BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns apparatus associated with clay pigeon target shooting, often known as “skeet” shooting, and more particularly concerns support devices for holding clay pigeon targets in a fixed position as opposed to being launched as a moving target.
2. Background of the Invention
Skeet shooting typically involves launching target objects that simulate game birds such as doves or pigeons to provide a moving target for shooters to practice their technique. A wide variety of launching devices are available for use in such practice. Moving targets such as clay pigeons, typically about the size and shape of a hockey puck, are formed of a clay material that shatters when struck by a bullet or other projectile from a gun, bow, slingshot, or other similar device. The shattered target indicates a successful shot.
Shooting for practice is not limited to moving targets, however. Practice shooting at stationary targets can be useful in improving a shooter's accuracy. There are presently available several types of holders for supporting clay pigeon targets. The conventional holders are generally formed as a stake for supporting the target on the ground. The clay pigeon is then cradled in a Y-shaped or V-shaped figure disposed at the upper end of the stake. In such devices the clay pigeon is not securely supported and susceptible to falling off under windy conditions or other types of disturbance. In other examples the stake may be unstable or is limited in how the clay pigeon target may be positioned for practice.
What is needed is a clay pigeon target holder that holds the target securely and provides greater versatility in how the target may be positioned to adapt the shooter's practice to a wider range of target shooting experiences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A clay pigeon target support apparatus is disclosed, comprising an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material configured to provide resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circular ridge disposed on one face of the clay pigeon target; wherein first and second ends of the open ring are disposed substantially along radii of the ring and separated by an acute angle. A first support member integral with the first end of the open ring extends outward from the first end toward a distal end of the support member and substantially along a radial of the open ring, wherein spring tension exerted by the resilient open ring upon the clay pigeon target retains the clay pigeon target within the open ring.
In one aspect the open ring and the first support member may be formed of a single piece of the thin, rigid material.
In another aspect the open ring may be coated with a non-slip material.
In another aspect the distal end of the first support member includes a blade attached to the bottom or distal end of the first support member and shaped to extend laterally from the bottom end of the first support member, thereby enabling the first support member to resist rotation due to wind or an off-center hit to the clay pigeon target.
In another aspect a small panel may be attached to the first support member between the bottom or distal end of the first support member and the open ring, wherein a company logo or other symbol may be attached to the small panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support in accordance with one embodiment of the claimed invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support in accordance with a second embodiment of the claimed invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the claimed invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the claimed invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 8 through the section A-A;
FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the claimed invention depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8; and
FIG. 11 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In an advance in the state of the art, a clay pigeon target support device is disclosed that includes several novel features, heretofore not known to be available, which substantially improve its function and versatility. These features enable the support device to be adapted to a variety of placements, thereby providing a more useful and interesting target practice experience for shooters, regardless of whether they are using guns, bows or crossbows, or slingshots, for example.
The invention arose from recognizing several needs of skeet shooters and other persons who need targets for practicing their shooting skills. One of the needs is to recycle clay pigeons used in skeet shooting for reuse that were launched but not damaged, falling to the earth and often discarded and, because they are biodegradable, left to decay where they fell. Another need is to provide a more suitable shooting target for practice than bottles, metal cans, and other discarded containers. Such objects are often used but are inconvenient to support, are not biodegradable, and are difficult to retrieve for disposal, etc. Another need is to provide a standard type of target for competition shooting, either formal or informal, in which the target is supported in a stationary position and which can be easily replaced when the target is damaged. This form of competition can accommodate a variety of shooting devices—guns, bow & arrow, slingshots, and even throwing by hand. Thus, the present invention permits substantial expansion of the potential uses of clay pigeon targets, whether obtained new or retrieved from skeet shooting sessions. The invention provides a practical and convenient way to support a clay pigeon target to satisfy the exemplary needs enumerated herein.
The invention comprises an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material such as metal or an engineered plastic that is formed integrally with a support member extending radially from one of the open ends of the ring to a distal end. The clay pigeon target support or holder is shaped somewhat like a question mark without the period below its lower extremity. The ring portion, preferably formed in one end of the thin, rigid, and elastic material, is open along a small part of its circumference. The ring portion thus provides resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circular ridge, which is typically disposed on a forward face of the clay pigeon target. The first and second ends of the open ring are aligned substantially along radii of the ring that are separated by an acute angle. The open ring and support member may be formed of a single piece of the thin, rigid, elastic material.
In use, the open ends of the ring may be separated slightly against the spring tension of the elastic ring material, the ring placed around the outer diameter of the circular ridge on the face of the clay pigeon, and then relaxed so that the ring clamps the circular ridge of the clay pigeon within it. On other types of clay pigeons, the open ends of the ring may be squeezed slightly against the spring tension of the ring material, and the ring placed within the inner diameter of the circular ridge on the forward face of the clay pigeon. In clay pigeons without a circular ridge on one face, the target may be gripped by positioning the ring around the perimeter of the clay pigeon. Then the support device, with the clay pigeon installed may be installed in the ground as shown in FIG. 10 by pushing the distal end of the support member into the ground. It is then ready for use.
The clay target pigeon support described herein includes several embodiments that differ as to form and function. Features referred to by identical reference numbers identify features of the same form and function. Further, the clay pigeon target support device disclosed herein may include several optional features that expand its utility. One feature is (1) a hook device that may be attached to the support member so that the target support device can be hung from a branch of a tree, bush, or other object to suspend the clay pigeon target above ground level as shown in FIG. 11. Another feature is (2) an anti-rotation blade attached to the bottom end of the support member that extends laterally from a placement near the bottom end so that when inserted in the ground the support device resists rotating in the wind or rotating when a bullet or projectile strikes the clay pigeon off-center. A third feature is (3) a small panel attached to the support member between the open ring and the bottom end to which may be attached a company logo. An alternative embodiment places the small panel near the bottom end so that it may function as an anti-rotation blade.
FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the claimed invention. The target support comprises an open ring 12 defined by a center 14 and first 16 and second 18 ends. The first 16 and second 18 ends are separated, thereby defining an acute angle 20 with respect to the center 14. The acute angle 20 can be any size from a few degrees to 90 degrees. However, an acute angle between 10 and 60 degrees has been found to be convenient in use. A support member 22 extends from, and is preferably integral with, the first end 16 of the open ring 12. The clay pigeon target support 10 may be formed of a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic. One preferred material is carbon steel spring wire or welding wire having a diameter of approximately 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch. In experiments it has been found that a ⅛ inch diameter resilient steel wire or rod is satisfactory. The length of the support member 22 from the first end 16 of the open ring 12 to the distal end 46 of the support member 22 may be adjusted to suit the application, allowing enough to support the clay pigeon above ground, and support a logo panel 96 (See FIG. 9), and not so long as to impair stability.
Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a typical example of a clay pigeon target 100, a round disc 102 usually of a molded clay material that is biodegradable. The disc 102 includes a forward face 104 and an outer perimeter 106. The forward face 104 of the clay pigeon target 100 typically includes a raised circular ridge 108 centered on the forward face 104 and of smaller diameter than the clay pigeon target 100. The raised ridge 108 may include an outer edge 110 and an inner edge 112 that extends a short distance away from the forward face 104. The outer edge 110 and the inner edge 112 provide a raised ledge that the open ring 12 of the clay pigeon target can use to grasp the clay pigeon target 100. In use, as will be described in FIGS. 10 and 11, the open ring 12 of the target support 10 is placed around the outer border 110 or within the inner border 112. To secure the clay pigeon target to the clay pigeon, the acute angle 20 of the open ring 12 of the target support 10 may be respectively opened or closed against the spring tension of the thin, rigid, resilient material used to form the open ring 12. In the description that follows, the clay pigeon target 100 itself is not part of the invention; rather, it is the work piece the invention 10 is intended to be used with. Further, although also not material to the invention, the reverse side of the disc 102 (not shown) may be hollow or formed as a shallow cup.
FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support 30 in accordance with a second embodiment of the claimed invention. The clay pigeon target support 30 is adapted for use by supporting the target by placing the open ring 32 within the inner edge 112 of the clay pigeon target 100. Note that the clay pigeon target 100 embodies the same features and uses the same reference numbers as shown in FIG. 1.
The clay pigeon target support 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises an open ring 32 defined by a center 34 and first 36 and second 38 ends. The first 36 and second 38 ends are separated, thereby defining an acute angle 40 with respect to the center 34. A support member 42 extends from, and is preferably integral with, the first end 36 of the open ring 32. The support member 42 includes an offset 44 configured to clear the raised ridge 108 of the clay pigeon target 100 when the open ring 32 of the target support 30 is installed on the forward face 104 of the clay pigeon target 100. The clay pigeon target support 30 may also be formed of a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic.
FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the claimed invention adapted to support a clay pigeon target 100 in the earth's surface at a fixed orientation that resists rotation of the clay pigeon target 100 by wind effects or when the clay pigeon target 100 may be struck off-center by a projectile. The open ring 26 of the clay pigeon target support 24 is provided with a second leg or support member. The first support member 28 and second support member 48 are respectively integral extensions of the first 16 and second 18 ends of the open ring 26. The first 28 and second 48 support members may be oriented substantially parallel with each other. The clay pigeon target support 24 may also be formed of a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic.
FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the claimed invention, a clay pigeon target support 50 that is closely similar to the clay pigeon support 10 of FIG. 1. The target support 50 is formed of an open ring 52 having first 16 and second 18 open ends except that the lower end of the support member 54 is shaped with an integral hook 56. The hook 56, which may be formed from an extension of the thin, rigid resilient material of the open ring 52 and the support member 54, enables the clay pigeon target 100 to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIG. 4. The target support 60 is formed of an open ring 62 having first 16 and second 18 open ends that define the acute angle 20 except that the lower end of the support member 64 is shaped with a hook 66 attached to the lower end of the support member 64 by wrapping the joined hook 66 and support member 64 with a length of tape or wire 68. The hook 66 enables the clay pigeon target 100 to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIG. 5. The target support 70 is formed of an open ring 72 having first 16 and second 18 open ends that define the acute angle 20 except that the lower end of the support member 74 is shaped with a hook 76 attached to the lower end of the support member 74 by a suitable adhesive or by welding or soldering the joined hook 76 to the support member 74. The hook 76 enables the clay pigeon target 100 to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown in FIG. 11.
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 depict alternate methods of providing a hook to support the clay pigeon target support 50, 60, or 70 above ground. Persons skilled in the art will realize that other methods may be adapted to the same purpose depending on the circumstances the user wishes to adapt the target support to for shooting practice or competition.
FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the clay pigeon target support 80 similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is functionally similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The open ring 82 of the target support 100 includes the first 16 and second 18 open ends that define the acute angle 20. Instead of a second support member however, the single support member 84 may be provided with a blade 86 that, when the target support 80 is installed in the earth's surface, the blade 86 acts to resist the rotation of the clay pigeon target 100 by wind effects or when the clay pigeon target 100 is struck off-center by a projectile. The blade 86 may be formed in a variety of shapes as long as the blade extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the support member and is formed for being easily staked into the ground.
FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the clay pigeon target support 90 similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 except that it is modified by adding a logo panel 96 to the support member 94. The open ring 82 of the target support 90 includes the first 16 and second 18 open ends that define the acute angle 20. The logo panel 96, shown as section A-A in the figure, enables a user to affix a logo, tradename, icon or any other mark or symbol that represents an owner, a business entity, an entry number during competition and the like.
FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 8 through the section A-A that depicts an edgewise view from above of the logo panel 96 attached to the support member 94 using a clip 98. The clip 98, which may take various forms as apparent to persons skilled in the art, may be attached to the logo panel 96 via an adhesive, for example.
One additional feature that may be incorporated into any of the clay pigeon target supports illustrated and described herein is to coat the open ring and support member(s) with a paint or epoxy coating to protect the finish and to provide colored surfaces to assist in identifying the target supports. For example, colored target supports may be used to distinguish competitors, to locate target supports that become dislodged from their supporting object, and other purposes. The coating material may also be selected to provide or treated with a non-slip surface that more readily grasps the raised ridges of the clay pigeon targets to secure the clay pigeon targets within the open ring of the target support.
FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the claimed invention depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. The assembly first 130 and second 140 clay pigeon target 100, installed in a clay pigeon target support 10, are shown staked into the earth's surface 170.
FIG. 11 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The assembly third 150 and fourth 160 clay pigeon target 100, installed in a clay pigeon target support 10, are shown hung from a branch 200 of a tree supported by the earth's surface 180.
Patent Application
20220349682
