AU648072B2

AU648072B2 - Animal trap

Info

Publication number: AU648072B2
Application number: AU76110/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rudi Mario Paoletti; Sebastian Paoletti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-28
Filing date: 1991-04-29
Publication date: 1994-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-29
Also published as: AU7611091A

Description

C'O M M 0 N W E A L T H OF A ST L A OF A U S T R A L I A PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECI FICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE UiSE 4 07 Class lInt. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: .00 Name of Applicant: *0'ddress of Applicant: 0 1 cua Ineto Address for Service: RUDI MARIO PAOLETTI and SEBASTIAN PAOLETTI 8 Nirvana Close, Langywarrin, 3910, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia £I~rl-IHACYI. 9A)b.

6. n e-Cni-l q-nsi fe-M-bc v i c 304 Complete specification for the invention entitled: ANIMAL TRAP The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performin4. it known to us

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ANIMAL TRAP This invention relates generally to animal traps and more particularly to a method and apparatus for trapping burrowing animals such as rabbits and the like.

Conventional animal traps generally comprise a cage having a trap door operable by some form of trip mechanism which is activatable by the animal when it enters the cage so that once the animal activates the trip mechanism the trap door or gate closes thereby capturing the animal with the cage. Devices of this type suffer from the disadvantages that they are unduly complicated and further, once the trap door has been activated no further animals can be caught by that trap until the trap mechanism is reset.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for capturing burrowing animals which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal trap for burrowing animals comprising a substantially tubular elongated housing of substantially circular cross-section having a side wall defining a space therein and having an opening at one end of the housing providing access to the space for the animal 25 to be trapped, closure means disposed within the space intermediate the ends of the housing and spaced from the opening so as to separate the space into an entrance zone which extends between the opening and the closure means and a a trap zone located beyond the closure means extending towards the other end of the housing, said closure means being movable between an open position in which the animal can enter the trap zone through the opening and the entrance zone, and a closed position in which the animal within the trap zone is captured, said closure means being 35 arranged so as to, in use, normally adopt or be urged into the closed position but is readily opened by the animal MA lbcontacting the closure means, the animal trap being dimensioned so as to be capable of being positioned within the burrow of the animal being trapped in use of the trap so as to trap the animal.

Thus in an operating position, the housing is disposed within the burrow with the opening located adjacent the entrance to the burrow. In use, animals entering the burrow are forced to enter the entrance zone through the opening

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0 .5 5 5* 0 a 50 S *S S 0* -2and then past the closure means so as to enter the trap zone which is arranged to inhibit the return of the animal to the entrance zone so that it is captured within the trap zone.

In one form, the housing of the animal trap may be generally tubular in shape and including a side wall with an end wall closing one end of the tube.

The other end of the tubular shaped housing is open and defines the aforementioned opening. The sidewall may extend so as to terminate at the opening or at the closure means. In the latter case an extension is required Goof from the closure means to the open,,ng to define the entry zone. Although the tubular housing may be of any suitable cross sectional shape, it is advantageously circular in cross section. The side wall of the housing may be formed from any suitable material and advantageously may be formed in a mesh-like configuration such as a wire mesh. The use of mesh makes it difficult for the animal to appreciate that it is in a trap when the trap is in the burrow until it is too late.

The closure means may be in the form of a door member hingedly mounted to the housing so that in its closed position, it acts as a barrier across the space within the housing between the entrance and trap zones and can pivot between this closed position and an open position whereby animals can pass from the entrance zone into the trap zone. Advantageously the door is hinged so as to be capable of swinging inwardly towards the trap zone from the closed position to the open position but is inhibited from swinging outwardly from the closed position towards the opening thus, inhibiting animals from forcing their way out of the trap zone. The closure member may be urged into the closed position, and this may be done by suitable spring means or for example, under the influence of gravity.

The closure means may be formed from any suitable material and may be arranged so that it can swing freely from the closed position to the open position when pushed by an animal. Mesh-like material may be used in the construction of the door. When in use and the trap is in the operating position, the closure door is arranged so that it adopts a slightly opened 910416Xamsspc.04,paoetti.c1,2 -3position thereby encouraging animals to force their way past the door into the trap zone.

The closure means may comprise a door support section which may be in the form of a generally circular ring to which the door is mounted. The door may be mounted for hinged or pivotal movement relative to the door support section so that it can open or swing inwardly towards the trap zone but is inhibited from movement outwardly towards the entry zone. To this end the door may be mounted for pivotable movement about two pivot pins which *to cause the door to swing upwardly and inwardly. The pivot pins may be 10 mounted on two arms forming part of the door the pivot pins being disposed 60400:towards the upper part of the door and door support section.

A stop may be provided on the door support section adjacent the bottom thereof which is adapted to co-operate with a section of the door to inhibit it from swinging outwardly. The door support section may be formed from any suitable material such as for example, wire, metal or plastics to material.

In one form, the entrance zone of the trap is formed by a generally cylindrical extension of the door support ring. It will be appreciated however, S• that the entry zone can be formed as an extension of the side wall.

The closure member may further include spike like elements which protrude into the trap zone and deter animals therein from trying to open the o closure means. The stop device may be in the form of a pin or spike which is adapted to engage an abutment to inhibit the door from swinging outwardly from the closed position towards the opening. The stop device may simply be in the form of a step or block on the support ring which is engageable by the door.

The end wall may have a door therein through which trapped animals can be removed from the trap. The door and door support section in the end wall may be similar in construction to that described above except that the end wall door may be provided with a releasable catch which when released permits the door to swing outwardly and the animals in the trap can be 910416.aispe.054,pnoctd.cI,3 -4removed.

Connector means may be provided for connecting the door support sections to the side wall which in one example embodiment comprises a wire mesh. The connector means may be in the form of a plurality of ties which can be formed into loops which can be attached to the door support section through slots therein the loop of the tie holding a section of the mesh in a secured position to the door support section.

Advantageously the side wall is formed from mesh material which is in so** the form of a flat sheet rolled into a tube. In this particular form, fastening means may be provided to hold the sheet in a tubular configuration. The fastening elements may comprise a pair of retaining plates havingco-operating fastening elements thereon arranged so that the end portions of the mesh sheet are sandwiched between the plates. The fastening means may comprise so..

a plurality of projections on one of the plates adapted to be received in respective apertures on the other of the plates. At least some of the projections may include deformable head portions which co-operate with the apertures associated therewith so that they can clip together and thereby hold *.so the two plates together.

0:60 0064 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of trapping burrowing animals using an animal trap as described above either in its broad or more specific forms the method including placing the animal trap within a burrow with the opening in the housing of the trap being disposed adjacent the burrow entrance so that animals entering the burrow will enter the space within the housing through the opening and thereupon proceed past the closure means which can move into its open position wid thereafter once the animal is within the trap zone, will move back into the closed position thereby capturing the animal.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a schematic sectional side elevation of an animal trap according to the present invention; 910416Ampc.054,pao1ctt1.c1,4 Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the animal trap as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 in, a schematic perspective view of a trap according to another form of the inverntion; Figure 4 is details of a section of the door closure between the trap zone and the entry zone; Figure 5 is a detail of a section of the door closure at the end wall; Figure 6 is a detail of fastening nmeats for holding the side wall in a tubular configuration; and 10 Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view showing how the trar is *too: *positioned within a burrow.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the animal trap generally indicated at 1 comprises a housing 3 which is in the form of an elongated tube having a side wall 2 a closed end wall 4 and an opening 5 at the other end of the tubular shaped housing. The tubular shaped housing is formed of wire mesh or similar material and is dimensioned so that it can fit within the 4 burrow of an animal or animals to be captured with the opening 5 being disposed adjacent the entrance to the burrow.

The housing 3 has a space 6 therein which is separated into an entrance zone 7 and a trap zone 8 by means of a closure 10 in the form of a door 11.

Door 1 is operatively connected to shaft 12 so as to be able to swing between a closed position as shown and an open position in which animals can pass from the entrance zone 7 to the trap zone 8. The door 11 is in the form of a mesh gate and has spikes 15 thereon projecting inwardly towards the trap zone 8. The door 11 can be manually operable by handle 13 to swing it from the closed position to the opened position. The door assembly is carried on a door support in the form of a ring 14 which is located within the space 6.

The door further includes a stop 16 in the form of a spike which engages against an abutment 18 on the ring 14 to prevent the door from swinging outwardly towards opening The embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5 is similar to the trap 910416Arsspc.054,paocttlcI5 -6described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and where possible like reference numerals have been used to identify like parts.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 to 5, the end wall 4 has a door closure assembly 30 therein. The door closure assembly comprises a door 34 mounted within a door support ring 35 the door having a pair of mounting arms 33 with pivot pins 32 at the ends thereof, the pivot pins 32 being receivable within bearings on the door support ring 35. The assembly further includes a releasable catch 36 which permits the door to be opened when required.

.L The door assembly 20 is similar in construction to that of the door 10 assembly described above and includes a support ring 24, a door 21, mounting aarms 23 and pivot pins 22. In this assembly a stop 28 is provided which is capable of preventing the door from swinging outwardly. The wire mesh side wall 2 extends between the two door assemblies so as to define the trap zone of the trap. The wire mesh is connected to the support rings 24 and 35 by means of ties 38 which are looped through the mesh and through slots 39 in the support rings. As shown in Figure 3, the entrance zone 7 of the trap is defined by a cylindrical extension 29 of the support ring 24.

The wire or plastics mesh material forming the side wall is formed from a fiat sheet rolled into a tube.

Fastening means 40 is provided for securing the mesh together. The fastening means comprises a pair of plates 41,41 which sandwich the end *sections of the mesh therebetween. The plates have a series of projections thereon which at least some of which have heads 46 receivable within apertures 47.

When in use and as shown in Figure 7, the trap is located within a burrow with the opening 5 adjacent the burrow opening. When an animal enters the burrow it cannot bypass the trap and is forced to pass through opening 5. The animal then enters the entrance zone 7 and moves along this zone until it reaches the closure door 11 or 21. The door 11 or 21 may either be in the closed position or held slightly open. The animal tends to force itself through the door so as to enter the trap zone 8. The door 11 or 21 then 910416Arsspe.054,paoet.c1,6 -7swings back into the closed position and the stop 16 and abutment 19 or stop 28 prevent the animal from forcing the door open. In addition, the spikes tend to deter the animal from trying to open the door. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement, the trap can be used to capture more than one animal at once because of the arrangement of the closure door.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

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Claims

1. An animal trap for burrowing animals comprising a substantially tubular elongated housing of substantially circular cross-section having a side wall defining a space therein and having an opening at one end of the housing providing access to the space for the animal to be trapped, closure means disposed within the space intermediate the ends of the housing and spaced from the opening so as to separate the space into an entrance zone which extends between ti)a opening and the closure means and a trap zone located beyond the closure means extending towards the other end of the housing, said closure means being movable between an open position in which the animal can enter the trap zone through the opening and the entrance zone, and a closed position in which the animal within the trap zone is captured, said closure means being arranged so as to, in use, normally adopt or be urged into the closed position but is readily opened by the animal contacting the closure means, the animal trap being dimensioned so as to be capable of being positioned within the burrow of the animal being trapped in use of the trap so as to trap the animal.

2. An animal trap according to claim 1 wherein said housing has an end wall closing one end, said end wall and the closure means defining the trap zone.

3. An animal trap according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said closure means comprises a door member hingedly mounted to the housing so that when in the closed position, the door member acts as a barrier across the space within the housing between the entrance and trap zones and said door member can pivot between the closed position and the open position such that in the open position the animal is allowed passage from the entrance zone into the trap zone and in tbis closed position the animal is prevented from a a a a.. a. *a a S a a .C a. S.

4. exiting through the entrance zone. 9 4. An animal trap according to claim 3 wherein the closure means further comprises a door member support section which is in the form of a generally circular ring to which the door member is mounted, said door member being mounted for hinged or pivotal movement relative to the door member support ring so that the door member can open or swing inwardly towards the trap zone but is prevented from movement outwardly towards the entry zone. An animal trap according to claim 4 wherein said door member is provided with animal deterring means which protrude into the trap zone for deterring animals therein from contact with the door member in an attempt to open the door member.

6. An animal tiap according to claim 5 in which the animal deterring means is in the form of spikes or spike- like elements protruding from the door member into the trap zone.

7. An animal trap according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said end wall closing one end of the trap zone is provided with a release door through which trapped animals can be removed from the trap zone of the trap.

8. An animal trap according to any preceding claim in which the sidewall is made from mesh or a mesh-like material such as wire-mesh, bird-wire or chicken wire. 25 9. An animal trap according to any one of claims 3 to 8 in which the door member is provided with a spring S, means to urge the door member to adopt the closed position.

10. An animal trap according to any one of claims 3 to 9 in which the door member is made from a mesh or a 30 mesh-like material such as a plastic mesh. a w- 10

11. An a.imal trap according to any one of claims 3 to 10 in which when in use the door membe iopts a slightly opened position thereby encouraging the animal to force the door member open to allow passage of the animal past the door member into the trap zone.

12. An animal trap according to any one of claims 4 to 11 in which the door member is mounted in the door member support ring by two pivot pins allowing the door member to swing upwardly and inwardly with respect to the trap in use, said pivot pins being mounted on respective arms forming part of the door member and being located towards the upper part of the door member and door member support ring.

13. An animal trap according to any one of claims 4 to 12 in which the entrance zone of the trap is formed either as a generally cylindrical extension of the door member support ring or as part of the side wall of the elongate housing.

14. An animal trap according to any one of claims 7 to 13 in which the release door is provided with a release door suppcrt section and a releasable catch which when released permits the release door to swing outwardly with respect to the support section. to**: An animal trap according to claim 14 further 25 comprising connector means for connecting the door member support ring and release door support section to the side wall, said connector means -eing in the form of ties which can be formed into loops received through slots provided in the door member support ring or release door support 30 section to securely connect the side wall thereto.

16. An animal trap according to any one of claims 8 to 15 further comprising fastening means for maintaining 11 the mesh of the housing in a tubular form, said fastening means comprising a pair of retaining plates having cooperating fastening elements thereon so that the longitudinal edges of the mesh can be sandwiched between the respective fastening plates to secure and maintain the mesh in a more or less continuous tubular form.

17. An animal trap according to claims 16 in which the fastening elements comprise projections on one plate which are adapted to be received in respective apertures located on the other of the plates wherein at least some of the projections include deformable head portions for cooperating with the apertures to maintain the two plates in clipped together relationship in use.

18. A method of trapping burrowing animals using an animal trap according to any preceding claim wherein the method includes placing the animal trap within or at the entrance to a burrow of the animal to be trapped with the opening of the housing of the trap being disposed adjacent the burrow entrance so that the animal leaving or entering the burrow will enter the space defined within the housing through the opening and entrance zone and thereupon proceed past the closure means by contacting the closure means to t move the closure means into the open position and ~thereafter once the animal is past the closure means within the trap zone, the closure means moves back into the closed position thereby capturing the animal in the trap zone.

19. An animal trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings. *®r 0 S I* o S o* r R S Ej 12 A method of trapping burrowing animals substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 23rd day of December 1993 RUJDI MARIO PAOLETTI and SEBASTIAN PAOLETTI By their Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. *v