Certain Improvements in Animal Traps.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Animal Traps.
We, WILLIAM SIDEBOTHAM, and GEORGE SIDEBOTHAM, trading together as
W. & G. Sidebotham, of Graisley Works, Wednesfield, Staffordshire, Animal Trap
Manufacturers and Cycle Saddle Spring Makers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows;
This invention has reference to rat traps, rabbit traps, and other animal traps
of the well known kind which are made with two jaws jointed to the base or
frame of the trap and arranged to be closed by the rising of a spring when the
treadle or bait platform is depressed. Heretofore the said jaws have usually had
metal teeth formed on them so that when the jaws are closed together the teeth
will grip and hold the animal which is caught by them.
According to this invention we dispense with the said metal teeth and instead
thereof we provide each of the jaws of the trap with an indiarubber block secured
to the jaws as hereinafter described, the surfaces of the said indiarubber blocks
being toothed ribbed or grooved so that when the jaws close upon the animal they
will effectually hold the same without inflicting so much pain upon it as when the
jaws are made with metal teeth.
In carrying out this invention on each of the jaws we fix an indiarubber block
which is by preference made so as to extend all along the jaw and is secured
thereto by rivets which pass through the indiarubber and through the metal jaws
thereby securing the indiarubber thereto. These indiarubber blocks are each by
preference made with a longitudinal groove for the jaw of the trap to fit in. The
outer surfaces of the indiarubber blocks which meet together when the trap is
closed so as to hold the animal between them are made with V-shaped grooves or
notches running in various directions or all running in the same direction so that
the gripping surfaces of the indiarubber jaws will be a series of ribs teeth or
pyramidal or other projections or ribs and thus the jaws will effectually hold the
animal which is caught between them.
This 10th day of November 1807

page_text: Manufacturers and Cycle Saddle Spring Makers, 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 reference to rat traps, rabbit traps, and other animal traps,
of the well-known kind which are made with two jaws jointed to the base or 5
frame of the trap and arranged to be closed by the rising of a spring when the
treadle or bait platform is depressed. "Heretofore the said jaws have usually had
metal teeth formed on them so that when the jaws are, closed together the teeth
will grip and hold the animal which is caught by them
According to this invention we dispense with the said metal teeth and instead
thereof we provide each of the jaws of the trap with an indiarubber block con-
structed and secured to the jaws as hereinafter described, the surfaces of the said
indiarubber blocks being toothed ribbed or grooved so that when the jaws close
upon the animal they will effectually hold the same without inflicting so much
pain upon it as when the jaws are made with metal teeth.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a side alevation: of an animal trap
with the jaws provided with the said indiarubber blocks in accordance with this
invention Fig. 2 is a plan of the said trap and Fig. 3 is a cross section of the
same on line X X of Fig. 1; Fig. 3* is a cross section of one of the rubber blocks';
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same trap with the jaws open; Fig. 5 is an elevation
and Fig. 6 is a plan and Fig. 7 is a cross sectional elevation of one of the jaws
of the said trap illustrating another method. of securing the indiarubber block
thereto in accordance with this invention: Fig. 8 is a plan of the said jaw as
when the trap is open; Fig. 9 is a separate view of one of the rivets which in
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8-are used for securing the indiarublier black to the trap
jaw; Fig. 10 is a back elevation Fig. 11 is a plan and Fig. 12 is a cross sectional
elevation of one of the jaws of the said trap with the indiarubber block fixed
thereto according to a modification of this invention' and Fig. 13 is a plan of
the said jaw looking at the gripping surface of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
the figures.
.
AA are the two jaws of the trap which as usual are at a a² a³ a jointed to
the base or frame B of the trap and arranged to be closed by the rising of the
spring C the looped end of which embraces the jaws A A D is the treadle
or bait platform which engages with the tongue E over one of the jaws A when
the trap is set. All these parts are of the usual construction and form no part
of our invention.
In carrying out this invention on each of the jaws A'A² we fix an indiarubber
block which two blocks are respectively marked FF made so as to extend all
along the jaw and for a certain distance down the sides of the same and made
with a longitudinal groove f in which the jaw of the trap fits. Thus the cross
section of the indiarubber blocks FF2 is as shewn in Fig. 3* somewhat of a
trough shape the jaw fitting in the trough. These indiarubber blocks FFs are
secured to the jaws A'A by rivets which may be arranged in various ways.
For instance as in Figs. 1 and 3 the rivets G may be made to pass right through
the jaw, and through the indiarubber block the ends of the rivets being clenched
over; or (see Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) the rivets G may be made of a looped shape
with their ends g' turned inwardly so as to embrace the jaw and engage in
the sides of the indiarubber block; or instead of employing rivets which are
made separate from each other as shewn in these last named figures, the said
rivets G may as shewn by: Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 he formed as projecting prongs
at the edges of a back plate G which latter takes against the hack of the jaw
the said rivet like prongs G having their ends turned inwardly into the india-
rubber block so as to secure the same to the jaw.
The outer surfaces of the indiarubber blocks FF which meet together when
the trap is closed so as to hold the animal between them are made with V-shaped

page_text: grooves or notches 2 running in various directions or all running in the same
direction so that the gripping surfaces of the indiarubber jaws Fa will be a
series of ribs teeth pyramidal or other projections or ribs and thus the jaws of
the trap will effectually hold the animal which is caught between them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
In an animal trap of the kind herein referred to the combination with the
jaws A A2 of the indiarubber blocks F1 F2 constructed and fixed to said
jaws for the purpose and substantially as described and illustrated.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.