Certain Improvements in Animal Traps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, '892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Animal Traps.
I, JOHN MARSHALL, of Albion Works, Bloxwich Road, Wednesfield, Wolver-
hampton, Staffordshire, Manufacturer, 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 consists of the hereindescribed improvements in animal traps
more particularly rat and rabbit traps and mole traps but my improvements are
similarly applicable to other animal traps as from the following description will
readily be understood.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings on
which
Fig. 1 is a general view of a rat or rabbit trap constructed according to my
invention and
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. The trap is represented as set in Fig. 2 and
not set in Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew a modification of the trap illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 this
trap being designed to catch the animals alive whereas the trap shewn by Figs. 1
and 2 is constructed to kill the animal as it is caught.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate my invention as applied to a mole trap.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 the body of the trap
consists of an open ended box A. preferably made of metal in which is contained
the treadle plate B jointed at C to the bottom of the trap and having an upwardly
projecting lever D which projects through a slot a in the top of the trap. Fixed
at or near the top of the trap is a bow spring E, the upper part or free part e of
which carries a cross piece F to which are fixed two cross loops or eyes G¹ G³
somewhat similar to those which are now used in some kinds of moletraps which
enter corresponding cross slots h in the top of the trap A. Carried by a
bracket i from the body A of the trap near the lever D is a hinged tongue ; which
at one end is hinged to the bracket and the other end is adapted to take under a
notch d in the lever D. k is a hook to carry the bait this hook being fixed to
about the middle of the inside of the box part A immediately over the treadle B.
To set the trap (as shewn in Fig. 2) the free part of the spring E the cross
bar F and the loops G¹ G' carried thereby are pressed down until the part e of the
spring is below the notch d in the lever D; the tongue; is then turned over on to
the top of the spring e and the outer end of the tongue engaged by the notch & in
the lever by pulling the lever D forward. The extreme outer end e³ of the part e
of the spring is turned upwardly as shewn in Fig. 2 so as to bear on the tongue j
near its jointed end and thus cause but little friction between the outer end of the
tongue ; and the notch d.
When the animal enters either end of the trap he has to pass partly through one
or other of the loops G' G' and to then tread upon the treadle before he can
reach the bait. The pressure of the animal on the treadle forces the treadle down
and moves the lever D away from the tongue j. So that the spring E, cross bar F
and loops G G fly up and the animal is firmly held between the lower part of the
loop G or G and the top of the box part A.. The loops G¹ G³ are prevented
from springing up too high by the cross pieces which pass through the loops
and are fixed to the inside of the top of the box part A across the slots h¹ h*.
These cross pieces may have downwardly projecting spikes m m and there may
be similar spikes n n on the loops G1 G so that when the animal is caught as
above described these spikes will stick into his body and kill him very quickly.
In the modification of my invention shewn by Figs. 3 and 4 the loops G¹ G³ are

page_text: dispensed with and instead thereof each end of the box part A has a flap door O'O'
turning on horizontal side pins p.working in ears q fixed to the sides of the box
part A and the upper parts of these doors are connected by chains r to the ends
of the cross bar F. When the trap is set the cross bar F bears upon the upper
parts of the doors O'O' and keeps the doors open as shewn in Fig. 4 and when
the trap goes off the cross bar in rising tightens the chains r and closes the doors
and maintains them closed as shewn in Fig. 3. The animal is thus caught alive
and uninjured.
In a mole trap constructed according to this invention as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6
the bottom of the box part A and the treadle B lever D and tongue are dispensed
with and the trap is set by the well known hanging self setters engaging in the
usual way with the ordinary tee piece t on the cross bar F. The great advantage
of this construction of mole trap is that the sides of the box part A prevent the
soil falling down when the trap is set and in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved animal
trap constructed and arranged together for joint operation in the manner substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accom-
panying drawings whether the spikes m and n are used or not.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved animal
trap constructed and arranged together for joint operation in the manner substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the accom-
panying drawings whether the spikes m and n are used or not.
3. In a mole trap and in combination with the spring E cross bar F and
loops G G and self setter s thereof the use of the open ended bottomless box A
which prevents the soil falling down at the sides of the run substantially as herein-
before set forth and illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of May 1892.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.