Year: 1897

page_text: I, FREDERICK WILLIAM ROE, of Stonehenge, Tasmania, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in traps for rats and mice and like vermin
and it has for its object to construct a simple, effective, and cheap device for this
purpose. The trap consists of two compartments situated one within the other and
constructed of wire or other suitable netting, the inner compartment being of such
dimensions as to leave a space on two sides thereof within which are arranged the
bait and the mechanism for closing the aperture by which admission is effected to
the outer compartiment and which aperture is located at the lower front end corner
of the outer compartment. In front of the opening is placed the bait, which may
be also enclosed so that the same may be preserved, and which has arranged in front
of it one end of a pivotted wire so that the rat or the like whilst passing towards the
bait shall press upon the said wire and cause the entrance to the outer compartment
to be closed by means of a balanced door, which is kept raised by resting upon the
opposite end of the wire aforesaid which wire is caused by the rat to become displaced
allowing the door to be closed. Situated in the space between the sides of the two
compartments and of slightly less width than said space is a plate of metal or other
material which is connected to and forms part of the door in such a manner that
upon the same being closed the plate will be inclined upwards from its inner end,
the outer end of the said plate then being raised above an opening formed in the
lower corner at the end of the inner compartment. This opening is furnished with
a hinged door which opens inwardly only thus preventing the exit of the vermin
when once they have entered. The entrance is effected by the weight of the rat or
the like which in its endeavour to escape runs along the inclined plate which is
depressed by the weight of the animal until it is on a level with the opening to the
inner compartment.
The action of depressing the plate causes the trap to be reset by raising the
door leading to the outer compartment the supporting wire again engaging with
the door.
It is obvious that the weight of the door must be somewhat in excess of the weight
of the plate leading to the entrance to the inner compartment. The top of the trap
which may be of wood or any other suitable material may have a small door by
which the rats or the like may be removed from the inner compartment or the trap
may be so arranged that the inner compartment may be entirely withdrawn with its
occupants.
The end of the wire in front of the bait may have a plate secured thereto to ensure
the door being closed upon the rat or the like resting thereon when endeavouring to
secure the bait.
Dated th: 15th
1008
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, FREDERICK WILLIAM ROE, of Stonehenge, Tasmania, Gentleman, 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 vermin traps for rats, mice, and like
vermin and it has for its object to construct a simple, cheap and effective device which
shall not require re-setting after the vermin have been caught. The trap consists of
two apartments situated one within the other, the inner compartment being of such
dimensions as to leave a space on two sides thereof within which are arranged. the
bait and the mechanism for closing the aperture by which admission is effected to the
outer compartment and which aperture is placed at the lower front end corner of
the outer compartment. In front of the opening is placed the bait, which may also
be enclosed by wire netting or perforated plate, and in front of it a pivotted frame
of wire so arranged that upon the rat or the like pressing thereon, the door of the
outer compartiment will descend, thus preventing the exit of the animal. Situated in.
the space between the inner and outer compartiments and to which access is obtained
by passing through a door pivotted at the top and inclined vertically at an angle so
that return is impossible, is a plate of metal or any other material which may be
attached to or form part of the door and which plate is pivotted at or near the centre
of its length and is shaped so that when the entrance to the outer compartment is
closed the plate will be caused to incline at an angle to the base of the trap, the end
being raised above the opening to the inner compartment, the entrance to which is
also provided with a door operable in one direction only. Upon the rat
or the
like running along the inclined plane formed by the plate, the same will be depressed
and the opening to the inner compartment disclosed, at the same time the wire
aforesaid will engage with the plate covering or closing the main entrance, leaving
the trap set ready for use.
In order that the invention may be the better understood I will proceed to describe
'the same with reference to the drawings hereto appended in which:-
Fig. 1 is a front side elevation.
Fig. 2 is an end view.
Fig. 3 is a plan showing general arrangement of trap.
Fig. 4 is a view showing more clearly the construction and arrangement of the
door of the outer compartment.
Fig. 5 is a view showing the position of the retaining wire for the door above
referred to,
A are the walls of the outer compartment which may be of any suitable formation
but preferably a rectangular oblong body and which may be constructed of wood or
wire netting or perforated sheet metal, or a combination of wood and any of the
materials enumerated. An opening A is provided and is arranged as shown in full 4
Fig. 1, and indicated in dotted lines Fig. 3. The compartment is divided by means
of partitions A2, A3, the partition A2 having an opening A', formed as indicated in
Fig. 1. The opening A+, covered by means of the swing door B, which as shown in
the drawings is arranged so as to allow of the free passage inwards of the rat or the
like, but which will effectually prevent the same returning. The opening in the 4
partition A³ is provided with a like.door B¹ arranged in a similar manner, a fillet of
wood or other material B2 being placed at the side to prevent the door being raised
from the side. To close the entrance A¹, a plate C is provided which as shown in
Figs. 1, 3, and 4, consists of a vertical portion C of any suitable shape which is

page_text: arranged against the side of the chamber on the inside and which is connected by
the piece C, to the horizontal inclined plate C2 which as aforesaid is placed between
the partitions A2, A3, as shown in Fig. 3, and pivotted at C³. The plate C is kept
raised by means of the wire frame D which as shown consists of a horizontal frame
composed of wire and pivotted centrally upon the cross piece D¹. The forward end of
the frame is provided with two upwardly extending wires D2, D³, one of which is
turned over at the top and when at rest is in the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 5
when the top or turned over portion engages with the underside of the plate C until
the wire is displaced as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5 when the plate C is caused
by gravity to descend covering the aperture A¹ as indicated in Fig. 4. The other
vertical wire D³ is provided with a counter-weight D* to return the frame to its
position when the weight of the amimal is removed from the frame.
The plate C is returned to its normal raised position by the animal which
passing along the incline piece C² causes the same to descend raising the plate C
which is then retained by the wire D2 as aforesaid.
At the rear of the outer chamber is a piece of wire gauze or perforated metal
sliding in grooves formed diagonally across the vertical partitions H, and in which is
placed the bait, the object being to protect the same so that it may serve for any
number of settings.
The inner chamber formned by the partitions A2 A3 may in some cases consist of a
separate movable compartment placed as shown in the drawings at Fig. 3 and pro-
vided with a door as described and having a movable top or cover of perforated
metal E, the whole being capable of withdrawal by means of the wire F.
G is the cover which as shown consists of perforated sheet metal running in.
longitudinal grooves formed in the side and which may be so arranged that it may
be withdrawn from either end when it is desired to obtain access to the interior of the
trap.
The rat or the like having effected an entrance by the opening A¹ will advance
towards the bait in the receptacle H and in doing so will tread upon the frame D releasing
the plate C which will descend closing the opening A¹. The animal in its endeavour to
escape will pass under the door B, along the plate C², thereby depressing the same
and raising the plate C which as aforesaid will be supported by the end of the wire D².
The animal seeing the opening to the inner chamber will pass therethrough when the
door closing behind it will prevent its return to the outer chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved trap for vermin constructed, arranged and acting substantially as
herein set forth and shown by the accompanying drawings.