Patent Application
20150330746
Archery has become an increasingly popular sport among numerous individuals. As a result, a need exists for ways in which people can experience archery in a safe manner.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated herein.
Referring to
As further illustrated, a first upper end 120 of the first front pillar 106 includes a first medial support member 122 that extends to a second upper end 124 of the first rear pillar 108. A proximal end 126 of the first support medial member 122 is connected with and in fluid communication with the first upper end 120 of the first pillar 106 and a distal end 128 of the first medial support member 122 is connected with and in fluid communication with the second upper end 124 of the first rear pillar 108. In this form, air is the fluid and it is allowed to flow between the first front and rear pillars 106, 108 via the first medial support member 122.
The first upper end 120 of the first front pillar 106 includes a front lateral support member 130 that extends to a third upper end 132 of the second front pillar 114. A proximal end 134 of the front lateral support member 130 is connected with and in fluid communication with the first upper end 120 of the first front pillar 106. A distal end 136 of the front lateral support member 130 is connected with and in fluid communication with the third upper end 132 of the second front pillar 114. As previously set forth, air is the fluid and it is allowed to flow between the first front pillar 106 and the second front pillar 114 via the front lateral support member 130.
A second medial support member 140 is connected with the third upper end 132 of the second front pillar 114 and a fourth upper end 142 of the second rear support pillar 116. A proximal end 144 of the second medial support member 140 is connected with and in fluid communication with the upper end 132 of the second front pillar 114. A distal end 146 of the second medial support member 140 is connected with the fourth upper end 142 of the second rear support pillar 116. As a result, air is allowed to flow between the second front pillar 114 and the second rear pillar 116 via the second medial support member 140.
A rear lateral support member 150 extends between the first rear support pillar 108 and the second rear support pillar 116. A proximal end 152 of the rear lateral support member 150 is connected with and in fluid communication with the upper end 124 of the first rear pillar 108. A distal end 154 of the rear lateral support member 150 is connected with the fourth upper end 142 of the second rear pillar 116. As a result, air is allowed to flow between the first rear pillar 108 and the second rear pillar 116 via the second medial support member 140.
Referring to
Referring collectively to
Attached to the upper surface 180 of the base 104 is a ball stop 190. In this form, the ball stop 190 has a cylindrical configuration but other forms could be used in other embodiments. In this form, the ball stop 190 runs laterally from the first and second front pillars 106, 114. A back panel 192 is connected with the upper surface 180, the first and second rear pillars 108, 116, and the rear lateral support member 150. The back panel 192 keeps the balls 188 from being pushed out the rear of the shooting gallery 100 when struck.
Referring to
Referring to
Once the ball 188 reaches the lower funnel shaped portion 202, it will travel downwardly to a lower central portion 204 where it will come into contact with an air stream 206. The air stream 206 will cause the ball 188 to lift into the air and hover as illustrated. In this form, an air tube 208 is connected with an inlet 210 located at the lower central portion 204 of the lower cone shaped portion 202. As illustrated, an end of the air tube 208 is connected with a blower 212. The blower 212 is operable to blow air through the air tube 208 to cause the ball 188 to hover. In addition, the blower 212 is operable to inflate the shooting gallery 100. In versions in which multiple targets 188 are provided for users to shoot at, there will be a plurality of upper and lower stages 200, 202 located in the upper floor 180.
Referring to
Referring to
The non-lethal arrow assembly 356 includes a tip connector 360 and a foam tip 362. The foam tip 362 is connected with the tip connector 360 and has a generally cylindrical shape. For a more detailed description of the non-lethal arrow 350, reference is made to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,449,413, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Referring to
In one form, the shooting gallery 100 disclosed herein is provided as a kit. In this form, the kit comes with the shooting gallery 100, one or more targets 188, the bow 300, and one or more non-lethal arrows 350. The non-lethal arrows 350 are shot by a user with the bow 300 at the targets 188. Use of the non-lethal arrows 350 provides safety for the user as well as others who may be around the shooting gallery 100. The non-lethal arrows 350 will not injure people and also will not cause damage to the shooting gallery 100. The foam tips 362 are soft and will not injure anyone who may be inadvertently struck by the non-lethal arrow 350. The shooting gallery 100 provides a safe manner in which to teach users how to shoot with a bow 300.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain exemplary embodiments have been shown and described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.
In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
