BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND REFERENCE NUMBERS
The invention can be more easily understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a target carrier assembly in a stationary position. The target carrier assembly contains a target image affixed to a target mounting medium with the target mounting medium attached to the target carrier. The invention may contain multiple target carrier assemblies.
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of target carrier assembly immediately after it is driven in one direction. Note the movement of the middle and lower suspension arms on both the left and right side of the target carrier. The arms are connected to each other at the upper and lower pivot points located both on the left and right side of the target carrier. This mechanical configuration allows the target mounting medium to move in a random pattern that is not in the same horizontal plane the target mounting medium was in when it was hanging in a stationary location. Because of the inertia of the target mounting medium and the twin pivots on each side of the target carrier, the target mounting medium will begin to move after the target carrier has begun its movement. Due to the action of the pivot arms the target mounting medium will move in a random, oscillating, arc motion. During the time the target carrier assembly moves to a new desired location the target mounting medium will stabilize due to gravity. The suspension arms will return to the positions shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows the action of the target carrier assembly after it is stopped or the direction of the target carrier assembly movement is reversed. The target mounting medium will exhibit an oscillating, random pattern of movement. The exact pattern of movement will differ and is dependent on the speed the target assembly was moved, the length of time it is moved and the duration of the time the target assembly is stopped before it is moved in the opposite direction.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the target system without the target obscuring panels installed. The target system is shown with one target carrier assembly.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the target system. The system is shown with one target carrier assembly and the control unit.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the target system with the target obscuring panels installed. The target carrier system is positioned behind the target obscuring panels.
FIG. 6 A is a plan view of the target system with the target obscuring panels installed. The target carrier system is positioned in the cutout in the target obscuring panels simulating a window.
FIG. 6 B is a plan view of the target system with the target obscuring panels installed. The target carrier system is positioned in the cutout in the target obscuring panels simulating a door.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the target system. The system is shown with two target carrier assemblies and the control unit.
FIG. 7A is a plan view of the target system without the target obscuring panels installed. Two target carrier assemblies are shown.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the moving arm target mounting medium. This unique target image has a moving arm that moves into and out of the field of view of the shooter. The movement of the moving arm is relative to the position of the target carrier assembly to the opening in the target obscuring panels simulating a window. As shown, the moving arm is in the relaxed position and hangs down due to the location of the arm pivot. The target carrier assembly is normally behind the target obscuring panels at this time and would not be visible to the shooter. The actuating cable is loose and does not affect the position of the moving arm.
FIG. 8A is a plan view of the moving arm target mounting medium as the target carrier assembly is being moved toward the cutout in the target obscuring panels simulating a window. The actuating cable begins to tighten because the end opposite the moving arm is anchored to a location on the target system suspensions, and the target carrier assembly is being moved away the actuating cable anchor point. The target system suspensions are usually walls or posts driven into the ground on each side of the target system. As the target carrier assembly moves into the opening in the target obscuring panels simulating a window, the cable is drawn tight and the arm is caused to rotate on the arm pivot. The hand on the moving arm is quickly brought into the field of view of the shooter. The shooter is forced to quickly recognize the image the instructor has affixed to the moving arm. If it is a weapon, the shooter must quickly and accurately shoot the target. If it is not a weapon the shooter must refrain from shooting.
FIG. 9 is a unique target mounting medium. The target carrier assembly in the invention may be modified to cause the target mounting medium and target image to fall to the ground if the target image is struck in an area that coincides with a vital anatomical area on a person. This capability has been in the public domain for many years and is not offered as part of the invention. Existing target mounting mediums have a problem in that they are manufactured with a flat bottom and remain upright on the ground and in the field of view of the shooter after they have fallen from the target carrier assembly. Our invention includes a target mounting medium with the centerline dimension longer than the dimensions on its sides. Manufactured in this manner the target mounting medium will always fall over and be removed from the field of view of the shooter after it falls from the target carrier.
FIG. 10 shows the opening in the target obscuring panels simulating a window having a covering of inexpensive plastic sheet or its equivalent. Objects such as the target image when observed through a window are distorted and not easy to define, especially at night with lights or moon glow in the foreground. This condition is especially true when the object is being viewed with a telescopic sight. A plastic sheet stretched over the opening in the target obscuring panels and held by staples simulates the condition of having to view the target image through a window glass.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the system. The system can be powered by battery or alternating current that is converted to DC. The system power runs the system electronic controller. The system electronic controller is programmable via the external buttons on the operator interface panel. The operator can program in various speeds, directions and times that the target carrier assemblies are stopped, either behind the target obscuring panels or openings in the target obscuring panels meant to simulate a window or a door. The operator can correlate the movements, speeds and stops of one target carrier assembly to other target carrier assemblies. Signals from the system electronic controller are sent to the target carrier assembly motor control units, are processed and then sent to the drive motors. Positional signals are fed back from each of the target carrier assembly motor controls to the system electronic controller to constantly monitor the locations of each target carrier assembly relative to the other target carrier assemblies and all target carrier assemblies relative to the target obscuring panels.
DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMBERS
10. target #1 carrier
11. target carrier cross support
12. mounting point for the left end of the drive cable
13. left-upper suspension arm
14. left-middle suspension arm
15. left-lower suspension arm
16. spring clip
17. left-upper pivot
18. left-lower pivot
19. target carrier pulley
20. right-upper suspension arm
21. right-middle suspension arm
22. right-lower suspension arm
23. right-upper pivot
24. right-lower pivot
25. mounting point for the right end of the drive cable
26. target mounting medium
27. target image
28. target system suspensions
29. target #1 carrier drive motor
30. target #1 carrier suspension cable
31. target #1 carrier drive pulley
32. target #1 carrier drive cable
33. target #1 carrier turn around pulley
34. target #2 carrier
35. control unit
36. target #control signal cable
37. target start location
38. 1st target location
39. 2nd target location
40. target obscuring panels
41. overlap in target obscuring panels
42. cutout in target obscuring panel simulating a window
43. cutout in target obscuring panel simulating a door
44. not used
45. not used
46. anchor point for the actuating cable
47. moving arm target mounting medium
47. moving arm
48. pivot point
49. actuating cable connecting point
50. actuating cable
51. not used
52. not used
53. target mounting medium centerline
54. target mounting medium left edge
55. target mounting medium right edge
56. not used
57. target #2 carrier suspension cable
58. target #2 carrier drive cable
59. target #2 carrier drive motor
60. target #2 drive pulley
61. target #2 carrier turn around pulley
62. target #2 carrier control signal cable
63. plastic sheet
64. power supply
65. power cable
66. not used
67. wireless electronic transmitter
68. program selection, initiation and halt signals
69. #1 signal cable
70. motor control #1 feedback signal cable
71. target #1 carrier motor control unit
72. not used
73. not used
74. #2 signal cable
75. motor control #2 feedback signal cable
76. target #2 carrier motor control unit
77. target #2 carrier motor drive
A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT—DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present embodiment of the invention provides mechanisms for moving and positioning targets in relationship to themselves and in relationship to a series of panels placed in front of the targets. These panels have openings which allow the shooter to at times see, and at other times to not see the targets. This configuration allows the system operator to present varying scenarios with various levels of difficulty to the shooter. The difficulty of the scenarios chosen depends on the level of training of the shooter and her ability to rapidly and correctly identify a target image and accurately shooting the correct target images at the correct time.
Referring to FIG. 1, the drawing shows a plan view of the target #1 carrier (10), part of the invention. The target #1 carrier (10) contains, in part, the target mounting medium (26) which is usually a sheet of cardboard. The target mounting medium (26) is used to suspend the target image (27). The target image (27) is a paper sheet on which one of any number of images has been printed. Because of the unique design of the target #1 carrier (10), the target mounting medium (26) and associated target image (27) do not move in a flat horizontal plane. The design of the target #1 carrier (10) causes a random, side-to-side and up and down oscillatory motion of the target image (27). This action is evident when the target #1 carrier (10) is quickly moved from a stationary location. The action is also evident if the direction of movement of the target #1 carrier (10) is abruptly changed or the movement of the target #1 carrier (10) is abruptly stopped.
Referring to FIG. 1, one end of the left upper suspension arm (13) is rigidly connected to the target carrier cross support (11). The other end of the left-upper suspension arm (13) and one end of the left-middle suspension arm (14) are joined at the left-upper pivot (17). One end of the left-middle suspension arm (14) and one end of the left-lower suspension arm (15) are joined at the left-lower pivot (18). These parts suspend the left side of the target mounting medium (26) which is connected to the left-lower suspension arm (15) by use of a common spring clip (16).
Correspondingly, one end of the right-upper suspension arm (20) is rigidly connected to the target carrier cross support (11). The opposite end of the right-upper suspension arm (20) and one end of the right-middle suspension arm (21) are joined at the right-upper pivot (23). One end of the right-middle suspension arm (21) and one end of the right-lower suspension arm (22) are joined at the right-lower pivot (24). The right side of the target mounting medium (26) is connected to the right-lower suspension arm (22) by use of a common spring clip (16).
When the target #1 carrier assembly (10) is not moving, the target mounting medium (26) is parallel to the target #1 suspension cable (30) due to gravity.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the target #1 carrier (10) begins to move in either direction, the mechanical action of the target #1 carrier causes the target mounting medium (26) and associated target image (27) to move in an oscillating, non-linear motion. The target #1 carrier (10) is shown moving to the right. The motion of the target #1 carrier is the opposite when the target #1 carrier (10) is driven to the left. The amount of movement the target image (27) exhibits is dependent on the speed at which the target #1 carrier (10) is moved. After the target #1 carrier (10) has moved in one direction for a minimal amount of time and continues to move in that direction, the target mounting medium (26) will return to a position parallel to the target #1 suspension cable (30) and the ground as previously shown in FIG. 1. This action is due to gravity.
Referring to FIG. 3, when the target #1 carrier (10) is stopped or its direction of motion is quickly reversed, the target mounting medium (26) will continue to move in its original direction and exhibit the random, oscillating, non-linear motion as described previously. The target mounting medium (26) and associated target image (27) again exhibit an oscillating, non-linear motion. This sequence is repeated every time the target #1 carrier assembly (10) is moved, stopped or its direction of movement reversed.
Referring to FIG. 4, the target #1 carrier (10) is positioned by moving the target #1 drive cable (32). The target carrier cross support (11) has a mounting point for the left-end of the drive cable (12). The target #1 drive cable (32) is wrapped around the target #1 drive pulley (31) and continues on to the target #1 turn around pulley (33). The target #1 drive cable (32) is wrapped around the target #1 turn around pulley (33) and continues on to the mounting point for the right end of the drive cable (25) on the target #1 carrier cross support (11). The target #1 drive pulley (31) is mounted on the target #1 drive motor (29) output shaft.
Referring to FIG. 5, the operator programs multiple target #1 carrier (10) movement sequences into the control unit (35). The control unit (35) gives the operator the ability to input into the program sequence the direction and speed at which the target #1 carrier (10) will move and a time delay executed after the target #1 carrier (10) is programmed to stop. After the time delay is executed, the target #1 carrier (10) is programmed to move to a new location in the same or different direction, using the same or different speed. This sequence is repeated multiple times and programmed into the control unit (35).
Referring to FIG. 6, using the control unit (35) the operator moves the target #1 carrier (10) to a location behind the target obscuring panels (40) which conceal it from the shooters view. The target obscuring panels (40) may be made of any number of materials, including but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, wood, press board, etc.
The operator then programs this location into the control unit (35). This location is known as the target start location (37).
Referring to FIG. 6A the operator then programs into the control unit (35) the direction the target #1 carrier (10) will move. In this example the direction selected is left as viewed from the front. The operator then programs into the control unit (35) the speed at which the target #1 carrier (10) will move to its new location. The operator then initiates the target #1 carrier (10) movement using the control unit (35). When the target #1 carrier (10) reaches the new location desired, the operator stops the target #1 carrier (10) movement and programs this location in to the control unit (35) The operator then programs into the control unit (35), the time she wants the target #1 carrier (10) to remain stationary at this location This location is known as then known as the target location (38). In this example the 1st target location (38) places the target #1 carrier (10) in view of the shooter within the cutout in target obscuring panel simulating a window (42). The 1st target location (38) may be chosen to allow the shooter to view the entire or only portions of the target image (27). This is accomplished by selection of the 1st target location (38) location in relationship to the cutout in target obscuring panel simulating a window (42) or cutout in the target obscuring panel simulating a door (43). The target #1 carrier (10) in this example was programmed to remain in the 1st target location for 2 seconds
Referring to FIG. 6B the operator then initiates the target #1 carrier (10) movement using the control unit (35). When the target #1 carrier (10) reaches the new location desired, the operator stops the target #1 carrier (10) movement and programs this location into the control unit (35). The operator also programs into the control unit (35) the time she wants the target #1 carrier (10) to remain stationary at this location. This location is then known as the 2nd target location (39). In this example the 2nd target location (39) places the target #1 carrier (10) in view of the shooter within the cutout in target obscuring panel simulating a door (43).
The operator continues to enter multiple target locations into the control unit (35), the number of which is limited only by the number of memory allocations in the control unit (35). Each new target location is sequentially designated as a new target location. After the programming sequence is complete the entire programming sequence is saved in the control unit (35) and is now known as the program. The control unit (35) stores multiple programs, the number of which is limited only by the number of memory allocations within the control unit (35).
The operator then selects to replay one of the programs. Upon initiation of the program, the target #1 carrier (10) will move to the target start location (37). The shooter is then positioned in front of the target obscuring panels (40). The remainder of the program is initiated using the control panel (35) or the wireless electronic transmitter (67). The operator has the ability to pause the program at any moment during the program execution. The target #1 carrier (10) will stop. The operator can then restart the program and the program will begin at the time at which it was stopped. The program will then run until completion, unless it is again halted. After the program execution is complete, the target #1 carrier (10) returns to the target start location (37). The program can be replayed to further train the same shooter; another shooter may be trained; anyone of the multiple programs stored in the control unit (35) may be selected and executed. A new program may also be entered.
Referring to FIG. 7, the system also allows coordination of the locations, speeds, direction of movement and stop times of a target #2 carrier (34) to target #1 carrier (10). The addition of a target #2 carrier (34), target #2 suspension cable (57), target #2 drive cable (58), target #2 drive motor (59), target #2 drive pulley (60), target #2 turn around pulley (61), allow direct coordination of the direction and speed of movement, and stop time of target #1 carrier (10) to the target #2 carrier (34). As an example, the target #1 carrier (10) can be programmed to move to the cutout in the target obscuring panel simulating a window (42) and, at the same moment, the target #2 carrier (34) can be programmed to move into the cutout in the target obscuring panel simulating a door (43). The operator can program in a specified amount of time after the target #1 carrier (10) is visible to the shooter, before the target #2 carrier (34) is made to the shooter. The target #1 carrier (10) can then be programmed to move to a new location relative to the target obscuring panels (40). After the target #1 carrier is positioned the target #2 carrier (34) is the repositioned. This coordination of movement adds an even greater degree of realism and difficulty to the shooters training.
FIG. 7A is a top view of FIG. 7
Referring to FIG. 8, one of the embodiments of the invention is the moving arm target mounting medium (46) which has a moving arm (47). The motion of the moving arm (47) is in direct relationship to the location of the target #1 carrier assembly (10) relative to the target obscuring panels (40). The moving arm (47) is construct so as to have the moving arm (47) rapidly appear when the target #1 carrier (10) is positioned in the field of view of the shooter. The moving arm (47) has a pivot point (48) and an actuating cable connecting point (49) for one end of the actuating cable (50). The opposite end of the actuating cable (50) is connected to the target system suspensions (28) at an anchor point for the actuating cable (45). The actuating cable (50) length is determined by the location at which the target #1 carrier (10) and moving arm target mounting medium (46) come into the field of view of the shooter.
Referring to FIG. 8 A, when the target #1 carrier (10) and the associated moving arm target mounting medium (46) begin to come into the view of the shooter, the actuating cable (50) loses its slack and becomes tight. The actuating cable (50) begins to rotate the moving arm (47) around its pivot point (48).
Referring to FIG. 8B, when the target #1 carrier (10) and associated moving arm target mounting medium (46) come into full view of the shooter, the moving arm (47) is brought into full view of the shooter by the continued action as described above.
It is easy for the casual observer to envision the moving arm target mounting medium (46) being used with the target obscuring panels (40), specifically with the cutout in the target obscuring panel simulating a window (42). As the target #1 carrier (10) and moving target mounting medium (46) begin to come into view, the shooter is unable to see what the target image (27) is holding in the moving arm (47). When the target image (27) becomes completely into view, the moving arm (47) quickly rotates into view. The instructor may choose to have any one of a number of images in the hand of the moving arm (47). These images may be of either lethal weapons or non-lethal items.
Referring to the FIG. 9, the target mounting medium (26) is constructed to have a target mounting medium centerline (53) that is longer than the target mounting medium left edge (54) and the target mounting medium right edge (55). When the target mounting medium (26) is caused to fall to the ground, the target mounting medium (26) cannot support itself on the target mounting medium centerline (53) and will-topple over. This action removes it from the field of view of the shooter. This construction is applicable to both the target mounting medium (26) and the moving arm target mounting medium (46).
Referring to FIG. 10, the cutout in the target obscuring panel simulating a window (42) has a plastic sheet (63) affixed to it to simulate a window glass. This plastic sheet (63) reflects light and distorts the target image (27) when it is in the field of view of the shooter.
Referring to FIG. 11, the target system is powered by a power supply. (64). Power enters the control unit (35) via the power cable (65). Programs are entered or executed from the control unit (35). The programs may also be selected, executed or halted and restarted via the wireless electronic transmitter (67) using program selection, initiation and halt signals (68). Motor control positioning signals are sent via the #1 signal cable (69) to target #1 carrier motor control unit (71) which causes target #1 carrier drive motor (29) output shaft to rotate. Motor drive feed back signals are sent to the target #1 carrier motor control unit (71) via the motor control #1 feedback signal cable (70) Motor control positioning signals are sent via the #2 signal cable (74) to target #2 carrier motor control unit (76) which cause target #2 carrier drive motor (59) output shaft to rotate. Motor drive feed back signals are sent to the control unit (35) via the motor control #2 feedback signal cable (75).
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
The target system may also be installed with the target carrier movement toward and away from the shooter. This configuration simulates a “frontal attack mode.”
The system is usable with all types of lethal and non-lethal projectiles and radiation generating devices such as infrared or laser.
The plastic sheet affixed to the window cutout can be made of any of a number of transparent or translucent materials.
The target obscuring panels may be designed to simulate and depict any number of different locations and surroundings such as the interior of a nuclear power plant control room or the interior of an airplane or bus.
Patent Application
20080088089
