US 4,790,102 A · Mole trap

Abstract

A mole trap and the like comprising a base adapted to be placed on the ground, a pair of spring loaded levers pivoted to said base and movable from a latched position to an unlatched position, a flexible loop associated with each lever and adapted to extend into the ground transversely of a mole tunnel and a lever projecting into the tunnel and engageable by the mole in its travel through the tunnel to unlatch either of the levers and permit the spring associated with a lever to move the loop and engage and trap the mole.

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Drawings

Claims14

Dependent claims

A mole trap and the like comprising

a base adapted to be placed on the ground,
a pair of spring loaded levers pivoted to said base and movable from a latched position to an unlatched position,
a pair of flexible non-metallic loops, one loop being associated with each said lever and adapted to extend below said base into the ground transversely of a mole tunnel,
a pair of latches, each latch engaging a respective one of said levers and holding its respective loop in the path of a mole approaching in either direction along the tunnel, and
a single trip member projecting into the tunnel and adapted to be engaged by the mole in its travel through the tunnel after it has moved into either one of said loops to selectively unlatch the lever associated with that loop and permit the spring associated with the unlatched lever to move that loop and engage and trap the mole.

2 more elements

A mole trap and the like comprising

a flat base adapted to engage the ground and having projections for extending into the ground,
a pair of levers,
each lever being generally U-shaped and comprising side portions and a central portion connecting one end of the side portions,
means pivoting the other end of said side portions of each lever to the upper surface of the base,
a pair of loops, each loop comprising a flexible non-metallic member having its ends pivoted to the central portion of a respective one of said levers and extending below said base through spaced openings in the base,
coil springs associated with each lever and having one end contacting the upper surface of the base and the other end engaging the side portions of the respective lever for urging the lever upwardly relative to the upper surface of the base,
a pair of latch members, each comprising a wire individual to each said lever and adapted to extend over the lever to hold the lever downwardly,
a single trip member means pivoting said trip member on the upper surface of said base and having a pair of slots, each being respectively engageable by a free end of said wire individual to each said latch member, and
said trip member having a portion extending below said base through an opening in said base and adapted to be engaged by an animal moving in either direction through a tunnel extending longitudinally to the base whereby after the animal has moved into either of said loops and has tripped the trip member a selective one of said levers unlatches and traps the animal within its respective loop.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,296 words

Summary319 words

#This invention relates to mole traps.

#Burrowing animals such as moles have long been a problem in connection with gardens and lawns. The foremost animal which causes destruction in gardens and lawns is the ground mole. Various poisons have been developed and traps have been designed in an effort to control the mole. Commercially mole traps have included a loop extending into the ground and spring loaded to trap the mole when the pressure of movement of the mole through the mole tunnel is sensed. Patents showing such pressure actuated traps comprise U.S. Pat. No. 936,808. It has been suggested that some type of trigger be provided in the mole tunnel, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 75,438, 549,977, 1,865,920, 1,918,582, 2,146,019, and 2,475,467.

#Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide an improved mole trap which will effectively trap moles; which can also be utilized to trap other burrowing animals such as prairie dogs, gophers, groundhogs, rats and the like; which can not be readily sensed by the animal; which does not have any metal parts in the path of the animal; the presence of which is not readily determined by the animal; which is easily tripped by the animal from either direction of travel through the tunnel; and which is easily placed and low in cost.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a mole trap showing a mole trapped in the trap.

#FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mole trap showing one position disengaged.

#FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2.

Detailed description861 words

#Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the mole trap embodying the invention comprises a base 10 adapted to be placed on the ground, a pair of spring loaded levers 11 pivoted to the base and movable outwardly and upwardly from a latched position adjacent the base to an unlatched position shown on the left in FIGS. 1 and 2 to an unlatched position shown on the right in FIGS. 1 and 2. A loop 12 is associated with each lever 11 and is adapted to extend into the ground transversely of a mole tunnel. A lever 13 projects into the tunnel and is engageable by the mole in its travel through the tunnel to unlatch either of the levers 11 and permit the spring associated with a lever 11 to move the loop 12 and engage and trap the mole.

#More specifically the base 10 comprises a flat plate having triangular projections 14 extending at a right angle from the plate 10 which are adapted to engage and hold the base in the ground. Each lever 11 is in the form of a U-shaped wire loop having parallel side portions 15 connected by a cross portion 16. The free end 17 of one of the portions 15 is looped about the end of a wire shaft 18 which extends through brackets 19 to base 10. The free end of the other side portion 15 is integral with shaft 18.

#Loop 12 is preferably made of plastic, such as nylon, and has its ends fastened to the central portion 16 of the lever by clasps 20. Each lever 11 is yieldingly urged toward an upward position as shown in FIG. 1 by tightly wound coil springs 21. Each spring 21 having one end 22 engaging the upper surface of plate 10 and the other end 24 engaging a side portion 15 of lever 11 to urge the respective lever 11 upwardly. Alternatively as shown in FIG. 8, the ends 23 are joined by an integral portion 22 that bears against the upper surface of plate 10.

Facts

Application

07/072,731Filed 13 Jul 1987

Granted

13 Dec 1988

Term ended

13 Jul 2007

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

A01M 23/34
Spring traps, e.g. jaw or like spring traps: with snares
A01M
Catching, trapping or scaring of animals

Mole trap

Life of this patent

Mole trap

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims14

Description1,296 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,296 words