IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR CATCHING RATS, MICE, AND OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Ambrose Brydges of the firm of Brydges & Co.
Engineers and Patent Solicitors of 73 Koniggraetzer Str. in the City of Berlin
and German Empire and of 6, St. Leonard's Terrace, Upton, in the county
of Middlesex for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAPS OR APPARATUS
FOR CATCHING RATS, MICE, AND OTHER ANIMALS." A communication by
Emile d'Aubigny of the City of Vienna in the Empire of Austria
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1882.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES of the firm of Brydges & Co Engineers and Patent
Solicitors of 73 Koniggrätzer Str in the city of Berlin and German Empire and
of 6 St Leonard's Terrace Upton in the County of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR CATCHING RATS, MICE AND OTHER ANIMALS, a commu-
nication from Emile d'Aubigny of the City of Vienna in the Empire of Austria.
This invention relates to improvements in traps or apparatus for catching rats
mice and other animals and is superior to the traps and apparatus hitherto
employed, not only on account of its pleasing form, which is an important consi-
deration, but also on account of its practical construction which facilitates the
cleansing of the same.
The trap, receptacle or box is made of glass and is open at both ends so that the
animals can creep in at each opening.
A clamp is placed on the top of the trap, box or receptacle and being made of
stiff spring wire it secures itself to the side wall of the same.
A wire frame is attached to the said clamp and fits into the opening in the said
trap, box or receptacle.
The lower side of this frame is connected to a spirally formed wire bridge which
slants in an upward direction to the upper inner wall of the trap, box or receptacle,
the upper end of the same being left free so that the said bridge may spring
towards the top of the receptacle after having been depressed by an animal entering
the trap.

page_text: When an animal enters the opening of the trap, box or receptacle, the same comes
at once on to the aforesaid spring bridge; the weight of the animal dopresses the
said bridge thus making the entry clear.
As soon as the animal has passed over the bridge it springs up into its former
position thus barring the exit.
I further employ a modification where a rake like arrangement composed of bent
prongs is employed for preventing the escape of the animal.
A clamp similar to the last nained system is used to attach this arrangement to
the top of the trap box or receptacle.
The bent prongs reach inside the trap and are attached to the aforesaid clamp
by means of a hinge.
When an animal enters the opening of the trap, the smallest pressure oxerted by
the same raises the bent prongs thus making the entrance clear.
The rake like arrangement composed of bent aring or prongs falls directly the
animal has reached the interior of the trap, having lost its support upon the passago
of the animal and thus the exit is barred.
Bait hooks are arranged inside the trap or the bait can be laid on the bottom
of the trap, as in both cases the opening is so effectually closed that the animal can
only enter, but cannot get out in any way, and is thus effectually captured.
The bait hooks are attached to the top of the trap or receptacle by means of
clamps similar to the clamps at the end of the trap and between the said end
clamps.
In order to facilitate the entrance of the animals into the trap the bent prongs
are provided with vertical supports.
These said vertical pieces hold the bent prongs in a raised position thus allowing
free ingress to the animals but on passing these said vertical pieces the animals
push them out of position and thus cause the aforementioned bent prongs to full
down and bar the exit.
Both modifications of trapping arrangement can be employed in combination i.e,
at one end of the trap the spring-bridge, and at the other end the bent prongs or
both ends of the trap can be provided with the same kind of trapping arrangement
The trapping arrangement can be made of any kind of spring wire or sheet-
metal and the trap or receptacle can be made of porcelain, fayeuce, metal or other
suitable material instead of glass
The shape and size of the trap can be also varied and trapping arrangements
attached at the sides.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges in the Great Soal Patent Office on the
17th October 1882.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES of the firm of Brydges & Co Engineers and Patent
Solicitors of 73 Königgrätzer Str in the City of Berlin and German Empire and
of 6 St Leonards Terrace Upton in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR CATCHING RATS MIGE AND OTHER ANIMALS a commu-
nication from Emile d'Aubigny of the City of Vienna in the Empire of Austria,
This invention relates to improvements in traps or apparatus for catching rats
mice and other animals and is superior to the traps and apparatus hitherto
employed, not only on account of its pleasing form which is an important consi-
deration, but also on account of its practical construction which facilitatos tho
cleaning of the same. Two forms or systems of traps are shown in the accompanying
drawing of which Figures 1 and 4 are sido views, Figures 2 and 5 top views and
Figures 3 and 6 sections.
The trap, receptacle or box a is made of glass and is open at both ends so that
the animals can creep in at each opening.
The Figures 1, 2 and 3 shew the trapping arrangement by means of spring
bridges c c¹. A clamp b. o. . is placed on the top of the trap, box or receptacle a
and being made of stiff spring wire it secures itself to the side wall of the same. A
wire frame is attached to the said clamp and fits into the opening in the said trap,
box or receptacle.
The lower side of this frame m is connected to a spirally formed wire bridge c c¹
which slants in an upward direction to the upper inner wall of the trap, box or
receptacle, the upper end of the same being left free so that the said bridge may
spring towards the top of the receptacle after having been depressed by an
animal entering the trap.
When an animal enters the opening of the trap, box or receptacle a the same
comes at once on to the aforesaid spring bridgo c c; the weight of the animal
depresses the said bridge thus making the entry clear.
As soon as the animal has passed over the bridge it springs up into its former
position thus barring the exit.
I further employ a modification as shown in the Figures 4. 5. 6 where a rake
like arrangement composed of bent prongs is employed for preventing the escape
of the animal.
A clamp b. o. z similar to the last named system is used to attach this arrange-
ment to the top of the trap box or receptacle a.
The bent prongs d d reach inside the trap a and are attached to the aforesaid
clamp by means of a hinge r.
When an animal enters the opening of the trap, the smallest pressure exerted by
the same raises the bent prongs d d thus making the entrance clear.
The rake like arrangement composed of bent arms or prongs & d' falls directly the
animal has reached the interior of the trap, having lost its support upon the passage
of the animal and thus the exit is barred.
Bait hooks are arranged inside the trap or the bait can be laid on the bottom
of the trap, as in both cases the opening is so effectually closed that the animal can
only enter but cannot get out in any way and is thus effectually captured.
The bait hooks k are attached to the top of the trap or receptacle a by means
of clamps o similar to the clamps g g at the end of the trap and between the said
end clamps.

page_text: In order to facilitate the entrance of the animals into the trap the bent prongs
are provided with vortical supports y.
These anid vertical pieces y hold the bent prongs d d in a raised position thus
allowing free ingress to the animals but on passing these said vertical pieces the
animals push them out of position and thus cause the aforementioned bent prongs
to fall down and bar the exit.
Both modifications of trapping arrangement can be employed in combination
is at one end of the trap the spring bridge, and at the other end the bent
prongs or both ends of the trap can be provided with the same kind of trapping
arrangement.
The trapping arrangement can be made of any kind of spring wire, or sheet-
metal and the trap or receptacle can be made of porcelain, fayence, metal or other
suitable material instead of glass.
The shape and size of the trap can be also varied and trapping arrangements
attached at the sides.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect I would have it understood that
what I claim is-
1. The employment of glass earthenware porcelain, fayence, mica, contchouc or
other suitable material in square, three cornered or other form as trap, whereby
both sides of the said trap are open and provided with one or more trapping
arrangements substantially as described in the foregoing specification and shewn in
the accompanying drawing.
2. The trap arrangement consisting of the bridge e c¹ in combination with the
clamps b. o. = substantially as described in the foregoing specification and shewn in
the accompanying drawing.
3-The moveable bent rakelike arrangement with or without the support y
in combination with the parts b. o. substantially as described in the foregoing
specification and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
4. The baithook which is attached to the side of the box or receptacle by
means of clamps 9 g substantially as described in the foregoing specification and
shewn in tho accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof 1 the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges have hereunto set
iny hand and seal this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two. ¿
Witnesses
ANTHONY STEFFEN
EMIL THEUERKAUFF.
EDWIN A. BRYDGES. (L.S.)