A New or Improved Vermin Trap.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31ts Dec., 1894-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
A
1 DUNCAN MCKILLOP of Oban, Draper, do declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to an improved trap for vermin, especially intended for
mice and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive means by which
they can be quickly destroyed.
The trap consists of a block of wood or of two or more parts fitted together
A number of
having two longitudinal slots extending almost from end to end.
transverse cylindrical holes or recesses is provided open at the front, the slots
above mentioned cutting them across. A wire loop is provided for each hole in
the front slot, encircling the hole, when in its lower position, connected to the end
of a strong spring, which when released pulls up the loop with considerable force.
The loops are held down by thread passing over the arm of the spring and through
the rear slot, being tied firmly to a pin or other device at the bottom.
A sharply pointed pin is fitted in each hole at the top projecting down a short
distance.
The arrangement is operated as follows: Cheese or other food is placed in the
recess at the back, so that to reach it the animal has to put its head through the
hole and gnaw the thread, which when broken releases the spring causing the loop
to fly up. This presses the neck of the animal against the top of the hole and the
pin entering it is killed instantly.
Dated this 29th day of March 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
A New or Improved Vermin Trap.
I, DUNCAN MCKILLOP of Oban, Draper, 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 trap for vermin, especially intended for
mice and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive means by which
they can be quickly destroyed.
The trap consists of a block of wood or other suitable material of two or more
parts fitted together, having two longitudinal slots extending almost from end to
end. A number of transverse cylindrical holes or recesses is provided open at the
front, the slots above mentioned cutting them across. A wire loop is furnished
for each hole projecting into the front slot, encircling the hole when in its lower
position, connected to the end of a strong spring, which when released pulls up
the loop with considerable force. The loops are held down by thread passing over
017

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the arm of the spring and through the rear slot, being tied firmly to a pin or other
device at the bottom.
A sharply pointed pin is fitted in each hole at the top projecting down a short
distance.
The arrangement is operated as follows: Cheese or other food is placed in the
recess at the back, so that to reach it the animal has to put his head through
the hole and gnaw the thread, which when broken releases the spring causing
the loop to fly up. This presses the neck of the animal against the top of the hole
and the pin entering, it is killed instantly.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2 a
plan, and Fig. 3 a cross section of the trap.
The trap is made in the arrangement illustrated from two blocks of wood A
and A', the larger block A forming the rear part of the trap, and A¹ the front
portion. These parts may be detachable and as shown they are fitted to either by
a screw a at one end and a catch a' at the other, the front portion being capable
of turning out of the way when the catch is released, permitting the trap to be
reset more conveniently. The trap is formed with the two vertical longitudinal
slots B and C extending almost from end to end. Placed transversely, and cutting
across the slots are the recesses D of cylindrical form extending to the rear and
open at the front. These recesses contain the bait at their rear part fitted in any
ordinary manner.
To the top of the trap are fitted the springs E, one to each recess D, the springs
being made from wire coiled at the extremities or of any other convenient form.
To the ends of these springs the wire loops F are fitted extending vertically into
the slot B, and when in the lowermost position encircling the recesses D, the springs
tend to raise the loops into a higher position, and when released will pull them
suddenly up with considerable force.
The springs are secured in their lower and operative position by the thread G
which is passed over them and through the slot C, in front of the rear part of the
recesses. Separate lengths of thread are used for each spring. The threads are
secured to the pins g at the lower side of the trap and are stretched across the
openings in the proper position by means of the pins g'. When the mouse or other
animal endeavours to reach the bait, it will require to first bite through the thread
and thus the spring and loop are released as shown in Fig. 1, and the loop will
spring up, compressing the neck of the animal. The spikes or nails H are placed
at the top of the recesses in such a position that they will enter the back of the
neck, and instantly kill the animal.
To secure the springs and loops in proper position the bar J is fixed at the top,
preventing the springs being pulled down too far.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an improved mouse trap, having a series of transverse holes or recesses,
the combination with two longitudinal slots cutting the said recesses of springs,
wire loops at the ends of said spring projecting into one of the slots and encircling.
the recesses, and thread securing the springs and loops in operative position and
extending across the recesses substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In an improved mouse trap formed from two blocks having a series of trans-
verse recesses, the combination with two vertical longitudinal slots, cutting the
said recesses, of springs fixed on the upper side, wire loops on the ends of said
springs projecting into the front slot and encircling the recesses, thread securing
the springs and loops and extending across the recesses, and spikes at the upper
side of the openings, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
specified.

page_text: 3. The improved vermin trap, constructed and operating substantially in the
manner described and shown in the accompanying drawings and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 31st day of December 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.