An Improved Appliance or Trap for Killing Rats.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance or Trap for Killing Rats.
FREDERICK ELLAM, 89, The Albany, Albany Road, Camberwell, S.E., Stoker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The rat killer, is a block of wood 10" long x 5" x 5" with a 3" hole bored
thro' lengthways. On the top of block, there is a metal stock with 2 coil
springs, one on each side, on other end of stock there is a bow of wire which
passes thro' top of block & down level with inside of the hole & pass under a
metal clip which holds up a bridge 3" square fixed at bottom of hole, there is
another stock fixed on top of block with coil spring each side of middle with pin
on one end which passes down thro' top of block, on other end of stock is a tail
which passes under a bar of the other stock when set in forcing down main stock,
it catches the tail of pin stock & forces the pin up above the inner part of the
hole therefore when the block is placed over the rat's hole, there is no obstruction
whatever when the rat comes out of its hole it is compelled into the catcher,
when it places its front feet on the bridge, it releases the bow which catches it
behind its front legs, the main spring forcing it up against the top, at the same
time the pin is forced thro' the rat, causing instant death, there is also a sliding
plate fixed on the front, which forms a 3" angle so that it can be fixed in any
position.
Totad this 5th day of August 1807
An Improved Appliance or Trap for Killing Rats.
I, FREDERICK ELLAM, of 89, The Albany, Albany Road, Camberwell, S.E., Stoker,
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 an improved appliance or trap for killing rats which
requires no baiting and is swift and certain in its action.
It consists essentially of a spring controlled bow or loop of wire adapted to pass
through a transverse slot formed in a wooden or like block provided with a
longitudinal hole or passage. This wire bow or loop is adapted to be held down
clear of the longitudinal hole or passage in the block by means of a plate and
catch which is held or controlled by a pivotted bridge or platform mounted in
the bottom of the block and so arranged that the weight of the rat on passing
CD Q77

page_text: over it releases the catch and thus frees the wire bow or loop which owing to
its controlling spring or springs immediately flies upward carrying the rat within
it, the rat being immediately killed on coming into contact with the block
or with a spike mounted therein.
I will now more particularly describe this invention making reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a rat killing trap constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a view in plan thereof, and
Figure 3 is a
broken detail view in plan.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
A bow or loop A is mounted to slide within a slot z formed in a wooden or
like block X. The block X is formed with a longitudinal hole or passage through
it as shown, the front end is adapted to be closed, when the trap is to be used
in certain positions, for instance when placed over a hole in the floor not
adjacent to a wall, door or the like, by means of a removable shield or slide B
preferably of the shape shown so as to compel the rat on emerging from its hole
to pass through the trap. The bow or loop A is held normally in the position
indicated in dot and dash lines on Figure 1 by means of the springs C, C. When
the trap is set ready for use the bow or loop A is depressed and held in this
position by means of the hinged plate D carried by the block X, the free end of
the plate D being held down by engaging a catch e carried or fixed to the bridge
or platform E which is pivotted or hinged at e¹ to the block.
It will thus be seen that this trap when in position forms a continuation of
the rat's hole and the rat on endeavouring to emerge therefrom must of neces-
sity pass over the bridge or platform E which is so adjusted that immediately
its fore legs rest thereon it is depressed (assuming the position shown in dot and
dash lines on Figure 1) thus the catch e frees the plate D which in its turn
allows the bow or loop A to fly upward, owing to the springs C, C, carrying the
rat with it which is either killed by its sudden impact against the top wall of
the block or a spring controlled spike F is caused to descend into its body by
reason of the upper part of the bow or loop engaging a catch or tumbler G which
when set acts as a sheath to the spike F and prevents it from protruding into
the hole or passage formed in the block X.
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) An appliance or trap for killing rats consisting essentially of a spring
controlled bow or loop adapted to pass transversely through a hole or passage
so formed in a block as to be in use a continuation of the usual rat's hole, the
said bow or loop being held by a catch adapted to be released by the rat on
passing over a platform.
(2) An appliance or trap for killing rats, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown.