BACKGROUND ART The trap of this invention falls into the category of traps that are suitable for trapping rodents and, in general small animals.

For convenience the present invention will be described in relation to conventional mouse or rat traps. It should be appreciated however that the present invention may be equally applicable to traps for species other than rodents where the traps have similar characteristics and mechanisms.

Such traps have a base on which a striking member or arm is pivotally mounted. The base defines an area that can be termed an "entrapment zone"that is struck by the arm when the trap is sprung.

A spring is engages with the arm and is positioned so that when the arm is pivoted away from the entrapment zone, the spring is tensioned.

The spring has a spring constant that imparts sufficient energy to the arm to kill or stun a rodent struck by the arm when the arm is released from a cocked position.

Usually, the base is rectangular with the arm pivotally mounted on a line that approximately bisects the base. The entrapment zone is defined on one side of the base. When the trap is set, the arm is pivoted towards the other side of the base. This other side can be referred to as a "safe zone".

The arm is usually generally U-shaped to enclose the entrapment zone when the trap is sprung. A retaining member or rod is pivotally mounted on the base, at a free end of the safe zone. The rod is positioned over the arm once the arm has been pivoted into the safe zone.

Such traps have bait carrier that is also pivotally mounted on the base. The bait carrier includes a platform or sensor pad that is pivotal between a released position and a set position. The sensor pad is generally positioned against the entrapment zone in the released position and

displaced, but proximate the entrapment zone in the set position. The bait carrier includes a catch formation that extends generally orthoganally from the sensor pad. It follows that when the carrier is pivoted towards and away from the entrapment zone and that the catch formation moves away from and towards the safe zone, respectively.

A free end of the rod and a catch formation are configured so that the rod can engage the catch formation when the carrier is pivoted away from the entrapment zone. In this condition, the arm is held between the rod and the base. When a weight is exerted on the sensor pad, the sensor pad moves towards the base, and the catch formation moves away from the safe zone, to become detached from the rod. The arm is thus released and strikes the entrapment zone.

It is necessary that the catch formation releases the rod with a minimal weight being exerted on the censor pad. In most cases, the catch formation is simply a plate having an opening defined therein. It follows that a free end of the rod must be positioned as close as possible to a periphery of the opening. It is well known that setting a trap to be suitably sensitive can be difficult and can result in a high level of anxiety.

An object of the present invention is to provide a trap which can be handled with relative safety and set to a high degree of sensitivity.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a trap which can be handled with relative safety, and which can be set to a previously determined degree of sensitivity automatically every time the trap is set, and a safety device is moved to a safe position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a trap comprising ; (a) a base, (b) a cross-wise pivot axis dividing the base into a safe zone

and an entrapment zone, (c) a carrier including a trigger plate and bait holder pivotably mounted at or adjacent to the pivot axis, (d) a spring loaded striker frame having one end pivotably secured at or adjacent to the pivot axis said striker frame having a free end which can be set over the safe zone, released and driven by the spring into an opposite position in the entrapment zone, (e) a latch finger pivotably fixed on the safe zone and having a free end which is releasably engaged with the carrier to set the trap.

A lengthwise reciprocal safety device which is mounted by the base and reciprocal between a first position in which the latch finger is pre-set, a second position which adjusts the carrier in relation to the latch finger and neutralises the trap, and a third position where the trap is reactivated.

The carrier can be provided with a downwardly projecting tab and opening with respect to which the safety device and latch finger can engage.

The safety device can be an elongate rod which extends substantially throughout the length of the body of the trap and has a gripping portion which accessible from a sidewall of the trap body and which enables the rod to be reciprocated from a neutral to a set position.

The elongate rod can mount two substantially upright members which abut the underside of the sensor plate and one side of the tab of the carrier to neutralise the trap.

The carrier can be substantially L-shaped with a first limb forming the bait holder a second limb forming a sensor plate.

The base can be box or trough shaped and provides an upper substantially planar surface and a downwardly depending peripheral skirt at least at opposed ends of the base.

The opposed ends of the base can be provided with openings

for accommodating respective ends of the safety device.

The body can be a moulded plastics body.

The periphery of the entrapment zone can be provided with toothed formations.

A trap in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient hereinafter to describe in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of this specific description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the specific nature of this description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a trap, in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2 shows a bottom plan view of the trap; FIG. 3 shows a side sectioned view taken through A-A in FIGS 1 and 2, of the trap in a released condition; FIG. 4 shows the side sectioned view with the trap in a pre- adjustment condition; FIG. 5 shows the sectioned view of the trap with a safety device of the trap in an operative position; FIG. 6 shows the side sectional view of the trap in a final set condition, with the safety device in an inoperative position, in FiGs 4,5 and 6 an upper portion of a carrier is deleted for convenience.

FIGs. 7,7a and 7b are schematic drawings showing the safety latch in three distinct operative positions.

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a carrier of the trap.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional drawing of a trap in accordance with a further possible embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings, reference 1 generally indicates a trap, in accordance with the invention.

As can be seen from the drawings, the trap 1 is of the type

disclosed in the preamble of the specification. It follows that the trap 1 includes a base 2.

The base 2 can be a plastics moulding.

The base 2 is rectangular and is divided along its length into an entrapment zone generally indicated by arrow 3 and a safe zone generally indicated by arrow 4.

A pivot bar 5 is mounted on the base 2.

An arm 7 is connected to the pivot bar 5 and is pivotal with respect to the base 2.

A coil spring 6 (FIG1) is mounted on the pivot bar 5 in such a way that the arm 7 can pivot from the entrapment zone 3 to the safe zone 4 against the bias of oil spring 6.

The coil spring 6 has a spring constant that imparts sufficient energy to the arm 7 to kill stun a rodent or animal.

A toothed formation 8 is defined about the perimeter of the entrapment zone 3.

The arm 7 shaped to span the entrapment zone 3 and to be positioned adjacent the toothed formation 8.

The toothed formation 8 co-operates with the arm 7 to lessen the likelihood of an entrapped rodent or animal escaping the trap.

The trap 1 includes a latch finger in the form of an elongate rod or trigger wire 9 that is pivotally mounted at one end 19 of the base its free end 22 extending marginally into the entrapment zone 3.

A carrier generally indicated by arrow 10 is pivotally mounted on the pivot bar 5.

The carrier 10 incorporates first and second portions 11, 13 the second portion 13 defining a sensor pad 12.

The first portion 11 extends generally orthogonally away from the second portion 13.

An intermediate portion 20 of the carrier 10 is positioned between the first and second portions 11,13 defines a passage 21 through which the pivot bar 5 can extend.

The intermediate portion 20 also defines a catch formation in the form of an opening 14.

As can be seen from the drawings, the carrier 10 is pivotal between a set condition and a released condition. In the set condition, the carrier 10 is pivoted so that the first portion 11 is inclined towards safe zone 4.

The trigger wire is of a sufficient length so that a free end 22 can be received in the opening 14 of the carrier 10.

As with a conventional trap, the arm 7 is pivoted into the safe zone 4 and the free end 22 of the trigger wire 9 is received in the opening 14.

The free end 22 of the trigger wire 9 then engages a periphery of the opening 14 of the carrier10 so that the arm 7 is trapped between the trigger wire 9 and the base 2.

The first portion 11 of the carrier 10 incorporates a bait holder 26.

The first portion 11 is in the form of a plate-like member with the bait holder 26 defined centrally thereon.

As can be seen from the drawings, the bait holder 26 is positioned above the sensor pad 12. Further, the first portion 11 has an arcuate profile so that a rodent or animal is inhibited from approaching the bait from a side of the carrier 10. This feature, together with the fact that the bait holder 26 is positioned sufficiently above the sensor pad 12 ensures that a rodent or animal is directed onto the sensor pad 12 in order to reach the bait.

The trap includes a safety device generally indicated by arrow 15 which provide a stop 16 that extends upwardly through an opening 23 in the base 2.

The stop 16 is displaceable, within the opening 23, between a "safe"position (FIG. 5) and a"set"position (FIGS 4 and 6). In the safe condition, the stop 16 is received beneath the sensor pad 12 to inhibit downward movement of the sensor pad 12. In the set position, the stop 16 is displaced from the sensor pad 12 to permit the sensor pad to be displaced downwardly under the weight of a rodent or animal.

The stop is mounted on a manipulating member in the form of an elongate latch finger 17 which extends beneath the base 2. The latch finger 17 is displaceable to permit a user to displace it, and thus the stop 16, between the safe and set conditions.

A further opening 24 is positioned beneath the pivot bar 5. The intermediate portion 20 of the carrier 10 has a tab 25 extending therefrom through the opening 24. A lug 27 extends from the latch finger 17 to engage the tab 25.

The sequence of setting the trap 1 is shown clearly in FIGS 3 to 6.

In the first step, then arm 7 is pivoted into the safe zone 4 and the trigger wire 9 is received through the opening 14 of the carrier 10.

Initially, the free end 22 of the trigger wire 9 protrudes through the opening 14 to provide easy, pre-adjustment setting.

As can be seen in FIG 5, the relative positions of the lug 27 and the stop 16 are such that, when the latch finger 17 is moved into a safe condition, the lug 27 engages the tab 25 and pivots the sensor pad 12 to abut the stop 16. It follows that a fine adjustment can be achieved with the trap 1 in a safe condition. To finish setting of the trap, the latch finger 17 is moved into an opposite direction so that the stop 16 moves into a set condition.

Thus the finger latch 17 has three fundamental operating positions, these are illustrated by line diagrams of Figures 7,7a and 7b.

In a first position (Figure 7 the latch finger 17 is preset.

In a second position (Figure 7a) the finger 17 adjusts the carrier 10 in relation to the trigger wire 9 and neutralises the trap.

In a third position (Figure 7b) the trap is reactivated.

For ease of manufacture, the carrier 10 is formed from a single sheet of metal that is stamped and bent into the shape shown in FIG 8. The bait holder 26 has bait holding formations 28 stamped from the first portion 11.

With respect to Figure 9 of the drawings in this embodiment of the invention, the safety device 15 is provided with a height adjustable stop

generally indicated by arrow 29, and the latch finger 17 is supported by the end 19 of the body and the stop 29.

The stop 29 can be in the form of a screw or bolt 30 which extends through opening 23 and supports a free end 31 of the latch finger 17.

Nuts 32 are used to lock bolt 30 onto the latch finger 17 and to set the height of the bolt 30 relative to the base 2. In all other respects the trap is the same as previously described Adjustment of the height of the bolt 30 relative to the base will affect the sensitivity of the trap when set.

In the present case the sensitivity of the trigger mechanism can be determined by adjustment during manufacture or by the trap being provided with a height adjustable stop to prevent the sensor pad being depressed. It follows that as the carrier is made in one piece that if the stop is adjusted upward, then the latch finger receptor in the bait carrier is moved along the latch finger toward the safe end of the trap, thereby leaving more of the latch finger protruding through the receptor thereby making the trigger mechanism less sensitive. The trigger mechanism therefore can be made more sensitive by lowering the height of the stop.

The advantages of this invention are: (a) The safety latch enables the trap to be set in a manner which optimises sensitivity and eliminates the likelihood of inadvertent activation.

(b) The safety latch can be incorporated in small traps used for trapping rodents and for traps having similar characteristics used for trapping larger animals such as rabbits.

It will, of course, be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions

thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.