ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 24 -- United States Patent no. 12,740,556, issued on Sept. 22.
"Gate mechanism" was invented by Peter Scott Sorensen (Blacksburg, Va.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A gate mechanism for a live animal trap comprising a plurality of interlocking gates, including a first gate and a second gate. The first gate descends inwardly into the cage at an angle, preferably 35deg, while the second gate hangs at least partially vertical. Each of the gates comprises a pattern of arms and cutouts, thereby allowing the gates to reside on intersecting planes. The gates possess a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism inhibits an upward force applied to the first gate from the ...