Multifunction target actuator

• US 8,016,291 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• 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:
  US12/839,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 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 bullet target adapter comprising:

a shaft configured for receiving a bullet target and configured for rotating the target between a first position wherein the target is not presented to a shooter, a second position wherein a first side of the target is presented to a shooter, and a third position wherein a second side of the target opposite the first side of the target is presented to a shooter;

a first piston assembly configured to rotate the shaft by about 90 degrees when fully actuated;

a second piston assembly configured to rotate the shaft by about 90 degrees beyond the rotation caused by the first piston assembly when fully actuated;

wherein the shaft is rotated 90 degrees by actuation of the first piston assembly independent of actuation of the second piston assembly.

2. The bullet target adapter according to claim 1, wherein the piston assemblies are pneumatic.

3. The bullet target adapter according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the piston assemblies is linear and wherein the shaft is attached to a wheel which converts the linear movement to rotational movement.

4. The bullet target adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a pulley attached to the shaft and a cable extended at least partially around the pulley, wherein extension and retraction of the first and second piston assemblies move the cable to thereby rotate the pulley.

5. A multifunction actuator for turning a target, the actuator comprising:

a first piston assembly;

a second piston assembly connected to the first piston assembly;

a shaft configured for receiving a bullet target;

a drive device connected to one of the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly and disposed in communication with the shaft for rotating the shaft;

wherein full actuation of only the first piston assembly moves the second piston assembly a distance which moves the drive device and thereby rotates the shaft by about 90 degrees; and

wherein full actuation of only the second piston assembly moves the drive device to rotate the shaft by about 90 degrees beyond the rotation caused by the first piston assembly.

6. The multifunction actuator of claim 5, wherein the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly are linear assemblies and wherein the drive means converts movement of the piston assemblies to rotational movement of the target.

7. The multifunction actuator of claim 5, further comprising a housing, and wherein the first piston assembly is fixedly attached to the housing and wherein movement of the first piston assembly moves the second piston assembly.

8. The multifunction actuator of claim 5, wherein the first piston assembly and the second piston assembly comprise pneumatic pistons.

9. The multifunction actuator of claim 5, wherein the drive device comprises a pulley, and wherein movement of the piston assemblies causes the pulley to rotate.

10. The multifunction actuator of claim 9, further comprising a cable attached to at least one of the piston assemblies and wrapping around the pulley.

11. The multifunction actuator of claim 10, wherein the cable is attached to the pulley.

12. The multifunction actuator of claim 10, further comprising a second pulley, and wherein the cable extends around both pulleys.

13. The multifunction actuator of claim 9, wherein the pulley is attached to the shaft such that rotation of the pulley rotates a target which is operatively attached to the shaft.

14. The multifunction actuator of claim 9, wherein the pulley has a first position which corresponds with a target being disposed parallel to a line of fire, a second position rotated approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first position wherein a face of the target is exposed and disposed perpendicular to the line of fire, and a third position rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise from the first position such that the opposing face of the target is exposed.

15. A multifunction target actuator comprising:

a target drive comprising a shaft configured to receive a bullet target for rotating a target between a first position, a second position, and a third position, the second position being offset approximately 90 degrees from the first position and the third position being offset approximately 90 degrees from the second position;

a first actuator for moving the target between the first position and the second position when the first actuator is fully actuated; and

a second actuator for moving the target between the second position and the third position when the second actuator is fully actuated;

wherein movement of the target between the first position and the second position is independent actuation of the second actuator and movement of the target between the second position and the third position is independent of actuation of the first actuator.

16. The multifunction actuator of claim 15, wherein the first actuator and second actuator comprise a first piston and a second piston.

17. The multifunction actuator of claim 15, wherein the first actuator is connected to the target drive, and wherein the second actuator is connected to the first actuator.

18. The multifunction actuator of claim 17, wherein actuation of the second actuator moves the first actuator.

19. The multifunction actuator of claim 16, wherein the first piston is operatively connected to the target drive and the second piston is operatively connected to the first piston.

20. The multifunction actuator of claim 15, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator move in a single linear direction, and wherein the target drive comprises a cable extending around a pulley, and wherein the first actuator and second actuator move the cable to thereby rotate the pulley.