IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAPS FOR RABBITS AND ATBED ANTIATO
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Burgess of Malvern Wells in the County of
Worcester for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAPS FOR RABBITS AND
ATBED ANTIATO
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Burgess at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1883.
'
WILLIAM BURGESS of Malvern Wells in the County of Worcester
MENTS IN TRAPS FOR RABBITS AND OTHER ANIMALS."
:
"IMPROVE-
My invention of improvements in Spring traps for killing rabbits and other
animals relates to traps of the kind in which the gripping jaws between which
the animal is caught consist of an arched bow and a straight cross bar carried by
the ordinary bent spring; and it has for its object to so construct the trap as to
ensure the instantaneous death of the animal to enable the trap or the gripping
portion thereof to be placed entirely within the rabbit or other hole in the ground
and to avoid the liability of other animals becoming accidentally entrapped.
As usually made the bow stands up in such a position that the rabbit or other
animal to be caught has to pass beneath it, this construction preventing the trap
from being placed within the rabbit hole, and the bow spring occupies such a
position as to obstruct the passage of the animal over the trap. Rabbits will not
enter a trap thus made the appearance of the trap frightening then.
According to my invention 1 hinge the arch or bow beneath which the animal
is to be caught, in such manner that when the trap is set it may be laid close
down to the base of the trap around and below the level of the platform which
acts as a trigger to release the trap. In this position of the bow it does not prevent
the trap being inserted within the hole in the ground, the bow being raised when
the trap is released by the action of the spring upon it. The spring by which the
trap is operated is not placed centrally as hitherto but towards one side so as to lie
against one side of the hole out of the way of the animal passing on to the trap.
The straight bar constituting the other gripping jaw of the trap is formed by
bending the spring at right angles to its length and it works across the arch or bow
which folds down above it when the trap is set, the trap being in this position
lightly covered with earth to hide it.

page_text: In order that my Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
it in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this Specification and will
proceed to describe it more fully with reference thereto.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and
Figure 2 a plan of the trap set
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same released
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all these figures.
A is the bow formed of an iron rod bent to the arched form and having its
ends a bent up at right angles to form pivots upon which the bow can hinge so
that it may either stand up as shown in figure 3 or lay down as shown in
figures 1 and 2. The pivots a work in eyes fixed to the base of the trap at
either side of the platform C. D is the other or straight jaw formed by an arm
extending at right angles from the end of the spring E and at one side thereof so
that the jaws and platform are not in line with the spring which occupies a
position to one side thereof as above mentioned, the base plate B being to this
end similarly bent or provided with an extension B' upou which the eyes b are
fixed.
The mechanism for setting and releasing the trap is of the usual construction
and consists of the platform C, combined with a pivoted latch F which lies across
the spring E and holds it down by engaging with a notch c on the pivoted arm
which carries the platform.
When the trap is released by an animal treading on the platform the bow A is
raised by the straight jaw D pressing against it in the upward direction and the
animal is caught between the jaw D and the upper part of the bow and instantly
killed. The eyes b are provided with stops d to limit the upward motion of the
bow and prevent its moving away from the bar D and so releasing the animal.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is:
The improved construction and arrangement of trap for rabbits and other animals
in which the arch or how forming one gripping jaw is hinged so as to lay down
out of the way when the trap is set and be raised when it is released, and in which
the operative spring is located to one side of and not centrally in line with the
mechanism of the trap, substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings,
for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I tho said William Burgess, have hereunto set my hand
and Seal this Twenty Seventh day of September A.D. 1883.