Year: 1897

page_text: 1, JAMES HAYWOOD, Mechanic, of Kingswood, Wotton-under-Edge, in the
County of Gloucestershire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention has for its object an improved toy gun or pistol the projectile of
which is thrown by means of a spring.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I make the stock of the toy of
wood, or other suitable material, or substance, and in suitable shape for either a
gun or pistol as desired.
I form, preferably in one piece with the stock, a projecting piece either running
the whole length of, or exceeding in length, the barrel of the gun, or pistol, and
having attached to or formed on the end thereof a point or spike or projection.
To the top of, and parallel with this solid projecting piece, I attach a hollow cylin-
drical barrel of metal or other suitable substance. This barrel is open at both ends
and has a longitudinal opening or slot running along its whole length at the
top, or at one side thereof. Attached to the stock is a trigger operating a spring
catch, which latter normally projects into the barrel at the breech end thereof.
The projectile for use with this toy, I make in the form of a short cylinder
and preferably of wood, though other suitable substance may be used. To one
end of this projectile I attach one end of a spring preferably of rubber. This
spring is of considerably less length than the before mentioned projecting piece
and has formed upon, or attached to its free end a ring, loop, or the like.
When it is required to fire the gun or pistol this ring or loop at the end of
the rubber or other spring is passed over the point or spike on the end of the solid
projecting piece, the projectile is then firmly held between the thumb and fingers,
drawn backwards, and inserted in the open breech end of the barrel, where it
is retained by means of the projecting spring catch, the rubber or other spring
being now stretched and passing into the barrel through the before mentioned
longitudinal slot or opening. When now the trigger is operated, the spring catch
is lowered thus releasing the projectile which is then ejected from the barrel
by the recoil of the rubber or other spring.
If desired. the projectile and rubber or other spring may be attached to the
gun or pistol by means of a suitable length of string. or the like, one end of
which is attached to the ring or loop of the spring, and the other end of which
is attached to any convenient part of the gun or pistol.
It is obvious that the toy may be somewhat modified without departing from
the spirit of my invention; for instance, the greater part of the metal barrel may
D
077

page_text: be done away with, and only a short length of it, sufficient to retain the projectile
in position behind the spring catch, left.
Dated this 15th day of December 1897.
CASTLE SMITH,
nvention" Office, Mitre Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant,
An Improved Toy Gun.
I, JAMES HAYWOOD, of Kingswood, Wootton-under-Edge, in the County of
Gloucester, Mechanic, 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 toy guns, and pistols and consists of an improved
form of such toy wherein the projectile is propelled by the action of a spring.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I make the stock of the toy of
wood or other suitable material or substance and in suitable shape for either gun
or pistol. as desired I form preferably in one piece with the stock a projecting
piece either running the whole length of or exceeding in length the barrel of the
gun or pistol and having attached to or formed on the end thereof a point or
spike or projection. To the top of and parallel with this solid projecting piece
I attach a hollow cylindrical barrel of metal or other suitable substance, this
barrel is open at both ends and has a longitudinal opening or slot running along
its whole length, at the top or at one side thereof. The projectile for use with
this toy I make in the form of a short cylinder and preferably of wood, though
other suitable substances may be used. To one end of this projectile I attach
one end of a spring preferably of rubber, this spring is of considerably less length
than the before mentioned projecting piece and has formed upon or attached
to its free end a ring, loop or the like. When it is required to fire the gun or
pistol this ring or loop at the end of the rubber or other spring is passed over
the point or spike on the end of the solid projecting piece; the projectile is. then
firmly held between the thumb and fingers drawn backwards and inserted in the
open breech end of the barrel where it is retained by means of a projecting catch
the rubber or other spring being now stretched and passing into the barrel through
the before mentioned longitudinal slot or opening. When now the trigger is
operated the spring catch is lowered thus releasing the projectile which is then
ejected from the barrel by the recoil of the rubber or other spring, which accom-
panies the projectile in its flight.
.
If desired the projectile and rubber or other spring may be attached to the gun
or pistol by means of a suitable length of string or the like, one end of which is
attached to the ring or loop of the spring, and the other end of which is attached
to any convenient part of the gun or pistol. It is obvious that the toy may be
somewhat modified, without departing from the spirit of my invention, for
instance; the greater part of the metal barrel may be done away with, and only
a short length of it sufficient to retain the projectile in position behind the spring
catch left.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and ascertained I. append
drawings in which:-
:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a toy gun according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of projectile, spring, and ring.

page_text: A indicates the stock, the butt end of which is shaped in the usual manner to
fit the shoulder of the user. To the upper side of this in the position usually
occupied by the lock or cock a barrel B is attached, this being here shewn as having
but small length though it will be understood that it may extend along the whole
or any portion of the stock. A groove or slit extends along the whole length
of this barrel of such size that the spring hereinafter referred to can pass freely
through it. C is a trigger by pulling which a catch c is operated when it is neces-
sary to liberate the projectile.
The projectile D is of cylindrical shape of such diameter that it can be inserted
in and pass freely out of the barrel B which is open at both front and back ends.
To the front end of the projectile is attached one end of a rubber or other elastic
spring E, the other end of which is affixed to a ring e of such diameter that it can
be hooked on a pin a which projects from the end of the stock A.
In some cases a cord G is employed for the purpose of securing the projectile
and spring, one end is attached to the stock near the pin a and the other to the
ring e.
When it is required to adjust the toy gun for firing a shot, the ring e is hooked
on the pin a, and the elastic spring being extended the projectile D is inserted
into the open rear end of the barrel B, the spring E passing through the slit b,
and is retained by the catch c. The spring being thus in tension, as soon as the
trigger C is pulled, the projectile D is drawn sharply forward out of barrel, and
is thrown with the spring forward until its object is reached. When the cord G
is employed the flight of the projectile is limited by the length of this. The
short pin a allows the ring e to pass from it when the projectile is thrown forward.
It will be understood that toy guns or pistols according to this invention may
be made of any suitable material, size, or pattern, and that any kind of catch
and trigger may be employed.
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. A toy gun or pistol in which the projectile is propelled by an elastic spring
which accompanies the projectile in its flight substantially as described and
shewn.
2. A toy gun or pistol in which the projectile is inserted in the rear end of the
barrel, and in which the projectile is propelled by an elastic spring which accom-
panies the projectile in its flight, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In a toy gun or pistol, the combination of the stock A, the barrel B having
a slit b, the pin a, the projectile D, the spring E and the trigger operated catch c
substantially as described and shewn.
4. In a toy gun or pistol, the combination of the stock A, the barrel B having
a slit b, the pin a the projectile D, the spring E the cord G, and the trigger
operated catch c substantially as described and shewn.
5. A toy gun or pistol constructed and operating, substantially as described
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of September 1898.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.