Improvements in Targets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets.
WILLIAM PATERSON, Watchmaker, 270, Paisley Road, South Side, Glasgow,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is
The face is flat and movable, is made either square or oblong or round.
made in three sections (or more) viz. outer, inner and bull. The outer is composed
of eight pieces; the inner 4 pieces; the bull one piece. To each piece is fixed a
lever running horizontal about 3 inches and then bent at right angle to about
6 inches. At the lower end about 2 inches from the bottom it is supported by a
fulcrum attached to a metal plate behind. Below the fulcrum is attached upon the
lever, a connecting rod at right angles which passes through the metal plate behind
the face and 2 upright standards the first of which is slotted to admit of the rod
having some play while the other about an inch apart is simply pierced to allow the
rod to pass through. The two standards being connected with a mechanism of
clockwork which is the automatic arrangement of the machine.
Action. When the shot strikes any part of the face, the piece so struck is forced
back upon the metal plate behind and remains and show a blank space and
consequently the part the bullet reached. Simultaneously the lever is thrown forward
at the lower end and draws with it the connecting rod. By this means the rod is
withdrawn from the bore in second standard and falls immediately in front of it.
It presses against the standard forcing it back a little which releases the break in
clockwork that turns round a cam wheel that acting on a lever forces up the first
or slotted standard until the rod again is level with the bore which it enters and
locks the clockwork. The pressure being then removed the piece of the face which
had been struck falls into position again by its own weight and is ready for the
next shot.
1000
WILLIAM PATERSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets.
I, WILLIAM PATERSON, of 270, Paisley Road, Glasgow, South Side,
"Watchmaker," 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 what are, known as self-indicating
targets, and it has for its object to make such targets more efficient and at the same
time simpler in their action than heretofore.
The face of the improved target is flat and is made up of movable sections.
66
It may be made either square oblong or round as desired. It is, preferably, made
in three or more sections viz. "Outer," Inner," & "Bull." The "Outer" is,
preferably, composed of eight pieces; the inner of four pieces; the bull of a single
piece. To each piece is fixed a lever which runs horizontally and may then be
bent at right angles. At the lower end the lever is or may be supported, behind, by
a fulcrum attached to a metal plate. There is or may be attached to the lever, at
right angles, a connecting rod which may pass through metal plates or through
standards behind the face. The first of the plates or standards is slotted to admit
of the rod having some play while the second, which may be about one inch away
from the first, is simply pierced to allow the rod to pass through. The plates or
D

page_text: standards are or may be connected with suitable clockwork mechanism for auto-
matically replacing the section struck by a shot; or this may be done by a hand
lever or equivalent arrangement.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings whereon:--
Fig. 1 is a side view of my automatic self-indicating target.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the target on the line b-b Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line a-a Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the target.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views.
Fig. 10, Sheet 2, is a side view of a slightly modified arrangement of the target.
Fig. 11 is a plan of the target Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a front view of the target with protecting plate broken away.
Figs. 13 and 14 are front and side views of a target. The target is shown fitted
to the wall of a drill-hall or other place.
Fig. 15 shows a modification.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals wherever
repeated indicate similar or like parts,
€6
1, is the face of the target which is made up of movable pieces 2, 3 & 4.
The piece 2 represents the Bull's eye," the four pieces 3 represent the "Inner"
and the eight pieces 4 the "Outer." If desired there may be an additional ring of
pieces to represent the "Magpie." 5 is the shield or protecting metal plate which
may be of any convenient or desirable size and is or may be fitted to a casing or
box 17. The box 17 may have sliding sides 17ª so that the mechanism of the
target may be easily inspected. The sides 17" are removed in Fig. 1, but are shown in
place in Figs. 2 and 3. The sides slide in grooves formed by the metal binding
pieces 18 and the cut out portions 18" of the top and bottom of box 17. Fitted to
each of the pieces forming the face of the target is a lever 6. The levers 6 are, in
the arrangement shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4, straight for a part of their length and
are then passed through slots or openings 7 in the shield 5 (see Fig. 2) and bent
downwards. At or about the lower extremity of the bent part the levers are
fulcrumed to the shield on the inside. The fulcrums 8 are shown in dotted lines at
Fig. 4 and in full lines at Fig. 2. To each lever 6, at any suitable point in its length,
is attached, preferably, at right-angles, a connecting rod 9. The rods 9 may be
pinned or otherwise jointed to the levers 6. The dotted lines, at 10, Fig. 4 and full
lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 show the positions of the joints. The connecting rods
extend backwards and pass through slots or holes 14, 15, in two plates or standards 11
and 12. The standards or plates may be the full breadth of the target, as shown
at Figs. 2 and 3, so that the rods 9 may pass straight from the levers through them,
or, they may be narrow as shown, broken away, in the detail views Figs. 6 and 7,
in the latter case the side rods must be bent inwardly as indicated in dotted lines
at 9 Fig. 2 so as to get them to fit into the slots 14. The rods 9 are cut away or
nicked at their underside as shown at 13, Figs. 1, 6, and 7, so that when one of the
sectional pieces of the target is struck by a shot and driven back by the force of
the concussion, the rod 9 will pass through the slots and catch in the plate or
standard 11 in the manner shown at Fig. 6. The slots 14 and 15 are, normally
directly opposite one another, but the slots 14, although they may be shorter, are on
a slightly higher level than the slots 15. The normal position of the plates and slots
is indicated at Figs. 1 and 6. The plate or the standard 11, is pivotted at the top
and bottom in small bearings at 16, see Figs. 1 and 2, so as to turn or swing
horizontally through a small arc. The amount of swing of the plate is regulated by
a forked bracket 19 at the opposite side of the plate from the pivots. The plate or
the standard 12, is capable of sliding vertically in small forked brackets or
equivalent 20 secured to the top and bottom of box or casing 17. Fitted or secured
at 21 to the plate 11 are two rods or wires 22 and 23. The wires 22, 23, when
plates 11 and 12 are used, may pass through openings 24 in them, and, in the case of
narrow plates or standards, they may be bent round their edges. The plate or

page_text: standard 12 rests on top of a bent wire or lever 25. The wires and the plates are
operated by any suitable clockwork mechanism.
On the drawings I have shown, by way of illustration, a clockwork arrangement
it consists of the usual coil spring 26 and gear wheels and pinions as shown in full
lines at Fig. 1 and dotted at Fig. 2. The spring 26 actuates the wheel 27 which.
operates the pinion and wheel 28. The wheel 28 operates the pinion and wheel 29
which, again, by intermediate gear, operates the pinion 30 and fly 31. On the
spindle carrying the fly 31 is a brake disc 32 having cut in it two nicks, 33, opposite
one another. At certain times, as hereinafter described, the wire 22 catches in one
or other of the nicks and so stops the clockwork. On the wheel 28 is a cam 34
(see enlarged detail Fig. 8) having two flat faces or straight parts. Projecting from
the underside of the cam or the wheel are two pins 35, shown dotted Figs. 8 and 9.
At certain times, as hereinafter described, the inner end of the wire 25 is pushed
down by one of these pins, and, as said wire turns on the bearing 36 as a fulcrum,
the opposite end on which plate 12 rests, at these times, is lifted up. The wire 23
passes on to the upper side of the wheel 28 and bears against the cam 34 whilst
the wire 25 passes under the wheel 28 and is, at certain times, as aforesaid, borne on
by the pins 35.
37 is the spindle for winding up the clockwork.
The cover plate 38 of the clockwork has fitted on to it a spring 39 which bears
against the wire 22. The plate may also have a part cut out at 40 to let the bent
down end of the wire 23 bear against the cam 34.
The modified form of target, shown at Figs. 10, 11, and 12 Sheet 2, instead of
being operated by clockwork is operated by a hand lever (not shown) which is
normally so held, preferably in a notched guard or catch arranged in any suitable
position that the wire or cord 41 is kept taut and the target is held in vertical
firing position shown at Fig. 10. The target is supported on a frame 42 having two
cross tie bars 43, 43, the bars are indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 10. The upper
bar 43 is fitted at each end into the top of the side frames 42 whilst the lower bar 43
may be fitted in the cross bars 44 of said frames 42. The bars 43 may be held in
place by a screw or bolt 45. The vertical supporting standards 46 which are
preferably squared at their lower ends pass through corresponding square
openings 47 made in both bars 43, 43" and can be adjusted, vertically, by means of
pins 48 (Fig. 11), attached by chains or equivalent to the tie bars, which are passed
through holes in the lower bar 43ª (or it may be the upper bar 43) and through
holes 49 (shown dotted Fig. 10) in the standards 46. Pinching screws may be used
instead of the pins 48 if so desired. The shield 5 of the target has two forked or
other brackets or snugs 50 at its back. Into these brackets or snugs the upper bent
ends of the standards 46 are pivotted or jointed by means of pins 51. The
joint or pivot 50, 51, allows the shield 5 and with it the target, 1, to swing or move freely.
To prevent the target swinging too far back a catch or stop, 52, is rivteted to the
standard 46. In this arrangement, Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the movable sections or pieces
of the target face are, preferably, surrounded by a box or casing 53 made of pieces
(or it may be of a single piece) of metal rivetted or otherwise secured to the
shield 5. The box 53 is shown broken at Fig. 10 and the top is broken off in order
to show the levers 6 at Fig. 11. The levers 6, in this arrangement, are connected
to the pieces or sections as before but instead of being curved or bent downwards
and fulcrumed to the back of the shield as at Fig. 1, they pass straight through the
shield and the back plate 54 (this plate corresponds to the plate 12 Figs. 1, 2 and 3).
The back plate 54 is immovable being rigidly attached by bolts 55 to the shield 5.
If desired the levers 6 may be bent down at right angles at the back of the plate 54
as indicated in dotted lines at 6". To the lower end of the shield 5 a rod 56 may be
fitted to which the wire or cord 41 is attached. The levers 6 which are of
rectangular or equivalent section are passed loosely through corresponding holes in
the shield 5 and back plate 54 and are cach capable of sliding backwards when
the particular section to which each lever is attached is struck by a shot. One
of the levers is indicated in its back position in dotted lines in Figs. 10 and 11. To

page_text: prevent the levers coming too far forward stops 57 are provided or if the levers are
bent down the bent portions 6ª may serve this purpose.
In Figs. 13 and 14 a target similar to Fig. 10 is shown fitted to a wall 58. The
levers are shown enclosed in a casing 59 at the back. The shield is pivotted,
similar to Fig. 11, to projecting arms 60, one at each side, made in one piece with or 5
attached to a frame 61 secured to the wall. One or both arms 60 may carry a stop
or rod 52. Fitted to the back of the shield 5 and connecting it with the frame 61
is a spring 62. Attached to the rod or arm 56 at the bottom of the shield is a
cord 41 passing over a pulley 63. This target is capable of swinging on the
pivots 50. It is kept in its normal vertical position by the spring 62.
The small view at Fig. 15 shows a lever 6 which has an arm 64 fulcrumed, at 8,
to the back of the shield 5. The section 2 is counterbalanced by the small
weight 65. This arrangement of lever is a combination of the arrangements
Figs. 1 and 10. The dotted lines show the lever in its back position after being
struck by a shot.
The modus operandi of my invention is as follows :—
In the arrangement Sheet 1, when a shot strikes any one of the sections or pieces
of the target, the section and lever 6 connected therewith, is, by the force of the
concussion forced into the position shown at Fig. 5. When the section is so forced
back it indicates to the marksman, by the blank space on the target face, the
precise position on the target that the shot struck. The forcing back of the lever 6
pushes back the connecting rod 9 through the slots 14 and 15 in the plates or
standards 11 and 12 and so that the toothed or cut out part 13 of the rod catches in
the plate 11 as shown at Fig. 6. The tendency of the section to fall back by its
weight into its original position exerts a pull on the connecting rod 9 and toothed
part 13.
As a consequence of this the plate or standard 11 is pulled forward,
turning on the pivot 16, and pulls the rods or wires 22 and 23 outwards. When
the brake rod or wire 22 is pulled outwards it is lifted out of the nick 33 in the
disc 32 and the force of the spring 26 is thus set free to actuate the clockwork.
The revolutions of the train of wheels turns round the wheel 28 until one of the
stops 35 press on the end of the rod 25 so lifting up the other end and with it the
plate 12.
The lifting up of the plate 12 brings the connecting rod 9 up to such a
height that the tooth 13 is lifted out of the slot 14 and the section then falls back
into place. The falling back of the section allows the spring 39 to force in the
rod 22 and so swing the plate 11 to its normal position. The rod 23 attached to
the plate 11 is thus brought into contact with the cam 34, and, as the wheel 28
revolves the rod 23 will, in time, come to the straight part of the cam (see Fig. 8)
when the rods 23 and 22 will be free to be pushed so far inwards by the spring 39
that the rod 22 will catch in a nick 33 of the brake disc 32 and so stop the
mechanism and prepare the target for another shot. The curved surfaces of
cam 34 prevents the rods or wires 23 and 22 from being pushed by the spring 39
far enough inwards as to stop the mechanism until the proper time.
In the modified arrangement Fig. 10 Sheet 2 instead of the clockwork operating
the sections they are brought to the firing position by merely letting go the wire or
cord 41, when, as the target is not balanced, it falls forward by its own weight as
indicated by the dotted line, X, X, and the section then by gravity, falls again into
place.
In Figs. 13 and 14 the action is reversed from Fig. 10, the target being held in the
normal firing position by the spring 62 and when a shot has been fired and a section
forced back it is brought again to the firing position by pulling the cord 41 which
causes the target to be inclined to the position X, X, Fig. 14 and the section will
then fall into place by gravity as before. 66 is a stop to prevent the target falling too
far over and also to cause a slight concussion sufficient to shake the sections into
place should they stick in the back position.
The target Figs. 13 and 14 may be turned upside down and the cord be passed
along the ceiling or roof of the building. So also may the target Fig. 10 be
reversed, the rod 56 and cord 41 being attached to the upper end of the plate or
1

page_text: shield 5, as shown in dotted lines, in this case the wire or cord 41 could pass over a
pulley 63.
In the target Fig. 1 the action of the rods and plate 11 may be reversed the
tooth 13 in the rod 9 being cut the opposite way so that it will push back the
plate 11 instead of drawing it forward. The rods 22 and 23 and connections would,
in this case, be at the opposite side of cover plate 38 and brake disc 32.
Parts of my improved target may be slightly altered if necessary without
departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
consider novel and therefore desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. A self-indicating target so constructed that when a shot strikes any part of
the face the part so struck is forced back and shows a blank space until such time
as the piece struck is allowed to fall again into its place by its own weight,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. A face-indicating target constructed substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the several figs. on Sheet 1 of the drawings annexed.
3. The modified constructions of face-indicating targets, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the several figures on Sheet 2 of the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 13th day of March 1891.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.