Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1888
I GEORGE HENRY HOCKEY of 34 Egerton Road Bishopston in the City and
County of Bristol gun maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to those appliances known as target throwers which
are commonly employed for impelling targets of various materials into the air to
serve as marks to be shot at in shooting practice. The improved thrower in which
this invention consists is constructed to afford a supply of targets to be fed in
succession to the thrower, and to be ejected therefrom in such manner that until the
said supply is exhausted, no necessity exists for an attendant to approach the thrower.
Fixed to the stand or base of the thrower is a shute, or reservoir inclined downwards
towards a receptacle fixed at that end of the thrower at which the targets are
discharged. In this reservoir are placed the targets. Pivotted at one end to the base
of the thrower is a horizontal arm acted upon by a spring and furnished at its free
end with a jaw which under the influence of a spring is in its normal position closed.
By means of a lever acted upon by an attendant through the medium of a cord, the
said arm is drawn back when the thrower is being set, and the jaw thereon is thereby
brought opposite the receptacle at the forward end of the shute, and the arm is held
The lever by which
in this position by a spring pawl, or catch, or equivalent device.
the arm is set is provided with an arm which when the lever is operated to set the
arm acts on the jaw to open it. Fitted to the shute are two valves or stops, the
arrangement is such that in the normal position of the valves the leading target which
has by gravitation presented itself at the forward end of the shute, is prevented from
issuing therefrom by the upper valve or stop, engaging with the valves is a lever
which when the arm is being set is acted upon by it to withdraw the upper valve
The
from the shute, and insert the lower valve, the leading target advancing to it.
lever by which the arm is set is now permitted to be withdrawn under the influence
of a spring, and the jaw closes on the target lying in the receptacle. By pulling a
cord connected with the spring pawl or equivalent device by means of a link fastened
to the base of the thrower by a screw passing through a slot, and which when the
pull is direct moves in the slot, and which when the pull is exerted from an angle

page_text: becomes a lever having the screw for its fulcrum, the attendant frees the arm, which
rebounds, and coming into contact with a buffer or check, imparts to the target the
desired motion. The valves in the shute now return under the influence of a spring
to their normal position, and the leading target is thus permitted to issue from the
shute and drop into the receptacle in position to be grasped by the jaw at the next
motion of the arm, the remaining targets are prevented from issuing with the first
by the upper valve or stop, the arin is then again drawn back, and the process repeated
until the supply of targets in the reservoir is exhausted. Instead of in a shute the
targets may be placed on a revolving tray pivotted to the base of the thrower and
connected with the lever or arm in such manner that at each motion of the said lever
or arm the tray is revolved through a space sufficient to bring the targets in succession
in the necessary position to be grasped by the jaw. The base or stand of the thrower
is pivotted on a table or bed, so that when the said table or bed is held stationary, the
base or stand carrying the thrower may by means of cords passing round pulleys be
turned through
a variety of angles, for the purpose of discharging the targets in
various directions at the will of the attendant.
Dated thi. N
1.
1007

page_text: I GEORGE HENRY HOCKEY of 34 Egerton Road Bishopston in the City and
County of Bristol Gun Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to those appliances known as target throwers which
are commonly employed for impelling targets of various materials into the air to
serve as marks to be shot at in shooting practice. The improved thrower in which
this invention consists is constructed to afford a supply of targets to be fed in
succession to the thrower and ejected therefrom in such manner that until the said
supply is exhausted no necessity exists for an attendant to approach the thrower.
Fixed to the base or stand of the thrower is a shute or reservoir inclined downwards
towards a receptacle fixed at that end of the thrower at which the targets are fed.
In this reservoir are placed the targets. Pivotted at one end to the base of the
thrower is a horizontal arm acted upon by a spring, and furnished at its free end with
a jaw, which under the influence of a spring is in its normal position closed. By
means of a lever acted upon by an attendant through the medium of a cord the said
arm is drawn back when the thrower is being set, and the jaw thereon is thereby
brought opposite the receptacle at the forward end of the shute, and the arm is held
in this position by a spring pawl, or catch, or equivalent device. The lever by which
the arm is set is provided with an arm which when the lever is operated to set the
throwing arm acts on the jaw to open it. Fitted to the shute are two valves or stops,
the arrangement is such that in the normal position of these valves the leading target
which has by gravitation presented itself at the forward end of the shute is prevented
from issuing therefrom by the upper valve or stop. Engaging with the valves is a
lever which when the arm is being set is acted upon by it to withdraw the upper
valve from the shute, and insert the lower valve, the leading target advancing to it.
The lever by which the arm is set is now permitted to be withdrawn under the
influence of a spring, and the jaw closes on the target lying in the receptacle. By
pulling a cord connected with the spring pawl, or equivalent device by means of a
link fastened to the base of the thrower by a screw passing through a slot therein,
and which when the pull is direct moves in the slot, and which when the pull is
exerted from an angle becomes a lever having the screw for its fulcrum, the attendant
frees the arm which rebounds, and coming in contact with a buffer or check, imparts
to the target the desired motion. The valves in the shute now return under the
influence of a spring to their normal position, and the leading target is thus permitted
to issue from the shute and drop into the receptacle in position to be grasped by the
jaw at the next motion of the arm, the remaining targets are prevented from issuing
with the first by the upper valve or stop. The arm is then again drawn back and the
process repeated until the supply of targets in the reservoir is exhausted. Instead of
in a shute the targets may be placed on a circular revolving tray or ring pivotted to
the base of the thrower and connected with the lever or arm in such manner that at
each motion of the said lever or arm the tray or ring is revolved through a space

page_text: sufficient to bring the targets in succession into the necessary position to be grasped
by the jaw. The base or stand of the thrower is pivotted on a table or bed, so that
when the said table or bed is held stationary, the base or stand carrying the thrower
may by means of cords passing round a turntable, and through guides on the said
table or bed be turned through a variety of angles for the purpose of discharging the
targets in various directions at the will of the operator.
Referring now to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings Fig. I. is a side
elevation of my self feeding target thrower, Fig. II. is a plan thereof. Supported at
the front by the stay, a, and connected at the rear to the receptacle, b, is a shute, c,
in which are placed the targets, d, which are to be ejected from the thrower to serve
as marks to be shot at, a throwing arm, e, pivotted at one end to the base or stand,,
is furnished at its free end with a jaw, g, the finger or tailpiece of which renders it
capable of being automatically opened by engagement with the extended arm, k, of
the cocking bar, h, this arm, e, being drawn backwards by the cocking bar, 7, by
pulling the cord, h¹, passing round the pulleys, h², and, h³, and so bringing the arm,,
to bear on the throwing arm, e, the latter engages with the spring pawl or catch, j,
the cocking bar, h, is furnished with a second arm or extension, k, which while the
bar is being drawn backwards to set or "cock" the throwing arm, e, operates the
jaw, g, to open it. Fitted to the shute, c, are two valves or stops, 1, and, t, which in
their normal position are held as shown in the drawing with the valve, , within the
shute, e, by the pull of the spring, m, the valves are operated by the lever, n, when
the throwing arm, e, is being set or cocked by the cocking bar, h, immediately prior
to its engagement with the spring pawl or catch, j, it engages with the lever, n,
which operates the valves, 1, and, l, to withdraw the valve, 7, from the shute, c,
and insert the valve, l, therein, thus permitting the targets, d, to advance by their
own gravitation to the valve, l. The throwing arm, e, having now been engaged by
the pawl, j, and the jaw, g, situated at the free end thereof having thus been brought
into contact with the rim of the target, d, lying in the receptacle, b, the cocking
bar, h, is allowed to withdraw itself under the influence of the spring, o, the jaw, g,
is thus relieved, and closes firmly on the rim of the target, d, actuated thereto by the
spring, o', the tension of the spring, o', is regulated by the set screw, p, the throwing
arm, e, is conducted horizontally to its correct position in relation to the target, d,
by means of the guides, q, and, q¹. The pawl or catch, j, fixed to the base or stand,
has an upward pressure exerted on it by the spring, ". To discharge the thrower the
operator pulls the cord, s, attached to the slotted link, s¹, connected by a cord wire or
chain to the pawl, j, and so frees the throwing arm, e, which under the influence
of the mainspringt rebounds to its extended position as shewn in the drawing, and
coming in contact with the check or buffer, 0, ejects the target forcibly from the
jaw, g, imparting thereto the desired flight. The link, s¹, is free to be turned about
the pin, t, moving in its slot when the pull is direct, but becoming a lever having
the pin, t, for its fulcrum when the pull is exerted from an angle, thus enabling the
operator to disengage the spring pawl, j, from the throwing arm, e, when the thrower
is at various angles, when the throwing arm, e, is freed the lever, n, is relieved, and
the valves, 1, and, l, are permitted to return to their normal position as shewn in the
drawing, the leading target is thus allowed to issue from the shute, c, and drop in a
horizontal position into the receptacle, b, ready to be grasped by the jaw, g, at the
next motion of the throwing arm, e, and the insertion of the valve into the shute, c,
presents an obstacle to the second and remaining targets issuing with the first. To
allow an increased number of targets to be placed in the shute, c, it may be extended,
preferably in a spiral form. The base, f, is hinged at, u, to a turntable, u², which is
pivotted to the table, v, which when the thrower is in use is held stationary. On the
front side of the table or bed, v, are guides, v', and, v², through which and round the
turntable, u, are passed the cords, w, and, w¹, anchored to the back of the turntable
at, w, it will be obvious that by pulling the cord, w¹, the base, f, will move to the
right, and that if the cord, w, be pulled the base, f, will move to the left, hence the
targets may be discharged in various directions at the will of the operator. By
raising or lowering the base, f, by means of the screw elevator, a, the horizontal

page_text: flight of the targets is regulated. Until the supply of targets in the shute, c, is
exhausted, no need exists for the operator to approach the thrower, bence a more or
less rapid succession of discharges is obtained without the necessity of handling the
thrower after each discharge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) In a target thrower the use of a shute, tube, or, channel, such as, c, connected
with a receptacle such as, b, and fitted with valves or stops such as, l, and, l, actuated
through the medium of a lever such as, n, by the operation of which, when the
throwing arm whereby the targets are discharged is set or cocked, the targets are fed
one at a time to the jaw on the said throwing arm, and the handling of the appliance
until the supply of targets is exhausted is rendered unnecessary, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
(2) In a target thrower the use of a cocking bar such as, h, pivotted to the base
of the thrower and arranged to be drawn back by the operator through the medium
of a cord for the purpose of setting or "cocking "the thrower, and acted upon by a
spring whereby the bar is withdrawn after the thrower is set, substantially as herein-
before described.
(3) In a target thrower the means for releasing the arm by which the targets aro
discharged, consisting of a slotted link such as, s¹, connected by a cord, wire, or
chain such as, s2, to the pawl, 7, so as to enable the operator to release the throwing
arm when the thrower is at various angles, substantially as hereinbefore described.
(4) In a target thrower the combination of a table, v, having pivotted thereon a
turntable such as, u¹, carrying the base of the thrower, and fitted with cords, w,
and, w, passing through guides such as, v', and, ², whereby the base or stand carrying
the thrower can be moved on its axis to the right or left by an operator holding the
opposite ends of the cords, substantially as herein before described.
(5) In a target thrower the use of an automatic jaw such as, g, having a finger,
or tailpiece, and capable of being operated by the cocking bar, h, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
(6) In a target thrower the use of a circular revolving tray or ring carrying the
targets, and having thereon a ratchet engaging with a lifter attached to the cocking
bar, h, in such manner that at each motion of the said cocking bar the tray is revolved
through a space sufficient to feed the targets in succession to the jaw, g, on the
throwing arm, e, substantially as herein before described.
(7) The combination of parts constituting the self feeding target thrower arranged,
and operating, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 15th dow of Tune 1000