Abstract:
An improved target clamp more securely holds a target in place when impacted by bullets or moved quickly by a target actuator.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/709,783, filed Aug. 19, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to target clamps. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved target clamp which more securely holds a shooting target to a target actuator and keeps the target securely clamped in place when the target is moved by the actuator. 
     2. State of the Art 
     It is common for law enforcement officers and others to engage in target practice to maintain their shooting accuracy. Law enforcement officers often use various methods of target practice to maintain and improve shooting accuracy. Frequently, an actuation mechanism is used to move targets in a manner which tests the law officers&#39; accuracy and response time in shooting at moving or turning targets. This method of target practice provides improved training for real life scenarios, such as criminals suddenly appearing from behind a door, wall etc. and helps the officers develop quick reflexes and the ability to quickly determine whether a person poses a threat. 
     Targets are commonly formed from a sheet of paper, cardboard, or similar disposable material. The targets can be secured directly to a target actuator, or more commonly may be secured to one or more wooden posts, such as a 1×2 post, or other similar material which is clamped or secured to a target actuator. The target or the mounting post is often clamped to the target actuator. 
     Available target mounting systems frequently allow the target to become loose and slip or detach from the target clamping system. The repeated force of bullets impacting the target and the forces caused by sudden turning of the targets often cause the targets to slip or move out of the desired mounting position. 
     There is thus a need for a target clamp which overcomes the limitations of available target clamps by more securely holding the target or target mounting post during use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved target clamp. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a target clamp is provided which more securely clamps a target to a desired mount. The target clamp may be used to clamp a target to a target actuator and more securely hold the target in place when moved by the actuator. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a target clamp as shown and described in the following figures and related description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a target clamp known in the prior art; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a top view of a target clamp of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a top view of a target clamping system of the present invention having two clamps; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the target clamp of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of a target clamp of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial end view of the target clamp of  FIG. 4  taken along line AA. 
     
    
    
     It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The various embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that not all aspects of the invention may be clearly shown in a single figure. Thus, multiple figures may be used to illustrate the various aspects of a single embodiment of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a top view of a target clamp known in the prior art is shown. The target clamp  10  utilizes a bolt  14  to tighten a metal plate  18 , which may be flat or formed in an L shape as shown, against a mounting arm  22  of the target stand or actuator. A target, or target mounting post  26  is held between the plate  18  and mounting arm  22  by tightening the bolt  14 . Targets are frequently mounted to a mounting post  26  as the target is relatively thin and flexible. 
     A problem with existing target clamps  10  is that the target mounting post  26  is not securely held in place. The mounting arm  22  of many target stands or actuators is commonly a strip of plate steel. A lack of positive engagement between the mounting arm  22 , target mounting post  26 , and metal plate  18  allow the target mounting post to slip or pivot within the target clamp  10 . This is especially true where the target is mounted to an actuator, as the rapid movement of the target actuator to move or turn the target into a desired position places elevated forces on the point of attachment of the target to the actuator. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2A , a top view of a target clamp  30  of the present invention is shown. The clamp  30  is used to hold a target or target mounting post  34  to the mounting arm  38  of a target stand or target actuator. A fastener  42 , such as a bolt, and a clamping arm  46  is used to clamp the target mounting post  34  between the clamping arm  46  and the mounting arm  38 . The clamping arm  46  is formed with a textured inner surface  46   b,  having a plurality of teeth  50  according to a present embodiment. The textured surface  46   b  effectively grips the target mounting post  34  and prevents movement of the target mounting post relative to the clamping arm  46 . The teeth  50  may be larger when a wooden target mounting post  34  is used, or may be smaller when the mounting post is plastic or another material. 
     The clamping arm  46  also includes a pair of flanges  54  which extend beyond the mounting arm  38  and prevent rotation of the clamping arm  46  relative to the mounting arm  38 . The combination of a textured surface  46   b  such as teeth  50  and the flanges  54  substantially prevent movement of the target mounting post  34  relative to the mounting arm  38 . 
     In use, the target clamp f  FIG. 2A  may often be used in a pair. The mounting arm  38  may extend and have a first clamping arm  46  on one end and a second clamping arm  46  on the opposite end of the mounting arm. In such a configuration, the target clamp may hold two target mounting posts  34  spaced apart from each other, and a target may be attached to the two posts.  FIG. 2B  shows such a configuration, having a first target clamp  30   a  and a second target clamp  30   b  in accordance with the above description mounted to a mounting arm  38 . It is appreciated that more than two clamps may be used together on a single mounting arm. Such may be desirable with larger targets, etc. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the target clamp of  FIG. 2A  is shown.  FIG. 3  better illustrates how the flanges  54  extend around the mounting arm  38  to prevent rotation of the clamping arm  46  relative to the mounting arm  38 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of another target clamp of the present invention is shown. The target clamp has a mounting arm  62  which may be part of a target stand or target actuator, or which may be mountable to the target stand or actuator. Or more stationary clamping arms  66  are attached to the mounting arm  62 . The stationary clamping arms  66  are typically formed with a plurality of teeth  70  which more affirmatively grip a target mounting post  74 . The target mounting post  74  is typically a wooden post as such are inexpensive and easily replaced. The target mounting post  74  is used to support a target, as targets are often of paper or cardboard. 
     The target mounting post  74  is clamped between the stationary clamping arms  66  and a movable clamping arm  78 . The movable clamping arm  78  is typically mounted to the mounting arm  62  or a bracket  82 , and is typically formed with a plurality of teeth  86  for more affirmatively gripping the target mounting post  74 . 
     A locking lever  90  is pivotably attached to the movable clamping arm  78  and to a lever  94 . The lever  94  is pivotably attached to the mounting arm  62  or to a bracket  98  attached to the mounting arm. The locking lever  90  and lever  94  are typically constructed such that, when in a closed position as shown, pivot point  102  is disposed slightly inwardly from pivot points  106  and  110  so as to lock the locking lever  90  in a closed position, clamping the target mounting post  74  between the stationary clamping arms  66  and the movable clamping arm  78 . A stop  114  is typically used to limit the movement of the locking lever  90  in a closed position. A handle  118  may be provided for convenience in operating the clamp. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a partial side view of the clamp of  FIG. 4  taken along line AA is shown. The clamp typically includes two stationary clamping arms  66 . While a different number of clamping arms could be used, two stationary clamping arms and one movable clamping arm  78  provide simple construction and secure clamping of the target mounting post  74 . 
     It is appreciated that a flexible paper target or a similar target will typically be mounted to two target mounting posts  74 ; one at either end of the target. Thus, a target mounting clamp according to the present invention may often comprise a mounting arm  62  with two target mounting clamps, typically at either end of the mounting arm, in a manner similar to that shown in  FIG. 2B . The mounting arm is typically either part of a target actuator or stand or mountable to an actuator or stand. A target and target mounting posts  74  which are thus mounted in a target clamp are securely held in place even when subjected to repeated impact with bullets and to the rapid movement of a target actuator. Such a configuration will have two of the clamps of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , typically on opposite ends of a mounting arm  62 . It is appreciated that more than two target clamps may be used on a single mounting arm as is desired. 
     There is thus disclosed an improved target clamp. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.