AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR CAPTURING ANIMALS ALIVE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS CANK, of Hutton Hall, near Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Gamekeeper do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "AN IMPROVED
TRAP FOR CAPTURING ANIMALS ALIVE" to be as follows:-
:-
This invention consists in an improved arrangement of trap for capturing alive
rabbits, foxes, badgers, and the like class of animal being mainly designed for the
purpose of being inserted within the mouth of the holes or burrows in which such
animals have their abode. The sides of the trap are hinged upon metal bars or
rods mounted on a frame running longitudinally of the trap and are caused to close
or remain open by the employment of springs and attendant mechanism of the
usual or other convenient kind. A central platform or plate with the ordinary
trigger mechanism is arranged to hold the trap open until the plate is depressed by
the animal treading upon it when the sides will fly up and close in. When closed
the trap assumes an elongated barrel like appearance the sides of the trap being
suitably curved inwardly or arched over when brought together so as to afford an
inner space for enclosing the captured animal without injuring it. The sides are
formed of a series of wire ribs or fingers whose upper extremities are so curved as
to overlap or pass beyond the extremities of, the fingers of the opposite side; the
principal object of this arrangement being to prevent injury to the legs of larger
animals than the size of the trap employed is designed to capture.
About midway of their depth the side wires are attached to and supported by
stout wire rods running lengthwise of the trap. One or more snap-locks or catches
are provided for preventing the trap from being forced open by the captured animal
when once enclosed. The under side of the central platform is provided with a
locking arrangement engaging with a catch upon the extremity of a rod operated
from one end of the trap so that the platform may not be depressed and so close
the trap accidentally during the operation of setting.
My improved trap is also available for being set on the open ground and under
the water as well as in holes or burrows and for the capture of birds or otters, dogs,
and other animals as well as for those of the class above described the trap when
set being covered over in the same way as other traps.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, THOMAS CANK, of Hutton Hall near Preston in the County of Lancaster
Gamekeeper do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
TRAP FOR CAPTURING ANIMALS ALIVE" 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 an improved arrangement of trap for capturing alive
rabbits, foxes, badgers, and the like class of animal, being mainly designed for the
purpose of being inserted within the mouth of the holes or burrows in which such
animals have their abode. The sides of the trap are hinged upon metal bars or
rods mounted on a frame running longitudinally of the trap and are caused to close
or remain open by the employment of springs and attendant mechanism of the
usual or other convenient kind. A central platform or plate with the ordinary
trigger mechanism is arranged to hold the trap open until the plate is depressed by
the animal treading upon it when the sides will fly up and close in. When closed
the trap assumes an elongated barrel like appearance, the sides of the trap being
suitably curved inwardly or arched over when brought together so as to afford an
inner space for enclosing the captured animal without injuring it. The sides are
formed of a series of wire ribs or fingers whose upper extremities are so curved as
to overlap or pass beyond the extremities of the fingers of the opposite side; the
principal object of this arrangement being to prevent injury to the legs of larger
animals than the size of the trap employed is designed to captura.
About midway of their depth the side wires are attached to and supported by
stout wire rods running lengthwise of the trap. One or more snap-locks or catches
may be provided for preventing the trap from being forced open by the captured
animal when once enclosed. The underside of the central platform may also be
provided with a locking arrangement engaging with a catch upon the extremity
of a rod operated from one end of the trap so that the platform may not be
depressed and so close the trap accidentally during the operation of setting.
My improved trap is also available for being set on the open ground and under
the water as well as in holes or burrows; and for the capture of birds or otters,
dogs, and other animals as well as those of the class above described, the trap when
set being covered over in the same way as other traps.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is an end view of my improved trap when
open or set at its widest capacity; Fig. 2 an end view when closed; Fig. 3 a
sectional end view shewing the arrangement of the platform and trigger mechanism;
and Fig. 4 a side view of the trap when closed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trap
when open or set.
bar a.
a is a metal bar or foundation rod supporting the curved ends b b in the hinged
joints c c. d is a bent spring secured centrally to the arm e projecting from the
The spring d at its two extremities grips or hooks round the two pairs of
curved ends b b as shewn. When setting the trap a catch or hook f at either or
both ends may be employed for holding down the spring until the trigger
mechanism is adjusted. g is the central platform hinged centrally thus permitting
of its closing or folding together when the trap is closed or contracted to suit the
size of the hole or burrow into which it is to be inserted and also of being fixed in
the required position by being packed underneath with sand or other material
when setting the trap. The platform g is supported upon the arm or trigger h
hinged at and held in position by the catch or detent j. k k are wire rods

page_text: running lengthwise of the trap fastened at their extremities to the curved ends b b.
Upon these wire rods k k are stretched and secured wire ribs or fingers, or wire
netting as shewn in the several figures hereinbefore referred to. One side of the
trap is provided with an extra wire rod k¹ which when the trap is set passes
underneath the catch or detent ; as shewn in Figs. 1 and 5-the upward pressure
of the bent spring d holding the several parts of the trigger mechanism in contact
until released by the depression of the platform g as will be well understood. In
lieu of the bar k' a bent wire rod r may be used which may also serve the purpose
of a handle by which the apparatus may be carried.
The upper extremities of the curved ends b b are so arranged as when closed to
meet or close against the upper rods k k thus leaving an intervening space between
the rods so that, in the event of a larger animal disengaging the apparatus than
the trap was designed to capture, the animal's body will be above or outside the
trap and it will be thereby enabled to extricate itself by withdrawing its legs
through the intervening space between the rods k k which have sufficient elasticity
to allow of this being done. If however a smaller animal be enclosed within the
trap the strength of the bent spring d and its locking action upon the curved ends bb
will effectually prevent its distending or opening the trap.
It will be observed by reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 1 that the side of the
trap opposite to that on which the trigger mechanism is situated is, although the
trap may be set, free to be moved inwardly or partially closed (and with it
the hinged platform g) thus enabling the size of the apparatus to be contracted or
varied to suit the size of the hole or burrow or other place in which the trap when
set is to be placed.
I provide one end of the metal bar a with a chain and peg p for holding the trap
in position, but when the trap is set I prefer to pass the peg p through the hole o
in the metal bar a into the ground so as to secure the trap firmly in its place.
Figs. 6 and 7, and 8 and 9 are end and side views shewing arrangements for
forming the sides of the trap otherwise than by wire netting (as shown in the
preceding figures); being designed to permit of larger animals, than can be enclosed
in the particular trap employed, extricating themselves by withdrawing their
legs through the intervening space between the upper bars k k when the trap is
closed.
By the use of my improved trap constructed and arranged as above described a
humane system of capturing animals alive is adopted and the danger of injuring
larger animals than the trap is designed to capture is obviated.
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
1. Constructing a trap with curved ends and sides hinged on a central bar and
actuated by a spring and platform mechanism substantially as described and shewn
in the Drawings for the purpose set forth.
2. Providing means as set forth whereby a larger animal than the trap employed
is designed to capture may extricate itself from the trap.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved trap constructed, arranged,
and operating substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Dated this 11th day of April 1885.
Witness:
YATES W. BOOTH, Patent Agent,
30, Guildhall Street, Preston.
THOMAS CANK.