Historical Document · 1939
US Patent 2,181,948 — McClellan, Target Practicing Apparatus (1939)
Filed 1936-10-14. Multi-target photocell panel for a light-ray range.
- rayolite
- photocell
- target
Historical Document · 1939
Filed 1936-10-14. Multi-target photocell panel for a light-ray range.
Dec. 5, 1939‘. F. c.- MCCLELLAN 2,181,948 TARGET PRACTIC-ING APPARATUS Filed Oct.- 14,' 1956 a 1 C / l Fred C McClellan \\42 INVENTOR. 110v. Ampli?er - I BY H15 ATTORNEY. 2,181,948 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,181,948 TARGET PRACTICING APPARATUS ' Fred C. McClellan, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Rayolite Ri?e Range Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Oklahoma Application October 14, 1936, Serial No. 105,556 '10 Claims. (Cl. 273—101.1) This invention relates to amusement devices and particularly to a target practicing apparatus which includes a light gun and a novel target structure, and indicating means operable by photo-electric means actuated by the skillful aim ing of said light gun. One of the important objects of the invention therefore is the provision of a target having a dis--' play panel with opaque target portions delineated 10 thereon, each of said portions being in the outline form of a suitable target object such as a duck, and having its marginal edge portions outlined by translucent areas, and the apparatus further pro— viding illuminating means behind the panel for 16 illuminating the marginal translucent portions of each of the targets, together with photo-electric control mechanism therefor, such that when one of said target objects or ducks, is struck by a ?ash of light from the light gun that particular target will no longer be illuminated about its marginal edge portions. . Other and more particular objects of construc tion and operation of the invention will appear in the following description in view of the attached 25 drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the target struc ture; Fig. 2'is an enlarged fragment in plan of the structure of Fig. 1; ~ Fig. 3 is a vertical side section taken along the lines 3—3 of Fig. 2; while Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram. The novel target structure as seen in Fig. 1 generally comprises a rectangular cabinet l2, hav 35 ing a rectangular target panel 14 disposed on the front side thereof, said panel being preferably of the translucent or transparent substance such as glass or Celluloid, and having delineated thereon suitable target characters in- the form of ducks 40 numbered consecutively I to I0, together with an appropriate scenic background for the particular target characters, in this instance the ducks, and also a score indicating character which in this instance is represented by a rising sun It, the transmit light freely from the front side of the panel to the rear thereof, for transmission through a suitable conduit member in the form of a tube 22 (Fig. 3) to be directed upon a photo electric cell or photo-sensitive device 24 positioned therebehind. The target panel I4 as seen in Fig. 3 may be suitably secured in grooves l1 provided by mem bers of the cabinet structure I2, and if desired a protective glass l5 may be similarly positioned in 10 front of the target panel l4. To the rear of the target panel is a supporting back or panel 26 extended in a plane parallel to the panel M, the light tubes 22 being seated in suitable apertures 23 provided in the panel 26 and 15 having their forward (right-hand) open extremi ties registered with the translucent bull’s eye or target spots 20 of the several targets I to iii. A suitable bracket 28 attached to the backing panel 26 supports the photo-electric cell 24 behind 20 the rear (left-hand) open extremity of the light tube 22, in such manner that a beam/of light properly impinging upon the bull's eye portion 20 and passing through the light tube 22, will impinge upon the photo-electric element of the tube 24 25 and actuate the latter to cause the extinguish ment of a corresponding indicating light 30, also supported by the back panel 26 in a position be hind the corresponding target character or duck, so as to cause the marginal illumination of the 30 duck to disappear, indicating a hit, the lamps 30 having been previously energized to outline the said target character or duck with a margin of light transmitted through the translucent mar ginal edge portion I8 of that target. Fig. 3 is illustrative of only one of the individual target characters such, for'example, as shown in Fig. 2, and it is to be understood that a plurality of such target units are provided corresponding to the number of targets desired, and each of these 40 units includes a target character or duck, a light tube behind the bull’s eye part thereof, a photo cell behind the light tube, and a delineating or margin outlining lamp suitably positioned between the backing panel and the target panel. 45 latter being delineated in translucent or trans- . At this juncture it is convenient to observe that parent colors or paint while the background is light from any of the sources 30 is prevented from delineated in an opaque paint or medium. Each of the ducks l to 10 appearing on the tar . reachingrthe photo-electric units 24 by the panel get panel I4 is also delineated by an opaque paint 26, the light tubes 22 being positioned close to the back sides of the targets l4 and being secured in 50 60 medium, except that each of the target elements or ducks has its marginal extremities outlined by - their respective back panel apertures 23 to prevent . translucent or transparent panel portions i8 any leakage of light. Thus, in effect, the lamps (Fig. 2), and also each of the ducks or target 30 are housed between the opaque target panel l4 and the backing panel 26, together with the characters is provided with a translucent or trans adjoining parts of the cabinet structure. A rear 65 parent bull’s eye or target spot 20 adapted to 65 2 2,181,948 closure panel I 3 is provided to further close o? the interior of the cabinet |2 to prevent light from reaching the cells 24 from extraneous sources. The electrical circuit connection for the several photo-electric devices 24 and the indicating lamps 3|| controlled thereby, is shown in Fig. 4. The novel target practicing apparatus is in tended to be used with any suitable form of light gun, such as generally indicated at 32, the con 10 struction and operation of such guns being gen erally well known and such that by the opera tion of the trigger, a beam or ?ash of light is projected from the gun toward the target, in this instance toward one of the ducks I to III on the target panel I 4, and particularly toward the bull’s eye or target spot 20 of the particular duck or target character selected. ' The light of the gun 32 may be energized from the 110 volt line source indicated in Fig. 4, through conductors 34, transformer 36 and con ductors 34', and a trigger switch 35 provided ' in the circuit’? The several photo-electric cells generally indi cated at 24 and individually indicated by the ordinals | to it), in Fig. 4, are each connected respectively to a contact 38 of a commutating switch 43, and to one of the input connections by a. previous operation of the machine. If the trigger switch 35 be closed, the circuit conditions will then be as represented in Fig. 4, and if a beam of light is projected from the gun 32 against the bull’s eye or target portion 23 of one of the target characters or ducks | to ID, (on target panel l4), the light will pass through the target spot and through a light tube 22 (Fig, 3) and onto one of the photo-cells 24. Assume that the cell indicated as | in Fig. 4 10 has been properly struck by a beam of light as aforesaid, it will be apparent that a circuit con- , nection is established from one side of the photo cell through a, conductor 33, one of the upper most switch contacts 38, the contact arms 4| and one of the common contacts 38', by conductor 3| to one of the input connections 42 of the ampli?er, the other input connection connecting with photo-cell numbered | by conductor 3|’. . Thus the ampli?er will be energized and cause the master relay 44 to pull up and close its switch 46, so that the ratchet solenoid 56 will be ener gized by conductors 51 from the 110 volt power source, whereupon the ratchet mechanism 53 will rotate the shaft 52 against the tension of spring 54, a distance corresponding to the move ment of the switch arms 4| and 43 to the next 42 of a suitable photo-electric ampli?er which“ adjacent contacts of their respective banks. includes in its output circuit a master relay 44, Contact arm 4| will thus be moved off of its 1‘ having a relay switch 45. The other input post 42 of the ampli?er ‘is connected to a common bank of contacts 38' of commutator switch 40, corresponding in number to the number oficon tacts 38, and the switch 43 is provided with a " - contact arm 4| which is adapted to bridge one. position, as indicated in Fig. 4, to the next ad 30 joining contact, so that the photo cell numbered | will be removed from circuit with the ampli fier, and the next photo cell numbered 2 will be substituted therefor. Meanwhile, the corresponding lamp 3!! (indi of the common contacts 38' and one of the photo-_ cated at | in Fig. 4) which has been illuminated electric cell contacts 38, the switch arm 4| having through a circuit from transformer 39, com an independent contact arm 43 movable over a pleted through switch arm 43 and one of the third bank of contacts 31, each of which is con contacts. 31, will be extinguished as the contact ~20 nected to one side of the bank of indicating lamps arm 43 moves to the next adjacent contact 31 30 (each individually indicated by an‘ ordinal to illuminate lamp numbered 2, so that the duck from I to Hi), the other side of these lamps be numbered 2 on the panel M will be outlined with ing connected to a transformer 39 to which the an edge of light indicating that the marksman independentcontact arm 43 is likewise connected, is to select that target next in order. \ such that the movement of the latter over the If the marksman now properly direct his next contacts 31 will sequentially energize one of the shot or beam of light onto the bull’s eye or target 45 lamps 33 when the transformer 39 is connected spot 20 of the target numbered 2, which is now to a suitable source of energy indicated‘ at 110 marginally illuminated as a result of the last hit, the photo~electric cell numbered 2 will be actu-» ' A pawl and ratchet drive 50 rotates a shaft 52 ated to operate the master relay 44 through the against thetension of a return spring 54 to cor ampli?er and 'a circuit therewith established respondingly rotate the contact arms 4| and 43; through the commutating switch 4|! in like man the driving means for this ratchet mechanism ner as above described, whereupon the solenoid being a solenoid 56 which is in circuit, through 56 will again step the ratchet mechanism 50 and 55 conductors 51, with a 110 volt (or other) source cause the contact arms 4| and 43 to'assume the of power, through the switch 46 of the master next sequential position, thus throwing photo 55 relay 44, and the ratchet mechanism 50 is pro cell numbered .3 in circuit with the ampli?er, vided with an electro-magnetically releasable extinguishing lamp numbered 2 and illuminat latch 58,v the electro-magnet element of which ing lamp numbered 3, and target numbered 3 60 is in circuit through conductors 59 and a mas is marginally illuminated as the target next to ter control switch 80. with the 110 volt power be selected by the marksman. This ‘operation source. The master switch 60 may be coin con-_ is repeated as many times as there are targets trolled or some other form of proprietary switch or so long as the marksman desires to shoot at volts. . _ > ‘ control. The operation of the device is such that as suming the switch 60 to be operated by a coin slide or by the proprietor of the apparatus, the electro-magnet 58 will be energized from a. source of power through conductors 59, to release its 70 latch member, which has a cam engagement with pawl 50 to disengage the latter from the ratchet ' andlpermit the return, movement of the shaft 52' and the contact arms 4| and 43 to a normal the targets, until the commutating switch 40 reaches the last contact and the machine is reset by tripping the electro-magnetic latch mecha nism 58 so that the switch arms 4| and 43 may return to normal position under the urgence of spring 54. , ‘ - After the tenth (or any ‘desired number) hit, 70 the marksman having made a perfect ‘score, the switching mechanism 40 may be arranged to ex tinguish the lamp corresponding to duck num position, .such_,as indicated in Fig. 4, since the bered l0, and illuminate some score-indicating 76 spring“ may be assumed to have been wound character, for example the sum l6, which in the _ v In f 2,181,948 arrangement illustrated, is arranged to remain illuminated until the switch mechanism 40 is returned to normal by operation of switch 60, for example. ' It will be apparent, of course, that this ar rangement is susceptible of wide variation with out departing from the spirit of the invention. While I have described the preferred embodi ment of the invention in particular detail for purposes of illustration, I do not desire to be limited by such detailed recitation except as may be hereinafter provided for in the annexed claims which I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States. I claim: 15 ' 3 supporting panel behind said target panel in the cabinet, means mounted by said support panel and operable for illuminating the marginal por tions of said target character, a photo-electric device supported by said support panel in align ment with the said translucent target portion, means. for directing light from said translucent target portion onto said photo-electric device and excluding from the latter light from said illu minating means, together with means actuated 10 by said photo-electric device when the latter is . struck by, a ?ash of light directed through said translucent target portion of the target char acter to control the operation of said illuminat ' ing means. 1. A target device comprising a translucent member having an opaque target character with translucent marginal edge portions, means in cluding a lamp behind said member for illumi 5. In a target device a cabinet member hav ing an open side, a translucent target panel sup nati'ng said marginal edge portions, means in cluding a photo-electric device positioned behind said member, and switching mechanism actuated by said photo-electric device when the latter is struck by a flash of light for extinguishing said 25 lamp to indicate a hit, said target character hav ing a translucent bull’s eye portion for transmis sion of light from a light gun onto said photo electric device. an opaque substance and having an opaque tar 2. A target device comprising a translucent 30 panel having delineated thereon a plurality of opaque target characters against an opaque back ground, each of said characters having translu cent marginal edge portions and a translucent target portion, means behind said panel for illu 35 minating the marginal edge portion of said tar get characters, means including a photo-electric device positioned behind each of said target characters to be struck by a flash of light directed through the respective translucent target por tions thereof for controlling the illumination of 40 said lights of the respective target characters responsive to a skillfully directed flash of light onto the target portion thereof, and means be hind said panel for shielding said photo-electric ported by said cabinet and closing the open side thereof, said translucent panel being covered by 16 20 get character delineated thereon with translu cent portions exposed about the marginal ex tremities of the target character and the latter having a translucent scoring portion, a shield panel behind said target panel in the cabinet, an 26 electric lamp supported by said shield panel be hind said target character to illuminate the mar ginal extremities thereof, a photo-electric device supported by said shield panel on a side thereof opposite- to said lamp in alignment with the 30 translucent scoring portion of said target char acter, means including a light transmitting mem" ber positioned between said photo-electric device and said target panel for directing light from the said translucent scoring portion thereof onto 35 the photo-electric device and excluding light from said lamp from said device, together with means including switching mechanism actuated by said photo-electric device when the latter is struck by a ?ash of light through said translu cent'scoring portion to control the illumination of said. marginal extremities by said lamp to indicate a hit. 6. A target structure for use with light guns ‘and comprising a glass plate provided with an - 4.5 devices from said illuminating means. 45 opaque covering, portions of which delineate a 3. A target device including a translucent pan el member having a target character delineated target character, said opaque portion being cut thereon and opaque to light, said character being surrounded by an opaque background and having translucent marginal portions and a translucent ‘away. around marginal edge portions of said target character, said character further having said target character to illuminate the translu cent marginal portions thereon, switch means for controlling the illumination of said light, a shield member behind said panel and adapted to sup 55 port said light behind the target character, a photo-electric device supported on the side of get in aiming position to be struck by light from 50 target portion, an electric light positioned behind > said shield opposite to said light and in substan tial alignment with said translucent target por-_ 60 tion so as to be struck by a flash of light directed through the latter,'a light tube supported by said shield to direct light from said translucent target portion onto said photo-electric device and ex clude light from said electric light, together with means operable by said photo-electric device when the latter is struck by a ?ash of light to actuate said switch means and cause said electric light to indicate a hit. 4. A target device comprising a closed cabinet 70 member having a translucent target-panel clos ing one side thereof, said panel having an opaque target character thereon and an opaque back ground for said target character, the latter being provided with translucent marginal edge por 76 tions and a translucent target portion, an opaque opaque portions cut away to provide a translu cent target portion, means supporting said tar 50 a light gun, togetherv with illuminating means behind said structure and adapted to illuminate the marginal translucent portions of said target. 55 character. '7. A target structure for use with light guns and comprising a cabinet having an open side 'wall, a glass plate covering said open side wall and having an opaque background substance thereon 60 I with an opaque target character delineated there on, said opaque background material being cut ' away around the marginal outline of said tar get character and the latter having body por tions of said opaque matter cut away to provide 65 a translucent target portion, means for support ing a photo-sensitive device behind said trans lucent target portion on said cabinet, illuminat ing means in said cabinet for illuminating the translucent marginal portions outlining said 70 character, and means for shielding said photo sensitive device from said illuminating means. 8. 'A target structure for use with light guns, said structure comprising a cabinet having an open side wall portion, a translucent member 76 a ' - r v 2,181,948 arranged in said open side wall portion and having an opaque background covering with an opaque target character delineated thereon, said character having translucent marginal portions outlining the same and also having a translue translucent target portion disposed within said marginal outline, means behind said panel for illuminating the translucent marginal portions of said character, a photo-sensitive device behind said translucent target portion, means shielding said photo-sensitive device from said illuminat ing means, together with- mechanism operably cent target portion in the outlined body portion of the character, a photo-electric cell supported in said cabinet behind said translucent target controlled by said photo-sensitive device for ex portion, together with illuminating means in said tinguishing said illuminating means when the cabinet behind said translucent plate for illumi - photo-sensitive device is activated ‘by light pro 10 10' nating the translucent marginal outiine portions jected‘ through said translucent target portion. of the target character, and means shielding said ~ 10. A, target apparatus comprising a box-like frame, a plurality of transparent images in a wall thereof, means within the frame de?ning housings corresponding to each image, an in candescent lamp in each housing, a photo-elec tric cell for each image, and an enclosure for the cell, each enclosure having a tubular por photo-cell from said illuminating means. 9. A target structure for use with light guns 15 and including a translucent panel having an opaque background formed thereon and an opaque target character delineated on said back ground formation by marginally translucent out lines formed by removing portions of said opaque background, said target character having a tion extending towards the image. 0. M1???" ' 1