A New or Improved Self-setting Rat Trap adaptable also for other Vermin, Birds, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Self-setting Rat Trap adaptable also for other
Vermin, Birds, and the like.
JOHN DAVIDSON Holkham, Norfolk Chief Clerk to the Earl of Leicester K.G., do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For this purpose the trap is composed of a longitudinal cage with a rectangular
floor aa of wood or other material of the requisite dimensions, into the centre of
which a pivoted drop table 6 is fixed. Two standards are placed at the entrance end
to support a pivoted rotary plate c of zinc or other light substance projected and
weighted beyond the axial line outwardly to preserve its normal horizontal balance ;
while on similar supports at the exit end of the trap is pivoted a drop table d, from
the axial line of which an arm e projects inwardly.
A lever bar is pivoted in a groove in the floor and projects slightly beneath the
drop table b. The lever bar f is also placed in connection with a pivoted rod i by
means of the coupling wires jj the upper one acting as a lever to turn the rod. An
arm k is affixed at right angles to the other end of the rod i and rests upon the
balanced entrance plate c.
A rod g is attached to the drop table 6 by means of loops and on this rod a hook is
formed to rest in the angle of a V shaped support h.
The food is placed at L, and the whole trap is covered in with wire netting or
other material. A box or wire cage is attached to the exit end of the trap for the
final reception of the animal.
The action of the trap is as follows:-
The animal attracted by the bait placed at passes into the trap beneath the
entrance plate c and unto the drop table 6 which is held steadfast by means of the
rod g the hook of which rests in the angle of the V shaped support . Immediately
there is a sufficiency of weight upon the table 6 the hook slips out of its V shaped
support and the table b instantly drops and depresses the end of the lever bar f
which projects beneath it and raises the other end as shown by the dotted lines in
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 -the pivoted rod i is at the same time caused to revolve through.
the coupling wires jj which are pulled down with the depression of the lever bar f to
which they are attached :-the arm k turning with the rod i forces down the entrance
plate c between the standards which effectually closes the entrance.
The animal in escaping from the trap passes out beneath the exit table d which
it forces upwards, and in so doing presses the arm e down upon the lever bar f which
is then in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; the arm e
following the circle described by the table d forces the lever bar f back into the groove
and thereby raising the drop table b into its original position in which it is main-
tained by the hook of the rod g resting in the V shaped support; the same move-
ment of the lever bar f causes the rod i to revolve backwards by means of the
coupling wires j j, the arm k then turning with the rod i leaves the entrance
plate c which thereupon resumes its normal horizontal position.

page_text: As the exit drop table d can only be opened outwardly, the animal is unable
to re-enter the trap.
The novelty of the invention is this
Firstly. That a balanced plate c, acting as the entrance door to the trap, is
closed and opened by the longitudinal rod i which is placed in connection, by
the lever bar f, with the drop tables b and d..
Secondly. That the balanced plate c is closed by the drop table b being
depressed.
Thirdly. That the balanced plate c as well as the drop table are brought
into position by the drop table & being raised by the animal itself as it passes
out into its final reception cage or box.
Fourthly. That the balanced plate -c and the drop table bare held in position
by means of the hook g until the weight of the animal is upon the drop table b.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1897.
A New or Improved Self-setting Rat Trap adaptable also for other
Vermin, Birds, and the like.
JOHN DAVIDSON Holkham, Norfolk, Chief Clerk to the Earl of Leicester, K.G. 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 :-.
For this purpose the framework of the trap is composed of two longitudinal bars 1. 1.
of wood or other material. held in position at either end by the door frames 2 and 3
preferably rectangular in shape and preferably made of metal. The bars 1. 1. and the.
door frames 2 and 3 may if desired be cast in metal in one piece. The said frame-
work may be covered in with a box or wire netting or similar material forming a main
oblong box or cage. The said main box or cage is provided at its outer or entrance
end with a pivoted drop door 4, opening inwardly, preferably composed of zinc or
other light material, said door drop 4 being pivoted in the sides of the door frame 2 and
projected above its pivotal support and weighted as shown at 5 and normally held in
a horizontal position. A drop door 6 preferably composed of vertical wires or
perforated metal is pivoted in the sides of the door frame 3 at the inner end of the
said main oblong box or cage and is normally held in a vertical position and so con-
structed as to open only outwardly. The drop door 6 is also provided with an
inwardly directed arm 7. A lever 8 which is pivoted at 9 projects slightly beneath a
drop table 10 pivoted in the longitudinal bars 1. 1. The lever 8 is also placed in
connection with a revoluble rod 11 by means of the coupling wires 12 and 13, said
wires being joined together and attached to the lever 8 by links or eyes. The rod 11
which is pivoted in the inner edges of the door frames 2 and 3 as shown at 14 and 15
is also provided towards its outer end with a transverse arm 16 which projects trans-
versely over the entrance or outer drop door 4 when said drop door is in a horizontal
position.
Pivotally connected with the drop table 10 near the corner thereof, adjacent to the
end of the pivoted lever 8 is a rod 17 which passes through a slot 18 formed in a
vertical standard 19 secured to the top of the longitudinal bar 1, and the said rod 17
is provided at its free end with a weight 20 and a downwardly directed loop or bend 21
where it passes through the slot 18.
$

page_text: A supplemental box or cage is attached to the inner end of the main oblong box or
cage for the final reception of the animal, the entrance to the said supplemental box
being controlled by the drop door 6 which only opens outwardly.
In practice the food or bait is placed in the inner end of the main oblong box or
cage and the animal attracted by the bait will pass into the trap beneath the entrance
drop door 4 which is then open and on to the drop table-10 which is held immovable
until the full weight of the animal is upon it by means of the rod 17, the bend 21 of
which rests on the bottom of the slot 18 in the standard 19. As soon as the animal
is well on the drop table 10 the weight thus applied thereto causes the rod 17 to slip
downwardly through the slot. 18 and the drop table 10 or the inner end thereof
instantly drops and depresses the corresponding end of the lever 8 which projects
beneath it and this operation raises the inner end of said lever as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1. and in Fig. 2.
The rod 11 which is connected with the lever 8, near the outer end thereof, is also
at the same time caused to turn by means of the coupling wires 12 and 13, the upper
one 13 of which acts as a lever to turn the rod 11. As the rod 11 turns it
causes the transverse arm 16 to turn downwardly and inwardly, which
forces the entrance drop door 4 down as shown in Fig. 2 and effectually closes the
entrance. The animal seeking for a place of escape from the cage passes inwardly
beneath the drop door 6 into the supplemental box or cage and this operation raises
the said door 6 or moves it outwardly and depresses the arm 7 which strikes the
raised end of the lever 8 and this raises the outer end of said lever and returns the
table 10, the rod 17 and the revoluble rod 11 with the arm. 16 to their original
position, and the drop door 4, by means of the weight 5, is raised into its normal
horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1. and the separate parts of the trap are then
again in position for use.
It will be seen that the operation of the trap is entirely automatic and it will be
apparent that the supplemental box or cage may be of any size, and a number of
animals may be caught therein without any attention being given to the trap.
The floor of the cage may also be made solid with a drop table in the centre as
described in my Provisional Specification, or a temporary bottom of wood or other
material may be placed beneath the main box or cage when said cage is placed on soft
ground to prevent animals escaping by burrowing beneath it.
My improved trap is simple in construction and operation, and it will be apparent
that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.
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. An animal trap comprising a main oblong box or cage which is in communica-
tion at one end with a supplemental box or cage, said main box or cage being
provided at its outer end with a weighted drop door which opens inwardly and which
is weighted and normally held in an open position and at its inner end with a drop
door which opens into a supplemental box or cage and which is normally held in a
closed position and which is provided with an inwardly directed arm, said main box
or cage being provided centrally of the bottom thereof with a pivoted table and
operative devices connected therewith whereby the door at the outer end of the main
box or cage is adapted to be closed, said devices being also adapted to be operated by
the door at the inner end of the main box or cage so as to reopen the door at the
outer end thereof, substantially as shown and described.
2. An animal trap comprising a main oblong box or cage which is in communica-
tion at one end with a supplemental box or cage, said main box or cage being
provided at its outer end with a-weighted drop door which is normally held in an open
position and which is adapted to open inwardly, and at its inner end with a drop door
which is normally closed and adapted to open into the supplemental box or cage and
which is provided with an inwardly directed arm, said main box or cage being also

page_text: provided centrally of the bottom thereof with a pivoted table which is normally held
in an inclined position, a lever pivoted in the bottom of the main box or cage, one
end of which projects beneath the free end of said table and the other beneath the
arm of the door at the inner end of said main box or cage, and devices connected with
said lever for closing the door at the outer end of said main box or cage when the
pivoted table is depressed, said devices being adapted to be operated by the door at
the inner end of said main box or cage so as to reopen the door at the outer end
thereof, substantially as shown and described.
3. An animal trap comprising a main oblong box or cage which is in communica-
tion at one end with a supplemental box or cage, said main oblong box or cage being
provided at its outer end with a weighted drop door which is normally held in an open
position, and at its inner end, with a drop door which is normally closed and which
opens inwardly into the supplemental box or cage and which is provided with an
inwardly directed arın, said main box or cage being provided centrally of the bottom
thereof with a pivoted table, and with a lever which is pivotally supported, and one end
of which projects beneath the free edge of said table and the other beneath the arm
of the door at the inner end of the main box or cage, said table being also provided
with a pivoted rod which passes upwardly through a suitable support, and by which
the table is held in an inclined position, and a rod pivotally connected with said lever
and in operative connection with a horizontal rod by which the door at the outer end
of the main box or cage is closed. Said parts being constructed, combined and
arranged substantially as shown and described.