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US 11,723,355 B2Granted
Burrowing animal traps
OwnerThomas Alfred Browninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An animal trap is configured to enclose the entrance to a burrow and appear to the animal as an extension of the burrow. As a result, the animal will be likely to enter the animal trap under the mistaken belief that it is exiting the burrow. The animal trap may include a main body and a cage floor that define a capture area. The main body is designed to form a pathway into the capture area which is downwardly oriented so that the trap can be placed directly overtop the burrow opening.
Claims20
A burrowing animal trap comprising:
- a main body having an outer surface, an inner surface and an edge that separates the outer surface from the inner surface, the edge extending fully around the main body along a horizontal plane such that the inner surface forms a downwardly-oriented concave interior of the main body that is fully enclosed when the edge is oriented downwardly and positioned against the ground, the main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- a cage floor coupled to the main body over the concave interior, the cage floor having a first end and a second end, the second end of the cage floor being positioned at the second end of the main body, the first end of the cage floor being spaced away from the first end of the main body to thereby divide the concave interior into a capture area towards the second end of the main body and a pathway into the capture area towards the first end of the main body, wherein the edge of the main body and the first end of the cage floor define a downward facing opening to the pathway;
- and
- a capture mechanism that includes a trap door that transitions between a set position in which the trap door does not block the pathway into the capture area and a triggered position in which the trap door blocks the pathway into the capture area.
1 more element
A burrowing animal trap comprising:
- a main body formed of an opaque material, the main body having an outer surface, an inner surface and an edge that separates the outer surface from the inner surface, the edge extending fully around the main body along a plane such that the inner surface forms a downwardly-oriented concave interior of the main body that is fully enclosed when the edge is oriented downwardly and positioned against the ground, the edge defining an opening into the concave interior, the main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the opaque material from which the main body is formed inhibits light from passing into the concave interior when the edge is positioned against the ground, the positioning of the edge against the ground also inhibiting the light from passing under the edge and into the concave interior;
- a cage floor coupled to the main body over the concave interior, the cage floor extending from the second end of the main body towards the first end of the main body to thereby divide the concave interior into a capture area towards the second end of the main body and a pathway into the capture area towards the first end of the main body, wherein the edge of the main body and the first end of the cage floor define a downward facing opening to the pathway;
- and
- a capture mechanism that includes a trap door that transitions between a set position in which the trap door does not block the pathway into the capture area and a triggered position in which the trap door blocks the pathway into the capture area.
1 more element
A burrowing animal trap comprising:
- a main body formed of an opaque material, the main body having an outer surface, an inner surface and an edge that separates the outer surface from the inner surface, the edge extending fully around the main body along a plane such that the inner surface forms a downwardly-oriented concave interior of the main body that is fully enclosed when the edge is oriented downwardly and positioned against the ground, the main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the opaque material from which the main body is formed prevents light from passing into the concave interior when the edge is positioned against the ground, the positioning of the edge against the ground also inhibiting light from passing under the edge and into the concave interior, the main body having an opening at the second end that is spaced from the edge and that allows light to pass into the concave interior;
- a cage floor coupled to the main body over the concave interior, the cage floor having a first end and a second end, the second end of the cage floor being positioned at the second end of the main body, the first end of the cage floor being spaced away from the first end of the main body to thereby divide the concave interior into a capture area towards the second end of the main body and a pathway into the capture area towards the first end of the main body, wherein the edge of the main body and the first end of the cage floor define a downward facing opening to the pathway that can be positioned overtop an opening to a burrow;
- and
- a capture mechanism that includes a trap door that transitions between a set position in which the trap door does not block the pathway into the capture area and a triggered position in which the trap door blocks the pathway into the capture area.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.