Patent Application
20210102787
The disclosure relates generally to firearm targets, and in particular to target shooting assemblies.
Target shooting assemblies are tools used to test the skills of a marksman, such as a dart thrower, an archer, or a firearm shooter, for example by throwing or shooting a projectile (i.e., a dart, arrow, bullet, or the like) against a target surface. A target shooting assembly may be used to assist novice firearm shooters with weapon familiarization, for recreational target practice, and for sport shooting competitions (such as clay target shooting, rapid fire shooting, running target shooting at either moving targets or disappearing targets, bullseye shooting, field shooting, or the like). Firearm enthusiasts (e.g., shooters) shoot firearm projectiles (e.g., ammunition) at target shooting assemblies to test their proficiency of precision (i.e., repeatedly placing a three-round shoot group in a small area not necessarily at the center of the target), accuracy (i.e., placing a single round nearest the center of a target), and speed (i.e., breath control, trigger squeeze control, magazine reload skills, or the like).
Target shooting assemblies generally have a stable base frame, a supporting target frame extending upward from the base frame, and at least one target supported by the target frame. The base frame is stable enough to withstand rotational moment forces generated by a projectile striking either the target or the support frame. The support frame is sturdy enough to withstand errant projectiles striking the fame members. The target can be a steel plate, a bursting target, a paper target sheet, a cardboard target, a wood board target, a plastic sheet target, or the like.
The sport of stationary steel plate target shooting has evolved into shooting at moving plates, swinging plates, spinning plates, pivoting plates, and even target systems having an additional target plate shot at to reset the main set of movable target plates.
The sport of target dueling involves two competitors (i.e., pistol shooters) shooting multiple metal plate targets on their respective side of a ‘dueling tree’. If a target is hit, it rotates around the dueling tree to the opponent's side of the tree. The first shooter to hit all targets over to the opponent's side before either all ammunition is exhausted or time runs out wins the duel.
The majority of target dueling involves targets that remain at common elevations. To improve the challenge of the common dueling target shooting assembly, there is a desire to increase the difficulty of the target dueling. A dueling target shooting assembly with two pivotable target faceplates used in combination with targets that, when shot, causes a portion of the dueling target shooting assembly to spin adds an increased level of difficulty.
In an embodiment, a shooting target assembly includes a balance bar having a center portion that is rotatably connected to a support, a first target assembly rotatably connected to a first end of the balance bar at a first pivot point, and a second target assembly rotatably connected to a second end of the balance bar at a second pivot point. The first target assembly includes a plurality of first target zones, the second target assembly includes a plurality of second target zones, each of the first target zones and each of the second target zones is configured to engage one or more targets, and the balance bar is configured to rotate about the center portion in response to one or more of the targets being broken.
The balance bar may be configured to rotate in a first direction in response to one or more of the targets of the first target assembly being broken. The balance bar may be configured to rotate in a second direction in response to one or more of the targets of the second target assembly being broken.
The first target assembly may be configured to rotate about the first pivot point in response to one or more of the targets of the first target assembly being broken.
The second target assembly may be configured to rotate about the second pivot point in response to one or more of the targets of the second target assembly being broken.
In an embodiment, a dueling target assembly includes a balance bar pivotable about a central pivot point, a first target faceplates, a second target faceplates, a first target holder extending from the first target faceplate and configured to hold a first target adjacent to the first target faceplate, and a second target holder extending from the second target faceplate and configured to hold a second target adjacent to the second target faceplate. The balance bar includes two faceplate pivot points evenly spaced from the central pivot point. Each of the target faceplates is pivotable about one of the two faceplate pivot points, each of the target faceplates is configured to engage one or more targets, and each of the target faceplates is configured to rotate about its corresponding faceplate pivot point when one or more of the targets engaged by the target faceplate is removed from the target faceplate.
Each target faceplate may include a plurality of target holders. The dueling target assembly may include at least four targets.
In an embodiment, a dueling target assembly includes a balance bar having a central portion including a central pivot aperture, and two end portions, each end portion including a faceplate pivot support, and two target faceplate assemblies. Each target faceplate assembly includes a faceplate having at least two target apertures, a target holder configured to hold a target over one or more target apertures, and two faceplate pivot assemblies supported in each faceplate pivot support. Each target faceplate assembly is pivotable about the faceplate pivot assembly. A center of mass of the dueling target assembly is aligned with the central pivot aperture when all target apertures are covered by targets, and the center of mass of the dueling target assembly is offset with the central pivot aperture when at least one of the targets is removed from either of the two target faceplate assemblies.
The balance bar may be pivotable about the central pivot aperture. The faceplate may include a faceplate pivot aperture, and at least one target holder aperture adjacent each target aperture.
A center of mass of the target faceplate assembly may be aligned with the faceplate pivot aperture when all target apertures are covered by targets. The center of mass of the target faceplate assembly may be offset with the faceplate pivot aperture when at least one of the targets is removed from either of the two target faceplate assemblies.
Each target holder may extend from one of the target holder apertures. Each target faceplate assembly may include a plurality of target holders adjacent each target aperture.
The dueling target assembly may include at least four targets that each cover one target aperture. The dueling target assembly may include a base assembly having a base support, and a balance bar pivot support. The dueling target assembly may include a balance bar pivot assembly having a balance bar pivot assembly rotation axis where the balance bar pivot assembly rotation axis may be configured to align with the central pivot aperture of the balance bar and the balance bar pivot support of the base assembly. The base support may include at least one ground stake, an L-shaped base bracket, and a U-shaped base bracket.
The balance bar pivot support may include a pivot collar and at least one bearing. The at least one bearing is adjacent the pivot collar, and the dueling target assembly is pivotally coupled to the pivot collar. The balance bar pivot assembly may include a pivot pin and a pivot fastener. The balance bar pivot assembly may include a resilient member.
As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” When used in this document, the term “exemplary” is intended to mean “by way of example” and is not intended to indicate that a particular exemplary item is preferred or required.
In this document, when terms such “first” and “second” are used to modify a noun, such use is simply intended to distinguish one item from another, and is not intended to require a sequential order unless specifically stated. The term “approximately,” when used in connection with a numeric value, is intended to include values that are close to, but not exactly, the number. For example, in some embodiments, the term “approximately” may include values that are within +/−10 percent of the value.
When used in this document, terms such as “top” and “bottom,” “upper” and “lower”, or “front” and “rear,” are not intended to have absolute orientations but are instead intended to describe relative positions of various components with respect to each other. For example, a first component may be an “upper” component and a second component may be a “lower” component when a device of which the components are a part is oriented in a first direction. The relative orientations of the components may be reversed, or the components may be on the same plane, if the orientation of the structure that contains the components is changed. The claims are intended to include all orientations of a device containing such components.
As seen in
In an embodiment, a target may be any suitable type of target for shooting. For example, a target may be a reactive target, a clay pigeon, a replaceable target, a removable target, a re-sealable target, a self-healing target, and/or the like.
Each of the two target faceplate assemblies 106 may include a faceplate 200 and at least one target holder 300.
The faceplate 200 may include one or more target apertures 210 spaced around the central pivot 206, such that at least one target holder portion 208 may be adjacent each target aperture 210. The central pivot 206, target holder apertures 208, and/or target apertures 210 may be openings that extend from the front surface 202 to the rear surface 204 of the faceplate 200.
Likewise each faceplate assembly 106 may be considered a faceplate 200. In this situation, the faceplate assembly 106 may have at least one alternative target holder integrally formed therein. For example, an alternative target holder may be an integrally formed ridge, lip, post, protrusion, or the like, extending from the front surface 202 of the faceplate 200, an integrally formed slot, or the like, formed within the perimeter 212 of the faceplate 200, or an integrally formed raised edge, slit, protrusion, or the like, formed along the outer surface of the perimeter 212. Ropes, ties, rubber bands, or the like, may be used to secure a target T to the front surface 202 of the faceplate 200.
As previously discussed additional targets T may be used with the dueling target assembly 102. For example, as seen in
The elongated portion 400 may include a center portion 402 and two end portions 404. The elongated portion 400 may be substantially flat. Alternatively, the elongated portion 400 may include two bends 406 transitioning the center portion 402 into each end portion 404 as illustrated by
Each faceplate pivot support 412 may include a pivot collar 414 and at least one bearing 416. The bearing 416 may be positioned within the pivot collar 414 or it may be positioned adjacent to the pivot collar 414. Multiple bearings 416 may be used with the pivot collar 414 in various embodiments. A pivot collar 414 may be connected to an outer edge 410 of the elongated portion 400 by any suitable connection such, for example, as an interference fit between a slot on the exterior of the pivot collar 414 that is aligned with the outer edge 410, fasteners through a plate extension of the pivot collar 414, welding, and/or the like. The balance bar 104 may be a metal plate made from, for example, AR500 steel and able to withstand massive deformation when struck by a projectile.
A surface S refers to a surface on which the dueling target shooting assembly 100 may be positioned for target shooting. Examples of a surface S may include, without limitation, grass, dirt, sand, an interior surface (for example concrete, wood, or tile), an exterior surface (for example concrete, wood, tile, or a firing range target platform), an elevated surface (for example a table, bench, or raised platform), and/or the like.
As seen in
The base support 504 may include an L-shaped base bracket 506 and a U-shaped base bracket 524. The L-shaped base bracket 506 may by a bent metal plate having a base leg 508 and an upright support 510. The base leg 508 may include an aperture 512 at one end 514. As seen in
The base support 504 may be utilized with at least one leg 538. For example, each base bracket 506, 524 may be secured to the surface S by a leg 538. The leg 538 may include an elongated shank 540 with an upper bent end 542 and a lower pointed end 544. The leg 538 may be any rigid material, such as, for example metal, rigid plastic, or the like. The leg 538 may me pressed through the apertures 512, 530 in the ends 514, 532 of the base brackets 506, 524, respectively.
The base support 504 may also be utilized without legs 538. For example, base support 504 may be secured to the surface S by a fixed anchor. Likewise, temporary weights W, such as heavy metal plates, concrete blocks, filled sandbags, and/or the like may be used to secure the base support 504.
The pivot assembly 1008 of the balance bar 104 may include a pivot pin 1010, a resilient member 1020, at least one spacer 1022, and a pivot fastener 1024.
The pivot pin 1010 of the balance bar 104 may pass through the pivot support 1002 of the base assembly 502 and may be engaged in the pivot support 1002 by the pivot fastener 1024. The pivot pin 1010 may be a threaded bolt, such as a shoulder bolt, or it may be an unthreaded pin, such as an L-bolt, J-bolt, hook bolt, or the like. The pivot pin 1010 may have an elongated body 1012 with a head 1014 at one end and either threads 1016 or an aperture at the other end. The elongated axis of the pivot pin 1010 may define a pivot assembly rotation axis 1018.
The elongated body 1012 of the pivot pin 1010 may pass through the central pivot aperture 408 of the balance bar 104 such that the head 1014 of the pivot pin 1010 may hold the balance bar 104 rotatably connected to the pivot support 1002 of the base assembly 502. The balance bar 104 may be supported by the pivot support 1002 and may be pivotable about the pivot assembly rotation axis 1018.
The resilient member 1020 may be a spring member, such as a compression spring or a set of Bellville springs. The resilient member 1020 may be fabricated from a soft material such as, for example, rubber. If the pivot pin 1010 is a threaded bolt, then the compressive forces of a compression spring 1020 may be adjusted by tightening the pivot fastener 1024 on the threaded end 1016 of the pivot pin 1010. If the pivot pin 1010 is an unthreaded pin, then Belleville springs may be added or removed between the pivot collar 1004 and the pivot fastener 1024. By adjusting the distance between the pivot collar 1004 and the pivot fastener 1024, the resilient spring force may be changed and the resistance in rotation of the balance bar 104 may be changed.
The spacer 1022 may be a flat washer, a rigid plastic cylinder, or the like. The spacer 1022 may be placed between the head 1014 of the pivot pin 1010 and the balance bar 104, between the balance bar 104 and the upright support 510 of the base support 504, between the pivot collar 1004 of the pivot support 1002 and the resilient member 1020, and/or between the resilient member 1020 and the pivot fastener 1024. Multiple spacers 1022 may be used at any or all of these locations.
The pivot fastener 1024 of the balance bar 104 may be a threaded locking fastener, such as a nut and lock washer combination or a Nylon locking nut. Likewise, the pivot fastener 1024 may be unthreaded fastener, such as a pin (spring pin, split pin, cotter pin, hairpin, R-clip, or the like) which passes through an aperture near the end of a pin. The use of an unthreaded pivot fastener 1024 allows for quick disconnection of the pivot fastener 1024 from the pivot pin 1010 without the use of tools. This allows a user to quickly disassembly the dueling target shooting assembly 100.
As seen in
Similar to the pivot assembly 1008 of the balance bar 104 described above, the pivot pin 1026 for each of the two pivot assemblies 1008 may be a threaded bolt, such as a shoulder bolt, or it may be an unthreaded pin. The pivot pin 1026 may have an elongated body 1028 with a head 1030 at one end and either threads 1032 or an aperture at the other end. The elongated axis of the pivot pin 1026 defines a pivot assembly rotation axis 1034.
The pivot fastener 1036 for each of the two pivot assemblies 1008 may be a threaded locking fastener, such as a nut and lock washer combination or a Nylon locking nut. Likewise, the pivot fastener 1036 may be an unthreaded fastener, such as a pin (spring pin, split pin, cotter pin, hairpin, R-clip, or the like) which passes through an aperture near the end of a pin. The use of an unthreaded pivot fastener 1036 allows for quick disconnection of a target faceplate assembly 106 from the faceplate pivot support 412 without the use of tools. This allows a user to quickly remove and/or replace a damaged target faceplate assembly 106 from the balance bar 104.
When all of the target apertures 210 on a target faceplate assembly 106 are covered by targets T, the target faceplate assembly 106 and targets T combination is balanced on the faceplate pivot assembly 108 and supported by the faceplate pivot support 412 of the balance bar 104. The center of mass of the target faceplate assembly 106 and targets T combination is aligned with the rotation axis 1034 of the faceplate pivot assembly 108.
The dueling target assembly 102 may be rotatably balanced on a pivot assembly 1008 of the balance bar 104 and supported by a balance bar pivot support 1002 of a base assembly 502. The center of mass of the dueling target assembly 102 may be aligned with the pivot assembly rotation axis 1018 of the balance bar 104.
The combined weight of the targets T on a target faceplate assembly 106 may be greater than the weight of just the target faceplate assembly 106 itself. When one target T is impacted 106 (such as, for example, when the target is shot or otherwise hit by a projectile), the center of mass of the target faceplate assembly 106 and targets T combination is offset from the rotation axis 1034 of the faceplate pivot assembly 108. For example, the center of mass may become offset if a target is hit by a projectile, if the target is broken, if the target is removed from the faceplate assembly and/or the like.
The combined weight of the targets T on a dueling target assembly 102 may be greater than the combined weight of the balance bar 104, the two target faceplate assemblies 106, and two faceplate pivot assemblies 108. When one target T is impacted from one side of the dueling target assembly 102, the center of mass of the dueling target assembly 102 is offset from the pivot assembly rotation axis 1018 of the balance bar 104.
When one target dueling competitor successfully shoots a target T, the center of mass of the dueling target assembly 102 to offset from the pivot assembly rotation axis 1018 of the balance bar 104. For example, if the target is a clay pigeon, the target may break when shot, and the broken pieces of the clay pigeon target T may fall from the holder groove 304 of the target holder 300, thus causing the center of mass of the dueling target assembly 102 to offset from the pivot assembly rotation axis 1018 of the balance bar 104. As such, the dueling target assembly 102 rotates upward on the successful shooter's side. The balance bar 104 comes to rest against the stop 518 of the base support 504.
Likewise the center of mass of the target faceplate assembly 106 and remaining targets T combination on the successful shooter's side begins to rotate. If the target faceplate assembly 106 is well-balanced, this may include multiple complete rotations followed by many undulating pendulum swinging motions before the center of mass of the target faceplate assembly 106 and remaining targets T combination coming to rest directly below the rotation axis 1034 of the faceplate pivot assembly 108. While the target faceplate assembly 106 and remaining targets T combination is rotating to this new balanced state, the shooter has a new added difficulty of shooting the second and subsequent targets T before the target faceplate assembly 106 and remaining targets T combination comes to rest in a new balanced state or before the opponent shoots and frees a target T on his or her side, thus causing the dueling target assembly 102 to rotate in the other direction. The goal of the dueling competition is to be the first competitor to shoot all targets T on the competitor's side or to have fewer remaining targets T on competitor's side than the opponent's side when competition time or allotted ammunition runs out. Dueling competitions test a competitor's speed and ability to shoot a moving target. A timed dueling competition may further test a competitor's precision skills. A limited-ammunition dueling competition may further test a competitor's accuracy skills.
The above-disclosed features and functions, as well as alternatives, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.
