US569282A

US569282A - Toy cannon and target

Info

Publication number: US569282A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1913-10-13

Description

(No Model.)

J HANNAN TOY CANNON AND TARGET.

No. 669,282. Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

In E ArnNT OFFICE.

JAMES HANNAN, OF MUSCATINE, IOVA.

TOY CANNON AND TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,282, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed January 30, 1896. Serial No. 577,414. (No model.)

To all whom, it' m 'by concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES HANNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Toy Cannon and Target, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in toys, and has for its object to provide a miniature toy cannon and target mounted upon a common base, the vcannon being adapted to project a ball in the direction of the target.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with the cannon means whereby a percussion-cap may be exploded simultaneously with the firing of the ball,

'With the above objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features and vdetails of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved toy complete. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the barrel of the cannon, showing the spring-plunger, tbc. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the cap-socket. Fig. is a detail view of the pivoted target. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the trigger mechanism.

Similarnumerals of reference designate corresponding' parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a board of any suitable length constituting the base upon which the other parts of the toy are mounted. At one end of this base-board is rigidly attached a stationary gun rest or carriage 2, the inner portion of which is provided, as to its top edge, with a groove forming a longitudinal seat for a section of metal tubing constituting the barrel 3 of the cannon. The rear portion of the gun-rest is cut away or depressed for convenience in mounting the trigger hereinafter described.

Vithin the breech of the barrel is fitted a rigid breech-plug 4, having an eccentric perforation 5, through which passes a plunger G, having a cap or ferrule 7, attached to its front end and approximating the internal diameter of the barrel 3. A spiral spring S is interposed between the cap or ferrule 7 and the breech-plug 4, which spring serves to actuate the plunger toward the muzzle of the barrel. Adjacent to its rear end the plunger is provided with a finger-grasp 9, by means of which the said plunger may be retracted, and also has a loop or eye 10 for en- This trigger may be formed from a piece of wire, the front end of which is driven into the rest 2, from whence it extends rearwardly in a groove in said rest, being formed with a vertical catch 12 for engaging the eye 10 on the plunger, and also having a rearwardlyextending trip-arm, by means of which the trigger may be manipulated both for engaging and releasing the plunger. The trigger may be made from spring-wire, so that its engagement with the plunger will be normally preserved. The plunger is also provided adjacent toits rear end with a lateral extension forming a hammer 13, the end of which is preferably arranged in the same horizontal plane as the plunger proper, but at one side thereof, the said hammer being adapted, in the forward movement of the plunger, to strike against and explode a percussion cap or pellet contained in a metal socket-piece 14, arranged at the breech of the vbarrel 3. This cap-socket is made from a piece' of sheet metal, the same being folded upon itself so as to leave a sufficient amount of space between the folded portions toadmit of the in sertion of a percussion-cap.

The rear folded portion of the cap-socket is provided with a notch 15, through which the hammer operates in exploding the cap. The cap-socketfits and slides, as to its lower edge, in a transverse groove a in the upper surface of the gun-rest 2, and its inner end is slotted to straddle the plunger-stem 6. The socket 14 is extended at its outer end to form a iin ger-hold by which it may be removed and replaced, and a cord is interposed between the cap-socket and gun rest or base to prevent the former from being lost. The capsocket may be secured to the gun-rest in any convenient manner. At the opposite end of the base lis arranged a rigid upright stop 16, consisting of a board or plate having its central portion cut out and a pivoted block or gagement with the trigger, (indicated at 1l.)

IOO

vjected toward and against the target.

movable bulls-eye 17 arranged therein and journaled on a horizontal pin or Wire 1S at or near the base of said block. This pivoted block may have represented thereon a head, as illustrated in the drawings, although it will be apparent that any desired representation may be made thereon, or an audible target in the form of a gong may be attached either to the block or the stop. This target is located Within the range of the cannon and is adapted to be operated by means of a captive ball 19, fast upon the end of an anchoring-cord 20, or a ball not so fastened, if desired.

In operation the plunger is drawn back and engagedby the trigger in the manner abovel described, a percussion-cap being thereafter inserted in the cap-socket at the breech of the barrel. The ball is now placed in the muzzle of the barrel and pushed toward the breech by means of a ramrod, when the cannon is ready to be fired. This is accomplished by manipulating the trigger, Which releases the plunger and causes the ball to be pro- The stop-board surrounding the pivoted target stops the balls in the event of their going Wide of the mark, thus adding to the safety of the device.

The toy hereinabove described may be manufactured at slight cost and Willbe a source of much amusement and entertainment to children, especially as the simultaneous explosion of the percussion-cap adds to the realistic eect.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing 4from the spirit or sacrificing and of the advantages of this invention.

VHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. The herein-described toy comprising a cannon having a tubular barrel, a reciprocating spring-actuated plunger therein, a trigger for said plunger, a hammer carried by and forming a part of the plunger, and a cap-socket located near the breech of the barrel, the said cap-socket being slotted to engage the plunger-stem and formed to constitute a holder for a percussion-cap, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described toy, comprising a tubular barrel, a rest in which said barrel is In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' J AMES HANNAN. Vitnesses:

H. D. HORST, CHAs. O. MCBRIDE.