Abstract:
Various components useful in the sport of target shooting are disclosed herein. These components include a mold assembly for fabrication of a frozen water-based skeet, a skeet design particularly suited for fabrication from a frozen water-based liquid, and a hand-held skeet thrower for manually launching skeet. These components have utility individually or maybe combined to form a kit.

Description:
FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to target shooting, and more particularly to a mold assembly for fabricating skeet, a skeet configuration particularly suitable for fabrication with a water-based liquid, and a hand-held skeet thrower. 
   BACKGROUND 
   The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
   There are many avid sportsmen which enjoy target shooting, whether for honing their accuracy in preparation for hunting season or the enjoyment of target sports itself. In this sport, saucer-shaped targets are launched from a manual or automated thrower such that they fly or roll out in front of a shooter. The shooter then attempts to hit the target passing by with a round from a shot gun. The target may be presented at various angles with respect to its travel so as to simulate any of a number of hunted animals. 
   Historically, these targets, also known as skeet clays pigeons, have been fabricated from a mixture of cool tar (“pitch”) and limestone powder. When left to degrade in the environment, these targets have the potential of releasing hazardous substances. Specifically, the pitch dust resulting in the disintegration of the target has the potential to infiltrate into the water and through the plants, as well as being ingested by animals and humans. Likewise, larger pieces of the target which disintegrate more slowly accumulate and remain within the environment. 
   There have been efforts to arrive at more environmentally-safe targets by utilizing naturally occurring substances such as calcium-based compounds or alternately silica, sand or clay based materials. Likewise, there have been efforts to fabricate such targets out of biodegradable or bio-friendly materials such as fertilizer, bird feed and even water. As such, these targets address many of the environmental concerns associated with more conventional clay pigeons. However, improvements for an efficient and repeatable means for fabricating such environmentally-safe target remain. 
   SUMMARY 
   As described in more detail herein, a skeet system which includes a mold assembly is provided for fabricating a target fabricated from a frozen water-based liquid, i.e. an ice skeet. This disclosure further includes a hand-held thrower which is particularly well suited for launching ice skeet, as well as conventional skeet. 
   Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mold assembly for fabricating an skeet; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mold assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the mold assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the lower mold of the mold assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the lower mold illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of the upper mold of the mold assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is side elevational view of the mold assembly illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of an skeet fabricated from the mold assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the skeet illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of the skeet taken along line XI-XI shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a skeet thrower suitable for launching skeet such as illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a plan view of the skeet thrower illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15   a  is a cross sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15   b  is an alternate embodiment showing the cross sectional configuration of a hand thrower similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 12  suitable for throwing conventional clay targets; 
       FIG. 16  is an end view of the hand thrower illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a detail of the finger region formed on the grip portion of the handle for the hand thrower illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; and 
       FIG. 18  is a detail illustrating a palm region of the grip portion of the hand thrower illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 19  is a cross-section of the handle butt taken along line IXX-IXX shown in  FIG. 13 ; and 
       FIG. 20  is a cross-section of the handle top taken along line XX-XX shown in  FIG. 13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
   The present disclosure provides a mold assembly for fabricating skeet from a frozen water-based liquid and a hand-held thrower for launching such skeet. Furthermore, this disclosure includes a description of the configuration of a skeet formed in the mold assembly. Accordingly, one skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure, taken as a whole may provide a kit of components which enable a sportsman to fabricate and launch ice skeet which is inexpensive and thus affordable, as well as biodegradable and thus environmentally-safe. The following description will be broken down into three aspects: (1) the mold assembly; (2) the skeet; and (3) the hand-held launcher. 
   Turning first to  FIGS. 1-8 , a mold assembly  10  is illustrated which includes a lower mold  12  and a upper mold  14  which can be releasably secured together to define a mold cavity  16 . The mold assembly  10  includes a rotational locking mechanism  18  which allows the upper mold  14  to be releasably secured to the lower mold  12  in a quick and efficient matter. The mold assembly  10  further includes a stacking structure  20  which allow multiple mold assemblies to be stacked and placed into a freezer in a stable and compact arrangement. The mold assembly  10  includes various design and structural features for controlling the flow of water and air during the molding process and facilitate release of the skeet which yields a nearly defect free target. 
   With specific reference now to  FIGS. 2 , and  4 - 6 , the lower mold  12  is described in further detail. Lower mold  12  includes a well  22  which defines the bottom part of the mold cavity  16 . The well  22  is circular in configuration and includes a bottom wall  24 , a side wall  26  extend upwardly and terminating at an upper flange  28 . The bottom wall  24  includes a series of protuberances  30  which extend upwardly in well  22  so as to break up the relatively large flat surface defined by the bottom wall  24 . The side wall  26  is defined by a generally curved radius (as best seen in  FIG. 4 ) with a pair of reliefs  30  extending therefrom. In this manner, the side wall is slightly stepped to provide improved structural integrity for skeet formed in mold assembly  10 . The upper flange  28  of lower mold  12  is angled slightly downward as indicated by α in  FIG. 4  towards the bottom wall  24 . As presently preferred, upper flange  28  is angled at about 20° to promote drainage of water away from the perimeter of the mold cavity  16 , and thus forming a clean edge on a skeet formed therein. Upper flanges  28  are defined by a series of arcuate sections  34  as best seen in  FIG. 5  which terminate at an edge  36 . A ramp  38  is formed on the bottom surface of arcuate section  34  at edge  36 . These ramps  38  cooperate with fingers  62  extending from the upper mold  14  to provide rotational locking mechanism  18 . The outer surface  40  of bottom wall  24  on the side (opposite mold cavity  16 ) has a series of radial rib portions  42  extending therefrom and a circumferential channel  44  which cooperates with complimentary features  66 ,  68  formed on the upper mold  14  to allow multiple mold assemblies  10  to be arranged in a stack relationship. 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  8 , the upper mold  14  will be further described. Upper mold  14  includes a dish  52  which extends into well  22  for defining the mold cavity  16 . The dish  52  includes a top wall  54 , a side wall  56  and a flange  58 . The top wall  54  has a series of radially extending channels  60  which terminate at side wall  56 . These channels  60  promote the flow of water within the mold cavity  16  when the upper and lower molds  12 ,  14  are assembled to ensure that air bubbles are not trapped within the cavity  16 . The side wall  56  is a generally flat surface angularly oriented between the top wall  54  to flange  58 . The flange  58  is generally flat and includes a series of fingers  62  extending tangentially. Fingers  62  angle generally downward and terminate at lobe  64 . 
   The fingers  62  cooperate with the arcuate sections  34  formed on lower mold  12  to provide a rotational locking mechanism  18 . Specifically, the upper mold  14  is positioned on top of lower mold  12  with the fingers  62  located in front of edge  36 . Once in this relationship, the upper mold  14  can be rotated in the clockwise direction (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) such that the fingers  62  extend beneath the arcuate section  34  and the lobes  64  capture the ramps  38  formed along edge  36 . Counter rotation of the upper mold  14  relative to the lower mold  12  releases the mold assembly  10 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the flange portion  28  of lower mold  12  and the flange portion of upper mold  14  come together in a tight fitting arrangement such that the mold cavity  16  is a tightly defined close cavity. In this manner, the perimeter of skeet formed in the mold cavity  16  is clearly defined. The upper mold  14  includes a rim  66  extending upwardly from flange  58 . The rim  66  has a series of indentations  68  formed therein. Rim  66  is sized to fit within the channel  44  formed in the outer surface  40  of the lower mold  12 . The indents  68  are configured to receive the radially ribs  42  formed on the outer surface  40  of a lower mold  12 . In this manner, ribs  42 , channel  44 , rims  66  and indents  68  define the stacking structure  20  which allows multiple mold assemblies to be arranged in a stacked configuration. 
   Having described the structure of mold assembly  10 , various functions performed by these structures will be described in conjunction with the process of fabricating skeet. Initially, the lower mold  12  is placed on a flat surface. Water or a water-based liquid is dispensed into the well  22 . In this regard, the reliefs  32  in the side wall  26  can function as a fill line indicator to prevent over filling of the well  22 . 
   Next, the upper mold  14  is placed on top of the lower mold  12  such that the fingers  62  are located adjacent the arcuate sections  34 . As the upper mold  14  is so placed, the dish  52  displaces the liquid from within the well  22 . The channels  60  formed in the upper mold  14  direct air radially outward such that it escapes from the mold cavity  16  prior to closure. Once properly placed on the lower mold  12 , the upper mold  14  is rotated clockwise (as shown in  FIG. 1-3 ) such that the fingers  62  extend beneath the arcuate surface  34  as heretofore described. In the closed and locked position, the mold cavity  16  defines a tightly confined closed volume. Any excess liquid which is expelled from the mold cavity  16  drains downward along flanges  28 . The filled mold assembly  10  may be placed into a freezer to allow the liquid therein to solidify. 
   Once the liquid in the mold assembly  10  has frozen, the skeet formed therein may be removed. In this regard, a reverse of the operation here before described is performed to disassemble the mold assembly  10  and remove the skeet formed therein. During this operation, the channels  60  formed in the upper mold  14  drivingly rotate the skeet formed in the mold assembly  10 . As the upper mold  14  and skeet counter-rotate, the protuberances  30  formed on bottom wall  24  facilitate the release of the skeet from the lower mold  12 . Specifically, the ramped profile of the protuberances  30  cause the skeet to cam away from the bottom wall  24  so that the skeet readily releases from the lower mold  12 . During counter rotation, the fingers  62  release from the ramps  38  to unlock the mold assembly. Once disassembled, the skeet may be removed from the upper mold  14  and the process repeated for fabricating additional skeet. 
   Once skilled in the art will recognize that it is preferable for the mold assembly to have some elastic characteristic for accommodating the expansion of the water as it changes from a liquid state to a sold state. In this regard, the mold assembly  10  is preferably that the mold cavity be allowed to expand approximately 10% by volume. To this end, molds  12 ,  14  may be constructed from a polymeric material such polypropylene or similar material that is suitable for the thermal conditions and cycling to which the mold assembly  10  will be exposed. Furthermore, it has been found that this material yields a mold assembly with sufficient surface quality to facilitate removal of the skeet formed therein. One skilled in the art will recognized that a surface treatment or release agent may also be disposed on the interior of the lower and upper mold  12 ,  14  which define the mold cavity  16 . 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 9-11 , a preferred embodiment of an shooting target or skeet, generally identified by reference number  110  is illustrated. Skeet  110  is configured in a disc-like shape having a generally convex outer surface  112  and a generally convex inner surface  114 . A series of circumferential ridges  116 ,  118 ,  120  are formed on the outer surface  112 . Specifically, ridges  116 ,  118  are formed in the side wall  122 , whereas ridge  120  is formed on the top wall  124 . Ridges  116 ,  118 ,  120  enhance the aerodynamic stability of the skeet  110  when it is projected into the air during flight, and further served to increase the structural integrity of the skeet  110 . Ridge  120  and top wall  124  form a generally dished region  126 . The flat portion of the dish region  126  have a series of dimples  128  formed therein. As noted above, these dimples are formed by the protuberances  30  in the upper mold  14  and facilitate release of the skeet therefrom. In flight, the dimples  128  function to manipulate the boundary layer of air flowing over the skeet  110 . In this way, a more turbulent flow around the skeet  110  is generated such that a separation from the boundary layer is delayed resulting in a reduction in the pressure-induced drag during flight. 
   The inner surface  114  has a large-radius bottom wall  130  which transitions to a angularly-oriented side wall  132  as best seen in  FIG. 11 , the transition point  134  between bottom wall  130  and side wall  132  occurs at ridge  118  to provide for sufficient wall thickness of the skeet  110  for maintaining its structural integrity. In addition, bottom wall  130  has a series of radially-extending ribs  134  formed therein. As previously discussed, these ribs function to operably couple the skeet  110  to upper mold  14  to allow for co-rotation during removal of the skeet  110  from the mold assembly  10 . Radial ribs  134  further provide structural reinforcement to skeet  110 . 
   As previously discussed, the skeet  110  is preferably formed by freezing water or a water-based liquid into the configuration heretofore described. In this regard, it has been found that mixing a coloring additive in the water or water-based liquid enhances the visibility of skeet  110 . In this regard, it has been found that commercially-availably flavored gelatin mixtures dilute the gelatin mixture by a ratio of [insert jello to water ratio] are suitable for the fabrication of skeet in accordance herewith. 
   Alternately, a coloring agent which is non toxic and environmentally-friendly maybe applied to the outer surface of the skeet  110  after it is removed from the mold, for the purposes of making the target more visible to a shooter. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 12-17 , a manual or hand-held thrower  210  for skeet  110  is illustrated. The hand thrower  210  includes a head  212  and a grip  214  interconnected by a flexible body  216 . As presently preferred, the hand thrower  210  is a unitary injection-molded component. 
   The head  212  of hand thrower  210  includes a generally U-shaped rim  218  having a lower flange  220  and a contoured side wall  222 . As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 15   a,  the rim  218  cross-section is shaped to conform to the outer side wall surface of a skeet  110  disposed therein. This configuration is particularly well suited for launching ice skeet. Alternately, the rim  218 ′ having a lower flange  220 ′, a vertical side wall  221 ′ and a contoured side wall  222 ′ as shown in  FIG. 15   b  for launching conventional “clay” skeet. The rim  218  further includes a finger portion  224  and a thumb portion  226  which define the generally U-shape. As best seen in  FIG. 13 , finger portion  224  is longer than thumb portion  226  such that a target launched from hand thrower  110  maintains contact with the finger portion  224  after it is released from thumb portion  226 . To this end, the inner surface  225  of the finger portion  224  has a roughened texture to increase friction and promote spin of skeet launched from hand-held thrower  210 . The inner surface  225  may be grained to an equivalent of 80-grit sandpaper. The inner surface may also be provided with ramps to define a series of bumps angled toward the end of fingers  224 . The thumb portion  226  includes a tip  228  which extends away from the generally U-shape opening defined by rim  218 . The tip  228  of thumb portion  226  thus provides a entry region for inserting a skeet into the hand thrower  210 . 
   The body  216  includes a neck  230  having a series of flared ribs coupled to the rim  218 . A medial rib  232  is generally centrally located with respect to the head  212 . A pair of lateral ribs  234 ,  236  are coupled to rim  218  along a finger portion  224 . A single lateral rib  238  is coupled to the thumb portion  226  of rim  218 . This asymmetric configuration facilitates proper release of skeet from the hand thrower  210 . Specifically, lateral ribs  234 ,  236  provide additional stiffness to the finger portion  224 , whereas the single lateral rib  238  coupled to thumb portion  226  enables sufficient flexing of the head portion during insertion of a target into hand thrower  210 . 
   Body  226  includes a beam portion  240  extending between neck portion  230  and grip  214 . The beam portion  240  has a generally inverted V-shaped cross section as best seen in  FIG. 14 . The configuration of beam portion  240  provides sufficient flexibility such that potential energy stored in the body  216  during the throwing motion is transferred into kinetic energy for the flight of the skeet  110  once release. 
   The grip  214  of hand thrower  210  is configured in a comfortable, ergonomic design. Specifically, the grip  214  is generally shaped in the form of an elliptical frustum which tapers from the handle butt  244  to the handle top  246 . With reference to  FIG. 19 , a handle butt  244  having a circumference of about 5.5″ and a ratio of the major axis to the minor axis is in the range of 1.5 to 1.75 is presently preferred. With reference to  FIG. 20 , a handle top  246  having a circumference of about 3.25″ and ratio of the major axis to the minor axis is in the range of 0.75 to 1.0 is presently preferred. The ratio of the major axis at the handle butt  244  to the major axis at the handle top  246  is in the range of 2.0 to 2.25 and preferably about 2.125. With reference now to  FIG. 16 , grip  214  is angularly oriented with respect to an axis A normal to a plane P parallel to the head  212  to provide proper biomechanical positioning of the hand thrower during use. Specifically, an angular offset {circumflex over (−)} is in the range of 35° to 55°, and more preferably 45° is suitable for this application. 
   The grip  214  has a finger region  248  with a series of indentations  250  sized to comfortably accommodate human fingers. The grip  214  also includes a palm portion  252  formed on the grip  214  opposite the finger region  248 . The finger region  248  and palm region  252  have a curved configuration in the side elevation as illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 17 . As presently preferred, the radius of curvature of the finger region is about  20  percent smaller than the radius of curvature of the palm region. The finger region  248  and palm region  252  may also be provided with an in-molded rubberized material to provide enhanced comfort and gripping, thereby further improving the ergonomics of the handle. While the design of this handle has found particular utility in conjunction with a skeet hand thrower  210 , its comfort and ease of grip suggest that applications outside of the hand thrower  210  are recognized. Such applications for the grip  214  include garden tools such as trowels, hand rakes, weeders, and the like, as well as home improvement tools such as scrapers, paint rollers, dust brooms, and the like.