Improvements in Pigeon Releasing Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pigeon Releasing Apparatus.
I, FRANCOIS BAUGNIET, of Leernes, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanic,
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:-
My invention has for its object the release (or starting) of pigeons, at prize
competitions (and matches) more easily and with more regularity than has
hitherto been possible. This I accomplish by the employment of an arrange-
ment of devices which permit of the simultaneous opening of a series of baskets
(or traps).
Each of these devices consists of a trigger latch fitted to the top, bottom, or
sides of a training basket and actuated by the pulling of a cord.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I will in describing
it refer to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1, is a front elevation of my invention applied to two baskets having
their doors or traps hinged at the top front edge of the basket.
Fig. 2, is a side view of Fig. 1.
Fig 3, is a detail elevation of my trigger latch device as applied to a basket.
Fig. 4, is a side view of Fig. 3.
Fig 5, is a view of the under side of the bar showing the pivot to which the
latch of the trigger is fitted.
Fig. 6, is a side view of the catch showing the method of locking the trigger
device.
Fig 7, is a modification of my invention in which the flap or lid of the basket
opens outwardly and in which the flap or lid is hinged to the bottom front edge
of the basket.
Fig. 8, is a side view, and Fig. 8, is a detail view showing an eye bolt which
serves as a guide for the actuating cord.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of a series of baskets supplied with my devices for
simultaneous opening.
Fig. 10 is a plan of Fig. 9.
Referring to the Figures 1 to 6 Sheet 1.
The first part of my device consists of a bar A, fixed to the bottom front edge
of the basket by means of the bolts a a.and carrying a pivot B upon which the
trigger latch C, is mounted. D, is a grooved roller round which the cord E, is
turned or bent.
The second part of my invention consists of a spring actuated mechanism for
opening automatically the door of a basket on the disengagement of a trigger
latch C. by the pulling of a cord to disengage the latch. This
mechanism consists of a spiral spring H, fixed to the upper interior
portion of the basket, having a projection H¹, bearing against the flap or lid F,
which is mounted on hinges G.
It will be readily understood that when the door F, of the trap is not held by
the trigger latch, it is thrown quickly upwards by the spiral spring and held open

page_text: by it. The cord E, is guided in eyes which are fitted at the right and left of
the baskets,
When the pigeons are shut (or confined) in the baskets the flap or lid is fixed
(or locked) by the latch C, which is held in a spring catch d.
At the moment of releasing, all the baskets which are placed in line, one beside
the other, the cable E, is extended and passed with a turn around the grooved
pulley D, of each of the flaps or lids, one end of the cable being fixed to the
last basket of the row. The pulling of the cord draws all the latches C simul-
taneously back in the direction of the dotted lines, Figure 3, and liberates the
flap or lid of each basket and so all the baskets open at the same time and are
held open by the pressure of the springs H.
Figures 7 to 10 represent my invention in a modified form. In this form the
trigger latch mechanism if fixed to the upper front edge of the basket by means
of two screwed eyebolts and nuts I, I which serve at the same time as guides for
the cord. The spiral spring H is fixed at the lower part of the basket. The door
is mounted upon hinges at the lower front edge of the basket, but it is understood
that it may be mounted either to the right or the left of the basket in which
cases the spring H will be arranged to correspond.
In Figure 9 a series of baskets are superposed and connected together by
means of two cords which are bent around the pulley of a block J. This block
for the drawing or pulling of the cords actuating the triggers or latches of the
baskets, differs from those actually found in commerce in that in its frame there
is left at o an opening for the introduction and the easy disengagement of the
cords. This avoids the inconvenience of being compelled to dismount the block
and consequently the advantage of great rapidity of action is attained.
My invention has the following advantages:-
1. Regularity of release and simultaneous opening of the baskets.
2. The maintenance of the closure of the baskets by means of the spring d
is assured during transport.
3. The device does not require a special construction of basket and can without
great expense be applied to old baskets.
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 claim is:
1. In a pigeon releasing apparatus, devices consisting of a trigger latch, a
grooved pulley on which a cord is bent in the same manner on all the baskets, a
cord and a spiral spring attached to the interior of the baskets and of which the
free end bears against the door, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
2. The combination with a pigeon releasing apparatus, of a block with one or
more pulleys, an opening o in the frame of the said block and the trigger latch
device herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of August 1899.
FRANCOIS BAUGNIET.
Per L. H. Rittman.