A NEW. OR IMPROVED TRAP FOR RATS, MICE, WEASELS, OR OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the firm of Edwards and Co :—,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "A NEW. OR IMPROVED
TRAP FOR RATS, MICE, WEASELS, OR OTHER ANIMALS" a communication to
him from abroad by Jean Antoine Henri Marty, of Villefranche, in the
Republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1883.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex "A NEW OR IMPROVED TRAP FOR RATS, MICE, WEASELS, OR OTHER
ANIMALS [A communication to him from abroad by Jean Antoine Henri Marty,
of Villefranche, in the Republic of France]
"
This invention relates to a novel method of construction of traps for catching
rats, mice, weasels, or other animals.
The trap is made entirely of metal and consists of two parts, one by which
the animal enters the trap, and the other in which it is imprisoned and detained.
The first part is made preferably of metallic wire and consists of a chamber
nearly circular in end view having a central turned-in opening through which a
rat or other animal can enter.
This chamber has a semicircular partition fitted inside and arranged vertically
across so as to form an interior gallery, and the front end of the chamber is con-
tracted and tapered down to a smaller diameter its extremity being closed, but
having a flat opening below of sufficient size which is closed by a pivotted door
opening downward and balanced by a weight just sufficient to keep it closed.
The second part of the trap also consists preferably of metallic wire, in shape
and size somewhat resembling the part already described but having an opening at
the back sufficiently large to fit over the smaller end of the first part which contains
he flat opening and pivotted door. Its front end is made preferably of less

page_text: diameter and has an opening by which any animals contained in the trap can be
removed when desired, the opening being closed when the trap is in use.
The second part is fastened to the first part of the trap by wires or other
convenient means when they have been fitted together as described, and it has a
handle by which it can be readily lifted.
When the trap constructed and arranged as described is properly baited, a rat
or other animal attracted to it nibbles round until he comes to the simple entrance
into which he passes without hesitation as no suspicious mechanism is visible. He
then approaches the balanced door or platform intending to seize the bait, but the
first movement of the balance suggesting a trap he starts back and endeavours to
escape through the wire meshes which detain him, and raises himself in the gallery,
climbing along the simple entrance to where, the partition being away, he would
be able to see the opening through which he entered.
At length, alarmed by the danger and convinced that there is no other exit, he
returns to the balanced platform, which sinks with his weight, dropping him into
the second part of the trap and closing after him. Every effort to escape is then
useless, and the bait remains to attract now captives. .
In order to remove the scent which remains in such traps from animals caught in
them, and which prevents others from being enticed,-especially in the case of such
wild animals as weasels,-the trap after the animals contained in it have been
removed, having been first destroyed by plunging the entire trap into water,-
is fumigated by passing lighted paper under it in every direction.
In the improved trap above described, the animals attracted are not alarmed by
the movement of any lever or the appearance of any mechanism, and the entire
trap is open and exposed, so that they are more readily induced to enter it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1883.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex " A NEW OR IMPROVED TRAP FOR RATS, MICE, WEASELS, OR OTHER
ANIMALS (A communication to me from abroad by Jean Antoine Henri Marty,
of Villefranche, in the Republic of France)
"
This invention relates to a novel method of construction of traps for catching
rats, mice, weasels or other animals.
The accompanying drawing is an illustration of the invention, figure 1 being a
longitudinal section on the line A, B, (figure 2), the balanced door c being closed;
figure 2 is a plan, figure 3 a section on the line C, D, figure 4 an elevation of the
entrance to the trap, figure 5 a longitudinal section of the entrance chamber, the
balanced door c being open; and figure 6 a longitudinal section of the second part
of the trap.
The trap is made entirely of metal and consists of two parts, one by which the
animal enters the trap and the other in which it is imprisoned and detained.
The first part is made preferably of metallic wire and consists of an entering
chamber a nearly circular in end view having a central turned-in opening through
which a rat or other animal can enter.
This chamber has a semicircular partition (figure 3) fitted inside and arranged
vertically across so as to form an interior gallery, and the front end of the chamber
is contracted and tapered down to a smaller diameter its extremity being closed,
but having a flat opening below at b of sufficient size which is closed by a pivotted
door c opening downward and balanced by a weight & just sufficient to keep it
closed.
The second part of the trap, figure 6 also consists preferably of metallic wire, in
shape and size somewhat resembling the part already described, but having an
opening at the back sufficiently large to fit over the smaller end of the first part
which contains the flat opening b and pivotted door c.
Its front end is made preferably of less diameter and has an opening by which
any animals contained in the trap can be removed when desired, the opening being
closed when the trap is in use.
The second part is fastened to the first part of the trap by wires or other
convenient means when they have been fitted together as described, and it has a
handle e by which it can be readily lifted.
When the trap constructed and arranged as described is properly baited, a rat
or other animal attracted to it nibbles round until he comes to the simple entrance
into which he passes without hesitation as no suspicious mechanism is visible.
He then approaches the balanced door or platform intending to seize the bait, but
the first movements of the balance suggesting a trap he starts back and endeavours
to escape through the wire meshes which detain him, and raises himself in the
gallery, climbing along the simple entrance to where, the partition being away, he
would be able to see the opening through which he entered.
At length, alarmed by the danger and convinced that there is no other exit, he
returns to the balanced platform which sinks with his weight, dropping him into
the second part of the trap and closing after him. Every effort to escape is then
seless, and the bait remains to attract new captives.
In order to remove the scent which remains in such
n them, and which prevents others from being enticed,
traps from animals caught
especially in the case of

page_text: such wild animals as weasels, the trap after the animals contained in it have been
removed having been first destroyed by plunging the entire trap into water,―is
fumigated by passing lighted paper under it in every direction.
In the improved trap above described the animals attracted are not alarmed by
the movement of any levers or the appearance of any mechanism, and the entire
trap is open and exposed, so that they are more readily induced to enter it.
Having now described the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim:-The trap, consisting of the two separate parts, capable of
being attached together or separated as desired, and arranged and fitted
substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 13th day of October in the year of our Lord 1883.
EDMUND EDWARDS (L.S.)

page_text: 2)
B