ANIMAL AND BIRD TRAP
A cage held open until the occupant pulls the wrong string.
A hinged cage sits open on its base, propped by pivoting upper and lower supports joined by hook-shaped catches. Flexible members run from the catch into the interior of the cage, where bait in a box at the far end draws the animal in. The animal disturbs a flexible member; a coil spring disengages the hooks and a tension spring snaps the cage down onto the base. Hook-ended wire locking members on the base engage tapered portions of the cage sides and hold it shut.
“The flexible members 32, may be attached to and located inside the said cage and led or extended to any desired parts thereof, so as to be located in the way of the said animal or bird, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, of the accompanying drawings.”— Daniel Gonzalez, from the specification
And the world did not beat a path to his door.