IN TRAPS FOR BIRDS OR OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard John Sankey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1880.
RICHARD JOHN SANKEY, of Margate, in the County of Kent.
IN TRAPS FOR BIRDS OR OTHER ANIMALS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention has for its object the production of a trap to be used in game
preserves, which shall be simple and efficient, and capable of capturing winged
game without injury to the birds, but which may also be used for capturing other
birds or animals if required.
In carrying out my Invention in order to effect these objects I construct the
trap in the following manner, viz. :—
A skeleton frame is provided, the inner extremities of which are shaped to enter
sockets formed in two brackets, which are placed at a suitable distance apart; the
frame, which extends at opposite sides of the brackets, being capable of removal
from the sockets at will. The brackets each carry a compound helical spring, the
cores of which form pivots for a pair of jaws arranged like the skeleton frame,
one at each side of the brackets, the ends of the springs being secured to the
jaws so as to maintain the same in a vertical closed position or tend to impel them
towards that position. The brackets also have each formed thereon at the inner
side a spring box containing a flanged spindle or a spindle having a transverse
pin, which spindle is normally forced inwards by a helical spring, but is maintained
in the outward position by the interposition between the two spindles of a pin or
rod. Each jaw and the corresponding half of the skeleton frame is covered in with
fabric netting, chain netting, or any other suitable material.
In order to set the trap it is let into the ground level with the skeleton frame,
and pegged down, the jaws are opened down flat onto the skeleton frame, the
D

page_text: spindles of the spring boxes are forced out by the introduction between them of
the pin or rod before mentioned, around which the bait is scattered, and the jaws
are secured in their open position by passing the extremities of catch rods which
are strung on the frame beneath the outer protruding ends of the spindles.
On a bird (for example) treading upon the pin or rod the latter instantly falls,
the spindles recede, thus releasing the rods and liberating the jaws, which spring
up and meet in the centre and enclose the bird with the covering.
Traps constructed according to my Invention may be readily taken to pieces for
removal, whilst at the same time they possess great rigidity when put together.
They capture animals without injuring them, and therefore may be used for
vermin; where game abounds they are easily set, and are completely covered up
afterwards, in addition to which their action is perfectly reliable, as they are
infallibly discharged on the least weight or pressure being brought to bear upon
the pin or rod before mentioned, and there is no liability of one jaw being released
without the other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard John Sankey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
February 1881.
RICHARD JOHN SANKEY, of Margate, in the County of Kent.
IN TRAPS FOR BIRDS OR OTHER ANIMALS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention embodies mechanical appliances and arrangements for instan-
taneously and efficiently trapping by means of a light portable and durable trap
any animal or bird that it may be desirable to secure without injury or cruelty
to the same, so that in the event of any domestic animal or bird being inadvertently
caught therein it may be forthwith released uninjured.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed 2 Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (on Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a plan of the
apparatus unset or in its position after having trapped the game.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the cylindrical chamber and helical
spring hereinafter referred to.
Figure 4 (Sheet 2) is a plan shewing the apparatus set for trapping.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the same.
The apparatus consists of four frames of iron or steel wire pivotted to turn on
fixed distance-rods A, A, and capable of folding up compactly when not in use.
Two of these frames B, B, are held down firmly by means of links C, C, coupling
them to pins D, D, fixed in suitable brass castings E, E. The other two are
movable frames F, F, and are actuated by powerful helical or other springs G, G,
which cause them when released to instantly assume the vertical position.
Each moveable frame F, F, and cach fixed frame B, B, on each side of the
apparatus is furnished with a suitably formed net H, H, to which the frames are
securely laced. The moveable frames F, F, are then forced down to the fixed
frames B, B, and held thus by hooks I, I, attached to the latter until the trap is set.
The latter operation is accomplished in the following manner :-
At each end of the apparatus small chisel pointed piston-shaped pins J, J,
projecting from cylindrical chambers K, K, are acted upon by small helical springs
confined within the said chambers.
A rod or treadle, which may be either straight (as shown by the full lines L, L,)
or circular, as indicated by dotted lines at M, Figure 4 or of any other convenient
shape, is placed between the aforesaid chisel pointed pins (or pins of any other
convenient shape), when the compression of the helical springs hold it in position
by friction alone, the amount of which is determined by the length of the treadle
(L, for example) giving more or less compression, according to the requirements.
A small groove N is sometimes cut in each end of the treadle to receive the chisel
points, which may be set either horizontally or vertically with the whole of the
two surfaces in contact or with the least possible amount in contact; by this
means it may be set so sensitive to touch that a sparrow will spring it, and it is
capable of catching securely anything alighting within its area.
The opposite end of the aforesaid chisel pointed pins J, J, is arranged to project
for, say, about one quarter of an inch when the treadle L is in its place so as to form
a catch or holder for the retaining wires O. At each end of the fixed frames these
retaining wires 0, 0, are placed, extending over the moveable frames F, F, and
under the above mentioned catch, at each end, which hold them thus until
released.

page_text: E, E, are castings of brass or other metal formed to receive the distance rods
A, A, the cylindrical chambers K, K, and the fixed pins D, D.
In order to set the trap the moveable frames F, F, are first opened out or turned
back and held in position by the hooks I, I, as hereinbefore described. The treadle L
is then placed in position, and the retaining wires O, O, are placed under the
catches or other extremities of the pins J, J, after which the hooks I, I, are
unhooked. The apparatus, which is in the position shown in Sheet 2 of the
Drawings, is now set, and only requires covering over according to circumstances
with a good sprinkling of dead leaves or other forest litter. It may be baited in
some cases, in others placed in runs, or for catching birds of prey and the like a
decoy bird may be fastened in it in such a manner that it shall not be in a position
to touch the treadle.
When the treadle is touched and drops the small helical springs in the chambers
K, K, draw in the catches or outer extremities of the pins J, J, which hold down
the retaining wires 0, 0, when the force of the springs G, G, causes the retaining
wires 0, 0, to turn in the direction of the arrows a, a, and the moveable frames
F, F, to turn in the direction indicated by the arrows marked b, b. Thus the
trap again assumes the position shewn on Sheet 1 of the Drawings and secures the
prey.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, together with the best method with which I am at the present time
acquainted for carrying the same into practical effect, I would observe in conclusion
that I wish it to be understood I do not confine myself to the precise details,
proportions, or dimensions of the various parts of the apparatus, nor to the
particular arrangement of the actuating springs herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawings, as I am well aware the same may be
considerably modified and varied without departing from the Invention, but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting a
trap for birds or other animals, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard John Sankey, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
RICHARD JOHN SANKEY. (L.S.)