Method and Apparatus for Trapping Animals

Abstract

A repeating animal trap is described that humanely captures animals and allows for their safe release. In one embodiment, the animal trap includes a wire body that forms a cage. The cage includes one or more animal entrances. The one or more animal entrances are each configured such that an animal enters from outside the cage and traverses a passageway that ends about the middle of the cage. The natural instincts of the animal causes the animal to go toward the perimeter and corners of the cage to escape. The natural instinct assists in keeping the animals from finding their way back into the passageway to leave the cage. To further keep animals from leaving the cage via the passageway, a passageway door is provided for each passageway. Each door is configured with a bias and a shape that precludes the animal from opening the passageway door once inside the cage.

1 . An animal trap apparatus, comprising: an enclosure having at least one passageway, the at least one passageway being configured to direct at least one animal toward the center of the enclosure; a door disposed within the at least one passageway, the door being configured with a pivotal end to allow the animal to enter the enclosure by pivoting the door from a closed position to an open position, the door being sized to block the at least one passageway sufficiently to prevent the at least one animal from escaping from the enclosure once the at least one animal has entered the enclosure and the door has returned to the closed position; and an extension end of the door disposed distal the pivot end, the extension end being configured to extend at least to a wall defining at least a portion of the enclosure, the extension end configured to prevent the at least one animal trapped within the enclosure from operating the door once the animal has entered the enclosure and the door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         2 . The animal trap apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a closable animal release opening, the closable animal release opening being sized to allow an animal to exit from the enclosure once the animal release opening is opened. 
     
     
         3 . The animal trap apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a mesh material. 
     
     
         4 . The animal trap apparatus of  claim 1 , including a bias mechanism, wherein the bias mechanism comprises a spring member coupled to the pivotal end. 
     
     
         5 . The animal trap apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the spring member comprises a bowed elongated member, wherein the bowed elongated member is configured to generate the bias when the door is rotated from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The animal trap apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the spring member comprises a bias structure that interacts with a top portion of the enclosure to form the bias mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The animal trap apparatus of  claim 1 , including an extension member wherein the extension member comprises a fork structure that extends through the wall of the enclosure and cooperates with a portion of the enclosure to hold the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . An animal trap, comprising: an enclosure having at least one entrance passageway; a passageway door configured to be repeatedly opened inwardly relative the center of the enclosure to expose the entrance passageway and allow the at least one animal to pass therethough into the enclosure; an extension member extending from an end of the passageway door distal a rotational axis of the passageway door; and a stop member disposed across the passageway door, the stop member being configured to cooperate with the extension member to prevent the passageway door from being opened by the at least one animal once the at least one animal has passed the passageway door allowing the passageway door to rotate to the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The animal trap of  claim 8 , wherein the enclosure comprises a mesh material. 
     
     
         10 . The animal trap of  claim 8 , wherein the enclosure comprises an animal release opening. 
     
     
         11 . The animal trap of  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure includes an animal release door configured to cover the animal release opening. 
     
     
         12 . The animal trap of  claim 8 , further comprising a bias apparatus wherein the bias apparatus comprises an elongated member formed in a semi-circular shape, wherein as the passageway door is operated, the elongated member is deformed to produce the passageway door bias. 
     
     
         13 . The animal trap of  claim 8 , wherein the extension member is integral to the passageway door and extends therefrom away from an axis of rotation of the passageway door. 
     
     
         14 . An enclosure, comprising; a means for directing one or more animals to a center portion of the enclosure; a means for enclosing an end of the directing means while allowing the one or more animals to enter the enclosure, the enclosing means configured to prevent the one or more animals from escaping the enclosure once they have passed the enclosing means; a means for biasing the enclosing means such that the enclosing means may be repeatedly opened to accept the one or more animals without being reset; the enclosing means being configured to cooperate with the enclosure such that the one or more animals may open the enclosing means to enter the enclosure, and the one or more animals are prevented from escaping the enclosure by opening the enclosing means once they have passed the enclosing means and the enclosing means has moved to a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the means for directing comprises least one passageway that extends through a sidewall of the enclosure toward the center of the enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the means for enclosing an end of the directing means comprises a door structure disposed within the directing means. 
     
     
         17 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , including a means for biasing the enclosing means, wherein the means for biasing the enclosing means comprises a spring member, the spring member configured to generate a sufficient bias force to keep the enclosing means in a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , including a means for extending a portion of the enclosing means through the enclosure, wherein the means for extending a portion of the enclosing means through the enclosure comprises an extension member extending from the enclosing means, wherein the extension member is configured to extend though the sidewall of the enclosure to prevent the one or more animals from reaching the end of the enclosing means for operation thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure comprises a wire mesh body forming a sufficient lattice structure to prevent animals from escaping therefrom. 
     
     
         20 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure comprises an animal release means.