US580694A - Animal-trap - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. C. HOOKER SLKE R. MARKS. ANIMAL TRAP.

10.580.694 A PatentedApr.13,1897.

'Ili Igegors UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

VILLIAM C. HOOKER AND KNOX R. MARKS, OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SBECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 580,694, dated April 13, 1897. Application filed February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,535. (No model.)

States, residing at Abingdon, in the countyv of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animal-traps, one,

of its objects being to so construct the trap that the several parts thereof will lie together in a compact form when the trap is not in use, and will therefore be less liable to injury in handling the trap for transportation or otherw1se.

W'ith this and other objects in View the invention consists in the several details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the trap set. Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the trap sprung. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a view of a detached detail, showing a modification.

Similar reference-nu xnerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.

l represents the base, which may be of wood or metal, as preferred. The jaw is marked 2, and 3 is the spring which actuates the jaw.

4 represents the tripping lever or trigger, pivoted at one end to the base, and 5 represents the catch which holds the jaw in its set position and is operated by the trigger 4 to spring the trap. For the purpose of clearness the end of the base to which the lever 4 is pivoted will be referred to as the rear end of the trap, and the opposite end of the base will be referred to as the front end.

.The jaw 2 and spring 3 are formed from a single piece of wire in the following manner: One end of the wire is bent to form an arm 6, having a downwardly-turned end 7, adapted to be secured in the base 1. The wire is then coiled to form the transverse spring 3, and from the end 'of the coil the wire is bent to form the loop-jaw 2, and the end 8 of the wire is then passed through the coil and its end bent as indicated at 9, this bent end 9 being left free to move with the jaw as it is turned. The spring is held to the base by means of staples 10 or other suitable devices, which engage the part 8 of the wire at opposite ends of the coil-spring, and the spring is prevented from turning on the base by means of the downwardly-turned end 7 of the arm 6 being firmly secured in the base. The trigger or lever 4 is formed from a piece of wire bent about midway of its length to form a downwardly-extending loop 11, which loop is arranged immediately under the transverse spring 3, and the base 1 is provided with a slot or recess 12 for the reception of the loop ll.

The lever is pivoted at one end to the rear end of the base, preferably by forming a loop 13 in the wire and extending the end 14 across the main portion of the lever at substantially a right angle and then securing the staple 15 into the base in such manner that it will straddle the two parts of the wire where they cross each other. The lever may, however, be pivoted to the base in any other suitable inanner, but this forms a very simple way of doing it. The free end of the lever carries a bait-holder 16, which preferably oonsists of a plate of either wood or metal provided with an opening 17, into which the bait may be placed, and the end of the wire is bent around the rear part of the plate and over into the opening 17, as clearly shown in the drawings, thus lirmlyseourng the bait-holder to the lever.

The catch 5 consists, preferably, of a metal plate slidably and pivotally mounted on the trigger 4, between its pivotal connection to the base and the loop 13, and when the trap is not set this plate will normally lie flat upon the base 1. The end of the plate adjacent to the pivot of the lever is provided with a notch 18, which notch is adapted to engage the jaw when in its retracted position and hold it againstthe tension of the sping 3.

Instead of using a metal plate for the catch 5 it may be formed from a piece of wire suitably bent, as indicated at 19 in Fig. 4, the essential requirements with regard to this catch being that it shall be slidably supported upon the lever 4 and lie fiat upon the base when the trap is not in use.

In order to set the trap, the jaw should be pulled over against the force of the spring and held against the base between the thumb and lingers, when by turning the trap over the catch will turn on the lever and assume a vertical position, and at the same time slide IOO down the lever until the notch 18 engages the jaw, When the trap Will be set. In this manner there is no danger of injuring the fingers of the person setting the trap.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the several parts of this trap When not in use lie together in a compact form. The catch-plate 5 Will lie flat upon the base, as also Will the bait-holder, this being permitted by reason of the lever t extending beloW the transverse spring and being formed with a loop Which enters the recess in the base. By means of the sliding catch the trap can be set, even if the jaw or other parts are bent very much out of their true shape, which Would not be the case if the catch was limited in the extent of its movement. It is evident, therefore, that the traps can be packed together in small compass for transportation, and also that as there are no prominentlyprojecting parts about the trap it is not as liable to be injured by rough handling as would be the case if the parts projected away from the base.

It Will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details vof con struction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim isl. In an animal-trap, the combination With the spring-actuated jaw, and the trippinglever, of a catch slidably supported on the lever and adapted to lock the jaw in its retracted position, substantially as described.

2. In an animal-trap, the combination with the spring-actuated jaw, and the trippinglever, of a catch slidably and pivotally supported on the lever, and adapted to lock the j aW in its retracted position, and to lie flat on the base of the trap When the jaw is sprung, substantially as described.

3. In an animal-trap, the combination with the base provided with a recess, ot' a jaw, a jaW-actuatin g spring secured transversely on the base across the recess, a tripping-lever eX- tending longitudinally of the base below the spring, and having a looped portion projecting into the said recess, and a catch adapted to hold the jaw in its retracted position and to be operated by the lever to release the jaw, substantially as described.

t. In an animal-trap, a base provided With a recess, and a coiled spring secured to the base and extending across the recess, combined with a jaw actuated by the spring, a tripping-lever pivoted at one end to the base and provided at its free end With abait-holder, said lever extending beloW the spring and having a looped portion entering the recess below the spring, and a catch connected to said lever to hold the jaw in its retracted position, substantially as described.

5. In an animal-trap, the combination with the spring-actuated jaW and the trippinglever, of a catch consisting of a metal plate slidably and pivotally supported on the lever and having a notch to engage the spring-actuated jaw, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto aliXed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM O. HOOKER. KNOX R. MARKS. Witnesses:

J. I-IARTs. MILLER, G. W. SHoor.

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