MOUSE AND RAT TRAP

Adds a second lever so setting the trap cannot break fingers.

PatentUS 2,160,717

PatentedMay 30, 1939

InventorOlin R. Booth

OfCainsville, Missouri

Technical patent drawing of a wooden rectangular mouse/rat trap base with a wire holder loop, coiled central spring, bait bar with latch, and a pivoted safety lever for raising the bait bar, shown in multiple views including hands operating the trap. — click to zoom

The user swings a sheet-metal retainer into position and pulls back the spring-loaded holder loop with the right thumb. The holder loop engages the retainer's tail piece and swings it under the latch, holding the spring cocked. The left hand then depresses a pivoted bait-bar-raising element, which lifts the bait bar into set position while the same hand supports the trap. The right hand may then be removed entirely from the vicinity of the spring.

“The left hand L is then used to depress the portion 38 of the bait raiser element B and to support the trap as shown in Figure 3. This causes the latch 20 to positively retain the holder loop retainer A so that the right hand can then be removed from the trap and the trap is entirely and safely supported in the left hand.”— Olin R. Booth, from the specification

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

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