Snap Trap With Dynamic End Closure For Safe Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snap traps for small animals are bulky, difficult to handle, expensive to manufacture, pose a risk of injury and infection, and lack a transport container, exposing users to potential harm from the trapped animal.
Innovation Solution
A snap trap design featuring a tunnel-shaped housing with a striking device that can be brought into a striking position and a ready position, where the impact device partially or completely closes the end opening, preventing user contact with the animal and allowing safe handling and easy cleaning, with components accessible for manipulation while hazardous parts are protected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the impact mechanism is freely accessible for triggering, then the trap is easy to operate, but users risk injury and infection from contact with the trapped animal or mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into separate functional zones: an entry section that is accessible and an impact section that is closed off. The impact device forms a closure at the end opening, segregating the hazardous impact mechanism from user access while maintaining operational functionality through the release lever mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The release lever acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows triggering of the trap without direct contact with the impact device or trapped animal. Users manipulate the release lever from the accessible entry section, which indirectly activates the impact mechanism in the closed-off impact section.
2Ease of operation
If the housing is open at both ends for animal entry, then the trap is easy to set up and clean, but the trapped animal can contact the user through the end opening
Solution Approach 1:
The closure formed by the impact device is dynamic rather than fixed. It automatically opens when the trap is triggered, allowing animal passage, and closes when the trap is reset, providing protection. This dynamic behavior maintains ease of operation while ensuring safety at different operational stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact device is pre-positioned to form a closure at the end opening before the trap is triggered. This preliminary closure prevents animal contact during the trapped state, while the design allows automatic opening upon triggering to facilitate animal passage or removal.
3Ease of operation
If the striking mechanism is exposed for triggering, then the trap can be easily activated, but the construction becomes filigree and difficult to manufacture robustly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the impact device: it serves as both the triggering mechanism and the closure element. The impact device combines the striker function with the end closure function, eliminating the need for separate components and simplifying the overall construction while maintaining ease of activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the striking mechanism for animal dispatch, forms the closure at the end opening to prevent contact, and provides the structure for the release lever to operate. This multi-functionality reduces component count and construction complexity.
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 design enhances safety by preventing user contact with the trapped animal, simplifies assembly and cleaning, and reduces the risk of injury, while maintaining robustness and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
the percussion lever can be preloaded against the spring force of a percussion spring element during a transition from the percussion position to the ready position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a snap trap (1) for small animals such as mice or rats, comprising a striking device (10) which can be brought into a striking position and a standby position. The snap trap (1) comprises a housing (2) with a base (6) and with an elongate inner compartment (5) which is open at both longitudinal ends, at one longitudinal end of which an inlet opening (3) leading to an, in particular tunnel-shaped, inlet section (E) of the housing (2) is arranged and at the other longitudinal end of which the striking device (10) is arranged in a striking region (S) of the housing (2). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the striking device (10) is designed for at least partially closing an end opening (8) of the inner compartment (5) in the striking region (S) of the housing (2) and in particular completely closes the opening when the striking device is in the striking position.