US 5,329,724 AGranted

Rodent trap

OwnerWalter M. Salemaninventor

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Abstract

A rodent trap structured for capturing one or more rodents as a piece of bait is being consumed within the trap. Slidably mating, telescopically extendable upper and lower inverted and upright cup-shaped members, respectively, define a closed interior volume into which a rodent may enter through an entrance hole formed through a side wall of the lower member when the upper member is held in an armed position above the bottom of the lower housing. To hold the upper member in the armed position, a slender elongated trip rod of one embodiment downwardly extends from a central point of the top of the upper member, to be supported on a rigid piece of bait held above the bottom between uniquely configured spaced bait posts. These bait posts are connected to and upwardly extend into the interior volume from the bottom of the lower member. When so supported by the trip rod on the rigid bait, the upper member will only drop by gravity from the armed position to a closed position after sufficient bait is consumed by rodent to allow the remaining bait portion to pass downward between the bait posts, closing the entrance holes and capturing all rodents within the device at that time. The trap is preferably transparent for viewing of captured prey before disposal and includes evenly spaced entrance holes facing in all directions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rodent trap for capture, confinement, and disposal of one or more rodents comprising:

a lower member having a continuous upright side wall and a closed bottom which define an interior volume, said lower member side wall upwardly extending to define an open upper end of said lower member;
two opposing spaced apart bait posts positioned centrally atop said bottom, said bait posts defining a plurality of generally horizontal, vertically spaced bait support planes formed therebetween spaced above said bottom and structured to support a rigid piece of bait of various sizes such as a cracker and a peanut whereby the bait may be supported between said bait posts along one said bait support plane;
at least on entrance hole formed through said lower member side wall sized and positioned relative to said bottom to permit a rodent to freely pass through said entrance hole into said interior volume;
an upper member separate from said lower member and having an upright continuous side wall and a top, said upper member side wall downwardly extending to define an open lower end of said upper member;
said upper member sized to freely slide vertically within said lower member, said upper member side wall closing off said entrance hole when said upper member is in a downward closed position resting atop said bottom;
an upright trip rod connected at an upper end thereof to and downwardly extending from a central point of said top, a free distal lower end of said trip rod aligned between said bait posts when said upper member is engaged within said lower member;
said trip rod distal end being supported against the bait and, supporting said upper member in an armed position above said bottom a vertical distance sufficient for the rodent to enter into said interior volume through said aperture;
said upper member falling by gravity to said closed position when the rodent consumes a sufficient portion of the bait to allow said trip rod to pass downwardly between said bait posts.

5 more elements

A rodent trap for confinement and disposal of a rodent comprising:

an upper and a lower thin-wall cup-shaped member each having upright side walls and a closed top and a closed bottom, respectively;
said upper member having an open lower end and said lower member having an open upper end, said upper and lower members freely telescoping one to another and defining an interior volume sized to receive a rodent therewithin;
two opposing spaced apart bait posts positioned centrally atop said bottom, said bait posts defining a plurality of generally horizontal, vertically spaced bait support planes formed therebetween spaced above said bottom and structured to support a rigid piece of bait of various sizes such as a cracker and a peanut whereby the bait may be supported between said bait posts along one said bait support plane;
at least one entrance hole formed through one said lower member side wall and sized and positioned relative to said bottom to permit the rodent to freely pass through said entrance hole into said interior volume;
an upright trip rod connected at an upper end thereof to, and downwardly extending from, a central point of said top, a free distal end of said trip rod aligned between said bait posts;
said trip rod distal end extending below one said bait support plane when said upper and lower members are in a closed position wherein said upper member lower open end is resting atop said bottom;
said upper member side wall closing off said entrance hole when said upper and lower members are in the closed position.

4 more elements

A rodent trap for capture, confinement and disposal of one or more rodents comprising:

a lower member having an upright side wall and a closed bottom which define an interior volume, said lower member side wall upwardly extending to define an open upper end of said lower member;
a bait tube connected and positioned centrally atop said bottom, said bait tube having an upright bait support hole formed therethrough to support a rigid, slender elongated piece of bait such as a pretzel stick whereby a lower end of the bait may be inserted into said bait support hole and upwardly extending therefrom;
at least one entrance hole formed through said lower member side wall sized and positioned relative to said bottom to permit a rodent to freely pass through said entrance hole into said interior volume;
an upper member separate from said lower member and having an upright side wall and a top, said upper member side wall downwardly extending to define an open lower end of said upper member;
said upper member sized to freely slide vertically within such lower member, said upper member side wall closing off said entrance hole when said upper member is in a downward closed position resting atop said bottom;
said upper member being supported by the bait in an armed position above said bottom a vertical distance sufficient for the rodent to enter into said interior volume through said aperture;
said upper member falling by gravity to said closed position when the rodent consumes the bait sufficiently to cause a fracture of the bait.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.