Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Traps – Choking or squeezing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-31
2004-02-03
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Traps
Choking or squeezing
C043S005000, C119S803000, C119S804000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06684562
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a hand held device for catching snakes.
BACKGROUND PRIOR ART
This invention relates generally to animal snares and snake catchers and has more particular reference to improvements in animal snares and snake catchers of the kind which are characterized by an elongated pole-like handle having at one end a noose operable from the other end of the handle.
The prior art is replete with a wide assortment of animal snares and snake catchers of the general class to which this invention pertains. The existing snares and catchers of this type, however, are deficient in certain respects when they are used to capture dangerous snakes. It is these deficiencies that the present invention seeks to overcome.
Some of the prior art is made for animals much larger than a snake. These devices must be constructed of strong materials to withstand the large forces that these big animals may exert. The stronger, heaver materials add weight and extra cost to these big animal devices. The present invention is made of low cost, weather resistant, materials that can withstand the forces that a snake can exert.
Sometimes it is only after a snake is captured that it is discovered to be a non-dangerous snake. The user may wish to release any beneficial or harmless snake unharmed. There may be some users who may wish to relocate dangerous snakes to a wild area. Many of the prior art snares rely on spring biasing to close the loop around the animal they wish to capture. The spring-biased snares have a tendency to injure or kill snakes. This disadvantage makes the spring biased snare unsuitable for capturing snakes.
The present invention is manually operated and a snake can be captured without injuring the snake.
The spring-biased devices must first be cocked before they are used. In the event that the snake is not captured on the first try then a spring loaded device will need to be reset to the cocked position before another attempt can be made. Sometimes the snake will move into thick brush trying to escape. It is difficult using a spring-biased snare to follow the snake through the thick brush without the open loop catching on the branches. Such spring loaded snares and catchers are difficult and time-consuming to operate. These disadvantages make the task of capturing the snake difficult, particularly a snake that is in motion.
The present invention has a loop that can be quickly opened and closed manually. If the snake is not captured on the first try, the loop can be quickly reset. If the snake moves into thick brush trying to escape, the user can follow the snake with the catcher in the loop-closed position. The user can quickly open the loop and catch the snake at the first opportunity.
Many of the prior art snares and catchers connect only one end of the loop to the moving section and the other end of the loop to the non-moving section. With only one end of the cable connected, the moving section must travel a greater distance before the loop is closed. This extra movement puts the user's hands in an awkward position. The present invention connects both ends of the loop to the moving section, which is superior for two reasons. First, it requires less hardware and assembly time. Secondly, because the moving section moves only half the distance to close the loop, the user's hands remain in a more effective position.
Many of the prior art snares pull the loop into a hollow tube. If this type of snare were used to capture a small snake the loop would pull the head of the snake into the hollow tube. These types of snares and catchers would have a tendency to harm any snake and small snakes would be difficult to remove from the hollow tube. As the loop closes using the present invention, the captured snake is held tightly against the end cap.
The present invention is easy to use and keeps the operators hands in one place at a safe distance away from the snake. This is superior to the prior art snares and catchers that require the operator to move one hand to operate a lever or other device for three reasons. First, it is better if the user's hands remain in one place. Secondly, many of the slides, levers, and locks make the device unnecessarily difficult to operate when the catcher is in a position other than an ideal position. Thirdly, some of the prior art snares require the operator to move one hand closer to the snake to operate a device, this unnecessarily puts the operators hand dangerously close to the snake. These more complicated devices also require more assembly time and the extra parts add to the total cost.
Some of the devices are designed for use close to animals that are not dangerous to humans. The present invention is superior for capturing dangerous snakes because it keeps the operator a safe distance away from the dangerous snake.
The present invention is constructed of weatherproof materials that can be stored outside where snakes are likely to be discovered. The present invention will work perfectly after being stored for long periods without any maintenance. This is superior to prior art that is made of material that is affected by the weather and needs to be stored inside which is a distance away from where snakes are likely to be discovered. Prior art that is not made of weatherproof material may not operate properly after being stored outside for long periods.
Some of the prior art has parts that are custom-made. These parts require special skills and special machinery to build. Making these parts is beyond the ordinary skills of most who are considered skilled at the art of making snares and snake catchers. The cost of having a small number of these custom-made parts made is generally very high. The present invention has no custom-made parts. Most home workshops have all the equipment needed to build the present invention. A person skilled in the art of snare and snake catcher building should be able to build one from the parts that are available at most hardware stores or home improvement centers at a very low cost.
Armstrong U.S. Pat. No. 2,616,123 ANIMAL AND POULTRY SNARE AND KILLER
This manually operated snare has only one end of the cable connected to the moving section. To close the loop one would push on the detent lever, which is located part way down the snare, and then pull on the T-handle. The T-handle may be awkward to use with the snare rotated. The solid metal center shaft has special recesses that are used as detents.
Arntz U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,651 ACTUATION ASSISTING FISH GAFF
This is a fishing gaff that uses hooks. It is not suitable for catching snakes.
Barman U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,472 SPRING LOADED SNARE
This spring-loaded device does use an end cap with two holes and the cable does run through the holes but only one cable connects the moving section. This is a small device used to kill trapped animals. It is not suitable for capturing snakes.
Bechdolt U.S. Pat. No. 959,422 HOG HOLDER
This is a manually operated hand held snare. It has only one end of the cable connected to the moving section. It does have a custom-made end cap called a snout block. It has a custom-made metal center section that also forms an open T-handle. The T-handle may be awkward to use with the snare rotated.
Bidwell U.S. Pat. No. 750,797 HOG HOLDER
This is a manually operated snare device. It has only one end of the cable connected to the moving section. It has a custom-made metal center section that also forms an open T-handle. The T-handle may be awkward to use with the snare rotated. It has a cable pulling into an open tube that would tend to damage any snake and the head of a small snake would be pulled inside of the tube. It is not suitable for capturing small snakes.
Butler U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,106 LIVE EEL BAIT DEVICE
This is a small manually operated snare device. Its small size makes it unsuitable for use with dangerous snakes. Pushing on the monofilament can form the loop on this small device but this would not work if the device were to be made longer.
Comes U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,809 ARTICLE SECURING SYSTEM
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