ELECTRIC ANIMAL TRAP AND REACTIVATOR
Strikes the mouse repeatedly until it is exterminated and ejected.
The mouse enters a ramp and depresses a rockable platform, closing a circuit to a relay and a solenoid. The solenoid withdraws its armature, pulling a toothed striker arm backward so that its head hits the animal and knocks it into a compartment. A reactivator switch briefly breaks the circuit so a spring can return the arm to its cocked position. If the animal is not killed and touches the platform again, the arm strikes again, and the cycle repeats until the platform is cleared.
“If, on the other hand, the animal is not killed, it will again contact the platform and the striker arm is again swung inwardly and strikes the animal. The arm is periodically returned with a striking force until the animal is exterminated and ejected from the platform.”— Alfred G. Burns, from the specification
And the world did not beat a path to his door.