Forked stakes for animal traps

Claim 1

A forked stake for setting rotating-frame animal traps in trails, said traps being the type having a pair of frames with two opposite pivotal points, said stake comprising: first and second prongs spaced apart approximately the distance between said pivotal points of one said traps with which said stake is to be used, said prongs being substantially parallel while in position to hold said trap, one end of each of said prongs to be pressed into the ground, a pair of pegs protruding from each of said prongs in a lateral direction toward the opposite one of said prongs, said pegs being positined at points spaced from said end of the respective one of said prongs, said pegs of each pair being spaced apart sufficiently to permit one of said pivotal points to fit readily therebetween, each of said pegs being long enough to extend into space between said pair of frames of one of said traps while said frames are in their set position, spring means extending between said prongs, said spring means urging said prongs apart sufficiently to permit each of a said pairs of pegs to be positioned for straddling different one of said pivotal points, retaining means movable to a first position to permit said prongs to be spread apart by said spring means and movable to a second position to bring said prongs toward each other sufficiently to cause said pegs to be inserted between said frames, and said inwardly positioned prongs adapted to position said trap in a trail according to the distance said prongs are pressed into the ground.