# US 2014/0190069 A1 · Mole trap and method of operation therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190069 A1 - Document ID: US20140190069A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/157,242 - Filed: 2014-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-02 - Assignees: Senoret Chemical Company - Applicants: Senoret Chemical Company - Inventors: Stewart CLARK; Leonard A. FICKEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190069A1 ## CPC - A01M 23/36: with arrangements for piercing the victim - A01M 17/00: Apparatus for the destruction of vermin in soil or in foodstuffs {(injecting fertilisers into the roots of trees A01G29/00)} - A01M 27/00: Apparatus having projectiles or killing implements projected to kill the animal, e.g. pierce or shoot, and triggered thereby - 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 mole trap includes a molded housing with first and second portions. One of the portions includes two molded posts. A trigger and release plate are each pivotally mounted on one of the two posts, and are substantially encased within the housing. The trap may include a first shaft connected to a trigger pad, and a spring loaded second shaft. The first shaft is slideable with respect to the second shaft, which is connected to a plurality of tines. A release is operative to hold a trigger in a set position, and thereby hold the spring loaded second shaft in the set position. The first shaft is operable to displace the release in response to an upward force applied to the trigger pad, wherein the release is operable to release the trigger in response to the displacement, wherein the trigger is operable to release the spring loaded outer shaft. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19. (canceled) ### Claim 20 A mole trap comprising: a housing, said housing having two legs with an archway therebetween, said housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected together, said first and second housing portions having first and second posts internal to said housings, respectively; a release component moveably mounted on said first post; a trigger moveably mounted on said second post; said housing portions when coupled to one another along their respective edges defining a substantially closed inner chamber therebetween, said trigger and said release component being enclosed within said inner chamber; and a tine assembly including a plurality of tines and a spring, said spring being positioned within said archway and extending generally parallel with and spaced in between said legs, ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The mole trap as set forth in claim 20, wherein said first and second housing portions are symmetrical and identical. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The mole trap as set forth in claim 20, wherein said spring is externally exposed. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The mole trap as set forth in claim 20, wherein said tine assembly further includes a first shaft and a second shaft, the second shaft being spring loaded by said spring and movable with respect to said first shaft. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The mole trap as set forth in claim 23, wherein said release component is operative to hold said trigger in a set position, said trigger is operative to hold said spring loaded second shaft and said plurality of tines in said set position, said first shaft is operable to displace said release component in response to upward force applied to said trigger, said release component is operable to release said trigger in response to said displacement, and said trigger is operable to release said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The mole trap of claim 23, wherein said release component includes a recess for engaging, and holding in place, said trigger when said mole trap is in said set position, the upper end of the second shaft being coupled to a handle, said second shaft being spring loaded by said spring when pulled upwardly by said handle, upward movement of said handle pulling the second shaft and plurality of tines upwardly to set the trap. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The mole trap of claim 25, wherein said release component is operable to pivot in response to displacement of said first shaft, said pivoting movement displacing said recess to release said trigger and said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The mole trap of claim 20, wherein said first and second housing portions and said first and second posts are molded. ### Claim 28 A mole trap comprising: a spring; a first shaft and a second shaft arranged parallel and adjacent one another, said first shaft connected to a trigger pad, said second shaft being spring loaded by said spring and moveable with respect to said first shaft, said spring loaded second shaft operably connected to a plurality of tines; a release component and a trigger, said release component being operative to hold said trigger in a set position, said trigger being operative to hold said spring loaded second shaft and said plurality of tines in said set position, said first shaft being operable to displace said release component in response to upward force applied to said trigger pad, said release component being operable to release said trigger in response to said displacement, and said trigger being operable to release said spring loaded second shaft; a housing substantially encasing said release component and said trigger; and first and second mounting structures internal to said molded housing, said release component being moveably mounted on said first mounting structure, and said trigger being moveably mounted on said second mounting structure. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The mole trap of claim 28, wherein both said first and second shafts extend axially and are surrounded by said spring. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The mole trap of claim 28, wherein said housing includes a first molded housing portion and a second molded housing portion connected together, said first molded housing portion and said second molded housing portion being substantially symmetrical and identical. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The mole trap of claim 28, wherein said housing is generally U-shaped having two legs with an archway therebetween, said spring and said first and second shafts being positioned within said archway and extending generally parallel with said legs. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The mole trap of claim 28, further comprising a tine body with an aperture, said tines connected to and extending generally perpendicular to said tine body, wherein each of said first and second shafts has an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the first shaft extending through said tine body aperture and having the trigger pad affixed thereto, said trigger pad being positioned below the tine body when the trap is assembled, a lower end of the second shaft being fixedly connected to said tine body, said tine body and second shaft being movable independently of said first shaft and trigger pad. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The mole trap of claim 32, wherein said release component includes a protrusion operative to engage said upper end of said first shaft when said trap is in said set position, and wherein said first shaft is operable to displace said release component by sliding upwardly with respect to said second shaft to displace said protrusion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The mole trap of claim 28, wherein said trigger includes a trigger slot for holding said spring loaded second shaft in said set position, said trigger having a portion thereof fitted to engage a slot of said release component, and to be held in place by said slot of said release component when said trap is in said set position, said trigger being moveable in response to displacement of said release component to release said spring loaded second shaft, wherein displacement of said release component disengages said trigger from said slot of said release component. ### Claim 35 A mole trap comprising: a molded housing including a first molded housing portion and a second molded housing portion, at least one of said first and second housing portions including at least two molded posts; a trigger and a release plate, each of said trigger and said release plate being pivotally mounted upon one of said at least two molded posts, said trigger and said release plate being substantially encased within said molded housing; and a tine assembly including at least a first tine shaft and a second tine shaft, a compression spring, a tine body with a central aperture and a plurality of elongated tines extending downwardly from said tine body; and said trigger being operative to hold said second tine shaft in a set position when the second tine shaft is pulled upwardly relative to said first tine shaft, and said release plate being operative to hold said trigger in said set position. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The mole trap as set forth in claim 35, wherein said first tine shaft and said second tine shaft are parallel to and independently movable with respect to one another, both of said first and second tine shafts being received longitudinally within said compression spring, said first tine shaft operative as a trip mechanism and said second tine shaft being spring loaded to force the tines rapidly downwardly when the trip mechanism is activated. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The mole trap of claim 35, wherein said release plate has a release plate recess for engaging an upper end of said trigger and an upper tab that is engaged with the upper end of said first tine shaft when the trap is set, a lower end of said trigger having a notch that engages with a side edge of said tine body to hold the tine body in the set position. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The mole trap of claim 37, wherein said release plate recess is positioned such that a change in the position of said release plate causes said release plate to release said trigger such that said trigger moves to disengage the trigger notch from the tine body and thereby release the spring loaded second shaft of said tine assembly. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The mole trap as set forth in claim 35, wherein the tine body is substantially perpendicular to said second tine shaft and to said tines, and said first and second tine shafts have abutting flat surfaces that are immediately adjacent one another.