improvements in vermin Traps.
Year: 1897

page_text: improvements in vermin Traps.
I, WILLIAM HALL, of The Cottage, Springfield, Wandsworth Common, in the
County of London, Florist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of the present invention is to construct a trap for rats mice and other
vermin which shall be capable of resetting itself when an animal is caught, and
which may drown any animal which has entered the trap.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a trap of strong wire work or
other suitable material which is divided laterally into two parts, one part forming
the trap and the other part forming the chamber into which the animals pass after
they are caught.
An opening is provided at one end of the trap into which the animals pass to get
at the bait. There is a slightly inclined floor which is pivoted towards the back
end. This inclined floor is hinged at its back end to a platform the other end of
which rests upon a curved piece of metal. When the trap is set for use the said
platform is horizontal.
This
The division between the two parts of the trap consists of a fixed upper part to
the bottom of which is hinged the door leading from one part to the other.
door carries levers at its upper part to which are connected rods passing to the
front of the trap where the animals enter. These said rods are provided with pawls
which retain the front end of the inclined surface in its raised position when an
animal has entered the trap.
•
The action of the trap is as follows. An animal walks up the inclined surface
towards the bait until he has passed the pivots. His weight then causes the back
of the inclined surface to descend which lowers with it the horizontal platform, the
front end of the inclined surface being raised and caught by the pawls.
The animal finding he cannot get back tries to get out by some other way and
finally pushes against the door which gives way and allows it to enter the retaining
chamber. The movement of the door causes the levers to move forward and with
them the rods carrying the pawls which pass out of contact with the inclined
surface and allow it to resume its original position, the front portion being heavier
than the back. When the animal has passed into the chamber the door falls
behind it and retains it therein, at the same time the levers and rods move into
their original position ready for use should a second animal enter the trap.
The end of the retaining chamber is removable. In some cases I attach to this
end a drowning apparatus, the removable end being used as a ladder up which the
animals walk onto a pivoted balanced plate over a water container.
Wires are
stretched from side to side of the chamber to prevent the animal moving the
balanced plate from the under side. A cover is provided for the drowning chamber
which prevents the animals escaping over the back thereof.
Dated this 20th don of tot 1807

page_text: I, WILLIAM HALL, of The Cottage, Springfield, Wandsworth Common, in the
County of London, Florist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is to construct a trap for rats, mice, and
other animals as well as for birds which shall be capable of resetting itself when
an animal or bird is caught and which may in some cases drown any animal or
bird that has entered the trap.
:
Fig 1 is a side view of one form of a trap constructed according to my invention
set ready for use; Fig: 2 is a side view of the same after an animal or bird has
been caught; Fig: 3 is a view of the same with the parts in the position they
would assume when an animal or bird is passing from the first part to the second
part of the trap and thus re-setting the same.
Fig: 4 is a side view of a slightly modified form of trap set ready for use and
Fig 5 is a side view of the same after the animal or bird has been caught.
Fig: 6 is a view of the parts in the position they would assume when an animal
or bird is passing from the first to the second portion of the trap.
Fig 7 is a detail view of some of the parts.
Fig: 8 is a section of the drowning chamber, showing part of the trap to which
it is attached.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the entrance to the trap at the right hand side whilst
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the entrance at the left hand side.
In Figures 1 to 6 the traps are shown with the side removed so that the interior
may be clearly seen.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a trap of wood or zinc or of
strong ironwork or other suitable materials which is divided laterally into two
portious A and B, one portion A forming the trap and the other portion B forming
the chamber into which the animal or bird passes after it has been caught to which
may be added a movable portion C which I call the drowning chamber.
At the front of the trap there is an opening a through which the animal or bird
passes in, in order to get at the bait which need not be fixed in any particular
place.
There is a slightly inclined floor b which is pivoted at c and which may be
weighted by means of a rod 61 and weight b2 toward the back end of the same.
This inclined floor b is hinged at its back end at b3 to a platform d the back
end of which rests upon a curved or bevelled piece of metal or wire e as
shown or it may rest upon a wheel at or near the division between the first
and second portions of the trap A and B. When the trap is set ready for use
as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the platform d is nearly horizontal to the frame
in which it is fixed. The division between the first and second portions of the
trap consists of two parts, the upper part f being a fixture and the lower part g
being pivoted or hinged at g¹ so as to be inovable at its lower part thus forming
a door opening from the first part A into the second portion B of the trap.
This door carries a lever or levers g² at its upper part to which is or are connected
a rod or rods g³ passing to the front of the trap the said rod or rods g³ is or are
provided with pawls g₁ or the equivalent which retain the front end of the inclined
floor in its raised or closed position after an animal or bird has entered the trap and
to one or more of the rods g³ may be fixed a piece of wire g³ which when the door
g is pushed forward comes into contact with another bent wire 64 fixed to the
inclined floor b and assists in forcing the latter into its original position.

page_text: The action of the trap is as follows:-The animal or bird passes along the inclined
floor 6 towards the bait placed in the second portion B of the trap, until it has
passed the pivot c its weight then causes the back end of the inclined floor b to
descend and this action lowers the front end of the horizontal platform d and
simultaneously raises the front end of the inclined floor b which latter is then caught
and held by the pawls gt.
The animal or bird in its efforts to get out pushes against the door g which at
once gives way and allows it to enter the chamber B by walking over the fixed
incline thus opening the door g to a greater extent than if the incline l-did
not exist. The moving of the said door g causes the lever or levers g² to move
forward as shown in Fig. 3 and with it or them the rod or rods g³ carrying the
pawls 9 which pass out of contact with the front end of the said inclined floor
and the wire g presses against the wire b and causes the inclined floor b to
resume its original position.
When the animal or bird has passed into the chamber B. the door g immedi-
ately falls and thereby confines it therein and at the same time the lever or
levers g² and rod or rods g³ return into their original position ready for use
when a second animal or bird enters the trap.
In Figures 4, 5 and 6 I have shown a slight modification to the form of trap
shown in Figures 1, 2, 3. In this form of apparatus the inclined floor b is
retained in its raised position by means of a hook or catch g** on the swinging
doorg passing over the end of weighted lever b¹ as shown in Figures 5 and 7.
The swinging door g is provided with a weight go and carries a lever 95* the
end of which has a roller g' which comes into contact with the inclined floor b
as shown in Fig. 6 when an animal or bird is passing from the first part of the
trap A to the second part B and thus returns the inclined floor to its original
position. In this form of trap the swinging door g is pivoted nearer to the top of
the trap than in the form of trap previously described, and there is a fixed division
f* cut away at the lower part through which the animal or bird passes before it
comes into contact with the swinging door g.
In some cases instead of employing a fixed support e I may employ a roller or
wheel and instead of employing a weighted lever 6' I may employ a weight fixed to
the underside of the inclined floor 6 between the pivot c and the hinge b³.
The back end h of the chamber B is movable and if to this the drowning
chamber C be attached is capable of being so fixed as to be used as a ladder as
shown in Fig. 8 up which the animal passes into the drowning chamber C.
The drowning chamber C may be made of iron, zinc, tin or other suitable material
and would be connected with the aforesaid chamber by means of any appropriate
fastening.
The entrance to the drowning chamber C is at the top of the ladder h in the
aforesaid chamber leading to a pivoted or hinged balanced plate i which may be
perforated or plain, over a water container, ; the said plate ? yields to the weight
of the animal, overbalances and the animal is thereby precipitated into the water,
the balanced or weighted plate i at once returning to its original position
and effectually enclosing the animal which being thereby immersed in the water
is soon drowned.
Wires k or other suitable material are fixed in this chamber to prevent be
animal escaping therefrom.
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 vermin trap the combination of an inclined floor b weighted at its
rear end pivoted at c and hinged at 63 to a horizontal platform d supported at
its rear end on a suitable support e substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
2. In a vermin trap having two parts the combination of an inclined floor

page_text: pivoted to a horizontal platform 'supported at its rear end on a curved or bevelled
support or roller in combination with a swinging door provided with means for
retaining the inclined floor in its raised position and releasing the same when an
animal has passed therethrough substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In a vermin trap having two parts A and B the combination of an inclined
floor b pivoted at c and connected to a horizontal platform d supported at its
rear end on a suitable support e with a hanging door g having a lever g², rod g³
and pawls g substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In a vermin trap the combination of an inclined floor having a curved
arm 6 and weighted lever b¹ said inclined floor being pivoted at c and pin jointed
to a horizontal platform d supported at its rear end on a support e with a hanging
door g provided with a lever g² rod 9³ push piece g³ and pawls g substantially as
herein shown and described.
5. In a drowning chamber for use with vermin traps, the combination of a water
chamber, a pivoted balanced plate and wires or other material arranged across the
underside of the weighted portion of the plate substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.