Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1899}
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1909 -Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
I, TOM STANTON, of 9, Sion Place, Sion Hill, Bath, Gardener, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved trap for rats and other animals such as
stoats, weasels, and also virds.
The improved trap which constitutes this invention consists of a box-like
chamber on the cover or top of which is a pair of springs coiled around a fixed
bar. The springs are extended as a frame towards the front of the appliance.
Suspended from the frame is a shackle which is loosely hung on the frame and
is passed through a slot provided in the cover or top near the front thereof.
Pivotally hung from a bar fixed in the top or cover of the appliance is a bar
which extends down into the box and terminates therein in a hook or other bait-
retaining device. The upper end of the bait bar has an eye or loop. At the
front the box has an aperture for admittance of rats or other animals which the
trap is designed to capture. Above this aperture is a staple to which is loosely
hung a setting bar.
The trap is set by depressing the shackle, and passing the rear end of the
The lower limb of the
setting bar through the eye or loop of the bait bar.
shackle, when the trap is set, extends down inside the box to the floor of the trap
so that an animal entering the trap and approaching the bait has the said lower
limb of the shackle below it.
By an outward pull on the bait, the bait bar is tilted and thus the setting bar
is freed 'and the shackle flies up in the slot aforesaid by the coiled springs in re-
bounding. The animal is seized and held between the lower limb of the shackle
and the top or cover of the box.
1900
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
I, TOM STANTON, of 9, Sion Place, Sion Hill, Bath, Gardener, 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 consists in an improved trap for rats and other animals, such
as stoats, weasels, mice, and also birds.
The improved trap which constitutes this invention consists of a box-like

page_text: chamber or cage, on the cover or top of which is a pair of springs coiled around
a fixed bar. The springs are extended as a frame towards the front of the
appliance. Suspended from the frame is a shackle which is loosely hung on the
frame and is passed through a slot provided in the cover or top near the front
thereof. Pivotally suspended on a rail fixed in the top or cover of the appliance
is a bar which extends down into the box and terminates therein in a hook or
other bait-retaining device. The upper end of the bait bar has an eye or loop.
At the front the box has an aperture for the admittance of animals which the
trap is designed to capture. Above this aperture is an arm or staple to which
is loosely suspended a setting bar.
The trap is set by depressing the shackle and passing the rear end of the
setting bar through the eye or loop of the bait bar. The lower limb of the
shackle, when the trap is set, extends down inside the box to or below the floor
of the trap, so that an animal entering the trap and approaching the bait has
the said lower limb of the shackle below it.
An outward pull on the bait causes the bait bar to tilt. The setting bar is
thus released and the shackle is drawn sharply up in the slot aforesaid by the
coiled springs in rebounding. The animal is seized and held between the lower
limb of the shackle and the top or cover of the box.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents
a longitudinal section of my improved trap as made in accordance with one de-
sign thereof. The trap is shown as unset. Fig. 2 is a front view of the trap as
unset. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the trap as set, but without a
bait. Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3.
In this form the trap consists of a box-like chamber closed at the back by a
grating a. In the front is an aperture 6 by which animals enter. At one side
is a door c affording access to the interior for baiting and other purposes. Coiled
around a bar d fixed towards the rear of the box is a pair of springs e which are
extended at the ends to form a frame e¹. Loosely suspended on the frame e¹ is a
shackle which is passed into a slot y provided for it in the top or cover of the
box or cage near the front thereof. A similar sloth is provided in the floor
of the box or cage to enable the shackle f to be properly depressed when setting
the trap. Loosely hung upon the rail i laid and fixed across an aperture j made
in the cover or top of the box or cage is a bark which is normally free to swing
on the rail . This bark extends down into the box or cage and terminates, in
the example illustrated in the drawings, in a hook for holding the bait. Instead
of a hook, a clip or other device may be used for holding the bait. Over the
aperture 6 for the entrance of animals is an arm from which is loosely suspended
the setting bar m. The trap is set in the manner following:-
:-
The
The frame e¹ is tilted down forwards against the resistance of the springs e.
Thus the shackle f is depressed behind the front of the box or cage.
setting bar m is then turned up and over the cross bar e² of the frame. The bait
bar kis tilted and the rear end of the setting bar m is passed into the loop k¹ of
the bait bar against which loop the setting bar presses upwardly by the action
of the springs c. The trap is thus set.
An outward pull exerted on the bait held by the hook of the bait bar k causes
release of the setting bar m from the restraint of the loop and therefore the
animal exerting such pull is, on the release of the setting bar, squeezed between
the cross bar fi of the ascending shackle f and the under face of the top or cover
of the box, and the animal is thus killed or caught.
The trap chamber may, instead of having solid sides, as in the example illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings, have grated sides.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
--
A trap for rats, mice, weasels, birds, and other animals, consisting of a box or

page_text: cage into which extends, through an aperture provided in the top of such box.
or cage, a bait-carrying hook or the like, loosely hung on a fixed supporting rail
or pin and adapted to engage with a setting bar which, when the trap is set,
holds, by such engagement, a spring frame and shackle suspended from the frame
down against the resistance of the springs of such frame, the shackle being de-
pressed behind an aperture by which animals enter the trap; the arrangement
being such that a pull exerted on the bait in the direction of the entrance aperture
causes release of the setting bar and so brings about a sharp ascent of the said
frame and suspended shackle, substantially as hereinabove described with reference
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
Tate this Otat low of March 1000
NICHOLAS WATTS.
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.