US1839351A

US1839351A - Dog racing device

Info

Publication number: US1839351A
Application number: US461028A
Authority: US
Inventors: Blanchard D Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-06-13
Filing date: 1930-06-13
Publication date: 1932-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-05

Description

Jan- 5, 1932. B. D. SMlTH DOG RACING DEVICE 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 13,

r j E 2 Jan. 5, 1932. 5,13, SMITH 1,839,351

DOG RACING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 5, 1,932. a. D. SMlTH DOG RACING DEVICE Filed June 13, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet s w F's u 2?;

gwocwtoz Patented Jan. 5, 1932 warren s'r rss r racer; rare BLANCHARD I). SMITH, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOYIISIANA.

DOG RACING DEVICE Application filed June 13,

My invention relates to improvements in do 1 racing devices or the like and norc'partic lariy to a system i r propel-ling a lure ab ut a dog racing or similar track. .5) Heretofore it has been customary to support the lure on an armcarried by atruck arranged at the side of the track. This arrangement has several disadvantages. The installation is expensive, the projecting arm is unsightly, detracts from the glamor of the race and is a potential danger to the dogs. The noise caused by the truck also detracts from the efiectiveness of the race. I An important object of my invention isto provide a lure propelling system and apparatus in'w-hich these disadvantages are obviated.

- Another object of my invention is the provision of a device or" this character whichis inexpensive and easily installed, and one which practical and cfiicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. i

In the accompanying drawings which form apart of this specification, and wherein like, characters of reference denote like or corre sponding parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a race track having my invention applied thereto, i Figure 2 is a longitudinal. section thereof, Figure 8 is a transverse section through a portion of the track, showing the position of the lure, Y

Figure 4 is a detail view of the lure,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through a portion ot-the track showingone form of escape for the lure, c

Figure 6 is a detail View showing the ar- 49 rangeinent of the wires at the escape,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic View of the track showing one arrangement of wires,

Figure 8 is a plan view showing a modified form of escape,

Figure 9 is a sideel-evat'on'thereof.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a track having a modified formof the lure propelling system,; i I

Figure .11 is a front elevation of the wire 59 laying machine, the width of the machine be- 1930. Serial No. 461,028, 7

stand'l9. T he inner fence 17 is provided with a series ofspaced posts 20 extending upward lyund outwardly over the track. The usual lamps 21 are secured to the'se' posts and light up the track for night racing. The upper and outer endsof the posts 20 support'a trolley or guide rail 22 of any suite ableconstruction and material and this rail extends continuously around the track and at I asubstantial distance thereabovej i '1 he lure is provided with a tube 23 extendingthrough the front portion thereof in a plane slightly inclined rearwardly from the. vertical. The tube is provided with flared ends and extends above and below the lure. A spring frame 24:, is secured to the tube 23 and supports theusual lure 25; V v

I purpose to use a suitable wire, cord, thread or similar flexible member 26 to propel the lure about the track. To accomplish this purpose, I bury the wire 'or other flexible member 26 in the track adjacent the center thereof, and about an inch below the surface of the track. .The' buried wire circles the track one or more times, and its free end is threaded through the tube23 in the lure and passed over the rail 22 to the center of the track. At the center of the track Iprovide a funnel shaped tube 27 h aving its flared end uppermost and extending to a point substantially higher. than the rail 22.. The tunnel tube 2'? is supported. on a suitable stand 28.

A reel 29 is ournaled for rotation within the stand and has its periphery arranged adjacent and in linewith the lower open end of the funnel tube 27. I I

In operation, the free end of the wire is passed through the tunnel tube and secured to the reel 29. hen the race starts, the reel is rotated at the required soeed by any suitable means, such as an electric motor (not shown) and the wire 26 is reeled in. As the wire passes over the rail 22, the pull on the buried portion of the wire when the reel is rotated, is nearly vertical. This reeling in of the wire pulls up the buried wire progressive ly around the track and causes the wire to slide along the rail which is preferably greased. The lure, by reason of its weight, will slide down the wire and proceed around the track, following the point where the buried wire is being pulled from the ground. Due to the spring frame 24 and the tendency of the lure to be raised with the wire, the lure will travel around the track in a bounding manner simulating the actual running of a live rabbit. The wire will be inclined backwardly as it leaves the ground, as seen in Figures 1 and i, due to the friction of the wire 26. along the rail 22.

The wire may be laid about the track in a continuous spiral with enough turns to provide for all of the races, or a number of wires may be arranged about the track and their ends joined together. The latter method is preferred as it requiresonly two circuits of the track in laying the wires.

The wires may be laid in any suitable manner. I have illustrated one means for accomplishing thispurpose in Figures 11 and 12. A pair of triangular frames 30 support a wheeled shaft 31 at their apex and have their rear sides-extended upwardly to sup port a handle 32. Arranged onthe shaft 31 to rotate therewith are a series of peripherally grooved disks 33 which have a radius about one inch greater than the supporting wheels 3st. The disks 33 correspond in number to the number of races to be run. and I have illustrated eight. Arranged at the forward apexes of the frames 30 is a reel shaft 35 which is removably j ournaled for rotation in suitable bearings 36. A series of reels are carried by the shaft 35 and each of the reels is aligned with one of the disks 33. Sufficient wire 26 is coiled on each reel to circle the track twice, and the free end of each wire is passed under the adjacent disk, in the peripheral groove therein.

When the reel is moved along the track, the disks 33 will be pressed into the ground by the weight of the machine augmented, if necessary, by a weight 39. The wires will be pressed into the ground and may be covered by a suitable drag or sled 38 which follows the reel. The wires are preferably extended twice about the traclr to provide ample running of the lure for each race. The ends of adjacent wires may then be connected by means of a sheath or tube 39, see Figures 6, 8 and 9, which is small enough to pass through the tube 23. The finishing end of the first wire is connected to the starting end of the second wire and so on until all of the wires are connected.

Any suitable form of escape for the lure may be provided. In Figures 5 and 6 T have illustrated one form of escape. Adjacent the finish line of the race is a dummy fence ll) spaced inwardly from the outside fence 16 and tapering rearwardly to the surface of the track. A cover block 41 is arranged above the dummy fence l0 on the inside of the fence 16 and closes the space between the

fences

16 and 40 except for a small slot 42 left open above the fence T0 and winch widens at the rearward end of the dummy fence to provide an inlet for the lure.

The finish ends of the wires 26 are led through the flared end of the slot 42 and behind the fence lO, and then out into the center of the track. In Figure 6 the relative positions of the wires are shown, their size being exaggerated for convenience of illustration. In order to use the dummy fence escape it is necessary to interlace the wires. Starting with four races to be run, the wire a leaves the escape, circles twice about the track and then crosses over the wires 6, c and (Z and enters the escape where it is connected to the starting end of wire I). The wires that cross the traclr to enter the escape must pass under the wires which are first pulled up and over the other wires. i Vire a when crossing the track must pass over wires Z), c and (Z and under wire a. Wire 1) must pass over wires 0 and (Z and under wires (6 and 5. TV ire 0 must pass over wire (Z and under wires a, band 0.

Figure 7 shows diagrammatically the course which the wires take in twice circling the track.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown another form of escape for the lure. An escape box: as is provided with an open rear end and an open lower side. An opening {t l is arranged in the top of box 43 adjacent the forward end thereof and is connected to the rear of the box by a slot dowhich increases in width as it approaches the rear of the box and is flared outwardly at its rearward end. A pair of flaps i6 of flexible material are joined to the sides of the box and converge inwardly. The escape box is placed over the finish end of th wire 26 and the lure will enter through the flaps 46, the wire being guided into the open ing 4A by the flared slot 4-5. The box will be carried along the track by the wire 26 until the reel 28 is stopped, and the lure will be concealed by the flaps 4E6. The bQX l3 may then be removed for the start of the next race. I

When the escape box as is used is not necessary to interlace the wires but they may be arranged in a continuous spiral.

In Figure 10 I have provided a modil cation of my invention in which the wires are not buried in the track. An annular gutter a lit stand 19.

is formed around the track by means of a continuous strip 47 secured to the inner fence 17 adjacent the bottom thereof, and the Wires are coiled about the inner fence-below the strip 47. When the wire is reeled in, the lure will be kept out on the track in theposition shown in Figure by centrifugal force ucting in. the direction of the arrow.

Another alternative is shown in Figures 13 and 14-, A tube e8 is buried in the track and is provided wit-ha narrow slot as on'its upper side. The wire 26 is arranged in the tube and is pulled through the slot l9 whichis so narrow that the dogs feet cannot be caught therein.

Very fine wire may be used, or if desired,

waxed shoemakers thread may be substituted for the wire. At night time the 4 ire or thread will be invisible and the lure will seem to be moving under its own volition. J 1- The rail 22 is arranged at such a height that the incoming wire will clear the judges The wires may be laid in the afternoon before the races and the small furrow left by the pulled in wire will not affect the racing animals. T le track need not be leveled before laying the wires.

If desired the lure may be raised from the track at the end of the race, as by means of a crosspiece, disk or enlargement secured to the wire as at in Figure 10, and of such size as to be incapable of passing through the tube 23.

It will be seen that T have provided a. lure propelling system which is simple,- effective and inexpensive to install and to operate and which avoids the disadvantages of the usual lure propelling devices. l

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of arts may be resorted to *ithout departing rom the spirit of my invention or the scope of the sub joincd claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Pat out is:

l. The combination with a race track, of a flexible member encircling said track, a lure slidably engaging said flexible member, and means to propel said lure along said flexible l iember.

2. The combination with a race track, of a fiexiblememberencircling said track, lure engaging said flexible member, and means to more said flexible member relatively to the lure.

3. The combination with race track, of a Flexible member encircling said track, a lure slidably engaging said flexible member, and means to exert an upward pull on flexible member to move said flexible relatively to the lure.

circling said tracl; and arranged to pull said flexible member from the .4. The combination with a race track, of a flexible member encircling said track, a lure .slidably engaging said flexible member, and

lure h avin guide member, a flexible meinber encir iing said track and having one end extending upwardly through ll d guide mem- 7 member through the guide member of the lure.

7. The combination with a race track, of a lure having guide member, rail en- 7 t-hereabove, a flexible member encircling said track and having one end extending upwardly through the guide member of lure and over the rail, and means to pull said flexible member through the guide member 01' the lure and over the rail.

8. The combination with a race track, of a reel, a tube extending upwardly from said reel, a rail arranged about said track and a substantial distance thereabove, a lure hava guide member, a flexible member arranged about said track andhaving one end extendedupwardly through the guide member ofthe lure, over the rail to the tube and operate the reel to pull the He cleinember through the guide member-of the. lure and over the rail, whereby-the lure will be propelled about said "track. 7 V 9. The combination with a race track, of rail arran ed about said traclr'and a substan tial distance thereabove, a reel,a lure having an opening extendi upwardly therethrough, a runner arra god below said lure, a flexible member arrai d about said track and'having one. oi its en s extended through the openin in the lure, and over therail to the reel, whereby when the reelis-operated to pull in th ilfexible member, the lure will be propelled about the track.

10. The. combination with a race track, of a, lure having an opening therein, a flexible member arranged beneath the surface of said rack and encircling the same, one end of said flexible member being extended upwardly through the opening the lure, and 11143111118 el:

and-through the lure I .11. The combination with a race track, of

a rail arranged thereabout and a substantial distance thereabove, a lure having an open.- ing ext-ending upwardly therethrough, flex ible member arranged beneath the surface of her oi the lure, and means to pull said flexible said track and encircling said track, one end of said flexible member being passed through the opening in the lure and over the rail, and means to pull the flexible member from the track and through the lure.

12. The combination with a race track, of a rail arranged thereabout and a substantial distance thereabove, a lure having an opening extendingupwardly therethrough, a flexible member embedded in the soil of said track and encircling the track, one end of said flexible member extending through the opening in the lure and over the rail, a reel adapted to engagethe flexible member and pull it from the soil of the track.

13. The combination with a race track, of a rail arranged thereabove, a lure having an opening extending upwardly therethrough, a relatively thin flexible member embedded in the soil of said track and encircling the track, one end of said flexible member extending through the opening in the lure and over the rail, a reel, and a tube extending upwardly above said reel, the flexible member passing downwardly through the tube to the reel, whereby the reel will operate to pull the flexible member from the soil of the track and propel the lure about the track.

14. The combination with a race track, of a lure having an opening therethrough, a flexible member arranged below the surface of the track and having one end passed upwardly through the opening in the lure, means to pull the flexible member through the lure and away from the track to propel the lure about the track, and an escape for said lure arranged above a portion of said flexible member.

15. The combination with a race track, of a lure having an opening therein, a resilient runner arranged below said lure, a flexible member arranged about said track and having one end threaded through the opening in the lure, and means to pull the flexible member through the lure to propel the lure about the track;

18. The combination with a race track, of a lure having an opening therethrough, a tube embedded in the track and extending thereabout, and having a slot in the upper side, a flexible member arranged in said tube and having one end passed through the slot therein and upwardly through the opening in the lure, and means to pull the flexible member through the lure.

19. The combination with a race track, of a gutter arranged about said track adjacent the inner edge thereof, a flexible member arranged about the track and in said gutter, a rail arranged above said track, a lure having an opening therethrough, the flexible member being passed through the lure and over the rail, and means to pull the flexible member over the rail to propel the lure about the track in a path spaced from the inner edge of the track.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

BLANCHARD D. S 1TH.

16. The combination with a race track, of

a lure having an opening extending upwardly therethrough, a resilient runner arranged beneath the lure, a flexible member arranged about said track and embedded therein, said flexible member having one end threaded through the opening in the lure, and means to pull the flexible member through the lure and out of the track to propel the lure about said track.

17 A device for propelling an object over the ground, the object having an opening ex tending upwardly therethrough, comprising a flexible member embedded in the ground, the end of the flexible member passing through the opening in the object to be propelled, and means for pulling the flexible member upwardly through the object to be propelled and away from the ground.