|
PatentVote.com: Vote on your favourite invention!
|
|
 |
Title: Animal trap
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An animal trap comprising a first and a second pairs of jaws connected in fixed back-to-back spatial relationship relative to each other and having each one pivoting jaw opening angularly away from the corresponding other jaw and toward the one pivoting jaw of the other pair of jaws, spring means connected to said one jaws and biasing the latter angularly away from each other toward closing thereof relative to the other jaws respectively, latch means selectively setting said one jaws in open adjoining relationship, a treadle positioned at the outline of each of said pairs of jaws, and trigger means connected to said treadles and releasably holding said latch means and releasing the latter in response to actuation of any of said treadles, thereby to allow an animal to trigger the closing of said pairs of jaws upon stepping on any of said treadles said latch means including a female latch member carried by the one jaw of said second pair of jaws, and a male latch member pivoted to the one jaw of said first pair of jaws about an axis extending lengthwise of the pivot axis of the latter one jaw, said male latch member including a first and a second radial projection releasably engageable with said female latch member and with said trigger means respectively. 2. An animal trap as defined in claim 1, wherein said trigger means includes an upstanding trigger member connected to said treadles for displacement therewith and releasably abutting said second radial projection upon latching of the latch members. 3. An animal trap as defined in claim 2, wherein said one jaw and said other jaw of each pair of jaws constitute a first and second loop members respectively, said second loop members are fixedly connected in mutually converging relationship relative to each other, and said first loop members are pivotally connected to said second loop members and project outwardly on one side relative to the latter. 4. An animal trap as defined in claim 3, wherein said spring means includes a pair of springs arranged on opposite sides respectively of the pairs of jaws, each of said springs constitutes a helical spring having opposite ends operatively engaging said one jaws respectively and biasing the latter angularly away from each other toward the other jaws respectively, and each of said opposite ends of said springs is looped around and slidable along a pair of angularly cooperating lateral arms of the jaws respectively of one of said pairs of jaws and is arranged into outward biasing engagement with said arms. 5. An animal trap as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said treadles constitutes a plate pivoted to one of said other jaws, a link interconnects said plates away from the pivot axis thereof, and said upstanding member is rigidly secured to said link and adapted to downwardly displace upon downward pivoting of either of said plates. 6. An animal trap as defined in claim 5, wherein said second loop members cooperatively form an elongated closed perimeter frame including a pair of cross bars at the opposite ends thereof respectively, and said treadles are pivotally connected to said cross bars. 7. An animal trap as defined in claim 2, wherein said upstanding trigger member is pivotally connected to said other jaws about an axis extending lengthwise of the pivot axes of said one jaws and said treadles are connected to said upstanding trigger member for pivotal displacement therewith about the axis thereof. 8. An animal trap as defined in claim 7, further including a wire frame defining a pair of opposite edge portions pivotally connected relative to said other jaws and having one of said opposite edge portions rigidly secured to said upstanding trigger member for said pivotal displacement therewith, and said treadles constitute a pair of platforms secured to the opposite ends respectively of said opposite edge portions. 9. An animal trap as defined in claim 8, further including a pair of supports fixedly secured to said other jaws and having said one jaws pivoted thereto, one of said supports having said upstanding trigger member pivoted thereto and forming a notch facing toward the latter, and said second radial projection engaging into said notch in releasable abutment with said upstanding trigger member upon latching of the latch members. Other info: Inventors: Desrosiers, Wilfrid Application Number: 546103 Filing Date: 1975-01-31 Publication_date: 1976-04-20 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 43/81 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Mancene, Louis G. Assistant Examiner: Leach, Daniel J. Attorney: |
|