Improvements in Traps for Catching Mice and other Vermin.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Traps for Catching Mice and other Vermin.
We, WILLIAM LUMLEY, of Newbeggin, Richmond, in the County of York,
Foreman Whitesmith, and ROBERT SPENCE, the younger, of Trafalgar House,
Richmond, aforesaid, Iron Merchant, 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 statement :-
This invention relates to a simple and efficient construction of trap for catching
mice and other vermin in which in conjunction with an inclined way and a suitable
chamber or receptacle, there is arranged a counter-balanced hinged platform which
normally will occupy a horizontal or approximately horizontal position in which it
will be retained by a stop or catch adapted to be released by a pull, exerted by a
mouse or the like, on a bait-hook, whereupon the weight of the mouse or other
animal on the hinged or pivoted platform will cause the platform to momentarily
descend so that the mouse or other animal will be deposited in the trap chamber or
receptacle, whereupon, by the action of a weight or spring, the hinged or pivotted
platform will be returned to its normal position in which it will be again secured
by the automatic action of the stop or catch connected to the bait-hook.
A trap according to this invention may be constructed with two or more
chambers or receptacles arranged side by side or otherwise, and each provided with
a hinged platform and automatic stop or catch as described.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show respectively in front elevation, plan, side elevation and
rear elevation, a trap according to this invention constructed with two chambers or
receptacles arranged side by side.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections on the lines a b; cd; and ef; respectively of
Fig. 2.
The trap shown comprises two receptacles or chambers 1 (hereinafter called
receptacles), arranged side by side and each consisting of a box which may con-
veniently be of wood, as shown, or of sheet metal, the two boxes having a common
base 2. As the receptacles with their appurtenances are alike, we will describe
only one of them.
Each receptacle has its front end wall 3, inclined and preferably covered with
some material having a rough surface, such as sand paper, that will afford an easy
foothold for vermin. At the top the receptacle provided with a pivoted flap or
door 4 that normally closes the entrance to the receptacle. This flap or door which
may be of tin, is counterbalanced by means of a weighted lever 5, or by a coiled
spring 5* (Fig. 2), so as to form a platform that normally occupies an approximately
horizontal position as seen in Figs. 5 and 7. The opening in the top of the
receptacle normally closed by the platform, is guarded on three sides with sheet
metal walls 6 which extend upwardly from the top of the trap and of which the
side ones are preferably bevelled off as shown. To the rear wall 6 is attached the
device for holding and releasing the platform. This device comprises a piece of
wire 7 pivoted in wire eyes 8 at the back of the rear wall 6 as shown and bent to
form at one end a bait hook 7, which projects through the rear wall 6 over the
platform, and at the other end a stop or catch 7 which normally extends through a
slot in the said rear wall and engages with the underside of the platform so as to
retain the same in its horizontal position. The piece of wire 7 is also bent in a
rearward direction at its central portion to form a crank 7 which carries a small
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page_text: weight 9 that serves to keep the stop or catch 7 in engagement with the platform
until the same is released by a pull upon the bait-hook 7", and to automatically
return the stop or catch to its normal position after being operated. By this
construction it will be seen that the trap will be automatically re-set as soon as a
mouse or the like has been caught.
The platform 4 may be prevented from rising beyond an approximately
horizontal position by a pin 10 (Fig. 6) secured to one of the side walls of the
receptacle and in the path of the weighted lever 5 for such platform, another
pin 11 (Fig. 5) serving to limit the downward movement of the platform. Where
the platform is raised by a coiled spring 5*, the upward motion of the platform
may be limited by a metal stop 10* soldered to the front side of the rear wall 6 as
shown in Fig. 5. The back wall 12 of the receptacle is hinged to the rear top
portion 13 to form a door by which any vermin caught in the trap can be removed;
this door may be fastened by means of a pivotted wire catch 14.
We prefer to arrange the weighted levers 5 for the two platforms 4 in the
space 15 between the two receptacles 1, but they may be each located within the
corresponding receptacle if desired, in which case it should be arranged close to
one of the side walls of such receptacle.
If preferred, the trap may be constructed with only one platform and receptacle.
Or when two receptacles are used, they may be arranged back to back, instead of
side by side as shewn, the inclined front end walls of the receptacles being then
hinged to permit of the removal of mice or other vermin from the receptacles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A trap for catching mice and other vermin, comprising a receptacle constructed
with a counterbalanced hinged platform that is normally retained in position by an
automatic stop or catch and is adapted to be released by a pull on a bait-hook
connected with such stop or catch, the arrangement being such that when the
platform is thus released by the pull exerted on the bait-hook by a mouse or the
like standing on the platform, the said platform will momentarily descend so that
the mouse or the like will be deposited in the receptacle, and will then return and
become automatically re-set in position for re-use, substantially as herein described.
2. A trap for catching mice and other vermin constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as herein described with reference to and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of March 1895.
ROBERT SPENCE, Junior.
For the Applicants,
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.