Improvements in Pigeon Traps and Trap Pulling Devices.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pigeon Traps and Trap Pulling Devices.
I, JORDAN LAWRENCE MOTT, Jr., residing at No. 17 East 47th Street, in the
City and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Pigeon shooting is often indulged in for obtaining accuracy of marksmanship
upon a moving object, and in traps that have heretofore been employed for holding
pigeons and liberating them, difficulty has been experienced in protecting the bird
from stray shots, and in liberating the bird in such a manner as to insure its
immediate flight.
In the present invention a plate is provided upon which the bird is placed, and
this plate has a slot in it and is above a box, and a hood or cover is pivotted to the
box in such a manner that it can be swung up out of the box and turned down over
the bird, and this cover is preferably of metal, and provided with slots at the far
side through which light passes freely to the bird, and there is a bolt for holding
the hood in position and a finger that is used to press down the back edge of the
hood and cause it to swing by gravity down into the box and strike forcefully
against the under side of the plate or cover immediately, below the bird and cause
the same to fly up, and the openings being in the distant side of the hood, the bird
will usually face the light and hence fly away from the marksman. A spring is
made use of to hold the cover and prevent it rebounding as it swings down into
the box.
From the bolt and finger, cords, wires, or wire ropes lead to the office or club
room where the starter is located, and such cords or ropes are connected with key
levers, and there is a cylinder with projecting pins that act upon the key levers to
withdraw the bolts, swing the hoods, and liberate the birds. This cylinder is
usually turned by a ratchet wheel, pawl and hand lever, and it is advantageously
placed in a desk or other enclosing device, and the pins are arranged upon the
cylinder so as to either set off two traps simultaneously, or to set off the traps in
any desired order. Usually five traps are provided, and the mechanism being out
of sight the attendant cannot indicate to the marksman the order in which the
traps will be sprung or set off.
:
find it advantageous to place upon the cylinder pins in longitudinal ranges aud
in peripheral ranges, the pins themselves being screw threaded and inserted into
the holes in the cylinder in whatever order may be desired, and the cylinder can
be moved endwise upon its shaft to bring the desired ranges of pins into action.
This can be done automatically by providing a concave plate with crossing grooves
similar to screw sections, and placing upon the cylinder a long pin with a switch
upon the end to travel in the grooves of the concave so as to move the cylinder
along from one end towards the other, and then the switch being turned by the
cam-shaped ends of the grooves, such switch moves the cylinder along in the
opposite direction to the place of beginning.
It is advantageous to enclose the bolts and fingers and the cords or wires so as
to protect them and also to pass such cords or wires around pulleys where they
pass from a horizontal to a vertical position in the desk or enclosure for the
mechanism.
Dated this 4th dow of Anuil 1005
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Pigeon Traps and Trap Pulling Devices.
I, JORDAN LAWRENCE MOTT, Jr., residing at No. 17 East 47th Street in the
City and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
Pigeon shooting is often indulged in for obtaining accuracy of marksmanship
upon a moving object, and in traps that have heretofore been employed for holding
pigeons and liberating them, difficulty has been experienced in protecting the bird
from stray shots and in liberating the bird in such a manner as to insure its
immediate flight.
In the present invention a plate is provided upon which the bird is placed, and
this plate has a slot in it and is above a box and a hood or cover is pivoted to the
box in such a manner that it can be swung up out of the box and turned down over
the 'bird, and this cover is preferably of metal, and provided with slots at the far
side through which light passes freely to the bird, and there is a bolt for .holding
the hood in position and a finger that is used to press down the back edge of the
hood and cause it to swing by gravity down into the box and strike forcefully
against the under side of the plate or cover immediately below the bird and cause
the same to fly up, and the openings being in the distant side of the hood, the bird
will usually tace the light and hence fly away from the marksman. A spring is
made use of to hold the cover and prevent it rebounding as it swings down into
the box.
From the bolt and finger cords, wires or wire ropes lead to the office or club
room where the starter is located, and such cords or ropes are connected with key
levers, and there is a cylinder with projecting pins that act upon the key levers to
withdraw the bolts, swing the hoods and liberate the birds. This cylinder is
usually turned by a ratchet wheel, pawl and hand lever and it is advantageously
placed in a desk or other enclosing device, and the pins are arranged upon the
cylinder so as to either set off two traps simultaneously or to set off the traps in
any desired order. Usually five traps are provided, and the mechanism being out
of sight the attendant cannot indicate to the marksman the order in which the
traps will be sprung or set off.
I find it advantageous to place, upon the cylinder pins in longitudinal ranges and
in peripheral ranges, the pius themselves being screw threaded and inserted into
the holes in the cylinder in whatever order may be desired, and the cylinder can
be moved end wise upon its shaft to bring the desired ranges of pins into action.
This can be done automatically by providing a concave plate with crossing grooves
similar to screw sections, and placing upon the cylinder a long pin with a switch
upon the end to travel in the grooves of the concave so as to move the cylinder
along from one end towards the other, and then the switch being turned by the
cam-shaped ends of the grooves, such switch moves the cylinder along in the
opposite direction to the place of beginning.
It is advantageous to enclose the bolts and fingers and the cords or wires so as
'to protect them and also to pass such cords or wires around pulleys where they
pass from a horizontal to a vertical position in the desk or enclosure for the
mechanism.
In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is a general perspective indicating the relative positions of the different
of the

page_text: Fig. 2 is a plan view of the starting, cylinder detached from the, desk, or case..
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view representing the pulleys at the lower part of the
starting apparatus.
Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the starting device and its connection with the
trap the said trap being in section..
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trap and
Fig. 6 is a partial section of the pin cylinder and shaft, and
Fig. 7 is a cross section, at the line x, a, Fig. 6.
It is usually advantageous to place the trap so that the pigeon or bird is, at or
near the level of the ground, and with this object in view, the box A is adapted to, be
inserted in the ground with the top, plate B at or near the surface, and upon this
top plate the bird is placed and the hood C turned over such bird, and this hood C
is pivoted at 3, and it is made substantially semi-cylindrical having sides 4 and a..
semi-circular cover or connection 5, and there, are openings at. 6 to admit light,
freely to the bird, and these openings 6 are to be at the side of the hood which is
distant from the marksman so that the birds in the traps will be protected from
stray shot.
In the top plate B is an opening at 7 so that the hood C can be freely swung
upon its pivots 3 and pass down into the box A and beneath the top plate B, the
hood swinging about 180° so as to pass completely down into the box A and by the
momentum the advancing edge of the hood will strike forcibly against the under
side of the top plate B producing a noise and concussion and at, the same time
uncovering the bird so that the bird will be sure to fly upwardly the moment the
hood is swung, and in consequence of the openings 6 for the admission of light being
on the far side of the hood the bird will usually face the light and hence fly from
the marksman,
It is usually advantageous to swing the hood C in one direction by hand in
covering the bird and to swing it in the other direction by the automatic means
hereafter described.
I provide a spring latch 8 which preferably is made with a loop at the moving
end, and when the cover has been swung down into the box to uncover the bird the
spring 8 passes into the notch 9 and the latch catches beneath the top plate of the
box to prevent any rebound of the hood, and when the hood is to be swung out, of
the box and over the bird, the spring 8 is unlatched by the hand applied to the loop
at the end of the spring and then the hood is swung over the bird while upon the
top plate of the box. A piece of rubber or of wood may be applied at the under
side of the cover of the box as at 10 for the advancing end of the cover or hood to
strike against so as to prevent injury to the parts.
The bolt D is within a hollow arm A' projecting from the box A, and such bolt D
comes under the edge of the hood C, and there is a pivoted finger E, one end of
which passes into a notch in the bolt D and the other end is above the projection c
upon the edge of the hood C, hence when this bolt D is pulled back the horizontal
end of the finger E acts upon the projection c and pushes this end of the hood C
downwardly and gives to the hood the movement necessary to throw the prepon-
derance of weight upon the descending side of such hood and cause such hood to
make its partial rotation by the action of gravity in uncovering the birds as
aforesaid.
It will be observed that the bolt D and finger E work together, and by pushing
down the finger the bolt is moved back out of the way as the hood is swung over
the bird, and the projection on the hood acting upwardly against the finger slides
the bolt in beneath the edge of the hood so as to hold the parts firmly in position.
The bolt D is acted upon by any suitable mechanism, but I prefer to connect
with the same a wire or wire rope or cord e passing through a suitable tube G te
the pulley H in a hollow stand I beneath the desk within which is a platform L
supporting the frame M and shaft N, which shaft is provided with the ratchet
wheel and pawl P upon a lever Q, the end of which lever passes up through a
slot in the top of the desk K and this lever Q can be moved sufficiently to partially

page_text: rotate the shaft N to the extent of one tooth of the ratchet wheel, there being a
retaining pawl R to prevent the ratchet wheel turning back.
Upon the shaft N is a pin cylinder S, the pins r of which act upon the keys T
with which the wires or wire ropes e are connected.
It is usual to have five traps placed at suitable distances apart, the number,
however, may vary. I have illustrated in Fig. 1 five of such traps leading to the
one desk, which desk is advantageously placed in the club house or office of the
starter, and in Fig. 3 the five tubes G are represented as leading the wires or ropes e
to the hollow stand I containing the pulleys H beneath the desk K, and upon the
platform that supports the frane M, pin cylinders and mechanism, five keys T
are represented to which the ends of the respective wires e are connected. These
wires or ropes e may be attached to the keys T in any suitable manner. I have
represented them as passing up through holes in the keys and fastened to blocks 11
to which also are connected the screws 12 that run along the keys through lugs upon
such keys and receive the nuts 13 so as to adjust the parts and apply the proper
tension to the wires or ropes e. And it will now be apparent that when the
pin cylinder S is partially turned one or more of the pins will act beneath one or
more of the keys T and set off the corresponding traps.
It is advantageous to make the cylinder S movable endwise upon a polygonal
shaft, there being a spring bolt 14 upon the cylinder, the end of which spring bolt
passes into one of the holes or cavities in the shaft N so that the pin cylinder can
be placed in any desired position upon the shaft N.
The pins rare to be placed in the pin cylinder S in any desired position so as to
set off the traps in any desired order, and with this object in view it is advantageous
to make in the cylinder S ranges of holes corresponding in number with the ratchet
teeth, and to make the pins movable and preferably fitted to screw into these
holes. By the aforesaid construction the manager, or party having the shooting
in charge, can pre-arrange or change the pins in the cylinder S so that the traps
may be set off in any desired order, and it will be observed that in the pin cylinder S
there are twelve peripheral ranges of holes along the length of the cylinder, and
the two ranges 15 and 16 can be filled with pins or pins may be placed in corre-
sponding pairs of holes so that two traps can be set off simultaneously, and the pins
in the other ranges of holes may be placed in any predetermined position so as to
liberate two, four, or five birds in any desired order, and the cylinder S can be
slipped along upon the shaft to bring the desired combination of pins to act upon
the respective keys, and where the starter pulls the lever Q at the proper time or
at predetermined intervals, the birds will be liberated, but the marksman cannot
tell before hand which of the traps will be next operated, and in this manner any
collusion or unfairness in the presentation of the birds will be avoided.
It is sometimes desirable to move the pin cylinder first in one direction and then
in the other in such a manner that the party who actuates the lever Q does not
know or cannot form an idea as to which of the traps may be set off, and with this
object in view the pin cylinder is moved along progressively first in one direction
and then in the other by a stationary plate U having slots that cross each other
similar to sections of a right and left hand screw, and the pin or projections is
provided with a switch t upon the end, and this pin carrying the switch passes
through the cylinder and friction is applied to hold the same in position by a
spring within the rim of the cylinder acting to draw the shoulder of the pin
against the surface of the cylinder, and at the end grooves of the plate U there are
cams u that act to change the direction of the switch t, hence when the cylinder is
being retated it is carried along bodily between one rotation and the next by the
switch in one of the inclined grooves of the plate U, and when the pin cylinder has
been moved to the extreme end in one direction; one of the cams acts to turn the
switch t into the opposite angular position so that a continuation of the rotation of
the cylinder progressively will cause the cylinder to be moved end wise by the
switch passing once each rotation into one of the inclined grooves of the plate U
and the cylinder will be moved back to the point of beginning.

page_text: When the pin cylinder is actuated in the manner before. described, the spring
bolt 14 should have its end beveled in both directions so as to pass into beveled
recesses in the shaft and steady the cylinder from moving end wise, except when
the switch is in one of the inclined grooves in the plate Uaud exerts sufficient
power as the cylinder is rotated to push the cylinder along and cause the spring
bolt to pass out of one of the recesses and engage the next.
When the ranges of pins 15 and 16 are being used for setting off two traps at
once, the switch t is beyond the end of the grooved plate U and the latch or spring
bolt 14 is in an end recess 25 for holding the pin cylinder in position, and it is to
be understood that the desk or enclosing case is to be opened and the cylinder
moved along by hand when the rauges of pins.15 and 16 are brought into action.
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
clain is:
First. The combination in a trap, of a box having a top plate, a pivoted hood
adapted to cover the bird, there being an opening in the top plate through which.
the pivoted hood can be swung down into the box in uncovering the bird, and
mechanism for acting upon the pivoted hood to swing it, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination in a trap, of a box having a top plate, a pivoted hood
adapted to cover the bird, there being an opening in the top plate through which
the pivoted hood can be swung down into the box in uncovering the bird, a bolt
for holding the pivoted hood, and a pivoted finger acting to bring down one side
of the hood in swinging the same, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination in a trap, of a box having a top plate, a pivoted hood
adapted to cover the bird, there being an opening in the top plate through which
the pivoted hood can be swung down into the box in uncovering the bird, and
mechanism for acting upon the pivoted hood to swing it, there being openings in
the pivoted hood for the admission of light at the distant side of such hood,.
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination in a trap, of a box having a top plate, a pivoted hood
adapted to cover the bird, there being an opening in the top plate through which
the pivoted hood can be swung down into the box in uncovering the bird, and
mechanism for acting upon the pivoted hood to swing it and a spring latch for
holding the hood when swung down into the box, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the traps for holding and uncovering the birds, of
wires or ropes extending from such traps and by which they are operated, an
enclosure or desk into which such wires or ropes are passed, and keys with which
they are connected, a pin cylinder for acting upon such keys, and a lever, pawl and
ratchet for progressively rotating the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the traps for holding and uncovering the birds, of
wires or ropes extending from such traps and by which they are operated, an
enclosure or desk into which such wires or ropes are passed, and keys with which
they are connected, a pin cylinder for acting upon such keys, and a lever, pawl and
ratchet for progressively rotating the cylinder, the pin cylinder having ranges of
holes for the movable pins, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination in an apparatus for actuating traps, of a shalt, a
lever, pawl and ratchet wheel for rotating the shaft progressively, a pin cylinder
upon such shaft with ranges of holes longitudinally and peripherally, movable pins
within such holes, a bolt for holding the cylinder in its proper position upon such
shuit, a range of keys acted upon by the pins of the cylinder and connections from
such keys to the respective traps, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination in an apparatus for actuating traps, of a shaft, a lever
and pawl and ratchet wheel for rotating the shaft progressively, a pin cylinder upon
such shaft with ranges of holes longitudinally and peripherally, removable pins
within such holes, a spring bolt for holding the pin cylinder in position upon the

page_text: shaft, and automatic means for sliding the cylinder end wise upon the shaft,
.substantially as set forth..
Ninth. The combination with the traps for holding pigeons or other birds, keys
and connections between the traps and the keys, of a cylinder with projections for
acting upon the keys and means for rotating the cylinder progressively by hand,
substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the traps for holding pigeons or other birds, keys
and connections between the traps and the keys, of a cylinder with projections
for acting upon the keys and means for rotating the cylinder progressively by
hand, and automatic mechanism for moving the cylinder end wise for bringing
different ranges of projections upon the cylinder into action upon the keys,
substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the traps for holding pigeons or other birds, of
keys and connections between the traps and the keys, a cylinder with projections
for acting upon the keys, means for rotating the cylinder progressively by hand,
a plate with intersecting grooves inclined in opposite directions, a switch upon the
cylinder for engaging the grooves of the plate and moving the cylinder endwise
first in one direction and then in the other, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 16th day of Sentember 1895
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.