US368588A

US368588A - Petee d

Info

Publication number: US368588A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1904-08-23

Description

(No Model.)

P. D. HORTON.

TOY GATAPULT.

N0. 368,588. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

InU nmr:

arnn'r tries.

PETER D. HORTON, OF OAKLAND, GALIFORN IA, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK GETOHELL, OF SAME PLACE.

TOY CATAPULT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,588, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed December "24, 1886. Serial No. 222,500. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toy Spring-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to that class of toy guns in which a spring is employed for giving impulse to the shaft or arrow in projecting it from the gun, and has for its object the production of a toy spring -gun much cheaper in construction, easier to use, and more pleasing and effective in operation than those heretofore employed.

To attain this end my invention consists in a cylinder or barrel bored centrally, in which the shaft or arrow is placed. The opposite sides of the barrel or, cylinder are also bored with holes parallel with the center bore, and a saw-kerf or open slot is made lengthwise with the holes in the cylinder, which receive an india-rubber or elastic band, one end of which is free over the central bore, so that the lower end of the arrow may come in contact with it, and the other end confined to the opposite end of the barrel away from the borehole, so that the arrow, when sprung, will not beimpededin its progress. The end of the arrow of my toy spring-gun is tipped with a tubular cork.

In the drawings, Figure 1, representing my toy spring-gun, is given in perspective. Fig. 2 represents a cross-section of the barrel.

Let A represent the cylinder or barrel of my toy spring-gun, which is bored with three longitudinal holes, a b 0, parallel to each other, as shown. The two outer bore-holes, b c, are slotted or cut through from end to end with a saw-kerf, so that communication is had with these holes from the outside of the cylinder. The slots or kerfs are of just sufficient width to'permit the edge of the endless elastic band d to pass in and be contained in the holes I) c. The ends of the band will cover the ends of the center bore-hole, a, in which position the band at the lower end of the barrel remains, while the band at the upper or outer end is drawn to one side of the central bore, a, and kept in this position away from the bore by a tack or pin, 6, so

that the shaft or arrow can be inserted and carried down the bore, and the end of the arrow will engage with the elastic band, so that it can be drawn backward by the fingers and expand or stretch the band and give: impulse to the arrow when suddenly released by the finger.

The arrow is tipped with a cylindricallyshaped cork having a cup in the end thereof, 6

in which may be placed a fire-cracker, pebble, or other small projectile, and when the arrow is fired or projected from the bore it will be carried a certain distance upward by the resilience of the elastic spring and return or fall 6 the barrel A, provided with a central orifice, a, and parallel holes 5 c in the same longitudinal plane with orifice a, and longitudinal slots 1. In a toy spring-gun, the combination of between the holes I) c and the outside of the barrel, the endless elastic band d, normally covering the orificea at one end of the barrel, and secured at c on the other end of said barrel, and the projectile-shaft tipped at one end with a hollow cup, substantially as described.

2. In atoy spring-gun, the combination,witl1 the barrel A, provided with a central orifice, a, for receiving the projectile, and parallel holes I) c in the same longitudinal plane with the orifice a, and longitudinal slots between 0 holes I) c and the outside of the barrel, of the endless elastic band (1, covering the orifice a at one end of the barrel and secured away from said orifice at the other end, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

PETER 1). Homes. [1L5] Witnesses:

O. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY.