Segmented Jaw Animal Trap with Dynamic Spring Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional animal traps for burrowing animals like gophers and moles are often ineffective due to large cross-sectional areas that deter animals, inadequate spring tension, corrosion, complex designs, and materials that deteriorate quickly, leading to failed captures and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A trap design featuring a compact jaw mechanism with a spring positioned behind the finger grip, using stainless steel components to prevent corrosion, and a trip wire system that allows for rapid and forceful closure of jaws, minimizing obstructions and ensuring effective trapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional traps are designed with large cross-sectional areas, then they provide sufficient space for animal entry, but they intimidate or discourage animals from entering the trap
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into multiple jaw segments (first jaw segment, second jaw segment, third jaw segment) that can independently move and close. This segmentation allows the trap to present a smaller profile while maintaining closing force, as each segment contributes to the overall closing action without requiring a large individual cross-section
Solution Approach 2:
The trap uses a dynamic spring mechanism that stores energy and releases it rapidly to close the jaws. The spring positioned behind the finger grip provides dynamic force multiplication, allowing the trap to deliver sufficient closing force with a compact structure that does not intimidate animals
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional traps use complex designs with numerous components, then they can provide multiple functions, but they increase manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trap components are merged into integrated structures. The spring mechanism is positioned behind the finger grip and combined with the jaw segments, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets and fasteners. The trip wire system is integrated directly into the jaw structure, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining full functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The trap components serve multiple functions. The spring mechanism provides both the closing force and the resetting function. The jaw segments simultaneously act as both the trapping mechanism and the structural framework. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated components for each function
3Reliability
If conventional traps are placed in-ground exposed to moisture, then they can effectively trap burrowing animals, but the materials deteriorate or corrode over time
Solution Approach 1:
The trap employs stainless steel components that combine the strength needed for effective trapping with corrosion resistance for long-term durability in moist environments. The material composition provides both mechanical integrity for rapid jaw closure and chemical stability against ground moisture and soil exposure
4Ease of operation
If conventional traps use inadequate spring tension, then they can be easier to set, but they fail to kill animals that spring the trap
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is designed to store energy dynamically during the setting phase and release it rapidly during the triggering phase. The spring positioned behind the finger grip creates a dynamic force multiplication effect, allowing moderate spring tension during setting that transforms into high closing force when triggered, ensuring both ease of operation and lethal effectiveness
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 captures and kills burrowing animals with a rapid and forceful closure, reducing the risk of escape and maintaining functionality over time, while being easier to set and use compared to conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
spring positioned behind the finger grip, allowing the area between first jaw segment and second jaw segment to be entered... rapid and forceful closure of jaws
Data Source
AI summary
An animal trap including jaws rotatably coupled together at a distal end, each of the jaws having one or more portions that are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the animal trap, a spring axially mounted substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the animal trap, the spring being configured to provide a rotating force to one or more of the jaws, and a pan hinged on one of the one or more transverse portions and configured to restrain a trip wire when pressure is applied to the pan releasing the rotating force provided by the spring and causing one or more of the plurality of jaws to rotate together.