Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug. 1887
Complete Left, 19th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
We HENRY HENDLEY of Woodcross Sedgley in the County of Stafford Boat
Builder and HENRY JONES of No. 1 Drummond Street, Wolverhampton in the said
County Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The Rabbit or Hare is made by stuffing a Rabbit or Hare skin, fixed on a plate
which is made to run upon Wire or Iron or Steel Hoop in the manner described in
the accompanying Plan A is the Rabbit or Hare Bis the spring or Trap from which
the Rabbit starts Cis the Hoop Iron or Wire upon which the Rabbit runs-it is made
to run by a spring either spiral or elastic.
What we particularly claim to secure is the way in which the Rabbit or Hare is
made to move.

page_text: A Running Rabbit or Hare for Shooting Practice.
We, HENRY HENDLEY of 1 Drummond Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Boat Builder, and HENRY JONES also of 1 Drummond Street, Wolverhampton,
aforesaid, Commission Agent, 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 object of this invention, is to construct a target for shooting practice, in imitation
of a running rabbit or hare.
Figure 1 represents a running rabbit or hare, for shooting practice, and means, or
appliances employed in connection therewith, consisting essentially of a scolloped
surface, over the undulations of which, a stuffed or imitation rabbit, hare or the like,
is drawn, by the contraction of an elastic, or coiled spring, whose outer end, is con-
nected to a fixed point, and whose inner end, is attached to the said animal, which is
to be moved forward.
By making an imitation rabbit, or hare, move over an undulatory track, it has at a
distance, all the appearance of a live animal, running with a bound over a field or
open track.
Figure 2 represents in side elevation, the said rabbit, and means in connection
therewith, upon an enlarged scale. It will be seen, that only a small portion of the
undulatory surface, is shown.
Figure 3 represents a top side plan of a portion of the said figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a transverse vertical section on the dotted lines A B figure 2,
and upon a still larger scale of that as aforesaid.
Figure 5 represents partly in elevation, and partly in section, the rabbit or hare, drawn
to the same scale, as that of figure 4.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawing.
a is an undulatory surface or race, over which the rabbit or hare b, is drawn, by the
contraction of a distended elastic or coiled spring e, whose ends are connected to the
rabbit, and staple or fixed point d, respectively. e is an elastic buffer, against which,
the imitation animal impinges against, on rapidly being drawn over the undulatory or
scolloped surface as aforesaid.
The buffer e, consists essentially of an elastic band e², stretched over pegs e³, driven
into the ground, or attached to the finishing of the race.
is a non-flexible cord, attached at its outer end, to the hind part of the rabbit or
hare, and at its inner end, to the barrel g², of a winding drum g, centred at g³, and
provided with a handle g', by means of which, the cord is wound upon the barrel of
th drum, the rabbit or hare drawn backwards, and the elastic or coiled spring, stretched
or distended, which forms the motive power for the running of the imitation animal
over the race.
The drum g is supported within upright bearing brackets go, while its rotation is
retarded or stopped, by a clutch or brake h, consisting of a transversely disposed bar,

page_text: pivoted at 2, and coming under the periphery of the drum; so that on the bar being
turned outwards, the drum is released, and on being turned inwards, in the direction
as indicated by the arrow, it becomes fixedly secured.
The rabbit or hare, consists of a body part 62, a skin ³, a supporting base b*, depending
log like guides, with an inverted T shaped slot 6, cut within them, which takes
upon, and embraces the overhanging opposite edges of the sheet metal strip a²,
following the contour of the race a, which is supported upon the flanged base a³.
The ends 7, of the supporting base 64, are made loopwise, wherewith the elastic c,
and winding in cord f, are connected respectively.
The head of the animal, is represented by a glass, vitreous or sheet metal sphere b³,
enclosed and kept in position, by a spring 9, which encircles the circumference of the
said sphere, and with the lower end of the sphere resting upon an inner extension of
the skin
The sphere also rests, and is enclosed within a hemispherical enclosing band,
supported upon a pillar base 6"
When in use for shooting practice, the hare or rabbit is worked and operated as
follows.
9
The drum is rotated, and the cord f wound upon its drum, and consequent thereon,
the rabbit is drawn to the starting point as represented in figures 1 and 2, and with
the elastic or coiled spring a stretched or distended, and which distension forms the
motive power, for the running of the animal, whilst the pierced part be within the
depending plates 5, makes the animal take the undulatory race, and also thereby
prevents it from rising.
When the rabbit or hare is in its drawn back position, it is held there by the fixing
of the drum, caused by the moving inwards of the brake h, under the periphery of
the said drum.
When a sportsman is ready for shooting, the brake h is withdrawn, away goes the
rabbit or hare, in a bounding manner, over the undulatory race, until it comes in
contact with the buffer at the end of its traverse.
It will be seen that the power expended, in the distension of the elastic, is again
given out, for the running of the animal.
Both the elastic and string are wired next to the object to be shot at.
The animal if necessary, may be provided with anti-friction rollers or wheels, so as
to reduce friction between the moving parts; and further, the animal may be moved
by enclosing the elastic or coiled spring within a groove in the body or base of the
race, with the connection being made with a peg on the underside of the animal,
working within a groove, by which means, the elastic and winding up cord, are
concealed from view.
The race may consist essentially of scolloped sheet or hoop iron or steel, pegged to
the ground, leaving sufficient flange, for making the animal take to the surface.
The glass head 68, when struck, is thereby shattered, and a fresh one replaced, by
slipping it within the space enclosed by the yielding enclosing band 6.
The animal may if necessary, be fixed at its starting point, by a catch, with a level
race, for the animal to start upon.
The undulatory race may be made of flexible steel strips, so arranged, that the animal
besides moving with a running bound, shall quiver.
The animal may instead of being drawn over the race, by an elastic or coiled spring,
it may be propelled by automatic mechanism, contained within itself.
The animal target may be propelled by being struck at its rear, by a striker, urged
forward, by the released energy of a spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
:-
:-
First Running or moving a target rabbit, hare or the like, upon an undulatory
surface or race, whereby the said imitation rabbit, hare or the like, is made to represent
the running of a living animal, substantially as described and set forth.

page_text: Secondly Propelling, or drawing forward, a target rabbit, hare or the like, by the
contraction of a stretched or distended elastic, or spring, substantially as described and
set forth.
Thirdly The combination with an animal running target, of a drawing in
cord, drum g, and elastic c, with fixed stop d, for the purpose as described and set
forth.
Fourthly Piercing the legs, of the base of the framing 64, of an animal
target b², with piercings or their equivalents 6, which runs upon, and embraces the
race, and prevents the target from rising, substantially as set forth.
Fifthly Making the target with a removable head, which is enclosed within a
circumferential yielding spring or band, substantially as set forth.
Lastly running rabbit, hare or other like animal target, and the appliances
used in connection therewith, as herein described and set forth in the several figures
of the drawing,
1
1
1 2839