Mousetrap

Abstract

Disclosed is a mousetrap having an enclosure with a rotatable top part having a downwardly extending strike plate within the enclosure, and a bottom part having an upwardly extending catch plate within the enclosure, an aperture in each of the top part and the bottom part which are in substantial alignment when the mousetrap is set, and a trigger mechanism, wherein the mousetrap is set to incapacitate or kill the mouse by the manual rotation of the top part relative to the bottom part when a mouse activates the trigger mechanism causing the top part to rotate relative to the bottom part and thereby incapacitating or killing the mouse between the strike plate and the catch plate.

1 . A mousetrap comprising:
 an enclosure comprised of a top, a base and apertures located on each of the top and the base, wherein the enclosure is in an open position upon substantial alignment of the apertures; and   a trigger mechanism comprising a lever arrangement and a biasing means operably connected to the top and the base, wherein the lever arrangement defines a gap, wherein the enclosure, when in the open position, is able to admit the mouse into the enclosure and when in the closed position, the trapped mouse is substantially concealed within the enclosure,   the mousetrap being set to trap the mouse by manual rotation of the top relative to the base to open the enclosure by substantial alignment of the apertures, the enclosure being held open against the force of the biasing means by engagement of the lever arrangement with a stop means,   the mousetrap being activated to trap the mouse by the raising of the lever arrangement in response to the mouse moving through the gap thereby disengaging the lever arrangement from the stop means and causing the top to contra-rotate relative to the base under the force of the biasing means so as to close the enclosure, thereby trapping the mouse and substantially concealing the trapped mouse within the enclosure.   
   
   
       2 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  further comprising a strike plate connected to the top and extending substantially at right angles to an internal wall of the enclosure such that upon rotation of the top relative to the base under the action of the biasing means, the strike plate rotates with the top and contacts the mouse. 
   
   
       3 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  further comprising a catch plate connected to the base and extending substantially at right angles to an internal wall of the enclosure such that upon contra-rotation of the top relative to the base under the action of the biasing means, the strike plate rotates with the top and contacts the mouse to trap the mouse between the strike plate and the catch plate. 
   
   
       4 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  wherein the stop means also serves as a strike plate, the strike plate being connected to the top and extending substantially at right angles to an internal wall of the enclosure such that upon contra-rotation of the top relative to the base under the action of the biasing means, the strike plate rotates with the top and contacts the mouse. 
   
   
       5 . The mousetrap according to  claim 4  further comprising a catch plate connected to the base and extending substantially at right angles to an internal wall of the enclosure such that upon contra-rotation of the top relative to the base under the action of the biasing means, the strike plate rotates with the top and contacts the mouse to trap the mouse between the strike plate and the catch plate. 
   
   
       6 . The mousetrap according to  claim 5  wherein the strike plate or catch plate may further include one or more projections. 
   
   
       7 . The mousetrap according to  claim 6  wherein the projections are in the form of angular kinks in the strike or catch plate profiles. 
   
   
       8 . The mousetrap according to  claim 6  in which the projections are in the form of spikes thereby impaling the mouse upon contact. 
   
   
       9 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  in which at least a section of the base and top is circular. 
   
   
       10 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  in which the enclosure is circular in shape. 
   
   
       11 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  in which the mousetrap is reusable and therefore able to be disassembled so as to allow the removal of a trapped mouse prior to resetting the mousetrap. 
   
   
       12 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  in which the biasing means is a helical torsion spring. 
   
   
       13 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  further comprising a bait housing. 
   
   
       14 . The mousetrap according to  claim 13  wherein the bait housing is located in the centre of the enclosure. 
   
   
       15 . The mousetrap according to  claim 13  wherein the bait housing is able to be loaded with bait from the underside of the enclosure base. 
   
   
       16 . The mousetrap according to  claim 13  in which the bait housing is configured so that the bait is physically isolated from the enclosure wherein the bait housing comprises one or more vents to allow the bait to be sensed by the mouse. 
   
   
       17 . The mousetrap according to  claim 13  wherein the bait housing further includes one or more spikes that assist in maintaining the bait within the bait housing. 
   
   
       18 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  wherein the mousetrap is provided to a consumer with bait located within the bait housing. 
   
   
       19 . The mousetrap according to  claim 1  wherein the base further includes a lip adapted to fit around the top of another mousetrap thereby allowing two or more mousetraps to be stacked. 
   
   
       20 . A mousetrap comprising an enclosure having an aperture through which a mouse enters and an enclosure floor;
 the mousetrap further comprising a trap mechanism disposed within the enclosure;   the trap mechanism comprising at least a biasing means, a trigger and a trap wire with the trap wire being connected to the biasing means and arranged so as to allow the trap wire to be set, through engagement with the trigger, to a first position against the force of the biasing means in which the mousetrap is set to trap a mouse;   the trap mechanism being arranged such that entry of the mouse into the enclosure and depression of the trigger by the mouse causes the trigger to disengage from the trap wire which, through the force of the biasing means, is caused to move from the first position to a second position thereby trapping the mouse between the trap wire and the floor,   wherein the trigger and aperture are arranged so as to substantially conceal and isolate the trapped mouse from an external environment.   
   
   
       21 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  wherein the trap mechanism further comprises a trap base. 
   
   
       22 . The mousetrap according to  claim 21  wherein the trap base is a wire support base. 
   
   
       23 . The mousetrap according to  claim 21  wherein the trap base is formed from a substantially rigid material. 
   
   
       24 . The mousetrap according to  claim 23  wherein the material is an injection mouldable material. 
   
   
       25 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  wherein the trap mechanism operates independently of the enclosure geometry. 
   
   
       26 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  wherein the trigger is integral with the enclosure. 
   
   
       27 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  wherein the enclosure is a cardboard box. 
   
   
       28 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  wherein the enclosure is wedge-shaped cardboard. 
   
   
       29 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  wherein the trap mechanism further comprises a bait housing. 
   
   
       30 . The mousetrap according to  claim 29  wherein the bait housing is proximate the trigger and positioned at a maximal distance from the aperture. 
   
   
       31 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  in which the mousetrap is adapted for reuse, the trap mechanism being moveable from the second position to the first position so as to reset the mousetrap and permit removal of a trapped mouse. 
   
   
       32 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  in which the biasing means is a helical torsion spring. 
   
   
       33 . The mousetrap according to  claim 20  further comprising a means to hang the mousetrap. 
   
   
       34 . A mousetrap comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a base having an upwardly extending spindle, a top rotatable about said spindle, apertures located on each of the top and the base, wherein the enclosure is in an open position upon substantial alignment of the apertures; and   a trigger mechanism comprising a lever arrangement and a biasing means operably connected to the top, the top comprising a strike plate connected thereto and extending downwardly therefrom and substantially at right angles to the top, the base comprising a catch plate connected to the base and depending upwardly therefrom and substantially at right angles to the base, wherein the lever arrangement defines a gap, wherein the enclosure, when in the open position, is able to admit a mouse into the enclosure and when in the closed position, the apertures are not in substantial alignment,   the mousetrap being set to incapacitate or kill the mouse by manual rotation of the top relative to the base to open the enclosure by substantial alignment of the apertures, the enclosure being held open against the force of the biasing means by engagement of the lever arrangement with a stop means,   the mousetrap being activated to trap the mouse by the raising of the lever arrangement in response to a part of the mouse moving through the gap thereby disengaging the lever arrangement from the stop means and causing the top to contra-rotate about said spindle and relative to the base under the force of the biasing means so as to close the enclosure, and cause the strike plate connected to the top to move in the direction of the catch plate and thereby incapacitating or killing the mouse by striking the mouse with the strike plate and incapacitating or killing the mouse between the strike plate and the catch plate.