An Improved Trap for Rabbits and other Animals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1995
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trap for Rabbits and other Animals.
I, WILLIAM MILLER of 261 Argyle Street Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
It relates to spring traps for snaring rabbits, hares, rats, and other wild animals..
It has for some of its objects to iusure greater rigidity firmness and efficiency of
the trap when it goes off in use, greater security against accidental discharge,
greater case in setting and unobtrusiveness when set.
This trapfis made with a handle united to an open frame shaped to correspond,
with the jaws when they are fully opened: it has two jaws of ordinary con-
struction a spring is fixed beneath the bandle and extends across the open frame.
terminating with an angled end or staple part pierced with holes and pointing up
towards a bay shaped portion of the said frame: which bay is fitted with a flap for
setting purposes.
second staple is fixed to the handle and contains holes like.
the other one.
A platform containing a small catch is pivotted to a bracket fixed
upon the spring near to its angled end and the jaws are pivotted into the holes
contained in these staples so that they may be turned down into horizontal
positions upon the frame one jaw to the right and the other to the left of the
appliance.
One portion of each jaw is fitted within the bay part of the frame which serves
to close the jaws when the spring is in motion.
In order to fix or set the trap the free end of the spring must be pressed towards;
the frame until its angled end passes through the bay part when the jaws can ho
opened, right and left and laid flat upon the frame, the flap which is hinged to the
bay part is turned over upon the opened jaws overlapping a portion of them: the
platform and its catch are then lifted into position with this flap so that its catch.
engages with the setting flap and the spring is then set free: its pressure acts.
directly upon the jaws which cannot rise because the platform and setting.flap.are
interlocked by the catch and the trap is thus set ready for use.
In this form.it is
laid upon the ground and has no obtrusive projections to indicate its presence.
A very slight pressure upon the platform releases the catch when the spring
forcibly pulls the legs of the jaws which are attached to it downwards and against
the inner sides of the bay part this has the effect of closing the jaws with, a
suddenness and force proportioned to the strength of the spring.
A small covering flap is fitted to a staple fixed upon the handle for the purpose.
of covering over hiding and protecting the ends of the jaws which are attached
to the handle.
When this trap goes off the pressure of its spring is downwards against the
ground or object upon which it rests.
The whole structure is made variously of forgings castings wire steel wood iron
or other materials.
Dated this 21st dow of Donamhör 1804.
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page_text: An improved Trap for Rabbits and other Animals.
I, WILLIAM MILLER of 261 Argyle Street Glasgow in the County of Lanark
North Britain Ironmonger do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
invention has been communicated to me by my brother Peter Hallyburton Miller
of Invercargill New Zealand) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
It relates to 'spring traps for sunring rabbits, hares, rats and other wild animals.
It has for some of its objects to insure greater rigidity, firmness and efficacy of the
trap when it goes off in use, greater security against accidental discharge, greater
ease in setting and unobtrusiveness when set.
This trap is made with a handle united to an open frame shaped to correspond
with the jaws when they a are fully opened: it has two jaws of ordinary con
struction: a spring is fixed beneath the handle and extends across the open frame
terminating with an angled end, or staple part pierced with holes and pointing up
towards a hay shaped portion of the said frame: which bay is fitted with a flap,
for setting purposes.
A second staple is fixed to the handle and contains holes like the other one.,
A platform containing a small catch is pivotted to a bracket fixed upon the spring
Dear to its angled end and the jaws are pivotted into the holes contained in these.
staples so that they may be turned down into horizontal positions upon the frame,
one jaw to the right and the other to the left of the appliance.
One portion of each jaw is fitted within the bay part of the frame, which serves
to close the jaws when the spring is in motion.
In order to set the trap the free end of the spring must be pressed towards the
frame until its angled end passes through the bay part when the jaws can be
opened, right and left and laid flat. upon, the frame: the flap which is hinged.
to the bay part is turned over upon the opened jaws overlapping a portion of
them the platform and its catch are then lifted into position with this flap so
that its catch engages with the setting flap and the spring is then set free its
pressure acts directly upon the jaws which cannot rise because the platform and
setting flap are interlocked by the catch and the trap is thus set ready for use:
In this form it is laid upon the ground and has no obtrusive projectious to indicate
its presence.
A very slight pressure upon the platform releases the catch when the spring
forcibly pulls the legs of tlie jaws which are attached to it downwards and against
the inner sides of the bay part this has the effect of closing the jaws with a
suddenness and force proportioned to the strength of the spring.
A small covering flap is fitted when considered desirable to, a staple fixed upon
the handle for the purpose of covering over hiding, and protecting the ends of the
jaws which are attached to the handle.
When this trap goes off the pressure of its spring is downwards against the
ground or object upon which it rests.
The whole structure is made variously, of forgings castings wire steel wood iron
or other materials.
This invention will be better understood; if reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings in which :
Figures 1 and 2 are opposite views in, perspective of the improved trap cou-
stituting this invention and of certain details:
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the trap when set ready for use:
Figure 4 is a plan and Figure 5 an elevation of the trap shewn in Fig. 3.
Similar letters of reference and numerals throughout the illustrations indicate
corresponding parts.

page_text: The part marked A in the drawings is the frame; a' the handle; a! the bay as
previously described: B indicates the spring; C the jaws and D. the platform ;:
the eyeletted staples marked a is united to the handle and that marked b¹ to the
spring. These staples are inserted in holes contained in the handle and spring and
either rivetted thereto or retained in their positions by nuts and screws as shewn.
by the details b¹ or by the T shaped tail piece a³ accompanying Fig. 1.
These eyeletted staples receive the bent ends of the jaws C; the forms and
methods of attachment shewn particularly in Fig. 1, a, b are best suited for the
exigencies of the trap when in use as they yield responsive to the varying
attitudes of the frame and spring; whereas when the eyelets are rivetted or
immoveable there is a greater strain and friction upon the small and tapered ends
of the jaws C.
The free end 6 of the spring B is sometimes bent into an angled (staple) form
and eyeletted as shewn at 63 Fig. 1, but this immoveable end is not so beneficial as.
those marked a³ and 6' for the reasons already given.
The platform D is pivotted at d to the brackets band when the trap is set the
beak shaped catch becomes interlocked with the flap a as shewn in Figs. 3, 4
and 5. The flap a' is attached to the bay part a³ of the frame and the flap 6.
is attached to the bracket as upon the handle: the spring B is rivetted to the
handle a at a².
The flaps a' and a cover over the ends of the jaws when the trap is set as shewn
by dotted lines in Fig. 4 for the secretive and protective purposes before described :
dotted lines also indicate the spring B beneath the platform D.
I am aware that previous to my invention traps for snaring animals have been
made with which springs, catchies eyeletted staples platforins jaws and flaps have
been combined: it will therefore be understood that I do not claim these things
broadly as my invention.
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
claim is ;
The improved trap all substantially as herein described with reference to the
drawings, for the purposes specified!
1005
ringa, ive and purpoata species
Dated this such day of September 1895.
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicaut..
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicaut..