Patent Grant
8382117
This invention relates generally to the field of archery targets and more specifically to a modular archery target with specialized components for stopping multiple arrow types and having self-repairing properties.
A typical archery target includes, among other things, a face (such as the well-known colored concentric rings of international competition, made of paper or waterproof film), a backstop for decelerating and holding the shot arrows, and (optionally) a stand for elevating the face and backstop above ground level. Target backstops, referred to generally and throughout this document as “targets,” may be made from many kinds of materials. Simple straw, hay, or excelsior bales are long known as sufficient for stopping the slower, heavier wooden arrows of old. Today's aluminum, carbon, and composite arrows, coupled with powerful, high-speed cross- and compound bows result in arrows with sufficient kinetic energy to pass completely through old-fashioned targets.
Various target configurations have been used to stop arrows, using either friction or compression schemes to absorb the energy of the arrow. One type of target is a compressed foam sheet target, such as the Block® Wall System target manufactured by Field Logic Inc. of Superior, Wis. This type of target stops arrows with friction from the compression force on the foam sheets. This target can be used with arrows having either field or target points (referred to herein generally as “target points”) or bladed hunting points such as, without limitation, fixed or expandable (mechanical) broadheads (referred to collectively herein as “broadheads”), as those terms are known in the art.
Compressed foam sheets, or open layer targets, stop arrows by friction between the sheets. This causes heat, and with high-speed arrows, the foam (typically polyethylene) will melt to the arrow shaft. This results in difficult arrow removal and damage to the arrows. When shot with broadheads, the target life is greatly reduced, as the individual sheets of foam sliver and fall out of the target. And, regardless of the compression method used, broadheads will soon destroy the main body of the target.
Another type of target is constructed from solid foam, layered either in sections or in a molded shape. One example is The Cube, manufactured by American Whitetail, Inc. of Ferdinand, Ind. This target can be made of various polymeric foams, such as (without limitation) polyurethane and polyethylene, and is suitable for either broadheads or target points.
Solid foam targets, whether molded or layered in sections, stop arrows by friction. This foam will also melt to the arrow shaft, making arrow removal difficult. Broadheads work better with solid targets, however the main body will still be destroyed with repeated shots.
Another type of target is a compression bag target designed for target points, with packed material in a bag, either woven or non-woven. One typical example is the Morrell Bone Collector Outdoor Range manufactured by Morrell Manufacturing, Inc. of Alma, Ark. This type of target is suitable for target points only, as broadheads cannot easily be removed and tend to shred the target.
Compression bag targets feature a packed material in a bag, usually a woven polypropylene. These targets develop voids over time when shot repeatedly in the same area with target points, which may result in a shorter target life. Being a bag, the target usually needs a stand to support it. Arrows shot into a bag target usually cannot be scored accurately because the compression method of the target does not allow the arrow shaft to be held where it impacted, and it will sag or shift, resulting in difficulty scoring the hit location. The energy of fast arrows also requires extremely heavy and bulky bag targets to stop them.
Other targets made of solid, layered, or laminated man-made materials are also well known. Carpet strips, plastic sheet material, DuPont Tyvek®, and rag bundles are some of the other materials used.
One well-known disadvantage of current targets is commonly seen in youth shooting instruction and competition, where young archers and low draw weight bows result in arrows that have insufficient kinetic energy to penetrate and/or stay embedded in the target. This is often the result of youths using targets that are designed for much stronger and faster bows. Such targets are typically too dense to allow a slow, youth arrow to penetrate and may even cause the arrow to bounce off (called a “bounce out” in competition).
Because of advancement in archery equipment, and the change to composite materials for arrow construction, there is an interest in a archery target that has a long service life, that has easy arrow removal, has a repairable core and can be used for both target points and broadheads.
In contrast to the above-described conventional approaches, embodiments of the invention are directed to a modular target system that is capable of stopping fast arrows, long-lived, adaptable to stopping arrows tipped with either target points or broadheads without damaging the arrows, allows easy arrow removal, and does not suffer rapid degradation.
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a modular archery target with specialized components for stopping multiple arrow types comprising a hollow outer shell, which may be in an approximately cubic or generally polygonal configuration and able to stop arrows shot into all flat, vertical sides on all flat sides; an inner compression core; a removable rigid cap positioned over an open end of the hollow outer shell to maintain inner compression core location; and a [solid and/or laminated] separate broadhead core that is interchangeable with the inner compression core for use with broadheads.
The modular archery target is configured to stop arrows with target points shot into its vertical sides using the inner compression core and making full use of the target side area. The removable rigid cap, which is (in some embodiments) attached by elastic cords, keeps an essentially constant downward compression on the inner compression core, thus maintaining the inner core's position within the hollow outer shell. The rigid cap, when removed, allows the inner core to be accessed resulting in three advantageous features. First, the inner core can be rotated or re-positioned, thereby bringing new material to the shooting area. Second, the rigid cap assists the core in self-healing. Third, removability allows mass to be added to the inner core if needed.
When the archer desires to practice with broadheads, a separate broadhead core replaces the rigid cap and the inner compression core. Broadheads are then shot directly into the broadhead core from the open end of the hollow outer shell, instead of through the sides of the outer shell, i.e., the target is tipped onto its side for shooting broadheads into the top. By shooting directly into the broadhead core, the main body of the target's hollow outer shell is spared the cutting action of the broadheads, thus preserving the main body of the target and adding significant target life.
An alternate embodiment of the invention is directed to a modular archery target with specialized components for stopping multiple arrow types comprising a hollow outer shell, which may be in an approximately cubic or generally polygonal configuration and able to stop arrows shot into one flat, vertical face (i.e., the shooting face); an plurality of removable and interchangeable concentric center cores into the shooting face; and a removable compression bag positioned through and inside the open end of the hollow outer shell opposite the target face.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide an improved archery target that addresses the limitations and disadvantages of prior archery targets. A further object of the invention is to provide an archery target that is self-repairing. Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved archery target that maintains compression on its internal core to prevent voids from forming when shooting. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved archery target that allows broadhead shooting into a removable and replaceable broadhead core to preserve the outer shell. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved archery target that is compatible with all crossbows and compound bows, as well as more traditional types of longbows and recurve bows.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, embodiments of the present invention is disclosed.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Embodiments of the present apparatus are directed to an improved archery target with modular elements. The improved archery target has an essentially rigid and hollow outer shell with two, interchangeable cores adapted to support different arrowheads. One core comprises an inner compression core that stops arrows with target points by compression. In some embodiments, the compression core can be rotated within the outer shell to both extend target life and self-repair the compression core. The second core may comprise a broadhead core for use with arrows tipped with broadheads. The archer can easily change cores to accommodate the type of practice—target (using target points) or hunting (using broadheads)—the archer wishes to accomplish.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
In its target point embodiment, the present target comprises an inner compression core encased and compressed inside of a hollow shell. When impacted an arrow, the foam shell maintains the relative position of the arrow strike while the inner compression core absorbs the arrow's energy, allowing easy arrow removal. The inner core is self-repairing in that the shell can be opened to allow the inner core to be rotated or repositioned (“fluffed”) inside the shell, thus bringing new material into the area being shot. This also assists in the self-healing properties of the inner core. Additionally, the core may be repaired by adding more compression material.
Referring to
In one exemplary embodiment, illustrated in the isometric view of
Although a cord-and-ball fastening scheme is described, those skilled in the art will realize that many other methods of attaching cap 23 to outer shell 30 can be used. For example, and not by way of limitation, cap 23 may have a stepped profile (as illustrated in
Outer shell 30 may be made from any pierceable, rigid, and waterproof material, such as (but not limited to) a polymeric foam such as polyolefin foam or polyethylene foam, such as OLETEX®, VOLARA®, ETHAFOAM™, and the like. Outer shell 30 is preferably constructed from polyurethane, which allows one handed arrow removal without the arrow bonding to (melting) the outer shell material.
OLETEX is a registered trademark of Armacell, LLC of South Holland, Ill. VOLARA is a registered trademark of Sekisui Voltek, LLC of Massachusetts. ETHAFOAM is a trademark of Dow Chemical Corp. of Wilmington, Del.
Target 100 may further comprise an inner compression core 32 and a rigid cap 23. Rigid cap 23 may, in some embodiments, comprise a stepped, substantially cylindrical polyurethane foam disc friction-fit into an appropriately sized cavity in the top of outer shell 30, as discussed above. Alternately, rigid cap 23 may be held in place with one or more cap attaching fasteners such as (but not limited to) cords 110 secured to anchors 15. In one exemplary embodiment, four cords 110 are used, spaced equidistant around the perimeter of rigid cap 23 and anchored to the vertical edges of outer shell 30. The actual location of the anchors need not be as shown. Any convenient location, out of the way of the side that the archer intends to shoot, may be used without limitation. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), cap 23 may be a single cylindrical plate, as (for example) that depicted as cap 423 in
Cap attaching fasteners (in one exemplary embodiment, cords 110) may be comprised of any flexible binding material, such as rope, elastic (“bungee” or shock) cords, springs, metal bands, fabric strips, webbing, strapping, or the like without limitation. In one exemplary embodiment, cords 110 comprise elastic bungee cords formed into a loop with a ball fastened to one end. Cords 110 are secured to outer shell 30 by, in some embodiments, hooking the loop over anchor 15, as illustrated in
In a preferred embodiment, the anchor may be attached to the cap and the fastener may be attached to the outer shell. The fastener may be a ball-ended bungee cord loop that is threaded through the outer shell so that the ball prevents the bungee from pulling out. To fasten the cap, the loop is stretched to hook over the anchor on the cap.
In another embodiment, loops of webbing material may be fixedly attached to the cap. As above, a ball-ended bungee cord loop (or other fastener) may be threaded through the outer shell so that the ball prevents the bungee from pulling out. To fasten the cap, the bungee cord loop is passed through the webbing loop on the cap and stretched back down to hook over the ball.
In general, the fixed end of a bungee fastener may be may be attached to rigid cap 23 or outer shell 30 by any attachment means known in the art, preferably in a permanent matter resistant to loosening or breaking away from rigid cap 23 or outer shell 30. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present means of attachment may be used to fix anchor 15 and/or fasteners 110 without limitation.
Inner compression core 32 comprises an outer bag or envelop made from a flexible woven or non-woven fabric (such as, without limitation, polypropylene or burlap) and a compression material composed of a mixture of strips or pieces of polyethylene, polyester, and thermally bonded polyester batting. In a preferred embodiment, the outer bag may be polypropylene. The inner compression core stops the arrow before heat can develop so there is no bonding to outer shell 30.
Rigid cap 23 maintains a downward pressure on inner compression core 32 while outer shell 30 keeps compression core 32 contained and tightly packed. This maintains the integrity of compression core 32 while it is being shot, so that no voids develop in the core compression material.
Target 100 can be used either indoors or outdoors and can be shot with field points in the configuration shown in
For shooting broadheads, rigid cap 23 (or 423) and compression core 32 are removed. Inner compression core 32 is replaced with a solid or laminated foam broadhead core 210, as shown in the cut away side view of
To use the broadhead core, outer shell 30 must be placed on a side 321-324 (referring to
Broadhead core 210 may comprise any solid or laminated foam material suitable for stopping arrows known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, broadhead core comprises a polyethylene foam in a two to six pound density. Alternatively, broadhead core made be laminated from pieces of polyethylene or polyurethane
In another exemplary embodiment, described with reference to the cross-section view of
Outer shell 630 is open on the back side 624 and substantially hollow, having four sides and a front face 625 upon which the target faces are typically attached. Inner core 610 may be attached to outer shell 630 by any of the fastening means discussed above, without limitation. The fastening means are omitted from this Figure for clarity of illustration.
Hollow outer shell 630 may have an aperture 640 formed in and through front face 625 in the centermost region of target 600. The aperture may have one or more substantially rigid, yet removable, center core elements 645 disposed therein. Such a center core element may provide two benefits: it may be constructed of a firmer, more damage-resistant type of foam so as to be able to withstand more arrow hits, and it is more easily replaceable when it become shot out. In
In one exemplary embodiment, hollow outer shell 630 and/or center core elements 645 may be formed from sheet foam that is rolled up (or laminated) and cut out to form the desired shapes. In an alternate embodiment, outer shell 630/or center core elements 645 may be molded from polyurethane by conventional means.
Center core elements 645 may, in one exemplary embodiment, be held in place by a friction fit. In an alternate embodiment, bridge pieces 650 formed of foam block or sheet material may be glued or otherwise fastened to center core 645 to prevent it from being pulled out of the face 625 of the target when a high-scoring arrow is removed. Four representative bridge pieces 650 are shown in the section view of
Center core 645 may, in some embodiments, be formed of two or more approximately concentric elements, each separately removable and replaceable. Core elements 645 need not be round, although (given the typical distribution of arrow hits around the center of a target), round elements are preferred. Regardless of the size, shape, or number of core elements 645, bridge pieces 650 may be secured to each of these elements, in one embodiment, so that none of them will be pulled out the front of the target.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Accordingly, the appended claims encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications.
This application is a CONTINUATION-IN-PART of the commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/114,189 (filed on May 24, 2011), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and claims priority thereto.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 13114189 | May 2011 | US |
| Child | 13478111 | US |
