, 5a) and maintained under tension by two springs (3) embodied as flat shank springs or screwed shank springs. Both hinge sheets (4) are separated from each other by means of a connecting web (15) that is produced from flat iron or shaped like a tube and that forms the medial longitudinal axis of the trap, upon which connecting web is borne in such a way as to be capable of movement a release mechanism having an element suitable for accepting bait (26), which release mechanism, when the trap is in the tensed position, acts with a shackle (1) in order to lock the trap in such a position.

Abstract: Conventional traps often catch animals by the leg rather than killing them outright. This trap utilizes two spring actuated jaws closing upon a base ring but with stops on the base ring maintaining the movable jaws slightly open when sprung so that an animal cannot be caught by the leg. The trip mechanism is such that it can be actuated by pressure upon any part of the pan thus releasing the jaws and killing the animal with a blow to the head or neck area. The spring mechanism is such that if large animals are accidentally caught by the foot, they are able to pull foot free.

Abstract: A wild game trap including two multiangulated trap arms having an eye at one end mounted for rotation about a common pivot bolt and a power spring including a lower spring arm terminating in an eye mounted on the pivot bolt and an upper spring arm terminating in a constriction bar in the form of a loop receiving the pivot eyes, the pivot bolt and a portion of each of the multiangulated trap arms when they are pivoted to an animal gripping position. A trigger assembly is provided for retaining the multiangulated trap arms in open position when the trap is set. In one embodiment of the trigger assembly, a rolling block is mounted on one trap arm and a lock is pivotally connected to the lower spring arm for engagement with a catch on the trap arm. In another embodiment of the trigger assembly, the lock is mounted on the spring arm by a one-piece resilient bracket.

Abstract: A padded leghold trap of the pivoting jaw type includes recessed portions of the jaws in which respective pads are disposed. The pads each have concave facing surfaces with an inner edge that barely touches the inner edge of the other pad in the sprung position of the jaws, leaving the remainder of the concave facing surfaces mutually spaced. A trapped animal is held between the padded jaws which spring closed and traps the animal's leg without breaking the leg or causing edema. Attempts by the trapped animal to pull its trapped limb from between the jaws causes the radially inner pad edges to roll over toward the limb and thereby increase the retention forces. A retainer for the pad is disposed over an access slot in the pad, which access slot is provided to deploy the pad on the jaw. The retainer includes a bent lip which deforms the pad toward the jaw to prevent the pad from being pulled off the jaw by a trapped animal.

Abstract: An improved rotating frame animal trap includes jaw-forming sides which, in the closed position of the trap, are projected toward one another from parallel sections of their supporting end members. This configuration provides the correct jaw spacing in the closed position of the trap to maximize the jaw pressure for a given spring force.

Abstract: A pair of levers are provided including corresponding first base ends and second jaw ends. A pivot fastener pivotally connects the base ends of the levers together for relative swinging of the levers between first open positions with the jaw ends displaced away from each other and second closed positions with the jaw ends displaced toward each other into at least closely adjacent positions. Spring structure is operatively connected between the levers yieldingly biasing the latter toward the second positions thereof and releasable latch structure is provided and is operative to releasably latch the levers in the first positions. An elongated rigid support member is also provided and includes a flattened end and a pointed tip end.

Abstract: Apparatus by which a steel leg-hold trap is rendered humane so that the trapped animal is recovered alive and uninjured. A resilient material, such as vulcanized rubber, is removably affixed to the opposed jaws of the trap so that the animal's leg is uninjured when the jaws are closed thereon. The first reaction of any animal caught in the leg-hold trap is to bite and chew on the trap. A nipple extends from the resilient material and contains a substance, such as a tranquilizer, which subdues the animal when the substance is orally ingested. The nipple is a hollow chamber which extends away from the trap jaws so that the animal, when trapped, inherently attacks and bites the nipple, whereupon the chemical substance is released from the chamber and enters the oral cavity of the animal, causing the animal to become subdued. A tranquilizer is preferably placed within the nipple so that should the incorrect animal be trapped, he can subsequently be released unharmed.

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: An animal trap, of the rotating frame type, having an improved frame construction is disclosed. The trap of the present invention is constructed so that adjacent connecting end portions are substantially parallel when in the closed position, and with the connecting end portions, when in an upright position, being located at an angle relative to the vertical of from about 5 to about 10 degrees. Such a construction results in increased force during closure of the trap, thus providing a trap which is more humane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a padded jaw animal trap with improved holding power in order to retain an animal caught in the trap. The padding of each jaw has a face with a concave geometrical arrangement such that when an animal is caught in the trap, the face deforms to a nearly planar surface forcing ridges of flesh on either side of the face. It is this ridge of flesh which increases the holding power of the padded jaw trap over the prior art.

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: An actuator for a rotating frame animal trap. The actuator comprises two arms spring biased at one end to tend to move the other ends of the arms outwardly. Each arm terminates in a ring that is adapted to encircle adjacent frames of the trap. The ring on each arm is inclined out of the longitudinal axis of the arm, towards the other ring on the other arm. The actuator is easy to make and provides excellent squeezing power where that power is required.

Abstract: An improved frame for a rotating frame animal trap, wherein, when the trap is viewed in closed position, an outer portion of at least one of the ends of the frame encircled by the actuator rings is so shaped, as it progresses radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of the frames, that it extends to a point out of the common plane of the jaws of the frame on the side thereof remote from the other frame, and thence returns to said plane wherein it connects with one end of a jaw. The point may be located at a distance from the axis of rotation about the same as or greater than the distance of said jaw from this axis. The actuator rings of the trap according to this construction are adapted to exert sufficient clamping force on the jaws of the trap to quickly kill a desired animal trapped therein.

Abstract: An actuator for a rotating frame animal trap having two similar frames pivotally connected to each other. The actuator comprises two arms spring biased at one end and each terminating in a ring at the other. The rings have the dimensions so that the actuator can be mounted on the trap to encircle adjacent ends of both frames of the trap. On release of the trap, the actuator can rapidly and forcefully effect a rotation of the trap to its closed position. A rigid joint is formed in one arm of the actuator. The joint is breakable to separate the one arm by application of a force to the spring biased end of the actuator. The actuator does not affect the position of the set trap and is simple in construction.

Abstract: A multidirectional animal trap including a base having a hub with spaced jaws pivotally mounted on the hub and extending radially therefrom. A U-shaped spring has one leg thereof secured to the hub with the other end having a ring formed thereon. A multiplicity of jaws, each having an offset portion in engagement with the ring and extending through the ring with the lower end of each offset portion pivotally mounted on the hub. Also provided is a pressure plate secured to a mount pivotally mounted on the base at the hub. An engagement bar is pivotally mounted on the base and formed with an extension portion that engages a slot formed in the mount of the pressure plate. The outer ends of the jaws are curved inwardly, whereby the same overlap which causes positive engagement with the animal trapped in a humane manner.

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: A humane animal trap has jaws and two spaced jaw closers, and two springs for the closers. One spring is relatively light and is triggered by the animal stepping on the usual trigger and the other spring is heavier and acts only after a delay. The jaws have adjacent one end thereof an enlarged sleeve, the animal struggling to escape from the trap drawing his leg into the sleeve and triggers the heavier spring.

Abstract: An animal trap including a pair of pivoted open frames resiliently urged from a set position to a closed position, the frames each being fabricated of a pair of elongate members having respective pairs of ends connected together, and a releasable catch means for holding the frames in set position including a holding hook and releasing trigger.

Abstract: An improved actuator for a rotating frame trap wherein the actuator rings are of generally oblong shape, being elongated in the general direction of the respective actuator arms. This construction results in a more effective and versatile trap.

Abstract: An animal trap, using two jaws that are generally U-shaped and pivoted to the upturned ends of a base plate is characterized by having the animal engaging base portions of the jaws generally circular in cross section and the leg portions flattened to provide wedge members that hold the circular base portions spaced apart when the trap is closed, spring means for closing the jaws comprises two like leaf springs. Each leaf spring is of V-shape and has a lower circular end hole to receive the upturned end of the base plate, and a second circular end hole for sliding over the leg portions as the spring spreads. The spring leaf is cupped around the second circular end hole and widened substantially in the general longitudinal direction of the spring to provide a cam that can be placed directly under the jaw legs when the spring is turned crosswise with respect to the base plate to provide increased leverage on the jaws at the initial lift thereof from open position.