Animal Trap Pivot Latch for Consistent Trip Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional live catch animal traps face issues with inconsistent and adjustable trip force, leading to unwanted catches and inefficiencies due to factors like weather conditions and varying animal weights, which affect the trap's ability to selectively catch target animals.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hold-close assembly with a spring-biased pivot mechanism and a low-friction latch system, allowing for adjustable trip force through a changeable torque arm, ensuring repeatable and consistent trap activation with minimal sliding motion, and an optional rear door for unobstructed bait placement and animal release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional latch mechanism with sliding motion is used, then the trap can be set, but the trip action becomes inconsistent and susceptible to shaking and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional sliding latch mechanism with a pivot-based mechanical system. The latch member pivots about an axis perpendicular to the door, eliminating sliding motions that cause friction and inconsistency. The trip member also pivots to engage and disengage the latch, providing smooth, repeatable action resistant to shaking and environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a changeable torque arm that can be adjusted to modify the trip force required to activate the latch. This allows optimization of the trip sensitivity to match different target animals while maintaining consistent mechanical action. The torque arm length or position can be changed to adjust the mechanical advantage and trip force characteristics.
2Reliability
If a complex hold-close assembly is used to secure the door, then the door remains closed reliably, but the setup time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hold-close assembly is pre-configured in a compact stored position where the bars are folded together. When the door is closed, the assembly automatically unfolds and extends to engage the door, providing immediate holding action without requiring manual configuration or adjustment during setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The hold-close assembly transitions from a static compact form to a dynamic extended configuration through pivotal motion. The two-bar link mechanism allows the assembly to automatically adjust its geometry as the door moves from open to closed position, providing reliable holding force without requiring complex manual operation.
3Reliability
If the trip mechanism requires sliding motions, then the components can be simple, but the trip force becomes inconsistent due to friction and weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sliding contact surfaces with pivot-based rotational joints. The latch member, trip member, and hold-close assembly all utilize pivotal motion about fixed axes, eliminating the sliding friction that causes inconsistent trip force. Pivotal joints naturally provide smoother, more consistent mechanical action that is less sensitive to weather conditions and contamination.
4Volume of stationary object
If the door is hinged at the ceiling, then the trap structure is compact, but the door closing speed and capture efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hold-close assembly provides a dynamic mechanical advantage that increases as the door approaches the closed position. The two-bar link mechanism transforms the slow initial motion into rapid closing action near the end of the stroke, achieving high closing speed without requiring a different hinge location or additional power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The door closing action utilizes a periodic acceleration pattern where the door starts slowly from the open position, accelerates rapidly near the closed position, and then decelerates to a controlled stop. This periodic motion pattern maximizes closing speed while maintaining compact hinge placement at the ceiling.
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 solution provides a reliable, efficient, and adjustable trap that effectively captures target animals while minimizing false triggers and escapes, ensuring easy setup and operation with reduced environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The hold-close assembly trips to secure the front door without sliding motions. A low friction latch and trip links thereto provide consistent set action resistant to shaking and undesired trip.
Implementation Method 2
A low friction latch and trip links thereto provide consistent set action resistant to shaking and undesired trip.
Data Source
AI summary
A live animal trap with improvements to ease of use, reliability and cost is disclosed. A simple repeatable one-hand set action lifts a front entry door. A hold-close assembly trips to secure the front door without sliding motions. A low friction latch and trip links thereto provide consistent set action resistant to shaking and undesired trip. A rear door is fitted next to a bait location to allow near vertical access for bait placement and unattended, unobstructed release. A changeable torque arm provides adjustable trip force. A trip tray is spaced above a floor to require a small set-up motion to access the bait and further ensure trip. The front door can be opened and set by a remotely located rooftop interface.