Low impact animal trap utilizing offset jaw legs

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An animal trap of the leghold type having low impact force in, which the means for lessening the impact force of the jaws comprises an escapement in which one leg of each jaw is offset inwardly toward the other at one position thereof and a cross bar through an eye in the spring, biasing the jaws towards the closed position which passes between said, one leg so that when the trigger is released the spring moves along the leg to close the jaws until it reaches the offset portion of the legs where-, upon the direction of travel of the legs is momentarily reversed and when the spring passes the offset portion the jaws resume their original direction of travel to close with reduced impact.