Improvements in and connected with Targets for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Targets for Rifle Practice.
I, JOHN SINCLAIR KNOX of Shrub Place Leith Walk, Edinburgh in the County
of Midlothian, Smith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of target which is balanced on a vertical
supporting frame and is capable of being swung or rotated into and out of firing
position at will.
In carrying out my invention I fix or mount on a shaft which is so carried by the
vertical supporting frame, as to be capable of rotating, two arms, preferably bent
which project out in front and support a frame on or to which the target is fitted.
At the underside of this latter frame a rod or bar is secured and extends backwards
being fitted or fulcrumed at its centre or other part to another shaft working in trunnions
or bearings on the vertical supporting frame. This rod or bar has preferably at its
rear end a weight or weights fitted on or to it so as to counter balance the weight of
the target. Fitted preferably on the shaft carrying the two bent arms as aforesaid,
are two short arms, or one or more may be used, which extend backwards and
support a series of discs or panels for indicating the values of the shois. These disc
or panels are so mounted, side by side, in a frame as to be each capable of being
turned on its axis by means of a small handle. Each of the discs or panels, of which
there are preferably four, have two colours, preferably black and white, one on each
side or face, so that, when the discs or panels are turned round a different colour will
be presented to view. The marker by manipulating these discs or panels signals to
the rifleman or other party the value of each shot fired.
The bent arms carrying the target and the arms carrying the indicating dises or
panels are so fitted to the shaft in the supporting frame, that, when the target is in
its elevated position the indicating panels are in their lowered position and,
vice versa, when the panels are in their elevated position the target is in its lowered
position.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The target is first swung or forced upwards to its elevated or firing position
and is there held until the shot has heen fired, when it is released and allowed to
fall by its own weight partially downwards, or it may be pulled down by means of
a lever or rod.
When the target is in this partially lowered position the marker surveys the
target and then manipulates the several discs or panels so as to indicate the value of
the shot fired.
This being done the target is drawn down to its full lowered position and as a
consequence of this movement the indicating discs or panels are raised to their
elevated position so as to indicate to the rifleman or other party the value of the
shot fired.
The target can now be swung or forced upwards again to its elevated or firing
position.
Dated this 11th day of May 1889.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Targets for Rifle Practice.
I, JOHN SINCLAIR KNOX of Shrub Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh in the County
of Mid-Lothian, Smith, 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 that class of target which is balanced on a vertical
supporting frame and is capable of being swung or rotated into and out of firing
position at will.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved target with the target in firing
position.
Fig. 2 is a front view with the board or target removed, its position being merely
indicated by dotted lines.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the target in its lowered position.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the target raised.
Fig. 4 is a detail view.
Fig. 5 is a side clevation with the target lowered.
Like figures of reference wherever repeated indicate similar or like parts.
In carrying out my invention I fix or mount on a shaft a which is carried in
bearings on the vertical supporting frame c, two arms d, d' which are preferably
bent, as shown, and which project out in front and support a frame e on which the
target is fitted. The supporting frame e which may he two forgings bolted together,
as shown, is supported on the planking c¹ by stays . At the underside of the
frame e a rod or bar g is secured and extends backwards being fitted or fulcrumed
to another cross shaft working in trunnions or bearings on the vertical supporting
frame c.
This rod or bar g has at its rear end, a weight i (or weights) fitted on it so
as to counter balance the weight of the target. The weight is preferably adjustable
on the rod g so as to suit different sizes of target. It is clamped in position on the
rod by the pinching screw j. On the rod g there is also, preferably, provided
another weight which is capable of being moved backward and forward on the
bar
g. This weight neutralizes the action of the wind on the target. When the wind
pressure is very great the weight is slid down towards the target and again in light
winds it is slid backwards and thus the free action of the target is always insured.
Fitted preferably on the shaft a are two short arms, 1, 1, or one or more may be used,
which extend backwards and support a series of discs or panels, m or their equivalent,
for indicating the values of the shots. These discs or panels mare mounted side by
side in a frame n and are capable of turning round on their axes m¹ independently of
one another. For turning them rods o with handles o' are provided. A bracket or
support p fitted to the frame n is provided for steadying the rods. Each of the discs
or panels m of which there are preferably four, have two colours, preferably black and
white, one on each side or face, so that when the discs or panels are turned round a
different colour will be presented to view. The marker by manipulating these discs
or panels, which are numbered 2, 3, 4 and 5 to correspond to the values of the shots,
'signals to the rifleman or other party the value of each shot fired. The bent arms d, di
carrying the target and the arms l, carrying the indicating discs or panels mare
so fitted to the shaft a in the supporting frame, that, when the target is in its elevated
position the indicating panels are in their lowered position, and, vice versa, when the
panels are in their elevated position the target is in its lowered position.
For the purpose of keeping the target in its raised and lowered position a catching
device is provided. This device consists of a foot lever q fulcrumed in a bracket at r
to the planking c¹ supporting the frame c. The catch catches on the projection s¹
on the target frame e when the latter is in its lowered position and holds it down
until it is released by the pressure of the foot on the foot plate s². The catch t at the

page_text: opposite end of the lever 7 catches on an arm u on the rod g when the target is raised
and holds it in its raised position until released by the pressure of the foot on the foot
plates. The arm u, as shown in side elevation at fig. 4, has a cleak or bend at its
lower end which the catch grips when the target is raised and so holds it fast.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Presuming the target is in its lowered position as at figs. 3 and 5, the foot plate s² is
pressed whereupon the catch s releases the target and by the action of the counter
balance weight i the target swings upwards for a short distance.
To swing it up to its full height all that is required is for the marker to push it up
by means of the handle w (fig. 1). The pushing up of the target causes the arm u
to pass over and be caught by the catch t. By this means the target is held securely
in position until the shot has been fired when by pressure of the foot plate the
catch is raised, the arm u is released, and the target falls by its own weight down-
wards and is caught by the catch s,.s.
on it is
Before allowing the target to fall the marker notes the position of the shots and
by means of the rods o, o manipulates the several discs or panels so as to indicate
the value of the shot fired. Thus, if it is a bull's eye the panel with "5"
turned round whilst the other three panels are left with their blank sides to view.
Since the arms d, d' and 1, l'are keyed or fitted to the shaft a they move together
and as a consequence when the target is being lowered the indicating discs or panels
are raised to the vertical position and so disclose the value of the shot fired to the
rifleman or other party. The target is held in its lowered position and the panels in
their raised position until the catch s' is released by the pressure of the foot on the foot
plate when as before stated the target can be raised to its elevated or firing position
as at figs. 1 and 4.
The target may be only allowed to fall down partially or be pulled down if so
desired.
Instead of turning the indicating discs or panels by means of rods as hereinbefore
described they may be manipulated by any other equivalent mechanical device.
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 1
claim is :-
1. The general arrangement and combination of the parts constituting the improved
balanced target for rifle practice, substantially as hercinbefore described and shown
on the drawings annexed.
2. The application and use in conjunction with targets for rifle practice of
indicating panels m or their equivalent arranged and operating substantially as
described.
3. In targets for rifle practice the combination with the indicating panels m or
their equivalent mounted in a frame of the supporting arms l, l, shaft a and frame c,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings annexed.
1909
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.