A NEW OR IMPROVED RABBIT, VERMIN, AND OTHER TRAP
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Bradley Fox, of Brislington, near Bristol,
in the County of Somerset, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
RABBIT, VERMIN, AND OTHER TRAP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Bradley Fox
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1881.
JOHN CHARLES BRADLEY Fox of Brislington near Bristol in the County of
Somerset. "A NEW OR IMPROVED RABBIT VERMIN AND OTHER TRAP."
The object of this Invention is the production of a trap which while being
simple and effective in action is strictly of a humane nature because instead of
catching its victim by the foot for example as the ordinary gin does it administers
an extremely powerful blow either on the upper or under surface of the body and
thus by the force of the blow causing instantaneous death. But should a thief
place his foot in the pan in order to spring it before he steals it it is provided with
a rebound action similar to the snap action of a gun which allows the toe of the
thief to be withdrawn after it has received the powerful blow of the striker.
According to my Invention I prefer to make the frame oblong wherein there is
a cavity provided to receive the shoulder and spindle end of the striker which is
held in a slotted plate the slot being intended to receive the square or corre-.
spondingly shaped ends of the spindle in order to keep it stationary during the
tension of the spring the ends of which are secured in or about the centre of the
spindle the ends of which latter are preferably square for fitting into the corre-
spondingly shaped sockets.
There is a boss on centre of spindle faced square at either end and bored through
and countersunk to receive a grip bolt through which latter the extremities of the
spring pass. The other end of the bolt is rivetted or secured by for example a nut
and split pin and has a shoulder for fitting in box spindle. The springs on the
spindle are preferably left and right and in two parts one on each side of the
spindle boss. The striker may vary in form or pattern. I prefer to make it a
double shape but any other convenient form may be adopted if preferred The
TDS11

page_text: outer ends of the spring pass through boss and are clenched at their ends allowing
enough spare room on length of spring or between boss and outside of coil to
permit of rebound taking place. In the striker there is a notch where the sear
collides with and secures striker in its place when set for action. The pan on
which the victim puts its foot in walking to the bait is hinged at its axis end to
the sides of the frame and in its fall besides the impetus which it receives from the
weight of the animal it is also propelled in its downward course by releasing from
tension a strong spring which when at a tension retains the pan on a level position.
There is a slight space between lower extremity of the foot of the pan and the sear
arm so as to allow of an unimpeded impetus being given to the pan foot before it
collides with the sear arm. There is a ring in pan by which it is pulled back to
tension before the trap is re-set. A slot of the same diameter and thickness of the
ring is cut in the pan and on its under surface across the centre of the slot a pin is
bolted so that the ring through which the pin passes lies level with the upper
surface of the pan when set. There are two thumb grooves on either side of the
ring to permit of its being raised by the fingers. No bait need be attached to trap
which is hedged in as for ordinary vermin trapping unless for birds.
This trap is made in different sizes and can be used by gamekeepers or others in
a similar way to the ordinary gins for destroying vermin, but it is much more
powerful and humane than gins killing as it does its victim instantly instead of
catching it by the leg or mouth and torturing it for hours or days.
E

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Charles Bradley Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th June 1882.
JOHN CHARLES BRADLEY Fox, of Brislington, near Bristol, in the County of
Somerset. "A NEW OR IMPROVED RABBIT VERMIN AND OTHER TRAP."
The object of this Invention is the production of a trap which while being
simple and effective in action is strictly of a humane nature because instead of
catching its victim by the foot for example as the ordinary gin does it administers
an extremely powerful blow either on the upper or under surface of the body and
thus by the force of the blow causing instantaneous death; but should a thief
place his foot in the pan in order to spring it before he steals it it is provided with
a rebound action similar to the suap action of a gun which allows the toe of the
thief to be withdrawn after it has received the powerful blow of the striker.
According to my Invention I prefer to make the frame oblong wherein there is
a cavity provided to receive the shoulder and spindle of the striker which is held
in a socket or plate the slot being intended to receive the square or correspondingly
shaped ends of the spindle in order to keep it stationary during the tension of the
spring the ends of which are or may be secured in or about the centre of the
spindle the ends of which latter are preferably square for fitting into the corre-
spondingly shaped sockets.
The springs on the spindle are preferably left and right and in two parts one on
each side of the spindle boss. The striker may vary in form or pattern. I prefer
to make it a double shape but any other convenient form may be adopted if
preferred. The outer ends of the spring pass through boss and are clenched at their
ends allowing enough spare room on length of spring or between boss and outside
of coil to permit of rebound taking place. In the striker there is a notch where
the sear collides with and secures striker in its place when set for action. The pan
on which victim puts its foot in walking to the bait is hinged at its axis end to the
sides of the frame and in its fall besides the impetus which it receives from the
weight of the animal it is also propelled in its downward course by releasing from
tension a strong spring which when at tension retains the pan on a level position.
There is a slight space between lower extremity of the foot of the pan and the sear
arm so as to allow of an unimpeded impetus being given to the pan foot before it
collides with the sear arm. There is a ring in the pan by which it is pulled back
to tension before the trap is reset. A slot of the same diameter and thickness of
the ring is or may be cut in the pan and on its under surface across the centre of
the slot a pin is bolted so that the ring through which the pin passes lies level
with the upper surface of the pan when set. There are two thumb grooves on
either side of the ring to permit of its being raised by the fingers. No bait need
be attached to trap which is hedged in as for ordinary vermin trapping unless
for birds.
This trap is made in different sizes and can be used by gamekeepors or others
in a similar way to the ordinary gins for destroying vermin but is much more
powerful and humane than gins killing as it does its verinin instantly instead of
catching it by the leg or mouth and torturing it for hours or days.
In order that the Invention may be more completely understood I will now
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings which illustrate a
simple mode of carrying my Invention into effect.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a trap constructed according to my Invention
and Figure 2 a plan view of the same with the covering plates removed to shew
the interior mechanism,

page_text: AA is the box or frame which may be made of wood or metal fitting in the top
of which at one end is the pan B on which the animal is to be induced to tread by
a bait secured to, the pan or-within the box. This pan consists of an iron frame
(seen best in the plan viow Figure 2) keyed to a shaft b turning in bearings
attached to the sides of the box and is prevented from falling too far by means of
projecting pins b fixed in the sides of the box. This frame is covered preferably
with wood but other material may be used and it is held in equilibrium flush with
the top of the box by tlie pressure of the spring b¹ bolted to one end of the same.
A ring B' may be fitted as shewn for the purpose of raising or setting pan. Near
the opposite end of the box the striker C is fitted consisting of a frame or grid (see
plan view) mounted loosely. on a rod D which extends across the box and having
the ends squared as at D* is secured as a fixture in bearings or clip d. Around
the rod is coiled a strong helical spring D¹ the outer end being secured in the eye
bolt d' and the inner end passing through the stud d² projecting from the side of
central bar of, the striker C. A slighter spring D2 of an opposite twist is arranged
in a precisely similar manner around the rod D on the opposite side of the central
bar of the striker C. The stronger spring has an amount of torsional force stored
up in it before the inner end is passed through the projecting lug d. This force is
sufficient when the lever or striker C is set free to throw it with great force from
the position. shewn by full lines in Figure 1 to the position shewn by the dotted
lines in same Figure during which action of the striker the slighter spring D³ will
be wound up and give a rebound to any desired extent.
. . In order to retain the striker C in its set position ready to be discharged the
central rod of tho striker C is formed with a catch at C which takes into a scar
lever or trigger E held in its horizontal position by the pressure of the spring e
bolted to the end of the box. F is a slotted connecting link between the foot of
the pan B and the sear arm E. Or there may be two sear arms E as shown in dotted
lines in Figure 2.
It will be seen that on the rabbit or other animal placing his weight on the
pan B the inner end descends strikes the trigger E which disengages the catch sets
the springs in action and the striker is thrown over all as before described. The
frame which I have shown I believe will be found to answer well. At the same
time an open work frame of metal may be used. I do not limit myself to the
precise construction described provided the essential features are retained.
Modifications may be made in the details of the construction without departing
from the essential features of the Invention.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
sanie is to be performed I declare that I claim as my new or improved rabbit
vermin and other trap
First. The combination in such traps of a pan or tread-piece for operating a lever
or trigger with a striker which is caused to operate when released substantially in
the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The particular construction and arrangement of trap substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said John Charles Bradley Fox, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.