Abstract:
A vertical rotary shooting target having a stand with a horizontally extending axial which supports a rotary target structure. The vertical rotary target structure includes a hub rotatably mounted on the axial, a pair of target impact plates, and a support structure connecting the impact plates radially outwardly on diametrically opposed sides of the said hub and in horizontally spaced relation for enhanced shooting difficulty. Alternative embodiments of impact plate support structures are disclosed which minimize potentially harmful and damaging splashback of bullets striking the impact plates.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to shooting targets for use with handguns, shotguns, and rifles, and more particularly, to a rotary shooting target that has a plurality of impact paddle-like plates which define continually moving targets in response to being struck by bullets during usage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Vertical rotary shooting targets are known which comprise a stand having a horizontal axle on which a hub is rotatably mounted from which support rods extend radially on diametrically opposed sides of the hub. Each radial support rod carries a target in the form of a paddle-like impact plate made of hardened steel fixed to a side thereof, with the impact plates being mounted on opposite lateral sides of the radial support rods. When a shooter sequentially hits the targets, the hub, support rods and impact plates rotate about the axis in a vertical plane, creating rapidly moving targets for rapid fire practice. 
   When a bullet hits the impact plate, a splash cone is created which can cause particles of handgun bullets to splash and deflect more than 20 yards and rifle bullets can deflect 75 yards and more. When the bullet strikes a vertical junction between the support rod and the impact plate affixed thereof, lateral and rearward splashback can occur which can strike shooters located downwardly along a firing line. Moreover, the splashback can strike and damage the hub, axle, and stand, which are not made of impact resistant hardened steel. Since the impact plate and hubs are welded to the connecting rod, which can create stress cracks in the joint area, the junction areas can be susceptible to failure after repeated impact, as is the case in rotating targets of such type which are used for rapid shooting practice. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical rotary shooting target adapted for more effectively preventing harmful splashback of bullet fragments along a shooting line. 
   Another object is to provide a vertical rotary shooting target as characterized above which minimizes splashback of bullet fragments which can damage the stand and support structure in the rotary target. 
   A further object is to provide a vertical rotary target of the foregoing type which provides more challenging rapid fire practice in sequential shooting. 
   Still another object is to provide a vertical rotary shooting target of the above kind which is adapted for more economical construction and long-term reliable usage. A related object is to provide such a rotary target which eliminates the necessity for welding structural components of the rotary targets at locations where stress cracks can occur that are susceptible to failure during usage of the target. 
   Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawing, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective of an illustrative rotary target in accordance with the invention being used on a shooting line. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged front elevational view of the rotary target shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical section of the illustrated rotary target taken in the plane of line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the connection of impact paddle support rods to a rotary hub of the device; 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of rotary target in accordance with the invention; and 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are enlarged fragmentary sections of the rotary target shown in  FIG. 5 , taken in the planes of lines  6 — 6  and  7 — 7  respectively. 
   

   While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now more particularly to  FIGS. 1–4  of the drawings, there is shown an illustrative vertical rotary target  10  embodying the present invention, comprising a conventional stand  11  and a rotary target support structure  12 . The stand  11  in this instance comprises a pair of side legs  14  which support a horizontal axle rod  15 . The legs  14  have respective collars  16  at their upper ends through which opposing ends of the axle rod  15  extend, with removable split pins  18  retaining the axle rod  15  in mounted position. 
   The rotary target support structure  12  comprises a hub  20  rotatably mounted centrally on the axle rod  15 , and a pair of target support members in the form of rods  21  extending radially from diametrically opposed sides of the hub  20 . The target support rods  21  in this instance are welded in a butting relation to opposite sides of the hub  20  and further retained by means of a pair of reinforcement support rods  22  each welded to respective ends of the support rods  21  on opposite sides of the hub. The hub  20  is maintained centrally on the axle rod  15  by pins  24 , and an appropriate bushing may be provided between the hub  20  and axle rod  15  facilitating relative rotational movement of the hub  20 . Hence, it can be seen that the target support structure  12  can be rotated relative to the axle rod  15 . 
   In accordance with the invention, the target support members each include a laterally extending horizontal section which supports a target in the form of an impact plate in a manner which prevents and/or substantially minimizes harmful bullet splashback that can harm persons on the shooting line or damage to the structure of the rotary target. To this end, in the illustrated embodiment, each target support rod  21  includes a radial section  21   a  connected to the hub  20 , a horizontal target supporting section  21   b , and an angled section  21   c  interconnecting the radial and horizontal sections  21   a ,  21   b . Each target is in the form of a rectangular or square impact plate  30  made of hardened, impact resistant steel capable of withstanding impact from rifle and handgun bullets. The impact plates  30  in this case are welded to outer radial sides of the horizontal support rod sections  21   b . Hence, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , when an impact plate  30  is in an upper position and it is on an upper side of the horizontal support rod section  21   b  and when the impact plate  30  in the lower position it is on an underside of the horizontal support rod section  21   b.    
   It will be seen that when an impact plate  30  is in an upper position and a bullet strikes the impact plate at the juncture between the impact plate  30  and the horizontal support rod section  21   b  fragments will tend to be deflected by the support rod section  21  in a substantial vertical direction, in contrast to the prior art in which vertical support rods that support the impact plates deflect bullet splashback laterally in a direction that could affect other shooters on the firing line. The horizontal support rod section  21   b , when in such upper position, further tends to prevent deflection of the splashback in a downward direction that can damage the stand  11  or the rotary target support structure  12 . Likewise, when the impact plate  30  is in a lower position, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , bullet fragments striking the impact plate  30  at the junction between the impact plate  30  and the horizontal support rod section  21   b  will be deflected downwardly toward the ground, again in a manner which will not cause harmful splashback to participants on the firing line or damage to the structure of the rotary target. 
   In carrying out a further feature of the invention, the target impact plates  30  are supported by the horizontal support rod sections  21   b  in outward laterally spaced relation to the plane of the radial support rod sections  21   a  for increased horizontal separation between the impact plates  30  and enhanced shooting practice difficulty. In the illustrated embodiment, the impact plates  30  are disposed a distance “x” laterally outwardly of the radial support rod section  21   a  of about one-half the width “w” of the impact plate  30 , hence creating a lateral separation corresponding to about the horizontal width “w” of the impact plates  30 . It will be seen that rotary target provides more challenging sequential shooting by virtue of the increased horizontal spacing between the impact plates  30  during repetitive alternate shooting. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5–7 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of rotary shooting target in accordance with the invention, wherein items similar to those described above have been given similar reference numbers with the distinguishing “prime” added. The rotary target  10 ′ includes a stand  11 ′ similar to that described above and a rotary target support structure  12 ′ which is adapted for more economical manufacture and even more effective prevention of undesirable bullet splashback. The rotary target support structure  12 ′ again include a hub  20 ′ supported on an axle rod  15 ′ of the stand for relative rotational movement in a vertical plane. 
   In keeping with this embodiment of the invention, the rotary target includes target impact plate and support structures connected to the rotary hub  20 ′ defined by unitary plates  35  of hardened impact resistant steel. Each plate  35  defines both a generally rectangular impact plate  30 ′ and a support member  21 ′ for supporting the impact plates  30 ′ radially outwardly of the hub  20 ′ in laterally spaced relation to a central radial axis by a distance by at least one-half the width of the impact plates. The support members  21 ′ in this case include a radial plate section  21   a ′ coupled to the hub  20 ′ and an inclined plate section  21   c ′ interconnecting the radial plate section  21   a ′ and the impact plate  30 ′. The radial plate section  21   a ′ of the lower plate depicted in  FIG. 5  again is longer than the radial plate section of the upper plate for assuring a neutral vertical position of the target when not in use. 
   For affixing the target defining plates  35  to the rotary hub  20 ′, tubular members  38  are welded on sides of the hub  20   a ′. The radial plate sections  21   a ′ of the target defining plates  35  each are positionable along opposite sides of the tubular members  38  and are secured together and to the channels by removable fasteners in the form of bolts  39 . 
   It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that since the impact plates  30 ′ and support members  21 ′ are defined by respective unitary, coplanar plates  35 , there are no joints, such as the juncture between impact plates and cylindrical support rods, that can increase potentially harmful splashback deflection to persons on the firing line. Since none of the structural members of the rotary support structure  12 ′ necessitate welding, there also are no stress cracks or other weld created defects that can affect the structural integrity of the rotary target at locations that are the subject of repetitive shooting impact. Moreover, since the target defining plates  35  can be easily bolted to the rotary hub  20 ′, the rotary target lends itself to easy manufacture and field assembly.