Could a loading coil be used more like a trap?

Traps are a different subject. Self-resonant coils should only
be used at a current minimum point. IMO, they are much too lossy
to be used at a current maximum point.

IMHO a trap behaves like a disconnection (high series impedance) at
its resonant frequency, effectively shortening the antenna wire. It
behaves as a loading coil at any lower frequency. For example a
trapped 40 + 80 metres dipole is shorter than a full-size single-band
80 metres one due to the loading effect of the traps. The losses in a
trap on LOWER THAN RESONANT frequencies are an issue, of course - the
trap is placed off a minimum current point at these frequencies !
Maybe coax traps (e.g. http://members.shaw.ca/ve6yp/CoaxTrap.html)
would be fine ?

73 Ivan OK1SIP