Improvements in Markers or Counters for Scoring in Shooting and at Whist and other Games and for the Purposes of Scoring or Counting generally.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1887
Complete Left, 24th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
Improvements in Markers or Counters for Scoring in Shooting and
at Whist and other Games and for the Purposes of Scoring or
Counting generally.
I, WILLIAM MANSFIELD, trading as Joseph Brazier and Sons, of Ashes Works,
Lord Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, gunlock and action manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its chief object the construction of a marker or counter which
may be conveniently fixed within the stock or fore-part of a fowling-piece, rifle, or
other firearm for the purpose of scoring the head of game shot or the points made at
target practice, or for otherwise scoring in connection with the shooting, but the
invention is applicable also to markers or counters employed for scoring at whist and
other games, and for the purpose of scoring or counting generally.
A marker, constructed according to this invention, for fixture within the stock or
fore-part of a fowling-piece, rifle or other firearm, consists of a plate which carries the
mechanism and which is curved or shaped on its outer face to follow the exterior
contour of the part of the stock or fore-part within which the marker is fixed. This
plate is, preferably, let in flush with the exterior of the stock or fore-part. The plate
is provided with two backwardly projecting lugs within which a longitudinal spindle
is fixed. Upon this spindle is carried, so as to be capable of turning freely thereon,
a pair of discs or solid wheels the edges of which project slightly for a short distance
through openings formed therefor in the plate. Each of these discs carries a ratchet
wheel, of a smaller diameter than the discs so as not to show through at the face of the
plate, and each of the ratchet wheels is provided with a spring pawl, connected with
the plate, so that as either of the wheels is turned in a forward direction an angular
distance corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet teeth it is retained by the corresponding
pawl from turning backwards. A pusher, by which the marker is operated, is carried to
turn upon the spindle aforesaid and a part thereof is formed to a radius with the spindle
and projects through an opening formed therefor in the plate, and such projecting
part is milled or roughened to give a hold to the thumb in operating the pusher.
This pusher is provided with a part which bears, when the pusher is in its backward

page_text: first
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position, against the inner face of the plate and thus stops the movement of the pusher
in a backward direction, and which bears, when the pusher is in its forward position,
against a projection on one of the lugs aforesaid and thus stops the movement of the
pusher in a forward direction, and a spring carried on the inner face of the plate
bears against a projection on the pusher in such a manner as to turn it in a backward
direction upon the removal of the pressure by which it has been pushed forwards. A
spring catch is fixed to the pusher so as to move therewith, and is formed with a bevel-
edged part (or parts) which passes across the face of both the ratchet wheels aforesaid.
All the teeth but one of one of the ratchet wheels (hereinafter termed the
ratchet wheel) are cut shallow and the diameters of the ratchet wheels are so
proportioned or the bevel-edge d part aforesaid so shaped as that the bevel-edge
when operating such teeth engages. with them only and passes over and clears
the teeth of the other (or "second) ratchet wheel, but the remaining tooth of
the first ratchet wheel is cut deeper and allows the bevel edge to be pressed further
inwards and thus engage with one of the teeth on the second ratchet wheel;
and thus, so long as the bevel edge comes into gear only with the shallow cut
teeth of the first ratchet wheel, each time the pusher is operated the one disc is advanced
an angular distance corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet teeth and the other dise
remains stationary, but immediately the bevel edge comes into. gear with the deep cut
tooth of the first ratchet wheel, as it does of course once only in each revolution of
such wheel, it gears also with a tooth on the second ratchet wheel and carries the
second disc round an angular distance corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet teeth,
and such disc then remains stationary while the first disc performs a further revolution.
The bevelled side of the bevel-edged part aforesaid causes the spring catch to yield
backwards so as to engage with a fresh tooth as the pusher returns to its backward
position. The edge of the first disc may be marked with figures, say, from 0 to 9,
and the second disc be marked correspondingly, in which case of course the marker
may be used to score up to 99. The discs may be marked in any other manner
which may be required.
When two discs are employed as above-described the ratchet wheels may be
conveniently carried on the faces which are towards one another, and in such case the
spring pawls may be formed of a split spring carried out from a solid lug by which
they are fixed to the plate.
The spring catch may be formed of a flat steel spring fixed at one end to the
pusher and having a block formed to a knife edge projecting inwards from the
other end.
If a marker or counter is desired to score beyond two places of figures a further
disc and ratchet wheel, or further discs and ratchet wheels, corresponding to those
described may be employed, and be operated in an analogous or in any convenient
manner.
A marker or counter constructed substantially in the manner above described may
be mounted in any suitable instrument or appliance in connection with which it is
required for the purpose of scoring, or may be mounted in any suitable block, case, or
frame; and if it is desired to employ it as a counter for the movements of a machine,
the pusher or a part corresponding thereto may be worked automatically.
Dahi 02 TL 1007
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Markers or Counters for Scoring in Shooting and
at Whist and other Games and for the Purposes of Scoring or
Counting generally.
I, WILLIAM MANSFIELD, trading as Joseph Brazier and Sons, of Ashes Works,
Lord Street, Wolverhampton, in the county of Stafford, gun lock and action
manufacturer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the
letters of reference marked thereon:-
This invention has for its chief object the construction of a marker or counter
which may be conveniently fixed within the stock or fore-part of a fowling piece, rifle
or other fire-arm for the purpose of scoring the head of game shot, or the points inade
at target practice, or for otherwise scoring in connection with shooting, but the
invention is applicable also to markers or counters employed for scoring at whist or
other games, and for the purpose of scoring or counting generally.
A marker constructed according to this invention for fixture within the stock or
fore-part of a fowling piece, rifle, or other fire-arm, consists of a plate which carries
the mechanism and which is curved or shaped on its outer face to follow the exterior
contour of the part of the stock or forepart within which the marker is fixed.
This plate is preferably let in flush with the exterior of the stock or forepart. The
plate is provided with two backwardly projecting lugs within which a longitudinal
spindle is fixed. Upon the spindle is carried, so as to be capable of turning freely
thereon, a pair of discs or solid wheels, the edges of which project slightly for a
distance through openings formed therefor in the plate.
Each of these discs carries a ratchet wheel of a smaller diameter than the discs so
as not to shew through at the face of the plate, and each of the ratchet wheels is
provided with a spring pawl, connected with the plate, so that as either of the wheels
is turned in a forward direction, an angular distance corresponding to the pitch of the
ratchet-teeth, it is retained by the corresponding pawl from turning backwards. A
pusher, by which the marker is operated, is carried to turn upon the spindle aforesaid,
and a part thereof is formed to a radius with the spindle and projects through an
opening formed therefor in the plate, and such projecting part is milled or
roughened to give a hold to the thumb in operating the pusher. The pusher is
provided with a part which bears, when the pusher is in its backward position, against
the inner face of the plate, and thus stops the movement of the pusher in a backward
direction, and which bears, when the pusher is in its forward position, against a
projection on one of the lugs aforesaid, and thus stops the movement of the pusher in
a forward direction, and a spring, carried on the inner face of the plate, bears against
a projection on the pusher in such a manner as to turn it in a backward direction
upon the removal of the pressure by which it has been pushed forward. A spring

page_text: catch is fixed to the pusher so as to move therewith, and is formed with a bevel-edged
part, (or parts), which passes across the face of both ratchet wheels aforesaid. All
the teeth but one of one of the ratchet wheels, (hereinafter termed the first
ratchet wheel,) are cut shallow, and the diameters of the ratchet wheels are so
proportioned, or the bevel-edged part aforesaid so shaped, as that the bevel edge when
operating such teeth engages with them only, and passes over and clears the teeth of
the other, (or second,) ratchet wheel, but the remaining tooth of the first ratchet
wheel is cut deeper and allows the bevel edge to be pressed further inwards and thus
engage with one of the teeth on the second ratchet wheel, and thus, so long as the
bevel edge comes into gear only with the shallow cut teeth of the first ratchet wheel,
each time the pusher is operated, the one disc is advanced an angular distance
corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet teeth and the other disc remains stationary,
but immediately the bevel edge comes into gear with the deep cut tooth of the first
ratchet wheel, as of course it does but once only in each revolution of such wheel, it
gears also with a tooth on the second ratchet wheel and carries the second disc round
an angular distance corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet teeth, and such disc then
remains stationary while. the first disc performs a further revolution. The bevelled
side of the bevil-edged part aforesaid causes the spring catch to yield backwards, so as
to engage with a fresh tooth as the pusher returns to its backward. position. The
edge of the first disc may be marked with figures, say from 0. to 9, and the second
disc be marked correspondingly, in which case of course the marker may be used to
score up to 99. The discs may be marked in any other manner which may be
required.
When two discs are employed as above described the ratchet wheels may be con-
veniently carried on their faces, which are towards one another, and in such case the
pring pawls may be formed of a split spring carried out from a solid lug by which
they are fixed to the plate. The spring catch may be formed of a flat steel spring
fixed at one end to the pusher, and having a block formed to a knife edge projecting
inwards from the other end.
'
If it be found more convenient for manipulation, the marker may be made to act
in an opposite direction to that herein-before described, which may be effected by
simply reversing the action of the pusher, and causing it to move in a backward
instead of a forward direction.
If a marker or counter is desired to score beyond two places of figures a further
disc and ratchet wheel, or further discs and ratchet wheels, corresponding to those
described, may be employed, and be operated in an analogous or in any convenient
manner.
•
A marker or counter constructed substantially in the manner above described may
be mounted in any suitable instrument or appliance in connection with which it is
required for the purpose of scoring, or may be mounted in any suitable block, case,
or frame. If it is desired to employ it as a counter for the movements of a machine
the pusher, or a part corresponding thereto may be worked automatically.
I will now proceed further to describe, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, the nature of my
invention;
Figure 1. is a front and Figure 2. is a back view of a marker constructed according
to this invention for insertion in the stock or forepart of a gun or any other instru-
ment for which it may be used for the purpose of scoring or counting.
Figure 3. is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 4. is a back view of the frame plate.
Figure 5. is a sectional view through line A. B. figure 2.
Figure 6. is a sectional view through line C. D. figure 2.
Figure 7. is a sectional view through line E. F. figure 1.
Figure 8. is a sectional view through line G. H. figure 3.
a. a. is the frame plate which is provided with two lugs b. b. on its under side,.
through these lugs passes the rod or spindle c. upon which the pusher d. and the
discs c. e¹ with their ratchet wheels f.f, securely attached thereto, move freely;

page_text: g. the split spring pawl for retaining the discs in their places after each movement,
. is the spring catch, by which, through its connection with the pusher, the
discs e. e with their ratchet wheels are operated, i. is the spring by which the
pusher is returned to its normal position after each movement: jis a projection on
the pusher d. fixed thereon, to regulate, by contact with one of the lugs b. the
necessary amount of travel required for each movement.
The action of my improved counter may be described as follows;-On pressing
the pusher d. in a forward direction, either manually or automatically, it moves on
its axis carrying the spring catch h. which engages at once with the units ratchet
wheelf and disc e. numbered from 0. to 9. and takes it round a distance equal to a
tenth part of its circumference, and shews, through the opening provided therefor in
the frame plate, a. a., the figure 1. On the pressure being removed the pusher is
returned to its normal position by the spring i. by which time the spring catch h. has
engaged with a fresh tooth and is ready for the next movement forward. This
motion is repeated until the figure 9. is shewn through the aperture and in its next
backward movement the spring catch falls into the deep tooth a', (see figure 6.,) on
the units ratchet wheel f. and thus comes into gear with the tens ratchet wheel /"¹,
by which contrivance both wheels are, in the next movement of the pusher, carried
forward and the figures 1, 0. are shewn through the apertures provided for them.
Figure 9. shews the discs e. e ratchet wheels f. f and the spring catch h. to an
enlarged scale on plan. The ratchet wheel f. is shewn larger than the ratchet f¹ so
that the spring catch h misses the wheel f¹.
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 confine myself to the precise details herein-before described, as
the same will admit of modification without departing from the principles of my
invention, what 1 claim is ;-
An improved counter or marker in which the units wheel is actuated by a
spring catch h. attached to a pusher d, which can only, at one time, be moved
a distance corresponding to a tenth part of its circumference, and is returned to its
normal position after each movement by the spring, and at the tenth movement
forward of the pusher, by means of the tooth al, the spring catch is brought into gear
also with the tens ratchet wheel, both wheels being then, in this movement, carried
round by the spring catch a tenth part of their circumference substantially as
described and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
2. My improved counter or marker substantially as described and shewn by the
accompanying drawings.
DL 11000
WILLIAM MANSFIELD,
Applicant.