Patent Application
20220057179
The disclosure generally relates to the field of shooting targets. The Particular embodiments relate to a modular target stand having a series of interchangeable target heads to allow for varying targets to be used by a shooter.
Firearm users utilize targets to shoot bullets or other projectiles at the targets. Shooting is a common sport, hobby and recreational activity for many people. Often targets have a shooting surface or target area and a stand or support to hold the shooting area. The shooting target is then positioned at a distance from where the shooter will shoot from. Depending on the type of firearm, such as a rifle, pistol, shotgun, or other firearm, the user will desire to utilize a different target surface to fire at. This can include a different shape, different thickness, and different metal or alloy strength or composition. Further, is it preferable that once the target has been positioned, the target remains stationary after being hit by multiple or sequential projectiles. For example, a user firing a pistol at a target will often empty a clip at the target with the clip carrying often between five and fifteen bullets. The user does not want to have to reset the target for each of these bullets.
While many varying targets exist, many of these targets do not provide the ability to interchange targeting surface along with an ease of positioning the target and transporting the target. Further, the targets can be difficult to position in an upright position without having additional support arms or being formed in with multiple legs. An additional issue is that many of the targets known to the inventor have a risk of the projectile ricocheting off the target surface back toward the shooter. Accordingly, what is needed is an improved target that provides modular interchangeability, ease of set up, and preferably improved safety in deflecting projectiles away from the shooter. What is further needed is a target that provides a center of mass target such that a shooter of a for example a pistol is shooting at the level generally where the center of mass of a human being would be.
The purpose of the Summary is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Summary is neither intended to define the inventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the inventive concept(s) in any way.
What is disclosed is a modular shooting target. The modular target has a head and a support pole. The support pole is configured to support said modular shooting target such that said support pole is vertically oriented from the ground when the support pole is positioned in or on the ground.
The head is preferably removable connected to the support pole. The head comprises an elongate rail. The rail extends in a horizontal orientation relative to the support pole when said support pole is supported by the ground. Preferably the head is in the shape of a hook, and more preferably a shepherd's hook.
A shooting target is removably attached to the head. The shooting target has a sleeve that is configured to slide over the elongate rail of the head section. A shooting surface is attached to or extends from the sleeve. The shooting surface can be a surface of a variety of shapes, with preferable shapes being a bell shape and a gong shape. The bell shape provides positive reinforcement of a ding sound when a shooter successfully shoots the bell target.
Preferably both the rail and sleeve are cylindrical such that the sleeve is allowed to rotate on the rail. In this embodiment preferably the shooting surface is configured to hang at an angle A from vertical such that a moment arm allows the shooting surface to hang from the rail to deflect projectiles into the ground. The moment arm preferably allows the shooting surface to hang at an angle between 5 degrees and 20 degrees from vertical. This angle allows the target to deflect projectiles shot onto said shooting surface down at the ground. Preferably this angle is 5 degrees, or alternatively 10 degrees. This offset from vertical helps prevent what is known as splashback in the shooting industry.
Preferably the head has a neck. The neck is preferably a cylindrical hollow tube that is positioned concentrically with the horizontal support tube. A connector such as a pin, R-pin, bolt, or other connector secures the head at the neck to the vertical support pole. Preferably the head including the neck are formed from rolled steel.
The vertical support tube is preferably configured with a first end that is configured for insertion into the ground. For example, the end can be configured as a reinforced point. Preferably a slide hammer is positioned on the vertical support near the first end. The slide hammer aides in positioning the first end into the ground. Preferably the first end has a fin extending outward from said support pole. The fin is configured to prevent rotation or spinning of the modular target when a projectile fired from a firearm hits the target.
Still other features and advantages of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the inventive concept(s), simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out the inventive concept(s). As will be realized, the inventive concept(s) is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the inventive concept(s). Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.
While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.
Preferably the body has a slide hammer 12 positioned above the section designed to be implanted into the ground. The slide hammer utilizes a shaft having a slide able weight 14 and a first flange 14 and a second flange 17. In operation a user grips the grip section 14 of the slide hammer and raises the weight upward along the shaft 20. The user then forcibly slides the weight downward toward the striking surface of the striking surface 16 attached to or integral with the body of the target. The impact of the second flange 17 on the striking surface 16 causes the lower section of the section of the body 8 to be forced into the ground. For transportation purposes, a opening 18 can be positioned above the slide hammer weight in a resting position such that an R-pin or other connector such as a pin or bolt can be positioned within the opening 18 to prevent the slide hammer weight from sliding during transport. Varying pins and/or bolts can also be used to secure the components of the invention together. A fin 36 is positioned on the lower section to prevent rotation of the target support system when the target support system is positioned in the ground and the target is being shot by a firearm.
The head has a neck 21 that is configured for mating engagement with the support pole 25. Alternatively the configuration can be reversed with the head having a rod section 20 that extends into the neck section 21. The neck section is of larger diameter than the support pole 25 so as to allow the neck to slide over the support pole. The support pole 25 and the neck section 22 each has an opening (shown in
The target surface can be provided with a series of modular target surfaces. These include, but are not limited to, a head that is provided in a generally t-shape with opposing gongs. Alternatively, the head can be provided with a horizontal section for the positioning of an archery target on top of the head.
Still other features and advantages of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the inventive concept(s), simply by way of illustration of the contemplated embodiments carrying out the inventive concept(s). As will be realized, the inventive concept(s) is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the inventive concept(s). Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.
While certain preferred embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/06891, filed Aug. 21, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63068691 | Aug 2020 | US |
