An Improved Animal Trap.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
An Improved Animal Trap.
I, WILLIAM WATTS, of Bonmahon, Co. Waterford, Ireland, Mechanical
Engineer, 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 an improved trap for catching rats, rabbits and other
animals or vermin and is especially applicable for placing before holes or open-
ings in walls or hedges for catching the animal as it escapes from the said
openings. The said trap consists of a rectangular frame between the vertical
Bides or uprights of which is fitted a cross bar or frame which carries vertical
spikes or pointed teeth and is provided with a vertical rod or spindle passing
through a hole in the top of the trap. Around this spindle is fitted a strong
coiled spring for forcing the cross bar downwards, the latter being kept in its
raised or set position against the force of the spring, by means of a catch rod
which passes through a hole in the top plate where it is bent at right angles
and its end curved in the form of a look which engages with a small recess
formed in the rod or spindle. The lower end of the catch-rod engages with a
projection, upon one side of, a plate pivoted to the base of the trap, thus keeping
the said rod in its locked position until it is freed by the tilting of the pivoted
plate caused by the weight of the animal passing over it. This action unlocks
the vertical spindle, permitting it and the spiked cross bar, being forced suddenly
down by the spring and thus piercing and killing the animal with the said
spikes.
Should it be required to catch any animal without injuring it I dispense
with the spikes or pointed teeth and curve the cross bar to form an arch of just
sufficient radius or curvature for catching and holding the animal without doing
it any harm.
⚫ are the
And in order to clearly understand my invention reference is made to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved
trap, Fig. 2 is a plan of the top of same and Fig. 3 is a central vertical cross
section thereof. Fig. 4 shows the modified construction of trap herein described.
a, a are the vertical sides, forming guides, of the rectangular frame, bis
the top plate and c the base plate thereof. is the cross bar or frame notched
at each end to engage with and slide easily between the guides a.
spikes or pointed teeth fixed to or formed with the cross bar or frame d and f is
the vertical rod or spindle fixed to the cross-bar and passing through a hole in
the top plate b. This hole is preferable square and the spindle of square section,
and in the front face of the said spindle is formed one or more small recesses f¹.
9 is the catch rod passing down one side of the frame and passing loosely through
a hole b in the top plate above which it is bent at right angles and its end cranked
or curved into the form of a hook g' which engages with one of the recesses fl
of the rod f so as to keep it and the cross bar in their raised or locked position
against the force of the coiled spring h surrounding the rod f and bearing

page_text: between the top plate 6 and the cross bar d. i is the plate pivoted at to the
base c of the trap and provided at one side with a pin or projection k against
the inner side of which the lower end of the rod g is forced by the action of the
spring when the hook g¹ is engaged with the recess f¹ of the rod f.
g
In order to set the trap the cross bar or frame d is raised until one of the
recesses is clear of the top plate 6 when the hook g¹ of the rod g is pushed into
engagement with the said recess f¹ thus forcing the said hooked end of the rod
against the top plate b and causing it to hold the cross-bar or frame d in opposi-
tion to the spring h. The plate is then tilted until the pin or projection k is
opposite the end of the rod g so as to hold the latter in its locked position. The
trap is then set in front of a rat or rabbit hole or in any other desired position
so that as the animal escapes from the hole it will be compelled to pass between
the uprights a of the trap and over the plate i thus causing the latter to tilt and
so freeing the rod g which will be forced outwards so as to assume the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 disengaging the cranked end or hook g which
is drawn into a slight recess in the top plate b from the recess fi and permitting
the spring to force down the cross bar or frame as shown in dotted lines in
Figs. 1 and 3 the spikes or teeth e being thereby forced through the animals
body and thus killing it on the spot. In Fig. 4 the trap is shown as adapted
for catching the animal without injuring or killing it, for which purpose the
spikes or teeth e are dispensed with and the cross bar d is arched sufficiently
for catching and holding the animal. By means of my invention it is not neces-
sary to use any bait with the trap, the weight of the animal alone causing the
trap to act.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The improved animal trap comprising a rectangular frame fitted with a
sliding cross bar provided with spikes or teeth and guided by a central vertical
rod surrounded by a coiled spring for forcing the cross bar downwards the latter
being kept in its raised position by a catch rod, whose upper end is hooked to
engage with a recess in the central guide rod, whilst its lower end bears against
a projection on a plate pivoted to the base of the trap and which as the animal
passes over it is tilted so as to release the catch rod and operate the trap sub-
stantially as described.
2. In an improved trap as above claimed the curved or arched cross bar, sliding
between the vertical sides of the trap, and acted upon by a coiled spring in com-
bination with a catch rod and pivoted plate substantially as described and shown
in Figure 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 29th day of August 1899.
J. B. FLEURET,
5, Hatton Garden, London, Agent for the Applicant.