An Improved Race Starter.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Race Starter.
DAVID LEWIS 386 Berridge Road, Nottingham County of Nottinghamshire,
Assistant Superintendent a communicated invention from James Lewis Grey-
town N. New Zealand Farmer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means for enabling horse, foot, cycle and
similar races to be started without the competitors having to depend upon the
sound of a pistol, fall of a flag, or other similar means now in use as a starting
signal.
According to this invention as communicated to me, there is stretched across
the course one or more elastic bands which are attached to supports at one side
of the course and are each connected by a catch arrangement to similar supports
at the other side of the course, so that when the catches are operated, the band
or bands are released and spring across the course clear of the competitors.
For handicap races there is one or more bands stretched across the course at
each starting position, and the catches holding the various bands are so connected
together that all the bands can be released simultaneously.
Instead of the elastic bands previously mentioned, bands of metal silk, cotton,
or other suitable material may be used, such bands being connected to coiled or
other metal springs which pull the bands across the course when released from
the holding catches.
Dated this 14th day of June 1895.
W. H. POTTER, Wh. Sc.,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.
DAVID LEWIS 64 Bridge Street, Macclesfield Assistant Superintendent, late of
386 Berridge Road, Nottingham Nottinghamshire a communication from James.
Lewis Greytown N. New Zealand, Farmer 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 improved means or appliances for starting horse, foot,
and other races, the object of the invention being the provision of simpler and more
effective means for starting races than the means hitherto used.
According to this invention the means used comprise elastic bands which are
stretched across the course in front of the competitors; the bands being firmly
attached to fixed posts at one side of the course and to catch arrangements at the
other side of the course the elastic bands flying across the course when the catches
are operated. For handicap races elastic bands are stretched across the course at
the starting points of the handicapped competitors and the catches holding the said
bands are all connected so that the several bands can all be released at the
same time.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. is an elevation of an arrangement for starting competitors from the
same mark.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3. is an elevation of a starter for handicap races, and
Fig. 4. is a plun of the same.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 posts a and b are fixed at the sides of
the course in front of the starting line, and the post b is provided with hooks c
which are so shaped that the elastic bands & may be readily attached and detached
but are prevented from falling off the same. On the post a there is an axle d
working on centres which are carried by the brackets e and on this axle there are
two arms which are slightly bent to hold the free ends of the bands k. To the
axle d is attached a third arm g, which, in conjunction with a catch lever his used
for holding the parts in the position shown ready for starting a race the elastic
bands being of such a length, and strength that when the lever his operated to
release the axle d the bands will fly across the course clear of the competitors.
With this arrangement there may be one or more bands and by placing the axles d
horizontally so that the arms fmove in a vertical plane the width of the bands
may be presented to the competitors. In all cases all the catches may be so
connected as to be liberated simultaneously, or if the bands are released separately
one or more may be used as signals to prepare to start, and the last band released
as a signal to start the race.
The
In the handicap race starter shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the elastic bands o are
attached at one side of the course to hooks carried by posts similarly to the hooks c
and posts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The other ends of the bands o are carried by
arms P of cranked levers which are pivotted to brackets on the posts m.
cranked levers are held in the position shown, ready for starting a race by passing
the arms through rings s which are carried by the cord t. One end of this cord
is connected to an elastic band which is attached to a fixed post while the other
end of the cord is attached at x to another post n and is held as shown by a hook u
and the bent end v of a catch lever w. When the lever w is operated to start the
race the end is drawn through the hook u and the elastic loop r then pulls up the
cord t until the rings s pass over the ends of the levers g, which are then pulled by
the bands o until these latter are released from the levers p and fly across the
course.
The elastic bands herein referred to are preferably of the best quality and vary
in width according to the conditions of the course and object for which the starter
is used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed -as communicated to me,
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An apparatus for starting horse, foot and other races in which one or more
elastic bands are stretched across the course at the same or different positions
with a tension sufficient to cause the bands to spring across the course when
released and are held stretched by means of suitable catches so arranged that all
the bands may be released at the same time, as herein described and for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of March 1896.
W. H. POTTER, F.S.P.A.,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.