Improvements in Earwig and like Vermin Traps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Earwig and like Vermin Traps.
I, WILLIAM JOHN EDKINS, of Spring Lane, Erdington near Birmingham,
Button Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of traps or
means for the catching of earwigs and other like insects or vermin, and consists in
the employment of one, two or more inverted and rotatory elongated cups or closed-
topped cylinders, suspended from or carried by a crossbar surmounting a post,
stick or upright, and which traps or catchers are kept close to the said upright or stick
by springs, either carried at the crowns of the said cups or at the suspension parts
of them,
In carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a dahlia stick, 1 take
an upright or post, and secure to the upper end of the same, a cross bar, upon the
ends or the opposite sides of which, eyes or brackets of inverted and elongated cups
or closed-topped cylinders are threaded. These cylinders or cups are kept stationary
and up to the sides of the stick or upright by flat or other springs, preferably
directed from the crowns of the said inverted cups, and with the free ends of them
impinging upon the underside of the cross bar, so that the insect catchers, which
depend downwards, are hollow and open mouthed, and are capable of turning round,
so that their interiors can be viewed without taking the same from their sticks, and
if any insects are entrapped the said catchers can be removed and the insects
removed by tapping, and destroyed.
By so mounting the catchers that the same admit of being turned so as to bring
their mouths upwards, the insects entrapped are prevented from falling out when
the said catchers are removed.
Dated this 9th day of August 1893.
WILLIAM JOHN EDKINS,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Earwig and like Vermin Traps,
.t.
I, WILLIAM JOHN EDKINS, of Spring Lane, Erdington, near Birmingham,
Button Manufacturer, 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 relates to improvements in the construction of traps or means for
the catching of earwigs and other like insects or vermin, and' consists in the employ-
ment of one, two or more inverted and rotatory elongated cups or closed-topped
cylinders, suspended from or carried by a crossbar surmounting a post, stick or
upright, and which traps or catchers are kept close to the said upright or stick by
springs, either carried at the crowns, of the said cups or at the suspension parts of
them.
:
In carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a dahlia stick, I take
an upright or post, and secure to the upper end of the same, a cross bar, upon the

page_text: '
•
ends or the opposite sides of which, eyes or brackets of inverted and elongated cups
or closed-topped cylinders are threaded.
These cylinders or cups may be kept stationary and up to the sides of the stick or
upright by flat or other springs, preferably directed from the crowns of the said
inverted cups, and with the free ends of them impinging upon the underside of the
cross bar, so that the insect catchers, which depend downwards, are hollow and
open mouthed, and are capable of turning round, so that their interiors can be viewed
without taking the same from their sticks, and if any insects are entrapped the said
catchers can be removed and the insects removed by tapping, and destroyed.
By so mounting the catchers that the same admit of being turned so as to bring
their mouths upwards the insects entrapped are prevented from falling out when
the said catchers are removed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.represents an end view of an earwig trap
constructed and made according to my invention.
Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the same with one of the catchers in
section.
Figure 3 represents a section of one of the catchers separately and Figure 4 is an
elevation of the same.
Figure 5 is a topside plan of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a modification of the method of affixing the cross bar whilst Figure 7
shows a further means for preventing the said catchers or traps from being displaced
by the wind.
In Figures 1 to 5, a is a stick or upright, with the upper end a², surmounted by
a cross bar b, secured to the said end by screws or other attachments, and withi
the outer parts of the said cross bar inclined downwardly at 12, and upon which the
traps or catchers c, are hung by eyes c', at the middles of the crowns c², taking upon
the ends of the said cross bars. Threaded upon the shanks of the eyes c¹, and
between the parts 2, of the bar b, and the crown c², of the catchers c, are cork or
other resilient washers d which act as springs for assisting in holding the catchers
in position. The inclining of the outer parts 62, of the cross bar throws the
catchers slightly out of the perpendicular and brings the outer sides of the walls of
their mouth entrances against the stock, whereby the said catchers are prevented
from being disturbed by the wind or otherwise.
When the interiors of the traps require to be viewed to see the catch, it is only
necessary to turn them round on the cross har as pivots and bring them into the
position represented in dotted lines in Figure 2. When inverted the traps can then
be removed for emptying without any carwigs escaping.
In Figure 6, the cross bar b, is cranked at 63, so as to embrace the sides of the
upper part of the stick a, whereby the said bar can be affixed to the said stick or
stock by a single nail and yet be prevented from rotating.
In Figure 7, the traps or catchers c, are suspended from resilient eyes c², which
take upon a straight cross bar b, secured by screws or otherwise to the head of the
stick a. By employing spring eyes, the catchers cannot be disturbed by wind, but
they admit of turning upon the bar and being brought mouth upwards when their
interiors are required to be viewed prior to their removal for emptying.
When the traps require emptying they are simply drawn off the bars and then
tapped, when the insects fall out.
Figure 8 represents a still further form of my invention. In this modification
the pivot centres are carried from the summits of the traps and take into holes
through the upper part of the stock. Thus a² is the upper part of the stick a,
.having cross holes a³, wherein the trunnion or cranked pins b, carried at the summits
of the traps c, pass and form both the means for supporting the traps and centres
for turning their mouths uppermost.
Figure 9 represents a modification of the earwig trap Figures 1 and 2. In this
form I employ four traps in a group which are suspended from the arms of a
cruciform bracket support.
Figure 10 represents a still further modification of my invention.

page_text: a is the stock, having a double peg b, whose ends 6' are slightly taper or coned,
upon which the transverse coned holes c¹ passing through the heads c³, of the traps c,
take.
In this figure, the left hand trap is shown removed, so as to exemplify the nature
of this form of my invention.
Figure 11 shows a still further form of my invention, in which the trap can be
removed from the stock from a distance by a stick, thus saving a person trampling
upon the beds.
a is the stock, b is a hook or support and c is a trap with a large hook c', which
takes over the hook b, and is supported by it. The catcher in this figure may be
hung or suspended from the branches of a plant or tree amongst the leaves thus
dispensing with the use of supporting stocks.
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 :-
:-
First. An earwig or insect trap consisting of an inverted elongated cup or closed-
ended cylinder supported from cross bars, branches or equivalents carried by or
connected to the upper end of a supporting stick or stock, substantially as described
and set forth.
Secondly. In earwig traps, the combination with depending and inverted elongated
cup shaped catchers or traps, of loops or eyes and cross bars carried by the stocks,
whereby the said traps admit of being turned upwards for inspection, and when
turned down, are movable secured, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9.
Thirdly. In earwig traps, jointing, mounting and supporting the same by the
means and in the way substantially as described and set forth in Figure 8.
Fourthly. In earwig traps, jointing, mounting and supporting the same by the
means and in the way substantially as described and set forth in Figure 10.
Fifthly. In earwig traps, the general construction, arrangement and combination
of the parts substantially as described and set forth in the several figures of the
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of February 1894.
WILLIAM JOHN EDKINS,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant. }