Abstract:
A support device for attaching a trap shooter to a vehicle, particularly a pick-up truck in, which a frame is affixed to a conventional square receiver located below the bumper on the pick-up truck, the frame projecting away from the truck and upwardly, and terminating in a platform upon which the trap shooter is located. The platform is capable of rotation and its spacing from the tailgate can be controlled to allow easy access by an operator for easy loading of disks carried on the pick-up truck body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The following invention relates generally to an instrumentality which allows a clay target throwing device to be supported adjacent a tailgate of a pick-up truck. More particularly, the instant invention is directed to a support which allows a clay target launcher to be securely mounted adjacent a payload area of a pick-up truck to facilitate reloading the launcher and to provide a secure, stable platform during target practice. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most clay target launchers (also known as clay pigeon launchers) are ground mounted. Stakes are imbedded in the ground and provide an upstanding projection upon which the launcher is deployed. Some launchers attach to spare tires mounted on the ground. Most of these type of devices react upon release of the clay target. Launchers rely on spring pressure to hurl the target which results in a reaction force that loosens the support or alters the trajectory of the launcher as a function of repeated use. 
     Moreover, such devices are typically deployed remote from a pick-up truck which is used to carry the clay targets. This makes set up some what more difficult and reloading time consuming since a person using the launcher is not comfortably reposed adjacent the launching device itself and the movement of clay pigeons is a laborious process because of the weight and the fragility of the clay pigeons themselves. 
     The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware and is included herewith to discharge applicant&#39;s acknowledged duty to disclose relevant prior art. It is stipulated, however, that none of these references teach singly nor render obvious when considered in any permissible combination the nexus of the instant invention as disclosed in greater detail hereinafter and as particularly claimed. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PATENT NO. 
                 ISSUE DATE 
                 INVENTOR 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 2,711,163 
                 Jun. 21, 1955 
                 Richardson 
               
               
                   
                 2,925,077 
                 Feb. 16, 1960 
                 Luebkeman 
               
               
                   
                 2,980,095 
                 Apr. 18, 1961 
                 Hoag 
               
               
                   
                 3,677,257 
                 Jul. 18, 1972 
                 Segerkvist 
               
               
                   
                 3,949,728 
                 Apr. 13, 1976 
                 Gustafsson 
               
               
                   
                 4,381,069 
                 Apr. 26, 1983 
                 Kreck 
               
               
                   
                 4,576,395 
                 Mar. 18, 1986 
                 Longoria 
               
               
                   
                 4,770,155 
                 Sep. 13, 1988 
                 Chamberlain, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 4,867,356 
                 Sep. 19, 1989 
                 Melby 
               
               
                   
                 5,226,622 
                 Jul. 13, 1993 
                 LeAnna 
               
               
                   
                 5,330,084 
                 Jul. 19, 1994 
                 Peters 
               
               
                   
                 5,397,147 
                 Mar. 14, 1995 
                 Ducharme, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 5,433,356 
                 Jul. 18, 1995 
                 Russell 
               
               
                   
                 5,451,088 
                 Sep. 19, 1995 
                 Broad 
               
               
                   
                 5,458,389 
                 Oct. 17, 1995 
                 Young 
               
               
                   
                 5,469,998 
                 Nov. 28, 1995 
                 Van Dusen, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 5,489,110 
                 Feb. 6, 1996 
                 Van Dusen 
               
               
                   
                 5,509,592 
                 Apr. 23, 1996 
                 Lipka 
               
               
                   
                 5,540,537 
                 Jul. 30, 1996 
                 Welch 
               
               
                   
                 5,547,116 
                 Aug. 20, 1996 
                 Eckhart 
               
               
                   
                 5,593,139 
                 Jan. 14, 1997 
                 Julian 
               
               
                   
                 5,649,656 
                 Jul. 22, 1997 
                 Davy 
               
               
                   
                 5,658,033 
                 Aug. 19, 1997 
                 Delaune 
               
               
                   
                 5,678,743 
                 Oct. 21, 1997 
                 Johnson, et al. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The patent to Chamberlain, et al., teaches the use of a clay target throwing machine apparatus which is mounted on a towing ball hitch coupled with a vehicle or attached to the ground. The framework is coupled with an upright cylinder which engages the hitch ball allowing movement of the apparatus about the vertical axis of the hitch ball. Although this device allows articulated movement about the long axis of the cylinder which overlies the towing hitch ball, it can not alter the trajectory that the thrower can assume because it is fixed at a horizontal plane. Moreover, this device tends to react to the release of the spring allowing movement about the vertical axis of the cylinder and, for safety it should be constrained to offset the effect of the reaction of the spring on the launcher. 
     The patent to Melby teaches a use of a hitch mount for a clay pigeon shooter in which a hitch ball receives a sleeve which fits over and surrounds it. A pair of side members disposed in parallel spaced relation define a channel therebetween which receives a hitch tongue whereby the first and second side members overlie the tongue sides. 
     The other prior art listed above but not specifically described further catalog the prior art of which the applicant is aware. These references diverge even more starkly from the references specifically distinguished above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is distinguished over the known prior art in a multiplicity of ways. For one thing, the instant invention readily docks with a hollow receiver found on most pick-up trucks. This affords ease of installation and removal once the target shooting has ended. 
     In addition, the elevation and span from a trailing edge of a tailgate of the pick-up truck can be controlled and adjusted as suits the consumer so that it can be strategically deployed at a trailing edge of the tailgate allowing ready access to clay disks which are carried on the pick-up truck body and also to allow support for the operator of the launcher who can sit on the tailgate with a greater degree of comfort. 
     In addition, the instant invention can assume one of two modes: in the first mode, the launcher can be orientated by means of a handle which extends to a platform which supports the launcher and allows motion of the launcher not only side to side, but also up and down. In a second mode, the launcher is fixed in one position so that the person operating the launcher can also shoot the target with a weapon single handed. 
     A frame having a receiver end slidably telescopes within the receiver on the pick-up truck hitch. It is fixed by means of a locking pin and clip. The frame includes an upwardly projecting sleeve whose spatial relationship to the receiver can be adjusted. A platform is mounted on the sleeve of the frame and is so mounted that adjustment is provided to allow rotation of the platform about a vertical plane and also about a horizontal plane so that the launcher can be controlled as to the trajectory of the targets that are propelled therefrom. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there is a primary object of the present is to provide a new and novel vehicle support for a trap shooting launcher. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which is capable of adjustment so that it can be strategically located adjacent a tailgate of the pick-up truck to which it is mounted allowing convenient deployment of subsequent targets and afford the operator a convenient vantage point from which to launch the clay targets. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which is durable in construction, stable when deployed and safe to use. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which lends itself to mass production techniques. 
     Viewed from a first vantage point it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for integrating a skeet launcher to a vehicle comprising, in combination: a frame projecting from the vehicle terminating in a platform, means to attach the launcher to the platform, and means to reorient the platform to alter skeet trajectories. 
     Viewed from a second vantage point it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for shooting, the steps including, attaching a support frame to a vehicle, attaching a launcher to a platform on the support frame, and orienting the platform to alter the launcher trajectory. 
    
    
     These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view thereof. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view opposite FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is an end view opposite FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded parts view of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the apparatus deployed adjacent a tailgate on a pick-up truck with the launcher itself shown in phantom. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Considering the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to the apparatus for supporting a trap shooter according to the present invention. In essence, the device (FIG. 8) can include a frame  20 , a platform  30  and an adjuster  40 . 
     More specifically, the frame  20  includes a square end 2×2 dimensioned to be received within a complementally formed receiver R and affixed thereby means of a locking pin  6  passing through a hole that both the receiver R and the receiver end  2  of the frame  20  share, the pin  6  having a bore fixed by means of a locking clip  8 . 
     The receiver end  2  communicates with an elongate member substantially horizontally disposed and also square in section. It leads to a transition area  12  which causes the frame  20  to sweep upwardly at an angle alpha(α). Preferably, the angle alpha is 45 degrees. After the transition  12 , the frame  20  extends upwardly and outwardly away from the pick-up truck and includes a free end  14  which receives both the platform  30  and adjuster  40  via a sleeve  16 . 
     More particularly, the free end  14  receives within its square hollow, a height adjuster sleeve  16  which telescopes within the free end  14  and can be fixed at any elevation from a plurality of elevations as dictated by a plurality of holes H spaced along the long axis of the height adjuster sleeve  16  once one of the holes H is aligned with a hole H on a free end  14 . The sleeve  16  and free end  14  are held in fixed relation by means of a locking pin  6  passing through the aligned holes and held in position by means of a locking clip  8 . Thus, the frame  20  includes means for adjusting the horizontal elevation by the telescoping interrelationship of the sleeve  16  vis-a-vis the free end  14 . An end of the sleeve  16  remote from the free end  14  includes a keyway  18  located on a top surface defined by a substantially rectangular cutout, for purposes to be assigned. 
     The platform  30  includes, on a bottom face thereof (please see FIG.  10 ), a downwardly projecting stud  26  which is slidably disposed within a tube  22  having, intermediately disposed on one side thereof, a spacer  23  which communicates and fixes a transverse sleeve  24 . The free end of the stud  26  is fixed within the tube  22  by means of a nut  28 . The amount of tension on the nut  28  controls the ease of rotation that the platform can experience about the angle beta (B) shown in FIG. 9, defining a first swivel. The transverse sleeve  24  defines a second swivel, is hollow and can be orientated to align with one of two holes H located within an upper interior hollow of the sleeve  16 . The transverse sleeve  24  is held in rotatable relationship about a horizontal axis by means of a locking pin  6  passing through the sleeves and fixed thereby means of a locking clip  8 . This permits rotation about the angle deltaΔ, approximately 30 degrees, with 15 degrees above the horizontal plane. 
     A key  32  is integrally formed with and projects from a bottom face of the platform  30 . Had the lower of the two holes (H L  of FIG. 10) been utilized rather than the one shown in FIG. 10, the key  32  would nest within the keyway  18  on the sleeve  16 . When so oriented, the device has minimal rotation about the angle beta. When using the other hole (as shown), the angle of rotation is approximately 40 degrees with 20 degree angulation on either side of the support&#39;s long axis. 
     The maximum degree of angulation beta can be controlled by means of first and second stops  42  located on the tube  22  and spaced one from the other by the 40 degree relationship. The stops  42  are located on either side of the keyway  18 . A straight tangent line T touches and aligns points on each of the stops  42  and tube  22 . When the platform  30  is oriented in the hole as shown in FIG. 10, these stops  42  abut against the key  32  at extremes positions, limiting platform motion. Conversely, when the key  32  is nested within the keyway  18  by using hole H L , this rotational feature is not utilized and the platform lends itself for utilization by a single individual for both launching the target and for shooting. As shown in FIG. 10, the ease with which the platform can be rotated about the angle beta is controlled by tension associated with the nut  28  on the stud  26  and is assisted by means of a handle  36  projecting over the frame  20  and more particularly the sleeve  16  and the free end  14 . The handle  36  terminates in a hand grip  38  that allows the user to sit on the tailgate when opened and to rotate the platform about the angle beta. 
     The attitude of the platform  30  can also be controlled within an arc of approximately 30 degrees as shown by the angle delta in FIG.  10 . By pushing up or down on the handle  36 , the inclination of the platform  30  can be altered. This feature is available particularly when the transverse sleeve is mounted as shown in FIG. 10, but has minimal mobility to rotate when in hole H L  because the key  32  abuts against the keyway  18 . 
     In use and operation, and referring to FIG. 11, the launcher L is supported on a top surface of the platform by locating fasteners to penetrate apertures  34  on the platform  30 . Disassembly of the unit is the reverse of that described hereinabove. 
     Moreover, having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims.