IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR THROWING OR PROJECTING BALLS OR OTHER BODIES TO BE SHOT AT IN PLACE OF PIGEONS OR OTHER BIRDS, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED WITH THE SAID TRAPS OR APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Williams at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1877. A communication from
abroad by Ira A. Paine, of New York, in the United States of America.]
JOHN WILLIAMS, of the Firm of Williams and Powell, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Gun Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING TRAPS OR
APPARATUS FOR THROWING OR PROJECTING BALLS OR OTHER BODIES TO BE SHOT AT
IN PLACE OF PIGEONS OR OTHER BIRDS, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED WITH THE
SAID TRAPS OR APPARATUS." [A communication from abroad by Ira A. Paine, of
New York, in the United States of America.]
The said Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the
said spring traps or apparatus, by which improvements they are rendered simple
in construction, and are durable and efficient in use. The said traps or apparatus
also possesses the further advantages that the ball may be thrown in any direction
or angle, and its elevation or height varied at pleasure.
The said Invention consists further of the appliances herein-after described to be
used with these improved traps or other spring traps.
The spring arm of the trap by which the ball is thrown or projected consists of
one or more steel rods or strong pieces of wire, one end of the arm being formed
into a circular loop or seat on which the ball is supported, and the other end being
bent or coiled into a belix, the said helix or coil constituting the spring of the
throwing arm of the trap. By means of connecting pieces near the helical spring
described, the spring arm is secured to the front end of a wooden or other bar
forming the support or body of the trap, Near the said front end of the bar or
body a forked guide and stop is situated; between the branches of this forked
guide the spring arm works. In the said forked guide a series of pairs of equi-
distant holes is made, in any pair of which holes a cross or stop pin may be passed
and fastened. By means of this stop pin the height to which the connected or
spring end of the arm can rise, and consequently the height to which the ball sup-
ported on the said arm can be thrown or projected may be regulated. To the rear
end of the wooden bar or body described, the bottom of a spring catch is jointed,

page_text: by which the spring arm is held in its compressed state for discharge. The head of
this lever catch is inclined on opposite sides, and has shoulders at each side of the
stem. Under one of these shoulders the free end of the spring arm engages, and
under the other shoulder a coiled spring bears. When the spring arm is brought
into a horizontal position to set the trap the free end of the said arm presses back
the lever catch, the coiled spring being compressed; and when the spring arm bas
passed the locking shoulder the said lever catch springs or snaps upon the said
arm and holds it down for discharge. The spring arm is released and the ball
thrown or projected by means of a cord or wire fastened to the head of the lever
catch, the said cord or wire passing through guides at the rear end of the block
supporting the spring arm.
For the purpose of setting the trap at different angles to the screen herein-after
described so as to vary the direction of the flight of the ball, the bar or body
carrying the spring arm and other parts is pivotted or centred to a bed plate or
block. Upon this pivot or centre the trap may be moved through any required
anglo, and afterwards fixed in any required position by means of a spring bolt
in the trap taking into one of a series of holes arranged in a circle in the
bed plate.
When it is wished to change the position of the trap with respect to the bed
plate or screen it is only necessary to lift the spring bolt described, when the
trap is released and may be turned through any angle on the bed plate, and
again fixed by the spring bolt engaging in that hole in the bed plate over which it
has been brought.
In front of the trap a screen is stretched or supported for the purpose of con-
cealing the trap, and thereby preventing the shooter from observing its position.
The said screen is preferably made of waterproof fabric, and may be conveniently
supported or stretched in front of the trap by means of strong metal pins or rods
driven into the ground, but other means may be adopted. The cord or wire by
which the spring arm is released passes through a hole in the said screen.
Instead of making the hollow glass or other balls or spheres to be thrown by the
trap described, or other traps, smooth or plain on their surface as usual, according
to another part of this Invention, the said balls or spheres are made with facets or
flattened parts whereby the said balls receive the full force of the shot, and the
breakage of the ball is ensured; or the surface of the balls may be corrugated
or otherwise made rough or covered with a network or other pattern for the same
purpose.
Another part of this Invention consists in making the balls used with the
improved spring traps or other traps of plaster of Paris or other composition or
material of a non-vitreous character. In using the ordinary glass balls the frag-
ments of glass which are produced by the breaking of the ball are dangerous to
children and cattle. By the use of the said plaster of Paris or other non-vitreous
balls this danger is avoided. The said non-vitreous balls may either be made
with facets, or with a pattern, or roughened, or they may be plain, as there is
not the same tendency in the shot to glide from their surface as in the case of
glass balls.