Zig-Zag Rodent Trap Bar for Wider Capture Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rodent traps often miss rodents due to their speed or position, and increasing the bar width to improve trapping efficiency would slow down the trap's movement.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded, zig-zag configured trap bar rodent trap that applies force over a greater surface area with minimal wind resistance, featuring a coiled spring, zig-zag trap bar, and bait receiver, allowing for increased coverage and efficiency in capturing rodents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the bar width is increased to improve trapping efficiency, then the capture surface area is increased, but the movement speed of the trap is slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The trap bar is divided into multiple segments forming a zig-zag configuration. This segmentation allows the bar to achieve a wider capture surface area through the angular arrangement of segments while keeping each individual segment lightweight, thus maintaining high movement speed despite the increased effective width.
2Area of moving object
If a wider bar is used to increase trapping efficiency, then the coverage area is improved, but the weight of the bar increases which slows down movement
Solution Approach 1:
The bar is segmented into multiple sections arranged in a zig-zag pattern. Each segment can be made from lightweight material, and the segmented structure reduces overall weight compared to a solid wide bar, while the angular arrangement provides extended coverage area for trapping rodents.
3Area of moving object
If the bar width is increased to capture rodents more effectively, then the trapping efficiency is improved, but wind resistance increases which slows down the trap movement
Solution Approach 1:
The zig-zag configuration segments the bar into angular sections that create a wider trapping surface. The segmented structure reduces wind resistance compared to a solid wide bar because the angular gaps between segments allow wind to pass through, reducing the harmful aerodynamic drag while maintaining effective trapping coverage.
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 zig-zag configuration increases the likelihood of capturing rodents by providing a wider capture surface without additional weight or wind resistance, resulting in a higher trap or kill ratio.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded, zig-zag configured trap bar rodent trap
Implementation Method 2
a coiled spring, zig-zag trap bar, and bait receiver, allowing for increased coverage and efficiency in capturing rodents
Data Source
AI summary
invention as presently conceived discloses a spring-loaded, baited mouse/rat/rodent trap device having a zig-zag configured spring trap bar. Although resembling a conventional spring-loaded mouse trap, the snap wire bar is not straight but has a “Z” or zig-zag shape. The zig-zag snap bar provides for a wider capture surface area of as much as an extra half-inch, dependent upon the overall trap dimensions. The bar's overall weight and wind resistance is still minor, and allows the bar to travel at a high rate of speed. The effective wider configuration makes it much more likely that the bar strike some part of the rodent's body resulting in a higher trap or kill ratio.