Improvements in Artificial Birds or Targets and Apparatus in connection therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Birds or Targets and Apparatus in
connection therewith.
FRANCIS ARTHUR HALLSWORTH, Atherstone, Warwickshire, Physician &
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The artificial bird (hereinafter called the 'bird') I employ consists of a flat
piece of metal or other material cut or punched into a shape somewhat resembling
a bird with outstretched wings, in the tail of which is punched or made a hole; to
this piece of metal or other material is attached by solder, rivets, or other means,
another plate (preferably tin or zinc) cut or punched into a triangular shape with
rounded corners & bent up so as to resemble somewhat two sides of a pyramid, with
the portion in front (when fixed) tapering to a point.
To the front portion of the bird is attached by solder or other method a piece of
heavy metal such as iron, curved like a hook, which acts as a weight and also is
used for the purpose of starting the bird as hereinafter explained.
A piece of flannel or other porous material of a like nature capable of being
saturated with a powder, and cut into a shape to cover one side of the bird is fixed
on to it by means of glue, cement or other adhesive material.
The object of this powder & porons material for holding the same is to ascertain
whether the flying bird has been struck with the shot when fired at.
The method used for starting the flight is by means of a kind of catapult
consisting of two upright poles which may be fixed in a kind of platform or other
rigid structure or in the ground; in this latter case ropes being attached to the
summit of the poles and to pegs driven into the ground so as to steady the poles.
And to the poles when in use are fixed two pieces of indiarubber or other spring
acting in a straight line, with a piece of cord extending between the ends in the
middle part and so forming a continuous line from one pole to the other.
Upon the platform before named or upon another platform or box is a catch
or lever working on a pivot and with a pin or bolt projecting and to this catch
is fixed a long line; the pin or bolt is made to fit into the hole in the tail of
the bird already mentioned (and which contains a kind of eyelet to prevent
tearing of the metal). The pin or bolt is so constructed that when it is with-
drawn by pulling the cord, the bird is released.
When the bird is to be started, the hook is placed over or against the central
cord of the catapult, and the hird pulled directly backwards till the hole in the tail
reaches the bolt which holds it in position till released.
The bird may be also started by pulling it backwards with the hands and
released when desired.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Birds or Targets and Apparatus in
connection therewith.
1, FRANCIS ARTHUR HALLSWORTH, of Atherstone, in the County of Warwick,
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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in artificial birds or targets, and in the
projecting or throwing appliances or apparatus for the same.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, a spring
throwing line, and shooting target, or artificial hind, constructed, arranged and
mounted, according to my invention. The target or artificial bird, which is
somewhat crescent shaped upon its top side, is shown hung or supported from the
non-clastic part of the middle of the throwing line, and in the position which it
assumes before the distension of that part of the line which is elastic, into the
position as shown in dotted lines, when by the sudden releasing of the said target
or bird, it leaves the throwing line, after passing a right line directed from the tops
of the standards, and is then driven at a great velocity through the air, which is
accelerated proportionately to the distension of the throwing line, which is made
preferably of elastic, or strands of elastic.
The target or artificial bird, can be projected at any angle, as the nature of the
shooting requires, and can be released by hand, or by a holder, starter, or the like.
Figure 2 represents a top side plan of the target or bind, with counterpoised
combined head and hook part at the front, and a holding loop at the other or tail
part, and with the underside of the said top part, which is of a crescent con-
figuration, provided with a hollow and open ended dart shaped body part.
Figure 3 represents a side clevation of the target Figure 2, while Figure 4 is a
section, upon the dotted lines A B Figure 1. This sectional view (Figure 4)
represents the powdered material interposed between the top plate of the target,
and the pierced or reticulated or gauze covering material, which may be of fabric,
pierced paper, or the like.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the target or bind, showing the cavity of the body
part, while Figure 6 represents the fore part of the target or bird, with a flattened
or blunt head, and it also represents in section, a stratum of composition, consisting
of resin and pitch, in lieu of the powdered material. Or instead of powdered
material enclosed by wire gauze, or a pitchy substance adhering to the top plate of
the target, the said top plate, or the whole surface of it, may be coated with
whitening, or other colored powdered materials, applied in a wet or plastic state,
and then dried, so that when the target or bird is struck by a pellet or pellets, the
powder presents itself in the air, in the form of a puff or cloud.
Figure 7 represents the upper end of one of the standards, upon an enlarged
scale, showing the connection of the outer end of the spring part of the line, with
the summits of the said standards, and also the manner in which the said summit is
secured to the upper pillar.
Figure 8 represents a combined holder and releaser, for the target, which may be
operated by hand, or from a distance by a cord, and when in its holding position, a
hook or projection of it, is secured to a stay, driven or otherwise taking in the
ground.
Figure 9 represents a combined target holder and releaser, constructed according
to another form of my invention.
a, a are the standards or uprights, each consisting of upper and lower parts a², a³,
connected together by a screw of the one part, taking into a wormed socket of the
other part, and with the foot ends of the part a², which is the lower part, provided
with annular flanges or set off's a', with spikos a, directed from the middles of the
undersides of them, while the summit of the other part a, is double necked, for
taking the outer looped extremities of the elastic parts of the spring throwing
line & whose middle has a roughened and flexible cord c, connected to the two
inner ends. Thus, the spring throwing line, which is primarily made up of elastics,
or strand elastics, or a distensible metallic spring, has an interposed cord, or
roughened corde, upon which, the counterpoised and hook or projection end d, of a
target, or artificial bird e, takes; and which target, has a flat plato e upon its top
side, preferably of the form in the plan Figure 2, and a hollow dart shaped body
parte, open at back, which carries a loop, thumb or gripping piece e, which may
be placed in any convenient position as desired.
The head or inverted hook and d, besides forming the means for taking hold of
the middle of the throwing line, balances and directs the flight of the target

page_text: through the air, after projection, and further, its inner shoulder part has a semi-
circular recess, adapted to take upon the interposed cord part c of the throwing
line as aforesaid.
The shape of the plate e, although shown of the configuration of a crescent, may
be made of the figure of a triangle (or of other figure) with the apex directed to
the front.
By leaving the body part e³, open at back, the flight of the target is varied
in direction, and character, according to the action of the wind or air currents
upon it.
The top of the plate e, has a fabric or other gauze or reticulated covering e³,
and between it and the said plate, is a layer of powdered material, such as char-
coal, whitening, and the like, which creates a puff in the air alike unto smoke, op
the same being struck.
It will be seen that the concaved recess of the shoulder of the inverted hook
end, is situated in a plane higher than the top side of the target, so that the
same is perfectly clear of the throwing line, when projected. The body of the
target may be semi-cylindrical, or of other like figure, but in every case, it is
tapered to the front.
The standards, which are tubular in construction, have their upper open ends
fitted with screw plugs a, which take into the wormed inside tops of the said
standards.
The connection of the stay or supporting cords of the said standards, is made
preferably in accordance with Figure 7, where the connection ends are knotted
before the threading of the cords through holes made within the upper parts of the
said pillars.
In Figure 8, which represents a combined holder and releaser, g is a lever,
fulcrumed at, and carried by a stem, having at its top end a gap g*, and
at its lower end a handle g, with a hook upon its underside, and adapted to
take upon a bar, or the loop of a peg driven in, or secured to the ground.
The head end', of the lever, has a nose g³, which takes within the loop e*, secured
to the rear of the target or bird e, whose inverted head and hooked end d, takes
the cord of the distensible throwing line. The tail end g, of the lever, is
pressed up by a spring h, and depressed by hand, or if necessary by a cord i,
passing over a pulley j, mounted upon the top side of the ferrule of the handle 9*.
To project a target, or fly a bird, raise the head end of the lever, by com-
pressing the tail end, then pass the hook of the former over the loop, when the
same is held, by the releasing of the said tail end. This donc, hook on the target
to the middle of the throwing line, and then forcibly pull down the holder to
a position and angle consistent with the desired flight of the target or bird,
which is released by the depression of the arm g of the lever, either before or
after the holder has been affixed. When affixed to a determined range, direction of
flight, or altitude, or all of them, the hook *, is connected with a bar, loop, or the
like, of a driven-in spike.
In the modification of the holder Figure 9, 9' is a bar or stem, a gapped front
part, wherein a jointed finger catch is disposed, and is held, when tail for-
wards, by the shoulder ', of a slide g, whose tail end 9, has a releasing cord i,
connected to it, and which passes over a pulley j, carried by a bracket, secured to
the top side of the stem or rod, whose rear part has a handle g', whilst its underside
has a hook, engaging with a bar or loop of a ground peg or holder k.
To connect the holder to the target or bird, pull rearwardly the slide, then
connect the jointed finger ³, with the loop e' of it, then turn the said finger forward,
when on the front part pressing over the inclined nose of the slide, the same is
pushed back, and a connection automatically made. The releasing is performed by
pulling the cord i, when the spring his compressed, and the tension of the throwing
line upon
the target, pulls back the said finger, hence its liberation, when the same
is projected with great velocity through the air, and guides itself therethrough alike
unto the natural Hight of a bird on the wing.

page_text: In substitution of a powdered coating to the target, I may employ a fulminate one,
which on being detonated, gives a report.
Instead of placing or depositing powdered material upon the surface or top side
of the target or bird, the same may be placed within the chambered interior of the
body part e, and the open end enclosed by a reticulated or other covering. Or the
underside of the target, may be slit or pierced, and covered by reticulated or other
material; so that when the said target is hit by the pellets or shot, a cloud of
dust is created in the air, by the passage therethrough of the dust deposited
within the body.
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: In an artificial bird, or like shooting target, providing the fore part with
an inverted hook or shoulder shaped holder and releaser, whereby the throwing line
is distended, and the target or bird projected, substantially as described and set
forth.
Secondly-In an artificial bird, or like shooting target, consisting of a counter-
poised and inverted hook ended head d, with plate e, and open or closed ended body
parte, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly-In an artificial bird, or like shooting target, the combination with a
plate, or flat plate, of any desired figure, of a dart shaped hollow body part e³,
substantially as described and set forth.
n
Fourthly In an artificial bird, or like shooting target, partly or wholly enveloping
parts of the same, with a fabric, gauza or other reticulated material, between which,
and an inner plate or surface, dust or powdered material is placed, which exhibits
itself in a cloud in the air, when struck in flight by pullets or shot as set forth in
Figures 1 to 5.
Fifthly-In an artificial birl, or like shooting target, enveloping or coating an
outer surface, or the outer surfaces of the same, with a dried detachable color-wash,
or a powdered material in an attached and subdivided state, so that when the target
is struck by a pellet or shot, the said color-wash or coating, presents itself in the
air, in the form of a cloud or puff of dust, as set forth.
Sixthly In a trap or throwing line, for propelling artificial birds, or like
targets, making the middle part of the line, of a flexible or other non-elastic
material, in combination with elastics or coiled wire spring outer parts, substantially
as set forth.
Seventhly-The combination with an elastic or extensible throwing line, of
standards, made in segments, and mounted in manner with respect to the other parts,
as set forth in Figure 1.
Eighthly-In a combined holder and releaser, for artificial bird and other like
shooting targets, consisting essentially of a jointed hook ended lever, in combination
with a stem or handle part, with or without a holding hook; and which said
parts, are constructed, arranged and operate, as and for the purpose described and
set forth in Figure 8.
Ninthly In a combined holder, and releaser, for artificial bird, and other like
shooting targets, consisting essentially of a slide, forced home by a spring, in com-
bination with a stem or handle, with a catch at its fore part; and which said
appliance, is constructed and operates, for the purpose as set forth in Figure 9.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1891.
FRANCIS ARTHUR HALLSWORTH.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.