Improvements in Beetle Traps.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Beetle Traps.
I, WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH, of 36, Brundrett Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
Manchester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to and consists of a novel construction of beetle trap in
which the fact of a beetle having only one joint in its body is taken advantage of
for ensuring of its precipitancy into the trap.
According to my invention I employ a small vessel or receptacle over which I
arrange one or more strips of inetal having a, by preference, gradual taper from
end to end. These strips are arranged, by preference in a radial or converging
manner from. or towards the centre of the vessel and at their wider ends extend
downwards to the floor for the beetles to climb.
When a beetle gets on to one of the strips and moves towards the narrower end
lying immediately above the vessel, it finds on attempting to turn its body round
to turn back, that the strip is too narrow to give a foot hold for its body, and in
its struggles to get back it inevitably falls off the strip into the trap.
The strips may be arranged in various ways, but each must lie sufficiently
apart from the others to prevent the beetles stepping across from one to the
other.
The said wider ends may be formed to hinge up and lie in small compass when
not in use, or the side of the trap may be formed as a suitable slope for the
beetles to climb, but I prefer the strips.
Datud Law of Tu 1800

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to and consists of a novel construction of beetle trap in
which the fact of a beetle having only one joint in its body is taken advantage of
for ensuring of its precipitancy into the trap.
According to my invention 1 employ a small vessel or receptacle over which I
arrange one or more strips of metal having a by preference, gradual taper from
end to end. These strips are arranged by preference in a radial or converging
manner from, or towards the centre of the vessel and at their wider ends extend
downwards to the floor for the beetles to climb.
When a beetle gets on to one of the strips and moves towards the narrower end
lying immediately above the vessel, it finds on attempting to turn its body round
to turn back, that the strip is too narrow to give a foot hold for its body, and in
its struggles to get back it inevitably falls off the strip into the trap.
The strips may be arranged in various ways, but each must lie sufficiently
apart from the others to prevent the beetles stepping across from one to the
other.
The said wider ends may be formed to hinge up and lie in small compass when
not in use or the side of the trap may be formed as a suitable slope for the
beetles to climb, but 1 prefer the strips.
To allow of my invention being clearly understood I have hereunto annexed a
sheet of drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of the improved beetle
trap.
Figs. 3 and 4 are corresponding views and Fig. 5 a detail of a modification and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further modification.
Out of a disc of sheet metal I cut or stamp a ring (A) of, by preference,
regular circular configuration outwardly and with converging tapering portions (13)
inwardly. The ring (A) is of a size large enough to fit over a medium sized basin
or other suitable receptacle (C). At points along its edge 1 hinge a series of
metal plates (D). These plates constitute inclines or slopes from the floor (E) to
the ring (A) up which the beetles find their way into the trap. In Figs. 3 and 4
I shew a vessel (C) with rounded sloping sides and the ring (A) fitted into the
mouth of the vessel.
In Fig. 6 I shew the application of my invention to a rectangular shaped vessel
with a slope (D) at each end and the tapered portions (B) upon either side of a
strip of metal running down the centre of the vessel.
In each example the beetles are caught by their venturing on to any one of the
tapered portions (B) and endeavouring to turn back which, owing to the anatomy
of the beetle and the small footing afforded by the tapered portions, is impossible
and inevitably results in the beetles falling into the vessel.
Any attempt to back off is prevented by the tapered portions (B) being made
of the cross section shewn in Fig. 6.
To afford a proper inducement for the beetles to ascend the slopes or inclines (D),
they may be fluted or roughened.
As a further modification the vessel (C) may be semi-circular and be adapted
to lie against a skirting board or like object in the neighbourhood of which beetles
are often found.
The slopes (D) when not in use may be folded back on to the ring (A) and so
lie in small compass and when removed from the vessel (C) it will be seen that
the trap is of a specially portable, cheap and simple character, and can be applied
to any ordinary vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1: In a beetle or like trap, a plate with tapered portions, in combination with

page_text: a vessel placed immediately below the tapered portions, and a slope or incline
leading up from the floor to the said plate, as and for the purposes set forth..
Dated this 21st day of March 1900.
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. I.P.A.,
55, Market Street, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.