Range System

Abstract

An archery target having a target frame having an open front side, a bottom side, right and left sides and a back side. The open front has a pair of flanges adjacent the right and left sides, with a foam front face is made of at least two foam front face blocks which slide onto the pair of flanges. Each foam face block can be selectively rotated and arranged in the foam front face.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for an archery range target which allows parts of the target to be moved from areas that are infrequently hit to areas which are frequently hit. This is because the better the archer, the more the middle of the target is hit.

Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention, below.

A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a range system which has the ability to independently replace and/or rotate foam face sections as needed.

A first embodiment provides a target frame with an open front side, base, sides, back and top sections. The open front has flanges on either side upon which foam face blocks can slide onto. Each foam face piece has a tongue section and a groove section, so the pieces fit together to make a full foam front face piece, upon which a target can be attached.

Each foam piece is 12 inches tall, 48 inches wide and 4 inches thick. The target can be two foam pieces high (24 inches by 48 inches) or four foam pieces high (48 inches by 48 inches). A smaller target can be sized to use foam pieces which are 12 inches tall, 24 inches wide and 4 inches thick to provide a target which is 24 inches by 24 inches.

The target frame is make of ½ inch plywood and the target is filled with a bag target made up of layered cotton rags and sweatshirts. The bag target is secured inside the target frame using mesh netting. The mesh netting is covered with a woven poly cover. The lid can be removable to allow changing out the bag target, and can be attached to the target frame with a Velcro strap.

In a second embodiment, the invention is an archery target having a target frame having a bottom side and right and left sides forming at least one channel, with a plurality of foam blocks arranged into at least one stacked layer which are arranged in the at least one channel. Each foam block can be selectively rotated and arranged in the at least one stacked layer.

The plurality of foam blocks can be arranged into two stacked layers which are arranged in two channels, or could be arranged into three stacked layers which are arranged in three channels, or four layers arranged in four channels.

The archery target could further include a bag target placed behind the stacked layer(s) of foam blocks. The target could also include mesh which is attached to the front of the target.

The archery target could also include a lid, which could be attached to the target using either Velcro or which could be attached to a tightening mechanism, used to securely hold the lid down to hold the foam blocks in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, with a plywood target frame, bag target secured behind mesh netting, and with a groove and tongue foam target face made up of a plurality of individual pieces.

FIG. 2 shows the flanges on either side of the front face of the target frame, and how the foam pieces slide onto the flanges to attach to the target frame.

FIG. 3 shows a foam face block.

FIG. 4 shows a closer view of the tongue and groove of a foam face block.

FIG. 5 shows a foam face block sliding onto the flanges of the target frame.

FIG. 6 shows a foam face block slid to the bottom of the target frame.

FIG. 7 shows a closer view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a second foam face block sliding onto the flanges of the target frame.

FIG. 9 shows the bag target, secured with mesh netting.

FIG. 10 shows the woven poly cover which covers the mesh netting.

FIG. 11 shows the Velcro straps which attach the lid to the target frame, so the bag target can be replaced.

FIG. 12 shows the side and top of the target frame.

FIG. 13 shows the top and back of the target frame.

FIG. 14 shows a second embodiment of the invention, showing a plurality of channels for holding stacked layers of foam blocks.

FIG. 15 shows the second embodiment completely filled with stacked layers of foam blocks.

FIG. 16 shows the base plate and framework for the channels of the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a top view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows another top view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows the lid.

FIG. 20 shows a tightening mechanism.

FIG. 21 shows the tightening bolt.

FIG. 22 shows the tightening cable/string.

FIG. 23 shows a locking pin.

FIG. 24 shows the front of the target with the locking pin in place.

FIG. 25 shows the bag attached to two layers of foam blocks.

FIG. 26 shows the front of the target with a layer of foam blocks and a bag target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10, with a plywood target frame 11, a bag target 30 secured behind mesh netting 36, and with a groove and tongue foam target face, shown generally at 34, made up of a plurality of individual pieces 12. The embodiment shown has four foam pieces 12, to make a target which is 24 inches deep and 48 inches tall by 48 inches wide. Other variations could be made with two foam pieces 12, for a target 48 inches wide, by 24 inches tall by 24 inches deep, or a smaller target could be made with 24 inch wide foam pieces, to make a target 24 inches wide, by 24 inches high by 24 inches deep. Any desired number of foam pieces 12 could be utilized, if a bigger target was desired, more foam pieces could be stacked on top.

Referring to FIG. 2, the open front face of the target frame 11 has flanges 13 on either side. Each foam piece 12 has slits 15 which slide onto the flange, which in this embodiment is 1/16 inch deep.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a foam face block 12 is shown in more detail. Each foam face block 12 has a tongue 17 and a groove 19, so that the foam face block pieces 12 fit together.

FIG. 5 shows a foam face block 12 being slid onto the flanges 13, to attach it to the target frame 11.

FIGS. 6 and 7 shows the foam face block slide to the bottom of flanges 13, to form the bottom piece of the target face 34. The sides of the target frame are shown at 21. shows the flanges on either side of the front face of the target frame, and how the foam pieces slide onto the flanges to attach to the target frame.

FIG. 8 shows a second foam face block 12 sliding onto the flanges of the target frame.

FIG. 9 shows the bag target 30, which is made up of layered cotton rags and sweatshirts. The bag target 30 is held in place with mesh netting 36, which is attached to the target frame 11.

FIG. 10 shows a piece of woven poly cover 38 which covers the mesh netting 36.

FIG. 11 shows the Velcro straps 40 which can secure the lid to the target frame. The lid can be removed or lifted to allow the bag target to be replaced.

FIG. 12 shows the side 21 and top of the target frame 23

FIG. 13 shows the top 23 and back 25 of the target frame 11.

The target frame 11 is make of ½ inch plywood and the target is filled with a bag target 30 made up of layered cotton rags and sweatshirts. The bag target is secured inside the target frame using mesh netting 36. The mesh netting is covered with a woven poly cover 38. The lid 23 can be removable to allow changing out the bag target 30, and can be attached to the target frame with Velcro straps 40.

FIG. 14 shows a second embodiment of the invention, showing a plurality of channels for holding stacked layers of foam blocks 12, with three stacked layers being shown. This embodiment could be made with any number of stacked layers, from two to four layers. FIG. 14 shows three layers of stacked foam blocks 12, contained by channels attached to a base plate. As each foam block is damaged by arrows, it can be rotated back to a different layer or a different spot in the front layer, to maximize the life of the target by using all the foam blocks equally.

FIG. 15 shows the second embodiment completely filled with stacked layers of foam blocks 12. Because each block can be moved independently, they can be used to replace and/or rotate each foam block as needed.

FIGS. 16-18 shows the base plate 14 and framework for the channels 16, 18 and 20 of the second embodiment although the invention could be formed with two or four channels if desired. The vertical channels are what holds the rectangular foam blocks 12 in position.

Referring now to FIGS. 19-26, the target has a lid 24 that is attached to a tightening mechanism 22. To tighten the lid you simply turn a Bolt on the front of the frame. The tightening bolt has a pin 28 that can be slid in a pin hole to keep the foam blocks in place. An alternative embodiment can eliminate the tightening mechanism and simply attach the lid using Velcro. The EYE hooks 22 in the lid 24 are connected to the tightening cable/String 26. The other end of the string is connected to a tightening rod that will turn to tighten. Once the cables are at the desired tightness a locking pin 28 is then put in place to hold the lid tight to hold the blocks 12 in place.

The second embodiment of the inventive range system could be configured in several different ways.

1.) A Front layer of Rectangular Foam Blocks with a Bag Style Target in the back half of the system. This could be in multiple sizes of 24w×24h×16d, 24w×48h×16d and 48w×48h×16d.

2.) A system with 2 layers of foam with the back section consisting of the bag style target. This would be same sizes as above.

3.) A system of 3 layers of Rectangular Foam and no bag style. Same 3 sizes.

4.) A system with 4 layers of Rectangular Foam and no bag style. Same 3 sizes.

5.) The Rectangular Foam sections are 4″×4″×23″ in length, although they could be any desired size.

The bag target is replaceable also.

The target could also have a mesh option to be attached by Velcro to the front of the target. The target, as commercially sold, will also have a solid trim over the front frame work to finish off the target.

FIG. 25 shows that the bag 30 is attached using straps 32.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this field of art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.

Claims

1. An archery target comprising: a target frame having an open front side, a bottom side, right and left sides and a back side;the open front has a pair of flanges adjacent the right and left sides;a foam front face is made of at least two foam front face blocks which slide onto the pair of flanges,whereby each foam face block can be selectively rotated and arranged in the foam front face.

2. The archery target of claim 2 wherein each foam front face block has a top side and a bottom side, with the top side having a tongue and the bottom side having a groove, with the tongue of a first foam block section fitting into the groove on the bottom side of a second foam block section.

3. The archery target of claim 2 further including a bag target which fits into the target frame and is secured with mesh netting covering the open front face.

4. The archery target of claim 3 wherein the bag target is make of layers of cotton rags and sweatshirts.

5. The archery target of claim 3 further including a woven poly cover piece which covers the mesh netting.

6. An archery target comprising: a target frame having a bottom side and right and left sides forming at least one channel;a plurality of foam blocks arranged into at least one stacked layer which are arranged in the at least one channel;whereby each foam block can be selectively rotated and arranged in the at least one stacked layer.

7. The archery target of claim 6 wherein the plurality of foam blocks are arranged into two stacked layers which are arranged in two channels.

8. The archery target of claim 6 wherein the plurality of foam blocks are arranged into three stacked layers which are arranged in three channels.

9. The archery target of claim 6 wherein the plurality of foam blocks are arranged into four stacked layers which are arranged in four channels.

10. The archery target of claim 6 further including a bag target placed behind the at least one stacked layer of foam blocks.

11. The archery target of claim 10 further including mesh which is attached to the front of the target.

12. The archery target of claim 6 further including a lid, wherein the lid can be attached to the target frame by Velcro.

13. The archery target of claim 6 including a lid, wherein the lid can be attached to a tightening mechanism.

14. The archery target of claim 13 wherein the tightening mechanism holds the lid down to keep the foam blocks in place.

15. The archery target of claim 6 further including a foam target face attached to the target.