Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to firearms, and more particularly, to automated target systems in which a target plate assumes a falling motion upon completion of a successful shooting attempt and then automatically assumes an erect, pre-struck position for each subsequent shooting attempt.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to automated target systems in which a target plate assumes a falling motion upon completion of a successful shooting attempt and then automatically assumes an erect, pre-struck position for each subsequent shooting attempt. An illustrative embodiment of the automated target systems may include a system base. A target plate may be pivotally carried by the system base. The target plate may be deployable in an erect, pre-struck position and a fallen, post-struck position. A target return assembly may engage the target plate. The target return assembly may include a target return motor. A drive disk may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the target return motor. An arm linkage may have a proximal linkage end rotatably engaged by the drive disk in off-center relationship to the drive disk and a distal linkage end opposite the proximal linkage end. A target actuating arm may have a proximal arm end rotatably engaged by the arm linkage at the distal linkage end and a distal arm end opposite the proximal arm end. The arm linkage and the target actuating arm may be configurable from a retracted home configuration in which the distal arm end of the target actuating arm disengages the target plate in the fallen, post-struck position to an extended target return configuration in which the distal arm end of the target actuating arm engages and pushes the target plate from the fallen, post-struck position to the erect, pre-struck position responsive to operation of the target return motor. At least one motion sensor may be disposed in motion-sensing proximity to the target plate. At least one power supply may electrically interface with the target return motor and the at least one motion sensor.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower” “left”, “rear”. “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Referring initially to
The system base 2 of the automated target system 1 may have any design which is suitable for supporting the target plate 34, the target return assembly 44 and other components of the automated target system 1. In some embodiments, the system base 2 may include a base plate 3. A front base panel 10 and a rear base panel 20 may extend upwardly from the base plate 3 in spaced-apart relationship to each other. The base plate 3 may be elongated and rectangular with a pair of elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side plate edges 4. A front plate edge 5 and a rear plate edge 6 may extend between the side plate edges 4. The front base panel 10 and the rear base panel 20 may extend from the base plate 3 proximate the front plate edge 5 and the rear plate edge 6, respectively, thereof.
In some embodiments, the front base panel 10 of the system base 2 may have a pair of parallel, spaced-apart front panel side edges 11. The front base panel 10 may have a width such that the front panel side edges 11 may be flush with the respective side plate edges 4 of the base plate 3. A front panel upper edge 12 may extend between the front panel side edges 11. In some embodiments, a target plate notch 13 may be provided in the front panel upper edge 12. The target plate notch 13 may be suitably sized and configured to receive or accommodate at least a portion of the target plate 34 in the fallen, post-struck position of the target plate 34, typically as will be hereinafter described. A pair of spaced-apart front panel tabs 16 may extend from the front panel upper edge 12 on respective sides of the target plate notch 13 for purposes which will be hereinafter described.
In some embodiments, the rear base panel 20 of the system base 2 may have a pair of parallel, spaced-apart rear panel side edges 21. The rear base panel 20 may have a width such that the rear panel side edges 21 of the rear base panel 20 may be flush with the respective side plate edges 4 of the base plate 3. A rear panel upper edge 22 may extend between the rear panel side edges 21. A pair of spaced-apart rear panel tabs 23 may extend from the rear panel upper edge 22 for purposes which will be hereinafter described.
In some embodiments, a deflection panel 26 may extend from the base plate 3 of the system base 2 typically at or adjacent to the front plate edge 5 and forwardly of the front base panel 10. The deflection panel 26 may angle upwardly in the forward direction from the base plate 3. In typical application of the automated target system 1, which will be hereinafter described, the deflection panel 26 may deflect rounds (not illustrated) which may have a trajectory which falls below the target plate 34 to deflect the rounds into the ground and prevent ricochet of the rounds toward the shooter.
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, a base partition 30 may extend upwardly from the base plate 3 and span the front base panel 10 to the rear base panel 20 of the system base 2. The base partition 30 may be configured to support the various components of the target return assembly 44, typically as will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in
The target plate 34 may include a target portion 35. The target portion 35 may include steel, aluminum, composite materials and/or other material which is suitable for being struck by a fired projectile. In some embodiments, the target portion 35 may resemble the size and/or shape any desired animal or object. For example and without limitation, in some embodiments, the target portion 35 of the target plate 34 may resemble the side or profile of a rabbit, squirrel or other game animal. The target portion 35 of the target plate 34 may have a lower target portion edge 36.
The target portion 35 of the target plate 34 may be pivotally attached to the system base 2 according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Accordingly, as particularly illustrated in
In some embodiments, a target stop bracket 76 may be provided on the base partition 30. A target stop flange 38 may extend from the target portion 35 typically proximate the lower target portion edge 36. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
A target actuating arm 60 may have a proximal arm end 61 rotatably engaged by the arm linkage 54 at the distal linkage end 56, typically via an arm fastener 68, and a distal arm end 62 opposite the proximal arm end 61. Accordingly, the arm linkage 54 and the target actuating arm 60 may be configurable from a retracted home configuration (
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The motion sensor 82 may be suitably positioned to sense movement of the target plate 34 as the target plate 34 transitions from the upright, pre-struck position to the fallen, struck position on the system base 2. For example and without limitation, as illustrated in
The power supply 80 may be provided in any suitable location on the system base 2. In some embodiments, the power supply 80 may be situated on the base plate 3 adjacent to or against the base partition 30 of the system base 2. At least one power supply fastener 81 may fasten the power supply 80 to the base partition 30, as illustrated, to the base plate 3 and/or to any other element of the system base 2.
As illustrated in
A cover slot 90 may extend through the cover top panel 91. The cover slot 90 may have a size and shape which is sufficient to accommodate passage of at least a portion of the target plate 34 as the target plate 34 transitions between the pre-struck and struck positions.
In some embodiments, tab slots 89 may extend through the cover top panel 91 typically at or adjacent to the respective corners thereof. The tab slots 89 may be suitably positioned and configured to receive the respective front panel tabs 16 on the front base panel 10 and rear panel tabs 23 on the rear base panel 20 (
In some embodiments, at least one tab opening (not illustrated) may extend through each front panel tab 16 and each rear panel tab 23. Accordingly, a lock or other cover retaining device (not illustrated) may be extended through each tab opening to retain the system cover 88 on the system base 2.
In typical application of the automated target system 1, the system base 2 may be placed flat on the ground or other surface (not illustrated). The target plate 34 may initially be deployed in the upright, pre-struck position illustrated in
As he or she stands at a distance in front of the deflection panel 26, a shooter (not illustrated) aims a firearm toward the erect target plate 34 and discharges the firearm in an attempt to strike the target plate 34. In the event that the fired round strikes the target plate 34, the momentum of the projectile causes the target plate 34 to pivot from the erect, pre-struck position to the fallen, post-struck position illustrated in
As the target actuating arm 60 extends, the distal arm end 62 may engage the target plate 34, as illustrated in
In the event that the trajectory of the fired round inadvertently falls below the horizontal level of the target plate 34, the round may strike the deflection panel 26. Accordingly, due to its downwardly angled configuration, the deflection panel 26 may deflect the round into the ground such that the round does not ricochet off the front base panel 10 toward the shooter.
While certain illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
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