An Improved Field-mouse Trap Applicable also for Trapping other Vermin or Animals.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct.. 1889
ATHALA VOY
An Improved Field-mouse Trap Applicable also for Trapping other
Vermin or Animals.
I, HERMANN RIPPKE, of Wiesenthal, in the Kingdom of Prussia and German
Empire, Manufacturer, 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 for object the extermination of field mice, no efficacious means.
having hitherto been employed against this plague to farmers and gardeners.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a top view of a field-mouse trap of this
invention; Fig. 2 a side view thereof; Fig. 3 a top view of the trap in the closed
position and Figs. 4 and 5 separate views of a trigger plate b.
a is a bent wire passing from the end 1 which has a small hook to 2, then to 3
describing small curves whence it bends round to 4, then to where it is turned down
and carried on to 6 from which point it forms a spiral spring to 7, thence it is carried
upwards to engage by a hook in bend 8 on the upper limb 4-5 of the wire whereby
firmness is given to the whole apparatus. The trigger plate b is brought into use in
setting the frap. It has teeth cut or stamped from the same, raised up and their
points c, d, e, f, then turned inwards. The edge shewn by a dotted line in Fig. 4 is
bent down to a depth of a few millimetres.
To set the trap open, the limb 1-2 held by the force of the spring of the wire
part 3-4 in the position shewn in Fig. 3 is brought into the position shewn in Fig. 1,
and trigger plate b so laid upon it that the edge comes between the two limbs 2-3
and 4-5 and prevents these from springing together until the edge i is withdrawn.
The point of the trigger plate bears on the upper wiro part. By the cutting out of
the vertical teeth of the trigger plate an opening A is formed (which is however
diminished to some extent by the inwardly bent points) and which comes over the
corresponding aperture formed by the spiral spring. In setting the trap, about one
half of the spring is pressed into the mouse hole so that it so to speak lines the hole.
The mouse if it tries to get out of the hole must to be successful pass through the
opening A in the trigger plate but it strikes against the inwardly bent teeth c, d, e, f,
lifting up the plate and disengaging the edge from the wire limbs 2-3 and 4-5,
which then springing together jam in and kill the mouse. The teeth and are bent
down so as to prevent the mouse from finding another outlet. Upon setting the trap.
the hook is pressed into the ground to prevent displacement by mouse hunting
animals or birds.
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:
A field mouse trap in which by the action of a spiral spring placed in the mouse
hole a trigger plate b furnished with teeth is engaged between and liberated from
wire limbs 2-3 and 4-5 in the manner that when a captured mouse attempts to
escape from the trap it strikes against the trigger plate b thus disengaging the wire
limbs and allowing them to spring together and jam in the mouse, substantially as
described and shewn.
Dated this 16th day of Santambor 1880
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.