# US 2014/0190067 A1 · Two-door cage trap with over-center set mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190067 A1 - Document ID: US20140190067A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/153,921 - Filed: 2014-01-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-24 - Assignees: Woodstream Corporation - Applicants: Woodstream Corporation - Inventors: Joseph A. RADESKY; Christopher J. KAMERY; Marko Konstantin LUBIC; Christopher T. RICH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190067A1 ## CPC - A01M 23/18: with pivoted closure flaps - E05F 1/002: {controlled by automatically acting means (for powered-operated mechanisms E05F15/70)} - E05F 1/123: {with a torsion bar} - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING ## Abstract A cage-type animal trap with two opposed animal access openings that can operate in a one-door-opening configuration or a two-door-opening configuration. The trap has a set mechanism for holding one or both doors open to allow access through the corresponding trap access openings. The set mechanism includes a set lever that is movable from a set position to a tripped position and that is coupled to the doors of the trap by an actuating member. Upon actuation, the set lever moves from the set to the tripped position to allow movement of the actuating member which enables one of the doors to move from an opened position to a closed position when the trap is operating in a one-door-opening configuration, and both of the doors to move from the opened position to the closed position when the trap is operating in the two-door-opening configuration. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An animal trap comprising: an animal enclosure having a roof and a pair of opposed animal access openings into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped; a first door movably mounted at a first access opening, the door operative in an opened position to reveal the first animal access opening and in a closed position to block the first animal access opening; a second door movably mounted at a second access opening, the door operative in an opened position to reveal the second animal access opening and in a closed position to block the second animal access opening; a first actuating cable having first and second ends, the first end being secured to the first door; a second actuating cable having first and second ends, the first end of the second cable being secured to the second door; a set mechanism configured to movably secure the second ends of both of the actuating cables, said set mechanism moving at least said first cable to open at least said first door when placed in a set position; and a trip mechanism configured to actuate movement of the set mechanism from the set position to a tripped position, said movement exerting force on at least one of the actuating cables to enable at least the first door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The animal trap of claim 21, wherein said trap is configured to operate as either a one-door-opening trap or as a two-door-opening trap, said trip mechanism initiating closure of both doors substantially simultaneously when the trap is operating as a two-door-opening trap. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The animal trap of claim 22, wherein said trap includes a cable guide mechanism mounted on the roof of the animal enclosure and configured to engage said second cable when said trap is set for two-door-opening operation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The animal trap of claim 23, wherein said cable guide mechanism is a wire-form hook having an opening facing the first door and a closed face nearest the set mechanism, said second cable entering said opening and being held against said closed face when tensioned between its first and second ends. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The animal trap of claim 21, wherein said set mechanism includes: a set lever bracket mounted on the roof transverse to a longitudinal direction of the animal enclosure; a set lever supported on said bracket so as to be movable between set and tripped positions, said second ends of said cables being secured to said set lever. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The animal trap of claim 25, wherein said trap is configured to operate as either a one-door-opening trap or as a two-door-opening trap, said trap including a cable guide mechanism mounted on the roof of the animal enclosure and configured to engage said second cable when said trap is set for two-door-opening operation. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The animal trap of claim 26, wherein said trap further includes at least one cable management element mounted on the top of the trap to direct the second cable toward the cable guide mechanism. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The animal trap of claim 27, wherein said trap includes a longitudinally extending handle having handle bases mounted on said set lever bracket, said cable management element including slots formed in said handle bases and extending longitudinally therethrough and in alignment with one another to receive said second cable which passes therethrough. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The animal trap of claim 28, wherein said slots are substantially in longitudinal alignment with a point at which said second cable is secured to the second door. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The animal trap of claim 21, wherein said set mechanism is pivotally movable. ### Claim 31 An animal trap comprising: an animal enclosure having a roof and a pair of animal access openings into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped; a first door movably mounted at a first access opening, the first door operative in an opened position to reveal the first animal access opening and in a closed position to block the first animal access opening; a second door movably mounted at a second access opening, the second door operative in an opened position to reveal the second animal access opening and in a closed position to block the second animal access opening; a set mechanism including a set lever movable between a tripped position and a set position, said lever configured to open at least said first door when placed in said set position; an actuating mechanism coupled to said set lever so as to be movable therewith and having a first end secured to the first door; a trip mechanism configured to actuate movement of the set mechanism lever from the set position to the tripped position to enable at least the first door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure; said trap configured to operate as either a one-door-opening trap or as a two-door-opening trap depending upon positioning of the actuating mechanism when the set lever is placed in the set position, said trip mechanism initiating closure of both doors substantially simultaneously when the trap is operating as a two-door-opening trap. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The animal trap of claim 31, wherein said actuating mechanism is a cable. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The animal trap of claim 31, wherein said actuating mechanism includes a first cable secured at said first end to said first door and at a second end thereof to said set lever, and a second cable connected at a first end thereof to said second door and at a second end thereof to said set lever. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The animal trap of claim 33, wherein said set mechanism includes a cable guide on the top of the trap for directing the second cable through a 180 change in direction. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The animal trap of claim 34, wherein said trap further includes a longitudinally extending handle having handle bases mounted on top of the trap, said handle bases having respective slots extending longitudinally therethrough and in alignment with one another to receive said second cable. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The animal trap of claim 35, wherein said slots are substantially in longitudinal alignment with a point at which said first end of said second cable is secured to the second door. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The animal trap of claim 36, wherein an entry edge of said cable guide is substantially in longitudinal alignment with said slots. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The animal trap of claim 37, wherein an exit edge of said cable guide is substantially in longitudinal alignment with a point at which said second end of said second cable is attached to said set lever. ### Claim 39 (depends on 31) The animal trap of claim 31, wherein said set mechanism is pivotally movable.