Actuator for animal trap

Claim 1

In an animal trap of the type having two similar first and second frames made of round wire stock, each having sides serving as jaws and ends extending therebetween, and which are pivotally connected through adjacent ends for relative rotation between set and closed positions about a common axis, trigger means for releasably maintaining the trap in set position and an actuator made of round wire stock, capable of rapidly and forcefully effecting such rotation upon release of the trigger, having two arms spring biased at one end so that the other ends if unobstructed would move to a distance substantially greater than the length of said frame ends, each arm terminating in a ring respectively adapted to encircle adjacent ends of both frames on opposite sides of said axis: a quick release feature which comprises an opening in one of said rings, the other of said rings being completely closed and encircling said adjacent frame ends, the width of the opening in said one ring being substantially greater than the diameter of the wire stock of the frames, and the position and width of said opening being such that, when the actuator, in sprung condition with its rings encircling adjacent ends of the frames of the trap, is swivelled around the frames of the trap, when closed, to a predetermined position (not normally achieved in either the said set or closed position or while the trap is closing), said adjacent frame ends encircled by said one ring can readily pass through the opening, whereby said adjacent frame ends are thereby disengaged from said one ring, thus permitting said other ends of said actuator arms to move apart freely to said distance and at the same time permitting the pressure closing the jaws to be released.