Bidirectional Linkage Mousetrap with Dual Inlets and Upper Shell
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mousetraps have low efficiency in catching mice due to single inlet design, inability to kill mice, and lack of user notification when a mouse is captured, posing risks to pets and children.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional linkage type mousetrap with double inlets and two-way linkage mechanism, featuring a base, upper shell, pedals, clamping shafts, and torsion springs, which increases the probability of catching mice and provides a user notification system through the movement of the upper shell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single inlet design is used in the mousetrap, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity (mouse capture efficiency) decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mousetrap is divided into two independent clamping units, each with its own inlet (first inlet and second inlet), allowing simultaneous operation of two clamping mechanisms. This segmentation enables the trap to catch multiple mice or increase capture probability without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Two clamping units are merged into a single integrated device sharing common components such as the base, upper shell, and bait placement area. The pedals are linked through a linkage mechanism that allows one pedal to trigger both clamping actions, achieving high productivity while controlling device complexity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective shell is added to prevent accidental clipping of pets and children, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is nested within the upper shell that acts as a protective cover. The upper shell encloses the clamping racks and shafts, preventing accidental contact by pets and children while allowing the trap to function normally when activated. This nested structure provides safety without requiring separate protective components
Solution Approach 2:
The upper shell is designed as a removable or hinged cover that can be opened for bait placement and mouse retrieval, and closed during operation to provide protection. This flexible access mechanism maintains safety while preserving ease of operation
3Productivity
If the mousetrap is designed to kill mice through clamping, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping racks are designed with toothed surfaces that provide both gripping and crushing functions. The combination of the upper shell, lower shell, and clamping racks creates a composite crushing mechanism that kills mice through compression between the two shells, eliminating the need for separate killing components
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping shafts and racks serve multiple functions: they act as the triggering mechanism, the gripping element, and the killing instrument. When activated, the clamping shafts move the racks to clamp the mouse against the toothed surfaces, simultaneously capturing and killing the pest in a single action
4Loss of information
If no user notification system is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information (user awareness of capture) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper shell is designed to change position visually when a mouse is captured. When the clamping mechanism activates, the upper shell moves or shifts, providing a clear visual indicator to the user that a mouse has been caught. This visual feedback system requires no additional electronic or mechanical notification components
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 mousetrap design significantly enhances mouse capture efficiency, ensures mouse killing, and provides a convenient user notification system, allowing users to easily reset and retrieve the caught mouse.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring, wherein two ends of the torsion spring are wound into a ring shape respectively, one end of the torsion spring is sleeved on the clamping shaft, another end of the torsion spring is sleeved on the torsion spring installation head of the side plate
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a bidirectional linkage type mousetrap including: a base, an upper shell, a first pedal, a second pedal, clamping shafts, and torsion springs. A bait placing cup and clamping frames are arranged on the base. Each clamping frame includes side plates and a clamping rack. Each of the first pedal and the second pedal includes a touch portion, a clamping shaft accommodating groove, and a clamping shaft buckle. Mousetrap inlets are arranged on two ends of the upper shell respectively. The mousetrap has two inlets and two-way linkage, which increase the probability of catching a mouse.