Improvements in Traps for Catching and Killing Vermin.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Traps for Catching and Killing Vermin.
1, JAMES HUNTER, of Newfield Terrace, Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Draper, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in that class of vermin
trap, in which a wire or other noose is arranged in such a manner that the mouse,
rat, or other animal, while making efforts to get at the bait, releases the noose, and
is caught by the neck and throttled.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar figures of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a plan or top view, and Fig. 3 a section on the
line 6-7 of Figs. 1 and 2 ; illustrating one form of my invention.
Fig. 4 is a plan or top view, and Fig. 5 is a view of the underside, illustrating
a modification of my invention.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3-8 is the body of the trap, which is preferably
formed of hard close-grained wood. 9, 9, are two saw cuts, extending from the
back of the trap to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. 10 is a wire spring having
two coils, as shown. The ends of the wires, of which the spring is formed, are
passed downwards through holes formed in the body, and are carried upwards at
the back, as shown at 11 in Fig. 3. The upper end of the spring is carried
forward to form the usual lever, and is linked to the upper end of the ordinary
wire noose 13. The wire is then turned back so as to form a tongue, as shown
at 12. 14 is a pin or stud to which the thread or twine 15 is made fast, when
setting the trap.
The trap is baited and set, by dropping the baits into the holes behind the
strings 15. The thread, or other material capable of being broken by nibbling, is
passed over the tongue 12 and down through the saw-cuts 9, 9, and finally
secured to the pins 14; the strings 15 holding down the spring and noose, as shown
in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
In some cases I strengthen the trap at 16 (Fig. 2) by means of a strip of
metal fixed along the top between the saw-cuts and down the back.
In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I make a single saw-cut 17 instead
of two saw-cuts 9, 9. Under the trap I fit a small plate 18 to separate the
strings 15, after passing both strings through the single saw-cut 17. The threads
may however be separated by forming nicks in the opening underneath the
saw-cut,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is :-
1. In a trap for catching and killing vermin of the description aforesaid, the
application and use of two parallel saw-cuts for the passage of the threads or
strings used to hold down the spring and noose, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In a trap as aforesaid, the application and use of the specially formed tongue 12
or receiving the thread or other material used in depressing the spring and noose
o allow the vermin to enter the trap, substantially as herein before described and
llustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 3. In a trap as aforesaid the method of fixing the two ends of the wire spring
by passing the same through the back of the trap and turning them backwards and
upwards, substantially as shown at 11 in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
4. In a trap as aforesaid, the application and use of single saw-cuts 17, for the
passage of the threads or strings, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
5. In a trap as aforesaid, the application and use of a plate 18, or equivalent
device, for dividing the string or thread; substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by Fig. 5 of the drawings.
6. The improvements in traps for catching and killing vermin, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 11th Annil 1904
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.