Improvements in Target-practice Apparatuses, and Targets Used in connection therewith.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Target-practice Apparatuses, and Targets Used in
connection therewith.
I, JOHN LEONARD MCCULLOUGH, of No. 27 Carlton Avenue, in the City of
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of New York, one of the United
States of America, Machinist, 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 devices for amusement combined with instruction, and
consists in a device whereby a marksman may practice at a target with a gun
without any danger to himself or to others from the ignition of explosives, or
from missiles.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of the
invention, and the latter will be best understood from the said drawings and the
accompanying description.
Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the target-device or apparatus, as
a whole, on a small scale; and Figure 1A is a plan of the slotted top of the stand
or counter where the gun is mounted.
Figure 2 is a detached view of the ball-and-socket support of the gun, on a
large scale.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the circuit-closing tip, showing the latter
detached.
Figure 4 is a face view of the terminal-disk; and Figure 5 is a diametrical
section of the same.
Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the gun; Fig. 6A is a plan of the same, and
Fig. 6B is a view of the rocker, detached.
Fig. 7 is a face view of the preferred form of targets; and Fig. 7* is a vertical
mid-section thereof.
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the means for raising and lowering
the gun.
Fig. 8A is a horizontal section in the plane of the line in Fig. 8.
Fig. 9 is a view showing a means for increasing, relatively, the extent of move-
ment of the circuit-closing tip.
I will first describe the general construction and operation of the apparatus as
seen in Fig. 1.
This figure represents a target-board, having on it several forms of targets; a
stand or counter, and a gun mounted or supported on a universal joint so that the
marksman may aim at any target on the target-board. Electric circuits so
connect the gun with the several targets that if the gun be aimed correctly at
any target, the position of the aimed gun will be such as to close a break in a
circuit belonging to that particular target, so that, when the trigger is pulled,
there will be closed another and final break in the circuit, and by the excitation
of an electro-magnet in said circuit and adjacent to the target aimed at, a bell will
be rung, or some other form of visible or audible annunciation effected whereby
be known that the aim has been accurate. Unless the aim is accurate,
the circuits belonging to the several targets will all remain broken. The gun,
so-called, may be only an imitation as there will be no charge fired, or rather there
need be none.
it
may
In addition to the apparatus as above described, I prefer to employ, back of

page_text: the target-board, an electrical annunciator which will be sounded at each and
every shot fired, whether the target be accurately aimed at or not, and this
annunciator may be of such a character as to imitate the sound of a ball striking
a target. And I also employ, by preference, a register for registering each shot
fired. I will now more minutely describe the apparatus, premising that the
principal parts of the apparatus are each designated, as a whole, by a letter and
the minor features or details by numerals.
A represents the gun, which is mounted on a suitable stand or counter, B.
The gun and stand are placed in front of a target-board, C, and preferably about
the same distance as that of the target from the marksman in an ordinary target
or shooting gallery. In Fig. 1 the space between the gun and targets is dis-
proportionately small. The gun A is secured rigidly to an upright arm, 1, which
is secured rigidly at its lower end to the ball, 2, of a ball-and-socket joint, seen
on a large scale in Fig. 2. This ball is clamped in a socket-bracket, 3, fixed to
the counter B. The arm 1 plays in a slot, 4, in the top of the counter, seen in
plan in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that the gun so mounted may be elevated or
depressed by the play of the arm 1 along the slot, and moved about laterally by
the axial rotation of the arm 1. Thus, by this universal support the gun may be
brought to bear on any target on the target-board.
The ball 2 carries another arm, 5, which I will call the contact-arm. This arm
carries a tip, 6, seen enlarged in Fig. 3, which is adapted to play over the concave
face of a terminal-disk, 7, as the gun is moved about in taking aim. The tip 6
will be of metal, and the disk 7, which will be of some insulating material, will
have set in it metal blocks, 8, 8, 8, 8, etc., one for each target or object to be
aimed at on the target-board C. There may be a great variety of targets, each
of which will form or be connected with some kind of visible annunciator operated
or controlled by an electro-magnet in a circuit with a generator and of which
circuit the tip 6 and one of the blocks in the disk 7 are terminals. In Fig. 1, for
example, the block 8 is one terininal of a circuit, a wire, 9, of which leads to and
through a magnet, 10, behind a target, 11, through the magnets of a bell, 12, and
thence to a common return wire, 13, which connects with one pole of a
generator, 14; a wire, 13, from the other pole of the generator extends to the
hammer, 15, of the gun A. From the tip 6, a wire, 13%, extends to a terminal, 16
(see Fig. 6), whereby, when the trigger is pulled, the hammer, in descending
touches the terminal 16 and closes the break in the circuit at this point. The
wires 13, 13 and 13 and the generator 14, are common to all the target
circuits.
Where the distance between the gun and target is considerable and the
movement of the gun in aiming is slight, it may be desirable to magnify the
movement of the circuit-closing tip 6 relatively to that of the gun, and this may
be done by any known means. In Fig. 9 I have shown a convenient compound
lever mechanism with a universal fulcrum, which will serve the purpose. Let 20
represent any universal joint or fulcrum for a lever, 5%, which carries on its longer
arm the tip 6, and on its shorter arm a ring, 5°, through which extends the free
end of the arm 5, from the ball 2. This device will effect the object. Any form
of universal joint may be used in the apparatus.
Referring now to Figs. 6 and 64, I will more particularly describe the
mechanism connected with circuit-closing devices on the gun, premising, however,
that this may be effected in many ways. The hammer 15 of the gun is mounted
in the usual way and adapted to be controlled by the trigger, 17. In the frame
of the gun at one side of the hammer is pivotally mounted a rocker, 1 (seen
detached in Fig. 6"), which will be made of insulating material or be otherwise
insulated from the hammer. The wire 13 is connected electrically with the
hammer 15, either directly as seen in Fig. 6, or indirectly through the metal of
the gun.
The wire 13 is connected with the contact-piece or terminal 16 fixed
in one branch of the rocker 18. When the hammer is at full cock, as seen in
full lines in Fig. 6, the arm of the rocker which carries the terminal 16, stands

page_text: nearly erect, the terminal 16 occupying a position directly in front of the face of
the hammer and near it. On the other arm of the rocker, which extends back
alongside of the hammer, is a laterally projecting stud, 19, which takes behind the
stem or shank of the hammer. When the trigger is pressed and the freed hammer
falls, it strikes the terminal 16, thereby closing this break in the circuit; but the
head of the hammer, in its forward and downward movement, rocks the rocker 18,
and by the time it has reached the end of its movement (indicated in dotted lines
in Fig. 6), it will have moved the terminal 16 out of contact with its face by
contact of said face with the body of the rocker itself. Thus the descent of the
hammer first closes and then breaks the circuit.
In the change of position of the hammer and rocker the stul 19 in the latter
still maintains its position close behind the shank of the haminer, and when the
hammer is again brought to full cock the engagement of the rear edge of its shank
with said stud rocks the rocker back again to its first position.
I will now describe more minutely the several forms of targets illustrated..
The target 11 (Fig. 1) comprises a metal sliding rod, 11", mounted loosely in the
target-board C opposite the core of the magnet 10, and made to normally protrude
from the face of the board by a light spring or springs at the back. The target
proper 11 consists of a disk of some thin material with a central aperture by which
the disk may be hung on the rod 11. When the magnet 10 is excited it draws
back the rod 11" and lets the apertured disk 11 fall. Another target (seen both
in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7) consists of a light arm, 20, pivotally attached to the face of
the target-board C and supported by a protruding metal slide or pin, 21, mounted
losely in the board C. On the branch or arm 20 may be mounted a bird, 22, or
other object. There are, or may be, several targets of this form, and two of such
are shown in Fig. 1; but as they are alike I deem it sufficient to describe but one.
An electro-magnet, 23, is mounted on the board C behind the sliding pin 21, and
when a current is sent through the coil of the magnet this pin is drawn back so
that the arm 20 is freed and allowed to fall. The coil of the magnet is in circuit
with the wires 13 and 13, and with a wire 24, which extends to the terminal
block 8 in the disk 7.
In Figs. 7 and 74 is shown a swinging or pendulum target. In a casing, 25, on
the board C is an ordinary clock-mechanism, which slowly swings a pendulum, 26.
This pendulum contains an electric bell, 27 (Fig. 7), the wire-terminals from
which have rubbing contact, as the pendulum swings, with a series of pairs of
contacts, 28, set at intervals in the board C, in the path of the pendulum. One
contact of each pair is connected with the return wire leading to the gun, and the
other by a special wire to a terminal block in the disk 7. Thus whenever the gun
is aimed at the center of the pendulum and the trigger is pressed while the terminals
of the bell in the pendulum are in contact with the contacts of either pair of
contacts 28, the bell in the pendulum will ring, but it will not ring except under
these conditions. I have shown this adaptation of the pendulum target to
illustrate a means for training the eye to estimate angles, but it will be obvious
that other adaptations may be employed as well. In Figs. 7 and 7 there is a
target-disk, 29, fixed on the board C, and bearing a number of targets, 30. These
targets each have a central plate of metal which is held in contact (by magnetic
attraction) with the core of a magnet, 31, which projects through the target-
board C. Each magnet 31 is in closed circuit with a generator, 32, and there is a
brenker, 33, in each circuit. This breaker is controlled by a magnet, 34, which is
in circuit with the gun A; and consequently, when the gun is aimed correctly at
one of the targets 30 and the trigger presses the circuit will be closed through the
magnet 34 which controls the breaker 33 of the particular target 30 aimed at.
The magnet 34, by its attraction of one member of the breaker 33, will break the
circuit through the magnet 31 of the target aimed at, and that target will fall.
The illustration in Fig. 74 is somewhat diagrammatic but any one at all familiar
with the installation of electric circuits will ineet with no difficulty in effecting

page_text: the construction described. The attendant will replace the targets 30 that have
fallen.
Referring to Fig. 1 I will now describe the annunciator which is sounded at
each shot, and the counter or register of the shots fired.
Back of the target-board C-by preference is situated an electrical
annunciator, 35, constructed like an ordinary electric bell except that, in lieu of a
bell and hammer I prefer to employ two cymbals, or metal disks, one fixed and the
other carried by the hammer-arm. These are designed to produce a clashing
sound when the gun is fired. The magnet of the annunciator 35 is in a circuit
consisting of a wire, 36, and the wire 13, and a wire, 37, which includes a
generator, 38, the coils of an electro-magnet, 39, of a register, R, and the wire 13b,
the wire 37 being connected at some point with said wire 13b. The utilization of
part of the wires 13 and 13 is not necessary, as any electrician will understand,
and the battery or generator 38 might be omitted and the wires 36 and 37 connected
up with the generator 14, but the separate generator 38 is preferred.
The register R may be any kind of electrically operated counting device. That
shown comprises a casing or cabinet in which is the electro-magnet 39, which,
when excited, attracts an armature, 40, which carries a spring hook-pawl, 41,
engaging the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, 42, connected through a train with an index
or hand, 43, arranged to traverse a dial. Every time the gun is fired the circuit
is closed through the register magnet 39, and the pawl advances the ratchet-wheel
one tooth. Also, every time the gun is fired the annunciator 35 is sounded.
Referring to Fig. 3, the metal tip 6 has a shank and this shank has a sliding
bearing in a tube, 5*, of insulating material fixed on the free end of the tubular
arm 5, and between the tip 6 and the end of the tube 5*, is situated a rubber
cushion, 5. This construction perinits the tip 6 to press on the disk 7 with elastic
pressure so as to insure rubbing contact. The wire 13 is connected electrically
with the shauk of the tip 6.
It may be desirable to raise or lower the gun A at times in order to suit it to a
particularly tall or particularly short marksman, and in order to effect this without
disturbing the relations of the gun with the targets, the construction illustrated in
Figs. 8 and 84 may be employed.
It will be understood that in order to be able to raise or lower the
gun, the
mechanism supporting the gun and the terminal disk 7, must be connected and be
movable with the gun, and also that the movement must be in a curve drawn from
the center of the target. The construction shown permits of this.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 8, of which Fig. 8 shows but one target merely for
purposes of illustration, the disk 7, ball 2, and socket-bracket 3, are all mounted
rigidly in a frame, 44, which is itself mounted to move up and down to a limited
extent in curved keeper-guides, 43, fixed on the counter B, plates, 46, on the
fiame + fitting and playing in said keeper-guides. The dotted lines indicate
the radii of the curve of the keeper-guides. To raise and lower, and to clamp the
frame 44 when adjusted, screws, 47, project through slots in the sides of the
counter B, and these have clamping nuts, 48, on their outer ends, as shown in
Fig. 84.
The construction described is one simple mode of raising or lowering the
gun, but other similar means may be employed for the purpose. There is no
difference in the construction of Figs. 1 and 8 except in matter above described,
and when the frame 44 is fixed in position the operation is precisely the same as in
the device of Fig. 1.
I have called the device A a "gun" merely because it is made to simulate a gun
or piece for firing a projectile, and is provided with a hammer and trigger; and it
may be an ordinary target-rifle fitted up for the purpose. I do not, however,
limit myself to an actual gun.
The disk 7, carrying the several contact-blocks or pieces, is only a convenience;
so long as the contact-piece or pieces are in a field traversed by the contact on the
arm 5, it will suffice.

page_text: The circuit-closer on the gun will be operated by pressure on the trigger, or
such equivalent therefor as the gun may have, and this closure will be controlled
by the marksman. At each pressure on the trigger the shot-annunciator 35 will
be actuated; but if the aim is not correct, the target annunciator will not be
be actuated. It will be obvious that the marksman is merely required to close
and break a circuit, as with an ordinary electric button, and this may be effected
in many ways; to simulate the firing of a gun I have provided a circuit-closer
comprising a hammer and trigger.
My apparatus is adapted for use in target galleries in lieu of the ordinary
apparatus, and it may be used in connection with a slot device, whereby the person
desiring to use it can do so by dropping a coin in the slot as in other slot machines;
and it may also be used as a toy or parlor target practice apparatus.
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 target-apparatus, the combination, with a target, and an electrically
operated target-annunciator, of a gun mounted on a universal joint, a generator,
and an electric circuit including said generator and annunciator and having in it two
breaks, one break adapted to be closed by pressure on the trigger of the gun in
firing and the other by the aiming of the gun at the target, and means sub-
stantially as described for effecting the closure of said breaks.
2. A target-apparatus comprising as its essentials, a gun having a hammer and
trigger and provided with a circuit-closer adapted to be operated by pressure on
the trigger, a support on which said gun is mounted by means of a universal
joint, a contact-arm connected rigidly with the gun and adapted to traverse a field
containing a contact or contacts when the gun is shifted in aiming, a target in
front of the gun, an electrically actuated annunciator, a generator, and an electric
circuit including said annunciator and generator, the terminals at the circuit-
closer on the gun, a terminal on the contact-arm, and a contact block or piece in
the said field which is so placed as to be put into electrical contact with the
contact-arm when the gun is aimed at the target, substantially as set forth.
3. In a target-apparatus, the combination with the stand having a slot 4, the
socket-bracket 3, and the disk 7, provided with a contact-piece or pieces, of the
gun, provided with a circuit-closer adapted to be operated by pressure on
the trigger of the gun, the ball 2, fitted in the socket 3 and carrying the upright
arm 1, to which the gun is rigidly secured and the contact-arm 5, said arm 1
guided in the slot 4, and said arm 5, carrying a contact-tip adapted to play over
the face of the disk 7 when the gun is shifted, a target in front of the gun, an
electrically operated annunciator, a generator, and an electric circuit including
said annunciator, the generator, the terminals of the circuit-closer on the gun,
the contact-tip on the arm 5, and a contact-piece in the disk 7, said piece being so
placed as to be put in contact with the tip on the arm 5 when the gun is aimed at
the target, substantially as set forth.
4. In a target-apparatus, the combination with a universal joint, one member
of which is fixed and the other, or movable member, provided with an upright
arm 1, and a contact-arm 5, and a gun A, fixed to said arm 1 and having a circuit-
closer adapted to be operated by pressure on the trigger of the gun, of a concave
disk 7, bearing contact-pieces adapted to be put into contact with the arm 5 when
the gun is shifted, a target-board C, in front of the gun and having on it targets,
the said targets, electrically operated annunciators, one for each target, a
generator, and electric circuits, all including said generator, the tip on the arm 5,
and the terminals of the circuit-closer on the gun, and each circuit including one
of said annunciators and one of the contact-pieces in the disk 7, all arranged to
operate substantially as set forth.
5. In a target-apparatus, the combination with the gun, mounted on a support
having a universal joint and provided with a circuit-closer adapted to be operated

page_text: by pressure on the trigger of the gun, the said support, the contact-arm 5
connected rigidly with the gun, and a contact-piece arranged in the field traversed
by the contact on arm 5 when the gun is shifted in aiming, of a target in front of
the gun, an electrically operated target-annunciator, a generator, an electric
circuit including said generator, said annunciator, said contact-piece in the field
traversed by the contact-arm, the contact on said arm, and the two terminals of
the circuit-closer on the gun, also an electrically operated shot-annunciator, and a
circuit including a generator and the two terminals at the circuit-closer on the gun,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a target-apparatus, the combination with a gun having a circuit-closer
adapted to be operated by pressure on the trigger, and an electrically operated
register R, comprising an electro-magnet, an armature, adapted to be attracted by
said magnet, a pawl carried by said armature, a ratchet-wheel engaged by said
pawl, an indicator, and means for driving the indicator from said wheel, of a
generator, and an electric circuit including said generator, the electro-magnet of
the register, and the terminals of the circuit-closer on the gun, whereby each shot
is indicated on said register, substantially as set forth.
7. In a target-apparatus, the combination with a target, a pivoted arm
supporting said target, a sliding pin supporting said arm, and an electro-maguet
with its pole adjacent to said pin, whereby the magnet, when excited, will attract
and move the pin and allow said arm to fall, of a gun mounted on a universal
joint, a generator, an electric circuit including said generator and the magnet at
the target and having in it two breaks, one adapted to be closed by pressure on
the trigger of the gun in firing and the other by the aiming of the gun at the
target, and means for effecting the closure of said breaks, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a target-apparatus, the combination with a swinging, pendulum target, 26,
provided with an electrical annunciator, the circuit terminals of which are adapted
to be put successively into rubbing contact with two or more pairs of contacts 28,
as the pendulum swings, the said pairs of contacts, and the said annunciator, of a
gun mounted on a universal joint, and having a circuit-closer adapted to be
operated by pressure on the trigger and a contact-tip, electric circuits, all of
which include the generator, the terminals at the circuit-closer on the gun, and
said contact-tip connected with the gun, and each circuit including a pair of
contacts 28, and a contact-piece in the field traversed by the said contact-tip when
gun is shifted, substantially as set forth.
the
9. In a target-apparatus, the combination with a target 30, having a metal
plate, an electro-magnet 31, a generator 32, and a normally closed circuit including
said electro-magnet and generator and having a breaker 33, of a gun mounted on
a universal joint, a generator, an electro-magnet 34, adapted, when excited, to
actuate the breaker 33. an electric circuit including the generator, and the
magnet 34 and having in it two breaks, one adapted to be closed by pressure on
the trigger of the gun in firing and the other by the aiming of the gun at the
target, and means for effecting the closure of said breaks, substantially as set
forth.
10. In a target-apparatus, the combination with the gun A, provided with a
hammer and trigger, and the rocker 18, pivotally mounted in the gun and provided
with a metallic contact 16, and the stud 19, said contact being placed in the path
of the hammer-head and said stud adapted to take behind the shank of the
hammer for restoring the rocker when the gun is cocked, of an electrically
operated annunciator, a generator, and an electric circuit including said
annunciator and generator, the contact 16, and the hammer of the gun,
substantially as set forth.
11. In a target-apparatus, the combination, with a target, and a gun mounted on
a universal joint, of the said joint, the frame in which said joint is fixed mounted
in curved, upright guides, whereby the gun may be raised and lowered, and the
said guides, having a curve with a radius equal to the distance of the guides from

page_text: the target and said curve having the target as a center, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
12. Means for increasing relatively, the travel of the circuit closing tip 6,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of June 1896.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Agent for the Applicant.