Improvements in Traps for Catching Mice, Rats, and other Animals.
Year: 1889

page_text: COME UMID DI MULRICATION
Improvements in Traps for Catching Mice, Rats, and other
Animals.
I, ALEXANDER BROWN of 5 Havelock View in the City of Belfast and County of
Antrim in Ireland, Clerk 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:—
The object of my invention is to provide a simpler and more easily operated trap
for the catching or snaring and killing of mice rats and other similar animals than that
now and heretofore commonly employed for those purposes.
To these ends I take a perforated block of wood or hollow case or box having an
aperture in front with a transverse slot in the top, at the front, through which a
springle or loop which depends from a lever attached at the opposite end, by springs,
to the back of the block, case or box is lowered across or through the perforated or
hollow part of the block, case or box so that when the animal has introduced its head
through the aperture the lever is set free and the springle or loop rises suddenly
round the animals neck and catches or strangles it, in so far resembling the mousetraps
now and heretofore commonly employed.
But instead of sewing or fastoning down the springle or loop in the manner here-
tofore practised, I employ an upright disc or roller attached transversely to the top
of the block, case or box by means of an axle and brackets, or wire bent double as
an equivalent therefor, under one of the arms of the lever and springs. This disc
or roller is cut half through in a slightly curved line from the circumference near
to one side of the axle so that the above mentioned arm of the lever may pass to and
fro along the cut. The brackets or wires which support the disc or roller are curved
towards the inner face or periphery thereof in order to allow the arm of the lever
and springs to pass under the axle and to remain in that position until released as
hereinafter mentioned.
I cut a longitudinal slot in the top of the block, case or box below the inner face
or periphery of the disc or roller and in this slot I place a pin or axis from which
I suspend a doubled piece of wire having the ends below it forked and extending into
the perforated or hollow part of the block, case or box while the upper part of it
reaches to the inner face or periphery of the disc or roller which is furnished with
a notch or spud to catch and hold the upper part of the doubled piece of wire when
the trap is set. The root of the notch is shod to provide against wear.
Another doubled wire in front of the disc or roller encloses and guides the arm
of the lever and springs which passes across the curved cut in the disc or roller and
prevents the arm when rising from leaving the cut. It is curved so as to admit of and
control the eccentric movement of the arm of the lever and springs.
I may, however, dispense with one of the arins of the lever and springs and attach
the springle or loop to a lever with a single arm and one spring and a cross bar at the
end thereof.
I may also apply my invention to a trap for catching animals alive, such as a
cage-trap; for instance, by placing the trap which I have described upon one side
and substituting for the springle a door which will pass through the cage, when set,
and cover the aperture when the lever is set free.
I place the bait at the extreme end of the perforated or hollow part of the block case
or box behind or beyond the forked ends of the doubled piece of wire suspended
in the longitudinal slot before mentioned so that when the animal approaches the
bait its nose or head strikes the forked ends and suddenly sets free the disc or roller
which is then actuated by the arm of the lever and springs and allows it to rise
carrying the springle or loop with it round the animals neck or body.

page_text: The trap is set by simply pressing down the cross-bar of the lever when the external
end of the forked wire falls into position in the notch of the disc or roller.
And in order that my said invention may be more fully understood I shall now
proceed to refer to the several drawings on the sheet hereunto annexed the same
letters of reference being used throughout all the figures to indicate the same or
corresponding parts of my trap.
Fig. I. is a front view, in elevation, of the trap arranged as described and not set,
shewing the disc or roller with the curved cut which receives the arm of the lever
and springs, the doubled wire which encloses and guides it and the pronged wire
suspended in the longitudinal slot.
Fig. II. is a longitudinal section, in elevation, of the trap, not set also, shewing the
disc or roller, the arm of the lever and springs within the doubled wire which encloses
and guides it; and the pronged wire.
Fig. III is a similar section of the trap when set, shewing the same parts as in
Fig. II.
Figs. IV and V are front views of the disc or roller respectively shewing the
curved cut and notch in position when the trap is not set and when it is set ; also the
bracket or wire supporting it.
a is the disc or roller- is the longitudinal slot through which the pronged wire c
passes suspended on the pin or axis de is the doubled and curved wire which encloses
and guides the arm of the lever and springs and prevents it when rising from leaving
the cut.
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. The use, in mouse and other similar traps, of a disc or roller constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The use, in mouse and other similar traps, of a forked piece of wire constructed,
suspended and employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes heroinbefore
described and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. The use, in mouse and other similar traps, of a doubled and curved guide wire
constructed and employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed and
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved trap
constructed and employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated in the several drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 25th day of September 1889.
HYNDMAN & DICKSON,
6, Waring Street, Belfast, Agents for Applicant.