Improvements in Animal Traps, to Facilitate Setting Them.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Animal Traps, to Facilitate Setting Them.
I, JAMES LYCETT, of New Cross Terrace, Wednesfield near Wolverhampton in
the County of Stafford, Animal Trap Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to animal traps fitted with jaws which are closed together
by a spring action, and chiefly to such as are made self-setting, that is to say are
made so that they can be set by simply pressing down the spring and then removing.
the force by which the pressing down has been effected, a catch being moved
automatically into position to retain the spring as it rises on the removal of such
force. In such self-setting traps, as usually constructed, there is either an
inconvenient complication of parts or frequently an uncertainty as to the degree of
hardness with which the traps will be set; and in the case both of self-setting and
ordinary traps there is usually no provision which will ensure that both the gripping
jaws of the trap will fall properly outwards as the spring is pressed down.
Now, the main object of this invention is to remedy the defects above referred to.
A self-setting trap constructed according to this invention has the till, by means
of which the falling plate is pivoted to the bracket by which it is carried, pivoted
transversely of the stock, with its hinder or pivoted end towards the spring, and
the till is formed with a nose which projects in a backward or backwardly inclined
direction from the pivot centre and is pressed upon by the forward end of the
spring as such spring is depressed, with the effect of raising the falling plate; and
such till is formed also with a catch which is brought over the end of the spring
as the plate is raised in the manner described, so that when the force by which the
spring has been pressed down is removed the end of the spring will rise up against
such catch and be retained thereby until the plate is depressed and the catch thus
drawn from off the end of the spring and the spring consequently released. A
peculiar feature of the invention consists, however, in forming the underside of the
hinder portion of the till, and the opening formed between the jaws of the bracket
within which the same is pivoted, of a bevilled shape so that as the nose is depressed
the bevilled portion of the till will tighten itself between the jaws of the bracket
sufficiently to hold the plate, when the pressure is removed by which the spring has
been depressed, in the position to which such plate has been moved by the
downward movement of the spring, and thus ensure that the catch will be in the
proper position for engaging with the desired degree of hardness with the end of
the spring. Such an arrangement, however, if carried no further than has been
described, is subject to two inconveniences, namely, that the trap is extra stiff to
set off because of the hold of the till in the bracket, and that a slight wear of the
till within the bracket causes the trap to be set harder; and, according to a further
peculiarity of this invention by which these inconveniences are obviated, the till is
formed with an inclined part against which the end of the spring rubs, as it rises
from the nose aforesaid, and thereby moves the till and brings it into position
within the bracket in which it can turn quite easily therein, and brings the catch
into position which ensures of it engaging with the proper degree of hardness with
the end of the spring. The effect of the operation of the end of the spring
against the inclined part aforesaid is independent of the degree to which the nose
may have been depressed by the spring.
To ensure that both the gripping jaws shall fall properly outwards as the spring
s depressed, each jaw has an outward projection near to its inner pivoted end, and

page_text: the sides of the bow end of the spring, bearing upon these projections as the spring
is depressed, cause the jaws to open outwards. These projections may be used both
with the jaws of self-setting and ordinary traps.
נ..
17
1000
STEPHEN
WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Animal Traps, to Facilitate Setting Them.
I, JAMES LYCETT, of New Cross Terrace, Wednesfield near Wolverhampton
in the County of Stafford, Animal Trap Maker 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 relates to animal traps fitted with jaws which are closed together
by a spring action, and chiefly to such as are made self-setting, that is to say, are
made so that they can be set by simply pressing down the spring and then removing
the force by which the pressing down has been effected, a catch being moved
automatically into position to retain the spring as it rises on the removal of such
force. In such self-setting traps, as usually constructed, there is either an incon-
venient complication of parts or frequently an uncertainty as to the degree of
hardness with which the traps will be set; and in the case both of self-setting and
ordinary traps there is usually no provision which will ensure that both the
gripping jaws of the trap will fall properly outwards as the spring is pressed
down.
Now, the main object of this invention is to remedy or avoid the defects above
referred to.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will describe it with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a self-setting trap
constructed according to this invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trap shewing the spring to have been pressed
down, and to have been allowed to rise again a short distance but not sufficiently to
set the trap.
In
Figure 2 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews the trap as set.
both these views the free end or loop of the spring is shewn in section, and the jaw
on the nearer side is removed for convenience of illustration. The position of the
jaws, when brought together, is indicated by broken lines.
Figure 3 is a section taken on line ex of Figure 2, looking in the direction of
the arrow a.
Figure 4 is a corresponding section to Figure 3 as seen looked at in the opposite
direction, but portions of the jaws are broken away for convenience of illustration,
and the jaws are shewn in their closed position by broken lines.
Figure 5 is a view of the underside of the falling plate and of the till by
means of which it is pivoted to the trap.
The till a which carries the falling plate A is pivoted between the jaws of a
bracket which is itself riveted to the stock B in position near to the free end of
the spring when the latter is pressed down. The till is pivoted to the bracket by
means of a pin c which has its longitudinal axis transverse to the stock. The
till a is formed with a nose d which projects in a backwardly and upwardly inclined
direction from the pivot centre, and is pressed upon by the forward end e of the
spring C, as the spring is depressed, with the effect of raising the falling plate A.
In Figure 1 the nose d is in the position into which it has been moved by pressing
the spring fully down. The till is formed also with a catch f which is brought over
the end e of the spring as the nose d is pressed down thereby, and the catch f
catches the end of the spring as it rises again when the force by which it has

page_text: been pressed down is removed. In Figure 2 the spring is shewn to be engaged
with the catch fand to thereby retain the falling plate A in its set position. When
sufficient pressure is brought to bear upon the plate A the catch is, of course,
brought back from off the end of the spring and the trap consequently set off.
The trap so far as above described is not novel, as all the elements described
have been previously employed. It will be obvious, however, that if the till a is
pivoted loosely to the bracket, the plate A will fall with such rapidity, as the
spring is allowed to rise after the nose d has been depressed thereby, that the end
of the spring will not engage with the catch unless the spring is allowed to
rebound suddenly so as to engage with the catch f before the plate A can full
sufficiently to clear the catch from the spring. It would not be possible, however,
in such case, to ensure that the trap would be always set with the required
degree of hardness. It would sometimes be set much too hard, and occasionally
even too lightly.
In order to hold the plate A temporarily in the position into which it has been
moved by pressing down the spring, after the spring has commenced to rise
therefrom, the portion of the nose & which passes within the bracket 6 as it is
pressed down is formed of a somewhat wedge shape in transverse section (see
specially Figures 3 and 5) and the space between the jaws of the bracket b is
correspondingly shaped, so that as the nose d turns down between the jaws of the
bracket it will tighten itself therein; or the nose and bracket may be other-
wise formed, in relation to one another, as that the nose will tighten itself
within the bracket as it is pressed down by the spring, such as by making the
underside of the portion of the nose which is within the bracket somewhat concentric
with the pin c so that such portion may tighten itself against the bottom of the
bracket as the nose is pressed down
The arrangement described in the last paragraph, however, for holding the plate
temporarily in its raised position, if used without further provision for ensuring
the correct setting of the trap, is subject to two inconveniences, namely, that the
trap is extra stiff to be set off because of the hold of the till within the bracket,
and that a slight wear of the till within the bracket causes the trap to be set
harder; and, according to a further peculiarity of this invention, by which these
inconveniences are obviated, the till A is formed with an inclined or curved part y
against which the end e of the spring rubs, as it rises from the nose d, and thereby
moves the till and brings it into position within the bracket 6 in which it can turn
quite easily therein, and brings the catch finto position which ensures of its
engaging with the proper degree of hardness with the end of the spring.
Figure 1 the end of the spring is shewn to be pressing against the part g, and as
In
the spring continues to rise from the position shewn in such figure it will continue
to push the till forwards until itself engages with the catch f. The effect of the
operation of the end of the spring against the inclined or curved part 9 is independent
of the degree to which the nose d may have been depressed by the spring, and the end of
the spring e will always engage with the catch with the same degree of hardness.
In setting the trap, the spring should be allowed to rise quickly so that the plate
may not fall by its own weight just as the end of the spring is approaching the
catch, that is to say, it should rise sufficiently quickly to ensure that it will rub
against the part g until itself engages with the catch f.
To ensure that the gripping jaws D shall fall properly as the spring C is
depressed, each jaw has an outward projection / (see Figure 4) in position some-
what above its pivot centre at the end which is adjacent to the spring. These
projections may be formed in cutting out the jaw ends, when the section of material
used admits thereof, or may be soldered or brazed to the jaws; or the jaws
and projections may be formed together as malleable castings. The sides of the
bow end of the spring bearing upon the projections, as the spring is depressed,
cause the jaws to open outwards in case they do not fall open by their own weight,
These projections may be used both with self-setting and ordinary traps.

page_text: 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
1. A self-setting animal trap in which a catch is moved by the recoil of the
spring, after the same has been depressed for the purpose of setting the trap, into
position to ensure that the trap will be set with the required degree of hardness,
substantially as described.
2. A self-setting animal trap in which a catch is temporarily held, in the position
into which it has been moved by depressing the spring, while the spring rises again
a part of the distance necessary to cause the setting of the trap, in combination
with means by which as the spring rises in setting the trap the catch is moved
automatically into position to cause the trap to be set with the required degree of
hardness and is left free to be moved outwards except for the restraining force
exerted by the spring, substantially as described.
3. In a self-setting animal trap the combination, with the free end of a spring C,
of a catch fand an inclined or curved part g against which the spring rubs as it
rises and moves forwards the catch, substantially as described and shewn by the
drawings herewith, for the purpose set forth.
4. A self-setting animal trap in which the engagement of a spring with a catch is
effected through the medium of appliances or mechanism substantially as described
and shewn by the drawings herewith.
5. An animal trap in which the proper opening of the jaws is ensured, in case
they do not fall open by their own weight, by causing the end of the spring
to press upon projections formed outwards from the portions of the jaws which
extend between the pivots and the toothed portions thereof in position somewhat
above the pivot centres, substantially as described and shewn by Figure 4 of the
drawings herewith.
2 TI
1000
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
Ling to Can Do T