A New or Improved Magnetic Trap for Mice, Rats, and other Animals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr. 1896-4ccepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Magnetic Trap for Mice, Rats, and other
Animals.
I, CHARLES CAMPBELL of 223, Prince Regents Lane, Custom House,
London, E. Club Steward, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates to a new or improved magnetic trap for mice, rats and
other animals and has for its object to provide a trap in which the flap for falling
aud closing the entrance of same is held or retained in the open position by
magnetism, the weight of the said falling flap being so regulated as to close the
entrance upon a very slight pressure being applied and by this means complicated
springs, catches and the like which are very unreliable and continually getting out
of order, and which further present considerable difficulty in setting, are dispensed
with, and a trap of simple construction and one which is very reliable and effective
in use is thus provided.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I provide a suitably shaped case
or receptacle of a size in accordance with the size of the animal which is required
to be caught. This case is furnished with an opening at one end and is provided
inside with a tilting arm or strip centrally pivoted between the sides of the case
and which carries at one end the disc which is designed to close the entrance to
the trap when in its closed position. At the end of this tilting arm or strip
furnished with the closing disc, a small strip or bar of iron is secured, while to
the underside of the top or cover of the trap a suitable magnet is attached, so
that upon raising the end of the tilting arm or strip, the iron carried by same
comes into contact with the magnet, thus holding the tilting arm or strip in the
open position and leaving the entrance to the trap clear, the tilting arm or
strip then slanting from the front towards the back of the case so that upon an
animal entering within same it comes into contact with the lowermost end of
the tilting arm or strip which is so weighted that a very slight pressure is sufficient
to overcome the magnetic force by means of which it is supported, the end
carrying the disc thus falling by gravity and effectually closing the entrance
to the trap, the bait being placed at the far end of the trap so as to entice the
mouse, rat, animal or the like towards that part in order that it may come into
contact with the tilting arm or strip for the purpose of closing the entrance.
may
The trap may be provided with a floor of wood or other suitable material
or in some cases it may he left quite open at the bottom and merely placed
it
upon the floor or ground where the animal is to be caught, or
be
provided with a perforated metal bottom or with cross bars, wires or the like,
so that when a trap is being used out of doors, by rubbing the trap to and fro,
this bottom may be covered with earth, or leaves or the like may be used for this
purpose.
لسم
3008

page_text: A New or Improved Magnetic Trap for Mice, Rats, and other
Animals.
I, CHARLES CAMPBELL of 225, Prince Regents Lane, Custom House,
London, E. Club Steward, 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 :-
My invention relates to a new or improved magnetic trap for mice, rats and
other animals and has for its object to provide a trap in which the flap for falling
and closing the entrance of same is held or retained in the open position by
magnetism, the weight of the said falling flap being so regulated as to close
the entrance upon very slight pressure being applied and by this means complicated
springs, catches and the like which are very unreliable and continually getting
out of order, and which further present considerable difficulty in setting, are dispensed
with, and a trap of simple construction and one which is very reliable and effective
in use is provided.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will now
proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mouse trap constructed according to my invention,
Fig. 2 an end view of same showing the trap closed and Fig. 3 a longitudinal
sectional elevation showing the trap set.
Fig. 4 is a plan of a slightly modified form of trap with the lid or cover removed,
Fig. 5 being a longitudinal sectional elevation of same.
Fig. 6 is a plan of a third variety or form of trap designed to catch several
mice or the like at one setting and Fig. 7 is a cross section on line x, x, of
Fig. 6.
Referring now more particularly to Figs. 12 and 3 my improved trap consists
of a suitable receptacle a furnished with a lid or cover b of glass or other suitable
material secured in position by catches c of any convenient form or construction.
The rear end of the case d may be of perforated metal as shown while pivoted
between the walls of same I arrange a tilting strip or platform f mounted or resting
upon the cross pin p in such a manner that it cau be easily removed for cleaning
purposes.
One end of the tilting strip or platform is furnished with a small piece of
iron n which acts as an armature, and which, when the trap is set as shown
in Fig. 3 comes into contact with the end of the magnet m, thereby retaining it in
the set position and leaving the entrance or opening o fiee. Any suitable bait
may be arranged at or near the inner end g so as to entice the mouse or other
animal to enter same, while as soon as it has passed the pivotal line of the tilting
strip or platform, the latter immediately assumes the position shown in dotted
lines (Fig. 3), effectually closing the entrance of the trap and preventing the
escape of any animal contained therein. A regulating screw is provided the
lower end of which bears upon the end of the tilting strip or platform as shown and
by means of which the attraction between the armature and the magnet, and the
force by which the platform is held or retained in the open or set position, is
regulated. I further provide a catch consisting of a piece of wire bent as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 designed to pass under the end of the platform when the flap is closed
so as to firmly secure and retain same in the closed position and prevent the escape
of any animal that may be contained therein, as it is impossible for the platform to be
tilted into the open position until the catch is drawn back by haud; this closed
position is shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 which illustrate a slightly
modified form of trap, it will be seen to consist of a case or receptacle a furnished
with a hinged flap mounted upon the cross pin p.. I further provide a raising
device consisting of a piece of wire bent as shown in Fig. 4 the central portion r
of which takes under a wire loop I so that upon turning one of the ends towards
the right hand side, the central portion r travels along the metal loop 1 from the
lower to the upper end, thus raising the flap finto the position shown in Fig. 5, it
being retained in this raised position by means of the magnet m which is thus
brought into contact with the iron strip or armature n, a regulating screw his
provided as in the former case. Suitable bait is arranged at or near the inner
end of the flap for the purpose of enticing the mouse or other animal to enter the
trap, while as soon as slight pressure is applied to the inner end of the flap f, the
latter falls and closes the entrance of the trap by means of the flap f¹, a perforated
metal bottom k being also provided, while the raising device forms a lock, when
the trap is closed.
"
The form or arrangement of trap shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is particularly designed
to act automatically and enable several mice or the like to be caught with one
setting of the trap. The rectangular receptacle or chamber a constituting the
trap proper has pivoted within it a tilting strip or platform f, the end q of which
rests against the floor of the trap just below an entrance formed in the side of the
receptacle a, when the trap is set, the said platform f being retained in this position
by a magnetic arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 3 and which tends to hold
and keep the said flap steady while the mouse or other animal enters and proceeds a
sufficient distance along same, when however the pivotal line has been passed the
flap tilts over into the position shown in Fig. 7 thus closing the entrance to the
trap, the said flap being retained in the closed position by means of the projecting
catch of the hanging or flap door vl. Upon the mouse or other animal endeavouring
to escape the only possible outlet is through the hanging or flap door and upon
the mouse or the like passing under the said flap into the general or receiving
receptacle or chamber a', the catch v is drawn back and thus releases the tilting
platform which immediately falls into the open position again setting the trap.
The general receiving chamber or receptacle may be provided with a sliding
door in order that the mice or other animals contained therein may be readily
removed.
My improved trap may be constructed of wood, metal or other suitable material
and of any convenient size, shape and form and furnished with covers or lids of
glass or other suitable material, but in many cases I prefer to adopt as far as
possible for the bottoms sides or ends sheets of perforated metal or wire bars
as these are capable of being more easily cleaned than where wood or the like
is employed, said plates being preferably secured to wooden sides or ends by
means of small screws, catches or the like, so that they may be readily removed
for cleaning purposes.
In many cases it is unnecessary to provide a separate and
distinct bottom to the trap as the tilting strip or platform efficiently fulfils all
requirements in this respect when it is in its closed position, as will be more readily
seen with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a trap for mice, rats and other animals the application and use of a magnet
such as m in combination with an armature n and an adjusting or regulating screw
such as h, the whole combined and arranged substantially as herein described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
2. In a trap for mice, rats or other animals the application of a magnet or magnetic
power for setting the said trap in combination or not with an adjusting or regulating
screw such as h, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. The new or improved magnetic trap for mice, rats or other animals, substantially
as herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 24th day of Anril 1806
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.