ANIMAL-TRAP.

A jaw released by trigger, arm, cord, and pulley, in sequence.

PatentUS 365,763

PatentedJune 28, 1887

InventorCharles Richard Swan

OfBois Brule, Missouri

Patent drawing of a wooden box animal trap with a spring-loaded upper jaw held by a cord-and-pulley trigger mechanism, shown in perspective with a rat entering the open end, plus front and sectional views labeling the uprights, springs, jaws, trigger, and bait hook. — click to zoom

The animal enters an open-ended box and pulls bait secured to the lower hooked end of a trigger. The trigger disengages a pivoted arm, which releases the eyed end of a cord running over a pulley. The spring-loaded upper jaw slides down its slotted uprights onto the lower jaw. Serrated gripping-plates hold and cut the animal; with weaker springs, the jaw instead forms a door and the animal is caught alive.

“The trap may be used for all sizes of animals, being made of a suitable size for the animals intended to be caught in it, and it may be used on land as well as in the water or on the water, and if larger animals are to be caught in it, it may be secured to firm objects by means of cords or chains attached to staples 19 upon the box.”— Charles Richard Swan, from the specification

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

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