Improvements in or relating to Signalling Apparatus for Targets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Signalling Apparatus for Targets.
We, WILLIAM PARNALL, Grocers' Outfitter, of 108, Victoria Street, Bristol, in
the County of Gloucester, and TOM BELL BURNS, Commercial Traveller, of 8,
Narrow Weir, Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to signalling apparatus for targets and has for its object
to enable the result of a shot to be quickly and easily indicated on the signalling
dummy, the latter being also so constructed as to enable it to be used for other
signals.
According to this invention the dummy has pivotted about the centre of its
face a bar upon one end of which is carried a dise or plate of suitable shape while
upon the other end is a balance weight.
The bar is provided with a suitable handle by means of which the bar may be
turned about its pivot so as to cause the disc to be situated over different parts
of the face of the dummy, these varying positions indicating that a shot has been
registered in certain parts of the target. In order to ensure the arm and disc
being held in the position in which they are placed, the face of the dummy is
provided with a preferably metal ring which lies around the pivot of the bar,
the latter carrying on its under side a stud which engages with suitably situated
recesses in the face of the ring. The bar having a certain amount of spring in
it enables the stud to be sprung in or out of the recesses when it is required to
alter the position of the signalling disc.
32
The positions of the disc upon the face of the dummy are employed to indicate
that a bull' "inner," outer' magpie" or
shot has been regis-
"ricochet
tered in the target.
Owing to increased accuracy in shooting it has been found necessary to mark
out a smaller disc in the centre of the "bull," shots which are registered within
this ring being counted as of higher value than a simple "bull." In order that
such central" shots may be signalled the signalling disc on the end of the
pivotted arm is provided upon its face with a hinged flap, which when unfolded
will disclose a patch on the face of the signalling disc of a different colour from
that of the disc itself the latter being of course of a different colour from the
face of the signalling dummy. Thus for example the signalling dummy may
be coloured white, the disc and back of the flap black, while the inside of the
flap and portion of the disc covered by it are painted white.
<
With this arrangement in order to signal a simple "bull" shot the disc is
moved so as to cover that part of the face of the dummy which serves to indicate
that a
bu" has been registered, but if a central shot has been made the
dummy is sent up into view of the firer of the shot with the flap on the face of
the disc open so that the black disc appears with a white patch on its face.
In order to enable the dummy to be used for signalling danger" or the like
its face is provided with a second flap of an area equal to about half that of the
entire disc.

page_text: The half of the disc covered by this flap when in its normal position, and the
under side of the flap itself are painted red or some such distinctive colour,
the flap being so arranged that when folded over the whole disc appears red.
Conveniently the two flaps for respectively indicating the " central" shot and
danger" are hinged upon one pin running diagonally across the face of the
disc, but these flaps may be otherwise arranged.
It will be understood that the shapes of the several flaps as also the signalling
disc itself may be varied as found desirable, the word "disc" having been above
employed in no way as distinctive of the shape of that part. Also the colours
employed for the respective parts may be those most suitable for the purpose.
The signalling dummy itself may be of any well known type such for example
as a light wooden frame covered with canvas or other suitable material painted
the required colour; also the mechanism for raising or lowering the dummy may
be varied, any known type being employed.
Dated this 10th day of February 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Signalling Apparatus for Targets.
We, WILLIAM PARNALL, Grocers' Outfitter, of 108, Victoria Street, Bristol, in
the County of Gloucester, and Tox BELL BURNS, Commercial Traveller, late of
8, Narrow Weir, Bristol, now of Ashton House, Cossham Road, St. George,
Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 signalling apparatus for targets and has for its object
to enable the result of a shot to be quickly and easily indicated on the "signalling
dummy," the latter being also so constructed as to enable it to be used for other
signals.
According to this invention the dummy has pivotted about the centre of its
face a bar upon one end of which is carried a disc or plate of suitable shape while
upon the other end is a balance weight.
The bar is provided with a suitable handle by means of which it may be
turned about its pivot so as to cause the disc to be situated over different parts
of the face of the dummy, these varying positions indicating that a shot has been
registered in certain parts of the target. In order to ensure the arm and disc
being held in the position in which they are placed, the face of the dummy is
provided with a preferably metal ring which lies around the pivot of the bar,
the latter carrying on its under side a stud which engages with suitably situated
recesses in the face of the ring. The bar having a certain amount of spring in
it enables the stud to be sprung in or out of the recesses when it is required to
alter the position of the signalling disc.
The positions of the dise upon the face of the dummy are employed to indicate
that a bull" "inner" outer magpie" or ricochet" shot has been regis-
tered in the target.
" "
66
Owing to increased accuracy in shooting it has been found necessary to mark
out a smaller disc in the centre of the bull," shots which are registered within
this ring being counted as of higher value than a simple "bull." In order that
such central" shots may be signalled the signalling disc on the end of the
pivotted arm is provided upon its face with a hinged flap, which when unfolded
66

page_text: will disclose a patch on the face of the signalling disc of a different colour from
that of the disc itself the latter being of course of a different colour from the
face of the signalling dummy. Thus for example the signalling dummy may
be coloured white, the disc and back of the flap black, while the inside of the
flap and portion of the disc covered by it are painted white.
With this arrangement in order to signal a simple "bull" shot the disc is
moved so as to cover that part of the face of the dummy which serves to indicate
that a "bull" has been registered, but if a
* centralshot has been made the
dummy is sent up in view of the firer of the shot with the flap of the face of
the disc open so that the black disc appears with a white patch on its face.
In order to enable the dummy to be used for signalling "danger
"
or the like
its face is provided with a second flap of an area equal to about half that of the
entire disc.
The half of the disc covered by this flap when in its normal position, and the
under side of the flap itself are painted red or some such distinctive colour,
the flap being so arranged that when folded over the whole disc appears red.
Conveniently the two flaps for respectively indicating the central" shot and
"danger" are hinged upon one pin running diagonally across the face of the
disc, but these flaps may be otherwise arranged.
"
It will be understood that the shapes of the several flaps as also the signalling
disc itself may be varied as found desirable, the word disc" having been above
employed in no way as distinctive of the shape of that part. Also the colours
employed for the respective parts may be those most suitable for the purpose.
The signalling dummy itself may be of any well known type such for example
as a light wooden frame covered with canvas or other suitable material painted
the required colour; also the mechanism for raising or lowering the dummy may
be varied, any known type being employed.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a signalling dummy:
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the indicating plate differently arranged:
Figure is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
The dummy A carries upon a rod B pivotted at or near its centre A¹ an
indicator plate C preferably counterbalanced by a weight B' at the opposite end
of the rod B. In order to retain the indicator in the required position, a ring D
preferably of metal, is fixed on the framework of the dummy A around the pivot
point of the rod B. In the face of this ring D are a series of recesses 1)¹ with
which engages a stud on the underside of the rod B. The latter having a certain
amount of spring allows of the stud being disengaged from any one of the
recesses D, while the rod is moved round so as to alter the position of the
indicator C. A projecting pin or handle B2 provides a means of readily moving
the indicator.
The indicator plate C has attached to its face by a hinge running diagonally
across it, two flaps C1 and C2 of these C" is triangular and covers exactly one half
of the plate C, the flap C² is smaller and curves, being preferably semi-circular.
The underside of the flap C together with the portion C³ of the plate C covered
by it, is coloured some distinctive colour, such as red, indicating danger, the
upper side of the flap C₁ together with the other half of the plate C" is how-
ever coloured preferably black in contradistinction to the white of the dummy A.
It will thus be seen that when the flap C is folded so as to cover over the flap C³
the whole of the indicator plate C is made to appear red whereas when this flap
is folded down so as to cover the surface C³ the indicator plate appears black.
"
The flap which for the sake of simplicity is mounted on the same hinge as
the flap C, has its upper surface painted black or the same colour as the face
of the plate C when used for ordinary signalling. The under side of the flap C²
is however, painted white as also is that portion of the plate C covered by it.
Thus it will be seen that when the flap C¹ is folded over so as to cover up the red
surface, the indicator plate C may be made to appear either with a uniformly
black or else with a patch of white or other distinctive colour in its centre as

page_text: shown in Figure 2, the white patch being made to appear by opening out the
flap C³.
For signalling the results of ordinary shots such as an
a
outer" magpie
or a "bull" the face of the indicator plate C is made to appear uniformly black,
but if the shot has passed within an inner ring marked in the bull on the target,
the flap C is opened out so as to cause the white patch to appear, and the
indicator plate C is moved into the position on the dummy which indicates that
a "bullshot has been registered, the actual position in the bull being within
the above-mentioned circle, such a shot being conveniently described as a
"central" shot.
The whole shape of the indicator plate C may be otherwise than that shown in
the drawings, the flap C being shaped accordingly. Also the flap C² may be made
triangular or otherwise as desired in accordance with the shape it is thought
desirable to give to the white patch for indicating a "central" shot. As above
remarked the colours of these different parts may be varied in accordance with
requirements.
If desired the indicator plate C may carry only one flap for signalling a
"central" shot, other means being employed for signalling danger instead of
using the flap C
It must be understood that the signalling device comprising the ring D D₁
pivotted rod B and indicator C C C² may be applied to other forms of dummy
and combined with other kinds of targets than those shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;—
1. The combination with a target signalling-dummy of a ring such as D D'
and a pivotted rod B carrying an indicator such as C C C with or without a
balance weight substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a target signalling-dummy a duplicate indicating device whereby either
a simple bullor a "central" shot can be signalled.
3. In a target-signalling-dummy the combination with an indicator plate such
as C of one or more supplementary indicators such as C1 C2 for the purpose
described.
4. In a target signalling-dummy the combination with an indicator plate C of
flaps such as C (2 arranged and operating substantially as described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The complete signalling apparatus for targets substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of November 1898.
WILLIAM PARNALL.
TOM BELL BURNS.
Boult & Wade.
Agents for the Applicants.