Abstract:
An apparatus for randomly moving a target in space, comprising: a drive assembly disposed within a housing, an electric motor, a programmable controller, and a moving attachment arm, adapted to move vertically, horizontally, along a curved path, and along a linear path in response to instructions from the controller.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62189948, entitled “Automated Target Apparatus With Controlled Translation and Rotation”, filed Jul. 8, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a moving target for shooting practice and, more particularly, to a portable, programmable target that translates and rotates randomly in response to instructions from a controller. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The related known prior art fails to teach or suggest all of the function and advantages of the present invention. 
         [0006]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,135,667 discloses an electric shooting gallery employing a light gun and novel photo-electric targets and mechanism for controlling the movement of these targets in a particular manner. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,161,012 discloses a shooting gallery type of amusement game in which a moving target structure is provided, along with a photo-electric cell, sensitive to a ray of light shot from a light producing gun or aiming element to cause operation of the target structure. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,345 discloses a steel target that rocks upon impact from a bullet and resets itself under its own counterweight design. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,927 discloses a three-dimensional moving target system comprising a track assembly and a structure for supporting the target in an upright position from the track assembly. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,396 discloses a movable target for shooting practice, comprising a multiplicity of rail track sections, which can be joined together, and a carriage which can be displaced along the assembled rail-track sections by means of a carriage drive and receives a target arrangement, whose target-retaining means, which receives at least one target such that it can be exchanged, can be moved between a neutral position and a target position by means of a target drive. The rail-track sections exhibit feet, which can be stacked one inside the other, and complementary connecting parts at the ends, and provision is made for end-side buffer stops with corresponding connecting parts, the carriage exhibiting, at one end, transporting wheels which are connected releasably to said carriage and of which the diameter is greater than that of the carriage wheels, and, at the opposite end, a handle. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,037 discloses a programmable device that can be activated by a user to set up any one or multiple different motions of the device, for instance, a shooting target. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,774 discloses a moving shooting target system for providing a first stationary target that triggers a second moving target when stricken with a bullet. The moving shooting target system includes a frame with a shooting opening and a target reservoir, a first target attached to a support member, and a stopper member attached to the support member. The stopper member releases at least one second target from the target reservoir when the first target is stricken by a bullet. The released second target rolls along and through the shooting opening where a shooter is able to shoot the released second target. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,394 discloses a modular, expandable, and portable shooting range system. The system can include one or more shooting modules that mount together to provide different numbers of shooting lanes with various lengths. The shooting modules are pre-engineered with removable panels to permit additional shooting modules to be added on as customer orders. This configuration also permits adding to the length of the shooting range to accommodate firing of different weapons. The shooting range system can further include a control booth which is divided from the shooting lanes. The control booth can be integrally formed with the shooting modules, or can be separate. The control booth can include a module control which allows a person to control lighting, air, and target control systems of the shooting range system, and can further provide a safe location to view the range. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,029,198 discloses a pivot driving portion including a platform, a vertical driving portion connection portion rotatably installed on the platform, and a pivot driving portion including a motor which rotates the vertical driving portion connection portion. The vertical driving portion includes a pivot driving portion connection portion connected to an upper side of the vertical driving portion connection portion, a column standing on the pivot driving portion connection portion, a mount rotatably arranged in an upper portion of the column, and a motor rotating the mount with respect to the column. The rotation shaft of the vertical driving portion connection portion of the pivot driving portion and the rotation shaft of the vertical driving portion mount intersect each other. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,655,257 discloses a mobile base unit, a target body and an unattached control system. The base unit has a chassis plate driven by a plurality of motors and a plurality of wheel assemblies within an exterior armor which protects internal components of the chassis from projectile impacts. The target body mounts to an extension plate affixed to the underside of the chassis plate of the base unit, creating a subject that moves in varying directions. 
         [0016]    Upon review of the prior art, one observes that what is needed in the art is a constant motion, randomly moving translating and rotating target having a smooth motion. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0017]    In a first exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus for randomly moving a target in space, said apparatus comprising: a drive assembly disposed within a housing, said drive assembly comprising: an electric motor, a controller, and a moving attachment piece, said electric motor operably attached to said controller and to said moving attachment device, said moving attachment device adapted to move vertically and horizontally in response to instructions from said controller; a shaft, said shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft attached to said moving attachment device of said drive assembly; and a target, said target removably attached to said second end of said shaft. 
         [0018]    In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus for randomly moving a target in space, said apparatus comprising: a drive assembly disposed within a housing, said drive assembly comprising: an electric motor, a controller, and a moving attachment piece, said electric motor operably attached to said controller and to said moving attachment device, said moving attachment device adapted to move along a path in response to instructions from said controller; a shaft, said shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft attached to said moving attachment device of said drive assembly; and a target, said target removably attached to said second end of said shaft. 
         [0019]    In still another exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus for randomly moving a target in space, said apparatus comprising: a drive assembly disposed within a housing, said drive assembly comprising: an electric motor, a controller, and a moving attachment piece, said electric motor operably attached to said controller and to said moving attachment device, said moving attachment device adapted to move vertically, horizontally, along a curved path, and along a linear path in response to instructions from said controller; a shaft, said shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft attached to said moving attachment device of said drive assembly; and a target, said target removably attached to said second end of said shaft. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
           [0021]    In the drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of an apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a front operational view of an apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of a control panel for an apparatus according to the present invention with the apparatus moving. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplary embodiments set forth herein are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail in terms of various exemplary embodiments according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures are not shown in detail in order to avoid unnecessary obscuring of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Thus, all of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, in the present description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0029]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown targeting apparatus  100  in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  generally comprises target  10 , swing arm  20 , control module  30 , control panel  50 , and stand  60 . 
         [0030]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , target  10  may comprise any known material used for shooting targets including, without limitation, aluminum or other light metals, paper, rubber, or plastic. As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , target  10  may comprises concentric circles or other visual media. 
         [0031]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , targeting apparatus  100  further comprises swing arm  20 . Swing arm  20  comprises a generally elongated shape having a first end and a second end. The first end of swing arm  20  is removably attached to the back of target  10 . Swing arm  20  is further attached at its second end to control module  30 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , swing arm  20  is telescopically and rotationally connected to control module  30 . Control module as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , swing arm  20  is adapted to extend and retract radially from control module  30 . Additionally, swing arm  20  is adapted to rotate about control module  20 . 
         [0033]    Referring still to  FIG. 2 , swing arm  20  preferably allows target  10  to be rotated at least 180 degrees and preferably up to almost 360 degrees about control module  30 . Thus, target  10  is randomly removable in multiple degrees of freedom about control module  30 . In some embodiments, swing arm  20  is also pivotally connected to control module  30  such that target  10  can move closer to or farther away from a shooter using the device. In this manner, apparatus  200  of the present invention uniquely allows target  10  to move in more than one plane relative to a shooter/user of the apparatus  100 . 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , target  10  is able to translate, rotate, and/or pivot in response to instructions from controller  30 . 
         [0035]    Referring still on  FIG. 2 , control module  30  may comprise at least two electric motors (not shown). The first motor is adapted to move swing arm  20  and target  10  along a horizontal or vertical linear path. The second motor is adapted to rotate swing arm  20  and target  10  about control module  30 . The present invention further comprises one or more position sensors to provide information about target location and speed to the control module  30 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , control module  30  includes a preprogrammed or programmable microprocessor or other logic device and control panel  40 . Control module  40  may include a plurality of analog or digital inputs. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , control panel  40  inputs may include an on/off switch, a USB input, a mode dial, a speed control dial, and a range control dial. Control module  30  and control panel  40  of the present invention further comprises software that includes preset operating modes defining, speed, path, and duration. However, the present invention further comprises user interfaces, such as a USB interface, that allow programming by graphical user interface or free form using a pc or other user interface. The present invention preferably further comprises means of receiving remote operating instructions using a radio frequency remote control or blue tooth receiving device. 
         [0037]    In one exemplary embodiment, the controller  30  receives input from pressure transducers functionally to target  10 . Input from said transducers is relayed to control module  30  as an input to the program for motion of swing arm  20 . Such input may be used to instruct controller  30  to alter the speed or path of target  10 . 
         [0038]    Referring now again to  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  of the present invention preferably includes an AC Charger that takes standard 120 Volt AC house current and converts it to 12 Volts DC current for charging of an on-board battery for control module  30 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to again to  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  of the present invention further comprises stand  60 . Stand  60  includes a base  61  and brace  62 . Stand  60  is sized and weighted to hold apparatus  100  in position while swing arm  20  and target  10  move radially and rotationally about control module  30 . 
         [0040]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.