GB2325389A - Mole trap - Google Patents

Abstract

A mole trap comprises a passageway 10 dimensioned for entry of a mole and for laying in a mole run, the passageway having pivotted flaps 16, 18 which hang down at its ends and can open inwardly into the passageway but not outwardly.

Description

Mole Trap This invention relates to a mole trap.

Traps are known for many types of vermin but traps for reliably catching moles have proved difficult to devise. However, the mole trap in accordance with the present invention, as hereinafter defined, has been tested and found to be highly successful.

According to the invention, there is provided a mole trap comprising an elongate passageway of rigid material for laying in a mole run, the passageway having pivotted closure flaps at or adjacent its ends, which flaps are able to open inwards into the passageway to permit entry of a mole but restrained against opening outwards of the passageway to permit mole exit.

Preferably the passageway is of generally rectangular or square cross-section, having a base, roof and side walls, and the flaps are preferably pivotally suspended to hang downwardly, in their closed positions, to block exit from the passageway.

The roof of the passageway is preferably at least in part transparent, to enable it to be seen if a mole is trapped inside.

Most preferably, means are also provided for extracting from the trap a mole which has been caught. For this purpose, the roof of the passageway may be openable, as by being slidable into or out of grooves formed along the top edges of the side walls, but alternatively the trap may be formed as two hinged parts which pivot open to allow extraction of a mole. The sliding roof arrangement is especially suitable for a metal passageway, the sliding roof being of transparent plastics material, while the hinge-open passageway is especially suitable for a plastics construction of trap, of which at least part of the roof is transparent.

In a simple arrangement, the flaps, which may also be made of a transparent plastics material, hang freely at or adjacent the ends of the passageway to close the latter when the trap is laid. In this case, the mole enters the trap simply by pushing one flap inwardly, whereafter the flap will drop back into the closed position after mole entry. Possibly, however, the expected entry flap may be held open, as by means of a treadle or like mechanism well known in the field of vermin traps, and be released to fall back into the closed position when the mechanism is tripped.

In use, suitable bait may be laid in the passageway if desired, but this is not essential.

The trap may be provided with an upstanding marker for projecting above ground to show the position of the trap, which in use is buried beneath ground in a mole run. This marker may project at its bottom end into the interior of the passageway, so that the presence of a mole is also signalled above ground.

An example of mole trap in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the trap in side elevation; and Figure 2 shows the trap in transverse cross-section.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated mole trap comprises an elongate, generally square cross-section passageway 10 formed of sheet metal base and side walls, with a transparent plastics roof 12 which slides into and out of position between grooves 14 along the tops of the side walls. The passageway is dimensioned in cross-section to enable a mole to be received, but not a larger animal.

The passageway has closure flaps 16, 18 at its ends, pivotally suspended between the side walls of the passageway. These flaps may also be made of transparent plastics sheet material.

Restraints 20 prevent the flaps 16, 18 from opening outwardly of the passageway, but the flaps are readily able to pivot inwardly to permit entry of a mole.

In use, the passageway is laid in a mole run with the transparent roof at the top, baited if desired. The pocket dug in the ground to enable the trap to be placed is refilled.

A mole is readily able to enter the passageway by pushing open an end flap, but is then unable to exit as the flaps are not able to open outwardly. Examination of the trap enables a mole, if present, to be seen through the roof and, if a mole is caught, the roof can be slid open to enable the mole to be extracted.

Claims (16)

1. Claims

   I. A mole trap comprising an elongate passageway of rigid material for laying in a mole run, the passageway being dimensioned to permit entry of a mole but not a larger animal and having pivotted closure flaps at or adjacent its ends, which flaps are able to open inwards into the passageway to permit entry of a mole but restrained against opening outwards of the passageway to permit mole exit.
2. 2. A mole trap according to claim 1, wherein the passageway is of generally rectangular or square cross-section, having a base, roof and side walls.
3. 3. A mole trap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flaps are pivotally suspended to hang downwardly, in their closed positions, to block exit from the passageway.
4. 4. A mole trap according to claim 2 or claim 3 when appendant to claim 2, wherein the roof of the passageway is at least in part transparent, to enable it to be seen if a mole is trapped inside.
5. 5. A mole trap according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein means are also provided for extracting from the trap a mole which has been caught.
6. 6. A mole trap according to claim 5 when appendant to claim 2, wherein the roof of the passageway is openable.
7. 7. A mole trap according to claim 6, wherein the roof is openable by being slidable into or out of grooves formed along the top edges of the side walls.
8. 8. A mole trap according to claim 5, wherein the trap is formed as two hinged parts which pivot open to allow extraction of a mole.
9. 9. A mole trap according to claim 7, wherein the floor and side walls of the passage are made of metal and the roof is made of transparent plastics material.
10. 10. A mole trap according to claim 8, wherein the hinge-open passageway is applied to a plastics construction of trap, of which at least part of the roof is transparent.
11. 11. A mole trap according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the flaps are made of transparent material.
12. 12. A mole trap according to any of claims 1 to 11, in which the flaps hang freely at or adjacent the ends of the passageway to close the latter when the trap is laid.
13. 13. A mole trap according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the expected entry flap of the trap is held open, as by means of a known treadle or like mechanism, and is released to fall back into the closed position when the mechanism is tripped.
14. 14. A mole trap according to any of claims 1 to 13, provided with an upstanding marker for projecting above ground to show the position of the trap.
15. 15. A mole trap according to claim 14, wherein the marker projects at its bottom end into the interior of the passageway, so that the presence of a mole is signalled above ground.
16. 16. A mole trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.