Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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'~In a trapping device for the harvest of fur-bearing animals, it
~;~' known to have a snare cable depending from the spring to freely
embrace the travelling animal's neck and tighten quickly: In
this invention, a steel rod is secured to the spring such that
they extend parallel when the spring is compressed, and perpend-
icular when the spring is tripped. The top end of the rod is
used as a brace for an end of the snare cable where they are at-
tached by inserting the cable through a hole and clamped by an
aluminum ferrule. The bottom end of the rod, which extends a few
inches below the attached spring, is used as a stake for posi-
tioning the set snare. The spring is drawn back towards the
steel rod, manually, by his or her awn strength and a steel safe-
ty hook attached to the rod is used to grasp the spring's shaft.
The top of the spring is made into a loop that encircles a groved
slot. The cable attached to the rod passes through the loop, fits
into the slot; and is held by a steel ferrule under the pressure
of the spring. Once the stake end is pushed into the ground or
snow with the snare positioned properly, the safety hook must be
removed to allow the spring to "fire" when the cable is jerked
by the snared animal. A chain attached to the rod is used to
fasten this device to a tree or other object to advoid being
carried off. The option of a steel clip attached to the top of
the rod may be designed for easy replacement of the snare cable.
This invention relates to a trapping device for.the harvesting of
furbearing animals.
It is common in devices for snaring furs to hang thin cable
shaped in a circular noose on paths to be followed by animals.
These "free hanging" snares are wired to solid objects such as
trees c,Q:~ stakes. It is, of course, necessary that the snare
closes tightly around the neck for a quick: dispatch. Snares of
this tyke are, however, inefficient because the tightness of the
cable only relies on the force of the animals fighting strength
which usually produces a slow and inhumane kill. A slow dispatch
can mean damage to the pelt, thievery from noticed movement,
diffj~lcult skinning from fluid build up, loss of catch from snare
breakage, and,.moreover, unnecessary suffering. To overcome the
"free hanging" snare's slow killing inefficiency, it is known
that a spring operated snare is made and used. This spring will
release after an animal is caught and tighten quickly and force-
fully for a quick death. A snaring device of this spring type,
is however, unsatisfactory because of diffl~lculty in both setting
and placement of spring. This double long; armed spring compress-
es to form an oval shape with a rounded bottom which needs add-
itional wiring or staking to maintain q_ firm and upright positio~l~
It is, moreover, awkward and unsafe to handle for the trapper as
the spring will fire open in two opposite directions simultane- .
ously which makes it dangerous and diffulc:ult to set.
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I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by provid-
ing a rod secured to a single action spring. The single action
spring fires or releases in one direction which can easily be
pointed away from oneself during the setting process. This one
way spring action is, moreover, beneficial when the trapper is
bent over adjusting the snare as it could accidentally fire down-
ward but less likely to spring towards one's head or teeth. The
steel: rod extends past the bottom of the spring working as a
stake for efficient and firm placement of snare in an outdoor
trapping situation. The stake end, also, assists as a prop in
supporting the spring during setting.
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In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Figure 1 is an elevation of the "drawn" or "set" form of the.
complete invention, Figure 2 is a "released" or "fired" form
of this same embodiment, Figure 3 is an enlargement of the top
partly in section of this embodiment.
The trapping device illustrated comprises a rod H which may be .
formed from mild steel, as shown or may, if designed, be made
from cold rolled steel or completely replaced with a bar or
metal tubing. Also, the rod H may be bent in a cresent as shown
in Figure l, or may, if designed, remain straight. The spring G
is made from spring steel which has a coil I made proper for the
distance the spring travels and force needed. At it's both ends
or arms, the spring G is looped into rings. The spring has a
longer arm and a shorter arm. The longer arm acts as a snare
tightener and the shorter arm is secured to the angle iron K by
bolt J. The angle iron K is secured to the lower portion of
rod H by welding. The bottom portion M of rod H acts as a stake
for securing of the invention. The chain N is fastened around
the rod H, as shown or may, if designed, be attached to a hole
drilled in the angle iron K.
An aluminum ferrule A embraces one end of the snare cable to the
rod H by passing through a hole B as shown in Figure 3. The
cable extends through the loop C and slotted groove at the end
of the spring G. The slotted groove is cut into the flat edge
of a D-shaped metal that is secured to loop C by welding or braze,
The steel ferrule D which is crimped on the cable acts as a stop-
per against the slot to hold the spring from releasing after the
safety hook F is unlatched. The noose E is formed using an
aluminum ferrule making a snare by wrapping the end of the cable
around itself and into the ferrule as shown in Figure 3.
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rr
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:"
1. A spring-loaded trapping device for the capture and dispatch=
ing of animals, comprising a rod, a spring that is set by the
trapper and released by the caught animal, and a snare cable
that works as a noose.
2. A device as defined in claim 1, in which -the spring applies
pressure as tightening the snare after the cable and it's ferrule
are released from a groove by the jerking of the animal.
3. A device as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the rod
has a safety hook that latches over the set spring during hand-
ling to advoid accidental firing. This hook must be unlatched
later so the spring can fire as described in claim 2.
4. A device as defined in claim 1 and claim 2, in which a steel
chain is attached to for securing against loss.
