ANIMAL TRAP

Abstract

An animal trap (1) that provides ramped entryways for cane toads to pass through and a hands-free touchless method of disposing of cane toads captured in the animal trap that allows individuals to empty the animal trap without coming into contact with captured cane toads and/or the poison the captured cane toads secrete.

Claims

1. An animal trap comprising: a housing having a frontend, a backend, a roof, a floor, a right sidewall, and a left sidewall; a front entryway located on the frontend of the housing; said front entryway comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a right, side edge and a left side edge; a front trapdoor hingedly attached to the upper edge of the front entryway to allow the front trapdoor to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the front entryway; a front ramp located on the lower edge of the front entryway; and said front ramp partially covering a lower portion of the front entryway to prevent the front trapdoor from swinging outward out of the housing.

2. The animal trap of claim 1 further comprising: a back entryway located on the backend of the housing; said back entryway comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a right side edge and a left side edge; a back trapdoor hingedly attached to the upper edge of the back entryway to allow the back trapdoor to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the back entryway; a back ramp located on the lower edge of the back entryway; and said back ramp partially covering a lower portion of the back entryway to prevent the back trapdoor from swinging outward out of the housing.

3. The animal trap of claim 1 further comprising: at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the front entryway.

4. The animal trap of claim 3 wherein: said at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the front entryway is at least one hook.

5. The animal trap of claim 2 further comprising: at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the back entryway.

6. The animal trap of claim 4 wherein: said at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the back entryway is at least one hook.

7. The animal trap of claim 1 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the front trapdoor to allow the front trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

8. The animal trap of claim 3 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the front trapdoor to allow the front trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

9. The animal trap of claim 2 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the back trapdoor to allow the back trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

10. The animal trap of claim 5 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the back trapdoor to allow the back trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

11. An animal trap comprising: a housing having a frontend, a backend, a roof, a floor, a right sidewall, and a left sidewall; a front entryway located on the frontend of the housing; said front entryway comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a right side edge and a left side edge; a front trapdoor hingedly attached to the upper edge of the front entryway to allow the front trapdoor to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the front entryway; and at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the front entryway.

11. The animal trap of claim 10 further comprising: a back entryway located on the backend of the housing; said back entryway comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a right side edge and a left side edge; a back trapdoor hingedly attached to the upper edge of the back entryway to allow the back trapdoor to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the back entryway; and at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the front entryway.

12. The animal trap of claim 10 further comprising: a front ramp located on the lower edge of the front entryway; and said front ramp partially covering a lower portion of the front entryway to prevent the front trapdoor from swinging outward out of the housing.

13. The animal trap of claim 11 further comprising: a back ramp located on the lower edge of the back entryway; and said back ramp partially covering a lower portion of the back entryway to prevent the back trapdoor from swinging outward out of the housing.

14. The animal trap of claim 10 wherein: said at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the front entryway is at least one hook.

15. The animal trap of claim 11 wherein: said at least one attachment means for securing a waste bag to the animal trap over the back entryway is at least one hook.

16. The animal trap of claim 10 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the front trapdoor to allow the front trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

17. The animal trap of claim 12 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the front trapdoor to allow the front trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

18. The animal trap of claim 11 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the back trapdoor to allow the back trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

19. The animal trap of claim 13 further comprising: at least one release located between the housing and the back trapdoor to allow the back trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

20. An animal trap comprising: a housing having a frontend, a backend, a roof, a floor, a right sidewall, and a left sidewall; a front entryway located on the frontend of the housing; said front entryway comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a right side edge and a left side edge; a front trapdoor hingedly attached to the upper edge of the front entryway to allow the front trapdoor to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the front entryway; and at least one release located between the housing and the front trapdoor to allow the front trapdoor to open outward when the animal trap is inverted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a side and front perspective view of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along lines A-A of FIG. 1 of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a front view of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a rear view of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a right side view of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a left side view of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a top view of an animal trap of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an animal trap of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows: [0032] 1. animal trap, generally [0033] 2. housing [0034] 3. frontend of housing [0035] 4. backend of housing [0036] 5. roof [0037] 6. floor [0038] 7a. right sidewall of housing [0039] 7b. left sidewall of housing [0040] 7. front entryway [0041] 8. upper edge of front entryway [0042] 9. lower edge of front entryway [0043] 10. right side edge of front entryway [0044] 11. left side edge of front entryway [0045] 12. front trapdoor [0046] 13. front ramp [0047] 14. back entryway [0048] 15. upper edge of back entryway [0049] 16. lower edge of back entryway [0050] 17. right side edge of back entryway [0051] 18. left side edge of back entryway [0052] 19. back trapdoor [0053] 20. back ramp [0054] 21. attachment means for waste bag [0055] 22. hook [0056] 23. release [0057] 24. stud [0058] 25. curved slot

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 1-8, various views of an animal trap 1 designed specifically for capturing and touchless disposal of cane toads is illustrated. The animal trap 1 comprises a substantially box-shaped housing 2 having a frontend 3, a backend 4, a roof 5, a floor 6, a right sidewall 7a, and a left sidewall 7b.

[0060] An entryway 7 is located on the frontend 3 and/or the backend 4 of the housing 2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a front entryway 8 is located on the frontend 3 of the housing 2. The front entryway 8 comprises an upper edge 9, a lower edge 10, a right side edge 11 and a left side edge 12.

[0061] A front trapdoor 13 is hingedly attached to the upper edge 9 of the front entryway 8 to allow the front trapdoor 13 to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the front entryway 8. The front trap 13 door is capable of swinging inward into the housing 2 to allow cane toads to enter the housing 2. However, the front trapdoor 13 is prevented from swinging outward by a projection or preferably a front ramp 14 located on the lower edge 10 of the front entryway 8 and/or other stop.

[0062] The front ramp 14 partially covers a lower portion of the front entryway 8 while transitioning at an angle downward to provide an angled surface for a cane toad to climb through the front entryway 8.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a back entryway 15 is located on the backend 4 of the housing 2. The back entryway 15 comprises an upper edge 16, a lower edge 17, a right side edge 18 and a left side edge 19.

[0064] A back trapdoor 20 is hingedly attached to the upper edge 16 of the back entryway 15 to allow the back trapdoor 20 to swing into open and closed positions in relation to the back entryway 15. The back trapdoor 20 is capable of swinging inward into the housing 2 to allow cane toads to enter the housing 2. However, the back trapdoor 20 is prevented from swinging outward by a projection or preferably a back ramp 21 located on the lower edge 17 of the back entryway 15 and/or other stop.

[0065] The back ramp 21 partially covers a lower portion of the back entryway 15 while transitioning at an angle downward to provide an angled surface for a cane toad to climb through the back entryway 15.

[0066] At least one attachment means 22, such as a hook 23, clip, clamp, and so forth, used for securing a waste bag to the animal trap 1 is preferably located on an outer surface of the housing 2. A waste bag may be secured to the animal trap 1 over the front entryway 8, back entryway 15 or other covered opening wherein at least one attachment means 22 is adjacent thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 7, attachment means 22 comprises hooks 23 located adjacent to the front entryway 8.

[0067] After a waste bag is attached to the housing 2 using the hooks 23, the animal trap 1 may be inverted over the waste bag, thereby dumping any captured kane toads into the waste bag, which may then be sealed and detached from the animal trap 1.

[0068] The front trapdoor 13 and/or rear trapdoor 20 may be place into open positions to allow captured cane toads to fall out of the animal trap 1 and into an attached waste bag. As illustrated in FIG. 2 one or more releases 24 are provided to allow the front trapdoor 13 and/or rear trapdoor 20 to open outward when the animal trap 1 is inverted. As illustrated herein, the release 24 comprises studs 25 that extend through curved slots 26 on the housing 2, The curved slots 26 provides a step system to raise and lower the front trapdoor 13 and/or rear trapdoor 20 so the front trapdoor 13 and/or rear trapdoor 20 will clear the front ramp 14 and/or back ramp 21, respectively, and swing outward into the attached waste bag, thereby allowing any captured cane toads to fall into the attached waste bag.

[0069] It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.