Improvements in Revolving Mirrors or Glasses used for Attracting Birds in Shooting.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 81st Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Revolving Mirrors or Glasses used for Attracting
Birds in Shooting.
I, LOUIS ADRIEN VILLARD, of Avenay, (Marne), in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object improvements in the mirrors sometimes
used in shooting to attract birds by the dazzling movement of revolving pieces of
looking glass or the like, which movement 18 ordinarily effected by clockwork,
but which by the present invention 18 effected by the sportsman himself
The improved apparatus consists of the moving mirior itself, and of the devices
for operating it. The latter consists of a frame formed of a bent plate having
a support to which is fixed a tube the other end of which 18 provided with a pointed
end which can be stuck in the ground, a plate at a sufficient distance from the
point resting upon the ground and ensuring the vertical position of the apparatus
In the tube described can slide freely (but without turning round) a nut fitting
upon a vertical screwed rod which passes through it, and the lower end of which
turns in a socket at the bottom of the tube, so that the rod 18 made to revolve in
one or other direction by moving the nut up or down in the tube A helical
spring, in the tube below the nut, causes the latter to rise after it has been pressed
down.
A collar, fixed upon the nut, has a projection upon it which is connected with
a rod, which can be brought down by means of a foot-plate, operated by the foot
of the sportsman The inner rod above named carries a horizontal grooved
pulley round which passes a cord or string which also passes round a similar pulley
of smaller diameter, connected with the mirror (which is arranged in the desired
position), and carried upon an axis at the end of which 18 fixed the frame carrying
the pieces of glass which constitute the mirror
The movement of the apparatus by the sportsman, as described, causes the large
pulley to revolve in one or other direction alternately, and by means of the cord
or string it communicates a sufficient similar but quicker movement to the smaller
pulley and to the frame carrying the pieces of glass.
The larger pulley is worked more or less quickly, as desired, according to the
effect required A screwed rod may be used, at the upper end of which is fixed
a socket, to receive a support for the arm
The apparatus and its accessories may be packed, for transport, in a case having
the necessary attachments to enable it to be used as a seat, when the sportsman
is using the apparatus

page_text: Improvements in Revolving Mirrors or Glasses used for Attracting
Birds in Shooting.
I, LOUIS ADRIEN VILLARD, of'the Grande Rue, Avenay, (Marne), Fiance, Inven-
tor, 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 fol-
lowing statement.-
This invention consists of a mirror decoy, the object of which is to attract laiks
within the sportsman's range of fire and it is so constructed that it can be made
to operate by a movement of his foot, so that he can dispense with the services of
an attendant
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention.-
Fig. 1, 18 a plan view of the device for working the minor,
Fig 2,-18 a vertical section of the same,
Fig. 3, 18 an elevation shewing the entire apparatus
The apparatus consists of two main parts the actuating mechanism and the
mirror, or reflector, with its adjuncts The former includes a fiame a, provided
with a slot 7, and a sole, or bottom-piece, to which is fixed a tube b, the other end
of which 19 secured to the foot h. A helicoidal o spally-threaded nut e, is
inserted in the tube and this nut receives a 1od f, which is screw-threaded to
correspond therewith and to which is secured a grooved-pulley k
At the upper end of the nut c, 18 fixed a collar e, consisting of two pieces joined
together by means of a screw at each side This collar has a projection, which
slides in the slot of the frame a The foot 19 intended to be inserted in the
ground, to a depth which leaves the plate resting on the surface
To the projec-
tion of the collar, above mentioned, is jointed a depending 10d 1, at the lower end
of which is a hook To this hook is attached, by means of another hook, or other-
wise, one end of either a board, or a leather strap, if a board, the other end rests
on the ground, if a strap, the other end passes under the sole of the sportsman's
boot, where it is held by another strap, buckled over the boot at the instep
spring m, lodged in the tube b, bears against the nut c and after the latter is
depressed, by the action of the sportsman's foot on the above-mentioned board or
strap, the spring will restore the nut to its normal position directly the pressure
ceases The pulley d is held on the shaft f, by a nut 1, and a binding screw g
prevents the said shaft from moving vertically, but at the same time allows it to
turn freely on its own axis. At the upper part of the screw g is a socket intended
as a support for the gun.
A
The other main part of the apparatus, consists of a pulley n³ (Fig 3),
foot ; a frame, fastened to the foot, a vertical shaft for the pulley to turn
on, and a head, provided with mirrors, or reflectors
The two main parts of the apparatus are connected by a transmission cord g',
which communicates to pulley at the movement of pulley d
The fixing of the apparatus is as follows -Having planted the foot of the
mirror portion of the apparatus firmly in the ground, the communicating cord,
or strap is passed round the pulley and the pulley The two ends are then
fastened together by a knot, or otherwise The foot of the other main part is
then planted in the ground, as herembefore described, at a distance which will
give the requisite tension to the above mentioned cord The apparatus 18 used as
follows the sportsman, having his foot on the board, or strap. already described
(Fig 3) presses thereon, describing the are of a cucle 'the rod draws the collar e
downwards, which, in turn, lowers the nut communicating a rotatory movement
J

page_text: to the shaft and consequently to the pulley at the same time, the coiled
spring will be compressed and when the pressure ceases, its release will cause the
nut to rise again, iotating the shaft in an opposite direction to its former revo-
lution In this manner, the pulley is turned, first one way and then the other,
the cord communicating the movement to the pulley a¹ The latter having a
diameter much smaller than the pulley d, gives the requisite movement to the
mirroi-holder, or reflector
The apparatus, with all its accessories, can be packed in a box and the latter
may serve as a seat, for which purpose it may be fitted with any suitable attach-
ments A strap 18 provided for slinging it over the shoulder
Having 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 18:
A mirroi decoy to lark's, dispensing with clock-work mechanism and actuated
by the foot of the sportsman, and consisting of a fiame a, to which is fixed a
tube b, attached to a foot h for insertion in the ground, the apparatus being main-
tained in a vertical position by a plate 2, fixed to the said foot, a nut with a heli-
coidal or spiral thread, sliding in the said tube and communicating, by its vertical
movement, a rotatory movement to a 1od f, screw-threaded in the same manner
as the nut; a projection extending from the collar e, fixed to the said nut and
sliding in a slot, formed in the fiame, said projection being connected with a linh,
or rod, actuated by the motion of the sportsman's foot; a pulley keved on the rod f
receiving a cord, which also passes round a smaller pulley, to the axis of which
18 fixed the mirror holder, a screw-threaded rod, pressing, more or less, on the
axis of the pulley d, to regulate the movement of the latter and on which is a
socket serving as a support for the gun, the spurally-threaded nut, and the coiled
spring enabling a revolution, alternately to the night and left, to be imparted to
the pulley d, thus causing the mirror-holder to evolve with sufficient iapidity,
first in one direction and then in another, substantially as herein described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings
ROBERT E PHILLIPS, Assoc M Inst CE., MI Mech. E,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, WC
Associate Agent.