US572811A - Self-setting animal-trap - Google Patents

Description

m5 Model.)

. F. E. KRAUTH.

SELF SETTING ANIMAL TRAP.

Nq. 572,811. Patented Dec. 8,.1896.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS. I

. WITNESSES:

1:0 vuoroumou wnsumsmn o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

FERDINAND E. KRAUTH, OF HEB-RON, NORTH DAKOTA.

SELF-SETTING ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IEatent No. 572,81 1, dated December 8, 1896. Application filed July 16, 1896. Serial No. 599,352. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it kn own that I, FERDINAND E. KRAUTH, of Hebron, in the county of Morton and State of NorthDakota, have invented a new and Improved Self-Setting Animal-Trap, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. V

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved self-setting animal-trap which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and more especially designed for trapping mice, rats, gophers, and like small animals.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improvement with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combination gate and bait-receptacle.

The improved animal-trap is provided with a box A, made of wood, sheet metal, glass, or other suitable material, the box being provided with a longitudinal partition A, dividing the box into two compartments A and A of which the latter forms the entrance for the animals, and the compartment A finally receives and holds the imprisoned animals.

The two compartments A and A are connected with each other by an opening A formed in the lower part of the partition A, and this opening leads into a cylindrical casing B, made of sheet metal and extending into the compartment A the innerend of the casing being formed with prongs bent inwardly to permit the animal to pass through the easing into the compartment A but to prevent its return from the latter into the compartment A In the compartment A is arranged a longitudinally-extending trap-door 0, made L- shaped in cross-section and having its pivot I.) journaled in the ends of the box A, the pivot being located at the junction of the two members of the trap-door.

.The trapdoor extends from one end of the compartment A to within a short distance of the other end to permit of providing in this end of the compartment a sufficient space A for the bait-receptacle F, adapted to receive the bait.

The bait-receptacle F is secured or formed on the back of the feed-gate II, extending vertically in the compartment A at the inner end of the trapdoor O. The feed-gate II is f ulcrunied at its upper end at H to the sides of the compartment A and near the lower end is formed a lug or projection H adapted to form a rest for the lower member of the trap-door 0 when the latter is in an uppermost position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The feed-gate His formed with slots H which open into the bait-receptacle F to permit the animal passing along the trap-door to reach the bait. The bait-receptacle is formed in its outer side with slots F, visible from the outside of the box A through an opening A in the end of the box, as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement the bait in the receptacle can be seen by the animals to induce them to enter the trap to reach the bait.

Now by reference to Fig. 3 it will be see that the feed-gate H is free to swing outwardly whenever the animal pushes on the feed-gate in order to' reach the feed or bait contained in the receptacle F, and the animal in doing so forces the feed-gate to swing sufliciently far outward to move the lug H from under the lower-member of the trap-door O. In d0- ing so the trap-door O is caused to swing down ward to deliver the animal into the lower part of the compartment A from which the only outlet is the opening A connecting with the compartment A The animal thus trapped in the lower part of the compartment A in escaping therefrom passes into the compartment A to be finally imprisoned.

The top of the compartment A is preferably open, with the exception of that portion which extends over the space A and the front end of the said compartment is also open in its upper portion to permit the animals to readily pass up on thetrap-door 0, held in a set position by the lug H of the feed-gate, as previously explained.

The extreme lower portion of the feed-gate H is curved outwardly, so that the operator in resetting the trap-door 0 causes the feedgate to readily swing sufficiently outward to permit the lower member of: thetrap-door to pass the lug H after which the feed-gate swings back to bring the latter under the lower member of the trap-door.

A set-screw in the back of the box A serves to limit the upward swinging motion of the upper member of the trap-door O to insure a proper setting ofthe said door.

If the device is used for catching rats, the bottom of the box may be omitted and the trap set overapail filled withwater, so that door'O to the water to drownthe animals.

The compartment A ispreferably provided with a removable lid for removing the animals'imprisoned in the-compartment A The gate H and bait-receptacle are preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal, cut so as to permit of bending up the bottom, sides, and ends'of the receptacle, as will be readily understood by reference'to Fig. 4.

I-Iayin g thus described my invention, I claim asnew and desire-to secure by Letters Patent 1. Ananimal-trap, comprising. a box having two compartments, a passage establish. ing communication between the. compartmentsnear the bot-tom, a guard at said passage, in one compartment, an L-shapedtilting trap in the other compartment, having a weight to-return it to normal position, and-a gate pivotedadjacent to -the inner end of the trap, to swing in the verticaLplane, and having at the front sidean integral lug engaging and supporting the trap and at the opposite side an integral feed-box, the gate further having openings at said box, substantially as described.

ing two compartments, a passage establishin g communication between the compartments near the bottom, a guard at said passage, in one compartment, an L-shaped tilting trap in the other compartment, having 'a weight to return it to normal position, and a gate pivoted adjacent to the inner end of the trap, to swing in the vertical plane, and having at thefront side an integral lug engaging and supporting the trap and at the opposite side an integral feed-box, the gate further having openings at said box, and the box having an opening in its end-wall'at the feed- .box, substantially as describedthe animals-are delivereddirectly by the trapingtwo compartments connected with each other at their lower portions, a trap-door made L shape in cross-section and fulcrumed .in one of the said'compartments, afeed-gate provided with a bait-receptacle, access to which is had by slots in the said gate, the said feedgate-beingpivoted at its upper end 3. An animal-trap, comprising a box havin the said box and extending downwardly at the end of the said trap-door, the said jgate being for-med with a lug adapted teengage one endof the lower member of the trap-door to hold the latter in a set position, a set-screw in the said box to engage-the upper member of the said trap door topermit gof properly setting the. latter-relative to the isaid lug,.and a weighted handle on the up- .per member of the said trap-door, substantially as shown and described.

FERDINAND E. KRAUTH.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES WEIGEL,

A. H. CHASE.

2. A11 animal-trap, comprising a box hav-

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