Humane Self-Setting Animal Trap (Patent No: 895064)

Inventor: Fisher, Arthur M.

Location: Slave Lake

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A humane self-setting animal trap comprising: an inner jaw and an outer jaw; the said jaws copivotal upon one continous rod; each said jaw forming a loop interconnected between its respective pivot points by, in the case of the said inner jaw, a member formed for the positioning and operation thereon of a trigger midway between the said pivot points; the said inner jaw formed also to provide space for the sleevable positioning upon the said continuous rod of a coiled spring between each of the respective said pivot points of the said inner jaw and the respective said pivot points of the said outer jaw; the said inner jaw and the said outer jaw being biased towards closed trap position by constraint of extended arms of said coiled springs, the said extended arms ... being prolonged and formed to engage with and interconnect the respective longitudinal members of the said outer jaw and of the said inner Jaw; the pivot points of the said outer jaw interconnected by a member reverted with respect to the said longitudinal members of the said outer jaw to permit the said reverted member to become engaged by the said trigger; the said trigger biased towards the said engagement by a spring interconnecting the said trigger with one of two stops, one said stop on each side of said trigger, to contain the plane of axial displacement of the said trigger; the said trigger formed to provide a detent and, adjacent said detent, to intercept the said reverted member and permit the spring-biased said trigger to react and then engage with the said reverted member; the portion of the body of said trigger extending oppositely the said detent, with respect to the pivotal axis of the said trigger, prolonged to overlap the axis of a bait holder pivotal about the said continuous rod whereby coaction between the said bait holder and the said overlapping portion, being contiguous with the said bait holder, can be exerted against resistance from the said bias spring of the said trigger at one side of the last said axis or, alternatively, at the opposite side of the last said axis whereby the said coaction must effect an anti-clockwise displacement of the said trigger indifferently as to which side of the said axis of the said bait holder the said coaction is applied; the said bait holder prolonged towards the said inner jaw, the said prolonged embodying a pan together with means of impaling bait; upward pulling upon said bait causing the said bait holder to pivot anti-clockwise and downward pressure upon the said pan causing the said bait holder to pivot clockwise; displacement of the said bait holder, clockwise, or anti-clockwise, causing the said trigger to disengage from the said reverted member and permit the said inner jaw and the said enter jaw to close together with lethal force by the combined constraint of the said coiled springs; a safety latch copivotal with said trigger and adjacent the one of the two said stops positioned at the opposite side of the said trigger to the stop interconnected with the said trigger by the said bias spring; said latch having a detent notch to engage the said reverted member when said jaws are open with the said trap in "set" position, and a second detent notch to engage said reverted member when the said jaws are in closed position for transportation; a spike pivotal adjacent each opposite end of said continuous rod and contained each by a pin through a hole through said continous rod; means of securing said trap in set position to any suitable surface or object.

2. A humane self-setting animal trap as defined in Claim 1 which is set to operate by opening the said jaws in opposition to the said coiled springs far enough for the said jaws to become locked in the said operating position by engagement of the said reverted member with the said trigger; the said trap operated by the clockwise or, alternatively, anti-clockwise pivotal displacement of said bait-holder; the reaction of the said trigger to either the said clockwise or anti-clockwise displacement being to pivot anti-clockwise and thereby from the said reverted member; the said reaction being effected by the transpivotal contiguity of the said prolongation of said trigger body with the said bait holder whereby an impulse invariably in the said direction is applied to the said prolongation irrespective of from which of the two opposite sides of the axis of' the said pivot of the said bait holder the said directional impulse is applied by and through the said bait holder.