Fish and Rat Trap Page: 3 of 3
[1], 2 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this patent.
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1,191,124
ends of the shanks 33 while a line 35 is se-
cured to the lower free end of the spring
17 and to the said connector 34 and extends
above the frame 13. The shanks 33- lie in-
5 wardly of and in the same plane as the
frame 13 when the trap is set.
With the device suspended in the water
by means of the rope 24 with the shaft 10
substantially upright, the spring 17 is ex-
o tended with the trip plate 18 arranged ten-
sioned against the shoulder 20 with its edge
21 beneath the trigger end 25 and the bait
29 positioned beneath the frame 13 and be-
tween: the spaced hooks 33, it being under-
5 stood that the catching members 31 when
outstretched are substantially balanced upon
the journals 14 when the connector 34 and
the line 35 are in their slackened positions
when the trap is set. A slight nibble upon
o the bait 29, such as by a fish 37, agitates the
line 28 pulling the same downwardly and
shifts the trigger 22 upon-its pivot 23, which
consequent movement of the trigger end-25
slightly laterally, will disengage the end 25
5 from the plate end 21 thus releasing the
spring 17. The contraction of the spring 17
gives a sudden impulse to the line 35 and the
connector 34, thus elevating the inner end of
the shanks 33 above the frame 13 and bring-
0 ing the prongs 33 downwardly toward each
other catching and impaling the fish 37
thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the draw-
.ings.
It will thus be seen that an inexpensive
s fish trap is arranged which may be easily
set and which is sprung at any slight nibble
or bite upon the bait arranged adjacent the
catching prong.
What is claimed as new is
0 1. A trap comprising a shaft, a curved
arm at one end thereof having a perforationtherethrough, an operating spring having
one end attached to the opposite end of the
said shaft, a rectangular frame carried by
the said arm in a plane perpendicular to the 45
said shaft, said shaft having a lateral shoul-
der, a pivoted trigger upon the shaft adjacent
the said shoulder having an offset pointed
end, a trip plate having one end attached to
the other end of the said spring and.seated 50
against the said shoulder when the spring is
expanded with the trap in its set arrange-
ment with the pointed end of said trigger
positioned overlying the said opposite end
of said plate, a line carried by said trigger, 55
a hook upon said line depending through
said arm perforation, bait attached to the
said hook beneath the said frame, fish en-
gaging members trunnioned at the opposite
ends of the said frame and flexible oper- 60
ative connectors between the said spring
and engaging members.
2. A trap comprising a shaft having a
curved terminal lower end forming an arm
and a suspending eye at its opposite end, a 65
shoulder formed upon said shaft at the same
side thereof as the said arm, an operating
spring attached at one end to the said eye,
a trip plate flexibly attached to the other
end of said spring, the said shoulder being 70
adapted for the abutting reception of said
plate when the spring is extended, a bait
carrying trigger pivoted to said shaft be-
tween said shoulder and arm in tripping en-
gagement with said plate when the trap is 75
in its set arrangement,. trunnioned pronged
catching members supported by the. said
arm and a connector between the said spring
and catching members in slackened arrange-
ment when the trap is set. 80
In testimony whereof I affix my signature.
JOHN W. COTTON.Copies. of this -patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,
Washington, D. C."0
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Cotton, John W. Fish and Rat Trap, patent, July 11, 1916; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth858059/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.