US2026831A - Target game - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7,1936. s. GRAF 2,o26,s31

TARGET GAME Filed May 14, 1934 INVENTOR Sey@ Graf ATTQR N EYS Y Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES TARGET GAME l Steve Graf, Detroit, Mich. i

Application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,563

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-402) The present invention pertains to a novel amusement device and has as its primary object to provide a target simulating a hen and mechanism associated therewith which functions to trip a release mechanism controlling a magazine containing balls or objects resembling eggs when the hen shaped target is struck on the head by a thrown missile such as a baseball, and thus to simulate the action of a hen laying an egg.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a target which is shaped to resemble a hen, or other fowl or bird, the bodyand head being constructed of material capable of withstanding the impact of thrown missiles and the head being pivotally associated with the body and connected to a trip mechanism for releasing balls or objects resembling eggs and also connected with movable elements carrying feathers so that when the head is struck by a thrown missile it causes the trip mechanism to be actuated to release a ball and the movable elements to move the feathers to provide a realistic simulation of a hen laying an egg.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a target resembling a hen and having a pivotally supported head which is adapted to actuate a tripping mechanism whenstruck by a thrown missile and retarding means associated with the head to cause it to slowly return to its 3o normal inoperative I position. The retarding means is provided to slow the action of resilient means for returning the head to its normal position for the purpose of insuring the release of a ball or other object by the tripping mechanism and also to cause the movement to more naturally simulate the action of a hen.

With the above and other ends in view reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section;

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 5 5 respectively, of Figs. 2 and 3,

and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross section illustrating the feather supporting elements.

The numeral l designates the target body which is shaped to resemble a hen but it is to be 5o understood that this particular exemplification is by Way of example only and that the body might well be formed to resemble other fowls or birds. Secured to the back edges of the body I by removable securing elements 2` is a back plate 3.

55 Bearings 4 are secured to the back` plate 3 and rotatably support a shaft 5. Attached to the shaft 5 is an arm 6 to which is secured a target part 'I resembling the head of the hen. Secured to the back plate 3 is a bumper element 8, the purpose of which is to limit the amount of pivotal 5"-u movement of the head 1, it being obvious that the head may pivot by rotating the shaft 5. A coiled spring Il has one'end secured as at I0 toone of the bearings 4 and its other end secured to a collar on the end of shaft 5 and functions to resiliently l0`=' urge the head to the upright position which may be observed more clearly in Fig. 4.

Extending outwardly from the shaft 5 and through a slot in the back plate 3 is a lever I2. The lever I2 is connected by a rod I3 to a pis- 15 ton I 4 in a cylinder I5. This construction obviously comprises a well known dash pot and functions to slow the rotation of shaft 5 resulting from the urge of spring 9 after the head has been moved away from its erect position shown in 20 Fig. 4.

, Extending into the body I through an opening I6 in the back plate 3 is a tubular magazine I1 adapted to receive balls I8. Mounted adjacent to the outlet end I9 of the magazine is a trip 25 member consisting of a spring pressed plunger 20 and spaced therefrom approximately a distance corresponding to the diameter of the balls is another trip mechanism comprising a spring retracted plunger 2I. 'I'he plungers 2i) and 2l are 30 connected to a rocking lever 22 on opposite sidesV of its pivot 23 so that when lever 22 is rocked the plunger 20 moves upwardly and the plunger 2l downwardly. To rock the lever 22 there is provided a lever 24 extending from the shaft 5 35 and through a slot in the back plate 3 to engage the end of lever 22.

Mounted above and below the outlet end I9 of the magazine are rollers 25 and 26 respectively.

A link 2'I is connected to a lever 28 on shaft 5 40 and the two rollers are connected together by a link 29 so thatwhen lever 28 is rocked because of rotation of shaft 5 the link 21 causesroller 25 to be partially rotated and the link 29 causes roller 26 to be partially rotated in a direction 45 opposite to the movement of roller 25. Mounted on rollers 25 and 26 are clusters of feathers 30.

In use, a plurality of the above described targets are arranged on suitable stands so that missiles may be thrown at them. When a thrown missile -strikes the head 'l the head is caused to move pivotally and in so doing rotates the shaft 5 and stores energy in the spring 9. Rotation of shaft 5 moves lever 24 which in turn causes the rocking lever 22 to rock on its pivot so as to raise 55 tion opposite to that of roller 25.

this time; held against movement by the plunger 2|. Therefore only one ball I8 may be released by one rotative movement 'of the shaft 5.Y

Simultaneously With the above described action the lever 28 is rocked and through link 21 causes the roller 25 to be partially rotated. Movement of roller 26 causes a similar amount of rotation of roller 26 through link 29 which is arranged so that the movement of roller 26 is in a direc- This movement of the rollers 25 and 26 causes the clusters of feathers 30 to be spread apart so that the ball, which is at this time released as above described, is free to pass between the clusters.

After the above described operation takes place the spring 9 tends to return the shaft to a position where the head1 is erect. This movement is retarded sufciently by the action of the dashpot in order to insure'release of a ball and in order to cause the movement of the head toward its normal position to be at a slow rate.

Although a specific embodiment of the present inventionhas been illustrated and described it isrto be understood that various changes may be made Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.V

What I claim is:- 1. In a target formed to resemble an egg-laying animal, a part resembling the head of said animal, means for supporting said head part whereby it moves as a result of impact of a thrown missile, means for receiving objects, a trip mechanism for releasing said objects, means connecting said head to said release mechanism whereby movement of said head actuates said release mechanism, clusters of feathers movably supported so that a released object passes between the same, and means operatively connecting said head and clusters of feathers so that movement of said headrspreads said clusters to permit a ball to pass therebetween.

2. In a target, a hollow body containing a magazine and a trip mechanism for releasing objects from said magazine, a rockable element, a radially extending member on said rockable element, a target element on said radially extending member, a radially extending element on said rockable element operatively connected to said trip mechanism, movable elements supported adjacent to the discharge end of said magazine, and a radially extending member on said rockable element operatively connected to said movable elements.

3. A target comprising relatively independent head and trunk portions formed to resemble the body of an egg-laying animal, means for supporting said head on said trunk portion whereby impact of a thrown missile therewith causes movement thereof, a magazine in said trunk portion with its discharge end disposed adjacent to an opening in said trunk portion, a trip mechanism for releasing objects from said magazine, means operatively connecting said first named means with said trip mechanism whereby movement of said head causes actuation of said trip mechanism, means for movably supporting feathers in a position obstructing the ,opening in said trunk portion, and means connecting said rst and last named means whereby movement of said head causes movement of the said feathers.

STEVE GRAF.

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