US2269258A - Target rifle range - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1942.

W. P. FALKENBERG TARGET RIFLE RANGE Original Filed Dec. '7, 1956 4 47 45 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `Ian. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE to Rayolite Rie Range Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Oklahoma substituted for abandoned application Serial No. 114,669, December 7, 1936. This application January 6, 1940, Serial No. 312,783

1 Claim.

serted in a coin-operated switch may be increased by the success of the marksman.

Another purpose is the provision of a Xed photo-sensitive target which shall be effective, when hit, to increase the number of shots which may be had by the user to a number above the number of shots normally allowed.

Gther objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and claim.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure l is a perspective View of the device; Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram.

Like characters are used to indicate like parts I throughout the specincation and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the gallery includes a gun 45 having an electric light bulb 46 and a lens 41 or other suitable means for concentrati-ng I.

or directing a beam of light toward a target. In the present disclosure, two targets or types of target are shown. There is, in the rst place, the traveling target structure generally indicated at X, as shown for example in the forward part of Figure l.

The target is of the traveling type and is provided with a plurality of target portions or drops 48, herein shown as simulating ducks, which drop target portions are pivoted as at 49 upon target bases 50 which are secured to an endless belt 5I. The belt 5I is trained around pulleys 52 and 53 whose shafts 54 and 55 may be suitably mounted upon a base 56 by any supporting or bearing means 56a. An electric motor M is mounted on the base 58 and is effective to drive with one of the belt pulleys to effect travel of the target portions or drops 4B together with the bases 50. In Figure 1, a pulley 5l is shown as driven by the motor M. It is employed to rotate a pulley 58 by means of the belt 59. The transmission 6l! is diagrammatically indicated between the motor M and the pulley 5l. Each target drop portion 48 is formed with an opening 6I and mounted on the base 5U, behind and aligned with said opening, is a photo-sensitive member 62 which may be a known type of the photo-electric cell. In the normal use of the device, if the user directs a light flash through the opening 6| against the cell 52, the target drop portion 48 drops or is caused to fall, and at the same time an audible signal may be operated, all of which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Each target base 50 carries contacts 63 for the cell 62, said contacts moving with the target base as shown for example at the upper right-hand corner of Figure 3. They are cooperable with the Xed contact rails 64, and with the rest of the circuit below described, to effect the dropping or falling of the drop portion 48 when the cell 62 is struck.

Each target drop portion 48 is equipped with an arm 55 depending beneath the level of the target base 59. During travel of the target portion and base along the tracks 64, this arm lies against a trip rail 66, which is carried by an arm El hingedly mounted on the base 56 in any suitable'way. A spring 68 is normally eiective to hold the arm 6l in normal position, and when in such position it holds the target drop portion 48 in the upright position in which it is shown in Figures l and 3. An electro-magnet 68 is provided which is effective, when energized, to draw the arm or armature 6l in a clockwise direction. This has for a result to move the arm 65 which depends from the target drop 48 far enough to move the target portion 4B off center and thereafter it falls forward into hit-indicating position. The electro-magnet 69 is energized only when a flash of light from the bulb 46 of the gun 45 is so accurately aimed as to strike the photoelectric cell 62.

The device herein shown is particularly applicable to slot machine usage in which a predetermined number of shots is allowed to the user who inserts a coin, and in which no shots can be taken unless or until a coin is inserted. lll denotes a coin slot starting switch, shown as located at the shooting post 'l I, and is effective for bringing the motor M into play to drive the target and for preparing the entire gallery for operation. l2 indicates a trigger switch carried by the gun 45 and effective to illuminate the bulb 46 in response to a trigger pull.

13 generally indicates a normally open shot through lines 91 to the light 46 in the gun 45, thence lthrough line 98 across the lower contacts of the relay B, line 99, across the closed contacts of the relay C, and line back to the transformer 30. This circuit illuminates the light 46 in the gun.

The second circuit established by closure of the intermediate connection of the relay B energizes the relay C, the entire circuit of which is traceable from one terminal of the rectifier 8| through lines 3|, 6, 36, gun trigger switch 12, line 31 to the electro-magnet C of the shot counter, thence through lines 38, 90 and 91| of relay C, line 92, across intermediate connection of relay B, and lines 93, 43, 35 back to the other terminal of the rectifier 0|. This circuit causes the relay C to break the electrical connection of the gun light 46. However, the relay C is so adjusted as to function a fraction of a second slower than the relay B in order to energize the light 46 for an instant only to cause in effect a flash of light.

A third circuit closed by the energization of the relay B by means of a trigger pull may be traced from the transformer 30 through the line 91 to intersecting point |0I, thence through line |02 across the upper connection of relay B and line |03 to a thud sounder |04 from which a line |05 continues to line |09 and transformer 30. The thud sounder may, for example, be a suitable solenoid coil, which, when energized as above I described, actuates a solenoid plunger which, in turn, may strike a member, indicated by numeral |06, to produce in effect the sound vof a bullet hit.

Brieiiy stated, each time the trigger 12 is pulled, the shot counter 13 is advanced one step, i

a iiash of light is projected from the gun, and the thud sounder |04 is actuated to simulate the report of a bullet hit. If the operator has not been successful in obtaining a hit, no further action takes place.

Assuming that the aim of the gun has been accurate and that the flash of light hit the photoelectric cell 62 of the moving target 48, electric current flows from the amplifying unit |81 through the photo-electric cell 62, contacts 03 .i

and rails 04. The lines |08 and |09 connect the amplifying unit |01 with the rails 84. The arnpliiier in turn energizes a photo-electric relay I0 and closes'a switch I I.

Closure of the switch I closes electric circuits through the electro-magnet 69, associated with the trip rail 60, previously described, and a transformer ||2 for actuating a chime I i3. The circuit of the electro-magnet 69 may be traced from the intersecting point I1 of the 11G-volt transformer supplies current for energizing the ,1

electro-magnetic coil |2| for sounding the chime IIS.

As will be seen from the above description, each time the photo-electric cell 62 of the moving target 48 is hit by a dash of light, the electromagnet 69 is energized to throw the target 48 into the hit indicating position, and in addition the electro-magnetic coil functions to sound the chime I|3.

The photo-electric amplifier is shown in con- T lll ductive connection with the 110 volt source of power, as by the lines |22 and |23.

In addition to the above described moving target and control circuit therefor, I find it desirable to employ one or more fixed targets which have a double function. In the first place, the ordinary user may elect to shoot at the fixed target one or more times instead of at the moving target. In the second place, the fixed target may be employed as a means for giving the good marksman a pay-off, such as ten more free shots.

Referring to Figure l, I have illustrated a fixed target generally indicated at Y, shown in the form of an owl having eyes and |3I in the form of apertures. Aligned with these apertures, and mounted to the rear of the owl Y are the photocells |82, |33. Extending from them to the amplifier |34 is a conductive connection including the lines |35 and |36. The two photocells |32 and |33 are shown as connected in parallel. The ampliher |34 is shown in conductive connection with the 110 volt source of power, as by the lines |31 and |38. |39 indicates a photo-electric relay adapted to be energized by amplifier current fiowing through the circuit |40, I4I when either of the cells |32 or |33 is struck by a flash of light. When the relay |39 is energized, it moves `the snap switch |42 from the full line position in which it is shown in Figure 3 to the dotted line position. The switch is normally held in whichever position it is moved to by the spring |44 indicates an additional switch moved by the switch |42 as by the arm |45. When it is moved into the dotted line position it closes a circuit for the indicator lamp |4| which extends from the line 35 through the line |41, switch |44, and line |43 back to the line 3|. In other words, when a hit is scored against either of the photocells |32 or |33, the signal lamp |45, herein shown as at the top of the owl, shines indicating that a hit has been scored against the fixed photocells of the owl.

Assume that the user shot at the owl at his iirst shot and scored a hit, as indicated by illumination of the lamp |45. This does not in any Way affect the normal operation of the moving targets and they continue to move and are available for further shooting. At each shot the arm 'iii of the shot limit switch 13 is moved one step. At the last or tenth shot, it moves it into the full line position as shown in Figure 3, just as if no hit had been recorded against the fixed target. One result is to de-energize the coil 8 of the relay A which permits that relay to move into the open position in which it is shown in Figure 3. This, however, closes the bottom contact as at and this closes a circuit with the source of -volt direct current which includes the line 3, the line I5|, the slow-acting magnet D, the line |52, the switch |42 which is at that time in dotted line position as a result of the previously scored hit, the line |53, the connection |50, the line |54, back by the connecting point to the line I. The result is to move the switch 10 into circuit closing position, just as if a coin had been inserted and the slide 10a had been moved, and all the results which would have grown from the insertion of a coin and the actuation of the switch immediately follow. In other words, the user has been given ten extra shots, even though he has not inserted an additional com.

In order to move the switch |42' back and to prevent further unearned pay-offs and to release the switch 10, I provide an additional circuit which includes the contact |56, line |51, electro-magnetic coil |58, line |59 which extends to the line 3| at the junction point |60. The result of the actuation of this circuit is to return the switch |42 to the full line position in which it is shown in Figure 3. The spring |43 then holds it in position against any suitable stop, as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, thestationary target Y may be mounted, for example, on a bracket |6I, which also supports the photo-electric cells |32 and |33. The photo-electric cells are preferably shielded by housings |62, illustrated in Figure 2, which may be provided with lenses |53 in alignment with the aperture |30, |3| respectively. The photo-electric cells 62 of the moving targets may be similarly shielded.

,The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I illustrate a target device in which the gun 45 is aimable just like an ordinary rifle but shoots a flash of light from the bulb 46. I illustrate two separate target arrangements.

In the first place, I shoot at moving target bases 55 which carry the photocells 62 and target drop portions 43. When the coin controlled switch 10 is closed, the motor M is energized and the targets begin to move and the switch arm 15 of the shot limit switch 13 is moved to its dotted line or initial position, the device is ready to operate. At each trigger pull a flash of light is directed from the gun. At each trigger pull, also, the thud sounder |04 is sounded, and the shot limit switch arm 'l5 is moved one step along the contacts 74. If the user is successful in hitting one of the cells 62, amplier current energizes the relay ||0 and thereby actuates the gong or signal ||3 and also causes the drop 48 to fall, further indicating or signalling a hit.

If the operator wishes to shoot at a fixed target, he may do so and the combination of fixed and moving targets I rind in practice interesting and stimulating to the user. Preferably the apertures |30 and 3| are considerably smaller than the apertures 6| in the target drop portions 48, which increases the difficulty of the shot. I may employ the xed target as a means for giving a successful marksman additional free shots. I

have illustrated means whereby, as shown in Figure 3, a hit recorded on one or the other of the photocells |32 or |33 not merely lights the signal lamp |46 but eventually actuates the slowacting electromagnet D and the switch 10 in such fashion as to give the marksman a secondstring of ten free shots after he has concluded his first string.

It will be understood also that whereas I have illustrated a separate fixed target that may be employed as any suitable back-drop or scenery, it might be positioned above or below or to one side of the moving target. Also, I may eliminate the light |46 or have it illuminated only at the last shot, even though the fixed target has already been hit, in order to insert an element of uncertainty. It will be understood that in the employment of the term actuate I wish to include broadly any means for putting any actuating member or mechanism into movement or play.

Attention is called to my application Serial Number 114,669, led December 7, 1936, for Target rifle range, which application is the basis for the disclosure of the present application.

I claim:

In a target device, a target member, a light sensitive member, a light projecting gun, means responsive to the accurate aiming and firing of the gun at the target member for projecting a light beam upon the light sensitive member which changes the current ow characteristics of the light sensitive member, a shot counting means, a hit indicating means, an electric circuit including the shot counting means, means for energizing the circuit to cause the shot counting means to count a shot each time the gun is fired, an electric circuit including the hit indicating means, means for energizing the circuit whenever the current flow characteristics of the light sensitive member are changed to cause the hit indicating means to indicate a hit, means controlled by the shot counting means for making the entire target device inoperative after a predetermined number of shots have been fired, a Starting switch controlled by the operator and independent of the shooting of the gun for resetting the various elements of the target mechanism to permit ring a successive series of shots, means actuated in response to the accurate aiming and firing of the gun and independent of the operator control of the starting switch for resetting the various elements of the target mechanism to permit the firing of an additional number of shots.

WILLIAM P. FALKENBERG.

Jan. 6, 1942. E.- F. ANDREWS RADIO RECEIVER origina'l Filed April 8, 19:55

5 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR.

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