An Improved Trap for Mice, Rats, and other Animals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
An Improved Trap for Mice, Rats, and other Animals.
I, GEORGE EDWARD HIRST, of Westmoreland Offices, Westmoreland Street,
Lower Bristol Road, Bath, Joiner, 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 traps for capturing mice, rats and other animals, either
small or large.
The improved trap which constitutes this invention is a box, cage, or frame in
which is hinged a platform arranged to move in conjunction with a weighted hood
which is so hinged in the box, cage or frame that when a mouse, rat, or other animal
advances towards the bait to a sufficient degree the said platform is thereby tilted
downwards at the inner end while the hood is simultaneously depressed and blocks
the return and escape of the said animal, which is removed from the trap through a
door-way provided at the inner end thereof.
By the addition of a flap pivotted either in the inner end of the hood or in the
box, cage or frame, the captured animal is permitted to pass into a chamber which
may either be an extension of the box or cage, or be separately made and connected
to the trap. When the animal has passed into the said chamber, its return to the
platform is prevented by the flap, and when the animal has quitted the platform,
the latter swings back to its normal position. The trap is thus re-set.
re-setting action occurs with each successive capture provided the animals pass into
the chamber aforesaid.
The
At Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is represented, in side elevation, a trap
for mice, rats or other animals, constructed in accordance with one arrangement
comprised in this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, and Fig. 3. a plan. In
these figs. the trap is shown as set.
Hinged at a in the sides of the box, cage or frame b is a platform c connected by
arms d to a hood e hinged as at and provided towards the inner end with a
weight g. The bait may be fixed upon a pin such as extending inwards from a
side door i, Fig. 1, or it may be otherwise conveniently placed.
When a mouse, rat or other animal advances on the platform c to a sufficient
degree towards the bait, the platform is tilted so that its inner end is lowered as
seen at Fig. 4 which represents, in vertical section, the trap as closed. The hood e
is simultaneously moved, through the connection by the arms d, so that the curtain
or outer end e¹ is brought down upon the platform c, and, the return and escape of
the animal is effectually prevented. A door-way b¹ is provided for removal of the
captured animal.
The trap may be made of wood, wire, or of iron or steel bars, or of other material
as may be desired and suitable.
At Fig. 5 is illustrated in side elevation a trap constructed in accordance with
another arrangement comprised in this invention. Fig. 6 is a vertical section and
Fig. 7 a plan. Under this arrangement the box, cage, or frame is prolonged
beyond the end of the hood e and a flap jis hinged to the inner end of the
hood. The flap is so hinged and arranged that when the trap is set, the
flap occupies the position shown at Figs. 6 and 7 and is prevented by the stop k
from swinging further towards the mouth of the trap. When, by the advance
of an animal towards the bait, the platform c and hood e are tilted so as to close
the mouth of the trap, the flap jis raised and, swinging on its pivot, is brought to
rest on the stop k, as seen at Fig. 8 which shows, in vertical section, the trap as
closed.
The captured animal in passing into the chamber beyond the flap dislodges the

page_text: latter from the stop or rest k. The trap thus becomes re-set, and return of the animal
to the platform c is blocked by the flap j. The re-setting action is repeated with
each successive capture provided the animal moves forward into the extended part
of the box, cage or frame.
To restrict the aperture for the passage of an animal from the platform c to the
extension, and thus to ensure dislodgment of the flap j from the rest or stop k, a
bar or rod is extended across the trap, as shown.
The extension of the box, cage or frame may serve as a means of communication
through the door-way 6 with a further chamber or receptacle to which attachment
may be temporary or permanent.
At Fig. 9 is illustrated a modification in which the hood e has a fixed curtain or
wall at each end and the flap j is hinged in the sides of the trap instead of to the
hood. The rest k is carried on the hood instead of being fixed in the side of the
trap.
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 :-
3. 1. A trap for mice, rats and other animals, consisting of a suitable box, cage or
frame open at the outer end only and fitted with a platform such as c, hinged in the
frame and connected to a weighted hood such as e, also pivotted to the frame, the
said platform and hood being so set with respect to balance and arranged to act in
conjunction, so that when a mouse, rat or other animal advances towards the bait
to a sufficient degree, the platform rises at the outer end and the hood is depressed
at the outer end, and escape of the captured animal is thereby prevented, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a trap such as is referred to in the preceding claim, the combination with
the pivotted platform c and pivotted hood e of a flap or swinging door such as j
hinged either to the hood or to the frame of the trap, the flap being arranged to
permit the passage of an animal from the trap to an extension thereof, or to a
chamber attached or connected thereto, and to obstruct and bar the return from
the said extension or chamber to the platform of the trap, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1892.