Patent Application
20140265131
The present invention relates to a shooting range target assembly and a method for moving and positioning a target in a controlled manner. More specifically, the present invention relates to a programmable system for moving and turning a target such as for practicing shooting in an indoor setting.
In target shooting practices using handguns, it is often desirable to use a moving target configured for quickly appearing and disappearing. A number of prior art references provide systems for conveying shooting targets to various locations and turning the targets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,522 teaches a target holding and turning assembly which includes a turning motor a target-holding shaft, an outer sleeve and a support bearing collar.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,427 the turning mechanism is operated by a timer that operates a solenoid and a cylinder that retracts a piston rod to turn the target boards.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,346 uses a target positioning assembly that allows the target holder to be rotated 360 degrees.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,689 is for a target support structure and system which holds and turns a flat target from edge to face and back again. Targets are held and turned at the bottom and are supported at the top by a pivoting connection attached to a stationary bar frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,180 describes a target system having a plurality of flat target boards mounted on posts which are rotatably journaled on an elongated base. Each post is rotatable ninety degrees. A drive crank arm is pivoted to the base for horizontal swinging movement and is pivotally connected to an elongated drive and synchronizing bar which in turn is pivotally connected to a plurality of lever arms connected to the respective posts to swing the target boards simultaneously between full view positions easily visible to a shooter, and edge view positions not visible to the shooter.
Preferred embodiments of U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,016 are implemented as track-based systems, as the track provides not only stability to the target carrier, but also protection from stray bullets to the conductive cable. For a first embodiment of the invention, power is transferred to a target carrier via a stationary inductor and a movable cable, which also provides motive force to the target carrier. For a second embodiment of the invention, power is transferred to a target carrier via a stationary cable and an inductor movable with the target carrier. For this second embodiment of the invention, electrical equipment on board the target carrier includes a drive motor for moving the carrier bi-directionally along the track. For example, the decoded signals may direct the drive motor to move the carrier forward or backward, or direct a target-pivoting motor to rotate the target to a desired position.
FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,177 illustrates a partial perspective view of a turner. In particular, the turner is substantially perpendicular to the shooting direction. Thus, as the turner actuation device is actuated, the turner pivots, on hinge, to a direction substantially traverse to a shooting direction. Alternatively, the turner unit device can be rotated 90 degrees and be removably fixed to the turner mounting receptacle.
FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,012 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the target system. In particular, the target system has all targets oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a shooting direction. Furthermore,
The invention in U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,192 uses a drop/turn assembly. The target adapter is formed with a body, a stand, a target shaft and a bullet deflection plate. As described, the shaft is twisted, and may be moved vertically such that the interaction between the twisted shaft and the slot formed in the top plate causes the shaft to rotate. As shown, the shaft has a first twist and a second twist causing the shaft to rotate twice while moving vertically. Accordingly, the bullet target which is mounted to the shaft may be rotated such that it is initially not presented to the shooter, is presented to the shooter for a period of time, and is then moved so as not to be presented to the shooter.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,004 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,291, a target actuator is configured to rotate the drive shaft so that the target may be disposed in three distinct positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,667 uses target holders connectable to corresponding drive shafts for rotating the targets.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,319 describes an omni-directional target system that includes a target movable between a retracted position and an extended position and an actuation mechanism for moving the target to the extended position, the target and the actuation mechanism being releaseable so that the target can be moved back into the retracted position despite movement of the actuation mechanism. No details about the actuation mechanism are provided.
The mechanism for turning the targets in US20060240388 comprises of a plate having an arm and hole for attaching a spring to the base at the hole. The spring urges the plate to rotate in a clockwise direction. The plate is also formed with the lever and the hole to which a cord or cable may be attached. The cord would be used to rotate the plate in a counterclockwise direction and thereby rotate the target.
US20080174071 describes a target connector for rotating and holding the targets in place. The device is different than the device of the present invention.
U.S. RE38540 uses a target-pivoting motor to rotate the target to a desired position.
With many of the the systems disclosed in the prior art, the motor used for moving the target is moved to and is exposed to the line of fire which is a significant drawback since a misdirected shot could damage the motor.
In one aspect of the present invention, an assembly for carrying, conveying, positioning and turning a shooting practice target relative to a stationary shooter situated in an overhead position relative to the shooter and the target being situated at substantially at the shooter eye level comprises: a conveyor line having a front end, a back end, a top side and a bottom side; a carriage disposed on the top side of the conveyor line, the carriage having a top side and a bottom side; a drive system adapted for forward and reverse transporting of the carriage, the drive being powered by a variable speed motor and a timing belt; a target assembly affixed to the carriage, the target assembly containing a target plate having a front side, a rear side, a first side edge, a second edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, the target assembly also containing a shaft, the shaft being attached to a midpoint of the target plate top edge, the target plate being disposed downward from the conveyor at substantially a shooter's eye sight level; a turning and positioning mechanism for the target plate, the mechanism being configured for turning and positioning the target plate in positions of: the target plate front side facing the shooter, the target plate rear side facing the shooter and the target plate first edge facing the shooter; and a programmable logic for controlling and adjusting a moving speed of the carriage, setting a direction of carriage movement, and setting a timing for turning the target plate.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for conveying and positioning a shooting practice target comprises: providing an assembly adapted for carrying, conveying, positioning and turning a shooting practice target relative to a stationary shooter; conveying the target plate at a conveying speed from a load position to a predetermined distance away from the shooter to a position wherein the front side of the target plate faces the shooter; turning the target plate clockwise 90 degrees relative to a direction of conveying from a position of the front side of the target plate facing the shooter to a position wherein the first side edge of the target faces the shooter; conveying the target plate at a conveying speed having a position of the first side edge facing the shooter a preset distance away from the shooter; and turning the target plate from a position of the first edge facing the shooter to a ready to shoot position.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
In target shooting practice it is often desirable to provide target displays and movements, such as targets that appear quickly and disappear quickly, in order to challenge the shooter. The present invention generally relates to a target used in an indoor gun range for target shooting practices. The object of the present invention is to provide a target that can move and turn in at least two directions at varying speeds so to challenge the shooter's abilities. It is also the object of the present invention to provide a system and method for transporting and positioning the target in various positions that help challenge the shooter. Specifically, the system and method for transporting and positioning the target is configured to accomplish the following:
In an embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor transporting the target is about 80 feet long. The conveyor is capable of moving at speeds of about 250 ft/min when moving from one location to another for target positioning. Conveying speed would be typically reduced from about 250 ft/min to a positioning and turning speed of about 75 ft/min.
The target assembly is illustrated in
The turning wheel 18 has four recesses 51. Four detents 14A, 14B, 14C and 14B are disposed onto the surface of the carriage 28 having extended tabs 55, each adapted to conform to any of the recesses 51 on the turning wheel 28. The detents are configured in a circle-like arrangement around turning wheel 18. The detents 14 are spring loaded such that a spring loading force is applied onto the detents 14 in the direction of turning wheel 18. Each detent is mounted onto a corresponding mounting block 13A, 13B, 13C or 13D. It is noted that fewer than four detents or more than four detents also fall within the scope of the present invention.
As the carriage 28 is transported from a starting load position further from the shooter, three forces act on the target: 1) the forward force exerted by the drive to move the carriage 28 forward, 2) the friction forces applied by the cable 21 wrapped around the pulley wheel 12 and 3) the drag force applied on the turning wheel 28 by the detents 14. The sum total of these forces produces the movement of the carriage 28 forward with the cable 21 slipping inside the pulley wheel 12. The pulley wheel 12 is prevented from turning by the drag forces exerted by the spring loaded detents 14 thus maintaining the target in position. When it is desired to turn the target, brake 22 is applied to the cable 21 which exerts an additional drag force onto the cable 21. This disturbs the balance of forces on the target. The brake force overcomes the drag force applied by the detents and causes the pulley wheel to turn clockwise such that the target faces the shooter and becomes ready to be fired on. After the target turns 90 degrees, the motor is stopped and the extension tabs on the detents 14 detents slip into the recesses 51 that are in the closest proximity to the detents in that position to keep the pulley wheel 12 and thus the target in place.
In a typical mode of operation, the target would be transported from a load position, i.e., from a location near the motor and having the front side of the target facing the shooter, a certain distance away from the shooter. The target would then be turned clockwise 90 degrees such that the front edge of the target faces the shooter. The target may then be transported in this position to a preset location further from the shooter and be turned clockwise such that the back side of the target faces the shooter. In this location and position, the target is now ready for use. In an alternate embodiment, the target is turned counterclockwise which is accomplished by reversing the direction of the motor and thus the direction of target movement while the brake is engaged. In this location and position, the target front side faces the shooter and is likewise ready for use. At the end of the shooting session, the target would be retrieved back to the load position by running the motor in reverse with the brake off. It is noted that other combinations of locations and positions for the target may be programmed into the logic and selected by the shooter.
The invention further comprises in one of its embodiments a stop arm 15 attached to the top of the turning wheel 18 and a stop block 16 that is disposed in the carriage 28. The stop arm 15 and stop block 16 prevent the over-rotating of the target.
At the end of a target practice session, the target is typically returned to the load position for starting another practice sessions. To do so, the target needs to be turned to a position of the front facing the shooter before retrieving the carriage to its starting load position where turning the target is more difficult. If the target is in a position of 90 degrees toward the shooter at the end of the session for any reason, i.e., the shooter is facing the front edge of the target, turning the target counterclockwise such that the front of the target would face the shooter may be accomplished by running the motor in reverse while applying the brake to the cable. The present invention further includes an embodiment of a second fail safe mechanism to ensure that the target turns to a position of the front side facing the shooter prior to the retrieval to a load position. This is accomplished by using stationary turning stop 52 attached to the cable side of the conveyor as shown in
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
