Single-handed trap

A single-handed trap comprising:

• a frame having an opening;
• a door pivotably affixed to said frame adjacent said opening and movable between open and closed positions, said open position defined by said door substantially clear of said opening, said closed position defined by said door obstructing said opening;
• a spring biasing said door toward said closed position and exerting a force through a linkage pivotally connected to said door and said force acting on said linkage through a line of action;
• a rotating assembly connected to said door through said linkage and said linkage being pivotally connected to said rotating assembly, said rotating assembly rotatably affixed to said frame and rotatable between a set position and a tripped position about an axis of said rotating assembly, when said rotating assembly is in said set position, said door is in said open position, and when said rotating assembly is in said tripped position, said door is urged toward said closed position, said line of action being offset to a first side of said axis of said rotating assembly when said rotating assembly is in said set position wherein said force urges said rotating assembly in a first rotational direction that is restrained from rotation and maintains said door in said open position, and said line of action being offset to a second side of said axis of said rotating assembly that is opposite from said first side of said axis of said rotating assembly when said rotating assembly is in said tripped position wherein said force urges said rotating assembly in a second direction that is opposite to said first rotational direction and facilitates closing said door;
• a trigger mechanism fixed with respect to said rotating assembly, said trigger mechanism for rotating said rotating assembly into said tripped position.

A single-handed trap comprising:

• a frame having an opening;
• a pair of doors pivotably affixed to said frame adjacent said opening and movable between open and closed positions, said open position defined by said doors substantially clear of said opening, and said closed position defined by said doors obstructing said opening;
• a rotating assembly connected to each said door through a linkage and each said linkage being pivotally connected to said rotating assembly and pivotally connected to one of said doors, said rotating assembly rotatably affixed to said frame and rotatable between a set position and a tripped position about an axis of said rotating assembly, when said rotating assembly is in said set position, said doors are in said open position, and when said rotating assembly is in said tripped position, said doors are urged toward said closed position, said rotating assembly being connected to a locking mechanism including a ratchet wheel partially surrounding said central axis of said rotating assembly, and a pawl pivotally connected to said rotating assembly, said pawl includes teeth that are urged into contact with teeth on said ratchet wheel, said teeth on said pawl and said ratchet wheel allowing movement of said rotating assembly from said set position toward said tripped position, and when said teeth on said pawl and said ratchet wheel are in contact said teeth on said pawl and said ratchet wheel restraining movement of said rotating assembly in a direction toward said set position;
• a spring biasing one of said doors towards said closed position and exerting a force through a respective one of said linkages and said force acting on said respective one of said linkages through a line of action;
• and
• a trigger mechanism fixed with respect to said rotating assembly, said trigger mechanism for rotating said rotating assembly from its said set position into its said tripped position.