Improvements in Pigeon Boxes for use in Trap Shooting.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pigeon Boxes for use in Trap Shooting.
I, WILLIAM DURLAND, of The Turf Hotel, 15 Bedford Street, Sunderland, in
the County of Durham, Innkeeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to the improved construction of boxes for containing pigeons,
for use at pigeon shooting matches.
The object of the invention is to prevent the pigeon walking about the ground
for some time after being released from the box and before flying away, as
sometimes happens with boxes as ordinarily constructed.
I attain the above object by means of an arrangement which automatically
throws the pigeon a short distance into the air immediately after the box is opened.
The box is provided with a false bottom hinged to the inside of the box at one
end and forced up by means of a suitable spring.
The lid of the box is also provided with a spring which throws it open.
On the side of the box, I place two parallel horizontal rods united at one end
and sliding in suitable guides. These rods are preferably situated on the outside of
the box, but may be inside if prefered.
A pin is affixed in the edge of the aforesaid false bottom and projects through a
slot in the side of the box, and when the said bottom is pushed down and the afore-
said rods slid into place, the said pin comes underneath the upper rod, so that the
said bottom is held down against the resistance of its spring. A chain or strap
is affixed to the edge of the lid and provided with an eye at its end through which
the end of the said upper rod is passed, thereby holding down the said lid. When
the rods are pulled out by means of a cord attached thereto, or other convenient
management, the said eye and pin are released in rapid succession, the lid flying
open first and hanging down at the side of the box out of the way, and the bottom
next springing up with sufficient rapidity to throw the bird a short distance into
the air. A hook or projection is provided on the lower rod to engage with a stop
on the side of the box, and so prevent the rods being pulled out further than is
necessary.
Dated this 8th day of February 1893.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pigeon Boxes for use in Trap Shooting.
I, WILLIAM DURLAND, of The Turf Hotel, 15 Bedford Street, Sunderland, in
the County of Durham, 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 :-
My invention relates to the improved construction of boxes for containing pigeons
for use at pigeon shooting matches.
The object of the invention is to prevent the pigeon walking about the ground for
sone time after being released from the box and before flying away, as sometimes
happens with boxes as ordinarily constructed.
fattain the above object by means of an arrangement, which automatically
throws the pigeon a short distance into the air, immediately after the box is
opened.

page_text: In the accompanying sheet of drawings, which forms part of this Specification,
and in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout,
Fig. 1, is an external perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with
my invention.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with my invention,
shewing a modified arrangement of certain parts.
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal sectional elevation, and
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of Fig. 3, shewing the box open.
The essential features of my invention consist in a box, provided with a false
bottom, capable of being thrown upwards by a spring, a lid hinged to the top of the
box also capable of being thrown open by a spring, and suitable devices for holding
down the said false bottom and lid against the resistance of their respective springs,
and releasing them when so required.
In operation the false bottom is first pressed down and secured, the bird is then
placed in the box and the lid shut and also secured.
When it is desired to discharge the bird from the box, the said devices are
operated to unlock the lid and false bottom, and are so arranged that the lid is first
set free and thrown back by its spring, and then immediately afterwards the false
bottom springs up with sufficient rapidity to throw the bird a short distance up into
the air.
In Figs. 1 and 2, A is a box having a lid B hinged to one side at B, C is a false
bottom hinged at one end C³ to the box, D is a coiled spring under the said false
bottom, tending to throw it upwards, and E is a coiled spring tending to throw open
the lid B. Upon the false bottom 1 preferably affix a kind of cradle F to more
conveniently receive the bird and keep it safely in the required position and
direction for flight, when thrown into the air.
In these figures the locking and releasing mechanism is constructed as follows-
On the outer side of the box are two parallel horizontal rods H H', united at one
end H, and capable of sliding in suitable guides J. A pin K is fixed in the edge
of the false bottom C and projects through a slot K' in the side of the box, and
when the said bottom is pushed down and the rods H H slid inwards, the pin K
comes underneath the upper rod H, so that the bottom is held down against the
resistance of its spring D. A chain, strap, or link L is fixed on the front edge of
the lid B and provided with an eye Ĺ₁ at its end, through which the said rod His
passed, thereby holding down the said lid. When the rods are pulled out by
means of a cord M attached thereto, or other suitable arrangement, the said eye L₁
and pin K are released in rapid succession, so that the lid B first flies open and
then the bottom F springs up.
The end of the rod H is bent downwards, as shewn, to form a stop to come in
contact with one of the guides J, and thus prevent the rods being pulled out of
the guides.
If preferred the rods H H' may be placed inside the box, in which case no
slot K is required, and the chain L will also be inside.
The box shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is similar, as far as regards the lid and false
bottom, to that above described, the difference consisting in the arrangement of the
locking and releasing mechanism. In this case a flat metal bar or strap N is
hinged to the bottom of one end of the box, a curved pin K on the end of the
false bottom C projects through a slot K' in the end of the box and a hole is
provided in the bar N through which the said pin passes when the bottom C is
pressed down to its lowest position and the bar turned up against the box, as shewn
in Figs. 3 and 4, thus locking the said bottom. To the top of the bar Na second
shorter bar P is hinged, having its end bent over at right angles to pass over
and hold down the lid when shut. Each bar is provided with an eye for the
attachment of the releasing cords R R.
The cord R operating the bar P is shorter than the cord R' operating the bar N
and both cords are attached to a main cord R³, so that when this cord is pulled it

page_text: ensures that the lid B is released, before the bottom C. The position of the parts
after this operation is shewn in Fig. 5.
The box A may be constructed of iron or wood, if of the latter material the
end A of the box is plated with iron and the end and sides of the cradle F are
also made of sheet iron to prevent injury from shot, as this end of the box is the
one facing the gun. Holes are formed in the lid, as shewn, to give free access of
air to the bird. while in the box.
A rod S, attached to the box by a chain S', is provided to stick in the ground
and thus anchor the box in position and resist the pull of the releasing cord. This
rod when not in use can be passed through holes S in the box.
Although coiled springs are shown for operating the lid and false bottom, springs
of any other suitable description may be employed and the said springs may be
placed inside or outside the box and may be arranged to pull up the said lid and
false bottom, instead of pushing them up, as described.
In all cases it is essential that the lid be fully open before the bottom rises, to
prevent the possibility of the bird being caught or crushed between them.
To soften the blow of the pin K when it strikes the top of the slot K', I may affix
therein a small block of rubber T to act as a buffer.
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
claim is :-
1. In a box for use in trap shooting, the combination of a lid thrown open by a
spring, a false bottom thrown upwards by a spring, and means for locking the said
lid and bottom and releasing them so that the lid opens before the bottom is
thrown up.
2. In a box for use in trap shooting, the combination of a lid B thrown open by
a spring E, a false bottom having a cradle F and thrown upwards by a spring D,
and a locking and releasing device, consisting of rods H H¹ sliding in guides J, a
pin K, slot K', chain L and eye L¹, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a box for use in trap shooting, the combination of a lid B thrown open by
a spring E, a false bottom C having a cradle F and thrown upwards by a spring D,
and a locking and releasing device, consisting of hinged bars N and P and a
pin K, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1893.
AMBROSE MYALL,
2, Lancaster Place, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.