ANIMAL TRAP

A snap trap distinguished chiefly by a groove in its underside.

PatentUS 1,488,475

PatentedApril 1, 1924

InventorGeorge H. Crawford

OfMiddletown, New York

Patent drawing of a rectangular wooden-base rat trap showing a wire loop striker hinged at a central bridge, flanked by coiled torsional springs, with a wooden trigger and bait hook mechanism at one end, plus detail cross-sections of the trigger and spring assembly. — click to zoom

A wire striker is folded back against torsional springs coiled around a central bridge, and a trigger-rod holds it down in the set position. The rod's end rests in a metal-lined boss on a hinged wooden trigger carrying the bait. The mouse presses the trigger; the boss releases the rod; the springs throw the striker across the base. The spring legs and bridge ends are bent into a groove on the underside so the trap lies flat.

“By lining the recess 29 with the hollow boss 30 of the strip 26, the recess is adapted to withstand wear, and the contact of the end of the trigger-rod with the metal of the boss is nearly frictionless in respect to the release movement thus rendering the release action extremely sensitive.”— George H. Crawford, from the specification

And the world did not beat a path to his door.

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