US824806A - Target-trap. - Google Patents

Description

No. 824,806. "'PATENTED JULY 3, 1906; A. M. MoGREA.

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Witnesse 1 l I I Inventor 7 .I a Httomegs PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.. A. M. MoGREA TARGET TRAP. A'PPLIO'ATION FILED JULY 30,1904.

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, Invetor,

Httornegfi figy ARTHUR M. McCREA, OF LAMAR, MISSOURI.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 3, 1906.

Application filed July 30, 1904. Serial No. 218,904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. MOCREA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lamar, in the county of Barton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Target-Trap, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to target-traps of that general class employed for throwing frangible targets, and has for its principal object to provide a trap of the most simple and economical construction which may be operated successfully at any desired distance and in which the parts will be automatically restored to targetreceiving position after each operation.

A further object of the invention is to construct a novel means for operating the throwing-arm wherein strain exerted on the propelling-spring will at the end of a predetermined extent of movement serve to release the throwing-arm and discharge the target.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of holding-j aw in which targets of various size may be placed.

lVith these and other objects in view, as dll more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a target-trap constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the target-carrying jaws. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the target-carrying jaw detached. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating the adjustment of one of the targetclamping devices.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The trap is shown in the present instance as provided with a base 1, from which rises a standard 2, to which the main carrying-frame 3 of the trap is pivotally connected by a bolt 4, and the bolt is provided with a lockingscrew to permit clamping of the frame in any angular position to which it may be adjusted. The support is swiveled in the base, and to the front of the frame is secured a two-armed cross-bar 5, to which are connected cords or chains 6, that may be operated from a distance in order to alter the angular position of the trapthat is, to cause it to swing around. in a horizontal plane to any desired point.

From the front portion of the frame extends an obliquely-disposed casing 7, having a removable cover 8, and extending through the casing in an approximately vertical line is a shaft 8, carrying the throwing-arm 9, which is disposed at a point above the cover, and an inner arm 10, that is concealed within the casing. To the inner arm are connected two springs 11 and 12, the latterbeing the main operating-spring and when contracted being of a length considerably less than the distance between the arm 10 and the lowest end of the casing. This spring is connected to one end of a pull rod or cord 13, that extends through an opening in the lowest end of the casing and is guided by a pair of grooved rollers 14, so that the device may be operated from any desired position.

On one side of the throwing-arm is a bracket 15, carrying a pivoted pawl 16, free to move in one direction, the arm proper forming a backing to prevent movement in the opposite direction. Slidably mounted within the casing is a trigger-bar 18, carrying a trigger 19, that is provided with a slot 20 to permit at times the passage of the pawl 16. This trigger-bar 18 extends down to the lower end of the casing and has a transversely-extending arm 21, provided with an opening for the passage of the operating cord or wire 13, and the trigger is further guided by a threaded pin 22, extending through a suitable opening in the end of the casing. Normally the trigger-bar is held upward from the end of the casing by means of a small leaf-spring 25, and the trigger 19 is in engagement with the pawl 16, so that the throwing-arm cannot move outward.

At the outer end of the throwing-arm is arranged a target-clamping jaw 26 in the form of an approximately U-shaped plate provided with an opening for the reception of a pivot-bolt 27, by which it is connected to the throwing-arm. From the inner end of the plate extends a small arm or lug 29, that is connected by a tension-spring 30 to a stationary pin or lug 31 on the throwing-arm, said spring tending normally to hold the jaw in direct alinement with the throwing-arm, but yielding, under the influence of centrifugal "force, during the movement of the throwing-armv To the upper face of the plate 26 is l secured a curved leaf-spring 33 in the form of l a strip of metal, one end of which is riveted l to the plate, while the strip follows the contour of the plate and the outer end termil nates at the outer end of one of the arms. j

The plate is further provided with a central arm 34, to the outer end of which is pivoted an arm. 35, carrying a small cylindrical block. l 37,1ormed of rubber or similar material, that projects to a point above the level of the plate and forms one of the target-clamping members. The pivot-arm is further provided with a slot 40, arranged on an arcuate line, and through this rod. passes a threaded. pin 11, one end of which is bolted to the main plate 26. The threaded end of the pin receives a clamping-nut 43, which when tightened will hold the arm and the yieldable block in any position to which they may have been adjusted. The construction is such that the rubber block may be adjusted toward and from the leaf-spring for the purpose of clamping targets of di'fl'erent size and to some extent controlling the rotativemovement of the target.

In operation, the target having been placed in position, stress is exerted on the operating cord or chain 13 and the spring 12 is stretched, being placed under stress, while the longer arm is confined in place by the l l l l l l l l trigger 19. 'I/Vhen the spring has been expanded to an extent sufficient to bring the l lower end of said spring into engagement j with the arm 21 of the trigger, the latter will be moved to disengage the pawl 16, and the spring then under stress will suddenly throw l t 1e arm around with the shaft 8 as a center and the target will be ejected by centrifugal force, the spring 33 moving slightly outward and at the same time acting as a stationary surface for engagement with the edge of the target, the latter being revolved in advance of its flight by engagement with the yieldable block. When stress is relieved on the spring 12, the auxiliary spring 11 will restore the throwing-arm to its initial position and the pawl 16 will ride over the trigger 19 and the parts will be again automatically placed in position for the reception of another target.

It is obvious that the power-spring serves not only as the propelling medium for the throwing-arm, but also serves as a check for limiting movement of the arm, such movement ceasing when the spring has been restored to its normal dimensions, one end in contact with the lower end of the casing and the opposite end in contact with the shorter arm 10.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a target-carrier provided with a flat base, a curved flat spring-strip disposed sub stantially perpendicular to said base and forming one of the clamping members, and an adjustable block of yieldable material forming the second clamping member.

2. In a target-carrying aw, a leatspring forming one of the clamping members, a block l forming the second clamping member, and a pivotally-mounted adjustable arm carrying said block.

3. In a target-carrying jaw, a U-shaped plate, a yieldable spring arranged at one side thereof and forming a clamping member, a pivotally-mounted arm having an arcuate slot, a threaded pin carried by the plate and extending through the slot, a clamping-nut on said threaded pin, and a yieldable block carried by said arm and forming a second clamping member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR M. MGCREA.

I/Vitnesses J. WV. HAGNY, D. E. HARPOLE.

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