Patent Application
20220252379
The present invention relates to targets, and more particularly to targets for firearms.
Existing target hangers do not secure the targets from falling off of the hangers when they are shot by a projectile from a firearm. Likewise, hangers do not hang the targets downward in angled relation with the ground, which does not provide for lead deflection and a decrease in target life.
With conventional target hangers, the targets are not locked onto the hanging hooks and frequently fall off during use. Their hook forward design mandates they are made from a thin material that must pass through the small target mounting holes. This thin material does not hold up well to bullet strikes.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved target and suspension for improving target life and stability.
In one aspect of the present invention, a target suspension apparatus is disclosed. The target suspension apparatus incudes a support arm having a top end, a bottom end, a front edge, and an aft edge. A mounting pin protrudes rearwardly from the aft edge at an upwardly inclined angle. The mounting pin is dimensioned to be received in an aperture of a target. A cam finger extends from the aft edge and extends beyond an aft extent of the mounting pin. A cam is adjustably attached to the cam finger. The cam has a plurality of faces disposed at a predetermined radial distance from a cam attachment to the cam finger such that a selected one of the plurality of faces urges the target against the support arm to orient the target at a declined angle.
In some embodiments, an aperture is defined through the top end of the support arm. The aperture is dimensioned to be received on a frame element to carry the target suspension apparatus. The aperture may be disposed transversely across the support arm. Preferably, the aperture is rearwardly offset from a vertical centerline of the support arm.
In some embodiments, the mounting pin is rearwardly offset from a vertical centerline of the support arm.
In some embodiments, a sizing notch defined in one or more of the plurality of faces. The sizing notch has a width corresponding to a thickness of a selected target.
In other aspects of the invention, a target suspension apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support arm having a front end, a back end, a top edge, and a bottom edge. A mounting pin protrudes downwardly from a bottom edge and rearwardly from the front end. A rearward facing edge of the support arm, adjacent to the mounting pin, is inclined relative to a vertical axis of the support arm. The mounting pin is dimensioned to be received in an aperture of a target. A cam finger extends from the bottom edge and extends beyond an aft extent of the mounting pin. A cam is adjustably attached to the cam finger. The cam has a plurality of faces disposed at a predetermined radial distance from a cam attachment to the cam finger, such that a selected one of the plurality of faces urges the target against the rearward facing edge to orient the target at a declined angle, when mounted to the support arm.
In some embodiments, a mounting notch is provided at a back end of the support arm. The mounting notch is dimensioned to be received on a top end of a T-shaped post. A retaining plate is attached on each side of the support arm at the mounting notch. A slot is defined in the retaining plate and dimensioned to correspond with a thickness of a top leg of the T-shaped post.
In some embodiments, a sizing notch is defined in one or more of the plurality of faces, the sizing notch having a width corresponding to a thickness of a selected target.
In yet other embodiments, the mounting pin is oriented upwardly from a longitudinal centerline of the support arm.
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.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved target and suspension for improving target life and stability. Aspects of the present invention provide an attachment point behind the targets where the attachment point is protected from bullet strikes. In other aspects of the invention, the target suspension apparatus orients a suspended target at an angle such that a projectile striking the target is at least partially deflected towards the ground and so that the target does not absorb the full force of the projectile when hitting the target. The target suspension is also adapted to retain targets of varying thicknesses.
As seen in reference to the drawings of
The suspension arm 12 include a plate formed of a suitable material to withstand impact of a projectile, preferably AR500 steel. The suspension arm 12 has an aperture 12a disposed transversely at an upper end of the support arm 12 rearwardly offset from a vertical centerline of the suspension arm 12. A mounting pin 12b is disposed at a bottom end of the support arm 12 rearwardly offset from the vertical centerline of the support arm 12 with an incline angle relative to the vertical centerline of the support arm 12. The rearward offset of each of the aperture 12a and the mounting pin 12b, along with the incline angle of the mounting pin 12b permit the one or more targets 12, 20, 22 to be oriented at a declined angle B relative a line of fire L. The declined angle B fosters a downward deflection in the trajectory of the projectile after striking the one or more targets 12, 20, 22 to reduce an errant ricochet of the projectile off the one or more targets 12, 20, 22. The declined angle B also limits the impact forces of the projectile when it strikes the target 18, 20, 22 so as to extend the lifespan of the target 18, 20, 22.
The mounting pin 12b is dimensioned to receive a mounting aperture 18a, 20a, 22a, of the one or more targets 18, 20, 22. The mounting pin 12b extends from an inclined edge of the support arm 12 adjacent to the mounting pin 12b. A cam finger 12c protrudes rearwardly from the support arm 12. The cam finger 12c is configured to adjustably carry a retaining cam 14 secured to the cam finger 12c via a cooperating fastener 16, such as a nut 16a and a bolt 16. The retaining cam 14 has a plurality of faces 14a and a sizing notch 14b defined in each of the plurality of faces. The retaining cam has a center bore 14c that receives the cooperating fastener 16 to secure the retaining cam to the cam finger 12c.
The plurality of faces 14a are disposed at a radial distance from the center bore 14c to accommodate targets 18, 20, 22 of varying thicknesses. The plurality of faces 14a urge the target 18, 20, 22 against the suspension arm 12 when the target 18, 20, 22 is suspended on the mounting pin 12b. The urging of the face 14a against the target 18, 20, 22 fixes the target 18, 20, 22 to the suspension arm 12 with a rearward sweep to facilitate maintaining the target 18, 20, 22 at the desired declined angle B. The retaining cam 14 and fasteners 16 are protected behind the target 18, 20, 22 and the retaining pin 12b, and target aperture 18a, 20b, and 22b are protected behind the suspension arm 12. The retaining cam 14 includes a first and a second retaining cam 14 disposed on opposed sides of the support arm 12 so that the target 18, 20, 22 is urged against the support arm 12 from both sides thereof to maintain alignment of the target 18, 20, 22 with the support arm 12.
The sizing notch 14b has a width T1 corresponding to a thickness T2 of the target 18, 20, 22 to be mounted with the target suspension arm 10. The sizing notch 14b facilitates selection of in the corresponding face 14a for retaining the selected target thickness T2 by so that the corresponding face 14a urges the target against the support arm 12.
In the embodiment shown in reference to
In this embodiment, the suspension arm 24 includes a mounting notch 24d that is dimensioned to be received on an end of a post 26. In the event the post 26 is a T-post, such as those used for barbed wire, and wire fence installations, a retaining plate 24b is attached to either side of the suspension arm 24 via cooperating fasteners 16, 16a. The retaining plates 24b have a slot 24e dimensioned to correspond with a thickness of the top leg of the T-post 26. The retaining plates 26 are separated by a gap corresponding to a thickness of the base leg of the T-post 26.
When the retaining plates 24b are secured to the support arm 24a, the suspension arm 24 may be mounted to the T-post 26 by sliding the top leg into the slot 24e and the base leg of the T-post 26 into the gap. The target 18, 20, 22 may then be mounted to the suspension arm 24.
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 as set forth in the following claims.
