US2297993A - Target device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6,1942: w. A. TRATSCH TARGET DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 7% H15 ATTORN Walier A. Jzasc/i f HR, v. .H NN\N\HNNNM Ot. 6, 1942. w. A. TRATSCH TARGET DEVICE Filed Jan. 1'7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 am m A H W% Patented Oct. 6, 1942 U N IT ED STATES PAT ENT F F'iI CE TARGET DEVICE Walter "A; TratschpChicago, 111.Application J nuary 17, 1941, SerialNo. 374,809-

1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain novel rim provements in target devices and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the salient objects of the present invention is the provision of a combination and arrangement of parts for removably presenting a target to the marksman in a manner such that when the target is struck by the pellet the same can freely move from target-supporting position for return by a return mechanism to target-moving position into and through the aiming range of the device.

A still further object of the invention resides in the novel and inexpensive arrangement for recording hits scored by the marksman.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front elevational view of the target apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the same taken substantially onlines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View of the upper portion of the target return mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the target conveyor.

In the drawings I have illustrated the preferred form of construction of my invention. In this connection the target apparatus comprises a box-like structure Ill having side walls I l between which is arranged a rearwardly and downwardly extending target wall I2 having its target face I3 covered with a pellet-resisting material l4 preferably of a metal suitable for that purpose. In this target wall l2 with edges [5 likewise lined with pellet-resisting material, are inclined elongated openings I6, arranged with an intermediate elongated opening I! inclined at an angular position with respect to the two openings l6. The

target wall I 2, together with runways l9 disposed along the lower edge l8 of the openings l6 and I1, serves to movably support the target elements 2B, which in the present instance are formed disc-like and of a metal which is adapted to resist the impact of pellets striking-against these targets. These runways l9 are '50 arranged with respect to each' other that the target will travel over the target wall to the rear thereof in zig-zag formation. Thesediscs 26 are conveyed to the uppermost of the runways l9 by a motordriven conveyor belt 2] having disposed at intervals on the face thereof target-supportingsteps 22 whereby the targets deliverd, in a manner hereinafter explained, to the elevator will by these steps be brought to the uppermost of the runways I9 and, by virtue of the inclination of these steps with respect to theconveyor belt 2|, the targets will roll by gravity onto the uppermost of the runways IQ for travel therealong with portions thereof exposed through the openings l6 and H.

In the present instance this conveyor belt is supported by opposite pulleys 22', one of which is driven by asuitable motor 23.

Associated with the target wall I2 to the rear thereof is aninclined platform 24 onto which thetargets 20 are adapted to drop when unseated from the runways l9 upon being struck by the pellets. As thesetargets 20 drop upon thisplatform 24, by virtue of the inclination of thisplatform 24 the targets will slide downwardly into a trough-like structure 25 onto aconveying chain 26 driven by a suitable motor 21 and havingasuitable tensioning device 28. As thesetargets 20 drop upon thisconveyor chain 26, they are conveyed for passage through an opening 29 onto the elevator within which theconveying belt 2| is arranged, whereupon the target will be seated upon one of theinclined steps 22 for elevation up to the uppermost of the runways I9.

In their movement from theplatform 24 into thetrough structure 25, the targets come into contact with anelongated strip 39 pivotally supported on the target wall as at 3| and having associated therewith a contact closingpin 32 bearing against aspring contact leaf 34 whereby the weight of the target against the strip 3| will cause thepin 32 to bear against thespring contact leaf 34, bringing the same into contact with a companionspring contact leaf 35 to complete a circuit to ascore relay 36 of a well-known type, whereby to register a score in a manner well-known in the art.

As shown in Fig. 3, thedischarge end 31 of theconveyor 26 is disposed in spaced relation with respect to theconveyor chute 2| in which theconveyor belt 2| is positioned, so that any pellets passing through the openings [6 and I1 and finding lodgement on theplatform 24 will gravitate into thetrough structure 25 onto theconveyor chain 26 and be thereby conveyed for gravitation into a pellet-receiving receptacle 38 removably associated with the target device.

By inclining the target wall l2, it is obvious that the weight of thetargets 20 will bear against this wall and be exposed through the openings "5 and I! while gravitating down the runways l9 and when struck by a pellet it will be apparent that there is nothing to interfere with the target being unseated from the runways l9 to fall upon theplatform 24, where they are gravitated into contact with thestrip 30 for reasons herein explained, and hence onto theconveyor chain 26 for assage to theconveyor 2| to be conveyed thereby into position where by the action of anejector spring 39 the target discs will be ejected onto the uppermost of the runways [9.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a target apparatus for rolling disc targets, a target range comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined target wall having one or more inclined elongated openings formed therein, inclined runways to the rear of said wall and adjacent the lower elongated edge of said openings and adapted with the cooperation of said target wall to support rolling disc target elements for gravitation theredown while exposed through said openings whereby the target elements may be unseated from said runway at any point along the latter when struck by a pellet.

WALTER A. TRATSCH.

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