Abstract: A mole trap has a tough plastic base with downwardly extending fixed blades. Movable plastic blades are pivotably connected to the base and urged into a sprung condition by springs. A two-segment lever extends between the base and a catch which is pivotably mounted to the base. A trigger extends through a central opening in the catch and has a post which protrudes beneath the catch where it can be actuated by the targeted mole. Operation of the trigger post causes the lever to release from its engagement with the catch so that the movable blades close on and strike the mole positioned beneath the trap. The trigger has a release tab extending from the lever, allowing convenient release from the set position, and an upwardly protruding set arm allowing trigger depression from a point exterior to the handle into its desired set configuration.

Abstract: The trap (42, 82) is based around a spring mechanism (24, 60) comprising a substantially rectangular sheet of spring material folded to be substantially C-shaped in cross-section. In one embodiment (FIG. 6), portions (64, 65) of the spring mechanism (60) are adapted to be killing surfaces. In another embodiment (FIG. 2), the spring mechanism (24) is provided with arms (28, 29) that support jaws (36, 37). A setting mechanism (53/54, 77) holds the spring mechanism (24, 60) in an armed position and the trap (42, 82) is triggered when a trigger mechanism (49, 75) is moved by an animal which in turn disengages the setting mechanism (53/54, 77) and allows the killing surfaces (portions 64, 65) or jaws (36, 37) to come together on the animal therebetween.

Abstract: A catching toy includes a container having a first container body and a second container body which is relatively movable to the first container body. The first and second container bodies are configurable in a first state in which the container is opened and a second state in which the container is closed to form a chamber which is large enough to contain an object to be caught. A biasing member biases the second container body to the second state when the container is in the first stage. An engaging member engages the second container body with the first container body to keep the container in the first state. A releasing member releases an engagement of the first and second container bodies to change the container in the second state, by a contact with the object to be caught so that the object is entrapped in the chamber of the container.

Abstract: A humane animal trap is provided and includes a pair of cushions which can be scented for attracting an animal that are removably attached to inner faces of the trap jaws to prevent injury to jaws of the animal when closed upon the same. A spoon shaped bait-receiving member is also provided so that liquid bait or a solid bait can be used for attracting the animal to trigger the trap.

Abstract: An animal trap adapted for outdoor use to catch relatively small game animals and particularly adapted to be attached to a tree, post, or the like upstanding support and to be used independently of the height of snow and of other unfavorable ground conditions. This animal trap has a fixed jaw and a movable jaw. A bracket with arms projects away from the plane of the fixed jaw. The movable jaw is pivoted to an operative position angularly upwardly relative to the fixed jaw. A detent lever is pivoted between the arms of the bracket with an outer end forming a catch portion intercepting the movable jaw and holding it in operative position. A pair of spring wires operatively bias the movable jaw and cooperate with a chain to attach the trap to a tree, post, or the like, and the bait is attached to the detent lever to pivot the latter and release the movable jaw that then closes against the fixed jaw under the action of the spring wires.

Abstract: A mechanism retains and releases the end of a swing-arm of an animal trap. The trap has a frame to which the swing-arm is mounted. Part of a trip-pan extends perpendicularly from the frame and engages it, being pivotable about the location of its engagement. An elongated release pin engages that part of the trip-pan at a location spaced from the frame, and the frame has as a support tab extending from it with an aperture through which one end of the pin extends. Part of the end extending through the tab engages the swing-arm when the trip-pan is swung toward the swing-arm, but disengages from the swing-arm when the trip-pan is swung away from the swing-arm.

Abstract: The present device is an improved stand and trigger mechanism for a body gripping trap, having first and second rectangular frames which are pivotally mounted to each other for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis from a set position to a sprung position. Springs yieldably bias the frames from the set position to the sprung position. The rectangular frames each have a horizontal member, and the horizontal members of the two frames are in adjacent spaced relation to one another when the frames are in the set position. The horizontal members move away from one another as the frames move from the set position to the sprung position. The release mechanism comprises a trigger frame positioned between the horizontal members, and a pair of trigger arms mounted to the trigger frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A binary animal trap comprising a frame housing and a separate jaw carriage adapted to be releasably coupled to the housing. An internal, primary trigger assembly may be set to temporarily, yieldably latch the jaw carriage within the frame assembly. Thrust springs which are maintained in a compressed position when the trap is in the "set" mode will rapidly expel the carriage when the trap is triggered. The carriage preferably comprises a pair of cooperating jaw members which are activated by jaw springs released by a second trigger system only after activation of the primary trigger assembly. When the trap is in the "set" mode the carriage jaw members rest upon the primary trigger means, and contact by an animal with the jaws activates the primary trigger. Substantially contemporaneously with expulsion of the jaw carriage from the separate housing, inertial contact of the jaws with a portion of the jaw springs results in complete release of the jaw springs, forcibly snapping the jaws shut.

Abstract: A first elongated base bar for disposition in a horizontal position is provided and a second elongated bar has one end pivotally anchored relative to one end of the base bar for angular displacement between a first upstanding cocked position disposed generally normal to the first bar and a second horizontal closed position closely adjacent and generally paralleling the first bar. A follower is loosely engaged with the aforementioned one ends of the bars and slidable therealong and spring structure is operably connected between the base bar and the follower strongly yieldingly biasing the follower along the base bar toward the other end thereof, whereby movement of the follower along the base bar from its one end to the other end will cause rapid swinging movement of the second bar from the first upstanding cocked position thereof to the second horizontal closed position thereof closely paralleling the base bar.

Abstract: An adjustable animal trap is adapted for both trigger and triggerless operation. A pivotal support for the trap's pan frame is movable along a slot located at right angles to the trap jaws for positioning a catch in engaging relation with a trap jaw. A second pivotal support is slidably positionable along the same slot and carries a trigger lever for alternatively engaging the pan frame catch. The pan is also slidable along the pan frame.

Abstract: A rectangular frame base acts as a lower jaw and is provided with a pair of upper frame type jaws pivoted centrally of the base frame. A hair-pin type spring is engaged around one side of the base and operatively engages the upper frames between same normally urging them from a set position at which position they are substantially perpendicular to the base, to a sprung position at which position they lie substantially upon the base frame. A cruciform trigger assembly is pivotally supported upon one upper jaw and may be detachably engaged with the upper jaw to hold the upper jaws in the substantially spaced and parallel position relative to one another in the set position. The trigger is sprung by movement of same parallel to the base frame or downwardly towards the base frame.

Abstract: An animal trapping apparatus has a pair of box-shaped jaws that are held in a closed position by a biasing means at one of their ends and which are retained in an open trigger set position, against the force of the biasing means, by an actuator rod that extends between the other ends of the jaws. A sensitive triggering device for this trap is achieved by positioning the lower bait carrying end of the rod for pivotal rotary movement on the inner base surface of one of the jaws and by providing a bent catch portion on its upper end that is readily disengageable from the other jaw whenever a slight contact is made with its bait retaining end and simultaneous turning of the rod on the inner base surface occurs.

Abstract: A trap having jaws closed by a spring and a winding shaft on which the operating spring is mounted. The shaft is capable of being rotated in one direction by use of a lever to apply a selected amount of tension to the spring and normally is held against rotation in the opposite direction by a ratchet mechanism. The trap has a trigger assembly connected to a bait holder by a release member so that the set trap is released only in response to a pull exerted on the bait holder.

Abstract: An animal trap has an elongated base member; a pair of opposed trap jaws are disposed longitudinally of the base member and pivotally connected at their end portions to corresponding end portions of the base member for relative pivotal movement; a spring member is secured to the base member and operable to pivot the jaws from an open position to a closed position where they will entrap an animal; a jaw release member pivotally is secured at one end to an end portion of the base member for movement from a substantially vertical position wherein it engages and holds the jaws open, to an outwardly extending position where it leaves the jaws free to close, the member has protrusions thereon which engage and hold the jaws open until the release member is struck by the head of an animal so as to cause the release member to pivot outwardly away from the jaws thus releasing the jaws to capture the animal therebetween.

Abstract: A pair of oppositely disposed jaws are pivotally movable between open and closed positions, a spring means on the jaws bias the jaws to a normally closed position and a trigger positioned between the jaws releasably hold the jaws in an open position, the trigger being slideably and partially rotable with respect to the pivotal axis of the jaws. The trigger assembly is so constructed to induce the animal to come further into the trap and when released by an animal cause the animal to fall towards and into the trap jaws rather than away from them.

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 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.