A New or Improved Self-setting Animal, Vermin, and Bird Trap.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1899-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Self-setting Animal, Vermin, and Bird Trap.
JOHN DAVIDSON, Holkham, Norfolk, Chief Clerk to the Earl of Leicester, K.G.,
and COLIN JOHN DAVIDSON, of Holkham, Norfolk, Student, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For this purpose the trap is composed of a main oblong cage 1, the top and sides
of which may be covered with wire netting or similar material, and the bottom
thereof being preferably composed of a plate or board 2. Connected with the
inner side of the said cage, is a run or gangway 3 which leads to a box 4, which
may be made of any desired material, the said box being preferably much larger
in cross-section than the main oblong cage with which it is connected.
The bottom or floor 2 of the cage 1 is preferably rectangular in form and is
preferably composed of wood, but other material may be used, and is provided
with a rectangular opening 5, opposite the run or gangway 3, in which is pivoted
at 6 a rectangular drop-table 7. A horizontal rocking shaft 9 is pivoted in two
eyes 8, 8, at the inner and outer end corners of the cage 1, to which at it's outer
end, a plate 10 is attached, said plate being preferably composed of zinc or similar
material and projecting transversely over the floor of the cage. A second plate 11,
composed of zinc or similar material is also attached to the rocking shaft 9 at
right angles to the outer plate 10, opposite the run or gangway 3. The rock-
ing shaft 9 is also provided with a projecting arm 12. A swing-door 13 is pivoted
in the run or gangway 3, and is connected at the bottom with the arm 12 by
means of the two wires 14 and 15, which are linked together.
Beneath the drop table 7 is placed a spring 16 which tends to force the drop.
table 7 upwards; and a projecting pin 17 is also affixed to the said drop-table 7.
The normal position of the plate 11, which controls the entrance into the run
or gangway 3, is shewn in the drawing, in which it projects vertically into the
said run; and the normal position of the plate 10, which controls the entrance
into the cage 1, is shewn in the drawing, in which it projects transversely over
the floor 2, and is held in said position by the plate 11 resting against the pin 17,
attached to the drop-table 7, which is forced upwards by the spring 16 placed
beneath it.
In practice the food or bait is placed at the inner end of the cage 1, and the
animal attracted by the bait will pass into the cage beneath the plate 10 and onto
the drop-table 7, which is held in it's normal horizontal position by the spring 16,
the weight of the animal at once depresses the spring 16 and with it the drop-
table 7, thereby releasing the plate 11 from the support of the pin 17, and the
said plate 11 is raised into a horizontal position by the weight of the plate 10,
which falls into a vertical position and closes the entrance to the cage 1. The
plate 11 being in a horizontal position the entrance to the run or gangway 3 is
now open and the animal in seeking for a place of escape from the cage 1, passes
inwardly beneath the swing-door 13 into the box 4, and this operation raises the

page_text: said door 13 or moves it inwardly, and, by means of the coupling wires 14 and 15,
affixed to the swing-door 13 and to the projecting arm 12 of the rocking shaft 9,
pulls the plate 11 back into it's normal vertical position over the pin 17, the said
pin having an outward slope to allow the plate 11 to pass easily over it and depress
the drop-table 7. The rocking shaft 9 by the same movement also brings it's
attached plate 10 into it's normal position, in which it is held by the plate 11
resting against the pin 17. The wires 14 and 15 being linked together, the swing-
door 13 falls again into it's normal vertical position and the several parts of the
trap are then again in their respective positions for use. As the swing-door 13,
opens only inwardly into the run 3 the animal is unable to reenter the cage, but
an additional swing-door may, if desired, be hung in the opening between the
gangway and the box 4. Other means than a spring may be employed to keep
the drop-table 7 in a horizontal position, as for instance, a counterbalance of lead
or similar material.
It will thus be seen that the operation of the trap is entirely automatic, and it
will be apparent that the box 4 may be of any desired size, and a number of
animals may be caught therein without any attention being given to the trap.
The trap is simple in construction and operation, and it will be apparent that
changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing it's advantages.
The novelty of the invention is this:-
Firstly. That the plates 10 and 11 acting respectively as the entrance and exit
doors of the cage 1 are closed and opened by the rocking shaft 9, which is in
operative communication with the drop-table 7 and it's attached pin 17 and with
the swing-door 13.
Secondly. That the opening and closing of the plates or doors 10 and 11 are
effected through the depression of the drop-table 7.
Thirdly. That the plates 10 and 11 are brought into position by the raising
of the swing-door 13, as the animal passes through the run or gangway 3 into the
box 4, by means of the coupling wires 14 and 15 attached to the arm 12 of the
rocking shaft 9, said arm 12 acting as a lever to turn the shaft.
Fourthly. That the plates 10 and 11 are held in position by the plate 11 press-
ing against the pin 17 of the drop-table 7.
Dated this 27th day of August 1898.
JOHN DAVIDSON.
COLIN JOHN DAVIDSON.
A New or Improved Self-setting Animal, Vermin, and Bird Trap.
JOHN DAVIDSON, Holkham, Norfolk, Chief Clerk to the Earl of Leicester, K.G.,
and COLIN JOHN DAVIDSON, of Holkham, Norfolk, Student, 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:
-
For this purpose the trap is composed of a main oblong cage 1, the top and sides
of which may be covered with wire netting or similar material, and the bottom
thereof being preferably composed of a plate or board 2.
Connected with the inner side of the said cage, is a run or gangway 3 which
leads to a box 4, which may be made of any desired material, the said box being
preferably much larger in cross-section than the main oblong cage with which it
is connected.
The bottom or floor 2 of the cage 1 is preferably rectangular in form and is

page_text: preferably composed of wood, but other material may be used, and is provided
with a rectangular opening 5, opposite the run or gangway 3, in which is pivoted
at 6 a rectangular drop-table 7. A horizontal rocking shaft 9 is pivoted in two
eyes 8, 8, at the inner and outer end corners of the cage 1, to which at it's outer
end, a plate 10 is attached, said plate being preferably composed of zinc or similar
material and projecting transversely over the floor of the cage. A second plate 11,
composed of zinc or similar material, is also attached to the rocking shaft 9 at
right angles to the outer plate 10 oposite the gangway 3. The rocking shaft 9
is also provided with a projecting arm 12.
A swing door 13 is pivoted in the run or gangway 3 and is connected with the
arm 12 by means of two wires 14 and 15 which are linked together.
Beneath the drop table is placed a spring 16 which tends to force the drop
table 7 upwards; and a projecting pin 17 is also affixed to the said drop-table 7.
The normal position of the plate 11, which controls the entrance into the run
or gangway is shewn in the drawing, in which it projects vertically into the
said run; and the normal position of the plate 10, which controls the entrance
into the cage 1, is shewn in the drawing, in which it projects transversely over
the floor 2, and is held in said position by the plate 11 resting against the pin 17,
attached to the drop-table 7, which is forced upwards by the spring 16 placed
beneath it.
In practice the food or bait is placed at the inner end of the cage 1, and the
animal attracted by the bait will pass into the cage beneath the plate 10 and onto
the drop table 7, which is held in its normal horizontal position by the spring 16,
the weight of the animal at once depresses the spring 16 and with it the drop
table 7 thereby releasing the plate 11 from the support of the pin 17, and the
said plate is raised into a horizontal position by the weight of the plate 10 which
falls into a vertical position and closes the entrance to the cage 1. The plate 11
being in a horizontal position the entrance to the run or gangway 3 is now open
and the animal in seeking for a place of escape passes inwardly beneath the
swing door 13 into the box 4 and this operation raises the said door 13 or moves
it inwardly and-by means of the coupling wires 14 and 15 affixed to the swing
door 13 and to the projecting arm 12 of the shaft 9-pulls the plate 11 back into
its normal vertical position over the pin 17, the said pin having an outward slope
to allow the plate 11 to pass easily over it and depress the drop table 7;-the
rocking shaft 9 by the said movement also brings its attached plate 10 into its
normal position, in which it is held by the plate 11 resting against the pin 17.
The wires 14 and 15 being linked together the swing door 13 falls again into its
normal vertical position and the several parts of the trap are then again in their
respective positions for use.
As the swing door 13 opens only inwardly into the run 3 the animal is unable
to re-enter the cage, but an additional swing door may if desired be hung in the
opening between the gangway and the box 4.
Other means than a spring may be employed to keep the drop table 7 in a
horizontal position, as for instance a counterweight of lead or similar material.
It will thus be seen that the operation of the trap is entirely automatic, and it
will be apparent that the box 4 may be of any desired size, and a number of
animals may be caught therein without any attention being given to the trap.
The trap is simple in construction and operation, and it will be apparent that
changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing it's advantages.
The drawings are those "filed with our Provisional Specification."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
Firstly. That the plates 10 and 11 acting respectively as the entrance and exit
one of the cave 1'are closed and opened by the rocking shaft 9. which is in

page_text: operative communication with the drop table 7 and its attached pin 17 and with
the swing door 13.
Secondly. That the opening and closing of the plates or doors 10 and 11 are
effected through the depression of the drop table 7.
Thirdly. That the plates 10 and 11 are brought into position by the raising
of the swing door 13 as the animal passes through the run or gangway into the
box 4, by means of the coupling wires 14 and 15 attached to the arm 12 of the
rocking shaft 9, the said arm 12 acting as a lever to turn the shaft.
Fourthly. That the plates 10 and 11 are held in position by the plate 11 press-
ing against the pin 17 of the drop table 7.
Dated this 26th day of May 1899.
JOHN DAVIDSON.
COLIN JOHN DAVIDSON.