Inner-Closing Pedal Mousetrap with Dual Doors and Linkage Mechanism

The problem

Live-catch rodent traps typically rely on doors that swing outward or drop vertically from the top of the cage. Outward-swinging doors increase the total space the trap occupies when it is set, making it harder to place in tight corners, under shelving, or inside transport boxes. Top-dropping doors require extra height clearance and can be accidentally triggered if bumped from above. Furthermore, single-door designs leave one end open, allowing cautious rodents to back out before the trap closes. Traps with independent front and rear doors require the user to set each one separately, slowing down deployment when multiple units are placed across a site.

The solution

This patent describes a cage where both the front and rear doors are hinged at the rear end of their respective openings and fold inward.

1. A cage body houses the mechanism and defines the capture space.
2. A front door and a rear door pivot inward, so the trap’s outer dimensions do not change between the set and closed states.
3. A pedal sits on the floor of the cage, fixedly connected to a first trigger lever.
4. A trigger mechanism holds the doors open using a second trigger lever, a first return spring, a front trigger lever and a rear trigger lever. The front trigger lever abuts the front door, compressing a front return spring when the door is open.
5. A linkage device connects the front door and the rear door so both move together. In one arrangement, a synchronous shaft runs parallel to the first trigger lever near its upper end, with linkage cables A wound around it and attached to each door, plus a knob on the side of the cage. A power storage spring on the knob returns the shaft to its starting position when released. In another arrangement, a linkage cable B connects the innermost sides of both doors and rests against the second trigger lever.
6. When the pedal is pressed, the first trigger lever separates from the lower end of the second trigger lever, releasing the doors to close inward simultaneously.

Who it is for

• Pest control product brands looking to add a compact, dual-entry live trap to their catalog for residential or commercial customers.
• Wholesalers of pest management supplies who need a trap that ships flat or stacks tightly because the doors do not protrude outward.
• Property management companies that deploy multiple traps in utility rooms, attics or basements and want a fast-setting, dual-channel unit.
• Amazon sellers in the home and garden category seeking a distinct live-catch trap with a mechanical linkage feature that differentiates it from basic wire cages.

How it works

The main parts

Operating steps

1. Set the trap. Rotate the knob or pull the doors open. The front trigger lever abuts the front door, compressing the front return spring. The first trigger lever engages the lower end of the second trigger lever. If using linkage cable B, the cable rests against the second trigger lever.
2. Wait for entry. The rodent enters through either the front or rear channel. Both doors are held open by the engaged levers.
3. Trigger. The rodent steps on the pedal. The first trigger lever moves, separating from the lower end of the second trigger lever.
4. Close. The release allows the front trigger lever and rear trigger lever to move. The doors swing inward. If equipped with the power storage spring, it drives the synchronous shaft back to its initial position, pulling the linkage cables A to ensure both doors shut. Alternatively, the second trigger lever presses down linkage cable B, driving both doors closed.
5. Transport. Because the doors folded inward, the cage remains compact for carrying.

Applications

Residential kitchens and pantries

Homeowners dealing with mice in food storage areas need a trap that fits under low shelves. The inward-closing doors mean the set trap takes up no more room than the closed one, fitting into narrow gaps between appliances and cabinets.

Commercial warehouses and stockrooms

Facility managers placing traps along walls or pallet racks benefit from the dual-channel design. Rodents approaching from either direction enter the same cage, and the linkage ensures both ends shut together so the animal cannot reverse out.

Attics and crawl spaces

Pest technicians working in tight structural voids need equipment that is easy to carry. The compact profile when set reduces snagging on insulation or wiring during placement.

Restaurants and food processing holding areas

Commercial kitchens often require live-catch methods away from active prep zones. A pedal trigger responds quickly when stepped on, reducing the chance of escape compared to slow-closing gravity doors.

Where it is less suitable

• Outdoor perimeter trapping in heavy rain. Open wire cages allow water in; solid-body versions would need drainage holes not described here.
• Large rodent species. The lever geometry and cable thickness described are sized for mice; rats may require heavier springs and thicker cables to be confirmed in design.
• Glue or snap-trap replacements. This is strictly a live-catch cage and does not serve buyers looking for lethal control methods.