# US 2014/0190068 A1 · Retracting Tunnel Rodent Trap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190068 A1 - Document ID: US20140190068A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,008 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: Bell Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: James R. Walsh; Daniel C. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190068A1 ## CPC - A01M 23/36: with arrangements for piercing the victim - A01M 23/30: Break-back traps {, i.e. mouse-trap type} - 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 ## Abstract A rodent trap covered base defines an enclosed interior accessible through a sliding plastic tunnel defining a passageway for rodents into the interior. The tunnel has a projecting strike member, and is biased by an underlying spring to a retracted position. A trigger engaging member extends from the tunnel to be retained by a catch on a trigger mounted to the base. When a rodent passes through the tunnel into the base interior, it is directed by barriers towards a rodent attracting bait. To reach the bait, the rodent must press against a pivotably mounted trigger, thereby dislodging the trigger from the trigger engaging member which releases the tunnel to be driven by the spring to retract along parallel tracks to bring the strike plate forcibly against the rodent within the trap, usually killing it, and closing the trap, which is then presented covered within the trap for disposal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rodent trap comprising: a base having an interior wall which defines an interior and having an opening which communicates with the interior; a strike member having a passageway which passes through the interior wall opening to communicate with the base interior, the strike member having at least one entryway through which a rodent gains access to the passageway exterior to the base interior, the strike member being mounted to the base for travel between a first extended position and a second retracted position; a biasing member arranged to bias the strike member toward the retracted position; a trigger having a trigger catch arranged to hold the strike member in the extended position, wherein a rodent moving through the passageway into the interior and against the trigger will dislodge the trigger catch from the strike member to release the strike member to travel to the second retracted position to strike the rodent between the strike member and the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 further comprising a trigger spring which biases the trigger towards the strike member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 wherein the base has a platform which projects beyond the base interior, and wherein the biasing member comprises a spring, and wherein a channel in the base platform receives the spring, and wherein at least one guide track is formed in the base to receive a projection from the strike member to guide it along a desired path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 wherein the trigger extends in generally the same direction as the strike member passageway, but spaced sidewardly therefrom. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 wherein the strike member has a trigger engaging member which engages the trigger catch, and wherein an entrance compartment is defined within the base interior in communication with the passageway, and wherein a trigger compartment is alongside the entrance compartment and in communication therewith, wherein the trigger engaging member has a horizontal wall which projects from a side wall of the strike member, and a vertical wall which extends upwardly from the horizontal wall to face towards a rodent entering the trigger compartment from the entrance compartment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rodent trap of claim 5 wherein a strike plate extends from the trigger engaging member vertical wall and the strike plate is positioned to strike a rodent within the base interior when the trigger is triggered. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 further comprising a bait cup positioned within the base interior between the trigger and the strike member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 further comprising a lid which is connected to the base to define the base interior, the lid having a barrier wall which extends downwardly into the interior, and wherein the base has a barrier wall which extends upwardly into the interior, the lid barrier wall and the base barrier wall extending between an entrance compartment which communicates with the passageway and a trigger compartment which communicates with the trigger, the trigger being pivotally mounted to the base such that it does not extend into the strike member passageway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rodent trap of claim 1 further comprising: indicia associated with the base to indicate whether the trap is set or has been activated, the indicia being spaced from one another; and indicator portions of the strike member which extend outside the base interior and which point to one of the spaced indicia depending on whether the strike member is in the first extended position or the second retracted position. ### Claim 10 A rodent trap comprising a base; an upstanding wall extending upwardly from the base to define a base interior, the wall having an opening which communicates with the base interior; a tunnel element mounted to the base to extend through the opening in the upstanding wall, the tunnel element having at least one entrance opening to an interior of the tunnel element through which a rodent can gain access to the base interior, the tunnel element mounted for travel on the base between a first position in which the entrance opening is accessible by a rodent exterior to the base interior, and a second position in which the entrance opening is retracted within the base interior, the direction of tunnel element travel defining an axis, the tunnel element having an off-axis wall which extends towards the base interior; a spring extending between the base and the tunnel element which biases the tunnel element towards the second position; and a trigger mounted to the base within the base interior and extending outside the tunnel element, the trigger configured to retain the tunnel element in the first position, until the trigger is engaged by a rodent leaving the tunnel element, such engagement releasing the tunnel element to travel to the second position under the urging of the spring, such that the off-axis wall will strike portions of the rodent outside the tunnel element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 further comprising a trigger spring which biases the trigger towards the tunnel element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 wherein the base has a platform which projects beyond the base interior, and wherein a channel in the base platform receives the spring, and wherein at least one guide track is formed in the base to receive a projection from the tunnel element to guide it along a desired axial path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 wherein the trigger extends in generally the same direction as the tunnel element, but spaced sidewardly therefrom. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 wherein a trigger engaging member extends from the tunnel element which has a horizontal wall which projects outwardly from a side wall of the tunnel element, and a vertical wall which extends upwardly from the horizontal wall to face towards a rodent leaving the tunnel element within the base interior. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 further comprising a bait cup positioned within the base interior between the trigger and the tunnel element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 further comprising a lid which is connected to the base to further define the base interior, the lid having a barrier wall which extends downwardly into the interior, and wherein the base has a barrier wall which extends upwardly into the interior, the lid barrier wall and the base barrier wall extending between the tunnel element and the trigger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 further comprising a barrier extending within the base interior to define an entrance compartment which communicates with the interior of the tunnel element, and a trigger compartment into which the trigger extends, the trigger compartment communicating with the entrance compartment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The rodent trap of claim 10 further comprising: indicia associated with the base to indicate whether the trap is set or has been activated, the indicia being spaced from one another in the axial direction; and indicator portions of the tunnel which extend outside the base interior and which point to one of the spaced indicia depending on whether the tunnel element is in the first position or the second position. ### Claim 19 A rodent trap comprising a base having an upstanding wall which defines an interior, the wall having an opening which communicates with the interior, wherein the base has at least one guide track which extends outside the base interior; a tunnel element mounted to the base to extend through the opening in the upstanding wall, the tunnel element having at least one entrance opening communicating with an internal passageway which communicates with the base interior, the tunnel element having portions which extend into the at least one base guide track, wherein the tunnel element is mounted for travel on the base between a first position in which the entrance opening is accessible by a rodent exterior to the base interior, and a second retracted position; a spring extending between the base and the tunnel element which biases the tunnel element towards the second position; and a trigger mounted to the base within the interior, the trigger configured to retain the tunnel element in the first position, until the trigger is engaged by a rodent leaving the tunnel element, such engagement releasing the tunnel element to travel guided by the at least one guide track to the second position under the urging of the spring, such that the tunnel element will strike portions of the rodent. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The rodent trap of claim 19 wherein the base has a platform which projects beyond the base wall, and wherein the guide track is formed on the base platform.