Patent Application
20110062668
This invention relates generally to the field of projectile targets and games and training techniques incorporating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to reactive targets and frames supporting such targets and methods for employing the same as competitive, interactive entertainment and training.
Currently practices and equipment directed to hitting targets with projectiles are focused almost exclusively on participants individually developing accuracy and consistency. For example, competitive shooting, or marksmanship, competitions are generally sequential in nature. Shooters take turns shooting their best and then wait to see if another participant performs better. Such competitions fail to provide the participants with an engaging, dynamic entertainment or training experience.
In contrast, many activities such as traditional team sports, including football, hockey, and basketball; individual sports, such as tennis, and other forms of entertainment, such as video or online gaming provide the participants with a dynamic experience by not only challenging the participants' physical skills but also through challenging the participants to out-think or out-strategize fellow participants during direct competition. In the case of many video games, multiple participants are not required in order to provide a dynamic, interactive experience to the participant, because the game is designed to change, for example, become more difficult or create a different game environment, as the participant completes certain tasks.
In order to compete with the multitude of interactive and dynamic activities available and thereby draw new and younger participants into the various forms of projectile target entertainment and training, such as marksmanship, archery, or even pitching baseballs, new interactive targets and methods for using the same are needed in the field.
The objective of the present invention is to provide safe, yet highly intensive, competitive projectile target systems and games that are interactive and dynamic for the participants. The systems and methods of the present invention provide entertainment and training that involves projectile targeting skills, strategy development, and a competitive environment for single or multiple participants.
These objectives are achieved by providing individual targets that are reactive to being hit by a projectile and/or by providing target frames that are reactive to the target within the target frame being hit by a projectile. The reactive target frames react to being impacted by a projectile in such a manner as to cause longitudinal movement and/or rotation of the target frame or a portion of the target frame. This movement, in turn, exposes different primary targets and/or a secondary target(s) to the participant. Accordingly, participants can take either offensive shots against the competitor's targets or defensive shots to protect their targets from being impacted by the competitor.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
The targets and target frames of the present invention provide an interactive, dynamic experience that involves strategy and projectile targeting skills for single or multiple participants.
As used in the present disclosure, the term projectile and projectiles includes, but is not limited to, objects fired from guns, rifles, shotguns, BB guns, air guns, sling shots, pellet guns, and air soft guns; arrows, either blunt or sharp tipped; balls, such as baseballs, footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, tennis balls, and golf balls; hockey pucks; and other objects operable to be impelled forward by a participant. In order for targets and target frames to accommodate these various types of projectiles, reactive targets and target frames according to the present invention may be fabricated using a variety of materials that facilitate the reactive nature of the targets and target frames. The shape and sizes of the targets and target frames may also vary depending on the type of projectile intended to be used. While many of the below described embodiments are described as being configured for use with relatively small, fast moving projectiles such as those fired from side arms, rifles and other firearms, it is contemplated that these and similar embodiments can easily be configured for use with, at least, any of the above listed projectiles without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
According to the present invention, reactive targets are targets that provide feedback, preferably instant feedback, to the participant(s). Two types of reactive targets are employed in the present invention, primary reactive targets and secondary reactive targets. The primary reactive targets are generally rigidly attached to the target system. When a primary reactive target is hit by a projectile, the force of the impact of the projectile upon the primary reactive target moves the target. In turn, the force of the impact is transferred to the target frame or a portion of the target frame to which the primary reactive target is attached, thereby causing movement of the target frame or movement of a portion of the target frame. The target frame may be operable to move to two or more different positions or orientations relative to the perspective of the participant. Each of the different positions or orientations of the target frame exposes one or more different reactive targets to the participant.
Primary reactive targets can be fabricated of materials such as polymer, rubber, metal alloy, or any other material that can be struck by a projectile and transfer the force of the impact to the target frame or a portion of the target. Primary reactive targets can employ different mechanisms for receiving and transferring the force of the projectile impact to the target frame. For example, in certain embodiments, the reactive target is fabricated to resist breakage and penetration by the projectile. In such embodiments, the direction of deflection of the projectile can be controlled in order to capture the projectile for latter use or to safely remove the projectile from the area surrounding the target. In certain other embodiments, the reactive target is designed to stop and capture the projectile within the reactive target. This design is also useful in order to safely stop and remove the projectile from the area surrounding the target. In yet another embodiment, the reactive target is fabricated to allow the projectile to pass through the target. The target will receive a portion of the force of the projectile sufficient to result in the desired movement of the target frame or a portion of the target frame but otherwise allow the projectile to pass through the target.
Unlike the primary reactive targets, the impact of a projectile upon the secondary reactive targets does not result in movement or rotation of the target frame to expose or hide different reactive targets. Impact of the projectile upon the secondary reactive target is primarily intended to notify the participant(s) that the secondary reactive target has been impacted. In certain embodiments, an impact upon a secondary reactive target may serve to both notify the participant(s) that the secondary reactive target has been impacted and to expose another secondary reactive target. As will be described in greater detail below, the secondary reactive target may function as an objective that one participant works to protect by impacting primary reactive targets that move the secondary reactive target out of line of site and/or impact. Conversely, another participant may work to impact the primary reactive targets to move the target frame in order to expose and impact the secondary reactive target.
In certain embodiments of the secondary reactive target, projectile impact upon the secondary reactive target results in an audible and/or visual indication to the participants that the secondary reactive target has been impacted. For example, as shown in
It will be recognized that the above described secondary reactive target may be configured such that with each impact by a projectile, the impact plate 112 and the reporter plate 114 are rotated relative to one another in order to advance a single pin 118 to alignment with another receiver 120 containing an unused percussion cap. In this manner, a single secondary reactive target may be impacted several different time during competition and operable to report each of the individual impacts.
It will be appreciated that the objectives of the above described secondary reactive target can also be achieved through single use-type secondary targets such as, for example, balloons with targets printed upon them or a variety of objects comprising or filled with chalk. For example, placing a relatively small amount of chalk or other powder inside a balloon creates an effective secondary target. This can be achieved in multiple ways, such as inflating the balloon with a pressurized canister containing an air-powder mixture or by placing a single packet of chalk or other powder inside balloon and then crushing the packet either before or after inflation of the balloon.
In a second embodiment, impact of the secondary reactive target may remove the secondary reactive target from play. For example, impact of the secondary reactive target may destroy or obscure the secondary reactive target from the participant. Accordingly, the secondary reactive target may, for example, be a clay target that shatters upon impact or a block or disc of material that simply dislodges or is knocked down or out of position when struck by the projectile. In the case of shattering targets, such as clay pigeons, in order to ensure that the target shatters completely, a secondary reactive target assembly may employ a metal or other rigid material plate directly behind the shattering target. Through enhanced deflection and vibration, the projectile's impact upon the plate will ensure that the shattering target shatters completely.
In a third embodiment, impact of the secondary reactive target may move or cause the entire target system or frame to fall to the ground, effectively removing the entire system from play and ending the competition. In a forth embodiment, the secondary reactive target is attached to the target frame by a hub or a tensioning member that maintains the target frame in an assembled state. Impact of the secondary reactive target dislodges the attached hub or securing member from the target frame thereby causing the target frame to collapse, again, effectively removing the target system form play and ending the competition.
Based on the above descriptions of the primary and secondary reactive targets, it becomes evident that the secondary reactive targets must be held in position within the target system such that they are accessible for impact and are sufficiently secured so as not to be dislodged during movement of the system resulting from impact of the primary reactive target. Additionally, in the configurations in which breaking secondary reactive targets are employed, the target should be held within the target system such that the secondary reactive target will not inadvertently break during the movement of the system due to impact of a primary reactive target.
In use the secondary reactive target is manipulated into the hole 70 such that it is exposed through hole 70 cut through the face plate and is securely held in place with in hole 70 by the layer 66. Hole 70 may but need not necessarily be cut through back plate 64. Similar to the layer 64, the blocks 68 are fabricated from a flexible material such as rubber or foam and serve as the attachment point of the assembly 60 to the target frame. The face plate 62 and the back plate 64 provide rigidity to the assembly 60, and the layer 66 and the blocks 68 serve to cushion the secondary reactive target from breakage.
The primary and secondary reactive targets are sized and shaped large enough for the participant to potentially impact the target at the desired distance with the intended projectile. The smaller the target surface, the closer the participant needs to be in order to engage the target. For example, a reactive target intended to be engaged at 25-50 yards with a firearm may only need to have a width or height of approximately 2 inches. Alternatively, a reactive target intended to be engaged at 75-100 yards with a firearm may need to have a width or height of 4-8 inches.
According to the present inventions, one or more primary and secondary reactive targets are attached to a target frame. Target frames or systems according to the present invention can, for the sake of clarity and not by way limitation, be categorized by their type of movement. In certain embodiments, impact of a primary reactive target attached to a traveling target frame or system results in the target system traveling or moving in a direction either substantially parallel to a participant's line of sight to the target system or in a direction perpendicular to a participant's line of sight to the target system. In certain other embodiments, the target system remains stationary relative to the participant and only the portion of the target frame that is attached to the primary reactive target moves along with the primary reactive target. In such target systems the movement of the portion of the target frame and the associated primary reactive target is restricted to movement or rotation about a fixed axis defined by the target frame. Each of these types of target system will now be described with reference to the figures.
Traveling Target System
Traveling target frames or systems rotate and thereby move at a predictable direction and distances each time a projectile hits an exposed primary reactive target. This predictability allows the target frame to be equipped with secondary reactive targets that are also exposed in a relatively predictable pattern as the traveling target system rotates and moves relative to the participant(s). As shown in
For example,
The relatively few and large sides provided in the triangular shaped traveling targets shown in
The secondary reactive target 24 of the target system 10 shown in
When a projectile traveling in the direction of arrow 18 impacts the primary target 12a, as described above with regard to the target system 10 shown in
The traveling target frames described above and shown in
In addition to or in place of the above described tracks, the target system may be positioned on a surface having ridges or teeth that are oriented perpendicular to the direction in which the participant views the target system and the direction in which the projectile travels. This configuration provides a more precise incremental movement of the target system with each impact of the primary reactive targets, as well as resists undesired sliding or movement of the target system.
In yet an alternative embodiment of traveling target systems employing tracks,
To prevent the target system 10 from sliding away from the participant when impacted by a projectile, the tracks 60 may employ notches or teeth 64. The notches or teeth 64 are spaced apart such that the suspension members 62 are locked between the individual notches or teeth. Accordingly, when the primary reactive targets (not shown) are impacted by a projectile, the target system 10 rotates around the axis of one of the suspension members 62 upon which it rests. Movement of the target system 10 is between suspension members 62 as opposed to legs 26, as described with respect to the system of
In an alternative configuration of the above described target systems employing tracks, in place of the suspension member 62, recesses may be formed in the target frames that are complementary to the size and shape of the tracks. The recesses may be place upon the tracks and provide similar functionality to that described above regarding the target system shown in
As shown in
In operation, participants view the target system 10 along the direction of arrow 44. A projectile traveling along the direction of the arrow 44 impacts the primary reactive target 12. The force of the impact of the projectile on the primary reactive target 12 is transferred to the target support 50 which, in turn, causes the end of the target support 50 opposite the primary reactive target 12 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 48, i.e. towards the participant and upward, around the axis of the bar 40a. The force of the impact of the projectile upon the primary reactive target 12 temporarily breaks the magnetic association of the bar 40b from the target members 34, thereby allowing rotation of the target assembly 36 about the axis of the bar 40a. The rotation ends with the target support 50 having moved up the frame members 34 a distance equal to a distance between the bar 40a and the bar 40b; with the opposite side of the target support 50 facing the participants and the upper and lower ends of the target support 50 in opposite positions.
It is noted that the above described target system 10 can be rotated, for example, 90 degrees such that the frame members 34 are positioned horizontally one above the other and the target assembly 36 rotates to provide a horizontal movement instead of a vertical movement. It will be understood that other non-horizontal and non-vertical angles of rotation are also contemplated
In the above described configurations of the target system of
With respect to any of the above described traveling target systems intended for use with, for example bullets or other small, fast moving projectiles, the target frame or a portion of the target frame that supports the primary and secondary reactive targets may employ a material that allow for projectiles to pass through the target frame without causing movement of the target frame relative to the participant. Accordingly, sent or fired projectiles intended for impact with a reactive target but that hit the target frame instead will have no significant impact the position of the reactive targets and the competition as whole. Such impacts upon the frame will ideally have the same effect on the competition as a miss of the target and target frame itself.
The combined weight of the reactive targets and the target frame should be light enough such that the force of the impact of the projectile upon the reactive target will rotate or move the target frame or a portion of the target frame to which the reactive targets are attached. The converse of this is true in that the reactive targets and related frame and structure should not be so light such that the rotation of the target frame may be more than what is desired and/or susceptible to unintended manipulation by environmental elements such as wind.
As will be appreciated based upon the above descriptions, traveling target frames according to the present invention may be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, in addition to triangular and star cross-sectional shapes, target frames according to the present invention may also have rectangular, hexagonal, round or other geometric cross-sectional shapes. It will also be appreciated that embodiments of the above described traveling target frames intended for use with larger, slower moving projectiles, such as arrows and balls, may incorporate or combine the functionality of the primary reactive target with the paddles 28 shown in
Swing-Arm Target System
In swing-arm type target systems according to the present invention, the frame of the target system remains stationary relative to the participant and only a portion of the target frame that is attached to the primary reactive target moves when the primary reactive target is impacted by a projectile. Movement of the portion of the target frame and the associated primary reactive target is restricted to rotation about a fixed axis defined by the target frame.
The first and second members 118 and 120 of swing arms 106a and 106b are fixed relative to one another such that the first member 118 forms an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the second member 120. The point at which the first and second members 118 and 120 are attached to one another, obscured from view behind post 102, is pivotally attached to post 102 such that the swing arms 106a and 106b rotate in the directions indicated by line 116. Alternatively stated, swing arms 106a and 106b are operable to swing from the position of swing arm 106a shown in
Primary reactive targets 110 are rigidly attached to the first and second members 118 and 120 of the swing arms 106a and 106b, such that the force of an impact from a projectile upon the primary reactive targets 110 is transferred to the swing arm 106a, 106b, 106c to which the primary reactive target is attached. The With respect to the swing arm 106a, the impact force causes the swing arm 106a to rotate such that the second member 120 move substantially behind the post 102 and the first member 11 moves from behind the post 102 into view of the participant(s). The swing arm 106b functions analogously to the swing arm 106a.
With respect to swing arm 106c, the first and second members 118 and 120 of the swing arm 106c are not fixed to one another and may be impacted and rotated behind the post 102 individually. The first and second members 118 and 120 may both ultimately be impacted and rotated behind the post 102. Alternatively, the first and second members 118 and 120 of the swing arm 106c may initially start in a position as shown in
As will be noted from
The secondary reactive targets employed in the target system 100 may be any one of the secondary reactive targets described above. As shown, the secondary reactive targets 112 employed in the target system 100 are of the type shown in
It will be appreciated that the above described target system 100 may be alternatively configured to employ any number of the swing arms 106a, 106b, and 106c. Furthermore, the orientation and combination of the swing arms 106a, 106b, and 106c employed may be altered according to the rules and objectives of the games and competitions for which the target system is used, as well as the type of projectile used.
It will be appreciated that the target system 100 of
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the target system 100 of
In use, when a projectile impacts the target 204, the target 204 is knocked off of the arm 202. Removal of one target 204 changes the balance of the arm 202 and the side of the arm 202 from which the target was removed raises above the opposite side of the arm 202. Participants may compete to remove all the targets from one side of the arm 202 before the arm 202 falls behind the wall 208. Accordingly, each successive impact upon a target makes the competition more difficult for at least one of the participants.
The target system 200 may further comprise secondary reactive targets, not shown, that move laterally along the arm 202 as a result of impacted from a projectile. In this manner a participant may defensively block the participants own primary reactive targets from the other competitor. Alternatively, the secondary reactive targets are constructed to have a different weight than the primary reactive targets. The secondary reactive targets are distributed on the arm 202 such that a participant may work offensively or defensively raise or lower the different sides of the arm 202.
It will be appreciated that for any of the above described target systems, electronic scoring or automated resetting systems known in the art may be incorporated into the targeting system. Furthermore, the above described methods for competition and training may be implemented in video and online gaming environments.
Various forms of competition are contemplated for use with the target systems described above. Through employing both primary reactive and secondary reactive targets, each form of competition may but need not necessarily include both offensive and defensive challenges for the participants. Impact of one type of target may be the primary objective of the competition, while impact of the other type of target may be used to block or otherwise hinder this objective. With the target systems that move away from the participants with each impact of a primary reactive target, the difficulty encountered to impact a target increases, i.e. the difficulty of the competition increases as the competition proceeds.
One form of competition may challenge the participants to impact as many secondary targets as possible in a fixed period of time. Alternatively, the participants may compete to impact as many secondary targets as possible with a fixed number of projectiles. In each competition, the participant impacting the greatest number of targets would win the competition. Competitions may also challenge the participants to be the first participant to impact all of the secondary reactive targets of the opponent. Finally, competitions may challenge the participants to cause the target(s) of their target system to travel the greatest distance during a fixed time or number of projectiles.
Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/239,355 filed Sep. 2, 2009 entitled Projectile Target Game, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61239355 | Sep 2009 | US |
