Abstract: A method and apparatus has two stages of acceleration establishing levels of kinetic energy in paired bodies contributing to a total system mass that is to be accelerated in a given time profile. A first stage of acceleration places the paired bodies in helical trajectories about a toroidal space. The second stage of acceleration has mutual cross coupling between the paired masses for the reflection of reaction forces resulting from the independently, but simultaneously, applied forces for enhancement of the acceleration and for mutual suppression of recoil within the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a clay target throwing machine on a towing hitch ball which is coupled with a vehicle or a post anchored in the ground. A framework is coupled with an upright cylinder which engages the hitch ball or post allowing movement or apparatus about the vertical axis of the hitch ball or post.

Abstract: An automatic clay target feeder attachment that can be attached to a clay target trap shooting machine that will self-load the trap shooting machine without need of manual assistance within the forward trap pit on the shooting range. Such feeder attachment can be selectively set to drop onto the flinger arm of the trap shooting machine either two targets or but one target at a time including means that will move the dropped targets outwardly along the flinger arm preparatory to the release of the flinger arm by the shooter's referee upon the shoot being made by the trap shooters. The operation of the attachment to load the flinger arm with targets is done in response to actuation of the trap machine and the release of its flinger arm.

Abstract: A target trap for multiple disk targets having a base, an elevational arm, a lower target throwing arm rotatably mounted to a shaft on the elevational arm, and a power device to rotate the lower target throwing arm. An upper target throwing arm is hingedly mounted by its trailing edge to the trailing edge of the lower arm and a linkage device varies the separation between the leading edges of the upper and lower arms causing targets to be thrown at varying speeds and angles.

Abstract: A target positioner for an autoloading target throwing machine. The positioner can be adjustably mounted on the rotatable throwing arm and is used with a resilient target nest, whose function is to locate the target to be thrown in the proper position on a launch platform. Camming surfaces on the positioner act to force the target into proper position in the resilient target nest upon cocking of the throwing arm.

Abstract: A target throwing apparatus in which a revolving magazine having a number of stacks of targets is independently and fixedly supported relative to an oscillating target throwing housing. A cocking means stops the throwing arm just before reaching the over-center position whereupon initiating of the next cocking cycle throws the target. A power train consists of three equal-sized gears mounted on three parallel shafts to throw the targets and to oscillate the housing. The magazine includes a ramp and cam means by which the entire column of targets is lowered by gravity prior to having springbiased fingers engage the second target from the bottom and having the lower-most target fall onto a predetermined drop pad on a target launching plate, which pad location does not change regardless of the position of the oscillating housing and launching plate. A scotch yoke assembly is utilized in translating rotary shaft motion to symmetrical reciprocating motion to oscillate the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for throwing objects, and particularly "clay pigeons" for target shooting, wherein a spring driven throwing arm is locked in a position wherein the spring is in tension but the arm must be further mechanically driven against the spring tension to an equilibrium point where the throwing stroke will take place under the influence of the spring. The position of the throwing arm is controlled by an electric motor, a pair of parallel circuits for controlling the energization of the motor and a drive train between the motor and the shaft which supports the throwing arm; the drive train including a ratchet type arrangement which constrains the arm to movement in only one direction and "captures" the arm on "rebound" of the spring at the end of a throw.

Abstract: One end of a throwing arm that is pivotally mounted on a frame and is equipped at one end with a football holder. Two propulsion springs are attached to the other end of the throwing arm and extend to a cocking arm that is also pivotally mounted on the frame. The common pivot axis for the two arms is located adjacent to one end of the cocking arm and between the ends of the throwing arm adjacent the springs. In operation, the throwing arm is latched in a "ready-to-throw" position generally parallel to the intended direction of flight of the football. The cocking arm is pivoted into and latched in a position in which the springs are extended so as to exert a biasing force on the throwing arm. The throwing arm is released and the springs pivot the throwing arm and the ball holder forwardly in an arc. The football is propelled from the ball holder by the centrifugal and tangential forces imparted by the pivotal motion of the holder, without any impact that arrests movement of the holder.

Abstract: A clay pigeon trap comprises a shaft member, provided with an adjustable support mounting, which carries at one end a casing containing a bearing providing a pivot mounting for an angularly movable throwing arm and tensioning apparatus for spring loading the throwing arm prior to a throwing stroke. The throwing arm has a pivot shaft projecting perpendicularly from its underside to engage in said bearing and the tensioning apparatus includes a freely rotatable tensioning bush within the casing, a helical coil torsion spring coupling the tensioning bush to the pivot shaft within the casing, and a tensioning arm which is detachably secured to the tensioning bush and which projects outside the casing to enable the bush to be turned so as to tension the spring by manipulating the tensioning arm whilst the throwing arm is held alongside the shaft member in its rearwardly directed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trap for clay pigeons, and in particular mechanism for releasing the lowermost clay pigeon of the stack contained in a magazine chamber while holding the rest of the stack in position. A pair of gripping tongs is provided for each magazine chamber, but only a single common actuating mechanism for the various tongs is used, and a single retaining device serves all of the magazine chambers in turn. The invention also provides a spring biased pivoted rod that assures correct positioning of the clay pigeons on the throwing arm.