US502056A - Fly-trap - Google Patents

Description

(Nb Model.)

/T.A.TIEATE.

FLY TRAP.

Patented July'25, 189.3.

v TlzamasA Talia NITED- STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. TEATE, OF WAUKEENAH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE W. SAXON, OF TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.

FLY-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,056, dated July 25, 1893.

Application filed February 27, 1893. Serial No. 463.863. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. TEATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waukeenah, in the county of-Jefferson and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Fly- Trap, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to fly traps, and has for its object to provide a device of the character set forth that is arranged to be suspended from a ceiling, wall, or other support and that will automatically set itself in operative position.

With these ends in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fly trap embodying the invention, shown in suspended position and open in full lines and closed in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line a:a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the spring suspending and operating devices.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate two boards that form the front and back parts of the trap and have their upper ends beveled from opposite sides, as at 8, so that they may be closely arranged and hingedly connected by a plate 4:, attached to the upper termination of each edge of the board 2 in a permanent position in such manner that the said plates project forwardly and embrace the opposite upper edges of the board 1, being connected to the latter by single pivot-bolts 5. The said plates 4 are also formed with openings 6, one in each, that removably receive the upturned ends 7 of a yielding suspending yoke 8, preferably formed of wire and having a loop 9 at the center thereof to which the suspending cord 10 is attached. The opposite arms of the yoke 8 project downwardly at an incline to enter the openings 6 of the plates 4:, and thereby the loop 9 is positioned above the beveled edges 8 of the boards land 2. A continuous spring-yoke 11 embraces the upper parts of the boards 1 and 2, and has the legs thereof movably passing through staples 12 secured to saidboard, and the terminating ends of said legs bent in such direction, as at 13, as to prevent disconnection of the legs of the spring yoke 11 from the boards. The center of the said spring yoke 11 is coiled through the loop 9 of the yoke 8, and by this means,

said spring yoke is held in proper position relatively to the boards 1 and 2, and the function of the legs of the said spring yoke is to hold the boards 1 and 2 separated from each other and cause the same at all times to return to such position when the pressure or tension exerted thereon to draw said boards together is removed. To the bottom edge of the board 2, and at the center thereof, is secured a staple 14, and in like manner to the bottom edge of the board 1 is secured a staple 15; and to the said staple 14 is permanently secured the end of an operating cord 16, and loosely passed through the staple 15, said operating cord being of any suitable length to conveniently position the same in proximity to an operator.

In operation, the board 2 has a covering of adhesive substance, such as sugar, molasses,

or other material, applied thereto that will attract the flies, gnats, or other insects, and the latter being drawn to the said substance will light upon the back 2. The operator then grasps the cord 16 and giving the same a quick jerkcauscs the boards 1 and 2 to be drawn against each other, thereby crushing the flies or other insects that were attracted to the board 2. After repeated operations the flies or insects are removed from the board 2 by scraping the same therefrom, and the trap is again in condition for use, it being understood that it will be replenished from time to time with the material that is placed on the board 2 to attract the flies or insects.

It will be obviously apparent that the Ge vice can be made in any desirable size, and that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this in vention.

Having described claimed as new is 1. In a fly trap, the combination of two dethe invention, what is pending downwardly diverging boards or pieces of material hingedlyconnectedat their upper ends, a yoke forsuspending said boards or pieces of inateriaha spring yoke arranged transversely to the aforesaid yoke normally holding said boards apart from each other and automatically returning them to said position after they have been closed, and an operating cord secured to the lower end of one of said boards or pieces of material and loosely engaging the lower end of the opposite board or piece of material, whereby the said boards may be drawn together, substantially as described.

2. I11 a fly trap, the combination of two depending downwardly diverging hingedly connected boards having their lower ends normally spread apart from each other and suspended by their upper ends, a spring for holding said boards apart from each other, and an operating cord for drawing said boards together, substantially as described.

3. In a fly trap, the combination of two deending downwardly diverging boards with upper beveled ends arranged closely together and hingedly connected, a suspending yoke attached to the upper ends of said boards and having a central loop, a spring yoke loosely engaging the said boards in a direction transverse to the position of the aforesaid yoke and having a coil engaging the loop of said yoke, the lower ends of said boards being held apart normally, and an operating cord secured to the lower end of one board and loosely engaging the lowerend of the opposite board, whereby said boards may be drawn together, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. h

THOMAS A. TEATE.

Witnesses:

R. C. PARKHILL, J. H. J OHNSON.

Images