Pivoting Platform Rodent Trap for Safe Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional animal traps are not self-contained, making them difficult to dispose of and posing risks to children and pets, as the trapped animal remains visible and accessible, often alive, which can lead to discomfort and accidental triggering.
Innovation Solution
A rodent trap design featuring a pivoting platform that, when triggered, moves towards the back wall of the housing, securely trapping the animal within, potentially immobilizing or killing it, and incorporating features like blunt fingers to ensure capture, thus minimizing external visibility and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional open traps are used, then the trapping mechanism is simple and visible, but the trapped animal remains accessible and visible causing disposal difficulties and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into two main segments: a stationary housing and a movable platform. This segmentation allows the trapped animal to be isolated within the housing while the platform can be independently manipulated for disposal, enabling users to dispose of the trap without direct contact with the animal.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is designed to pivot within the housing structure, with the animal becoming nested within the housing when the platform moves. This nesting configuration ensures the animal remains contained within the housing while allowing external manipulation of the platform for disposal purposes.
2Device complexity
If conventional open traps are used, then the trapping mechanism is simple, but the trapped animal is visible and accessible leading to discomfort and accidental triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The trap structure is segmented into an outer housing and an inner platform mechanism. This segmentation creates a barrier between the animal and the external environment, preventing accidental triggering by children or pets while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is designed to move in a rotational dimension within the housing rather than linearly. This dimensional change allows the platform to pivot out of the animal's reach while remaining connected to the trigger mechanism, reducing the risk of accidental re-triggering.
3Reliability
If the platform pivots towards the back wall, then the animal is securely trapped and immobilized, but the mechanism requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The platform transitions from a static support surface to a dynamic pivoting element that actively secures the animal. This dynamic movement ensures reliable capture by forcing the animal against the back wall while the pivot point and limiting features keep the mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform incorporates curved or rounded edges and surfaces that guide the animal naturally toward the back wall during the pivoting motion. This curvature design enhances capture reliability by preventing the animal from slipping or escaping while avoiding complex mechanical constraints.
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 effectively contains the animal, allowing for discreet disposal and reducing the risk of accidental triggering by children and pets, while ensuring humane termination or immobilization.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element, such as a spring
Implementation Method 2
a biasing element, such as a spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A trap having a housing and an entrance, a trigger plate pivotally coupled to the housing, and when triggered by an animal, the trigger plate pivots towards the housing to thereby trap the animal against the housing. The trap may further include a biasing element to bias the trigger plate towards the housing. The trap may further include blunt fingers extending from the back wall. When the trap is triggered, an animal may be trapped between the trigger plate and the blunt fingers.