OMNIDIRECTIONAL TARGET SYSTEM

• US 20090179382A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Bateman, Kyle, Stincelli, Nicholas, Bassett, David, Wright, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/392
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 7/04 disappearing or moving when hit exploding targets F41J5/26; exploding clay-pigeon targets F41J9/165
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An omnidirectional target system 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.

Claims

1. A target system, comprising:

a target configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the target it presented to a shooter in the extended position;

a catch configured to engage the target and move the target into the extended position; and

a biasing member operationally connected to the target and configured to move the target back into the retracted position.

2. The target system of claim 1, wherein the target has at least one engagement surface configured to engage the catch, and wherein hitting the target with a bullet causes the engagement surface to disengage from the catch sufficiently for the biasing member to return the target to the retracted position.

3. The target system of claim 1, further comprising a carriage for carrying the target.

4. The target system of claim 3, further comprising a base, and wherein the carriage is configured to slidably engage the base and move between the retracted position and the extended position.

5. The target system of claim 1, wherein the biasing member includes a pneumatic cylinder and a shaft extending out of the pneumatic cylinder, wherein the biasing member is configured such that movement of the shaft out of the cylinder creates a pressure in the cylinder.

6. The target system of claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic actuation mechanism, and wherein the pneumatic actuation mechanism is configured to move the catch between the retracted position and the extended position.

7. The target system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured to determine the location of the target, and wherein another of the plurality of sensors is configured to determine the location of the catch.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the catch includes a plurality of steps.

9. A target system, comprising;

a target moveable between a retracted position and an extended position;

an actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the target to move the target from the retracted position to the extended position; and

a release mechanism configured to disassociate the target from the actuation mechanism at any point between the retracted position and the extended position.

10. The target system of claim 9, further comprising a biasing device operationally connected to the target, the biasing device being configured to bias the target into the retracted position.

11. The target system of claim 9, wherein the target has an engagement surface,

wherein the actuation mechanism includes a catch, and

wherein the release mechanism is configured to selectively provide an engagement between the catch and the engagement surface of the target.

12. The target system of claim 10, wherein the biasing device includes a pneumatic cylinder.

13. The target system of claim 10, wherein the biasing device includes a spring.

14. The target system of claim 9, further comprising a biasing member attached to the target for biasing the target toward the actuation mechanism.

15. The target system of claim 9, wherein the catch includes a plurality of steps.

16. The target system of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism includes a catch, a pneumatic cylinder, and a shaft extending from the pneumatic cylinder, the shaft being operationally connected to the catch.

17. The target system of claim 9, wherein the target has an engagement surface,

wherein the actuation mechanism includes a catch, and

wherein the release mechanism is configured to disengage the catch upon impact of a projectile against the plate.

18. A method for advancing and retracting a target, the method comprising:

releasably engaging a target with a catch;

moving the target from a first, retracted position toward a second, extended position while biasing the target toward the first, retracted position; and

releasing the target from the catch when impacted by a bullet at any point between the retracted position and the extended position to return the target to the first, retracted position.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the moving the target and the biasing the target is accomplished using a pneumatic cylinder and a carriage carrying the target.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the moving the target and the biasing the target is accomplished using a spring.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein moving the target from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position is accomplished by movement of a catch which engages the target.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the catch continues to move to the second, exposed position when the target is released from the catch.

23. A target system, comprising;

a target moveable between a retracted position and an extended position;

an actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the target to move the target from the retracted position to the extended position, the actuation mechanism being configured to move the target between the retracted position and the extended position independent of the orientation of the target; and

a release mechanism configured to disassociate the target from the actuation mechanism at any point between the retracted position and the extended position.