Rodent trap

A trap for catching rodents comprising an actuator, a sensor, a receptacle, a cover, a feeder, an elastic element, and a connecting mechanism between the actuator and the cover;

• wherein the receptacle comprises an opening;
• wherein the cover is rotatably arranged on an edge of the opening of the receptacle, wherein the cover is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the cover closes the opening in the receptacle in the closed position and wherein the opening in the receptacle is not covered by the cover when the cover is in the open position;
• wherein the actuator is controlled by a signal from the sensor;
• wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the cover via the connecting mechanism;
• wherein the actuator comprises a motor configured to drive a crank, the crank being connected to the connecting mechanism, and a motor coupler configured to releasably couple the motor to the crank;
• wherein the actuator is configured to move the cover from the open position to the closed position;
• wherein, in the open position, the elastic element is in a relaxed state, and the trap is in a stable equilibrium;
• wherein, in the closed position, the elastic element is in a strained state, and the trap is in an unstable equilibrium;
• wherein, in the unstable equilibrium, the crank is held in a dead-center position by the motor coupler against a force exerted by the elastic element in the strained state;
• wherein the elastic element is configured to move the cover from the closed position to the open position once the trap is taken out of the unstable equilibrium by a push from the actuator;
• and
• wherein the motor coupler comprises a motor coupler projection that projects from the motor coupler in a direction toward the crank;
• wherein the motor coupler projection holds the crank in the unstable equilibrium at or near the dead-center position against the force exerted by the elastic element in the strained state.