WO2003063588A1

WO2003063588A1 - Trap

Info

Publication number: WO2003063588A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/000134
Authority: WO
Inventors: Goran Gustafsson; Per Danielsson
Original assignee: Vangus Ab
Priority date: 2002-01-28
Filing date: 2003-01-26
Publication date: 2003-08-07
Also published as: SE0200229D0; SE0200229L; WO2003063588A9; SE525641C2

Abstract

Mousetrap comprising a table for enclosing a bite, and a spring loaded clamp (7) with a beam intended to hit the mouse at activation of a triggering mechanism for the clamp (6, 69). A cover (5) is arranged above the bite and is pivotable around a shaft pin (52). The cover supports said triggering means so that the spring loaded clamp in the tensioned position urges the cover towards the table and the bite, so that the cover is self-inhibiting and cannot be activated by a larger animal such as a cat or dog. The triggering means comprises a tongue (69), which is pivotable for allowing a strap of the clamp to pass beyond the tongue. Then, the tongue pivots back to its original position. Moreover, a footplate (3) is arranged before the cover. The footplate is pivotable and is locked in the use position by a locking plate (4).

Description

TITLE : TRAP

AREA OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trap for a small animal such as a mouse. More specifically, the invention relates to a trap having a simple mechanical construction and having minimized the risk of injury during the tensioning of the trap. Moreover, the trap of the invention makes it possible to dispose of the killed animal without the user needing to touch or come close to the animal.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION A type of mousetrap commonly used in Sweden today comprises a clamp that is pivoted to a tensioned position against the bias of a spring. When the clamp is made free, it is pivoted towards the mouse and hits it and kills it. A table with a bite is arranged in relation to the clamp. A release mechanism normally maintains the clamp in the tensioned position. Upon the mouse taking the bite, the release mechanism activates the clamp and the spring pivots the clamp towards the mouse head. Such a mousetrap is disclosed in for example EP 1011326. US 5953853 disclose another type of mousetrap having a more complex construction, comprising electronic means for detecting the presence of a mouse.

US 615218 disclose a mousetrap having means for discarding the killed mouse without the need of touching the killed animal.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a trap having a simple mechanical construction and in which the risk of injury during the tensioning of the trap is minimized. Another object of the invention is to provide a mousetrap in which the animal may be discarded without the need of the user touching the killed animal.

A third object of the invention is to provide a trap that is self-inhibiting.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a trap that is mechanically safe, so that a cat or dog or other larger animal cannot by mistake trigger the trap and become hurt. Accordingly, there is provided, according to the invention, a trap for a small animal having the features defined in the appended patent claim 1.

Thus, there is provided a trap for an animal comprising a table, at which a bite may be arranged, a clamp means with a beam intended to hit the animal at activation of a triggering means for the trap, the clamp means being biased by a^' spring in a tensioned position. According to the invention, the triggering means comprising a shaft and a tongue cooperating with a strap of the clamp means for retention of the strap and the clamp means in a tensioned position. A cover is arranged above the table covering the bite and connected to the triggering means for releasing the strap and the clamp means upon activation of the cover. The cover is urged towards the table by said triggering means in the tensioned position so that the trap becomes self-inhibiting. The cover itself may be the triggering means.

The triggering means may comprise a retention tongue made in a material different from the triggering means and attached to the triggering means. Alternatively, the triggering means may comprise a pivotable tongue which cooperates with the strap in the tensioned position and which is pivotable out of the way for the strap during the tensioning of the trap. The spring may be a plate spring or a coil spring.

The cover may comprise a shaft pin, and the distance from the cooperation position between the triggering means and the strap to the shaft pin, and the distance between the shaft pin and the end of the cover are so dimensioned that a lift of the cover by about 10 mm entails that the triggering means releases the clamp and the strap so that it may pivot freely. Moreover, there may be a footplate positioned in front of the table, which is pivotable and is locked in a first use position by a locking plate cooperating with a groove in said footplate.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages appear from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mousetrap according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mousetrap according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mousetrap according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a mousetrap according to Fig. 3 in more detail;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view with a longitudinal cut at the middle of the mousetrap of Fig. 4; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two details of the mousetrap of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clamp included in the mousetrap of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a cover included in the mousetrap of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a housing included in the mousetrap of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken according to line X - X is Fig. 4; Fig. 11 is a schematical side view and shows the mousetrap during tensioning; and

Fig. 12 is a schematical side view and shows the mousetrap in a deactivated position and during the tensioning of the clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 discloses a first embodiment of the invention in a schematical cross-section. The first embodiment of the mousetrap 1 comprises six components, viz. a housing 2, a footplate 3, a locking plate 4 for the footplate, a cover 5 including a trigger 6, a clamp 7 and a spring 8. The mousetrap is shown in a horizontal position in Fig. 1, for example at a floor. The housing also comprises a table where a piece of cheese may be arranged below the cover 5.

In the specification below is referred to horizontal and vertical directions and these should be interpreted to refer to directions when the trap is positioned at a horizontal floor. The mousetrap may be placed at other supports such as inclined surfaces or even hang vertically.

The operation of the mousetrap appears from Fig. 1. When a mouse puts its nose below the cover 5, the cover is pivoted upwards pivoting around a shaft pin 52 so that the trigger 6 is moved to the right in Fig. 1 and the clamp is made free from the shoulder 67 of the trigger 6. Then, the clamp 7 is pivoted clockwise by the spring 8 towards the neck of the mouse positioned before the cover 5 and kills the mouse.

Since the shaft pin 52 is positioned to the left of the contact surface between the clamp 7 and the shoulder 67, seen according to Fig. 1, the spring force will form a momentum in the clockwise direction around shaft pin 52 and bias the cover 5 towards the footplate or support 3. Thus, the mouse needs to overcome a relatively large resistance or force in order to be able to open the cover. The size of this force is determined by the exact position of the shaft pin 52 and the inclination of the upper surface of the shoulder 67. When the mouse has lifted the cover a certain predetermined angle or distance that may be 10 mm, or about 10 degrees, the cooperation between the shoulder 67 and the clamp 7 is released and the clamp may pivot freely as- described above.

It is realized that, as the shoulder 67 is worn out, it will tend to perform its retention action less well. Thus, it is desired to make the shoulder out of a durable material, such as hard plastics material or metal. Hard- plastics material is preferred since it may have a low friction coefficient as well. The shoulder may as well be made from a material different from the materials used for other parts of the trap. The shoulder- may- be- made- as a separate- part 68 see- Fig-. 2, and"be- attached to the cover 5, for example by an adhesive. The 5 complete cover including the shoulder as- an integral portion may be made from a harder plastics material.

When the- mouse-trap -is- tensioned- before- use the- clamp-7 is- pivoted counter-clockwise in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 and the clamp presses towards the inclined surface at the bottom side of the 0 shoulder 67 so that the shoulder is moved to the side at the same- time- as--the- cover is lifted- to- a small extent. For- this- - purpose, the bottom surface of the shoulder is chamfered as appears from Fig. 1 and' Fig. 2. However, the sensitive outer edge of the shoulder will then be weakened. The same is true 5- for the- shoulder- of Fig. 1.

At the tensioning of the mousetrap, a small movement takes place by the cover, upwards and then downwards. This- is a confirmation that the mousetrap is well tensioned and ready for- action. However, it maybe- that the user- holds his -fingers ^• 0 at the cover and prevents this movement and the safe tensioning of the mousetrap.

This problem is solved in an elegant manner by a third embodiment of the- invention shown in Fig-. 3^~. In this- third embodiment, the shoulder 68 is exchanged for a pivotable. 5 tongue 69. At tensioning, the tongue is pivoted clockwise and leaves free space for the clamp to pass, and then falls back to- its -normal position. In this -case-, no- movement takes- place- of the cover 5 during the tensioning. Moreover, the tongue may be made with constant thickness so that it has a sufficient 0 thickness to be constructionally stable.

Fig-. 4 discloses- the- third- embodiment of the- invention in more detail. The same details that appear in the previous embodiments are given the same reference numerals.

Another feature of the mousetrap is that the killed mouse -5- may be- removed- without the- user- needing- to- touch the- mouse-. For this purpose, the support 3 is attached to the housing 2 by means of an arm 31 (see Fig. 6), and extending into a recess 21a in the housing. The recess 21a comprises a shaft pin 22a and the arm 31 comprises a hole 32. A corresponding recess 21b is arranged at the other side of the housing as is shown in Fig-. 6- and a corresponding- arm is -arranged- at the- other side of the support 3 (invisible in Fig. 6) . The arms 5 are made from a plastics material that may be flexed outwards during the mounting, so that the arms 31 may be inserted in the- recesses -21 and- e- flexed- so- that the- shaft pins 22- may snap into the holes 32. It is mentioned that the same function may be obtained by replacing the hole 32 with a shaft pin 0 directed inwards and replacing the shaft 22 with a recess.

The- locking- plate- 4 is -inserted- into- two- recesses -23-a and- 23b in the housing so that the locking plate 4 is moveable parallel with the longitudinal axis of the mousetrap. The locking plate 4 is provided with a chamfer 41 at the end 5- facing- the- support or- footplate-, see- Fig-. 4.

The footplate 3 is provided with an insert 33 having an inclined surface 34 for cooperation with the chamfer 41 of the locking plate 4 ,

The- footplate- 3- is - foldable- downwards -by removing- he- 0 locking plate 4 to the left in Fig. 4, so that the chamfer 41 will be completely positioned within the recess 23b. Then, the footplate is free to pivot around the shaft pins 22 and may be pivoted- downwards- according- to- arrow 3-5- in- Fig-.- 4. The- footplate 3 may then be pivoted to the original horizontal 5 position shown in Fig. 4 and locked therein by moving the locking plate 4 to the right in Fig. 4 so that the chamfer 41 again- cooperates - with the- inclined- surface- 3-4.

The clamp 7 comprises a horizontal beam 71, see Fig. 7, supported -by two vertical arms 72, 73. The arms are inserted 0 in holes 71a, 71b of the beam, as is indicated by broken lines in- Fig-; 7-. The- arms are- bended- 90- degrees- at the- bottom portion into two horizontal, shaft portions 74, 75 directed towards each other. These two shaft portions are further bent 90 degrees, still in the horizontal plane, and then further 90 -5- degrees- towards- each- other- in- order- to- form- a- spring-- strap- 7-6-, compare Fig. 4 and Fig. 7.

The clamp 7 is inserted in grooves 24 in the housing. The grooves 24 have a first horizontal portion and a second vertical portion. The clamp 7 is inserted in the grooves 24 so that the spring 8 is positioned above the spring strap 76 as clearly appears- from Fig-. 4. The spring- urges- the- spring-- strap- heavily downwards in Fig. 4, which means that the clamp is loaded or biased in the direction of the arrow 77 in Fig. 4. When the clamp is released, as described below, the clamp will pivot from its- vertical position- shown- in- Fig-. 4 to- a horizontal position according to the arrow 77.

As appears from Fig. 9, the groove 24 may comprise a third horizontal portion having a reduction 24a for retaining the clamp-.

The cover is shown in perspective view in Fig. 8. The cover comprises two arms 51a, 51b extending to the left in Fig. 4 and Fig. 8. Each arm comprises a shaft pin 52, whereby only the shaft pin- at the- arm 51a- is- visible in- Fig-. 8-. The shaft pins 52 may be inserted in a hole 25 in the housing 2 by bending or flexing the arms towards each other, whereupon the shaft pins 52 snaps into the holes in the housing when the pins- are po-sitioned - opposite these holes-. Alternatively, the housing may comprise a second groove in which the shaft pins are retained by a friction grip. In this manner, the cover 5 is pivotably journaled in the housing 2 and may be pivoted from the horizontal position shown- in Fig-. 4, upwards- to- the left to a vertical position. A recess 53 in the cover cooperates with an edge 26 (see Fig. 9) of the housing so that the cover is maintained in its upright position.

The constructioτr σf the housing- appears- in- more details- from Fig. 9. The housing comprises a table 27 where food or bite for an animal is placed, such as a piece of cheese. Moreover, the housing comprises two walls 28a, 28b and a ceiling- 28c- enclosing- the sp-ring- 8- and- some of- the mechanic- parts, so that a user will not become hurt by touching such parts. The housing is opened at the bottom so that the spring may be mounted from below. Fig-. 10 is- a- longitudinal section- through- the mousetrap- taken according to the line X - X of Fig. 4. From Fig. 10, it appears how the spring 8 is mounted. A stud 81 is arranged at the second sidewall 28a and extends cantilevered towards the second sidewall 28a. The stud 81 is provided with a longitudinal slit 82. The spring 8 comprises a first portion 83 positioned in the slit, a second portion 84 extending about two to three turns around the stud and a third portion 85, extending up to the spring strap 76 and cooperating with the strap.

Fig. 10 also shows that the cover 5 is provided with a tongue 69. The tongue is provided with two shaft pins 61, 62 cooperating with a recess in the sidewall of the cover. Moreover, the tongue has two protrusions 63, 64 extending below the spring strap and preventing the spring strap and the entire clamp 7 from pivoting clockwise and down to the right in Fig. 1. Between the protrusions 65, there is a space where the end of the spring may be encompassed. Thus, the tongue retains the clamp in its upright and tensioned position, as shown in the drawings. The bottom surface of the tongue is supported by a floor in the cover as appears from Fig. 1.

Furthermore, the tongue may be pivoted up to the right (clockwise) seen according to Fig. 4 and leave space for the spring strap to move beyond the tongue. A stop shoulder 66 prevents the tongue from pivoting more than about 80 degrees. In this manner, the tongue will always tend to achieve the position shown in Fig. 4. The operation of the mousetrap will now be explained below with reference to Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 11 discloses a front portion of a mouse that wants to take the bite and extends its nose between the cover 5 and the table 27 thereby lifting the cover. This takes place against the bias of the spring 8, since the spring urges the cover downwards towards the table with a certain force. The size of the force is determined by the relationship between the shaft 52 and the influence of the spring strap 76 on the tongue. As appears from Fig. 4, there is a small momentum arm in the clockwise direction around the shaft 52. When the mouse has lifted the cover over a certain angle of about 5 to 10 degrees, the cover is pivoted around the shaft 52. Then, the tongue is moved to the right in Fig. 11 and makes free the spring strap 76 so that the entire force of the spring pivots the spring strap and the beam downwards so that the beam hits the neck of the mouse and cut the back of the mouse thereby killing the mouse. In order to remove the mouse, the user holds the mousetrap over a discard bag or similar and pulls the locking plate 4 to the left in Fig. 4. Then, the locking plate is made free from the cooperation with the inclined surface 34 of the foot plate 3 and the foot plate becomes free to pivot downwards seen according to Fig. 4 and according to the arrow 35. Then, the mouse is free from the beam which stays in its horizontal position as shown in Fig. 12 because of two shoulders 29a, 29b, see Figs. 10 and 9 and the mouse falls down in the discard bag without the need of the user to touch the mouse. A recess 27a, see Fig. 9, in the table helps to release the animal. Also the fact that the cover now is free helps. The recess 27a may be much deeper than shown in Figs 6 and 9, so that in principle the entire fourth side wall of the table is removed, since the foot plate 3 forms the fourth side wall, see Fig. 3.

After discarding the animal, the mousetrap is put on a support and the locking plate 4 is inserted to the position shown in Fig. 4. Then, the position shown in Fig. 12 has been obtained. A new bite is adapted by lifting the cover to its vertical position. Finally, the cover is returned to its horizontal position according to Fig. 12.

When everything is arranged, the clamp has to be tensioned or apted, which takes place by moving the clamp counterclockwise seen according to Fig. 12, until its vertical position. After about 70 degrees, the clamp and the spring strap 76 attain the position shown with broken lines in Fig. 12. A continued rotation of the spring strap entails that the tongue is pivoted upwards and to the right (clock-wise), as shown with broken lines, and out of the way for the continued tensioning of the clamp. When the clamp has been pivoted about 100 degrees, as shown by broken lines, the spring strap 76 has passed beyond the tongue and the tongue is now free to pivot, under the influence of gravity, back to its position shown with solid lines in Fig. 12. The stop shoulder 66 prevents the tongue from being pivoted too much clock-wise so that it will no longer tend to fall back to its horizontal position. There may be arranged a spring forcing the tongue back to its horizontal position.

By the geometrical relationship between the shaft 52, the shaft 74 and the cooperation between the spring strap 76 and the tongue, as appears from Fig. 1, the clamp will be self- inhibiting. This means that it is practically impossible for the mousetrap to trigger unintentionally. If the mouse trap is uncarefully handled, for example by influencing upon the beam of the clamp, the cover 4 will only be still stronger urged towards the table and the tongue will be moved still further in below the spring strap. Thus, the construction is inherently stable and cannot be activated by mistake. The only way to activate or trigger the mousetrap is to lift the cover more than about 5 to 10 mm, whereupon the mousetrap becomes instable. After lifting the cover another millimeter, the cover and the tongue makes free the spring strap and the clamp. Since the edge of the tongue always is somewhat round, the spring strap will roll off the tongue during the last portion of the movement .

The tongue may be constructed by a hard material like hard plastics material or metal. The other portions of the trap may be made from injection moulded plastics material. The clamp and the spring are made from metal. The spring may be a plate spring as appears from Figs. 1 and 10, or a helical spring as appears from Fig. 12.

The tongue may be provided with a recess where the tongue cooperates with the spring strap so that the tongue will not unintentionally loose its cooperation with the spring strap.

The upper surface of the tongue cooperating with the spring strap may be somewhat chamfered. The normal of this chamfered surface determines the direction of the reaction force between the spring strap and the tongue. If the normal extends to the right of the shaft pin 52, the trap is self- inhibiting according to the invention. By adjusting this surface, that is adjusting the normal of this surface, the force required to open the cover may be adjusted. The frictional forces also contributes to the action.

The force is also determined by the relationship between the force arms, i.e. the distance between the shaft pin and the tongue and the distance between the shaft pin and the outer end of the cover (to the right in Fig. 4). The relationship between these arms may be between around 1:3 and 1:8.

Since the trap is self-inhibiting and the cover must be lifted to a relatively distinct position before the cover is activated or triggered, the trap is safe for other domestic animals, such as cats and dogs. The trap is also secure for handling by humans, since it almost never is activated unintentionally. Hereinabove, has been described the use of the device as a mousetrap. However, other animals may be caught and killed by the device such as rats, voles etc.

The invention may be combined in different manners within the scope of the invention. All such combinations appearing to a skilled person reading this description are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention. The invention is only limited by the appended patent claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A trap for an animal comprising a table, at which a bite may be arranged, a clamp means with a beam intended to hit the animal at activation of a triggering means for the trap, the clamp means being biased by a spring in a tensioned position, characterized by said triggering means comprising a shaft (52) and a tongue (67, 68 ,69) cooperating with a strap (76) of the clamp means for retention of the strap and the clamp means in a tensioned position; a cover arranged above the table covering the bite and connected to the triggering means for releasing the strap and the clamp means upon activation of the cover; said cover being urged towards the table by said triggering means in the tensioned position so that the trap becomes self-inhibiting.

2. Trap as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cover is the triggering means.

3. Trap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the triggering means comprises a retention tongue (68) made in a material different from the triggering means and attached to the triggering means.

4. A trap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the triggering means comprises a pivotable tongue which cooperates with the strap in the tensioned position and which is pivotable out of the way for the strap during the tensioning of the trap.

5. Trap as claimed in claim 4, characterized in the clamp comprises: a shaft (74, 75); two parallel first legs (72, 73) extending 90 degrees in relation to said shaft (74, 75); a beam (71) arranged at the other end of said legs parallel to the shaft; said shaft comprising a bent portion (76) forming said spring strap.

6. Trap as claimed in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the spring is a plate spring or a coil spring .

7. Trap as claimed in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said cover comprises a shaft pin (52), and the distance from the cooperation position between the triggering means and the strap to the shaft pin, and the distance between the shaft pin and the end of the cover are so dimensioned that a lift of the cover by about 10 mm entails that the triggering means releases the clamp and the strap so that it may pivot freely.

8. Trap as claimed in any one of the previous claims, characterized by a footplate positioned in front of the table.

9. Trap as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the footplate is pivotable and is locked in a first use position.

10. Trap as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the footplate is locked in said first position by a locking plate cooperating with a groove in said footplate.