Patents 1995 - 2014 Electronic

8,104,221 Animal trap having timed release door
Walter, et al. January 31, 2012
An animal trap includes a housing having an opening, a door coupled to the housing, and a latch mechanism. The door is movable between a closed position in which the door obstructs the opening and an open position in which the opening is unobstructed. The latch mechanism is coupled to either the housing or the door and is configured to enable the door to be opened after a period of time has elapsed.

7,930,853    Humane animal trap
Pomerantz     April 26, 2011
A humane animal trap includes an enclosure having an opening with a door disposed therein. The door is pivotable about an upper edge between open and closed positions, and is biased toward the closed position by a torsion spring. An electrical solenoid is disposed above the door and has a catch that is biased into engagement with a holding feature on the door when the door is in the open position, and is operable to disengage the catch from the holding feature in response to the receipt of an electrical trip signal. An electrical sensor disposed in the enclosure transmits a light beam between opposite sidewalls of the trap, and generates an electrical trip signal and transmits it to the solenoid when the light beam is interrupted by an animal entering the trap so as to close the door behind the animal and thereby capture it unharmed in the enclosure.
Inventors:     Pomerantz; Joseph L. (Moorpark, CA)
Assignee:     Advantek Marketing, Inc. (Moorpark, CA)
Appl. No.:     12/034,464
Filed:     February 20, 2008

7,913,447   Smart and multiple mouse trap
Jabro    March 29, 2011
The Smart and Multiple Mouse Trap uses two ascendant walls that lead to the top of the mouse trap. On the top of the trap, there is a cylinder shaped wheel that will contain food. In order for the mouse to get the food, it must maneuver upward from one of the two ascendant walls. Then it will go through a one way door. Then as it tries to grab the food from the wheel, it will face the problem of the wheel spinning as well as no room to stand on, providing no stability due to gravity. Then the mouse will have to drop into the mouse trap. The removal of the contents inside the trap will be simply to open the right side door and dump it wherever. The mouse trap does not need to be reset when it traps a mouse.
March 2011

7,930,853   Humane animal trap
Pomerantz    April 26, 2011
A humane animal trap includes an enclosure having an opening with a door disposed therein. The door is pivotable about an upper edge between open and closed positions, and is biased toward the closed position by a torsion spring. An electrical solenoid is disposed above the door and has a catch that is biased into engagement with a holding feature on the door when the door is in the open position, and is operable to disengage the catch from the holding feature in response to the receipt of an electrical trip signal. An electrical sensor disposed in the enclosure transmits a light beam between opposite sidewalls of the trap, and generates an electrical trip signal and transmits it to the solenoid when the light beam is interrupted by an animal entering the trap so as to close the door behind the animal and thereby capture it unharmed in the enclosure.
Inventors:    Pomerantz; Joseph L. (Moorpark, CA)
Assignee:    Advantek Marketing, Inc. (Moorpark, CA)
Appl. No.:    12/034,464
Filed:    February 20, 2008

7,854,089 Multiple-use vermin electrocution trap and method
Deibert December 21, 2010
A vermin trap including a movable path between the trap entrance and the bait, and a sensor adjacent the movable path for detecting vermin presence on the path. When a vermin detection signal is sent to a controller, the controller causes a movable clamping member to trap the vermin for electrocution. Also provided are methods for the path to rotate and/or pivot, thereby dislodging the electrocuted vermin into a containment region. Methods for electrocuting vermin are also disclosed.

7,540,109 Humane trap for small animals
Hall June 2, 2009
An humane trap for small animals, such as cats, includes a housing having rigid bottom, top, side, front and rear end walls which cooperate to define an animal-receiving chamber, the front end wall being guided for vertical movement between opened and closed positions relative to the other housing walls. A retaining rod is axially displaceable within the chamber between a retaining position in which an end portion of the rod extends through a retaining opening contained in the second wall to maintain the same in the open position, and a released position removed from the retaining opening, whereby the second wall is displaced by gravity downwardly toward the closed position. The retaining rod is released either by a food retention plate that is engaged by the animal in the trap, or by a remotely controlled solenoid arrangement.

7,051,472 Multi-sensor animal trap having a plurality of connectable trap members
Kelly May 30, 2006
An apparatus for an animal trap having at least one primary trap 32 comprising a rigid grated or screened 34 housing with a front 36 and rear 38 sliding door on each end, a sensor assembly having at least one power source 40, e.g., battery pack, a heating element 42 communicating with a heated bait hanger 44 to heat the bait. A pressure-sensitive sensor pad 46 disposed beneath the hanging bait 44 activates the door closure mechanism. A laser sensor 48 is further included to detect flying prey and others that may circumvent the ground placed pressure sensor 46. A release trap 58 is provided for use as the last trap member when a plurality of trap members is used in conjunction with one another. The release trap 58 has a clear housing fabricated of Plexiglas, tempered glass or other such suitable material. The release trap 58 has an open end to connect with the trap member and a closed end with a sensor assembly 60 to close the sliding door at the open end when prey 64 is detected by the sensors. Once the prey 64 has been contained within the release trap 58, it is removed from the trap member and transported to a location where the prey may be released. The apparatus may be adapted to accommodate the capture of a multitude of various types of animals including, but not limited to, rodents 12, snakes 14, reptiles 16, insects 18, mollusks 20, fish 22, squirrels 24, mammals 26, invertebrates 28 and vertebrates 30.

7,134,237 Humane animal trap
Plucknett November 14, 2006
An animal trap is provided with an enclosure, inside of which a pivoting member, referred to herein as a "Confinement Activating Teeter-totter" (CAT), is pivotally disposed so that its front end pivots downward when an animal enters the trap and steps on it. A blocking member on the front of the CAT then blocks the entrance, forcing the animal to go toward a bait near the exit at the back of the trap. The CAT then pivots under the weight of the mouse, thereby resetting. If, instead of exiting, the animal goes back toward the front, the CAT will again pivot and block the entrance. The animal will also step on a shelf projecting from the front of the pivoting member, ensuring that the CAT will not pivot again until the animal again proceeds toward the exist. The trap is composed of only one moving part (excluding a door flap, and one access part), namely the CAT on its pivot. It is easily molded from plastic such that only two parts are needed: a base and a CAT. After molding a door flap may be attached.

6,865,843 Portable electrical mouse trap
Jordan, Sr. March 15, 2005
A portable electrical mouse trap that has a housing in the shape of a cat to which a handle is attached. An interior cavity of the mouse trap contains a primary motion sensor near its entrance, a retractable primary gate, a reservoir of a fragrance that smells like fresh cheese, a secondary motion sensor near an entrance to the collection chamber, a retractable secondary gate and a vacuum source. The primary motion sensor and secondary motion sensor detect the presence of a mouse inside the interior cavity. The primary gate automatically opens when activated by the primary motion sensor and the secondary gate automatically opens when activated by the secondary motion sensor. A vacuum tube connects the vacuum source and collection chamber. The vacuum source sucks the mouse fully into the collection chamber and thereby suffocates it. A speaker informs a user when the collection chamber is full.

7,026,942       Method for signalling the presence of prey in traps for vermin and device for carrying out this method
Cristofori, et al.    April 11, 2006
A method and a device for automatically detecting and signaling the presence of prey caught in a trap. The trap has inlet ports equipped with a one-way inlet mechanism such that once a rodent has passed a central point the rodent is contained within the trap. After the rodent has passed the central point, the trap is reset to the start position in order to attract additional prey. The trap is provided with a device for signaling the presence of vermin in the trap. The mechanism may be operable via a push button operated by movement of the vermin. Alternatively, means for detecting the rodent may include the use of vertical or horizontally elongated elements that are actuated by the movement of the vermin. A further embodiment includes a photocell, or a sensor, to indicate the presence of rodents. The mechanism for signaling may include lights or sound devices that can be secured to the trap or remotely activated via wired or wireless means. The signaling device can be time delayed such that additional vermin can enter the trap before intervention by the operator and is also capable of monitoring several traps concurrently.

7,051,472   Multi-sensor animal trap having a plurality of connectable trap members
Kelly       May 30, 2006
An apparatus for an animal trap having at least one primary trap 32 comprising a rigid grated or screened 34 housing with a front 36 and rear 38 sliding door on each end, a sensor assembly having at least one power source 40, e.g., battery pack, a heating element 42 communicating with a heated bait hanger 44 to heat the bait. A pressure-sensitive sensor pad 46 disposed beneath the hanging bait 44 activates the door closure mechanism. A laser sensor 48 is further included to detect flying prey and others that may circumvent the ground placed pressure sensor 46. A release trap 58 is provided for use as the last trap member when a plurality of trap members is used in conjunction with one another. The release trap 58 has a clear housing fabricated of Plexiglas, tempered glass or other such suitable material. The release trap 58 has an open end to connect with the trap member and a closed end with a sensor assembly 60 to close the sliding door at the open end when prey 64 is detected by the sensors. Once the prey 64 has been contained within the release trap 58, it is removed from the trap member and transported to a location where the prey may be released. The apparatus may be adapted to accommodate the capture of a multitude of various types of animals including, but not limited to, rodents 12, snakes 14, reptiles 16, insects 18, mollusks 20, fish 22, squirrels 24, mammals 26, invertebrates 28 and vertebrates 30.

6,938,368   Weight adjustable rodent trap
Guidry       September 6, 2005
A platform extends from the entry opening into the interior space and includes a selectively positionable metallic element. A trip board is pivotally mounted within the housing and is movable between set and tripped configurations. A magnet is selectively positioned on the trip board so as to bias the trip board toward the set configuration until a rodent's weight on another portion thereof causes it to rotate to the second configuration. A container is positioned in the housing for receiving a rodent that is deposited at the second configuration.

6,807,767 Small animal trap with infrared trigger
Schade October 26, 2004
A spring biased trap includes two light sources (60 and 62) and two light sensors (61 and 63) acting together to detect the position of the small animal to be trapped. A baited trapping chamber restricts the animal's entrance orientation and also contains a spring biased bail (30) that is horizontally pivoted about midway between the roof (20) and base (21) and near the partition (24). The bail (30) is restrained or released by a release device (40). A solenoid armature (72) holds the P-shaped rod in the held position which holds the release device (40) in the retained position until the solenoid (70) is energized. A cocking yoke (50) is used for unloading and resetting the trap easily and safely. A daylight sensor (64) protects birds by disabling the trap during the daylight hours. A light source (65) and a sensor (66) detect that the trap has tripped and sends a signal to the user that the trap needs attention.

6,718,688    Automatic roach trap having disposable container therein
Garretson     April 13, 2004
An automatic roach trap having a receiving container removably located in the trap enclosure. The trap utilizes a beam to detect roaches on a platform therein and actuates a mechanism to open an internal closure and coerce the roach into the underlying container. Access to the container is restricted during operation to prevent the escape of trapped roaches. The container is automatically closed upon withdrawal and designed to prevent inadvertent reopening during disposal.

6,807,767    Small animal trap with infrared trigger
Schade         October 26, 2004
A spring biased trap includes two light sources (60 and 62) and two light sensors (61 and 63) acting together to detect the position of the small animal to be trapped. A baited trapping chamber restricts the animal's entrance orientation and also contains a spring biased bail (30) that is horizontally pivoted about midway between the roof (20) and base (21) and near the partition (24). The bail (30) is restrained or released by a release device (40). A solenoid armature (72) holds the P-shaped rod in the held position which holds the release device (40) in the retained position until the solenoid (70) is energized. A cocking yoke (50) is used for unloading and resetting the trap easily and safely. A daylight sensor (64) protects birds by disabling the trap during the daylight hours. A light source (65) and a sensor (66) detect that the trap has tripped and sends a signal to the user that the trap needs attention.

6,725,597 Pest control device
Nelson, et al. April 27, 2004
A pest control device (10), and a method of suppressing a pest, which can be discretely and easily placed, serviced and removed from the proximity of areas where pests, including rodents and insects, are likely to frequent, including the area near the floor-wall juncture (54) behind shelving (44) and/or products (52) or equipment. The pest control device (10) has a pest suppression device (18) having an ingress for the pest and an elongate arm (20) having a proximate end (24) and a distal end (26), the proximate end (24) of the elongate arm (20) connected to the pest suppression device (20) communicating with the ingress and facilitating a pathway for the pest from the distal end (26) of the elongate arm (20) to the ingress. The pest suppression device (10) may be mounted on a platform (12 or 14) and the elongate arm (20) mounted instead to the platform (12 or 14).

6,609,327 Animal trap for small animals
Stoico , et al. August 26, 2003
A live animal trap for capturing and restraining a small animal comprises a rectangular mesh cage having an open front sized to admit an animal to be trapped, and a trap door hingedly affixed to the cage and movable between raised and lowered positions, respectively, permitting entry to and preventing escape from the cage. Embodiments are disclosed of gravity and/or spring assisted latching and tripping structures for releasably securing the trap door in the open position and responsive to an animal seeking to get to bait in the back of the cage. In one, a spring assisted brace member is hingedly affixed to and drives the lower end of the trap door into the closed position. In another, a multipurpose guide collar locks and drives the trap door in and for movement between the raised and lowered positions, and assists in animal release and in resetting of the trap.

6,523,713 Stackable hinged container lid having detents
Helms February 25, 2003
A lid and a container using the lid are disclosed, the lid having a central panel of paperboard with a resilient plastic skirt joined about its perimeter. A metal foil membrane having heat activated adhesive layers is attached to the lid and the rim of the container by inductive heating. Detents project from an inside surface of the skirt and cooperate with the rim on the container to hold the lid in an open position. A stacking lip extends from the skirt and interfits within an identical lid to allow the lids to be stacked for shipment. A hinge extends transversely across the central panel and divides the lid into movable and fixed portions. Weakened regions on the skirt separate when the lid is opened and provide evidence of potential tampering.

6,230,434 Animal trap having anti-backspin feature
Knuppel May 15, 2001
A mouse or rodent trap includes a housing having an elongated rotatable paddle member therein. A trigger assembly engages the paddle member and releases the paddle member for rotation when the trigger assembly is engaged by a mouse or rodent entering the housing. The trigger assembly is formed completely of plastic, and is snapped together during assembly. An anti-backspin mechanism permits the rotatable paddle member to rotate in one direction but prevents rotation in the opposite direction.

6,202,340 Electronically actuated animal trap
Nieves; Joniel (Tampa, FL) 2001
An electronically actuated animal trap for humanely capturing animals within an enclosure having an animal access opening through which an animal is drawn by bait. A swingably hinged vertically oriented trigger panel is disposed between the animal access opening and the bait area. As the animal attempts to enter the bait area, the vertically oriented trigger panel swings towards the bait closing an electric circuit powering a solenoid. The solenoid retracts at least one pin received through apertures formed in a vertically sliding door panel mounted to the animal access opening thereby causing the sliding door panel to vertically drop from a first raised configuration to a second lowered configuration. Consequently, the animal access opening is closed off by the sliding door panel effectively trapping the animal within the enclosure.

6,016,623   Rodent trap
Celestine   January 25, 2000
A rodent trap which includes a central housing interior into which a rodent is lured by bait and enters on a rodent entry ramp and inside which is located a rotating trap door that is operated by a high speed DC motor which is actuated by an infrared sensor positioned inside the housing, the motor is engaged to rotate the trap door and timed by a cam switch to return to a closed position and ready to operate for the entry of the next rodent. When the rodent falls through the trap door, it falls into a rodent box which is received by an insertion in the housing lower section and which includes a spring biased sliding cover that automatically slides to an opened position when the box is inserted into the housing and automatically closes when removed from the housing. The rodent box also includes a rodent presence indicator that is actuated by a weight activated switch located on the bottom surface of the rodent box and indicates to the user if a rodent or rodents are in the box.
Inventors:    Celestine; Wallace (Breaux Bridge, LA)

6125576 Mouse or rodent trap and method of assembling same
Knuppel   October 2000

6,202,340   Electronically actuated animal trap
Nieves March 20, 2001
An electronically actuated animal trap for humanely capturing animals within an enclosure having an animal access opening through which an animal is drawn by bait. A swingably hinged vertically oriented trigger panel is disposed between the animal access opening and the bait area. As the animal attempts to enter the bait area, the vertically oriented trigger panel swings towards the bait closing an electric circuit powering a solenoid. The solenoid retracts at least one pin received through apertures formed in a vertically sliding door panel mounted to the animal access opening thereby causing the sliding door panel to vertically drop from a first raised configuration to a second lowered configuration. Consequently, the animal access opening is closed off by the sliding door panel effectively trapping the animal within the enclosure.
Inventors:   Nieves; Joniel (Tampa, FL)      2001

5,943,813 Enclosing mousetrap
Wang August 31, 1999
An enclosing mousetrap includes a tubular housing, trap plates at each end, and a hanging hook for connecting the trap plates to the tubular housing. The ends of the tubular housing and the trap plates each contain a pair of holes through which the hanging hooks are engaged to connect the trap plates to the tubular housing. The extended end legs of the hanging hooks clip over cutouts formed in the rim of the tubular housing. The trap plates each have a curved shape and freely swing inward to allow a mouse to have easy access into the interior of the tubular housing. Once inside, however, the mouse cannot exit the tubular housing because the first and second trap plates are disposed such that when the trap plates are pushed outward with respect to the interior of the tubular housing, a lower periphery of the trap plates engages with an inner wall of the tubular housing, which stops the trap plates from swinging outside the tubular housing. The mousetrap also may include a supporting bracket to hold it in an upright position, even when a mouse is trapped inside. This supporting bracket can take on a variety of forms. For example, a pair of legs for supporting the tubular housing may extend along the length of the tubular housing. In another embodiment, a pair of supporting brackets, each including a mounting hoop and a pair of extending legs, is provided for receiving and supporting the tubular housing.

5,953,853 Mouse and rat trap
Kim September 21, 1999
A mouse and rat trap that can be used to trap and rapidly kill at least one mouse, rat, rodent, and the like in a humane way, can be used multiple times in heavily infested areas, is inexpensive, easy to operate, durable, and allows for sanitary disposal of a plurality of the trapped and dead mice, rats, rodents, and the like without contact to humans who are required to dispose of the dead mice, rats, rodents, and the like. The mouse and rat trap has at least one entrance for at least one mouse, rat, rodent, and the like to enter therethrough, a bait container for attracting mice, rats, rodents, and the like, and an activation sensor for detecting presence of the mice, rats, rodents, and the like having entered the mouse and rat trap; a moveable partition for pushing and entrapping the mouse, rat, rodent, and the like past the entrance to an electrocution platform. Further, the activation sensor for signalling the moveable partition drive means to commence pushing; means for reversably driving the moveable partition; further the moveable partition for pushing the mouse, rat, rodent, and the like into a holding container has an optional bag is provided for sanitary removal and disposal of the mice, rats, rodents, and the like. An activation switch for signalling the moveable partition to reverse drive motion and return to a resting starting position.

5,720,125 Throwaway mousetrap for catching mice live
Oviatt February 24, 1998
{tippy trap with ping pong ball}

5,692,336 Rubber band powered mousetrap
Fiore, Jr., et al. December 2, 1997
{yuk}

5,481,824 Rubber band powered mousetrap
Fiore, Jr. January 9, 1996
When a mouse enters the tunnel and dislodges the trigger, the striker plate springs upwardly under the force of the rubber band and traps the mouse's neck in one of the trapping apertures.

5,502,918       Mousetrap for catching mice live
Oviatt       April 2, 1996
A "Y" shaped mousetrap lures a mouse into an open end of the "Y" by means of smelly bait located at a closed end of the bottom of the "Y". The "Y" is pivotally supported horizontally by a stand. As the mouse walks past the pivot point, a ping pong ball rolls from the opposite short "Y" tube member and down to the entrance of the open ended tube member. The mouse is trapped alive and can be drowned by immersing the mousetrap.

5,517,784   Mousetrap container
Sedore    May 21, 1996
{Rotation of the cylinder directs the rodent into the fluid within the container.}