A New Mode of Constructing Spring Guns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
A New Mode of Constructing Spring Guns.
I EDWARD PHILEMON TIMMINS of 57 Princess Road Edgbaston Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
According to this invention I construct a gun or pistol, of the ordinary shape,
having a Plunger working in the barrel; round the back end of this plunger, which
is suitably formed, an Indiarubber band (or bands) passes, the other ends of which
are secured to the front of the stock or to the barrel. The plunger on being drawn
back is secured by a catch from which it is released by a suitable trigger when the
plunger is returned forcibly to its original position ejecting a pellet placed in the
barrel. By a simple arrangement of striker I make it to fire an ordinary
percussion cap.
Dated this Dinot day of December 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Mode of Constructing Spring Guns.
'I, EDWARD PHILEMON TIMMINS, of 90 Balsall Heath Road (late 57 Princess Road)
Edgbaston Birmingham in the County of Warwick Mechanical 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:
The improvements in this invention refer to the construction of Spring guns by
combining the principle of the catapult with the convenient shape of the gun or
pistol, producing a gun or pistol of varying shooting power from a boy's toy to a
gun capable of projecting a ball carrying a life line to a vessel in distress. Among
the advantages of this invention are:-Economy of manufacture great durability,
easy renewal of projectile power, nonsusceptibility to damp & accuracy of shooting.
My Gun or Pistol consists of a stock, of the usual form, & barrel made either of a
solid rod or prolongation of the stock or a hollow tube or barrel carrying respectively
a fork or containing a plunger. One or more elastic bands constructed of Indiarubber
or other suitable elastic material are attached, in the case of a solid barrel to a fork
at the end of the barrel above or below or at either side or any combination of these
positions, terminating at the other end or ends in a pocket or suitable receptacle for
the missile, and in the case of a hollow barrel the elastic band or bands are attached
to a suitable point at the end of or in the length of the barrel or passed round the
front end of the stock, the other end or ends being attached to or passed round
the rear end of the plunger which is suitably formed to receive same.
In conjunction with this construction I use a trigger so constructed as to hold or
to release or to hold and to release the pocket or plunger when drawn back into
shooting position.
The guns may be made single or double and the stock & barrel may consist of an
ordinary walking stick to which the necessary appliances are affixed.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood reference is had to
the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side and end elevation of a Pistol constructed on my improved
method, in position for shooting.

page_text: Figure 2 Sheet 1, is a detail view of the side and end of the trigger and Figure 3
Sheet 1, a detail view of the front end and under side of the plunger for the same
Pistol.
Figure 4 Sheet 1, is a detail view of the side & top of a Pistol barrel constructed
to attach the Springs in another manner.
Figure 5 Sheet. 1, is a detail view Cross Section & Side Section of a trigger
arrangement suitable for the gun shewn at Figure 6 Sheet 2.
Figure 6, Sheet 2 shews a gun constructed on my improved method, in side
elevation and plan, in position ready for shooting. In this figure the stock & barrel
are shown all constructed in one piece.
Figure 7 Sheet 2 shews an elevation and plan of a gun or mortar in which the
plunger or pocket for containing or propelling the missile is contained inside the
barrel. Similar letters refer to like parts in all figures.
B. is the barrel. P is the plunger or pocket. I. I are the india rubber springs.
S. is the stock. T is the trigger. A is the pin on which the trigger is pivoted.
E E. are the side plates through which the pin A. passes. X. is a spiral or other form
of spring for returning the Slide C into position after firing. D. is the Slide Plate.
Y a plate for retaining the Spring X. in position.
Having pointed out the various parts used in the construction of my invention I
now describe the manner in which these parts act.
To load the pistol Fig. 1 Sheet 1. draw back the plunger P. and place the pro
jecting end of the plunger P. so as to catch above the trigger T as shewn. To shoot
pull the trigger T when when the Spring I. will violently return the plunger P. and
eject a pellet placed in the Barrel B.
To load the gun Fig. 6. Sheet 2. place a Shot or other suitable missile in the
pocket P. draw out the Spring or catapult I and place the pocket containing the shot
down between the sliding fork C. To shoot draw back the trigger T which will
cause the sliding fork C. to slide down till the two ends of the fork C are level with
the slide plate D. which will release the pocket P.
The action of the gun or mortar Fig. 7 Sheet 2 is similar to the pistol.
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:
First. The construction of Guns or Pistols suitably arranged to carry elastic bands
or springs similar to the well known catapult, with plungers or pockets working
externally or internally to the barrel substantially as herin before set forth and
described.
Second. Triggers constructed to hold or to release, or to hold and to release, the
pocket or plunger substantially as herin before set forth and described.
Third. The general arrangement and construction of guns and pistols substantially
as herin before set forth and described.
Dated this Tanth day of Act 198eu