Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1900
We, THOMAS DAVEY COOPER, of 4, Spring Street, Cross Roads, near Keighley, in
the County of York, Heald Maker, and SAM Law, of White Horse Inn, Hermit Hole,
near Keighley, aforesaid, Innkeeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This invention relates to an improved toy cannon, and has for its object the
arrangement and construction of same so that the projectile or dart used in connec-
tion therewith may be projected therefrom with a considerable degree of accuracy,
while the force required for such projection of the dart is brought entirely under the
control of the user.
The object of this invention is attained by mounting the barrel of the cannon in
bearings so that the inclination of same may be adjusted as in the ordinary and well
known inanner. To the rear end of this barrel is connected an india-rubber ball or
spring bellows by means of an air-tight plug, and a flexible pipe from and through
which is conveyed the air for forcing the projectile from said barrel, the necessary
compression being given to the air in said ball by a blow of the user's hand.
The ball or bellows may be mounted in bearings to directly receive the blow or
stroke of the user, or a lever arrangement for striking said ball or bellows may be
employed, this lever arrangement for compressing the air in said ball having suitable
adjustable stop-pieces mounted in connection with it in order to prevent damage
being done to the ball by reason of the lever being depressed to too great an extent,
while at the same time the bail can be made to supply varying quantities of air
according as they are required for the distance at which the target is from the
cannon.
The barrel of the cannon is provided with a lining of glass or other suitable
material so that though the projectile or dart fits tightly within same, yet com-
paratively little friction is engendered when same is forced by the compressed air
through said barrel.
Suitable projections or "sights "are mounted on the muzzle and breech of said
barrel, the rear one of which is preferably. adjustable, to enable the operator to get
the requisite inclination and position laterally of said barrel when taking aim at the
object desired to be struck by the projectile or dart.
Dated this 1st day of June 1899.

page_text: We, THOMAS DAVEY COOPER, of 4, Spring Street, Cross Roads, near Keighley, in
the County of York, Heald Maker, and SAM LAW, of White Horse Inn, Hermit Hole,
near Keighley, aforesaid, Innkeeper, 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, that is to say:―
This invention relates to an improved toy-cannon, and has for its object the
arrangement and construction of same so that the projectile or dart used in connec-
tion therewith may be projected therefrom with a considerable degree of accuracy,
while the force required for such projection of the dart is brought entirely under the
control of the user.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings, which are illustrative of our invention :-
Figs. 1 and 2 represent an elevation and longitudinal section respectively of a
cannon and parts in connection therewith made in accordance with our invention.
Fig. 3 represents a plan view of parts illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent an elevation and plan view respectively of a modified device
by which the forces for sending the projectile may be transmitted as hereinafter
described.
Figs. 6 and 7 are elevation and plan view respectively illustrating in detail means
whereby the cannon may be adjusted in position.
"
Fig. 8 represents an elevation of a modified form of means for adjusting the cannon
in place of those shown by Figs. 6 and 7.
Fig. 9 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of a toy cannon illustrating a
modification of our invention.
Similar figures and letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the
several views.
In carrying our invention into effect we mount the barrel a upon its pivotal
bearings b in the well known manner, its inclination thereon to the horizontal plane
being either effected and regulated by the wedge c, as shown by Fig. 6, or the arm d
having a spring e and bolt f which forces it against the side of the bearings b to
cause sufficient friction between them to enable said arın d to maintain and support
the barrel a in whatever position or inclination it may be placed or made to assume.
Or said spring e may be dispensed with, and the arm d be rivetted to the bearings b
in such a manner that it may be moved by the operator but yet will not fall by the
action of gravity.
In the breech of the barrel a is detachably mounted the plug g through which air
is conducted by the tube h, when forced from the flexible (as india-rubber) ball k, or a
pair of bellows or the like may be used instead of said ball k.
To bring the cannon into use the plug g is removed and the projectile or dart m
is inserted at the breech of the barrel a (see Fig. 2) on which the plug g is replaced.
The barrel a is then adjusted and directed towards the target or point aimed at and
when ready the projectile m is forced from it by the user striking the ball k with his
hand.. The force of the blow thus given relatively with the space through which the
projectile has to travel before hitting the point aimed at, as well as the adjust-
ment of the barrel in proper position, entails the exercising of more skill than would
be the case were the force transmitted by the air to be affected by means that might
be more accurately regulated.
The barrel a is provided with a lining a¹ of glass or other suitable material so
that though the projectile or dart m fits tightly within same, yet comparatively little
friction is engendered when same is forced by the compressed air through said

page_text: barrel a. Suitable projections or "sights" p and s are mounted on the muzzle and
breech of the barrel a, in order to enable the operator to get the requisite incli-
nation and position laterally of said barrel a, the piece p being preferably movable in
a lateral direction in the slot x for adjustment when manufacturing the barrel.
Instead of mounting the ball k in bearings to directly receive the blow of the user,
we may make use of a lever pivotted at vi to the bearings w for compressing the air
in said ball, said lever being capable of adjustment relatively with the stops wo¹ w², by
means of the slot 2, while said lever vis always withdrawn from contact with
the ball k on the removal of the operator's hand, through the retractive actions of the
spring r. The stop piece w₁ prevents damage being done to the ball by reason of the
lever being depressed to too great an extent, while at the same time the ball can be
made to supply varying quantities of air according as they are required for the
distance at which the target is from the cannon.
If desired instead of making use of the plug g we may construct the lining of
metal, or other suitable substance a¹, to project a short distance from the barrel a
(see Fig. 9) and connect the flexible tube thereto by means of the joining piece h¹,
the projecting part 2 of which takes over said tube or lining a¹. Suitable projections
are formed on the joining piece / in order to enable the operative to readily remove
said joining piece from or replace it on the lining a¹. By forming the opening ht of
the joining piece h¹ less in diameter than the opening through the lining a¹, a
suitable stop piece is formed for the projectile m or ball m¹, so that when a ball is
used, this may be fed through the muzzle of the cannon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a toy cannon, a barrel constructed as described, bearings for said barrel, means
for adjusting it on said bearings, and means for forcing a current of air through said
barrel, in combination substantially as set forth.
2. In a toy cannon, a barrel, bearings for said barrel, a detachable plug to fit into
said barrel, a tube for conducting air thereto and a ball or means for receiving the
force and for propelling a current of air to move the projectile, in combination
substantially as herein specified.
3. In a toy cannon, a barrel having its bore lined with glass or other smooth
material, a projectile fitting therein, a detachable plug fitting the breech of said
barrel, a tube to conduct air to said plug and means for forcing said air through said
tube substantially as herein specified.
4. In a toy cannon, a barrel having its bore lined with glass or other smooth
material, a projectile or ball to take therein, a joining piece as ', a tube to conduct
air to said joining piece, and means for forcing said air through said tube substantially
as herein specified.
5. In a toy cannon, a barrel, an adjustable arm held against the actions of gravity
by friction and bearings for supporting same in combination substantially as and for
the purpose herein specified.
6. An improved toy cannon, the same being constructed and arranged substantially
as herein specified.
Tinted th
1000