IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL TRAPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ANIMAL TRAPS." A communication from abroad by Josiah Martin, of Palestine,
Texas. United States of America.
ealed the 12th June 1877, and dated the 28th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th March 1877.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL TRAPS." A. communication from abroad by
Josiah Martin, of Palestine, Texas, United States of America.
This Invention of improvements in animal traps has for its object the killing or
wounding of rats, mice, and game, the size and strength of the trap being adapted
to the size of the animals sought.
A knife blade is pivoted at one end to a firm support, and the other end has a
projection on the back of the under side near the point, which is caught and held
by a spring catch or trigger when the trap is set.
The blade has a slot, through which projects a crank pin or handle attached to
the lever plate or crank. The crank turns about the axis, and to this axis is
attached one end of a coiled spring, the other end being attached to the body of the
trap, so that to coil the spring, the handle must be turned to the left. The trigger
turning on a pivot is held up by the spring, and is controlled by a cord or wire, which
is fastened to one end of a lever, the bait being fastened to the other. This lever is
placed so as to bring the bait over that portion of the field covered by the stroke of
the knife where the blow will be most effective.
To set the trap the blade is released from the catch, and the spring is coiled by
turning the handle to the left, the blade being allowed to follow the motions of the
handle. When the spring is coiled tight, the blade is brought back and caught by
the catch, and the bait is attached; then, if the end of the bait lever is drawn down

page_text: by any animal nibbling at the bait, the catch releases the blade, and the spring
acting through the crank causes the blade to strike and re-adjust itself after each
stroke, ready for another animal, as many times as there have been revolutions of
the handle in coiling the spring, thereby effectually killing or disabling any animal
that may disturb the trap.
To the outer end of the coiled spring is attached a ratchet ring, which plays
between the upper and lower plates of the trap. Encircling the ratchet ring above
the ratchet there is a loose ring with a handle. On the under side of the handle
there is a spring disc which works the ratchet, and attached to the frame of the
trap there is a spring disc which holds the ratchet, so that by a to-and-fro motion
of the handle, the spring is coiled. The trigger catch, instead of holding on a lug
on the back of the blade near the point, is moved up near the butt and catches
on the front of the blade.
When the trigger releases the blade, the crank arm and stud travelling in the slot
of the blade throws the blade forward, but the revolution of the crank arm brings
the blade back, and the trigger catches it again, so that the trap acts as many times
as the spring has been coiled.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st September 1877.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL TRAPS." A communication from abroad by
Josiah Martin, of Palestine, Texas, United States of America.
This Invention of improvements in animal traps has for its object the killing or
wounding of rats, mice, and game, the size and strength of the trap being adapted
to the size of the animals sought.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a perspective view of the Invention with a part of
the base board removed; Figure 2 is plan of the same; and Figure 3 is a side view
of the catch or trigger arrangement.
The knife blade A is pivotted at one end to a firm support E, and the other end
has a projection p on the back of the under side near the point, which is caught
and held by the spring catch or trigger C when the trap is act.
The blade A has a slot F, through which projects H a crank pin or handle
attached to the lever plate or crank B. The crank B turns about the axis b, and to
this axis is attached one end of a coiled spring S, the other end being attached to
the body of the trap, so that, to coil the spring, the handle H must be turned to
the left. The trigger C, turning on the pivot I, is held up by the spring L, and is
controlled by the cord or wire K, which is fastened to one end of the lever D, the bait
"being fastened to the other. This lever D is placed so as to bring the bait over that
portion of the field covered by the stroke of the knife where the blow will be most
effective.
To set the trap, the blade A is released from the catch C, and the spring is coiled
by turning the handle H to the left, the blade being allowed to follow the motions
of the handle, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2. When the spring is coiled
tight, the blade A is brought back and caught by the catch C, and the bait is
attached; then, if the end M of the bait lever is drawn down by any animal
nibbling at the bait, the catch C releases the blade A, and the spring S acting
through the crank B causes the blade to strike and re-adjust itself after each stroke
ready for another animal, as many times as there have been revolutions of the handle
in coiling the spring, thereby effectually killing or disabling any animal that may
disturb the trap.

page_text: In another improved form, Figures 4, 5, and 6, the outer end of the coiled spring S
is attached to the ratchet ring n, which plays between the upper and lower plates
of the trap (7, 9). Encircling the ratchet ring above the ratchet there is a loose
ring m with a handle r. On the under side of the bandle there is a spring click o,
which works the ratchet, and attached to the frame of the trap there is a spring
click t which holds the ratchet, so that by a to-and-fro motion of the handle the
spring is coiled. The trigger catch, instead of holding on a lug on the back of
the blade near the point, is moved up near the butt, and catches on the front of
the blade, as shown in Figure 6.
In other respects the construction of the trap is the same as first described.
When the trigger releases the blade, the crank arm B and stud h travelling in the
slot of the blade throws the blade forward, but the revolution of the crank arm B
brings the blade back, and the trigger catches it again, so that the trap acts as
many times as the spring has been coiled.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
First. The combination of the knife blade A, having the slot F and projection p,
the spring S, lever B, catch C, and bait lever D, when constructed substantially as
described for the purposes set forth.
Second. The arrangement and combination of parts described and set forth in
Figures 4, 5, and G.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.