Trap and method for trapping a mouse or other rodent

A sanitary and disposable mousetrap comprising:

• a base having an upright stand, a first support member, and a second support member;
• a cam lever pivotally mounted on the upright stand for pivotal movement between a set position and a catch position;
• a spring-loaded striker means having a striker bar and a pair of arms interconnected through said striker bar, and pivotally mounted on the first and second support members for pivotal movement between a set position, a catch position and a release position;
• a spring for biasing said cam lever towards said cam lever catch position and pivotally mounted on said second support member, said spring being configured with a pair of extension rods, one of which has a distal end that hooks around one of said arms and the other extension rod contacts with said base;
• a trigger member having a rear end for cooperating with said cam lever and a pad end which is activated by the rodent to be trapped.

A method of killing a mouse or other rodent in a trap, comprising the steps of:

• trapping the rodent in a disposable, plastic enclosure which is disposed within a hardened tubular member having a pair of transverse slots for receiving a striker bar;
• and
• automatically releasing said striker bar so as to pass through said transverse slots, thereby killing the rodent while the rodent is within the enclosure without penetrating said enclosure, and
• removing and disposing of said enclosure without touching the rodent.

A trap for a mouse or other rodent comprising:

• a disposable enclosure for receiving the rodent therein, said disposable enclosure disposed within a tubular member having a transverse slot for receiving a striker bar to engage said disposable enclosure;
• a spring-biased striker bar mounted on a base, said striker bar being pivotable between a set position, a catch position and a release position, said base including an upright stand, a first support member and a second support member;
• said striker bar including a pair of interconnected arms which are operatively connected to said first and second support members for pivotal movement between a set position, a catch position and a release position;
• a sensing element in contact with said disposable enclosure, which when activated by the rodent, automatically causes said striker bar to engage said enclosure and strike said rodent;
• and
• a cam lever, an upper end of which is supported by said upright stand, said cam lever being pivotable between said set position, catch position and release position and includes a perpendicular arm in a top portion thereof for engaging a rear end of the sensing element, said cam lever further including a pair of hooks, one of which is located in a central portion of said cam lever for cooperation with said striker bar when said striker bar is in the set position, and the other hook is located in a lower portion of said cam lever for releasable engagement with said striker bar when said striker bar is in the catch position.