Omnidirectional target system

• US 7,950,666 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• 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: Stincelli, Nicholas, Bassett, David, Wright, Tom, Bateman, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US12/266,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 273403-410, 273390-393, 273374-378, 273383-387, 273366-371, 273/359
• US Class Current: 273/406
• 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 is 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; and

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.

2. A target system, comprising:

a target configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the target is 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; and

further comprising a pneumatic actuation mechanism, the catch forming part of the actuation mechanism, and wherein the pneumatic actuation mechanism is configured to move the catch between the retracted position and the extended position.

3. A target system, comprising:

a target configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the target is 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; and

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.

4. A target system, comprising:

a target configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the target is 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; and

wherein the catch includes a plurality of steps.

5. A target system, comprising;

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

a pneumatic actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the target to move the target from the retracted position to the extended position;

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

a biasing member attached to the target for biasing the target toward the actuation mechanism, wherein the target pivots to release from the actuation mechanism and wherein the biasing member attached to the target for biasing the target toward the actuation mechanism biases the target against pivoting away from the actuation mechanism.

6. The target system of claim 5, further comprising a biasing device operationally connected to the target, the biasing device being configured to bias the target into the retracted position regardless of whether the extended position is above or below the retracted position.

7. The target system of claim 5, 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.

8. The target system of claim 6, wherein the biasing device includes a spring.

9. The target system of claim 5, 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 target.

10. The target system of claim 5, further comprising a generally stationary base and a carriage slidable relative to the base, the carriage being attached to the target for carrying the target and the actuation mechanism, including a catch, the actuation mechanism moving the catch along the base to move the target from the retracted position to the extended position.

11. The target system of claim 5, wherein the biasing member has a pull which is greater than the weight of the target such that the biasing member maintains the target in the retracted position even if the retracted position is disposed directly above the extended position.

12. A target system, comprising;

a target movable 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;

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

a biasing device operationally connected to the target, the biasing device being configured to bias the target into the retracted position, the biasing device including a pneumatic cylinder.

13. A target system, comprising;

a target movable 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, wherein the actuation mechanism includes a catch; and

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

wherein the catch includes a plurality of steps.

14. The target system of claim 13, wherein the actuation mechanism includes, a pneumatic cylinder, and a shaft extending from the pneumatic cylinder, the shaft being operationally connected to the catch.

15. A target system comprising;

a target movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the movement of the target between the rectracted position and extended position being generally linear;

an actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the target to move the target generally linearly 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;

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

a biasing member configured to pull the target into the retracted position when the target is disassociated from the actuation mechanism, wherein the biasing member comprises a pneumatic piston.

16. The target system of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a pneumatic piston for selectively moving the target into the extended position.

17. The target system of claim 15, further comprising a carriage for carrying the target and a base having a plurality of slots formed therein and wherein the carriage extends through the slots in the base and holds the target adjacent the base.

18. A target system comprising:

a target extendable from a retracted position to an extended position;

a carriage for holding the target;

an actuation mechanism configured for contacting the target and advancing the target from the retracted position to the extended position;

a biasing mechanism attached to at least one of the target and the carriage configured to bias the target back into the retracted position;

wherein the target is movably attached to the carriage, such that impacting the target with a projectile causes the target to move and disassociate from the actuation mechanism and to be returned to the retracted position by the biasing mechanism; and

a second biasing mechanism for biasing the target into contact with the actuation mechanism.

19. A target system, comprising:

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

a catch configured to releasably engage the target and move the target from the retracted position into the extended position, the catch moving in substantially the same path between extended and retracted positions as the target after the target has been impacted by a bullet, wherein the catch is moved pneumatically between extended and retracted positions;

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

a second biasing member for biasing the target into engagement with the catch.

20. The target system of claim 19, wherein the first biasing member has a force greater than the weight of the target to thereby hold the target in the retracted position even if the retracted position is above the extended position.

21. The target system of claim 19, further comprising a generally stationary base, a carriage slidable relative to the base, the carriage being attached to the target for carrying the target and an actuation mechanism including the catch, the actuation mechanism moving the catch alongside the base to move the target from the retracted position to the extended position.