An Improved Animal Trap.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Animal Trap.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HERBERT, of The Birmingham Toy Manufactory, Dean
Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Toy Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in the hereindescribed improved trap for catching mice,
rats or other animals which are commonly caught by traps.
The said improved animal trap is constructed and operates as follows:-
A suitable base carries an elongated box or cage which is open at one end and
may be formed of metal, wood, wire or other substance. The said box or cage has
a cross fulcrum or shaft underneath by which it is supported on the said base, so
that the box or cage can be tilted on its cross fulcrum when the floor of the box
or cage will be inclined and one end thereof will be higher than the other. The
open end of the box or cage is slightly heavier or farther from the fulcrum
than is the closed end so that when the box or cage is in its normal position,
that is when the trap is set, the closed end is the higher. Under the box or
cage and hinged to the front or open end thereof is a prop, the lower end of
which rests upon the base and when the front or open end of the trap or cage
is tilted up the bottom of the prop engages with one or other of a series of
notches in the base and maintains the box or cage in this position. Above the
open end of the box or cage is a fixed bridge or cross piece carried by the base at
such an angle that when the open end of the box or cage is tilted and propped up
as above described, this bridge or cross piece closes the open end of the box or
cage which is shaped so as to fit against the said bridge.
The trap above described operates as follows:-The bait is placed or fixed in
the box or cage at or near the closed end thereof, and the trap is set as above
described. When the animal, entering at the open end of the box or cage, has
reached the bait, the weight of the animal overbalances the box or cage which
turns on its fulcrum and its open end rises and is closed by the bridge and there
maintained by the prop as above described.
Dated this 24th day of June 1891
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Animal Trap.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HERBERT, of The Birmingham Toy Manufactory, Dean
Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Toy 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 consists in the hereindescribed improved trap for catching mice,
rats or other animals, which are commonly caught by traps.
The said improved trap is constructed and operates as follows reference being
made to the accompanying drawing on which
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation, Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a
plan and Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a mouse trap or rat trap constructed
according to this invention.
A suitable base A carries an elongated box or cage B which is open at one
In the
end and may be formed of metal, wood, wire or other substance.

page_text: particular trap shewn on my drawing the parts are formed of sheet tin or other
sheet metal. The box or cage. B. has a cross fulcrum or shaft C underneath by
which it is supported on the base A this shaft C passing through the upwardly
projecting side cars a' a² on the base A. The box or cage B can be tilted on its
cross fulcrum C either as shewn in Fig! 1 or in Fig. 2 when the floor 2 of the box
or cage will be inclined and one end thereof will be higher than the other end.
The open end of the box or cage B is made slightly heavier than the closed
end which can be done by balance weights fixed to the sides of the
box or cage B so that when the box or cage is in its normal position as
shewn in Fig. 1 that is when the trap is set, the closed' end' is the
higher. Or this can be accomplished' by making the open end farther from
the fulcrum than is the closed end 13. Under the box or cage. B and hinged
to the front or open end thereof at e is a prop the lower end f¹ of which
rests upon the base A when the front or open end of the trap or cage B is tilted
up as shewn in Fig. 2 so that the bottom of the prop then engages with one
or other of a series of notches in the base A. and maintains the box or cage in
this position. Above the open end of the box or cage Bis a fixed bridge or
cross piece H carried from the base A by the side pieces fixed thereto. The
said bridge or cross piece H is arranged at about the angle sliewn so that when the
open end of the box or cage B is tilted and propped up as above described and
shewn in Fig. 2 this bridge or cross piece H closes the open end of the box or
cage B which is shaped as shewn so as to fit against the bridge H.
The trap above described operates as follows:-The bait is placed or fixed in
the small compartment at the closed end of the box or cage B. and the trap is set
as above described and shewn in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. When the animal entering at
the open end of the box or cage B has reached the bait or passed sufficiently far
over the fulcrum the weiglit of the animal overbalances the box or cage
which turns on its fulcrum C and its open end rises and is closed by the bridge.H
and there maintained by the prop fas above described.
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. The herein described improved animal trap consisting essentially of an
elongated box or cage open at one end and carried on a cross fulcrum and so
arranged that when the trap is set the floor of the box or cage inclines up from its
open end to its closed end and when an animal enters the box or cage and advances
far enough within it the box or cage overbalances so that the end which was open
is now closed by a fixed bridge the said box or cage being automatically propped
up in this position substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of parts constituting the improved animal trap constructed
arranged and operating in the manner and substantially as herein before set forth
and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
.
Dated this 24th day of March 1892.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.