Target support system

• US 7,644,927 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verl J. Law
• Original Assignee: Verl J. Law
• Inventors: Law, Verl
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US11/098,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 248/215, 248/315, 248339-341, 248/307, 273390-392, 273/406, 273/407, 273/403, 273/404, 273/408
• US Class Current: 273/407
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 1/10 Target stands; Target holders

Abstract

A modular set of elements are nondestructively assemblable into and disassemblable out of a plurality of configurations of a system for supporting targets and signs on a hard surface or on soft ground. These elements include an upright, a base that upholds the upright and is disposable in a stable manner on a hard surface or on soft ground, a horizontal arm from which to suspend a target or sign, and a brace slidable on the outer surface of the upright that includes a tubular shoulder capable of receiving an end of the horizontal arm. A hanger of unitary molded construction is capable of suspending from a horizontal support a clay target of the type cast by trap or skeet shooting equipment.

Claims

1. A system for supporting a target, said system comprising:

(a) an upright having upper and lower ends;

(b) a base capable of stable disposition both on a hard and on a soft surface, said base comprising alternative capture means for slidably receiving the lower end of said upright and maintaining said upright in a perpendicular orientation;

(c) an elongated horizontal arm from which to suspend the target;

(d) a brace positionable on said upright while supporting said horizontal arm in a perpendicular relation thereto; and

(e) a hanger adapted to suspend from said horizontal arm a clay target of the type cast by trap and skeet shooting equipment and displaying a major surface circumscribed at the periphery thereof by a perpendicular lip, said hanger comprising;

(i) an upper lobe adapted to interact with said horizontal arm to suspend the hanger downwardly therefrom;

(ii) an elongated shaft having first and second ends, said shaft being attached at said first end thereof to said upper lobe; and

(iii) a lower lobe of unitary construction rigidly attached to said second end of said shaft, said lower lobe comprising resilient means for gripping the lip of the clay target at a chosen location along the lip with a compressive force directed parallel to said shaft, said resilient means comprising a clasp adapted to receive the lip of the clay target and having an entrance smaller than the thickness of the lip.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger is configured as an open hook adapted to capture said horizontal arm.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse width of said shaft of said hanger is small relative to the width of said upper lobe of said hanger measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse width of said shaft of said hanger is small relative to the width of said lower lobe of said hanger measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger, said elongated shaft of said hanger, and said lower lobe of said hanger are integrally formed from a resilient plastic material.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said clasp of said hanger comprises:

(a) a clamp plate attached to said second end of said shaft of said hanger and oriented generally horizontally when said hanger is suspended from said horizontal arm, said clamp plate having an inner end and an outer end;

(b) a gripping jaw having an inner end and an outer end and being disposed opposing said clamp plate with said outer end of said gripping jaw facing said outer end of said clamping plate to define therebetween said entrance into said clasp of said hanger; and

(c) a resiliently deformable neck interconnecting said inner end of said clamp plate with said inner end of said gripping jaw.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger is configured as an open hook adapted to capture said horizontal arm, and the opening to said hook is on the same side of said shaft of said hanger as said entrance to said clasp of said hanger.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said brace comprises:

(a) a sleeve proportioned to slidably encircle the outer surface of said upright; and

(b) a tubular shoulder projecting in a perpendicular relation to said sleeve from the exterior thereof, said shoulder enclosing a horizontal arm receiving bore, said receiving bore having;

(i) an open outer end remote from said sleeve; and

(ii) a transverse cross section configured to slidably receive an end of said horizontal arm.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said receiving bore of said brace comprises an inner end opening into the interior of said sleeve, whereby an end of said horizontal arm is selectively enterable through said receiving bore into the interior of said sleeve, thereby to support from the top of said upright said brace and said horizontal arm.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said sleeve of said brace is so proportioned as to be upheld at a predetermined position on said upright by binding torque imposed on the outer surface of said upright by the interior of said sleeve, said binding torque arising between said brace and said upright due to the weight of said horizontal arm in said receiving bore of said brace.

11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said receiving bore of said brace is so proportioned as to retain said horizontal arm at a predetermined position therein by binding torque imposed on the interior of said receiving bore by the exterior of said horizontal arm, said binding torque arising between said horizontal arm and said shoulder of said brace due to the weight of the portion of said horizontal arm extending outwardly from said receiving bore of said brace.

12. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said brace further comprises means for fixing the longitudinal position within said receiving bore of said end of said horizontal arm advanced thereinto.

13. A system for supporting a target, said system comprising:

(a) an upright having upper and lower ends;

(b) a base capable of stable disposition both on a hard and on a soft surface, said base comprising alternative capture means for slidably receiving the lower end of said upright and maintaining said upright in a perpendicular orientation;

(c) an elongated horizontal arm from which to suspend the target;

(d) a brace slidable on the outer surface of said upright, said brace comprising a tubular shoulder projecting in perpendicular relation to said upright when said brace is slidably disposed thereupon, said shoulder enclosing a horizontal arm receiving bore having a transverse cross section configured to slidably receive one end of said horizontal arm; and

(e) a hanger adapted to suspend from said horizontal arm a clay target of the type cast by trap and skeet shooting equipment and displaying a major surface circumscribed at the periphery thereof by a perpendicular lip, said hanger being of unitary molded construction and comprising;

(i) an upper lobe adapted to interact with said horizontal arm to suspend said hanger therefrom;

(ii) an elongated shaft having first and second ends, said shaft being attached at said first end thereof to said upper lobe; and

(iii) a lower lobe attached to said second end of said shaft and comprising resilient means for gripping the lip of the clay target at a chosen location along the lip with a compressive force directed parallel to said shaft.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the transverse width of said shaft is small relative to the width of said upper lobe measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the transverse width of said shaft is small relative to the width of said lower lobe measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said upper lobe, said elongated shaft, and said lower lobe are integrally formed from a resilient plastic material.

17. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said resilient means comprises a clasp adapted to receive the lip of the clay target.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein said clasp has an entrance smaller than the thickness of the lip at the chosen location along the lip.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein said clasp comprises:

(a) a clamp plate attached to said second end of said shaft and oriented generally horizontally when said hanger is suspended from the horizontal support, said clamp plate having an inner end and an outer end;

(b) a gripping jaw having an inner end and an outer end and being disposed opposing said clamp plate with said outer end of said gripping jaw facing said outer end of said clamping plate to define therebetween said entrance into said clasp; and

(c) a resiliently deformable neck interconnecting said inner end of said clamp plate with said inner end of said gripping jaw.

20. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein said upper lobe is configured as an open hook adapted to capture said horizontal arm.

21. A system as recited in claim 20, wherein the opening to said hook is on the same side of said shaft as said entrance to said clasp.

22. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said base comprises:

(a) an elongated footing having opposed longitudinally extending first and second edges;

(b) parallel first and second stakes projecting from said first edge of said footing, said first and second stakes and said footing defining a plane of said base, and said base thereby having an upper face and a lower face on opposite sides of said plane thereof;

(c) a receiving socket upstanding from said footing perpendicular to said plane of said base, the interior cross-sectional shape of said receiving socket being similar to and larger than the exterior cross-sectional shape of the lower end of said upright;

(d) a mounting post projecting perpendicular to said footing from said second edge thereof in said plane of said base, said mounting post being slidably receivable in the lower end of said upright; and

(e) a handle projecting from said second edge of said footing in said plane of said base.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein the length of said first stake of said base is equal to the length of said second stake of said base.

24. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein the transverse cross-sectional configuration of said mounting post of said base comprises a cross-shaped arrangement of a plurality of radially outwardly projecting ribs.

25. A system for supporting a target, said system comprising:

(a) an upright having upper and lower ends;

(b) a base capable of stable disposition both on a hard and on a soft surface, said base comprising alternative capture means for slidably receiving the lower end of said upright and maintaining said upright in a perpendicular orientation;

(c) an elongated horizontal arm from which to suspend the target;

(d) a brace slidable on the outer surface of said upright, said brace comprising a tubular shoulder projecting in perpendicular relation to said upright when said brace is slidably disposed thereupon, said shoulder enclosing a horizontal arm receiving bore having a transverse cross section configured to slidably receive one end of said horizontal arm; and

(e) a hanger adapted to suspend from said horizontal arm a clay target of the type cast by trap and skeet shooting equipment and displaying a major surface circumscribed at the periphery thereof by a perpendicular lip, said hanger comprising;

(i) an upper lobe adapted to interact with said horizontal arm to suspend said hanger downwardly therefrom;

(ii) an elongated shaft having first and second ends, said shaft being attached at said first end thereof to said upper lobe;

(iii) a lower lobe of unitary construction rigidly attached to said second end of said shaft; and

(iv) a clasp attached to said lower lobe and adapted to receive and to grip the lip of the clay target at a chosen location therealong with a compressive force directed parallel to said shaft, said clasp comprising;

(A) a clamp plate attached to said second end of said shaft and oriented generally horizontally when said hanger is suspended from said horizontal arm, said clamp plate having an inner end and an outer end;

(B) a gripping jaw having an inner end and an outer end and being disposed opposing said clamp plate with said outer end of said gripping jaw facing said outer end of said clamping plate to define therebetween an entrance into said clasp smaller than the thickness of the lip of the clay target; and

(C) a resiliently deformable neck interconnecting said inner end of said clamp plate with said inner end of said gripping jaw.

26. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger is configured as an open hook adapted to capture said horizontal arm.

27. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the transverse width of said shaft of said hanger is small relative to the width of said upper lobe of said hanger measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

28. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger, said elongated shaft of said hanger, and said lower lobe of said hanger are integrally formed from a resilient plastic material.

29. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger is configured as an open hook adapted to capture said horizontal arm, and the opening to said hook is on the same side of said shaft of said hanger as said entrance to said clasp of said hanger.

30. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the transverse width of said shaft of said hanger is small relative to the width of said lower lobe of said hanger measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

31. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said brace comprises:

(a) a sleeve proportioned to slidably encircle said outer surface of said upright, said shoulder of said brace projecting in a perpendicular relationship to said sleeve from the exterior thereof; and

(b) said receiving bore enclosed by said shoulder comprises;

(i) an open outer end remote from said sleeve; and

(ii) an inner end adjacent to said sleeve, said inner end of said receiving bore opening to the interior of said sleeve, whereby said one end of said horizontal arm is selectively enterable through said receiving bore from said outer end thereof into said interior of said sleeve, thereby with said one end of said horizontal arm to support from the top of said upright said brace and said horizontal arm.

32. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said base comprises:

(a) an elongated footing having opposed longitudinally extending first and second edges; and

(b) parallel first and second stakes projecting from said first edge of said footing, said first and second stakes and said footing defining a plane of said base, and said base thereby having an upper face and a lower face on opposite sides of said plane thereof.

33. A system as recited in claim 32, wherein said alternative capture means of said base comprises:

(a) first capture means on said upper face of said base for receiving the lower end of said upright and maintaining said upright in a perpendicular orientation to said plane of said base when said lower face of said base rests on a hard surface; and

(b) second capture means on said second edge of said footing for receiving the lower end of said upright and maintaining said upright in coplanar orientation with said plane of said base when said stakes are driven into soft ground.

34. A system as recited in claim 32, wherein said base further comprises a handle projecting from said second edge of said footing.

35. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein said handle of said base is disposed in said plane of said base.

36. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said first capture means of said base comprises a noncircular receiving socket on said footing, said receiving socket opening toward said upper face of said base.

37. A system as recited in claim 36, wherein the interior cross-sectional shape of said receiving socket of said first capture means is similar to and larger than the exterior cross-sectional shape of the lower end of said upright.

38. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said first capture means of said base comprises a mounting post on said upper face of said base.

39. A system as recited in claim 38, wherein the shape of the outer profile of the cross section of said mounting post of said first capture means is noncircular.

40. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein said mounting post of said first capture means is slidably receivable in a recess in the lower end of said upright.

41. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said second capture means of said base comprises a mounting post projecting from said second edge of said footing in said plane of said base.

42. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein the shape of the outer profile of the cross section of said mounting post of said second capture means is noncircular.

43. A system as recited in claim 42, wherein the outer transverse cross-sectional configuration of said mounting post of said second capture means is an equilateral triangular shape with rounded vertices.

44. A system as recited in claim 42, wherein said mounting post of said second capture means is slidably receivable in a recess in the lower end of said upright.

45. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said second capture means of said base comprises a noncircular receiving socket on said second edge of said footing.

46. A system as recited in claim 45, wherein the interior cross-sectional shape of said receiving socket of said second capture means is similar to and larger than the exterior cross-sectional of the lower end of said upright.

47. A system as recited in claim 45, wherein said receiving socket of said second capture means projects from said footing in said plane of said base.

48. A system for supporting a target on a hard surface, said system comprising:

(a) an upright having upper and lower ends;

(b) a base capable of stable disposition on the hard surface, said base comprising;

(i) an elongated footing having opposed longitudinally extending first and second edges;

(ii) first and second stabilization feet projecting from said first edge of said footing, said first and second stabilization feet and said footing defining a plane of said base, and said base thereby having an upper face and a lower face on opposite sides of said plane thereof; and

(iii) capture means on said upper face of said base for receiving said lower end of said upright and maintaining said upright in a perpendicular orientation to said plane of said base when said lower face of said base rests on the hard surface;

(c) an elongated horizontal arm from which to suspend the target;

(d) a brace slidable on the outer surface of said upright, said brace comprising a tubular shoulder projecting in perpendicular relation to said upright when said brace is slidably disposed thereupon, said shoulder enclosing a horizontal arm receiving bore having a transverse cross section configured to slidably receive one end of said horizontal arm; and

(e) a hanger adapted to suspend from said horizontal arm a clay target of the type cast by trap and skeet shooting equipment and displaying a major surface circumscribed at the periphery thereof by a perpendicular lip, said hanger being of unitary molded construction and comprising;

(i) an upper lobe adapted to interact with said horizontal arm to suspend said hanger therefrom;

(ii) an elongated shaft having first and second ends, said shaft being attached at said first end thereof to said upper lobe; and

(iii) a lower lobe attached to said second end of said shaft and comprising resilient means for gripping the lip of the clay target at a chosen location along the lip with a compressive force directed parallel to said shaft.

49. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein said capture means comprises a receiving socket upstanding from said footing perpendicular to said plane of said base opening towards said face of said base.

50. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein said capture means comprises a mounting post projecting from said footing on said upper face of said base perpendicular to said plane of said base.

51. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein said upright comprises a tubular structure with a noncircular exterior cross section.

52. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein said first stabilization foot is parallel to said second stabilization foot and equal in length thereto.

53. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein the transverse width of said shaft of said hanger is small relative to the width of said upper lobe of said hanger measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

54. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein the transverse width of said shaft of said hanger is small relative to the width of said lower lobe of said hanger measured parallel to said width of said shaft.

55. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein said upper lobe of said hanger, said elongated shaft of said hanger, and said lower lobe of said hanger are integrally formed from a resilient plastic material.

56. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein said resilient means of said hanger comprises a clasp adapted to receive the lip of the clay target.

57. A system as recited in claim 56, wherein said clasp of said hanger has an entrance smaller than the thickness of the lip at the chosen location along the lip.

58. A system as recited in claim 56, wherein said clasp of said hanger comprises:

(a) a clamp plate attached to said second end of said shaft of said hanger and oriented generally horizontally when said hanger is suspended from said horizontal arm, said clamp plate having an inner end and an outer end;

(b) a gripping jaw having an inner end and an outer end and being disposed opposing said clamp plate with said outer end of said gripping jaw facing said outer end of said clamping plate to define therebetween said entrance into said clasp; and

(c) a resiliently deformable neck interconnecting said inner end of said clamp plate with said inner end of said gripping jaw.