Improvements in Targets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redferu & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Frederick Barnard Fetherstonhaugh, of Canadian Bank of Commerce
Buildings, Toronto, in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,
Engineer) to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to design a target whereby both the score and
the exact location at which the ball from the marksman's rifle strikes the target
may be accurately indicated on a marking target located in proximity to the
marksman and without the necessity of employing a man near the target to indicate
the score or position where the ball strikes the target and it consists essentially of
forming the target from the bull's eye to the outer edge of a series of independent
metal sections all of which are supported by pins extending through a metal plate
held on standards secured to a suitable base, the sections in each case being
connected to the pins by a ball and socket joint and all the faces of the several
independent metal sections being held flush with each other by spiral springs
extending behind shoulders formed on the metal pins supporting the sections and.
being arranged so that each section when struck by a ball recedes so as to bring the
inner end of one or more of the supporting pins into contact with the corresponding
spring jaw extending forwardly from the metal plate of corresponding shape to the
movable sections located directly behind it and further in providing mercury cups
which are supported behind each plate, the mercury in the cups being connected to
its correspouding plate by a wire and the bottom of the mercury cup having a
binding post extending through it into the mercury and connected by a wire to a
drop situated in the corresponding section on the marking target, the circuit being
completed in each case through the ground wire so as to cause a drop on the
marking target to fall corresponding to the section hit by the marksman's ball.
Dated this 20th day of December 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Frederick Barnard Fetherstonhaugh, of Canadian Bank of Commerce
Buildings, Toronto, in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Cauada,
Engineer,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the invention is to design a target whereby both the score and
the exact location at which the ball from the marksman's rifle strikes the target
may be accurately indicated on a marking target located in proximity to the
marksman and without the necessity of employing a man near the target to indicate
the score or position where the ball strikes the target and it consists essentially of
forming the target from the bull's eye to the outer edge of a series of independent
metal sections all of which are supported by pins extending through a metal plate

page_text: held on standards secured to a suitable base, the sections in each case being
connected to the pins by a ball and socket joint and all the faces of the several
independent metal sections being held flush with each other by spiral springs
extending behind shoulders formed on the metal pins supporting the sections and
being arranged so that each section when struck by a ball recedes so as to bring the
inner end of one or more of the supporting pins into contact with the corresponding
spring jaw extending forwardly from the metal plate of corresponding shape to the
movable sections located directly behind it and further in providing mercury cups
which are supported behind each plate, the mercury in the cups being connected to
its corresponding plate by a wire and the bottom of the mercury cup having a
binding post extending through it into the mercury and connected by a wire to a
drop situated in the corresponding section on the marking target, the circuit being
completed in each case through the ground wire so as to cause a drop on the
marking target to fall corresponding to the section hit by the marksman's ball as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view illustrating the operation and construction of my
target.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional detail through the upper corner section which is
shown partially broken away in Fig. 1.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A, is the outer face of the target which is divided into a number of independent
movable sections, a. The sections, a, may be made any suitable size, this of course
depending upon the size of the target.
P, is the marking target which is divided into sections, a¹, corresponding in
number and relative position to the independent movable sections, a.
It will be seen that what is termed the "bull's eye," C, the "inner," D, "mag-
pie," E, and «
outer," F, of the face of the target are each divided into a series of
these inwardly movable independent sections and that each section is supported
preferably by three pins, b, in the central metal supporting plate, H. The pins, b,
are connected to the back of the independent sections of the face of the target
by ball and socket joints, 6', behind which is formed on each pin a cylindrical
shoulder 63, which fits into a hole, i, of corresponding diameter made in the
supporting plate, H. The hole, i, extends rearwardly behind the shoulder, b³, and
the rear portion of the pin, b, extends rearwardly through the back of the
plate, H, as shown. I, I, are spiral springs encircling the pins, b, and extending
between the back of the hole, i, and the shoulder, b³.
It will be noticed on reference to Fig. 1, that the plate, H, in which the pins, b,
are placed is supported by standards, H³, which are secured to a base, H'. It will
also be seen that the insulating frame, K, is secured to the supporting plate, H,
and at a short distance in the rear of the same by bolts, provided with sleeves, k¹,
(see Fig. 1).
J, are spring jaws secured in the independent metal plates, K¹. I secure three
jaws in each metal plate, K. Each of these jaws, J, is located behind its corre-
sponding pin, b, which in its normal position is held at a slight distance in front of
the jaw, J.
Each of the sections, a, has a corresponding metal plate, K', located to the rear
of it, one or more than one of the pins in each section, a, being designed to come
in contact with one or more than one of the jaws, J, in the metal plates, K. The
metal plates, K', are supported in the frame, K, of insulating material which has
insulating strips located between each of the metal plates, so that all the metal
plates in the frame are entirely insulated from each other.
G, G, are mercury cups one of which I provide for each plate, K¹, and support
it in an eye, g, extending rearwardly from the metal plate, K¹. g', is a wire
extending into the metal plate at one end and the mercury in the cup, G, at the
other end. h, is a metal binding screw extending through the bottom of the
mercury cup, G, into the mercury.

page_text: I also
In order to clearly illustrate the operation of my invention I shall describe the
mode of automatic marking by reference to the upper right hand corner of the
target, which I have therefore shown in the drawing partially in section.
only show one complete circuit and one drop or insulating plate, L, on the marking
target as it will of course be understood that each of the movable sections is
connected with the marking target by a separate wire, M, and operates in the same
way, so as to throw down a drop or indicating plate on the correspondingly located
section in the marking target.
N, is the ground wire which is connected to a battery as shown. It will be
seen that should the ball strike the upper right hand section, a, the force of the
ball striking the section would cause it to recede inwarldy thus bringing the three
or one or more of the three pins, b, of that section into contact with the three or
one or more of the three spring contact jaws, J, on the corresponding metal
plate, K. Consequently the circuit is immediately completed and the electric
current passes through the ground wire, N, standards, H', supporting plate, H,
pin or pins, b, spring jaw, J, metal plate, K', wire, g', the mercury in the cup, G,
binding screw and through the magnet, n, of the drop or indicating plate, L.
The armature, l, of the indicating plate, L, is consequently drawn away by the
magnet, n, from the top of the extension arm, m, of the indicating plate, L, which
then drops, thereby immediately apprising the marksman of the exact location of
his ball on the target.
As intimated before in this Specification each of the movable sections, a, will
operate in the same way, the circuit being completed in each instance through the
ground wire, N, and one of the wires, M, and consequently the marksman may
have his shots quickly and accurately registered with less expense and danger
attendant thereto, than by the way now commonly in use by employing men with
marks situated in the trench below the targets.
It will of course be understood that if the ball should strike the face of the
target on the line or point of intersection between two or more sections of the
target, the sections struck by the ball will move inwardly so as to throw back one
or more of the pins of each of the corresponding sections held in the frame, K,
into contact with one or more of the jaws corresponding to them in the corre-
sponding rear metal plates. The circuit will now be completed through such of
the wires, M, which are connected to the metal plates corresponding to the
independent movable sections struck and the ground wire, N, so that the drops in
the corresponding sections in the marking target will fall and thereby indicate that
the target has been struck on a line or at the intersection of lines, this of course
depending upon whether two or three drops fall. If the former the ball would
have struck on a line between either the "bull's eye and inner mag-pie and
inner or "mag-pie and outer as the case may be or if the latter on a line at the
intersection of two of the sections in either of the scoring rings above mentioned.
As each section is held out by springs, I, away from the central plate, H, it will
readily be seen that after each shot striking a section it will immediately readjust
itself flush with the face of the target.
"
"
37 66
Another advantage of my target is its portability, as the standards, H', base, H2,
and the different portions of the frame may be readily taken apart and carried
from place to place.
In practice I form the marking target about two feet square in order that it
may be portable also, and therefore readily carried from butt to butt when
desired.
The target proper of course is formed about the usual size and in as many
sections as may be desired.
I am aware that it is not new to provide a target with inwardly movable sections.
The great difficulty experienced, however, heretofore with the inwardly movable
sections, is that they bind when the section struck joins with its adjacent section, if
the ball should hit that section on that side instead of in the centre of the section,

page_text: consequently the forms heretofore are very ineffectual. By connecting the sections
to the pins by ball and socket joints and slightly bevelling the edge of the section
as is the case in my construction I entirely obviate any risk of the sections binding.
The section when struck by the ball at the side moves inwardly at that side only
and thereby forms the connection by the piu or pins directly behind that side.
will of course be understood that if it is struck in the centre the three pins would
naturally form the connection or if struck at the side or edge one or more pins
would form the connection.
It
Another advantage which cannot be over estimated is the construction adopted
by having separate jaws insulated plates and wire and mercury cup for connecting
each pin to its separate wire as by this construction the electrical circuit is retained
in the mercury long enough to ensure the score being conveyed by the circuit to
the marking target.
It will also be noticed that on account of each section, a, being bevelled at each
edge from outside to inside, when the section is struck at one side the bevelled
edge at the opposite side allows the side struck to recede. The ball and socket
joints at the opposite side from that struck practically form a hinge and the bevel
being from outside to inside allows the side struck to work on the hinge without
any danger of the opposite side binding with the edge of its adjacent section.
It will also be seen that each section, a, has a serrated surface so that there
will be no danger of the ball glancing when it strikes a section, but its impact upon
the surface will be at a definite point thereby ensuring the inward moving of the
sections struck, so as to accurately register the score.
Having now-particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A target the face plate of which is composed of a series of independently
inwardly movable bevel-edged sections extending from the bull's eye which forms
one of the sections to the outer edge, each of the sections having a serrated surface
arranged as and for the purpose specified.
2. A target the face plate of which is composed of a series of independently
inwardly movable bevel-edged sections extending from the bull's eye which forms
one of the sections to the outer edge, each section of which is connected by ball
and socket joints to the pins, which form the connection to complete the circuit so
that when any portion of the section is struck by the marksman's ball it recedes
and completes the circuit by a separate wire to an indicating plate or drop on
the target, which is operated by the completion of the circuit as and for the
purpose specified.
3. A target. A, the face plate of which is composed of a series of independently
inwardly movable bevel-edged sections, a, which are supported by pins, b, con-
nected to the sections by the ball and socket joints ', and are held on and away
from the centre plate, H, and flush with each other by spiral springs, I, in
connection with the spring jaws, J, corresponding in number to the pins, b, and
through which the circuit is completed as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination of the target, A, the face plate of which is composed of a
series of independently inwardly movable bevel-edged sections, a, which are
connected to the pins, b, by a ball and socket joint at the end of each pin, all of
which pins are supported in the plate, H, the shoulders, b, formed on each pin, and
the spiral springs, 1, located behind the shoulders, 6, all of the pins being supported
in the plate, H, as and for the purpose specified.
5. The target, A, the face plate of which is composed of a series of independently
inwardly movable sections, a, which are connected to the pins, b, by a ball and
socket joint at the end of each pin and the spiral springs, I, designed to hold the
said sections flush with each other, in combination with the spring jaws, J, each
of which is located directly behind its corresponding pin and the wire or wires, M,
and ground wire, N, arranged as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 6. The target, A, the face plate of which is composed of a series of indepen-
dently inwardly movable sections, a, which are connected to the pins, b, by a ball
and socket joint at the end of each pin and the spiral springs, I, designed to hold
the said sections flush with each other, in combination with the spring jaws, J, each
of which is located behind its corresponding pin, the metal plates K', mercury
cup, G, the wire g', connecting the metal plate with the mercury in the cup, G,
and the binding screw, h, extending through the bottom of the cup into the
mercury, the wire, M, connecting the said binding screw, ht, and the ground wire, N,
to complete the circuit to the marking target as and for the purpose specified.
7. The target, A, the face plate of which is composed of a series of indepen-
dently inwardly movable sections, a, the pins, b, connected to the sections, a, and
the springs, I, supporting the sections flush with each other as specified, the spring
jaws, J, secured in the metal plate, K', and arranged as specified, the mercury
cups secured to the rear of the metal plates, the mercury being connected to the
metal plate K', in combination with the marking target, B, divided into a series of
sections, a¹, corresponding to the sections, a, forming the face of the target and
the indicating plates or drops, L, each of which is operated by the complete
circuit formed over the separate wire, M, and ground wire, N, as and for the
purpose specified.
1002
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.