Doubles finger for propelling two clay targets

In an improved clay target throwing machine having a means for holding and for delivering a first clay target to a position for subsequent setting, means for setting said first target into a position for launching, means for launching by a single cocked fling-arm said first target into a target area, means for selecting constant and random first trajectories of said launched first target into said target area and means for switchably providing power, upon occurrence of a signal, to said means for holding and delivering of said first target and cocking said single fling-arm, means for selectively delivering, by lowering, two targets substantially simultaneously, said first target to a first target set position and a second target to a second target set position, and means for substantially simultaneously setting, by said single fling arm moving into said cocked position, said first target and said second, when said two target delivery is selected, target into a first and second launch position and holding each said first target and said second target in said first and second launch positions prior to launching of said first target and said second target, said first launch position and said launch position being defined such that said single fling-arm contacts substantially congruent tangents of each said first target and said second target and both first target and said second target in contact at a common tangent of a target edge of each said first target and said second target, said congruent tangent and said common tangent being substantially orthogonal each to the other, said first launch position and said second launch position thus relative to each other so as to reduce target breakage and relative to said single fling-arm for proper launching of said first target into said first target trajectory and simultaneously launching said second target into a second target trajectory, said improvement comprising:

• a doubles finger comprising:
• means for attaching said doubles finger to said clay target throwing machine;
• a target guide portion contiguous with said means for attaching, said target guide portion having an arcuate target contacting and guiding edge positioned to contact said second clay target of two clay targets while said second clay target is being launched by said clay target throwing machine when said doubles finger is assembled onto said clay target throwing machine;
• and
• said arcuate target contacting and guiding edge having a defined and predetermined length said doubles finger thereby configured to cause said first target and said second target each to have an optimum, consistent, reproducible and desirable first target trajectory, second target trajectory, first target velocity and second target velocity.

A clay target throwing machine or trap machine for selectively propelling a first clay target or, simultaneously a first clay target and a second clay target comprising:

• a base assembly which is substantially stationary relative to a surface upon which said machine rests;
• a power system control assembly tiltably, rotationally and oscillatorially interconnected to said base assembly;
• a target positioning and launching assembly rigidly and functionally connected to said power system control assembly having means for launching, by a single cocked fling-arm, said first target into a first target trajectory, and simultaneously launching said second target into a second target trajectory, means for holding and delivering said first target to a first target set position and said second target to a second target set position for subsequent setting, by said single fling-arm moving into a cocked position, to said first launch position and said second launch position and means for subsequent setting and positioning for launch said first clay target and both said first and said second clay targets simultaneously into said first launch position and said second launch position when said first target and second target are delivered to a position for subsequent setting;
• a doubles finger positioned on said target positioning and launching assembly, said doubles finger comprising:
• means for attaching said doubles finger to said clay target throwing machine;
• a target guide portion contiguous with said means for attaching, said target guide portion having an arcuate target contacting and guiding edge positioned to contact said second clay target of two clay targets while said second clay target is being launched by said clay target throwing machine when said doubles finger is assembled onto said clay target throwing machine;
• and
• said arcuate target contacting and guiding edge having a defined and predetermined length, said doubles finger thereby configured to cause said first target and said second target each to have an optimum, consistent, reproducible and desirable first target trajectory, second target trajectory, first target velocity and second target velocity;
• and
• a target holding and delivering assembly for holding a plurality of said clay targets and when driven by means for driving said target holding and delivering assembly, delivering selectively, a first clay target to a first setting position for subsequent setting and simultaneously delivering both said first clay target and said second clay target into positions for simultaneously setting of said first clay target and said second clay target into a first launch position and a second launch position respectively on a launch plate of said launching assembly when said two target delivery is selected.