Improvements in Rats and Mice Traps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Jate of Application, 10th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rats and Mice Traps.
I, ALFRED JABEZ COOPER, of 83, Thurlow Street, Walworth, in the County of
Surrey, Shop Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in spring traps for rats and mice and such
like vermin and has for its object a means for preventing the possibility of the
animal escaping when caught and an improved and easy means of affixing the bait
employed.
In order that my said invention and the manner of operating the same may be
clearly understood I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved trap, open as it would be when set ready
for use, Fig. 2 is a plan view of same, Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. I and
Fig. 4 is a section upon the line A B Fig. 2. Similar letters of reference are used
to indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ two pieces of any suitable material
but preferably wood A and B and connect them to each other at one end by means
of a hinge C, upon the under surface of A and the upper surface of B I arrange
four or more rows of sharp pointed pins or studs a a and b b in such a manner that
when the trap is closed the pins a are between the pins b. A suitable spring made
of elastic wire is formed with two spirals D and D1 and attached to B by means of
screws c and c¹ passing through said spirals, and forming a fulcrum therefor, the
continuation of said wire between the spirals is bent at right angles thereto and
rests upon B at d the free ends of which are attached to A. ate and the tension of
the spring tending to bring A in contact with the stop upon the end of B. A
wire E bent at right angles passes through a hole in and a guide F on the upper
surface of B, and terminates in a hook E' upon which the bait is to be fixed, a
small hole g is formed in the free end of A through which the wire E passes when
the trap is closed, a metallic plate G is inserted in the end of A in such a manner
as to occupy about half the area of the small hole g, a notch is formed in the
plain end of the wire E which engages with the plate G when the trap is set, and
acting against the tension of the spiral spring before mentioned prevents the fall
of A. A second hole H is formed in A through which the bait is placed upon the
hook E. When the bait is fixed the trap is set by simply raising A until the
notch g' engages with the plate G which holds A in that position until the rat,
mouse or other vermin attacks the bait upon the hook E' the movement of which
releases G from when the tension of the before mentioned spring brings A in
violent contact with f, the pins a and entering the flesh of the animal from which
it cannot possibly escape.
Dated this 10th day of May 1890
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rats and Mice Traps.
I, ALFRED JABEZ COOPER, of 83, Thurlow Street, Walworth, in the County of
Surrey, Shop Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
5 manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in spring traps for rats and mice and such
like vermin and has for its object a means for preventing the possibility of the

page_text: animal escaping when caught, and an improved and easy means of affixing the bait
employed.
In order that my said invention and the manner of operating the same might be
clearly understood, I appended a sheet of drawings accompanying my Provisional
Application. Referring to said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved
trap, open as it would be when set ready for use, Fig. 2 is a plan view of same,
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a section upon the line A B
Fig. 2. Similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts
throughout the drawings.
"
In carrying my invention into effect I employ two pieces of any suitable material
but preferably wood A and B and connect them to each other at one end by means
of a hinge or the like C. Upon the under surface of A and the upper surface of B
I arrange four or more rows of sharp pointed pins or studs as teeth a a and b bin
such a manner that when the trap is closed the pins a are between the pins . A
suitable spring preferably of elastic wire is formed with two spirals D and D' and
attached to B by means of screws and passing through said spirals, and forming
a fulcrum therefor, the continuation of said wire between the spirals is bent at
right angles thereto and rests upon B at the free ends of which are attached to A
at e and e' the tension of the spring tending to bring A in contact with the stop f
upon the end of B.
A wire É bent at right angles passes through a hole in and
a guide F in the upper surface of B, and terminates in a hook E' upon which the
bait is to be fixed, a small hole is formed in the free end of A through which the
wire E passes when the trap is closed, a metallic plate G is inserted in the end of A
in such a manner as to occupy about half the area of the small hole g, a notch glis
formed in the plain end of the wire E which engages with the plate G when the
trap is set, and acting against the tension of the spiral spring before mentioned
prevents the fall of A. A second hole H is formed in A through which the bait is
placed upon the hook E'. When the bait is fixed the trap is set by simply raising A
until the notch engages with the plate G which holds A in that position until
the rat, mouse, or other vermin attacks the bait upon the hook E the movement of
which releases G from y' when the tension of the before mentioned spring brings A
in violent contact with f, the pins a and entering the flesh of the animal from
which it cannot possibly escape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
First. In an improved method of constructing traps for rats, mice and other
vermin the use and application of the entire apparatus substantially as described
and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second. For improvements in traps for rats, mice, and other vermin the construc-
tion and use of a base B to which is hinged a flap A with hole g and plate G and
hole H the projecting teeth or pins a a and the spiral springs D and D
fulcrumed upon screws c and c' the wire E with guide F and hook E' substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by drawings filed with the
Provisional Specification.
Dated this 5th day of February 1891
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.