Abstract: There is provided, for an animal trap having a portion which attaches to an animal when the latter springs the trap, said portion being capable of being affixed with respect to the terrain, the improvement of providing a shock-absorbing capability to the trap. This capability arises through the provision of an apparatus through which the previously mentioned portion can be affixed with respect to the terrain. The apparatus includes a resilient member between the portion attaching to an animal and the fixed location with respect to the terrain, the resilient member being in parallel with a substantially non-resilient connection also between the portion which attaches to an animal and the location of fixing with respect to the terrain. Thus, if the trapped animal should lunge away from the trap, the resilient member will absorb at least some of the resulting shock so that injury to the animal can be minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively lifting an animal trap to an above-the-ground disposition as an incident of an animal being caught in the trap. The apparatus includes structure defining a vertical slide, structure for disposing the slide to extend in an upright manner from the ground, a lift element slidably carried on the slide, structure for connecting the trap to the lift element, and structure responsive to an animal being trapped by the trap to rapidly slide the lift element from a preselected lower position on the slide to an upper position wherein the trap is disposed above the ground.

Abstract: There is provided an animal trap which is specific to a given range of animal weights. The trap has a frame, and a spring-arm pivotally mounted at one end to the frame and having at the other end apparatus for entraining a cable. The spring-arm can swing from a horizontal position to an upwardly extending position, and is spring-biased toward the latter. A trip lever can move between two positions, in one of which it retains the spring-arm in the horizontal position, and in the other of which it releases the spring-arm. An animal stepping on the trip lever can cause it to release the spring-arm. The cable is anchored at one end and has at the other end a loop adapted to be placed so as to surround the trip lever. Apparatus is provided for avoiding the springing of the trap by an animal lighter than the given range of animal weights for which the trap is specific, this apparatus including a spring urging the trip lever toward the position in which it retains the spring-arm horizontally.

Abstract: A trap anchoring stake for anchoring an animal trap in soft or loose soils where in the past excessive stake length has been required to keep the trapped animal from pulling out the stake. The stake has a spring arm connected to the bottom of the stake for outward pivoted movement, and adapted to retain the stake in the ground by lateral pressure on surrounding soil, or by lateral penetration of the top end of the spring arm into the soil, or both. A spring arm latch is provided for connection to a trap tether chain operable to automatically release the latch by movement of a trapped animal, in case the trapper forgets to release the spring arm. An abutment limits outward movement of the spring arm to an acute angle to the stake, and the arm and stake constitute obstruction means which will hang up on brush or the like if the trapped animal succeeds in pulling the stake out of the ground.

Abstract: A spring and bail attachment for coil-spring, leg-hold animal traps which provides a firm stable base therefor to prevent tipping thereof to alarm the animal if a jaw is stepped on and which increases the traps holding power by preventing the animal from getting a solid pull or jerk when caught in the trap jaws and causing injury to its leg.

Abstract: An improved animal trap of the leg-hold type has a trap pan formed with a grid having all lower surfaces tapered to a knife edge so that there is no requirement to cover the trap pan with paper or plastic when covering the entire trap with fine dirt to disguise the trap from the animal. The dirt placed over the trap is permitted to fall beneath the inventive grid pan, since the sharpened lower surfaces can easily penetrate this dirt. Stabilizing legs are attached to the trap frame to permit the trap to be firmly anchored in the ground when it is set.

Abstract: A stake for animal traps comprising a vertical post portion with the upper end terminating in a transverse cross bar. Each end of the cross bar is notched to receive opposed spring loaded side frames of a rotating frame animal trap wherein the stake is able to support and stabilize the animal trap.

Abstract: An apparatus for safely handling an animal trap, said trap having a pan, a trigger dog engaging the pan, and spring-loaded means for holding an animal such as jaws or a noose, the apparatus comprising an enclosure member adapted to overfit the pan and enclose the area beneath the pan, and a handle member having a length greater than the reach of the jaws or other animal holding means.A method for handling a cocked animal trap, said trap of the type having a pan, a trigger dog engaging the pan, and spring-loaded means for holding an animal such as jaws or a noose, the method comprising the steps of covering the pan, the trigger dog and the space immediately below the pan; securely engaging the frame of the trap; and manipulating the trap by means of a handle member extending beyond the reach of the jaws or other animal holding means.

Abstract: An animal trap stake for anchoring an animal trap into the ground includes a generally cylindrical central shaft member which has a flat bottom edge and an enlarged exposed head portion. Secured to the central shaft member at a location adjacent the flat edge are oppositely disposed twisted wire pairs which extend upwardly and outwardly and serve as anchoring means for the animal trap stake once the stake is inserted into the ground. A swivel member which is disposed about the central shaft member and is freely pivotal and movable along the longitudinal length of the central shaft member provides the means for attachment and retention of the animal trap chain such that the chain swivels about the central shaft member rather than winding up on the shaft member.

Abstract: Trigger formed from a single piece of wire to provide two legs and a head in the bight, the head being formed to clip around a jaw of a trap to provide a frame around the dog.

Abstract: A holder for animal traps of the Conibear type utilizing resilient fingers mounted upon an elongated body adapted to be supported on a stake. The fingers include recesses wherein the jaws of the trap are received in the recesses to support the trap in a predetermined manner when set, and upon release the holder fingers do not interfere with the trap operation and the trap structure is automatically released from the holder.

Abstract: A safety catch for a rotating frame animal trap of round wire stock. The trap has two similar frames each frame having jaw forming sides and ends extending between the sides to support the jaws. The catch comprises a helix of an internal diameter about equal to the external diameter of the round wire stock of the frame so that the helix can fit around a first frame of the trap. The spacing of the coils of the helix is at least equal to the diameter of the wire stock. A hook extending outwardly from the helix to be able to engage, when the catch is in its useful position on a set trap, the second frame of the trap to prevent rotation of the frames. The catch is easy to install, even in a manufactured trap, unlike prior art safety catches.

Abstract: A pair of anchors, each with a pair of oppositely directed hooks on the end of a shank, are shiftable between flat and extended positions. In the flat position the hooks of both anchors are disposed in parallel planes so that the grapple can lie flatwise, and in extended position the pairs of hooks on one anchor are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the hooks on the other anchor so that the grapple will hang onto an object. A compressed spring drives the anchors from flat to extended positions, and a tethered trigger releases the spring.

Abstract: A folding grapple for traps as used for trapping upland animals and the like consists of a primary grapple member formed of an elongated rod provided with an eye at one end thereof and two oppositely disposed hooks at the other end. The said eye is at substantially right angles to the axis of the rod with the hole formed by the eye having a central axis parallel to the rod axis. A cam loop member is integrally fastened to the rod approximately midway between said eye and the bottom end of the hooks. Cooperating with this main grapple member is a second grapple member formed of an elongated rod with one hook formed integrally with the rod at one end of same and with an eye structure at the other end of same. This second eye structure is formed in a plane in alignment with the axis through the rod so that the hole formed by the eye has a central axis perpendicular to the rod axis. A limit disc is integrally fastened to this rod a short distance away from the eye portion.

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: 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: The trapping apparatus has a tether coiled around a hub in a housing. The hub is biased to foreshorten the tether, by a spirally coiled spring that is positioned to one side of the hub portion on which the tether is wound. The spring is contained within a hoop that may be a portion of the hub to aid assembly. A latch mechanism is provided to release the hub when a caught animal tugs on the tether. The latch mechanism is such that it will not latch again until the tether is completely retrieved.

Abstract: A rotating frame animal trap is held between a pair of spaced prongs. Each prong has a pair of pegs protruding inwardly to straddle a respective pivot of the trap. The prongs are held together by a ring that slides into position by gravity after a trap is positioned between the prongs. The prongs are inserted in the ground to hold the trap at a desired height.

Abstract: An open container of mouse bait has a bottom and an open top. A pair of arms are affixed to and extend parallel to the bottom of the container in spaced relation therewith whereby the container is removably mounted on the trigger device of a mousetrap and maintained thereon via such arms.