Improvements in Toy and like Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toy and like Guns.
I, JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS, of 68, Bridge Street, Birkenhead, in the County
of Chester, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the aiming and sighting of guns and holding and guiding
their projectiles.
According to this invention the aiming and sighting of guns is done through the
projectile. The projectile is formed with a central hole or aperture through which
the aim or sight may be taken, or by which it may be threaded onto a hollow spindle
through which the aim or sight may be taken. The hole in the projectile or spindle
is preferably of vertical elongated form and is provided with cross bars by which the
elevation for different ranges may be given to the gun, the above forms the back
sight.
The front sight may be provided on the end of the barrel of the gun in any
convenient way.
My invention is particularly applicable to what are known as toy guns in which
the projectile is propelled along a grooved bar which takes the place of the barrel
of the gun, the projecting force being obtained by india-rubber bands or by springs.
The projectile or ball is provided with a hole by which it is threaded on a spindle
having an elongated hole with cross bars for giving the elevation for the aim.
This hollow spindle may have a cupped portion to receive the ball and is attached
to the rubber bands or springs which propel it, or the hollow spindle or sighting.
piece may be fixed and the cupped part only moveable.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1890.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toy and like Guns.
I, JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS, of 68, Bridge Street, Birkenhead, in the County
of Chester, Manufacturing Chemist, 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 the aiming and sighting of guns and holding and guiding
their projectiles.
According to this invention the aiming and sighting of guns is done through the
projectile. The projectile is formed with a central hole or aperture through which
the aim or sight may be taken, or by which it may be threaded onto a hollow spindle
through which the aim or sight may be taken. The hole in the projectile or spindle
is preferably of vertical elongated form and is provided with cross bars by which
the elevation for different ranges may be given to the gun; the above forms the
back sight.
The front sight may be provided on the end of the barrel of the gun in any
convenient way.
My invention is particularly applicable to what are known as toy guns in
which the projectile is propelled along a grooved bar which takes the place of
the barrel of the gun, the projecting force being obtained by india rubber bands
or by springs. The projectile or ball is provided with a hole by which it is
Pin d

page_text: threaded on
spindle having an elongated hole with cross bars for giving the
elevation for the aim. This hollow spindle may have mounted upon it a cupped
projector to receive the ball, attached to the rubber bands or springs which
propel it.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto annexed a
sheet of drawings which make a part of this Specification and are marked with
letters and figures of reference corresponding with those used in the following
explanation. Like letters and figures are used to denote the same or corresponding
parts throughout the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 illustrates a means of sighting toy guns and of guiding their projectiles,
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates a toy gun according to my invention, the sighting and aiming
of which is effected by means of front and back sights.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the back sight of the gun shewn in Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is an elevation of the front sight.
Figure 6 illustrates another modification of toy gun according to my invention.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of Figure 6; and
Figure 8 is a plan of the projectile carrier.
Figure 9 illustrates my invention in the form of a pistol.
Figure 10 is a section of the gun stock when formed of sheet metal.
Figure 11 illustrates the projectile.
According to my invention, to enable a person to take aim when discharging the
gun, the spindle a upon which the projectile (which has a hole through it) is
threaded, and from which it is impelled, of hollow form and aim is taken through
such hollow. The front end of the spindle is closed and provided with a small
aperture which forms the front sight. The rear end of the spindle is also closed
and provided with a vertical elongated slot c, which forms the back sight. This
slot is provided with three or more cross bars d whereby the person shooting by
glancing over one or other of these bars and bringing same in line with the front
sight or aperture and the object to be shot at, can obtain the required elevation
of his gun, while still aiming directly at such object, similarly to the ordinary
firearm.
C
In Figure 3 is shewn a toy gun according to my invention, the aiming of which
is effected by means of a fixed front sight b and a folding back sight c, and wherein
the spindle a may be either of hollow or solid construction. The spindle a is
attached to and carried by the block e mounted on the breech of the gun. The
means of discharging the projectile (designated f) consists of the elastic cord g,
which is attached to the front of the gun stock and its ends carried under the stop
pieces and attached to the projector i. This projector i travels in the groove j
of the stock k and is formed with two cheeks which come one on each side of the
spindle a, by which the projectile is impelled along said spindle when the
projector i is released by the trigger . The projector is also provided with a
notch upon its underside into which the projection m of the trigger takes when
the follower is run back and the gun "cocked," the spiral spring n retaining the
projection m in this position until the trigger is pulled.
2
77
To load and discharge the gun, the projector i is first run back against the pull
of the elastic cord g until the notch becomes engaged with the projection m of
the trigger. The projectile f is then threaded upon the spindle a until it rests
against the cheeks of the projector i. The gun is then aimed by taking a sight
over the notch d' of the cross bar d and the front sight b, and discharged by
pulling the trigger 1, whereby the projection m releases the projector i, which is
then propelled forward by the elastic cord g, carrying the projectile in front of it,
until the stops h arrest further action of the cord and the projector is stopped. The

page_text: front sight b is made of an elastic material so as to give way as the projectile
passes over it; or, in lieu of it a standard sight as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 7
may be used. A strip f¹ of elastic material is provided to retain the projectile
in its loaded position, whereby, when the muzzle of the gun is depressed
the projectile will not slip forward of itself, but when fired is easily pressed
aside.
The back sight e, shewn in Figure 4, consists of the frame e provided on one
side with the scale 2 and having a cross bar d capable of being raised and lowered
to any desired gradation upon the scale c², and held by friction thereon. The
sight c is capable of being folded and is retained in its raised position by means of
the spring c³.
In the gun shewn in Figure 6 the breech portion is lowered and the spindle a bent
as shewn, and is particularly adapted for shooting at an object "point blank," the
projectile in its loaded position being disposed below the level of the spindle a,
whereby a direct sight can be taken along the surface of such spindle. A modified
form of releasing mechanism is also illustrated in this figure. The notch of the
projector takes over a fixed projection m upon the gun stock k, and the release
of the projector is effected by raising it clear of this projection and this is done
by means of the bell crank lever 1, the lower arm of which serves as the trigger.
The cords g are attached to the end of the gun by simply threading their ends
through the holes in the stock as shewn. Side plates are provided on the stock to
prevent the projector i becoming dislodged when loading or when applying the
extra elastic bands. Provision is also made in the gun shewn in Figure 6 to
increase the force of dischar re of the projectile f. This is done by elongating
the projector and providing it with pins 2 to which are attached (after the
projector has been run back and cocked) additional elastic cords which are
attached to their other end by threading them through the holes k¹ in the
plates 2. Another manner of attaching the additional elastic cords to the
projector is shewn in Figure 8 wherein their ends are interlaced between
the pins ².
Figure 9 shews my invention in the form of a pistol, adapted for "point blank"
shooting. The releasing mechanism shewn in the figure is similar to that described
with reference to Figure 6.
Figures 10 in cross section and 10^ in longitudinal elevation illustrate the stock
of the gun according to my invention formed of pressed sheet metal. This sheet
metal construction may be made in various forms and with or without wood or other
lining or filling.
Figure 11 illustrates a suitable form of projectile capable of being used with all
the types of guns shewn in the drawings. It is preferably made of an elastic
material such as india rubber, and of hollow construction but in some cases, if
desired, may be made of wood or other material.
The projectile may also be attached to the gun or pistol from which it
is discharged, by means of a thin elastic cord of any desired length, whereby
it is automatically returned to the person shooting and constitutes a captive
projectile.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A toy or other gun adapted and constructed to be sighted through the shot
or projectile; substantially as described.
2. A toy or other gun with a spindle on which the projectile is threaded, such
spindle being hollow, and adapted to be sighted through said spindle; substantially
as described.
3. A toy or other gun, in which the projectile is threaded on and fired from a
spindle and by a spring, said spring being secured or supported by a
of the gun
part
other than said spindle; substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. In a toy or other gun having a spindle, on which the projectiles are threaded
and fired a foresight consisting of an elastic strip or piece (such as b) on the end
of the spindle; substantially as described.
5. In a toy or other gun, the combination of stock, spindle, projector, and spring,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
6. A toy or other gun, comprising a stock and a spindle mounted thereon, on
which the projectile is threaded and fired, and having, or adapted to support, a
plurality of springs, whereby increments of force may be applied to the projector and
projectile substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a toy or other gun having a stock, and a spindle mounted thereon,
and the projectile is thrown or propelled by a spring, the construction sub-
stantially as herein described, whereby the sighting can be effected along the
barrel.
8. A toy or other gun comprising, in combination, a spindle on which the
projectiles are threaded as described, a stock by which said spindle is supported, a
projector by which said projectiles are moved along the spindle; and an elastic
cord for propelling the projector, fastened to the stock at the muzzle end of the gun
by threading it through holes therein, and to the projector at the other end;
substantially as herein set forth.
9. In a toy or other gun having a stock and a spindle on which the projectile is
threaded, the construction of the stock, or that part of it below the said spindle, of
pressed sheet metal; substantially as set forth.
10. In a toy or other like gun comprising a stock and a spindle, and a spring
for propelling the projectile, a projector having on its under side a catch adapted to
engage with a fixed catch, or pin, such as m, across the stock and a trigger
arranged behind such catch, by which the projector is raised off' said fixed catch or
pin and released.
11. A projectile for, or adapted to be used in connection with, a gun having a
spindle on which said projectiles are to be threaded and fired, constructed of hollow
form and of elastic material; substantially as set forth.
12. The toy guns comprising the stock k, spindle a, projectile f, projector i,
trigger, elastic spring g, arranged in combination, as set forth with reference to
Figures 1, 3, 6, 9 and 10, of the drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1891.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.