Improvements in or connected with Animal Traps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Animal Traps.
I, PHILIP GEORGE DODD, of 72, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates more especially to that class of trap in which a loop or
frame is powerfully sprung in one direction, and which is either employed as
a killing device or as a carrier for a net adapted to capture the animal alive
and the primary object of the present invention is to obtain a simple inexpen-
sive and highly efficient device for eccking or setting and letting off or dis-
charging the trap.
In carrying the invention into effect as applied to a rat trap designed to kill
the animals a base or platform of wood or other suitable material is employed upon
which is mounted upon a bar or axis located about the centre of the base the
usual loop or frame the ends of which are coiled around said bar and constitute
powerful springs adapted to cause the descent of the loop or frame with con-
siderable impact upon an animal attracted by the bait.
The bait may consist of water or other food and a well or receptacle is pro-
vided therefor in advance of the bar or axis of the spring loop or frame whilst
extending longitudinally across the well at a suitable elevation is arranged a
laterally movable bar for the purpose hereinafter described.
The spring loop or frame is adapted to be turned back to compress the springs
in the usual way and at a point beyond the loop or frame in the set position
of the trap is loosely pivotted to the base a loop shaped lever or locking bar
which near to its pivotal end engages the spring loop or frame whilst beyond
the end of the loop shaped locking lever is pivotally mounted upon an axis
carried by the base a trigger lever which extends backward over and longitudi-
nally of the locking bar or lever and at its pivotal end engages the outer end
of said locking bar near to said pivot whilst the free end of the trigger lever
lies in and extends beyond a groove or notch formed in the top edge of a
vertical bar or shield extending transversely of the base beyond the range of
the spring loop.
At this point that beyond the vertical bar or partition the trigger lever
engages a detent consisting of a horizontal projection from a vertical post or
arm carried by a horizontal shaft passing through an aperture in the lower part
of the partition and mounted in bearings carried by the base in such manner
as to be capable of rotary and slight longitudinal movement and this detent
5 in the set position of the trap is adapted to engage the free end of the trigger
lever and hold the same against rising thus controlling the spring loop or frame
whilst the horizontal shaft extends forward beneath the bar or axis of the
spring frame and beyond that point that is to say adjacent to the well or bait
receptacle is cranked and then carried forward at a suitable elevation over
O said receptacle and forms the laterally movable bar herein before referred to.
In setting the trap the spring loop or frame is turned back to the set position
in the usual way so as to compress the springs, the locking bar or lever is

page_text: turned down thereover, the trigger lever is turned down over the locking bar
into the groove or notch of the partition or shield and at its end is caused to
engage the detent or overhanging end of the arm or post and the trigger lever
which receives an upward thrust from the locking bar is thereby kept under
control.
}
The horizontal shaft is then moved forward so as to bring the detent into
the notch and over the trigger lever thus locking the spring loop or frame in
said position and preventing any possibility of the same being inadvertently
let off during the completion of the setting of the trap.
The trap having been set in the manner hereinbefore described the horizontal
shaft is, whilst the detent is still in engagement with the trigger lever, by
means of the vertical post or arm carefully drawn back until the detent is
clear of the notch of the partition and this operation of finally setting the trap
is performed from a point beyond the partition or shield and therefore outside
the scope of and completely beyond the radius described by the spring loop or
frame so that there is no risk of injury to the operator.
The spring loop or frame is now held in its set position by the locking bar or
lever, and the latter is similarly held by the trigger lever which latter engages
the detent and thus the powerful springs which are necessarily employed in this
class of trap are easily held under control.
An animal attracted by the water or other bait in the well or receptacle,
necessarily comes into contact with the laterally movable bar formed by the
cranked end of the horizontal shaft overhanging said well and however light
the touch may be said shaft is slightly turned upon its axis with the result that
the detent or overhanging top of the post or arm of the shaft is disengaged
from the end of the trigger lever with the consequence that the locking lever
is released permitting the springs to act and thus causing the spring loop or
frame to be carried with great force through an are towards the base and con-
sequently onto the animal.
According to a modification the post carrying the detent is fixed to the base
in advance of the well whilst the trigger lever is pivotally and loosely con-
nected to the base at a point within the length of the locking bar or lever and
is passed through the loop thereof and at its rear or pivotal end engages the
outer end of said locking lever near to said pivot, whilst the front end of the
trigger lever which passes across the well at a suitable elevation is adapted to
engage the detent or overhanging end of the post beyond the well or bait
receptacle.
In connection with this arrangement a modified safety locking device is
employed consisting of a turn button or equivalent device which might con-
veniently be carried by a long oblong block fixed to the base within the loop
shaped locking bar or lever so that after turning back the spring loop or frame
to its set position and turning down the locking lever thercover the latter may
by the safety device be secured against rising thus locking the spring loop or
frame in said position during the completion of the setting of the trap or any
other suitable locking device might be employed for this purpose.
According to this modified arrangement of parts an animal attracted by the
water or other bait in the well or receptacle necessarily comes into direct con-
tact with the trigger lever and the outer end of the trigger lever is laterally
moved from beneath the detent or overhanging top of the post with the result
herein before pointed out with regard to the first arrangement.
It will be obvious that the present invention is applicable to a variety of
traps for example the spring loop or frame may be enlarged to enclose an
increased area and covered with a netting where it is desired to capture the
animal without injuring the same whilst the same controlling means may be
applied to other forms of traps than spring loop traps and such for example
as those in which a descending cage, or a falling door or the like is employed
to enclose the animal whilst it will also be understood that the details of the

page_text: device may be more or less varied without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
By the means hereinbefore described the trap may by the locking safety device
be readily set without risk of injury to the operator and by the peculiar arrange-
ment of levers and detent, the spring loop or frame the actuating springs of
which are of a very powerful character may be kept under perfect control, whilst
at the same time the device is extremely sensitive.
Dated this 31st day of Tanum 1000
Improvements in or connected with Animal Traps.
I, PHILIP GEORGE DODD, of 72, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, 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 thereof, reference being had to the drawings here-
unto annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
The invention relates more especially to that class of trap in which a loop or
frame is powerfully sprung in one direction, and which is either employed as
a killing device or as a carrier for a net adapted to catch the animal alive
and the primary object of the present invention is to obtain a simple inexpen
sive and highly efficient device for cocking or setting and letting off or dis-
charging the trap.
In the accompanying drawings which represent the application of the inven-
tion to a rat trap designed to kill.
Figure is a plan of the trap showing the same let off or discharged.
Figure 2 is a side view thereof.
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1, but showing the trap in its set or
cocked position.
Figure 5 is a side view thereof.
Figure 6 is a plan of a similar trap representing a slight modification and
showing the same let off or discharged.
Figure 7 is a side view thereof.
Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 6 but showing the trap in its set or
cocked position.
Figure 9 is a side view thereof.
Figure 10 is a transverse section taken on the line 2–2 of Figure 8, repre-
senting a slight modification in the safety device.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of a cage like trap having the invention applied
thereto and showing the same in its set position and
Figure 12 is a plan thereof.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 a represents the base or platform of the trap
which may be of wood or other suitable material and 6 represents a bar or axis
which is held in place by staples fixed to the base a, and upon the bar or
axis is mounted the usual frame or loop c the ends of which are coiled around
the tar band constitute powerful springs c¹ the extreme ends of which are
Iriven into the base a and thus secured.
The bait may consist of water or other food and a well or receptacle a¹ is pro-

page_text: vided therefor on the front side of the bar band extending longitudinally
across the well a¹ at a suitable elevation is arranged a laterally movable bar d
for the purpose hereinafter described.
The spring loop or frame is adapted to be turned back to compress the
springs in the usual way as indicated at Figures and 5 and at a point near
to the rear of the base a is loosely pivotted at 6 a loop shaped lever or locking
bar e which near to its pivot el engages the spring loop or frame c as shown in
Figures 4 and 5 whilst beyond the front end of the locking bar e is loosely
pivotted at fa trigger lever f which extends backward over the locking bar e
and near to its pivot f engages the front end of said locking bar e as shown
more particularly at Figures 4 and 5 whilst the free end of the trigger lever f
lies in and extends beyond a groove or notch a formed in the top edge of a
vertical wall or shield extending transversely of the base a beyond the range
of the spring loop c.
Beyond the vertical wall or shield a² the trigger lever f engages a detent
consisting of a horizontal projection from a vertical post or arm carried by a
horizontal shaft passing through an aperture in the lower part of the
shield and mounted in bearings formed by staples a driven into the
base in such manner as to be capable of rotary and slight longitudinal move-
ment and this detent ³ in the set position of the trap engages the free end of
the trigger lever f as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and holds the same against
rising thus controlling the spring loop or frame c.
The horizontal shaft extends forward beneath the bar and beyond that
point that is adjacent to the well or bait receptacle a¹ is cranked and then
carried forward at a suitable elevation over the well and forms the laterally
movable bar d herein before referred to.
In setting the trap the spring loop or frame is turned back to the set posi-
tion, Figures 4 and 5, in the usual way, so as to compress the springs the
locking bar or lever e is turned on its axis el down over said loop c the trigger
lever is turned on its axis f¹ over the locking bar e and into the notch of
the sheld and at its end is caused to engage the detent as indicated at
Figures 4 and 5 and the trigger lever f which receives an upward thrust from
the locking bar e is thereby kept under control.
The horizontal shaft d¹ is then moved forward so as to bring the detent into
the notch and over the trigger lever f thus locking the spring loop or
frame e in said position and preventing any possibility of the same being inad-
vertently let off during the completion of the setting of the trap.
The trap having been set the horizontal shaft is carefully drawn back until
the detent is clear of the shield 2 but still in engagement with the trigger
lever and this operation is performed from a point beyond the shield n² and
therefore outside the scope of the spring loop or frame c so that there is no
risk of injury to the operator.
The spring loop or frame c is now held in the set position, Figures 4 and 5,
by the locking har or lever e and the latter is similarly held by the trigger
lever which latter engages the detent and thus the powerful springs e which
are necessarily employed in this class of trap are easily held under control.
An animal attracted by the water or other bait in the well or receptacle a¹
necessarily comes into contact with the laterally movable bar d extending over
the well and formed by the cranked end of the horizontal shaft and how-
ever light the touch may be said shaft is slightly turned upon its axis with
the result that the detent or overhanging top of the post is disengaged
from the end of the trigger lever f with the consequence that the locking bar
or lever e is released permitting the springs to act and thus causing the
spring loop or frame to be carried with great force towards the base å and
consequently onto the animal.
In the example given at Figures 6 to 9 the shaft
the post carrying the detent is fixed to the base
is dispensed with whilst
and the trigger lever f

page_text: is pivotally and loosely connected at f¹ with a projection from the base a at a
point within the length of the locking bar e and is passed through the loop of
said locking bar e and near to its pivot fl engages the outer end of said lock-
ing bar e whilst the front end of the trigger lever f which in this example
passes across the well at a suitable elevation engages the detent d³ or over-
hanging end of the post beyond the well or bait receptacle a¹.
so that
In connection with this arrangement a modified safety locking device is
employed consisting of a turn button 9 which is carried by a long oblong
block fixed with the base a within the loop shaped locking bar e
after turning back the spring loop or frame c to its set position and turning
down the locking bar e thereover the latter may by the safety device be
secured against rising as indicated by the dotted lines in Figures 8 and 9 thus
locking the spring loop or frame e in said position during the completion of
the setting of the trap.
According to this modified form of trap an animal attracted by the water or
other bait in the well or receptacle necessarily comes into direct contact with
the trigger lever f and the outer end of the trigger lever f is laterally moved
from beneath the detent with the result herein before pointed out with regard
to the first arrangement.
a
In the example given at Figure 10 a modification of this locking device is
shown consisting of a hook g carried by sliding rod g extending to the side
of the base and there provided with a knob g² whereby it may be manipu-
lated the action of this modified device being that the hook may be moved
over one of the limbs of the loop shaped locking bar or lever e as indicated
by the full lines or placed in a position between said limbs as indicated by the
dotted lines said operations being performed from the side of the base at a
point outside the scope of the spring loop or frame c.
Instead of placing the bait in the well a it may be impaled upon the bar d
or lever crossing said well.
It will be obvious that the present invention is applicable to a variety of
traps, for example the spring loop or frame may be enlarged to enclose an
increased area and covered with a netting where it is desired to capture the
animal without injuring the same, whilst the same controlling means may be
applied to other forms of traps than spring loop traps and such for example
as those in which a descending cage or a falling door or the like is employed
to enclose the animal.
In the example given at Figures 11 and 12 a method of applying the inven-
tion to a cage trap is illustrated.
In this case a post f² is fixed to the base w and a cage c which may be of
such dimensions as to cover a considerable area around the base a is suspended
from a cord or the like which passes over a pulley 3 carried by the cranked
upper end of the post f and the free end of the cord a is provided with an
eye or loop which runs on the locking bar e and in setting the trap is placed
in a position near the point where the latter is pivotally mounted as shown
at Figure 11 and the setting of the trap is completed by baiting it as herein-
before described with respect to the previous figures.
Upon the trigger lever f being disturbed it will escape from the detent and
by the pull of the cord e¹ upon the locking bar e will be thrown upward thereby
releasing said locking bar when the loop will slide along the bar a and permit
the cage to fall and enclose the animal, but it will be desirable in most cases
to accelerate the fall of the cage by means of a spring or weight.
It will be understood that the details of the device may be more or less
varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
By the means herein before described the killing form of trap by the locking
safety device may be readily set without risk of injury to the operator, and by
the peculiar arrangement of levers and detent the spring loop or frame the
actuating springs of which are of a very powerful character may be kept under

page_text: perfect control whilst at the same time the device is extremely sensitive, and
some of these advantages are also found in other forms of the device not
designed to kill.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an animal trap the combination of a pivotal locking device or bar con-
trolling a spring frame the support of a cage or the like by engaging the frame
or support in its set position near to said pivot, a pivotal trigger lever engaging
the free end of the locking bar near to the pivot of the trigger lever and a
detent for engaging the free end of the trigger lever in the set position of the
trap so that a lateral movement of either the trigger lever or the detent will
discharge or let off the trap substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In an animal trap the combination of a base, a spring loop or frame
carried by the base, a locking bar pivotted to the base and extending forward
so as to engage the spring frame in its set position near to said pivot, a trigger
lever pivotted to the base beyond the free end of the locking bar and extending
rearward longitudinally of said locking bar so as to engage the outer or free
end of the locking bar near to the pivot of the trigger lever, a longitudinal
rock shaft at its front end cranked to form a bar adapted to be moved by an
animal attempting to seize the bait and at its rear end provided with a post or
offset carrying a horizontal detent adapted to engage the free end of the trigger
lever substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In an animal trap the-combination of a base, a spring loop or frame
carried by the base, a locking bar pivotted to the base and extending forward
so as to engage the spring frame in its set position near to said pivot, a trigger
lever pivotted to the base beyond the free end of the locking bar and extending
rearward longitudinally of said locking bar so as to engage the outer or free
end of the locking bar near to the pivot of the trigger lever, a longitudinally
movable rock shaft at its front end cranked to form a bar adapted to be moved
by an animal attempting to seize the bait and at its rear end provided with a
post or offset carrying a horizontal detent adapted to engage the free end of
the trigger lever a shield or partition across the rear of the base under which
the shaft passes, said shield having a notch in its upper surface to receive the
end of the trigger lever so that by moving the shaft lengthwise the detent may
also be caused to enter the notch over the trigger lever and thus lock the device
against accidental discharge substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In an animal trap of the character referred to in the preceding claims a
safety locking device for preventing the accidental discharge of the trap during
the setting thereof substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In an animal trap of the character referred to in the preceding claims, a
well or receptacle provided in the base beneath the actuating device substan-
tially as herein shown and described.
1000
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.