Integrated Shooting Target Support Post Driving System

• US 20150260486A1
• Filed: 03/11/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steel Ops Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Steel Ops Ltd.
• Inventors: Trimbath, Joseph Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,132,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 1/10 Target stands; Target holders
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 7/04 disappearing or moving when hit exploding targets F41J5/26; exploding clay-pigeon targets F41J9/165

Abstract

A target assembly having a target body and a drive element coupled to the target body, whereby the drive element can be configured for impacting an upper portion of a support element to impactingly drive a lower portion of the support element into a support surface.

Claims

1. A target assembly comprising:

a target body; and

a drive element coupled to said target body;

said drive element configured for impacting an upper portion of a support element to impactingly drive a lower portion of said support element into a support surface.

2. The target assembly of claim 1, wherein said target body comprises opposing target body first and second faces, and wherein said drive element outwardly extends from said target body second face.

3. The target assembly of claim 2, wherein said drive element comprises opposing drive element first and second faces, and wherein outward extension of said drive element from said target body second face disposes said drive element second face in angled relation to said target body second face.

4. The target assembly of claim 3, wherein said angled relation comprises a drive element second face angle in a range of between about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees.

5. The target assembly of claim 4, further comprising a tubular member coupled to said target body second face below said drive element.

6. The target assembly of claim 5, wherein said tubular member comprises opposing tubular member external and internal surfaces, and wherein said tubular member internal surface defines a tubular member passage which communicates between opposing tubular member first and second ends.

7. The target assembly of claim 6, wherein a drive element central axis of said drive element and a tubular member passage central axis of said tubular member passage are substantially coincident.

8. The target assembly of claim 7, wherein said drive element and said tubular member passage dispose along a target body longitudinal axis of said target body.

9. The target assembly of claim 8, wherein said drive element overlays said tubular member first end to provide a closed-end tubular member.

10. The target assembly of claim 9, wherein said tubular member internal surface is configured to allow said tubular member and correspondingly, said target body which is coupled to said tubular member, to rotate about a support element longitudinal axis of said support element when said upper portion of said support element is insertingly received within said tubular member passage.

11. The target assembly of claim 10, wherein said support element comprises a support element external surface configured to allow said tubular member and correspondingly, said target body which is coupled to said tubular member, to rotate about said support element longitudinal axis of said support element when said upper portion of said support element is insertingly received within said tubular member passage.

12. The target assembly of claim 11, wherein rotation of said target body about said support element longitudinal axis consequent to a projectile force applied by a projectile facilitates deflection of said projectile away from a user shooting said projectile from a location remote from said target assembly.

13. The target assembly of claim 12, further comprising a handle element coupled to said target body.

14. The target assembly of claim 12, further comprising one or more auxiliary target support members coupled to said target body, said auxiliary target support member configured to rotatably support an auxiliary target.

15. The target assembly of claim 14, wherein said auxiliary target support member comprises an auxiliary target support member aperture element bounding an auxiliary target support member aperture element opening configured to insertingly receive said auxiliary target.

16. The target assembly of claim 15, wherein auxiliary target support member aperture element bounding said auxiliary target support member aperture element opening is disposed within an angled auxiliary target support member first end which disposes in angled relation to said target body second surface.

17. The target assembly of claim 15, further comprising one or more auxiliary target stop elements coupled to said target body second face above said auxiliary target support member, said auxiliary target stop element configured to stop upward movement of said auxiliary target received within said auxiliary target support member aperture element opening along an auxiliary target support member longitudinal axis.

18. The target assembly of claim 12, further comprising one or more auxiliary target support members coupled to said support element, said auxiliary target support member configured to rotatably support an auxiliary target.

19-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method of using a target assembly, said method comprising:

obtaining said target assembly comprising;

a target body; and

a drive element coupled to said target body;

said drive element configured for impacting an upper portion of a support element to impactingly drive a lower portion of said support element into a support surface; and

engaging said upper portion of said support element with said drive element to impactingly drive said lower portion of said support element a depth into said support surface.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising removably engaging said target body with said upper portion of said support element to provide a shooting target.