Patent ID: 7263986

Claim:
A clay target launching machine comprising: a magazine containing a predetermined number of clay targets; a first motor assembly; a throwing arm operatively coupled to the first motor assembly such that actuation of the first motor assembly is translated into pivoting of the throwing arm to launch the clay target; a housing that is pivotable about a base and supports, at least in part, the magazine, the first motor assembly, and the throwing arm; and an automatic trajectory changer assembly including a second motor that is operatively coupled to the housing through a linkage such that rotation of a drive shaft of the second motor is translated into vertical and lateral movement of the housing relative to the base so as to cause a continuous change in an angle at which the throwing arm is positioned when launching clays, thereby causing a variable trajectory path for successively launched clay targets; wherein the first motor assembly operates at a different speed than the second motor, wherein the linkage includes a drive shaft that is coupled to the housing, with the drive shafts of the second motor and the linkage being axially offset from one another.