AN IMPROVED ANIMAL TRAP
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Yeo, of Edenhall, Penrith, in the County of
Cumberland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ANIMAL TRAP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Yeo at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th October 1878.
JOSEPH YEO, of Edenhall, Penrith, in the County of Cuimberland.
IMPROVED ANIMAL TRAP."
"AN
This Invention relates to the construction of a strong, simple, and efficient trap,
specially applicable for catching rabbits, but also applicable for catching rats and
similar animals or vermin.
The improved trap is constructed of a pair of toothed jaws with arms or levers.
provided with pivots working in bearings at one end of a bar or plate forming the
base of the trap; one end of a strong spring is fixed to the opposite end of the said
bar or plate, the free end of the said spring being formed with an eye, through
which pass two of the arms of the said jaws, a small hinged catch being placed
just outside the other two arms of the jaws. On the said plate or base of the trap,
and within the jaws or arms of the jaws, is hinged a square or rectangular plate
provided with a small catch at the end next the herein-before described hinged
catch.
To set the trap the spring is pressed down and the jaws are opened out into a
horizontal position, and the small hinged catch is then placed in the catch of the
hinged plate. Upon a rabbit (or other animal) stepping on to the hinged plate its
weight will be sufficient to disengage the catches, whereupon the spring being
released will fly upwards closing the said plate upon the animal, killing and
securing him.
A chain is provided to attach the trap to the ground.

page_text: JOSEPH YEO, of Edenhall, Penrith, in the County of Cumberland.
IMPROVED ANIMAL TRAP."
" AN
This Invention relates to the construction of a strong, simple, and efficient trap,
specially applicable for catching rabbits, but also applicable for catching rats and
similar animals or vermin.
The improved trap is constructed of a pair of ordinary toothed jaws with arms
or levers provided with pivots working in bearings at one end of a bar or plate
forming the base of the trap; one end of the usual spring being fixed to the under
side of the opposite end of the said bar or plate, the free end of the said spring
being formed with an eye, through which pass two of the arms of the said jaws as
usual. I provide a small triangular shaped hinged or pivotted catch placed just
outside the other two arms of the jaws. On the said plate or base of the trap, and
within the jaws or arms of the jaws, is hinged the usual square or rectangular
bottom plate, which I provide with a small catch at the end next the herein-before
described hinged catch..
"But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation;
Figure 2, an end view; and Eigure 3, a plan of my improved trap when closed;
Figure 4 is a side elevation; Figure 5, an end view; and Figure 6, a plan of the trap
when set; Figure 7, section on line A, B, of Figure 6; similar letters in all the
Figures represent similar parts.
a, a, are the ordinary toothed jaws; and b the arms or levers, the pivots c of
which work in the bearings d, d', on the bar or plate f, forming the base of the
trap is the usual spring, one end of which is fixed as shewn to the under side of
the bar or plate finstead of to the top of same as hitherto, whereby the strength
and durability of the spring are increased; is the free end of the spring, the eye i
of which passes over the two inner arms b of the jaws a; j is the triangular-shaped
catch hinged or pivotted to the turned up end or bearing d of the bar or plate f;
is the usual square or rectangular plate working on a hinge or pivot at m; n is
the catch which I apply to the sane to be used in combination with the herein-
before described pivotted catch j for setting the trap as herein-after described; kis
an eye at the end of the trap to allow of attaching the trap to the ground.
To set the trap the free end of the spring is pressed down, and the jaws a, a,
are opened out flat as shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6; the triangular catch j is then
-moved-round-on-its hinge, and its free end inserted in the notch n¹ of the catch n,
by which. means the plate will be kept in the horizontal position and the jaws a, a,
held open by the triangular catch j.
Upon a rabbit (or other animal) stepping on to the plate its weight will press
down this plate in the usual manner, thereby disengaging the triangular catch j
from the notch n' of the catch n, whereupon the free end of the spring will fly
upwards and close the jaws upon the animal, the inclined sides of the catch j causing
it to be moved outwards by the closing of the jaws.
Having thus described my said Invention and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is,
Firstly. The peculiar construction of the triangular hinged catch j, in combination
with the catch, n³, on the hinged plate arranged and operating substantially as
herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Secondly. The fixing the end of the spring to the under side of the plate as
herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Yeo, have hereto set my hand and seal,
this Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
JOSEPH YEO. (L.S.)