# US 2014/0196356 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 2014/0196356 A1 - Document ID: US20140196356A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/157,265 - Filed: 2014-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-17 - 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/US20140196356A1 ## 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 1 A method of operating a mole trap, comprising: pulling upwardly on a spring loaded shaft and tine assembly; pushing a test tab which protrudes through a slot of a molded housing of the mole trap; and lowering the spring loaded shaft and tine assembly until a portion thereof engages in a slot of a trigger and is held in a set position thereby. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as se forth in claim 1, wherein the spring loaded shaft and tine assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft, said step of pulling upwardly moving the second shaft upwardly with respect to the first shaft, a lower end of said second shaft having a tine body with a plurality of tines that are pulled upwardly with said second shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of moving the second shaft upwardly compresses a spring that spring loads the second shaft of the shaft and tine assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein an edge of the tine body is received within the trigger slot when the trap is in the set position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of pushing the test tab rotates a release component having an upper tab and a recess located within the housing, the upper tab engaging an upper end of the first shaft and an upper end of said trigger being held within said release component recess when the trap is in the set position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of pushing the test tab rotates a release component that is operative to hold said trigger when the trap is in the set position, said trigger being operative to hold said spring loaded second shaft and said plurality of tines in said set position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein a lower end of said first shaft has a trigger pad, said first shaft being operable to displace said release component in response to upward force applied to said trigger pad, displacement of said release component releasing said trigger, and said trigger when released being operable to release said spring loaded second shaft, said plurality of tines and said tine body moving rapidly downward when the spring loaded second shaft is released. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said release component is operable to pivot in response to the upward movement of said first shaft, said pivoting movement releasing an upper end of said trigger to release said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 9 A method of operating a mole trap comprising the steps of: providing a trap having a housing with at least one slot, a trigger with an upper end and a lower end with a trigger slot therein, a release component having a release slot and an upper tab and a test tab, 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 a spring and moveable with respect to said first shaft, said spring loaded second shaft operably connected to a tine body having a plurality of tines; pushing the test tab downwardly in the housing slot to pivot the release component clockwise and position the upper tab for engagement with an upper end of said first shaft; pulling upwardly on said second shaft and engaging the tine body with the trigger slot to hold the trap in a set position; said upper tab engaging the upper end of said first shaft and the upper end of the trigger being held within the release slot of the release component when the trap is in the set position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as set forth in claim 9, 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 being operable to displace said release component in response to upward force applied to said first shaft, said release component being operable to release said trigger in response to said displacement, release of said trigger releasing said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said release component is operable to pivot in response to displacement of said first shaft, said pivoting movement displacing said release slot to release said trigger and said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first shaft displaces said release component by sliding upwardly with respect to said second shaft to displace said release component upper tab. ### Claim 13 A method of operating a mole trap that has a housing containing a trigger and a release component, a first shaft and a second shaft generally parallel to and moveable with respect to said first shaft, a spring for spring loading the second shaft, a tine body and a plurality of tines affixed to a lower end of said second shaft, a trigger pad affixed to a lower end of said first shaft, the method comprising the steps of: placing the mole trap over a mole tunnel and pressing downwardly until the trigger pad contacts a ground surface forming a top of the mole tunnel; pulling upwardly on the second shaft to compress said spring and spring load said second shaft; pushing a test tab which protrudes through a slot of the mole trap housing; and lowering the spring loaded second shaft until a portion of the tine body engages in a slot formed in the trigger within the housing and is held in a set position thereby. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as set for in claim 13, wherein the step of pushing the test tab rotates the release component to engage said release component with an upper end of the first shaft, an upper end of said trigger being held within a recess formed in said release component to hold said spring loaded second shaft and said plurality of tines in said set position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as se forth in claim 14, wherein said first shaft is operable to displace said release component in response to upward force applied to said trigger pad, displacement of said release component releasing said trigger, and said trigger when released being operable to release said spring loaded second shaft, said second shaft, tine body and plurality of tines moving rapidly downward to drive the plurality of tines into the ground when the spring loaded second shaft is released. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13, 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 pad, and displacement of said release component releasing said trigger to release said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said release component is operable to pivot in response to displacement of said first shaft, said pivoting movement displacing said release slot to release said trigger and said spring loaded second shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first shaft displaces said release component by sliding upwardly with respect to said second shaft to displace said release component.