US1721512A - Race track - Google Patents

Description

"Jul 23, 1929.

F. 1.. FINCHAM 1,721,512

RACE TRACK Filed June 18, 1927 2 Sheets Sheet 1 (3% l 4 n will .9

y 3, 1929. F. L. FINCHAM 1,721,512

RACE TRACK Filed June 18, 192? 2 Sheets-She et 2 q .9 2/ 5 z/ Z5 2] y 3 5 f6 2 5 30 5 1 a) 11 i Z4 a I Z9 6' W a 55 Z 34 III/4 Patented July 23, 1929.

2 UNITED STATES FRANK L. FINCHAM,

OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

RACE TRACK.

Application filed June 18,

This invention relates to apparatus for training dogs to chase game animals and also nr ivides mechanism whereby dogs may be. phrmilted and encouraged to race and when racing be free to run at their utmost speed. The invention provides novel means whereby a decoy animal or lure may be carried around, a race track and at a point,

ish be shifted out of the path of th or dogs. The invention is illustrated in th accompanying drawings and 's in certain novel features which will iter firs ully desi )cd and then more particular-l; pointed out in the append ed claims.

' 'ie drawings:

. e l is a plan view of an apparatus enibzidying the present in vention;

Fig. is a view partly in side elevation and rtly in longitudinal SQCtlOH;

Fin. 3 is a detail horizontal section;

Fig. 4-. is a transverse F ion on the line of Fig. 3 and illu. ting the decoy raised.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, of the connection between the carriage and the means for propelling the carriage.

The race track indicated at 1, may be perman ntly built of concrete or other durable mat l. or it may be constructed in portable sections so that it may be disassembled and reassembled at will and thereby easily mi l from place to place for er-zhibition purposes. The track compriscsa base 2 of suhstanti lly ellit tical or elongated form and ha a rail 3 erected thereon at a in d (,hsiancc from its edge and parallel with the edge throughout the length of the same. This rail has secured to its outer side at intervals brackets ibetween which are disposed upper and lower track members 5 and (S which are securl respectively to the under sides of the upper brackets and the upper sides of the lower brackets. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, these track members are spaced apart vertically and are provided in their opposed faces with longitudinal grooves or channels whereby they may receive support and guide a sprocketchain 7 of any approved design, the chain being housed between the true: members so that it will be held to a fixed path and will also be protected thereby to be maintained in an operative condition at all times. At one point in the apparatus and preferably near the finish, the rail 3 is constructed with a 1927. Serial No. 199,775.

notch 8 to accomn'iodate a casing 9 in which is mounted a sprocket wheel 10 having a beveled gear wheel 11 fixed to or formed integral with its upper side. The sprocket wheel meshes with the chain 7, as shown in Fig. 3, and the beveled gear wheel 11 meshes with a beveled pinion 12 fixed upon the outer end of a shaft 13 which is journaled in a bearing 14 carried by the casing 9 and haviug spur gear 15 secured upon its inner end. The casing 9 is, of course, of a proper design to enclose the entire gearing, except the spur gear 15 and thereby guard the elemen ts of the gearing from possible damage by reason of persons treading thereon and also so enclosing the moving parts that the racing dogs will not come in contact therewith and be injured. The spur gear 15 meshes with a driving pinion 16 on the end of the shaft 17 of an electric motor, indicated conventionally at 18, the motor being illnstrated as controlled through a pedal actuated switch, as indicated at 19, and connected through a cable 20 with an convenient source of current supply.

At one point in the chain 7, two links thereof are constructed with brackets or lugs 21 projecting outwardly between and beyond the track members 5 and 6, and to the outer ends of these lugs or brackets are pivotally attached the arms 22 of a carriage 23, said carriage consisting of a plate of. light but durabze material rigidly secured to the arms 22 and equipped on its under side with a bracket 2% in which is mounted a roller 25. There is also secured to the carriage an arm 26 projecting outwardly therefrom and hava roller or wheel 27 mounted thereon, the wheel 27 being disposed so as to run upon the track 1 outwardly beyond the smaller roller 25, as will be readily understood, and the arm 26 is extended beyond the wheel 27 and has a decoy or lure 28 secured upon its outer end. In the present instance, the decoy is represented as an imitation of a rabbit. i

Mounted upon the track 1 at one side thereof and adjacent the point which is selected as the finish of the race is mounted a lever 29 which is disposed in the path of the roller 25 and has one end pivotally secured to the foundation or board 2 while its opposite free end is constructed with a longitudinal slot 30 adapted to be engaged by the terminal 31 of a crank arm 32 carried by the outer end of a rock shaft 33 which is journaled in a suitable bearing upon the tracktransversely to the same and extends through the rail 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and at, and is equipped at its inner end with a shorter crank arm 34:. The crank arm 34 is disposed at a right angle to the crank 32 and normally the crank 32 rests upon the track 1 so that the lever 29 will be held in its lowered position while the crank 34 stands up to be engaged by the foot of an operator. IVhen the decoy is to be moved out of the path of the racing animals, the

crank 34 is swung down and the shaft 33 thereby rocked so that the crank 32 will be swung up to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby causing the terminal 31 to ride in the slot 30 and raise the lever 29 into the inclined position shown in Fig. 2. The carriage which is traveling with the sprocket chain will thereupon be caused to ride up on the trip lever, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and consequently the carriage will be swung into an upright position about its pivotal connection with its. brackets or lugs 21, as

shown in Fig. 4, the decoy being thereby lifted from and held above the track.

It will be noted that the sprocket chain which imparts travel to the carriage is positively supported and guided through its en- I tire length and is also entirely enclosed so that it cannot come in contact with the racing dogs and injure them. The speed at which the chain will travel may be controlled by the operator manipulating the pedal switch 19 so that the decoy may be also kept ahead of the animals and just out of their reach but the animals will be unconfined and, consequently, running free may display their utmost speed. When the race is to close, the crank 34: is swung upward as described and thereupon the decoy is moved into the raised inoperative position, as shown, the motor, of course, being then stopped. When another race is to be staged, it is necessary merely to return the rock shaft 33 to its normal position, whereupon the decoy carriage will be lowered. The apparatus is very eflicient and is not apt to get out of order inasmuch as it is simple in construction and free of complicated arrangements of its parts. It is easily manipulated and may be readily operated wherever it is set up. I

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for the purpose set ,forth, the combination of a bed, vertically spaced rails supported on the bed and following the outline thereof, an endless propelling element-- .mounted between and guided by said rails, means for actuating said element, brackets carried by said element and projecting laterally therefrom beyond the rails, a decoy carriage hinged to said brackets and arranged to run upon the bed, and means mounted on the bed for swinging the carriage upwardly at will about its hinged connection with the propelling element.

2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a bed, vertically spaced rails mounted upon the bed, an endless propelling element mounted between and guided by said rails, means for actuating said element, a carriage hingedly connected to said element and arranged to travel on the bed, a trip lever mounted on the bed in the path of the carriage, and means for actuating the trip lever whereby to swing the carriage to an upright position free of the bed.

3. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a bed, a track mounted on the bed, a propelling element fitted to and guided by the track, a carriage hingedly connected to said element and provided with a wheel arranged to run upon the track, a trip lever pivoted at one end upon the bed and disposed in the path of the carriage and provided at its free end with a longitudinal slot, a rock shaft mounted on the bed, a crank on said rock shaft having one end en gaged in the longitudinal slot in the trip lever, and means for actuating the rock shaft to swing the trip lever upwardly.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a bed, a track supported over the bed, a propelling element fitted to and guided by the track, a carriage hingedly connected to the propelling element and arranged to run upon the bed at the side of the track, a trip roller mounted on the under side of the carriage, a trip lever mounted on the bed in the path of the triproller, and means for actuating the lever at will to raise the carriage from the bed.

5. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a bed, a rail erected on the bed, vertically spaced track members carried by said rail at the outer side of the same and having longitudinal grooves in their opposed faces, a chain engaged in said grooves, a carriage hingedly connected with said chain to run on the bed at the outer side of the rail and the track members or be swung up above the track members, a casing secured in the rail, a sprocket mounted in said casing and engaging said chain, and means for actuating the sprocket. V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' FRANK L. FINOHAW, [L 8.1

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