Method for using a multifunction target actuator

• US 7,914,004 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Bateman, Kyle, Wright, Thomas, Marshall, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US12/561,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 273403-410, 273/359, 273366-370, 273390-392, 911/67.R, 911/68, 911/67.A
• US Class Current: 273/406
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 7/06 Bobbing targets, i.e. targets intermittently or unexpectedly appearing

Abstract

A multifunction target actuator allows a bullet target to be selectively presented to a shooter such that a first side may be presented, a second side opposite the first side may be presented, and the target may be oriented so as not to be presented to the shooter. The actuator allows for quick and accurate movement of the target.

Claims

1. A method of operating a target actuator comprising:

selecting a target actuator configured for attachment to a target and having a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly, each of the first piston assembly and second piston assembly being actuatable so as to move a structure in the respective piston assembly between a first position and a second piston position;

attaching a target to the actuator;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to move the respective structure of that piston assembly from the first position to the second position to thereby rotate the target between a first target position and a second target position without moving the structure of the other piston assembly from the first position;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between the first target position and a third target position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the piston assemblies comprise pneumatic piston assemblies and wherein the structure in each piston assembly comprises a piston, the method comprising moving the piston of the first piston assembly from the first position to the second position while maintaining the piston of the second piston assembly in the first position to turn the target between the first target position and the second target position, and further comprises moving the piston in the first piston assembly back into the first position and moving the piston in the second piston assembly into the second position to thereby move the target from the second target position to the third target position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target from the second position back to the first position while maintaining the structure in the other assembly in either the first or second position.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises actuating the other of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target from the second target position to the first target position.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises moving the target in increments of approximately 90 degrees.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the method comprises using a single piston and piston cylinder to move the target 90 degrees between the first and second position and using a single piston and cylinder to move the target 90 degrees between the first position and the third position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the piston assemblies is attached to a drive gear, and wherein actuating one of the piston assemblies moves the piston assembly attached to the drive gear to thereby rotate a gear and a shaft supporting the target.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piston assemblies are rotary pistons and wherein rotating one of the rotary pistons rotates the other piston assembly and a shaft connected to at least one of the piston assemblies.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein each of the rotary pistons is configured to rotate approximately 90 degrees when actuatated.

10. A method of operating a target actuator comprising:

selecting a target actuator configured for attachment to a target and having a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly;

attaching a target to the actuator;

selectively actuating only one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between a first target position and a second target position;

selectively actuating only one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between the first target position and a third target position; and

wherein the piston assemblies comprise a cylinder, piston, and rod connected to the piston, and wherein the first piston assembly rod is connected to the second piston assembly cylinder and the second rod is operatively connected to the target such that moving the first piston and rod moves the second piston assembly and thereby rotates the target.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises moving the piston and rod of the first piston assembly in a direction and moving the piston and rod of the second piston assembly generally parallel to the piston and rod of the first piston assembly.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises selecting a target actuator in which the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly are operationally connected to a drive line and a pulley, such that actuation of the first piston assembly or the second piston assembly moves the drive line and rotates the pulley to thereby rotate the target.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises selecting a target actuator in which the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly are operationally connected to a gear such that actuation of the first assembly or the second piston assembly moves the gear and rotates the shaft to thereby rotate the target.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the movable members of the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly comprise pistons and wherein the method comprises moving the pistons in directions generally parallel to one another.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the movable members of the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly comprise vanes and wherein the method comprises moving the vanes in directions generally parallel to one another.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises rotating the second piston assembly by actuation of the first piston assembly.

14. A method of operating a target actuator comprising:

selecting a target actuator configured for attachment to a target and having a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly;

attaching a target to the actuator;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between a first target position and a second target position;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between the first target position and a third target position; and

wherein movement of the piston assemblies linearly moves a cable and thereby causes a pulley to rotate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first piston assembly has a movable member which moves when the first piston assembly is actuated and the second piston assembly has a movable member which moves when the second piston assembly is actuated and wherein the movable members of the first piston assembly and second piston assembly move generally parallel to one another.

19. A method for rotating a target between a first position, a second position approximately 90 degrees from the first position, and a third position approximately 180 degrees from the second position, the method comprising:

selecting a target having a first side and a second side and attaching the target to a target actuator, which comprises a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly; and

selectively actuating only one of the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly to move the target from the first position to the second position, and actuating both the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly to rotate the target from the second position to the third position.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises actuating piston assemblies wherein the entire second piston assembly is moved by actuation of the first piston assembly generally parallel to the movement within the first piston assembly.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the method further comprises moving a drive line in response to movement of the second piston assembly, such that movement of the drive line causes rotational movement of the target.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method comprises pneumatically actuating the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly.

23. A method for operating a target actuator comprising:

selecting a target actuator having a target attached thereto and having a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly; and

wherein the method comprises disposing the target so as to be parallel with a line of fire of a shooter so that the target is in a first position and is not displayed for shooting to the shooter, and selectively actuating only one of the piston assemblies to turn the target 90 degrees in one direction to place the target in a second position and thereby show one face of the target to the shooter and selectively actuating both of the piston assemblies to turn the target 180 degrees in the other direction into a third position to thereby show an opposing face of the target to the shooter.

24. A method of operating a target actuator comprising:

selecting a target actuator configured for attachment to a target and having a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly;

attaching a target to the actuator;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between a first target position and a second target position;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between the first target position and a third target position;

wherein the method comprises disposing the target so as to be parallel with a line of fire of a shooter so that the target is in the first target position and is not displayed for shooting to the shooter, and selectively actuating one of the piston assemblies to turn the target 90 degrees in one direction to place the target in the second target position and thereby show one face of the target to the shooter and selectively actuating both of the piston assemblies to turn the target 90 degrees in the other direction from the first position into the third target position to thereby show an opposing face of the target to the shooter; and

wherein the method comprises using a third piston assembly to rotate the target an additional ninety degrees from the second target position or the third position to thereby move the target into a fourth target position wherein the target is generally parallel to the shooter'"'"'s line of fire.

25. A method of operating a target actuator comprising:

selecting a target actuator configured for attachment to a target and having a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly;

attaching a target to the target actuator;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between a first target position and a second target position;

selectively actuating one of the first and second piston assemblies to thereby rotate the target between the first target position and a third target position; and

wherein at least one of the piston assemblies is attached to a drive line, and wherein actuating one of the piston assemblies moves the piston assembly attached to the drive line to thereby move the drive line.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the drive line is wrapped around a pulley which turns a shaft to thereby turn the target.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly each comprise a piston and wherein the method comprises actuating the second piston assembly so that its piston moves generally parallel to the movement of the piston of the first piston assembly.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly each comprise a vane and wherein the method comprises actuating the second piston assembly so that its vane moves generally parallel to the movement of the vane of the first piston assembly.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the second piston assembly is attached to a moveable portion of the first piston assembly and to the drive line and the method comprises actuating the first piston assembly to move the second piston assembly and thereby move the drive line.

30. A method for actuating a target to be struck by a projectile, the method comprising:

disposing a target to be struck by a projectile in a first position generally parallel to a line of fire;

selectively actuating a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly to selectively rotate the target 90 degrees in one direction to show one side of the target, and 90 degrees in the opposite direction to expose an opposing side of the target, wherein actuating only the first piston assembly rotates the target 90 degrees in one direction and actuating only the second piston assembly rotates the target 90 degrees in the opposite direction.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the first piston assembly has a movable member disposed therein and the second piston assembly has a movable member therein and wherein the method comprises moving the moveable members of the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly in generally parallel paths to turn the target 90 degrees in either direction.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the method comprises using a first piston assembly having a cylinder and a piston disposed therein which acts as the movable member of the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly having a cylinder and a piston disposed therein which acts as the movable member of the second piston assembly.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the method comprises moving the piston of the first piston assembly between first and second positions and moving the piston of the second piston assembly between first and second positions generally parallel to the movement of the piston of the first piston assembly.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the method comprises using a first piston assembly forming a rotary piston and including a vane which acts as the movable member of the first piston assembly and a second rotary piston forming a rotary piston and having a vane which acts as the movable member of the second piston assembly.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the method comprises moving the vane of the first piston assembly between first and second positions and moving the vane of the second piston assembly between first and second positions generally parallel to the movement of the vane of the first piston assembly.

36. A method for selectively actuating a target so as to move the target between a plurality of positions, the method comprising:

selecting a target actuator having a target attached thereto and disposed in a first target position;

actuating a first piston assembly of the target actuator to move the target from the first position to a second position by moving a member in the first piston assembly from the first target position to a second target position, and

actuating a second piston assembly to move the target from the first position to a third position or from the second position to the first position by moving a member in the second piston assembly in a direction generally parallel to the movement of the member of the first piston assembly.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the first piston assembly is actuated to move the target back from the second target position to the first target position and wherein the second piston assembly is actuated to move the target from the first target position to the second target position.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the second piston assembly is actuated to move the target from the second target position to the first target position, and wherein the first piston assembly is actuated to move the second piston assembly and thereby move the target from the first target position to the third target position.