Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Mar., 1889
We, WILLIAM HENRY REED, of Dunheved Iron Works, Launceston, Agricultural
Implement Maker, and JAMES WALTER LAWRY, of St. Dominick, St. Mellion, Farmer,
both in the County of Cornwall, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
Our invention relates to traps for catching and killing moles, rabbits and other
vermin which burrow underground, and has for its chief object to provide a trap of
which no part, when it set, will be within the run.
According to our said invention we provide a frame of iron or steel or other
suitable material and of any suitable shape.
Preferably the said frame has two sides running parallel with each other and
connected by a cross piece, in the centre of which is a hole. At a given distance
from this cross piece is a second cross piece for giving rigidity to the frame, which
second cross piece may also be provided with a hole in the centre to receive a rod.
The extreme ends of the sides are pointed to penetrate the soil.
We also provide a rod or its equivalent having at one end a flat or suitably shaped
piece provided with four projecting portions in two of which are formed holes to
receive as many spikes, the other two having slots cut in them. Suitably placed on
this rod or its equivalent is a key or projection against which the end of a spiral
or other spring bears. The end of the rod enters the hole in the end of the frame
while the slots in two projecting portions are so placed as to slide along the inside
edges of the sides of the frame. A pin or nut or its equivalent is attached to the
rod to keep it in its place.
At a suitable distance from one of the pointed ends of the sides of the frame is
an angular piece one end of which extends by the side of the frame towards the
second cross piece whilst the other end is provided with a flat or foot piece terminating
between the sides of the frame.
If the rod with the projecting portions is pressed towards the end of the frame
the spring will tend to force it back again, but if the long end of the angular

page_text: piece is placed to catch under one of the slotted projecting portions it will be kept
in that position. In setting the trap the attendant puts his foot upon the lifted soil of
say the mole run filling it in. The two pointed ends of the frame are then driven
down on each side of the run until one end of the angular part comes nearly close to
the depressed soil over the run. The mole when passing along finds nothing in
the run but earth and as he removes it he knocks out the end of the angular piece
which has kept up the spikes. The latter are then powerfully acted upon by the
spring and are thereby driven downward instantaneously killing the mole.
Dated the 28th dose of Nov 1988
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, WILLIAM HENRY REED, of Dunhoved Iron Works, Launceston, Agricultural
Implement Maker, and JAMES WALTER LAWRY, of St. Dominick, St. Mellion, Farmer,
both in the County of Cornwall, 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 :-
Our invention relates to traps for catching and killing moles, rabbits, and other
vermin which burrow under ground, and has for its chief object to provide a trap of
which no part, when it is set, will be within the run or burrow.
Our improved trap consists essentially of a fork or spear which is normally supported
above the level of the ground but which when a catch is released, is forced down by
a spring so as to penetrate the soil and enter the body of the mole or other animal,
thereby killing the same.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vermin trap constructed according to our
invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, and
Figure 3 is a plan.
a is a frame of iron, steel, or other suitable material, having the parallel side
bars a', a connected by cross pieces b, 61, the extreme ends of the said side bars a',
being pointed as at c, c to penetrate the soil.
d is the fork the plate of which is notched to slide on the bars a¹, a³, and has
secured to it a number of prongs or spikes . e is a rod which at its lower and is
secured to the plate d' of the fork and at its upper end passes through a hole or guide
in the cross-bar b.
is a spiral spring which surrounds the said rod and one end of which bears
against the cross-bar while the other end bears against the plate d¹:
g is a lever which is pivotted to the side bar a² and provided with a notch g¹
adapted to engage with the plate d, when the latter is in the position indicated by
dotted lines in figure 1, to hold the spear in an elevated position against the pressure
of the spring f
h is a trigger pivotted to the side bar a', the free end of which is adapted to be
pressed against an inclined surface at the free end of the lever g to force the
notch gl in the latter out of engagement with the plate d' so that the fork will be
forced down by the spring from the position indicated in dotted lines to that represented
in full lines.
In fixing or setting up the trap, the attendant puts his foot upon the lifted soil of,
say, the mole run, filling it in. The two pointed ends c, c of the side bars a³, a² of
the frame are then driven down on each side of the filled-in part of the run until the
trigger is close to the depressed soil. If now a mole passes along the run, he finds
nothing in the run but earth. When however he comes to remove the obstruction,

page_text: he raises the soil so that the pressure of the latter upon the trigger presses the same
against the inclined surface and so releases the notch in the lever from engagement
with the plate d', whereby the spear being powerfully acted upon by the spring is
driven downwards, instantaneously killing the mole.
We wish it understood that we do not limit our invention to the construction
herein before described, for instance any suitable catch or trigger arrangement may
be employed for holding the fork in its raised position; also instead of employing
a spiral spring, a flat spring or a spring of any other suitable form may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
--
(1.) A vermin trap comprising a fork or spear which is normally supported with
the prongs above the level of the ground by a catch or the like, but which, when
the said catch is released, is forced down by a spring thereby killing the animal
beneath the said fork or spear, substantially in the manner described.
(2.) A vermin trap constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 10th 1.
T
1000