Improvements in or relating to Resilient Heel Plates for Small Arms.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Resilient Heel Plates for Small Arms.
We, STEPHEN WINCKWORTH SILVER, of 67, Cornhill, City of London, Merchant,
and WALTER FLETCHER, of the same place, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in resilient heel plates for small arms,
the object being to resist the often damaging effect of recoil against the shooter's
shoulder.
For the purpose of our invention, we mould india rubber compound to the
shape of an ordinary heel plate exteriorly, and provide the inner surface portion
for a greater part of hollows and ribs to form air chambers and resistance bodies
which by combined action by the resiliency resist or absorb the recoil of the arm
at the time of firing. The resilient body or pad is cemented or otherwise con-
nected to a backing of ebonite or other material so that by close contact, air cells
are formed in the hollows of the yielding pad.
We prefer that a mid rib of oval or other shape be formed for central bearing
and with V shaped hollows from the chamber surrounding the mid rib, the
terminals of the V shaped hollows being slightly beyond the screw holes by
which the article can be secured to the stock of the gun.
The invention is particularly suited for bullet or longshot guns, such as for
heavy game or big animals, but is applicable to rifles of all kinds and also to
ordinary sporting small arms.
Improvements in or relating to Resilient Heel Plates for Small Arms.
We, STEPHEN WINCKWORTH SILVER, of 67, Cornhill, City of London, Merchant,
and WALTER FLETCHER, of the same place, Gun Maker, 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 resilient heel plates for small arms,
the object being to resist the often damaging effect of recoil against the shooter's

page_text: For the purpose of our invention we mould india rubber compound to the
shape of an ordinary heel plate exteriorly and provide the inner surface portion
for a greater part of hollows and ribs to form air chambers and resistance bodies
which by combined action by the resiliency resist or absorb the recoil of the arm
at the time of firing. The resilient body or pad is cemented or otherwise con-
nected to a backing of ebonite or other material so that by close contact, air cells
are formed in the hollows of the yielding pad.
We prefer that a mid-rib of oval or other shape be formed for central bearing
and with shaped hollows from the chamber surrounding the mid rib, the
terminals of the V shaped hollows being slightly beyond the screw holes by
which the article can be secured to the stock of the gun.
Our invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 perspective elevation of the soft or resilient rubber cushion portion
of a heel plate with air spaces of the form previously specified.
Figure 2, side elevation of same with ebonite or hard backing attached.
Figure 3 perspective elevation of a soft or resilient cushion portion of a heel
plate such as could be drawn over for affixture to an ebonite or hard rubber or
other kind of material as a backing, say, such as that represented in perspective
at Figure 4. This system of attachment will enable cushions of different thick-
nesses or substance being applied to a backing to suit the fancy or desire of the
shooter or person using the gun and be in proportion to the length of the arms
of the person and will facilitate the adoption of a fixed size of "stock" for
"short reach"
or for "long reach" without removing the backing from the heel
of the gun stock.
According to Figure 1, A, A, are a series of hollow spaces forming air chambers
merging from a mid-oval B as an example, this having an oval or it may be a
central circular rib C to about the same level as the inner bearing surface I of
the soft or resilient rubber cushion E capable of connection to a backing F of
hard rubber such as ebonite or vulcanite by the usual method of cementing one
. piece of rubber to another to constitute a heel plate proper for affixing by screws
through the holes G, G, to the wood heel portion of a gun stock.
According to Figures 3 and 4 the air chambers are represented in the resilient
body E and in the backing F those of the cushion being formed by raised
ribs H, H, which fit into the hollows I, I, of the hacking F when the cushion
piece is stretched and forced over the inner face of the hard rubber backing,
the ribs H in conjunction with the end lips J, J, in one, and recesses K, K, in
the other forming the means by which the two portions E, F are held together
when the cushion portion E is applied to the hard rubber portion or backing F.
This method of attaching the cushion portion to the backing obviates the forma-
tion of screw holes in the cushioning body E as are necessary by the plan shown
at Figure 1 because the backing F only will require screw holes in it as repre-
sented at Figure 4.
4
We have for convenience shown raised ribs H on the inner face of the cushion
portion E but the air chambers thereof may correspond and be in the body of the
cushion as at Figure 1 and the backing may have a plain inner face the air being
confined between them the end lips J J and recesses K, K, respectively being
sufficient to hold one portion to the other from the natural grip of the soft rubber
when stretched over or onto the hard rubber.
The invention is particularly suited for bullet or longshot guns such as for
heavy game or big animals but is applicable to rifles of all kinds and also to
ordinary sporting small arms.
17
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
:
1 Resilient heel plates for affixture to heels of gun stocks in which air chambers
are formed in the cushioning portion to a plain inner faced hard backing as

page_text: described and substantially as represented at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed
drawings.
2 Resilient heel plates for fixture to the stocks of small arms and having ribs
for engagement with hollows in the hard backing portion said cushioning body
being held in position by self gripping action by the lips and recesses respectively
as and for the purposes described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed
drawings.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said S. W. Silver. and W. Fletcher.