Improvements in Animal Traps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE DIEULTIVATION.
Improvements in Animal Traps.
I, FRANK WALTER SHULTZ, of 65, Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
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 has for object to provide an animal trap of simple, reliable and
cheap construction and specially adapted for catching animals such as moles
which burrow in the earth.
A trap for this purpose according to this invention compuses two bail-like
members pivoted together at points intermediate of their length and having then
free ends arranged to form two pairs of jaws adapted to be opened against the
action of a spring or spings and capable when in the open position of straddling
the line of a burrow or other path of an animal, one of the members having a trip-
device pivoted thereto and adapted to be engaged by a trigger carried by the other
member so as to hold the jaws open and the tip device extended transversely
between the members and across the burrow, the arrangement being such that when
the animal passes along the burrow in either direction and reaches the trap, it
will move the tip device so as to release it from the trigger and permit the spring
or springs to force the jaws together and catch the animal between one or other
pair of them
Fig. 1 of the accompanying illustrative drawings shows in front elevation an
animal trap constructed according to this invention. Fig 2 shows the trap in
end elevation, the jaws being shown in the open position over a burrow indicated
by dotted lines. Fig 3 is similar view to Fig. 2 but showing the trap in its
closed position, and Fig 4 is a detail view showing a modified form of spring
1 and 2 are two bail-shaped members bent to an obtuse angular form as seen
in end view, and pivoted together at the vertaces of the angles upon a cross bar 3,
their fiee ends 1 and 2 being toothed and arranged to form two pairs of jaws
adapted to be opened as shown in Fig. 2 to provide between them a passage-way for
an animal The member 1 is provided with a cross bar 5 having a recessed central
part upon which is pivoted a tip device consisting of a plate 6 having a flanged
heel 7 and fingers 8 that loosely embrace the recessed part of the said cross bar 5.
The other member carries a trigger consisting, in the example shown, of a pin 9
loosely pivoted to the loop portion of the member and which is adapted to be
engaged with the flanged heef 7 of the trip device 6 so as to hold the two members 1
and 2 in the positions shown in Figs 1 and 2 with the trip plate extending trans-
versely between them so as to assume a position, when the trap is set, over the
line of the burrow The upper loop-shaped part of the member 2 may have
pivoted thereon a safety catch or hook 10 adapted to be turned over in the direction
of the arrow a (Fig 2) to engage the upper loop shaped part of the other member 1
so as to hold the jaws partly open when desired against the action of the spring or
springs used for closing the jaws of the trap This catch or hook is turned back
into the position shown in Fig 2 when the trap is set.

page_text: In the example shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3, two helical springs 11 are employed
for closing the jaws, each spring consisting of two connected coils of spring wire
arranged one within the other and mounted on the bar 3, its ends 11 being
extended and bent so as to embrace the cross-bars 5, 5* of the two members
and 2 respectively in such a manner that the force of the two springs normally
tends to press the jaws 1,2" together As will be obvious a single spring of the
kind above referred to may, if desired, be used, arranged at the central portion of
the bar 3. Also a single coiled wire spring 11* of the kind shown in Fig 4 may be
used, the opposite end portions 11* of such spring being so extended that each acts
against a cross bar 5 or 5º of one of the members 1 and 2 It is preferred how-
ever to use two springs constructed and arranged as herein before described and
shown in Figs 1, 2, and 3, as they produce a very powerful closing action on the
jaws and the extending ends 11ª of each of them can be brought nearly in the same
plane whereby they act in a very effective manner on the pivoted members 1 and 2
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim 18:
1. An animal trap comprising two bail-shaped members pivoted together, and
having their free ends arranged to form two pairs of jaws which when in the open
position can be arranged to straddle the line of a burrow, one or more springs
adapted to move the members in a direction to close the jaws, a trigger mounted
on one of the members, and a catch device mounted on the other member and
adapted to engage the trigger and hold the jaws in the open position, the ariange-
ment being such that when an animal passes between either pair of Jaws and
moves the trip device so as to release the trigger, the spring or springs will close
the jaws upon the animal, substantially as described.
2. In an animal trap having two members pivoted together and arranged to
form pairs of Jaws, one or more helical springs each formed of two connected coils
of spring wire arranged one within the other and having the opposite ends of the
wire extended and adapted to engage parts of co-operating members of the trap
so as to normally force or tend to force their free ends together, substantially as
described.
3 Animal traps constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 9th day of June 1898
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC,
Chartered Patent Agent.