Improvements in and relating to Targets for Trap-shooting.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1397
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Targets for Trap-shooting.
I, LEANDER LORENZO SHATTUOK, of Oil Exchange, Titusville, in the County
of Crawford, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Broker, 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 :-
My invention relates to one of those devices used by sportsmen as a substitute
for live birds in shooting matches or pleasure shooting, my object being to make a
target, or what is called a "sportsman's gyro," which, whon thrown into the air in
its motion, shall closely resemble the erratic flight of a live bird, and which, when
struck by a shot, shall give in the air a distinct explosion visible to the eye. To
accomplish this it is necessary that a peculiar trap should be constructed, and
therefore I have devised the trap herein described, the flying target and the trap
from which it is thrown each being a complement of the other.
In my invention I construct the gyro or bird similar in shape to the opposite vanos
of a windmill with the connecting shank. The trap is constructed to give the bird
a rapid rotary motion and at the time of its most rapid motion to release it
arbitrarily from the trap, when the rotation, the wings acting on the air, causes the
bird to rise and, taking an erratic course, flies in much the saune way that a live
pigeon would take under similar circumstances. In circular openings in the wings
may be placed flat disks of paper containing a small amount of percussion-powder,
which when struck by a shot, explodes, making a puff of smoke, shattering and
scattering pieces of tho paper resembling the feathers of a bird, giving plain evidence
of the success of the marksman.
I accomplish all this in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figure is a side view of the trap as mounted on the base and with the bird in
position ready to be sprang ;
Figure 2 is a top or end view of the trap, enlarged, on line
of Figure 1,
showing the cover as broken to reveal a portion of the interior sufficient to illustrate
the mechanism ;
Figure 3, is a sectional longitudinal view, also enlarged, of the spindle on which
the bird rests, showing the device for roleasing the bird at the proper time; and
Figure 4 is a top view of the bird.
In the several figures the same numbers are used to indicate the same or similar
parts.
1 is a hase bar secured by a pivot bolt 2 to a plank or foundation of any suitable
nature; 3, a short upright support attached firmly to the base 1, to the upper end
of which is attached by bingo-joint the bar 4, which supports the trap proper.
is a hollow upright tube, also attached firmly to the base 1, in which telescopes
he rod 6.
1
7 is a collar sliding on the bar 4, having the arm 8 connected to the upper end of
he rod 6 by a hinge-joint, 9 is a set-screw in the tube 5 for holding the rod 6 in
ny desired position.
10 is a cross-arm on the tube 5, to the ends of which are attached the cords or
vires 11 11, leading to the hand of the operator not shown.
It will be seen that the bar 4, and trap may be adjusted at any inclination by

page_text: moving the rod 6 up or down in the tube 5, while the horizon
controlled by the operator by means of the cords 11, 11 the whole trap revolving on
the bolt 2.
The trap proper 12 is shown more in detail in Figures 2 and 3, which are more
enlarged.
18, Figure 2, is a cylindrical case having in the centre the shaft 14, to which is
attached the toothed wheel 15. Attuched to the shaft 14 is the coiled spring 16.
17 17 are pins on the wheel 15.
18 is a latch engaging with the pins 17, preventing the wheel 15 from springing
back when the spring is wound up.
19, Figure 3, is a sleeve attached to the shell of the cylinder 13, having the
toothed pinion 20 meshing in the wheel 15. This shaft is journalled in the brace 21,
which is firmly attached to the cylinder 13, and also rests on the bracket 22. On
the upper end of the shaft is the head 23, and from this the pins 24 24 project
upward. The sleeve 19 is hollow and has in the interior the spindle 25. This is
threaded for a considerable portion of its length, and a small portion of the interior
of the shaft 19 is interiorly ihrended to fit the threads on the spindle 25. The lower
end of the spindle 25 is flattened and passes through a slot in the bracket 22, which
prevents it from turning with the sleeve 19, but which allows of a sliding motion up
and down, with the result that when the sleeve 19 is revolved the spindle 25 is
raised or lowered by the engagement of the threads.
The bird is shown in plan in Figure 4 consisting of a plate of thin steel or other
suitable material cut substantially in the form shown, of two wings 29, 29, connected
by a shank 27. In this shank are two holes 28 28, corresponding to the two
pins 24 24 on the head of the sleeve 19. The wings are tilted upward and are also
inclinod laterally in opposite directions like the opposite sails of a windmill. In each
wing are the holes or openings 26 26. These holos are fitted to receive flat disks
of paper or light material, which contain a small quantity of percussion or detonating
powder. The disks are not shown in the drawings.
The operation of the trap is as follows: When desired for use the trap is placed
in the field and the spring 16 wound up by a key inserted in opening 30 in the
protruding end of the shaft 14, the latch 18 allowing the pins 17 to pass out but
not to return. Of course the sleeve 19 is also revolved and the spindle 25, having
been previously properly, adjusted, is drawn down, so that when the spring is
wound up the proper end is drawn within the sleeve 19. The bird is then placed
on the pins 24 and the cord 31 is led from the latch 18 to the hand of the operator.
The operator then directs the borizontal direction of the trap as he chooses by means
of the cords 11 11, and when ready pulls the cord 31, releasing the latch 18 from
the pins 17, when the spring is released, and the shaft 14 revolving communicates
a more rapid motion to the sleeve 19 and bird, which in turn presses up the
spindle 25, which lifts the bird until the revolutions have attained, their maximum,
at which time the spindle 25 lifts the bird clear off from the pins 24 The bird is
then free from the trap, and in its rapid revolution the wings act on the air and
raise it, when it takes an erratic course, deponding on the currents of the air. The
wings being tilted from the horizontal present a better surface to the marksman.
If a shot strikes the bird, especially in the paper disk, the concussion causes the
percussion-powder to explode, giving a slight detonation and a puff of smoke, plainly
visible to the eye, and shatters the paper, which falls like the feathers of a bird.
The frame of the bird is made, preferably, of thin sheet-steel, so as to offer little
resistance to the air in its rotary motion. It may be of any other metal or of paper
pressed in the right form and with depression for holding the powder.
I am aware that traps have been made to give a rotary motion to the bird as
discharged from the trap; also, that a bird has been made of a similar form to the
one hero described. The principal points in which 1 cluim an improvement is in
having the wings tilted upward, so as to expose a better surface to the marksman
and in having an explosive powder in the wings to more plainly mark the effec
of the shot.

page_text: ug now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A trap for trap shooting; consisting of the shaft 14 located centrally in a
cylindrical case 13, the coiled spring 16 connected at the ends with the shaft and the
walls of the cylindrical caso respectively and operating when released to drive the
shaft 14, the toothed pinion 15 on said shaft meshing into and driving the pinion 20-
on the sleeve 19; the sleeve 19 being held in place and supported on the interior
spindle 25 which is exteriorly threaded and fitting with interior threads in the
sleeve 19; said spindle being flattened and passing through a slot in the bracket 22,
thereby being prevented from turning with the sleeve 19; the head 28 and pins 24
on said sleeve 19; the pins 17 on the pinion 15 and latch 18 holding the pinion
until released; all operating in combination substantially as described and for the
purposes herein set forth.
2. A target or bird, for trap shooting; consisting of the shank 27, wings 29,
constructed inclined and tilted as described, and with openings in each wing fitted
to receive flat disks of paper and with holes 28 fitted to bo loosely adjusted on
the pins 24; substantially as shown and described.
3. A trap and bird for trap shooting; consisting of the shatt 14 located centrally
in a cylindrical case 13; the coiled spring 16 connected at the ends with the shaft
and the walls of the case respectively and operating when released to drive the
shaft 14; the toothed pinion 15 on said shaft meshing into and driving the pinion 20
on the sleeve 19, the sleevo 19 being held in place and supported on the spindle 25,.
which is externally threaded fitting with interior threads in the sleeve 19, said
spindle being flattened at the lower end and passing through a slot in the bracket 22,
thereby being prevented from turning with the sleeve 19; the heads 23 and pins 24
on said sleeve 19; the target or bird consisting of the shank 27, wings 29, constructed
nclined and tilted as described and with openings in each wing fitted to receive flat
lisks of paper, and with holes 28 in the shank fitted to be loosely adjusted on the
pins 24; the pins 17 on the pinions 15, and latch 18 for holding the pinion till
eleased; all the parts operating in combination and mounted on a revolving and
djustable base substantially as described and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 29th day of August 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.