Improvements in Targets for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
Improvements in Targets for Rifle Practice.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, of 234 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention which relates to targets for use in rifle practice has for its object
to provide simple and inexpensive apparatus for carrying two targets and bringing
the one into position for firing whilst simultaneously depressing the other out of
view behind the usual marker's mantelet.
The invention also comprises improved means for supporting interchangeable
targets of different sizes on the framing of the apparatus which presents them
alternately to view.
The targets are supported each upon posts on an open frame of angle iron or
other material pivoted at the ends of two parallel bars at each end which bars are
centred on horizontal shafts carried in bearing brackets on a stationary framing or
on standards.
The parallel bars carry the pivoted target frames in vertical planes, and the
upper of the two bars carrying the one target is keyed on the upper horizontal
shaft, the lower bar being loosely centred on the lower shaft; whilst of the other
two parallel bars carrying the second target the lower one is keyed on the lower
shaft and the upper fitted loose on the upper shaft.
The pairs of parallel bars at each end of the target frames thus cross or meet
each other at the ends of the shafting, and form two independent articulated
frames for carrying the targets, the target bearing ends of which are fitted to pass
In order
each other by making one set of parallel bars shorter than the other.
that one target may be brought and held up as the other is brought down and there
held, and that one may counterbalance the weight of the other, a wheel or wheels
or pulleys are keyed on each shaft, the pulleys having secured to or passed round
them a rope or chain after the fashion of the letter S or figure 8; or the shafts
may be otherwise geared together so that by turning either shaft the one target is
raised and the other lowered simultaneously. Suitable catches adapted to be
readily disengaged by the attendant are or may be provided for holding the target
frames in the upper and lower position.
In order that the target frames may be better adapted for supporting targets of
different sizes when required, the end posts are pivoted on the target frames and
when a small target is used its end posts are fitted in sockets in the frame and the
pivoted end posts are brought to bear at their upper ends against the sides of
the posts of the target, being there secured by pins or cords passed through the
main target frame.
Doted this 17th day of May 1895

page_text: Improvements in Targets for Rifle Practice.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, of 52 West Nile Street, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, Iron Merchant, 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, which relates to targets for use in rifle practice, has for its
object to provide simple and inexpensive apparatus for carrying two targets and
bringing the one into position for firing whilst simultaneously depressing the other
out of view behind the usual marker's mantelet.
The invention also comprises improved means for supporting interchangeable
targets of different sizes on the framing of the apparatus which presents them
alternately to view.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being a front
elevation shewing the targets in their normal positions, i.e. with one of the targets
raised; Fig. 2 is a plan of same and Fig. 3 a side elevation shewing in dotted lines
the relative positions of the targets when passing each other.
As shewn the targets A, A1, are carried upon posts B, B', which are supported
upon open frames C, C', of angle iron or other material pivoted at C2, C3, to the
ends of two parallel bars D, D₁, at each end of the target frame, which bars are
centred on horizontal shafts E, E', carried in bearings F, F, on a stationary framing
or on standards G.
The parallel bars D, D', carry the pivoted target frames in vertical planes, and
the upper bar D of the two bars D, D¹, carrying the one target A is keyed on the
upper horizontal shaft E the lower bar D₁ being loosely centred on the lower
shaft E', whilst of the other two parallel bars D, D', carrying the second target A¹
the lower one D¹ is keyed on the lower shaft E¹ and the upper one D fitted loose
on the upper shaft E.
The pairs of parallel bars D, D', at each end of the target frames A, A', thus
cross or meet each other at the ends of the shafting, and form two independent
articulated frames for carrying the targets A, A', the target bearing ends of which
are fitted to pass each other by making one set of parallel bars D, D', shorter than
the other. In order that one target may be brought and held up as the other is
brought down and there held, and that one may counter-balance the weight of the
other, a wheel or wheels or pulleys H, H', are keyed on each shaft E, E', the
pulleys H, H', having secured to or passed round them a rope or chain I after the
fashion of the letter S or figure 8; or the shafts E, E', may be otherwise geared
together so that by turning either shaft the one target is raised and the other
lowered simultaneously. Suitable catches, J such as shewn, adapted to be readily
disengaged by the pressure of the foot of the attendant are or may be provided for
holding the target frames in the upper and lower position.
In order that the target frames may be better adapted for supporting targets of
different sizes when required, the angle iron frames are formed with catches K as
shewn or the end posts are pivoted on the target frames and when a small target is
used its end posts are fitted in sockets in the frame and the pivoted end posts
are brought to bear at their upper ends against the sides of the posts of the
target, being there secured by pins or cords passed through the main target
frame.
In the event of either target being disabled, the rope or chain I may be removed
from the pulleys H, H', and the target worked in the same way as a single
target.

page_text: 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. A. target for rifle practice constructed and arranged to operate substantially
as described.
2. An interchangeable target composed of two sets of parallel bars and target
frames carried upon parallel shafts so geared or coupled and counter-balanced that
the act of depressing one target frame effects the raising of the other, substantially
as described.
Dated this 17th day of February 1896.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.