A New or Improved Device for Catching Flies.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1898.-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device for Catching Flies.
I, HUGO THUM, of the City of Grand Rapids, in the County of Kent, and
State of Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
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This invention relates to a certain new and useful device for catching flies by.
means of sticky material placed on a suitable web or cord, and the invention con-
sists essentially in a package and means for packing the web and removing the
same, and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter
particularly described and claimed.
The objects of my invention are, first, to combine with a web or cord a suitable
holder for retaining the web or cord, which is sealed so as to prevent the sticky
compound from evaporating, and still always be ready for use; second, to furnish
a packing case that will allow the web or cord to be readily drawn out covered with
a sufficient quantity of the sticky material for practical use; and, third, to con-
struct a cheap and convenient holder which can be readily used and which. will
at the same time furnish a safe package for containing both the web and the
sticky compound, substantially as hereinafter described.
These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, in which:-
-
Figure 1 shows an elevation of the package containing my fly catching device,.
with the web or cord folded within the holder, and with the holder sealed, ready,
for packing and shipping; and,
Figure 2 shows an elevation of the same with the seal removed and the web
or cord drawn out ready for use.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A represents the holder, which is preferably a slender vial, having a compara-
tively small diameter so that the cord may be packed within the holder in any
suitable manner and can be drawn out without kinking or knotting. The material
of which the holder A is constructed is preferably glass, but any other suitable
substance may be used. At the upper end of the holder or vial I provide an opening
of comparatively large size, preferably of a size nearly as large as the inside
diameter of the holder itself. This opening is closed by a stopper shown by C. By
providing this large opening the cord or web can be more readily crowded or
packed into the holder. The sticky compound is placed in the holder and the
holder is filled with this material up to a point to cover the folded part of the web,
as shown by J. The part of the web above the folded portion, as shown in Fig. 1,
does not contain any sticky material. The uncoated part of the web is shown by B
in both figures. It is my intent to use just enough of the sticky compound to
thoroughly coat the folded part of the web, and no more, leaving the uncoated
part of the web entirely free from said sticky compound. The part of the web
covered by the sticky compound is shown by D. The stopper C is provided with
an opening E through which the web passes. This opening is of just sufficient

page_text: size to allow the web to be drawn out and to carry adhering thereto enough of
the sticky compound for practical use in catching flies, and no more; the surplus,
if any there be, being scraped from the web and remaining in the bottle, the open-
ing being of sufficient size to gauge accurately the amount of sticky compound
which is to be drawn out with the web. When the web is folded within the vial
or holder, I place around the web or cord, at the upper end of the stopper, a seal
which completely seals the opening and renders the receptacle or vial air-tight.
This seal is shown in the drawings by F. The seal F is composed of any suitable
material to form an air-tight sealing and yet be of such consistency that it may
be readily removed from the stopper by drawing out the web or cord to which
it will adhere. The upper end of the web or cord is provided with a loop H
which will serve as a means for supporting the drawn out portion of the web and
also the holder. The lower end of the web, at a point below the cork is provided
with a knot or enlargement K, which prevents the cord or web from being wholly
withdrawn from the holder. In using my device the web or cord is drawn out
to the required distance, and the loop H is placed upon a hook, nail or other suit-
able support, and the holder and web are thereby supported. The knot K will
prevent the web from entirely escaping from the holder.
The form of the holder is of importance, the same being small in cross-section
like that of a slender vial, and this enables me to merely crowd the web into the
holder without any care in reference to how it folds in the inside of the vial or
holder, and the said web will draw out readily when placed within such slender
vial or holder without kinking or knotting. The holder also forms a weight which
retains the drawn out web in position when in use, and also prevents it from coming
in contact with adjacent objects. The opening in the stopper forms a convenient
means for removing the surplus sticky compound, if there should be any, leaving
the drawn out web in the most efficient condition to receive and retain the flies.
The package when closed and sealed can be safely packed and transported, and as it
is air-tight the compound will not escape but may be kept for a long time without
injury, and is always ready for use on a moment's notice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
In combination with a slender receptacle or holder, a web folded within the same,
a stopper having an opening through which the web passes, said opening in said
stopper being of sufficient size to remove all the surplus sticky compound before
the web is withdrawn from the holder, and a seal for the opening in said stopper,
said seal being of such consistency as to be readily removed by the drawing out
of the web, substantially as described.
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HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.