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 on lines 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. These discs 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-supporting steps 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 the conveyor 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 a suitable motor 23.

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

In their movement from the platform 24 into the trough structure 25, the targets come into contact with an elongated strip 39 pivotally supported on the target wall as at 3| and having associated therewith a contact closing pin 32 bearing against a spring contact leaf 34 whereby the weight of the target against the strip 3| will cause the pin 32 to bear against the spring contact leaf 34, bringing the same into contact with a companion spring contact leaf 35 to complete a circuit to a score 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, the discharge end 31 of the conveyor 26 is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the conveyor chute 2| in which the conveyor belt 2| is positioned, so that any pellets passing through the openings [6 and I1 and finding lodgement on the platform 24 will gravitate into the trough structure 25 onto the conveyor 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 the targets 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 the platform 24, where they are gravitated into contact with the strip 30 for reasons herein explained, and hence onto the conveyor chain 26 for assage to the conveyor 2| to be conveyed thereby into position where by the action of an ejector 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.

Images