Patent Application
20170167831
The present invention relates generally to archery accessories and more specifically to archery targets. The present invention is more particularly, but not exclusively, an archery target having a replaceable core.
Archery targets have been historically built using a straw material packaged into a particular target shape with a density sufficient to stop an arrow. However, a target having a high density of straw material was not capable of being made due to the lack of technology available at the time. To compensate for the lack of technology to create high density targets, the straw material was packaged into larger volume targets to provide longer distances that the arrow must penetrate to fully pierce the target. The longer penetration distances provided enough friction to slow and stop an arrow to compensate for the lower density. However, the targets were bulky, heavy, and difficult to maneuver and transport.
With the advancement in technology, high density materials were made available for use in manufacturing archery targets. Many modern day targets are built using straw compacted to a high density, layered foam materials, carpet, molded expanding foam materials, and various other materials. The advancement of materials allowed for archery targets to be made in smaller forms. This allowed for targets to be more portable and easier to handle. However, once the archery targets were used they would be discarded. The single use of the archery targets was costly to the users.
Over the past twenty years, there has been a new category of archery targets that have entered the market called 3D targets. These targets have the three dimensional shape of an animal and is formed with a removable core that can be replaced after the core is expended. The cores are placed at targeted areas on the 3D target and are the only areas on the 3D target to be shot at. Once the core has reached its usability based upon the number of arrows shot into it is replaced, thereby extending the life of the 3D target. These 3D targets are expensive due to the molding and painting required to create the realistic representation of the animal when compared to a standard block style target so the ability to replace the removable core helps save cost. However, the cores are manufactured to only allow the core to be shot on two sides—the back and front. Additionally, due to the real life size and shape associated with these 3D targets, many times the archer needs to place an additional target or bale of hay behind the 3D target to stabilize the 3D target and to capture any stray arrows shot by the archer that misses the 3D target, adding to the cost and effort of using the traditional 3D target.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a low-cost target with a replaceable core. It would further be advantageous to provide a foam core having at least six useable target surfaces. It would further be advantageous to provide a low-Utility cost target with a replaceable core with the ability to withstand archery arrow impact without collapsing and a surface area large enough to catch stray arrows.
The Archery Target Having a Replaceable Cube Core of the present invention includes a replaceable cube core, a target frame, and a support base. The target frame houses the replaceable cube core at the center of the target frame. The support base is attached to the target frame and the replaceable cube core abuts the support base. The replaceable cube core provides a visual target display for archers to aim and shoot. The support base ensures that the cube core is firmly held within the confines of the target frame and to prevent the replaceable cube core from shifting or moving under impact from the arrows. The replaceable cube core is formed as a cube having six (6) useable target surfaces. Each target surface provides a consistent penetration depth on each surface for predictable results, regardless of the face that is used for the target surface.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the Archery Target Having a Replaceable Cube Core includes a replaceable cube core, a target frame, and a platform. The target frame is attached to the platform, which includes a square plate made of a weighted material for added stability for the archery target. The replaceable cube core is supported within the target frame with the use of straps and fasteners. The straps and fasteners support the rearward facing face of the replaceable cube core, ensuring that the replaceable cube core is held into place and won't shift or move during impact from an arrow.
The objects, features, and advantages of the apparatus according to the invention will be more clearly perceived from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring initially to
The target frame 200 serves as a barrier to prevent stray arrows shot away from the visual target display 114 of the replaceable cube core 100 from erroneous flight. The target frame 200 also provides spatial relation for archers when aiming at the visual target display 114 of the replaceable cube core 100. As the replaceable cube core 100 absorbs the impact from arrows, the support base 300 prevents the replaceable cube core 100 from shifting or moving. The support base 300 also increases the footprint of the archery target 10 to provide a more stable footing. Once the replaceable cube core 100 has reached its usability based upon the number of arrows penetrated through its core, it is replaced thereby extending the life of the archery target 10.
Referring now to
The replaceable cube core 100 is a cube 101 having six (6) faces 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, and 112, with each face printed with the visual target display 114 to be utilized as the target surface. In the preferred embodiment, the replaceable cube core 100 is a cube 101 having equal dimensions for its width, height, and length. By having equal dimensions, the replaceable cube core 100 provides an arrow with a consistent penetration depth for predictable results, regardless of the face that is used for the target surface. In contrast, if a core had dissimilar dimensions, one surface may provide adequate penetration depth to stop an arrow from fully penetrating the core whereas on a different target surface of the same core may have a shallower penetration depth that allows the same arrow to fully penetrate the core. The replaceable cube core 100, formed in the shape of a cube with equal dimensions, allows the archer to utilize all six (6) sides of the removable cube core 100 to shoot not just the two sides found in similar cores within traditional targets. As a result, the replaceable cube core 100 can last three (3) times longer than the typical target core.
In the preferred embodiment, the cube 101 is 10″ by 10″ by 10,″ but is not meant to be limiting. The size of the cube 101 may be scaled to size for appropriate uses. In the preferred embodiment, the replaceable cube core 100 is made from a high-density polyurethane foam material with a formulation of a two-part expanding foam that is self-sealing with excellent stopping properties. The size of the cube 101 can vary depending on the size of the target.
The target frame 200 includes a base 202 having the general shape of an octagon 204. The shape of the base 202 being an octagon 204 is not meant to be limiting and any geometrical shape may be used. The base 202 has a thickness 206. Formed into the center of the base 202 is a cube core receptacle 208. The cube core receptacle 208 is a square bore and is formed to receive the replaceable cube core 100. In the preferred embodiment, the base 202 is made of a material having a lower density than the replaceable cube core 100. The target frame 200 surrounds the replaceable cube core 100 so that it eliminates the need to have tertiary support, similar to a hay bale typically needed for other targets.
The geometry of the target frame 200 allows for the stacking of the targets together to form a larger target. In particular, the octagon shape 204 of the base provides eight flat sides, each flat side having a corresponding parallel side located on the opposite side of the base 202. The sides of the base 202 are flat and provide a surface in which the target frame 202 may rest upright, or alternatively provide a surface for an adjacent target frame 202 to rest upright. The geometry of the target frame 200 allows for the positioning and orientation of multiple archery targets 10 to form larger targets to simulate larger objects. In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that the shape of the base 202 may be non-geometrical and may have the shape of an animal, such as a turkey. It is further contemplated that the base 202 of the target frame 200 may have complementary geometrical shapes that allow multiple target frames 200 to interlock together like an assembly set to form larger targets, where each target frame 200 is a piece of the assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the support base 300 is manufactured from foam. In an alternative embodiment, the support base 300 may be made of a weighted material to provide additional mass to provide a stable base and to counteract the impact of an arrow on the archery target 10.
The support base 300 includes a base 302 having the shape of a cube. A triangular channel 304 is formed into the base 302 and covers two adjacent faces of the cube, the front face 303 and top face 305. As a result, a rear wall 306, a first sidewall 308, and a second sidewall 310 are formed. The triangular channel 304 receives an edge of the replaceable cube core 100 where one face contacts the first sidewall 308, a second, adjacent face of the replaceable cube core 100 contacts the second sidewall 310 and the rearward face of the replaceable cube core 100 abuts the rear wall 306, thereby supporting the replaceable cube core 100 on three faces.
The archery target 10 includes the replaceable cube core 100, the target frame 200, and the support base 300. The cube core receptacle 208 of the target frame 200 is dimensioned to receive the replaceable cube core 100 with an interference fit. As the replaceable cube core 100 is placed within the cube core receptacle 208, the cube core receptacle 208 compresses the replaceable cube core 100 and creates compressive and friction forces. The friction holding the parts together is greatly increased by the compression of the replaceable cube core 100 against the cube core receptacle 208. This allows the target frame 200 to firmly hold the replaceable cube core 100 in place by compression and friction forces. The support base 300 provides additional support for the replaceable cube core 100 by supporting the protruding remainder of the replaceable cube core 100 not within the target frame 200. The support base 300 is fitted beneath the replaceable cube core 100 and receives the bottom facing edge of the replaceable cube core 100. The front face 303 of the support base 100 abuts the surface of the target frame 200 and the rear wall 306 abuts the rearward facing face of the replaceable cube core 100. The support base 300 ensures that the replaceable cube core 100 is held into place and won't shift or move during impact from an arrow. Once the replaceable cube core 100 is expended, the expended replaceable cube core 100 may be replaced by a new replaceable cube core 100.
Referring now to
Each of the six (6) surfaces 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132 may have varying materials to simulate a different type of target. The cube 122 may be composed of one, two, three, four, five, or six different materials, where each surface may have a particular type of material. Surface 122 may have a first material, surface 124 may have a second material, surface 126 may have a third material, surface 128 may have a fourth material, surface 130 may have a fifth material, and surface 132 may have sixth material. Alternatively, surface 122, 124, and 126 may have a first material and surface 128, 130, and 132 may have a second material. The number of different materials and the different combinations are not meant to be limiting and other combinations are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. By having a different material for a difference surface, a single archery target 10 may be used by several archers having different equipment. By rotating the replaceable cube core 120, the desired surface 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, or 132 with different materials may be used for the archery target 10, removing the need to have multiple different targets.
Referring now to
The replaceable cube core 100 is supported within the target frame 200 with the use of straps and fasteners 352. The straps and fasteners 352 support the rearward facing face of the replaceable cube core 100, ensuring that the replaceable cube core 100 is held into place and will not shift or move during impact from an arrow. The use of straps and fasteners 352 is not meant to be limiting and various other structures and devices to attach the replaceable cube core 100 to the target frame 200 is contemplated, such as buckles, ties, various fasteners, and other devices known in the art.
It is contemplated that the target frame 200 and the replaceable cube core 100 may be used without the platform 350. The target frame 200 and replaceable cube core 100 is capable of supporting itself upright for use as target. By increasing the size of the target frame 200, specifically the thickness 206, the target frame 200 will have a large base to provide the proper support for the target frame 200 and replaceable cube core 100 to absorb the impact of an arrow without tipping over. Additionally, the target frame 200 and replaceable cube core 100 may be supported by another structure.
It is also contemplated that the replaceable cube core 100 may be used without the target frame 200, the support base 300, or the platform 350. The replaceable cube core 100 may be used as a smaller, stand-alone target. The small size of the replaceable cube core 100 allows the target to be placed in various locations easily and quickly. The small size allows for portability and maneuverability. For added difficulty, the replaceable cube core 100 may also be thrown to simulate a moving target.
While there have been shown what are presently considered to be preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/265,061 filed on Dec. 9, 2015 entitled “Archery Target Having Replaceable Cube Core,” which is currently co-pending.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62265061 | Dec 2015 | US |
