Improvements in Outbuildings.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
Improvements in Outbuildings.
We, JOHN THOMAS CRAWFORD, and JAMES ANDREW HOLMES, both Farmers,.,of
Wilsonville, in the County of Shelby, and State of Alabama, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:
cribs,
Our invention has relation to improvements in outbuildings, such as corn
feed and grain houses, poultry houses and the like, and the object is to provide a
buding of this description which shall be rat, vermin and snake proof. To this
en! the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the
same as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in
tne claims.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved rat and vermin proof building;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section;
Figure 3 is a plan view, from below;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section looking downwards of one of the posts on the
line of the plate 12; and
Figure 5 is a cross section of the plate.
1 represents the superstructure, which may be of any suitable dimensions and
approved construction. 2-2 represent the floor joists, which are arranged in
the usual manner a suitable distance apart and transversely, parallel to each other,
and their parallel sides 3-3 converge from the top to the bottom 4, which rests on
the longitudinal sills 5-5, which are connected near their ends by cross
braces G-6. The outer ends 7-7 of each of the sills 5-5 are curved upwardly as
shown, so that in case of removal, the sills will serve the purpose of runners in
hauling the structure from one place to another.
8-8 represent the floor posts upon which the building rests, and each post is
divided into two vertical sections 9 and 10.
12 represents a rectangular sheet metal plate which is inserted between the
sections 9 and 10, that is to say, the section 10 rests upon the ground, the plate 12
is laid upon the top of the bottom section 10, the section 9 is placed vertically upon
it, and the sills laid on these.'
This plate 12 is formed with an integral trough or gutter 13, extending
entirely around its outer edge, and the bead 14 on the immediate edge is cut away
to form knuckles 16 which fit between corresponding knuckles 15 on the inclined
plates 17 and secured by pins 18. Spiral springs 19 encompass the pins one end
of each resting against the underside of the gutter and the other end against the
underside of the plates 17 and normally holding them upwards at an inclination
to the trough, as shown, the limit of its upward movement being governed by the
arm 20 on the trough.
The plate 12 being square, and the trough extending around its four sides, an
inclined hinged plate 17, as described, is provided for each.
The outer edge of each of these plates is serrated or provided with sharp pointed

page_text: teeth 21, to assist in preventing an animal getting a foothold, and even if it should,
the weight of the animal would bear the plate 17 down and drop it on the ground.
The trough may be filled with any viscid or liquid insecticide which will prevent
small vermin, such as bugs, roaches, snails, and the like from crossing it, while
larger animals, such as rats, gophers, snakes, and the like will be deterred by
contact with the poisonous contents of the trough.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A structure of the class described, comprising the superstructure, and the
sills 55 having upwardly curved ends, and connected by the cross braces 7-7,
in combination with the posts 8, consisting of the upper and lower sections 9-10,
and the rectangular plate 12 inserted between said sections, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
2. A structure of the class described, comprising the superstructure resting on
the sills, which in turn rest upon the posts 8-8, each post comprising an upper
section 9 and a. lower section 10, a rectangular plate 12 secured between said
sections and formed with an integral trough or gutter. extending entirely around
its cuter edge, substantially as shown and described.
3. A structure of the class described, comprising the superstructure, the sills
and the posts 8, consisting of the sections 9 and 10, and the rectangular plate
provided with the trough or gutter, and the inclined plates 17 hinged to said
trough or gutter, substantially as shown and described.
4. A structure of the class described, comprising the superstructure, the sills
and the sectional posts 9 and 10, in combination with the plate 12, having trough
or gutter 13, formed with knuckles 15, the inclined plates 17, having knuckles 16
hinged thereto by pins 18, and the springs 19 engaging said gutter or trough and
inclined plates, substantially as shown and described. :
Dated this 3rd day of July 1897
in
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.