A SPECIAL REPORT: INVENTORS

ETERNAL PURSUIT: There have been more than 1,000 U.S. patents issued for mousetraps, but that didn’t stop Melvin Melton from thinking he could build a better one. . . . Three years ago the San Clemente man created “Trap Ease,” which has since snared him about $50,000 in royalties. The $1.29 device spares the rodent until it can be released outdoors--or otherwise disposed of.