ANIMAL-TRAP.

A spring-driven spear staked into the ground over the burrow.

PatentUS 563,682

PatentedJuly 7, 1896

InventorClarence L. Parker

OfLos Angeles, California

Patent drawing of a spring-actuated spear trap staked into the ground with a two-pronged fork, showing the coiled spring, setting lever, wire trigger with curved feelers, and the spear shaft in both set and sprung positions, including a scene of the trap having impaled a small animal. — click to zoom

A two-pronged fork anchors the device in the earth beside an animal's hole, with a spear held retracted in a grooved stock by a setting-lever and coil spring. Forked wire feelers extend from the trigger into the path of the hole. The animal presses against the feelers as it emerges; the trigger disengages the lever and the spring drives the spear forward, transfixing the animal. A ferrule striking shoulders in the stock limits the spear's travel.

“I have shown my trap as set in the ground, but it is obvious that it will work anywhere when properly supported and located in the path of an animal.”— Clarence L. Parker, from the specification

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

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