Abstract

An animal trap particularly suited for trapping moles. The trap has a frame formed by two interfitting bails or U-shaped members pivotally joined at their legs so as to form a pair of scissor-like clamps. The distal end of each leg of the U-shaped members has one-half of an animal gripping jaw which cooperates with an opposing one-half of a jaw on the distal end on the adjacent leg of the associated U-shaped member. A shaft extends between the legs of the U-shaped members. The opposite ends of the shaft are welded to the legs of one U-shaped member. The legs of the other U-shaped member are pivoted on the shaft. A pair of coil springs are mounted on the shaft the outer ends of which drivingly engage the legs which are pivoted on the shaft. The inner end of each spring drivingly engages a trigger lever which projects from the shaft. The driving torque exerted by the springs urges the jaw halves into their closed animal gripping condition. A trigger is pivotally mounted intermediate its opposite ends on the distal end of the trigger lever. A pan positioned to be sideways engaged by an animal entering the trap is mounted or formed on one end of the trigger. A hook is formed on the opposite end. A trip rod is pivotally mounted at one end on the bight of the U-shaped member to which the shaft is fixed. The distal end of the shaft releasably engages the hook when the trap is set so that the trip rod and trigger mechanism keep the jaws open against the torque of the springs. With the trap set with the jaws in the ground and pointing down, when an animal presses upwards against the pan, it causes the hook to slip off the end of the trip rod and thereby springs the trap.