A New or Improved Inanimate Moving Target.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1894-Accepted, 10th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Inanimate Moving Target.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER WATTS, of 7 Legge Lane, Birmingham, England,
'Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the construction of moving objects for target
purposes or firearm practice of such a character that when struck by the pro-
jectile or shot from a gun such objects will break or collapse and fall to the
ground.
In carrying out my invention I propose to form an object in one or more parts
that shall resemble any desired shape such as a bird, animal or other object, con-
structed of suitable material, wholly or partly indestructable by shot for choice,
such object being held or retained in the shape or position desired by attaching it
to a piece of brittle material such as glass. This combination may then be propelled
in the air or on the ground by any suitable method, or may be fixed to a trolly or
endless band. Upon the projectile or shot striking the brittle substance, and
breaking it, the object that is attached to it, is liberated, or disintegrated and falls
to the ground.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1893.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Inanimate Moving Target.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER WATTS, of 7 Legge Lane, Birmingham, England,
Gentleman, 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 has reference to the construction of objects for target purposes,
or fire-arm practice, of such a character that when struck by the projectile or shot
from a gun, such objects, or such portions of them as are desired will break or
collapse and fall to the ground.
In carrying out my invention, I propose to form a device or object in one or
more parts that shall resemble any desired shape, such as a bird, animal, or other
object, constructed of suitable material, wholly or partly indestructable, by sinall
shot for choice, such object being held or retained in the shape or position desired
by attaching to it a piece or pieces of suitable brittle material such as glass, or by
a suitable collapsable material, such as india-rubber.
The device or object formed by this combination may then be propelled into the
air, or shot along the ground by any suitable or well-known method for operating
such devices; or the device may be fixed to a trolly or endless band, or may travel
upon wires, and be caused to move to and fro by suitable mechanism.
Upon the projectile or shot striking the brittle or collapsable substance (forming
part of the device) and breaking it, the object is liberated, or disintegrated, and
consequently falls to the ground.
Thus according to this invention, we produce a target, which will readily
and at once indicate in a positive, and decided manner, when it is struck in the
desired parts by a projectile, or by small shot, as the case may be.

page_text: It is obvious that the indestructable parts of the device remain intact after
separation from the component part or parts composed of brittle or collapsable
substances, and are available for use again,-it being understood that the
unbreakable part or parts is, or are attached to the breakable part or parts by
some suitable means, such as hooks, slots, clips; or by the unbreakable parts
having springs in themselves, whereby they may clip the breakable parts, and
be thus held in position.
It is difficult to illustrate the different arrangements of destructable and
indestructable parts necessary in the construction of each target object, so as to
cause it to imitate in its action, after being hit, the object in Nature, which it is
intended to represent. Thus for example a running rabbit when shot usually
turns a summer-sault caused by the propelling powers of the hind legs, while á bird
drops its wings, and falls to the earth in a ragged shape.
To help however in more clearly explaining the nature of my invention, I attach
herewith a drawing, illustrating by way of example, a popular method of carrying
the invention into effect. The figure represents a rabbit formed in parts of some
indestructable material, the parts being pivoted at a' and a, and a vertical joint or
division being formed at b. Between the main parts C, and D, is a spiral spring e,
which is so arranged as to exert a tendency to pull D over C, the pivot a' being
the fulcrum of this movement. f is a clamp of glass or other brittle material which
may be dropped as a saddle piece over the edge of the device, or as a flat plate
may be inserted in suitable grooves.
While this piece is in position the rigidity of the object is maintained, but
immediately it is struck, and broken it falls away, and the spring being free to act
pulls the hind part D over the part C, causing the object to perform a sort of
summer-sault, and thus to imitate Nature.
It is obvious that the same arrangement may be applied to other objects, such
for instance, as birds. In this case the wings may be connected to the body by
brittle material in such a way as to cause them (the wings) to fall or hang when
the brittle material is struck.
It is understood that the objects may be projected into the air, or along the
ground, by being pulled by wires, or elastic, or other well-known means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that what I claim is :-
In target practice, the use and application of a device or object constructed and
arranged so as to represent objects in Nature, and in such a manner that the same
shall be retained in any desirable shape or position, by brittle or collapsable
substances, which when fractured shall cause such device or object to fall or
become disintegrated, and thereby indicate-preferably in a way imitating Nature-
to the shooter that he has accomplished his object.
Dated the 8th day of Mov 1901
J. K. FAHIE & SON,.
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.