US1098255A - Target apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. HARPER. TARGET APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED FEB: 5, 1912. RENEWED APR. 15, 1014.

1,098,255, Patented May 26, 1914.

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w re s'rans re CHARLES W. HARPER, OF EVERETT, IVIASSACI-IUSETTS.

TARGET APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. HARPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Target Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to multiple target apparatus of the class shown and described in my patent numbered 996,712 and granted July at, 1911, and the object of my present invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this class.

In the apparatus of the patent above noted the targets were automatically reset by the action of the weight of the displaced targets upon a scales-like device or detent comprising a pivoted frame carrying a counterbalance weight, said device serving to catch and hold the displaced targets as they were knocked down by the projectiles until the weight of the knocked down targets overbalanced the scales-like device whereupon the latter was tilted by the weight of the targets so as to permit all of the latter to return to their normal positions. In other words, the device which caught and held the knocked down targets was constructed upon the principle of a scales.

The object of my present invention is to provide a resetting mechanism in which the weight of the targets is not relied upon to release them from the detent and in which the targets themselves prop up the detent plate until the last of the targets is operated, whereupon the detent, being no longer propped up, falls, and in falling releases the targets, which in turn fall, about their pivots, and thus cause their props or upper ends to wedge beneath the detent frame and again lift the detent to position and hold it there, until again released by the operation of the targets.

My improved target apparatus comprises a movable member for catching the targets that are displaced from their normal positions by the impact of projectiles, but this movable member is normally locked in operative position, and is automatically unlocked to permit the targets to return to their normal positions only when the last of a predetermined number of targets has been displaced by a projectile or the like. When the movable member is thus unlocked it automatically frees the targets and the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 5, 1912, Serial No. 675,426. Renewed. April 15, 1914.

Patented-May 26, 1914.

Serial No. 832,107.

latter are all returned to their normal positions and in returning to their normal positions reset and again lock the detent.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved target apparatus; Fig. 2 is a front elevation; Fig. 3 is a side view; Fig. l is a side view showing the releasing and resetting operation; and is a section on line l"l of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail of the spring catch on the detent plate.

Having reference to the drawings, 4;, 5, 6 and 7 represent a series of targets each of whichis pivoted loosely on a rod or bar 8 fastened at its ends to two side frames 9 adapted to be secured to a wall, post, or other fixture, indicated at 101' The hub 8 of each target is made with an upwardly extending prop or arm 11. At the back of the machine and extending between the side frames 9 is a second rod or shaft 12 which is pivoted in sockets 9 upon the side frames and to this rod is secured a frame 13 made up of several rods extending toward the front of themachine and joined at their outer ends by connections 13 This frame carries a plate let to the underside of which are secured spring bolts 1 and the rear end of, the rods 13 of the frame are secured to the shaft 12 by set-screws 00. Between the hubs 8 of the several targets and between the sides of the machine and the hubs of the outer targets are interposed cylindrical spacing blocks 8 mounted upon the shaft 8, which space the targets in proper position upon the shaft and in the machine.

The mode of operation is as follows: When a projectile strikes one of the targets 4:, 5, 6, 0r 7 the force of the impact is such as to throw the target hit backward and upward until it engages the bolt of the spring catch 14: and is detained thereby. As each of the targets is struck this operation is repeated until the fourth target is struck. When the fourth target is struck its prop 11, (which is, after the other three targets have been elevated and detained, the only prop which supports the frame 13) being removed, the frame 13 drops and thus releases the targets which are held by the detents 14 The targets thereupon begin to fall to their normal position and in doing this their upper ends 11 engage the several rods of the frame 13, and, as the targets fall to normal position, wedge the frame 13 up to its original position and reset the machine as it was at the out-set.

Fig. 4- is an illustration showing the position of the targets at different times in the cycle of operation. The sectioned target, 6, and its associated parts, is shown in the position in which the targets are just after they have been dropped by the detents 14. The target behind, in full lines, is still further dropped, and its upper end is beneath one of the rods 13, wedging up the detent frame as it and the other targets fall. Or, assuming that three of the targets have been shot up and are held by the detents, the target shown in full lines would illustrate the action when the last of the four targets is shot up and, its prop 11 being removed from beneath rod 13, the detent frame falls. In actual operation, of course, the targets fall substantially together to reset the detent frame.

I claim:

1. A multiple target apparatus comprising a plurality of movably supported targets; a detent for holding the targets in their displaced positions; automatic means for locking and unlocking said detent, said unlocking permitting the release of the dis placed targets and being caused by the displacement of the 'last of a predetermined number of placed targets.

2. A multiple target apparatus comprising a plurality of movably supported targets; a pivotally supported detent for holding the targets in their displaced positions and means for locking and unlocking said detent, said unlocking permitting release of the displaced targets and being caused by the displacement of the last of a predeter- 4o their displaced positions; a plurality of looking props cooperating with said detent, each of said props being controlled by one of the targets so as to normally look the detent in its operative position and so as to be shifted out of locking position by the movement of the target when the latter is displaced by a projectile or the like.

4. A multiple target apparatus comprising a plurality of movable targets; a plurality of props each controlled by a target; and a detent to catch and hold the displaced targets and supported by the several props of the several targets, when in their operative positions.

5. A multiple target apparatus, comprising a plurality of displaceable and automatically replaceable targets; a releasable catch for displaced targets; and connections controlling the catch and controlled by the presence of the targets in or their absence from their places, whereby the catch is released upon displacement of the last of the targets and is reset by the replacement of the targets.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 2nd day of February, 1912.

CHARLES W. HARPER.

Witnesses:

J osErI-r T. BRENNAN, MARY A. OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

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