Removable End Unit for Animal Trap Baiting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aboveground animal traps are difficult to set due to complex and sensitive triggering mechanisms, often triggering accidentally when applying bait, and pose risks with poison-based solutions that are harmful and costly.

Innovation Solution

An animal trap design featuring a first and second portion in sliding relationship with a biasing mechanism, a trigger mechanism for locking in a cocked position, and a removable end unit with unique members for secure bait application and omnidirectional triggering, reducing user interaction and increasing effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional aboveground traps are used, then they can trap animals, but they are difficult to set due to complex and sensitive triggering mechanisms that often trigger accidentally when applying bait

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of setting trapVSAvoidtriggering mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trap is divided into distinct functional modules: a body portion containing the trigger mechanism, and a separately removable end unit for bait application. This segmentation allows the bait to be applied to the end unit without requiring the user to interact with the sensitive trigger mechanism in the body portion, thereby preventing accidental triggering while maintaining trap effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bait application function is extracted from the main trap body and placed in a separate removable end unit. This extraction allows users to apply bait to the end unit independently, away from the trigger mechanism, eliminating the risk of accidental activation during baiting while keeping the overall trap functional.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If poison is used in conventional traps, then animal control effectiveness increases, but it becomes harmful to people and can contaminate the area with unintended effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal control effectivenessVSAvoidharm to people and environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces harmful poison-based solutions with a mechanical trapping mechanism that achieves animal control through physical means. The trap uses a biasing mechanism and trigger system to capture animals humanely, converting the harmful chemical approach into a beneficial mechanical approach that maintains effectiveness without environmental contamination or harm to non-target species.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If poison is used in conventional traps, then animal control effectiveness increases, but it becomes expensive and unavailable to the general public

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal control effectivenessVSAvoidcost and availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The trap employs a removable end unit that can be easily replaced or disposed of after use. This design allows for inexpensive, single-use or limited-use trap configurations that do not require expensive poison materials, making the solution accessible to the general public while maintaining animal control effectiveness through the mechanical trapping mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of operation

If conventional traps require user interaction for baiting, then bait can be applied, but user interaction increases thereby decreasing effectiveness and ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of trap operationVSAvoidtrap effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the trap into a body portion with the trigger mechanism and a separate end unit for baiting, the design allows users to interact only with the end unit during baiting. This segmentation isolates the baiting process from the trigger mechanism, reducing user interaction with sensitive components and thereby increasing both ease of operation and reliability by preventing accidental discharges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design enhances ease of operation and safety by allowing secure bait placement without accidental triggering and eliminates the need for poisons, providing a more efficient and user-friendly animal trapping solution.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing mechanism for biasing the first and second portions towards the deployed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10736311B2Animal trap

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 MEISSNER PAUL JAMES

AI summary

An animal trap, according to one embodiment, includes: a first portion having upper and a lower ends; a second portion in sliding relationship with the first portion, the first and second portions being relatively positionable between cocked and deployed positions; a biasing mechanism for biasing the first and second portions towards the deployed position; a trigger mechanism for selectively locking the first and second portions in the cocked position; and an end unit removably coupled to the lower end of the first portion. The end unit includes: a base; at least two unique members extending from a bottom end of the base; and a bottom portion coupled to a distal end of each of the unique members. A first end of each of the unique members is coupled to the base, while each of the distal ends are at a second end of each of the unique members.