An Improved Self-setting Vermin Trap for Catching Vermin Alive.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Self-setting Vermin Trap for Catching Vermin Alive.
I JOHN BARLOW of number One Saby Terrace Kinglake Street in the Town and
County of Nottingham Mechanic and I ROBERT CAUNCE of number Fourteen
Promenade Robin Hood Street in the Town and County of Nottingham Estate Agent
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed and to the letters and
figures marked thereon :-
In the application to any suitable box, cage or receptacle for containing alive one or
more rats or other vermin of one or more trap doors either straight or bent to a
suitable angle the top end of which works on suitable pins or axle placed in the
upper part of a suitable tunnel or above it-the lower end of trap door when the
trap is set stands at a suitable distance from the bottom of the tunnel-on some part
of said door there is provision made for passing through some part or parts of it an
axle or pins on which axle or pins there works a suitable lever latch or catch which
latter has the latch end engaged with a suitable stud or stnds-which are secured to
the tunnel when the trap stands set-the other end with which the vermin comes
into contact when entering the tunnel stands at a suitable distance from the bottom of
tunnel and when the vermin has raised the lever a short distance the latch end is
thereby lowered and so becomes disengaged from the stud or studs-there is a
suitable check bit or bits on some part or parts of the lever latch for preventing the
latch from rising too high when the lever latch drops down with the door to reengage
with the stud or studs when the vermin has passed forward and from under the trap
door the latter suddenly drops down carrying the lever latch with it when the
latch immediately reengages with the stud or studs and so the trap is reset-the
distance of the lower end of the trap door from the bottom of tunnel is regulated
by a suitable arrangement of stops or checks fixed either inside or outside of the
tunnel against which some part of the door drops or rests or by means of a suitably
formed projection made on the door to come into contact with a suitable stop-the
tunnel or tunnels in which the trap door or trap doors are fixed-at a suitable
distance apart are made of suitable length or lengths and of suitable internal
sectional areas -the trap doors may or may not be spaced or grated so that the
vermin may or may not see the food through them-the trap doors are placed at
such distance apart in the tunnel as to prevent the vermin already in the box or
cage from repassing the outlet door whilst an incoming vermin is lifting said door-
the lower end of trap door is of such length as to act as a guard to prevent the
vermin from reaching the lever latch when the trap stands set.
When a strut lever is employed instead of the latch lever above described the studs
or stops are placed in suitable places behind the axle instead of before it and by
replacing the latch end of lever latch working before the axle with the strut end of
a strut lever working behind the axle-the engaging and disengaging are effectually
performed and the trap promptly resets itself.
When a strut lever is employed detached from the door it is worked on an axle
or pins fixed in suitable positions either inside or outside a suitable tunnel or
encasement-the lever end is made long enough and wide enough to prevent the
vermin from passing it without moving the free end of it a sufficient distance to
disengage the strut end from the projection on the top of trap door or any stop
or check with which it may be engaged when the trap stands set-the trap door is
placed in the tunnel at a suitable distance from the strut lever and works on an axle
or pins secured in suitable positions-both strut lever and door have suitable stops
or checks to regulate their distance of descent when dropping to reengage—when

page_text: the vermin enters the tunnel and passes on to the lever it raises the lever and thereby
moves the strut end of lever from contact with the projection on the top of trap door
or other stop or check and so sets at liberty to inove the free end of door-the vermin
passing forward raises the door and having passed from under both lever and door
they both drop down-the strut end of lever and the projecting arm on door then
reengage and thus the trap becomes reset.
When a simple leg latch is employed detached as before mentioned it works on pins
or an axle which are placed in side or sides of the tunnel but they may be placed in
any other suitable positions-a short distance below said pins or axle the leg of
latch has a suitable notch and incline made in it--the projection on the top of trap
door has at its end side bits one of which is engaged with the notch when the
trap stands set when the vermin enters the tunnel and moves the leg of latch
forward the notch becomes disengaged from the side bit above mentioned-passing
forward it raises the trap door and having passed from under both leg and door they
both drop down-one of the side bits on the projecting arm on the top of trap door
whilst sliding up the said leg of latch draws the leg inward when the side bit has
passed over the incline it is checked when it reaches the point opposite the notch
then the leg being liberated falls outward by its own weight and allows the side bit to
reenter the notch-thus resetting the trap. One or more leg latches may be used but
in any case they must be long enough and wide enough and spaced or grated in such
manner as to prevent the vermin from passing them without their lifting them
sufficiently to disengage the latch before the vermin can reach the trap door which is
placed at a suitable distance from the leg latch-there are stops or checks suitably
fixed to regulate the distance the leg latch or trap door has to move-one or more may
be placed in the same tunnel as above.
In the accompanying Drawing
Fig. 1 is an axial vertical section of tunnel in which are two trap doors with their
lever latches.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of tunnel entrance.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a trap door shewn separately.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a lever latch shewn separately.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of said tunnel here marked S S at T T Fig. 6 shewing
strut lever on trap door with their stops &c. when the trap is set.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of tunnel entrance shewing the spaced strut lever &c.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of tunnel at T T Fig. 8 shewing strut lever detached
from trap door &c.. when the trap is set.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of tunnel entrance shewing the spaced strut lever and spaced
trap door &c.
Fig. 9 is a vertical section of tunnel SS at TT Fig. 10 shewing leg latch with its
notch and incline, the trap door &c. and their positions when the trap is set.
Fig. 10 is an elevation of tunnel entrance showing the spaced leg latch and the
spaced trap door &c. and their positions when the trap is set.
We describe the trap door and the lever latch it carries represented in Figs. 1 and 2-
M is the line of vertical section through tunnel entrance elevation-L is an axle
passing through both sides of the tunnel N and also through the two ears B of the
trap door A on which axle the door swings or works-K is a check piece which is
regulated so as to come into contact with the top side of tunnel N when the door A
falls to be resecured through the lever latch C Fig. 4-the lower end of door A acts
as a guard to prevent the vermin reaching the lever of latch when the trap stands set
JJ in the upper part-of-door-A-are-gratings or spaces-PP are ears to door A
through which an axle F passes and this axle F passes also through the lever
latch at H Fig. 4-the lever latch Fig.-4-swings or works freely on this axle-G is a
lever which the vermin raises when passing under it thereby depressing the latch
ends C and thereby disengaging said latch from the studs D and so enabling the
vermin to lift the lower part of door A and pass under it-E are stops so placed as
to prevent the latch ends C from rising above the studs D-TT cross vertical section
of tunnel-R to S-from axle L to axle L distance about 8 inches.

page_text: Fig. 5 AA trap door-K projecting stop or hit on same in contact with the top of
tunnel-B long ear on said door-L section of axle passing through B-G leg of
strut lever-F axle passing through both the ear of door and the boss R of strut
lever C crank or bit on the outer side of strut P-D the stop with which the bit C
engages-E section of stop for leg G.
Fig. 6 K the projecting stop bit on the top of door A A-L axle passing through
the long ears B on door AA and through the sides of tunnel SS-F axle passing
through the ears of door AA and the bosses R of strut lever G G-D stop which
engages with bit C on strut lever P-R boss of strut lever G through which axle F
passes-E stop for leg of strut lever G G.
Fig. 7 A A trap door-B ear on same-L axle passing through ears B and the
sides of tunnel SS Fig. 8-K section of stop for trap door A A-0 strut of strut
lever G-F section of axle on which the strut lever G works-H ear on strut lever G-
E section of stop for strut lever G.
Fig. 8 AA trap door partly spaced-I axle on which the door A A works and
passing through both sides of tunnel SS-K stop for trap door A A-G strut lever
partly spaced-C strut end of lever which is engaged with the top end of door AA
when the trap is set-E stop to said strut C-F axle passing through the ears H
and also through both sides of tunnel SS.
Fig. 9 A A trap door partly spaced-B ear on trap door A A and projecting arm J
common to both L section of axle on which the ear B, common to both door A A
and the projecting arm J, works-K stop to door A A-G G leg latch working on
section of axle F-H ear on leg latch-J projecting arm having on its inner side
and near its end a bit M which slides up the incline N and enters the notch O in
the leg when the trap is resetting-E stop to leg G G. The dotted lines A¹ J' N¹
shew the positions of door and lever when the bit N¹ is just in contact with the
incline N and beginning to draw in the leg before the bit can enter the notch O.
Fig. 10 A A trap door-L axle on which door A A works-B ears common to
door A A and projecting arm J-K stop to door A A-G G spaced leg-H ear to
leg latch G G-F axle passing through both ear H and sides of tunnel S S-H ear
to leg latch through which the axle F passes said axle also passes through both sides
of tunnel S S-0 notch in leg latch G G-M bit on inner side of projecting arm J-
N incline on which the bit M slides when rising to reengage-E stop to spaced
lever G G.
Scale one inch equal to one inch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1-The swinging trap door in combination with the strainer lever latch working on
said trap door.
2-The swinging trap door in combination with the strut lever latch working on
said trap door.
3-The swinging trap door in combination with the strut lever when said strut lever
is detached from said trap door.
4-The swinging trap door in combination with the strainer leg latch when the
strainer leg latch is employed separate from or off said trap door.
Dated this Thirty first day of March 1890.
JOHN BARLOW.
JOHN BARLOW.
ROBT. CAUNCE.