Improvements in Spring Guns or Pistols for use with Coin Freed Meohantsm.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Guns or Pistols for use with Coin Freed
Meohantsm.
I, JAMES GILBERT CUMMING, Mechanical Engineer One hundred and twenty
seven, Dalry Road, Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the form and construction of the
spring gun or pistol used in connection with the apparatus and for the purpose
referred to in my application for Letters Patent No. 18830, 21st November 1890.
My improvements on the said spring gun or pistol may be described as follows.
I construct the pistol of the usual pistol like form or shape, but instead of a
barrel such as an ordinary pistol or revolver is possessed of, I form two Ride
guide pieces, (which extend from the butt or handle to the mouth or front end
of the pistol) together with a suitable base or bottom so as to form an oblong
vertical slot; which alot extends from the point, at which the hammer strikes,
to the mouth or front end of the pistol. This slot is open at the top of the
pistol and is of such width and depth as will contain one penny or other similar
coin, and will hold auch penny or coin upright after being placed therein. The
said slot may be of any suitable depth and length but I preferably construct it
of such depth as would enable the coin after being placed therein to be controlled
by the party operating the pistol. When the coin is placed in the pistol it rests
in an upright position between the two guide pieces before mentioned and its
rear end rests against the rear end of the slot. The rear end of the slot is
provided with an opening through which the hammer moves. When the coin is
placed in the slot and the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes the coin on the
point of greatest-diameter or circumference and propels it out of the slot. The
hammer after striking the coin follows it a certain distance thereby imparting
greater momentum to it and when the trigger is released the hammer returns
to its normal position. While I preferably use the arrangement before described
in which the coin in an upright position is shot through an oblong vertical slot;
the pistol may also be constructed in such a manner as will enable the coin to
be discharged in a flat or horizontal position. To enable this to be done I form
the guide pieces such a distance apart, and of such depth as may be necessary
to suit the coin in a flat position.
The spring action or mechanism of the pistol operating the hammer is what
generally used in revolvers and may be described thus; the hammer is carried on a
centre near its lower end and is provided with a flat propelling spring. The
hammer is also provided with a spring catch. The trigger is carried on a centre
and provided with two arms at the top, a front arm and a rear arm. The front
arm bears against a spring which is used to restore the trigger to its normal
position after being pulled. The upper end of the rear arm is so shaped that on
the trigger being pulled this upper end engages a spring catch on the hammer thus
causing the hammer to turn on its centre. The lower end of the said rear arm
bears against one end of a lever which is also carried on a centre. The other end
of this lever is so shaped or constructed as to act on a cam or notch provided on the
hammer and to engage said cam or notch when the trigger is released, thereby
bringing the hammer back to its normal position.
For the purpose of locking the said mechanism, to prevent the pistol being used
until a coin has been placed therein, I provide the following arrangement. Near.
the rear end of the slot I provide a spring catch which works on a centre and one

page_text: end of which when in its normal position extends down to and lies immediately
above or over the top of the rear arm of the trigger thus preventing the trigger
from being moved until this spring catch has been displaced. On the coin being
placed in the slot the spring catch is pushed aside and thereby by the same
movement releasing the trigger and putting it in a position of action.
Dated this 27th day of August 1891.
JAMES G. CUMMING.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Guns or Pistols for use with Coin Freed
Mechanism.
I, JAMES GILBERT CUMMING, of 2 Merchiston Bank Terrace Edinburgh, in
the County of Midlothian, North Britain, Engineer 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 improvements in the mechanism of the spring gun or
pistol used in connection with the apparatus referred to in the Specification of my
prior Patent No. 18830, A.D. 1890.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings which I will now
proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing my improvements; and
Figure 2 is a plan of the gun or pistol.
Figure 3 is a fragmental view showing more fully the locking mechanism.
open at the
I construct the pistol of the usual pistol-like form or shape but in place of a barrel
I form two side guide pieces or plates A, A', together with a base or bottom B'so
as to form an oblong vertical slot C which extends from the point at which the
hammer strikes to the mouth or front end of the pistol. This slot C is
top, and is of such width and depth as will contain a penny or other similar coin.
The hammer E is carried on a centre e, and is provided with a spring catch G,
pivoted at g and capable of turning in an inward direction only. The trigger H is
also carried on a centre a, and is provided with two arms h, h, the arm / bearing
against a spring I which causes the trigger H to return to its normal position after
being pulled. The upper end of the arm h' engages with the spring catch G when.
the trigger H has been pulled, thus causing the top part of the hammer E to move
backwards. The trigger H being still pulled, the arm gets released from the
spring catch G, and the hammer E by means of the flat spring F propels forward
and strikes the coin.. I provide a lever J, pivoted at c, one end of which rests
against the underside of the arm of the hammer H, while the other engages with
a notch or cam d when the trigger H has been released, thus causing the
hammer E to return to its normal position.
When the coin is placed in the pistol it rests in an upright position between the
two guide pieces A, A' against the rear end of the slot. The rear end of the
slot is provided with an opening D through which the hammer E moves. When
the trigger H is pulled after the coin is in the slot C the hammer strikes the coin
and propels it out of the slot. The hammer E after striking the coin follows it a
certain distance thereby imparting greater momentum to it, and when the trigger H
is released it returns to its normal position by means of the lever J. as hereinbofore
described.
In order to lock the mechanism to prevent the pistol being used until a coin has
been placed therein I provide near the rear end of the slot Ca spring catch K
which works on a centre f. One end of this spring catch K when in its normal
position extends down to and lies immediately above or near the top of the arm'
of the trigger H, thus preventing the trigger from being moved until this spring
catch K has been displaced. On the coin being placed in the slot the spring

page_text: catch K is pushed aside, and thus by the same movement releases the trigger H
and puts it in a position for action..
It is to be understood while I prefer to use the arrangement as already
described in which the coin is shot through an oblong vertical slot in an upright
position, the coin may be discharged in a flat or horizontal position in which case I'
would form the guide pieces such a distance apart and of such depth as would be
necessary to suit the coin in a flat position.
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 :-
The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts
constituting my improved gun or pistol, all operating in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
DJ 101 1
CM1 1000
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.