Year: 1897

page_text: I, WILLIAM JOSEPII STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY of Aldenham Park, Bridgnorth
in the County of Shropshire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive method of
operating hoops when employed as moving targets and especially that they may be
set in operation from the firing point. When required for use at comparatively
short ranges, I employ an oscillating track upon which the hoops travel either in
grooves or upon rails fixed to a light trussed beam hinged under its centre and
preferably constructed partly of timber & partly of metal, such for instance
as iron or steel. By means of cords from the firing point, one connected to each
end of the hinged track, either end may be alternately raised or depressed, thus
determining the direction in which the hoop shall travel across the line of fire.
To vary the pace of travel of these hoop targets, the angle of the oscillating inclines
may readily be changed at will by means of adjustable stops. Although these
Oscillating inclines may be used for ordinary rifle practice, I employ them prin-
cipally for revolver and air gun practice. In conjunction with hoop targets, I
also employ fixed inclines preferably constructed of timber, a groove for the hoop
to travel in being formed of angle iron or steel as above, accommodation being
provided at the head of the incline for any desired number of hoops which may
be released in succession by cords from the firing point connected to bolts, stops
or hooks.
When it is desired that the hoops shall travel along the ground, either level or
at an angle insufficient to permit of their gravitation, I employ a starting frame
forming an artificial track set at a comparatively steep incline, this frame being
so adapted that one or, if desired, several hoops may be released in succession
by a cord or cords from the firing point. The hoop targets may also be released
from the inclined starting frames by hand, but in this case a shelter is provided
for the man employed on this duty at the starting point.
In each of the above instances, I stretch along the track, upon which the hoop
travels either one wire against which the hoop lightly bears as it travels, or two
wires between which it moves freely, vertically, but if, from being struck by a
bullet, by the pressure of the wind, or from any other cause it is inclined to fall
in either direction it will find support against these wires. Alternatively, in lieu
of the wire guide or guides referred to above I make thom in short lengths of
light tubes or rods attached to uprights, so arranged that they may readily bo
connected and thus adapted to varying or undulating inclines if desired.
That portion of the track within which firing should take place may be indicated
by two Hags or otherwise, and, to reduce the risk of shots exceeding these lateral
limits, I fix at the firing point, on either side of the person firing, a shield, these
two shields being connected by a barrier (also serving as a rack for arms) at such a

page_text: distance from their front edges, as shall limit the line of sight within the lateral
points described.
After the desired number of hoop targets. have crossed the range down the
incline, their further progress is arrested by a net and they are thus collected.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1897
.
Improvements in the Method of Operating Moving Targets.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPII STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY of Aldenham Park, Bridgnorth
in the County of Shropshire, 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:-
'
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive method of
operating hoops when employed as moving targets and especially that they may
be set in operation from the firing point. When required for use at comparatively
short ranges, I employ an oscillating track upon which the hoops travel either in
grooves or upon rails fixed to a light trussed Beam hinged under its centre and
preferably constructed partly of timber & partly of metal, such for instance as
iron or steel. By means of cords from the firing point, one connected to each
end of the hinged track, either end may be alternately raised or depressed, thus
determining the direction in which the hoop shall travel across the line of fire.
vary the pace
of travel of these hoop targets, the angle of the oscillating inclines
may readily be changed at will by means of adjustable stops. Although these oscil-
lating inclines may be used for ordinary rifle practice, I employ theni principally
for revolver and air gun practice. In conjunction with hoop targets I also employ
fixed inclines, preferably constructed of timber, a groove for the hoop to travel
in being formed of angle iron or steel as above, accommodation being provided
at the head of the incline for any desired number of hoops which may be released in
succession by cords from the firing point, connected to bolts, stops or hooks.
Το
When it is desired that the hoops shall travel along the ground, either level
or at an angle insufficient to permit of their gravitation, I employ a starting
frame forming an artificial track set at a comparatively steep incline, this frame
-being so adapted that one, or, if desired, several hoops may be released in
succession by a cord or cords from the firing point. The hoop targets may also be
released from the inclined starting frames by hand, but in this case a shelter is
provided for the man employed on this duty at the starting point.
In each of the above instances, I stretch along the track upon which the hoop
travels either one wire against which the hoop lightly bears as it travels or two
wires between which it moves freely, vertically, but if, from being struck by a
bullet, by the pressure of the wind, or from any other cause, it is inclined to fall
in either direction it will find support against these wires. Alternatively in lieu
of the wire guide or guides referred to above, I make them in short lengths of
light tubes or rods attached to uprights so arranged that they may readily be
connected and thus adapted to varying or undulating inclines if desired.
That portion of the track within which firing should take place may be indicated
by two flags or otherwise, and, to reduce the risk of shots exceeding these lateral
limits, I fix at the firing point, on either side of the person firing, a shield, these
two shields being connected by a barrier (also serving as a rack for arms) at such
a distance from their front edges as shall limit the line of sight within the lateral
noints descrihed.

page_text: After the desired number of hoop targets have crossed the range down the
incline, their further progress is arrested by a net, and they are thus collected.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 Sheet I shew in front and end elevation and plan respectively
my invention of an oscillating incline.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 Sheet II are corresponding views of a fixed incline, from the
head of which a series of hoop targets may be released in succession, and aro
supported by a strained wire guide or guides.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 Sheet II are corresponding views, shewing the starting frame
in conjunction with a natural incline.
Figs. 10 and 11 Sheet II illustrate the manner in which I construct artificial
inclines of short tracks or frames connected together, the guide or guides for hoop
targets being of short tubes or roda in lieu of strained wire.
'
In Fig. 12 may be seen the manner in which frames generally similar to those
shewn in Figs. 10 and 11 may be used as undulating inclines in conjunction with
the employment of hoop targets.
Fig. 13 Sheet II shews in transverse section, and to a larger scale than Fig. 11
the track and support for tube or rod guides.
Fig. 14 being a front elevation of a portion of the same and
Fig. 15 an end elevation, corresponding with Fig. 13 excepting that a single
guide is here employed.
Figs. 16, 17 and 18 Sheet I shew a modification of the starting frame system
employed for moving targets, a balanced frame being placed at each end of an
artificial horizontal track, these balanced frames being actuated from the firing
point.
The views are respectively a front and end elevation and a plan.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 Sheet I, A is the oscillating incline, strongly braced together
and supported upon the pedestals B, B and capable of moving through the arcs
indicated in either direction as the cords C or D communicating with the firing
point be drawn taut. The hoop target E travels between and is maintained in its
vertical position by the strained wire guides F, F, tightened by ratchet wheels G, G,
at one end of the incline or one of them at either end. The groove in the track
is in this instance formed of angle steel H embedded in the plank I, timber or
other stops K, K, arresting the travel of the hoop target beyond the uprights L, L,
and its recoil at these points is prevented by the wood or other side packings M, M,
at each end of the track. The tendency of the hoop to recoil may be further
reduced by curving the ends of these inclines slightly upwards.
The fixed inclines, as in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 Sheet II, have, embedded in them,
angle steel grooves H, and a strained wire guide or guides F support the hoop
targets in their vertical position. The hoop targets E, E, E, are shewn at the head
of the incline, and, on being released in succession by the cords N, N¹, N", are
intended to be fired at in transit between the limits indicated by the flags O & Ot
and their progress is ultimately arrested by the net P. The cords N, N', N",
connected to the latches or levers Q, Q, Q", respectively may, from the firing
point be drawn taut at will.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 represent a method of employing a starting-frame R at the
head, preferably of a suitable natural incline S, S', having regard to the length
of travel determined across the range. In this instance a mantlet T protects the
person employed setting hoop targets on the starting-frame R, and the pair of
shields U, U limit the line of fire between the points of safety indicated by the
flags 0, 0, the table or arm rack X within the shields U, U¹, preventing the person
firing from advancing beyond the necessary limit.
An enlarged transverse sectional view of a starting frame R is seen in Fig. 13
Sheet II, this being provided with double guide tubes or rods, V, V, and also
seen in Fig. 14 or they may be made with single tubes or rods V as in Fig. 15.
Continuous inclines may be constructed by a succession of these starting frames

page_text: as in Figs. 10 & 11 or they may be set to cause hoop targets to travel over undu-
lating inclines, Fig. 12, thus producing a movement nearly approaching
circumstances arising in sporting practice.
A further modification of the starting-frame method of operating moving
targets is seen in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 Sheet I, the frames R, R³, being at their lower
ends hinged at W, WI, and counterbalanced by the weights Z, Z, the cords C & D
communicating with the firing point are at their other ends attached to the frames
as shewn. The angle steel track connecting the two balanced frames may be
either formed of a series of other frames connected and provided with tube or rod
guides or if preferred, strained wire guides may be used on these horizontal tracks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and shown
on the drawings as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of my Invention and I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The employment of a hoop target or targets in conjunction with an oscil-
lating and variable inoline substantially in the manner described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 Sheet I.
2. The employment of a hoop target or targets in conjunction with an artificially
constructed incline substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Figs. 4, 5 & 6 Sheet II.
3. The employment of a hoop target or targets in conjunction with a starting
frame on a level or on inclined ground substantially in the manner described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 7, 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15 Sheet II.
4. The employment of guide frames in conjunction with a hoop target or targets
substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, Figs. 10, 11 & 12 Sheet II.
5. The employment in conjunction with hoop targets of starting-frames counter-
balanced, one at cither end of a level track substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 16, 17 & 18 Sheet I.
Dated this 6th day of July 1807.
W. J. S. BARBER-STARKEY.