Improvements in Artificial Flying Birds or Targets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Flying Birds or Targets.
I, FRANCIS ARTHUR HALLSWORTH ATHERSTONE, Warwickshire General
Practitioner in Medicine do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The target which 1 employ (hereinafter called the "bird,") is constructed of
steel, tin, or other metal, or may be made of clay, pitch, charcoal, asphalte, biscuit
or other brittle material, & consists of a flat piece of substance cut or made into a
shape resembling a pigeon with wings partially expanded. Six or more holes are
made in the bird, of which three are situated at the corners of an imaginary
equilateral triangle with apex downwards and in them are fixed three strings
which meet and are fastened together at a point in front of the flat body of the
bird, somewhat like the attachment of the strings of an ordinary boy's kite.
In two of the other holes strings are fixed, meeting a little behind the body of
the bird, and at this point a small ring is placed, through which the string runs.
The other hole is situated in the tail of the bird, and will be referred to
afterwards.
If required, I have four or more slits made in the wings of the bird, in which
bands of elastic or other material can be placed; or I have three or more clips
fixed to the bird to answer the same purpose, which is to keep in position a flat
piece of baked clay, biscuit, or other material of brittle nature placed on the back
of the bird, to give evidence of its being struck by the shot when fired at.
I fix the bird by a few yards of thin water-cord or twine to six or seven yards,
more or less, of elastic cord, by means of a light swivel: the other end of the
elastic cord I fix to an upright post which is fixed in the ground.
I also employ a trigger, or catch, for holding and setting free the bird, fixed on
a short post which is stuck in the ground at the place from which the bird is to be
started. This trigger consists of a piece of iron rod, or wire, bent into a shape
somewhat resembling a V, and working on a pivot fixed to the starting post. The
end of the trigger is made to pass up through a hole in a flat slab of wood or other
material fixed to the top of the starting post.
A cord is attached to the trigger so that when the cord is pulled horizontally,
the trigger descends through the hole in the slab.
There is also fixed to the starting post a straight piece of iron rod, or wire, a
few inches long, which projects horizontally in the direction of the flight of the
bird this rod is to fit into the hole in the tail of the bird, so as to steady the latter
at its start.
To use the bird, I have it pulled towards the starting post, till I can slip the
ring (which is attached to the cord at the back of the bird) over the end of the
trigger as it projects up through the slab. Here it is held, till released at will by
the pull of the trigger, when, as soon as freed, it flies forwards and soars more or
less gradually upwards like a pigeon.
I am aware that an invention has been made, in which a bird, shaped more or
less like an ordinary pigeon, is pulled by elastic along wires, but my invention does
not have the direction of flight controlled at all by wires, but is dependent upon
certain natural laws, including the principle of the common kite.
Dated this 24th day of November 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Flying Birds or Targets.
I FRANCIS ARTHUR HALLSWORTH, of Atherstone, in the County of Warwick,
Surgeon, 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 relates to improvements in artificial birds or targets, and in the
apparatus by which they are made to represent flight.
I have appended hereunto an illustrative sheet of drawings upon which are
figures and also letters of reference, similar letters referring throughout the several
views to the same thing or part.
Fig. 1, shows a general view of the apparatus when the artificial pigeon or target
is held in tension ready for release.
Fig. 2, is a detailed view of the back of the pigeon or target, Fig. 3, is a side
view, and Fig. 4, is a plan view in detail of the said pigeon or target.
Fig. 5, is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus showing the pigeon or
target and the manner of its being held and then released for flight.
Fig. 6, is a side view and Fig. 7, a front view in detail of a modification in the
trigger arrangement employed for holding and releasing the pigeon or target.
a, is the pigeon or target, which may be constructed of any suitable material
capable of being made into the required shape; preferably I make it of metal of
a shape somewhat resembling a pigeon with wings partially expanded. Three holes
are made at b, c, and d, by means of which the three cords or wires e, f and g, are
secured to the said pigeon, which meet and are secured together at ring h,
somewhat like the attachment of the strings of a boy's kite. i and j are holes made
in the pigeon by which the cord or wire k, is secured to the said pigeon, and which
may terminate with a ring . A. further hole is made in the tail of the pigeon
at m, which is intended to slide freely upon the guide wire or rod n, which is fixed
to the post o.
p, is a piece of baked clay or other fragile suitable substance which
is secured to the back of the bird, and which may be readily broken and thus give
evidence of being struck by the shot when fired at. This fragile plate I further
cover with a piece of paper of any desirable colour, and which is loosely laid
thereon, or may be gummed thereto, so that should the bird be struck with shot,
such shot marks will be visible upon the paper independently of the breaking of
the plate. This plate p, is secured over the hole q in the body of the pigeon; and
may be fastened or held in such position in various ways, the way I have shown
being suitable for such purpose, in which the clips r, are cut or slit from the metal
body and then pushed up and bent as shown so that underneath them the plate p
may be passed. Or, if desired similar clips may be secured by solder or otherwise
to the body plate to receive the plate p. At s I provide the turn fastening, so
that when the plate p, is placed in position the fastening s may be turned round
and secure it firmly in such position. The said fastening is shown in dotted lines
as being turned to the one side to admit of the plate being placed, see Fig. 2.
This plate is made preferably to rest upon three points upon the plate a, which lie
immediately beneath r, ", and s, so that a space exists between it and the said
plate a. o, is the starting post, which is driven into the ground, and to the top of
which is secured the trigger u, which is jointed to the said post at v, and whose one
end w passes through a slit or hole in the plates x, x, and whose other end
secured to and by the pull cord z. a', is the "far" post which for convenience of
transit &c., is made in two or more parts and secured together by the upper part
passing into the ferrule a², upon the lower part. To the upper end of this post is
now secured by means of a spring hook & swivel, the one end of the elastic cord
or coiled spring a³, to the other end of which latter I secure the one end of the
thin water or other cord a', by means of a swivel a³, so that rotation of the one can
У

page_text: take place if necessary independently of the other cord. The other end of the
cord at, can be now secured by one of the hooks to the ring h, upon the pigeon or
target.
Its arrangement and use will now be understood:-The short post o, is fixed
firmly in the ground about a foot high. The cord, is extended to any desired
distance say about 25 yards, and near to the shooter. The tall or far post which
is about 8 feet high is now fixed at a distance of say about 30 yards from the
short one.
The elastic cord a³ is now secured to the tall post and the pigeon is
pulled until the ring or cord at is secured by the trigger as shown in Fig. 5.
Upon the signal being given the cord z is pulled and thereby the pigeon or target
is released, which now by the pull of the elastic cord takes a course of flight due
to the said pull, its riding upon the air in an inclined position, and its yet captive
retention by the cord. As the pigeon is leaving the post o the guide wire or rod n,
serves an important function, that of steadying the flight at the start.
As before intimated, Figs. 6 and 7, are views of a modified arrangement of
trigger action in which the said trigger is carried in the centre of the post instead
of at the side thus giving it a neater appearance and at the same time giving greater
protection from damage.
Usually a signal board of ordinary construction, is used in combination with
such apparatus, which is pulled over just preceding the release of the trigger, so
that when a number of traps are set, that particular one which is about to be
released, can be indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An artificial bird or target consisting of the plate (bird) a, having an all
through central hole g, which is covered by the fragile plate p, and the indicating
paper substantially as described and shown.
2. The combination in an artificial bird or target with the plate a, and fragile
piece p, of the retaining cord or wire l, and the pull wires or cords e, f and
constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The combination of the parts constituting the retaining and releasing
mechanism, that is to say, the combination with the fixed post o, of the trigger w,
and the guide wire or rod n, constructed and operating as and for the purposes
specified.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts as herein described and shown,
whereby the artificial bird or target secured to the far post a', in a captive
condition, and giving thereto a range of flight which is practically uncontrolled
(within the limits of the cords), by the release of the holding mechanism, sub-
stantially as described and shown.
Dated this 20th do C M1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.