US3786591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mouse trap
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-03
•
Granted: 1974-01-22
•
Expires: 1991-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A housing having trap passageways at opposite ends closely adjacent one housing side wall. A trap door or floor in the passageway upon being pivoted downwardly under the weight of the mouse operates through a linkage a gate which pivots upwardly allowing the mouse to enter the interior of the housing whereupon the gate closes locking the mouse in the housing. A removable slidable top on the housing allows emptying of the trap. Openings are provided in the gates and housing end walls. The oppositely disposed passageways close to one housing side wall accommodates the natural instincts of mice to keep close to a wall and seek safety in small openings and passageways.
Inventors
- 👤 M Morford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:03
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M23/00; A01M23/02; A01M23/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
388 words
A mouse trap comprising, a housing including opposite side walls having outwardly extending ledges, opposite end walls, a floor and top wall, the top wall of said housing including U-shaped flanges slidably engaging said ledges and is removable for emptying said housing, an inlet opening formed in each of said end walls, and each of said end walls adjacent said inlet openings including a plurality of openings, a pair of elongated passageways entirely within said housing and parallel with one of said side walls and each having one open end in registration with one of said inlet openings, each said passageway including a single sheet of material folded to provide a top wall and opposite side walls, the width of each said passageway opening being less than the remaining width of the associated end wall, said housing including a common confinement area for mice entering said housing through the inlet opening in either end wall, a floor in each said passageway pivotal about an axis adjacent its respective inlet opening for movement between a normally level position to a down position, a gate in each said passageway having means for seeing through it and pivoted at its upper end to its respective passageway for movement between a closed position, closing its respective passageway to an open position with said gate pivoted outwardly away from said passageway, the opposite sides of each said gate having horizontally outwardly extending elements pivotally received in openings in said oppositely disposed passageway side walls, a lever arm inside said housing on one of said outwardly extending elements on each said gate extending perpendicularly and radially outwardly of the pivotal axis of each said gate, and a single linkage extending between said lever arm on each said gate and the inner end of the respective pivotal floor whereby upon said pivotal floor pivoting downwardly said gate is pivoted outwardly to said open position, said gate and floor being balanced such that such floor is normally raised to said level position and said gate is normally in said closed position, each said pivotal floor in said passageways being normally spaced above the floor in said housing whereby each said pivotal floor in said passageways in said down position engages at its outer free end the floor of said housing which limits downward pivotal movement thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
388 words
A mouse trap comprising, a housing including opposite side walls having outwardly extending ledges, opposite end walls, a floor and top wall, the top wall of said housing including U-shaped flanges slidably engaging said ledges and is removable for emptying said housing, an inlet opening formed in each of said end walls, and each of said end walls adjacent said inlet openings including a plurality of openings, a pair of elongated passageways entirely within said housing and parallel with one of said side walls and each having one open end in registration with one of said inlet openings, each said passageway including a single sheet of material folded to provide a top wall and opposite side walls, the width of each said passageway opening being less than the remaining width of the associated end wall, said housing including a common confinement area for mice entering said housing through the inlet opening in either end wall, a floor in each said passageway pivotal about an axis adjacent its respective inlet opening for movement between a normally level position to a down position, a gate in each said passageway having means for seeing through it and pivoted at its upper end to its respective passageway for movement between a closed position, closing its respective passageway to an open position with said gate pivoted outwardly away from said passageway, the opposite sides of each said gate having horizontally outwardly extending elements pivotally received in openings in said oppositely disposed passageway side walls, a lever arm inside said housing on one of said outwardly extending elements on each said gate extending perpendicularly and radially outwardly of the pivotal axis of each said gate, and a single linkage extending between said lever arm on each said gate and the inner end of the respective pivotal floor whereby upon said pivotal floor pivoting downwardly said gate is pivoted outwardly to said open position, said gate and floor being balanced such that such floor is normally raised to said level position and said gate is normally in said closed position, each said pivotal floor in said passageways being normally spaced above the floor in said housing whereby each said pivotal floor in said passageways in said down position engages at its outer free end the floor of said housing which limits downward pivotal movement thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |