Omnidirectional Animal Trap with Status Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional subterranean animal traps require manual excavation and alignment, are prone to misalignment, and lack visibility into trap status, with poison-based traps being harmful and costly, increasing user interaction and decreasing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical animal trap design featuring a first and second portion in sliding relationship, a biasing mechanism, unique members, and an omnidirectional trigger mechanism with an indicator for deployment status, allowing efficient trapping without manual excavation and alignment, and reducing user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If poison is used in conventional traps, then animal control effectiveness is improved, but safety hazards and environmental contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces harmful poison-based killing methods with a mechanical trapping mechanism that physically captures animals without causing harm through toxic substances. The trap uses mechanical force through springs and levers to secure animals in a contained space, eliminating the harmful effects of poison while maintaining animal control effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual excavation and alignment are required for trap installation, then trap deployment is achieved, but user interaction increases and operational ease decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is designed with pre-assembled components including the first and second portions that are manufactured ready for deployment. The spring mechanism is pre-loaded and the trigger system is pre-configured, requiring minimal assembly or adjustment by the user during installation. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the need for manual excavation and alignment while maintaining deployment effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the trap is buried underground for animal control, then animal access is improved, but visibility into trap status is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual indicators that change appearance or become visible to indicate trap status. These indicators allow users to determine whether the trap is set, triggered, or empty without needing to excavate the trap, thus maintaining underground burial for animal access while eliminating the information loss about trap status.
4Ease of operation
If the trap mechanism is simplified for ease of use, then operational ease is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into distinct modular segments including the first portion, second portion, spring mechanism, and trigger system. Each segment is designed and manufactured independently with standardized interfaces that simplify assembly while maintaining precision through modular tolerances. This segmentation allows for easier operation through simple assembly while distributing manufacturing precision requirements across multiple standardized components rather than requiring high precision in a single complex mechanism.
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 trap efficiently captures animals with minimal user intervention, providing visibility into deployment status and reducing the risks associated with poison-based methods, enhancing operational ease and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a spring mechanism for biasing the first and second portions towards the deployed position
Data Source
AI summary
An animal trap, according to one embodiment, includes: a first portion having an upper and a lower end; a second portion in sliding relationship with the first portion, wherein the first and second portions are relatively positionable between a cocked position and a deployed position; a biasing mechanism for biasing the first and second portions towards the deployed position; two unique members extending from the lower end of the first portion; a bottom portion coupled to a distal end of each unique member, wherein a first end of each of the unique members is coupled to the first portion, wherein each of the distal ends are at a second end of each of the unique members, the second end being opposite the first end along a longitudinal length of each unique member; and a trigger mechanism for selectively locking the first and second portions in the cocked position.