Trap shoot simulator and method

Method and apparatus for simulating trap shooting by utilizing a pair of separate electrical drive motors to move a light source about two separate axes. Control structure provide a logic sequence of operation causing the light source to project a beam of light having only upward vertical motion at a random azimuthal angle to simulate the flight of objects in trap shooting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to method and apparatus for simulating trap 
shooting, and relates more particularly to a light projector which 
produces a beam of light on a remote screen that simulates the flight of 
an object used in trap shooting. 
Various arrangements have previously been devised in an attempt to provide 
a light projector that simulates the flight of a bird. For instance, U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,904,204 discloses a simulated clay shooting system which 
includes a projector providing a visible mark, and a projector with an 
invisible mark for simulating lead-sighting. U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,035 
discloses a target projector that produces a revolving target on a screen. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,834 discloses a wing shot training device with a 
projector simulating the flight of a bird or clay target. U.S. Pat. No. 
2,644,884 discloses various cam and follower mechanisms for projecting a 
target image on the screen in irregular motion. Other types of mechanisms 
for simulating a movable target for practice firing are disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 2,309,614; 2,456,828; 2,527,236; 2,593,117; 2,665,133; 
3,411,785; and 3,502,333. None of these prior arrangements however, 
contemplate a light projector which provides an upwardly moving target 
traveling along a random azimuthal angle to simulate the objects in trap 
shooting. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide 
an improved light projector method and apparatus for simulating the flight 
of objects in trap shooting or the like to permit shooting practice and 
training in an enclosed area by a person using his own gun with which he 
is familiar, and without expenditure of supplies used in actual trap 
shooting. 
More particularly, it is an important object of the present invention to 
provide a light projector and method which produces a beam of light that 
moves only upwardly on the projector screen, and which moves at a randomly 
selected azimuthal angle. The projector further includes control circuitry 
providing a logic sequence which automatically, upon selected initiation 
of the projector stops the light source of the projector at a randomly 
selected azimuthal angle, energizes the light source, drives the light 
source such that the beam of light moves upwardly, then de-energizes the 
light source and restarts movement to a different azimuthal angle upon 
reaching the maximum vertical position, while allowing the light source to 
reset to its minimum vertical position. 
More particularly, the present invention contemplates a first drive motor 
and drive connection which is operably connected to rotate a frame about a 
first axis. A light source is pivotally mounted to the frame about a pivot 
axis that rotates about the first axis. A second continuously rotatable 
electrical drive motor is carried by the movable frame to pivot the light 
source about the pivot axis connecting the light source to the frame. Cam 
operated micro switches sense the location of the light source and more 
particularly sense the maximum and minimum vertical positions thereof. 
Control circuitry normally provides continuous operation of the motor 
driving the frame while the motor mounted to the frame is inactive. Upon 
throwing a manual switch, the motor driving the frame is stopped to 
position the light source at a randomly located azimuthal angle, the light 
source is energized, and the second motor started to drive the light 
source in upward vertical movement. Upon reaching maximum vertical 
position the light source is de-energized, and the motor driving the frame 
is restarted. Once the light source returns to its minimum vertical 
position the second motor is stopped and an indicator light is energized 
to show that the light is reset to its minimum vertical location. 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are 
specifically set forth in or will become apparent from the following 
detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when read 
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a light projector 
generally designated by the numeral 10 comprises an enclosed box-like base 
12 having a light opening 13 in the front face thereof. Mounted within the 
interior of base 12 is a continuously rotatable electrical drive motor 14 
whose output shaft acts through a crank 16, two bar linkage 18, 20 and a 
shaft 22 to rotate a frame 24 in an approximately 90.degree. to 95.degree. 
arc about the axis of shaft 22. Appropriate mounting structure 26 movably 
mount frame 24 to base 12. 
An appropriate light source such as a high intensity lamp 28 is movably 
mounted to the right angle shaped frame 24 by a pivot 30 permitting 
vertically upward and downward rotation of light 28 about an axis 32. It 
is important to note that, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light 
28 is mounted on non-aligned relationship with respect to the longitudinal 
axis of shaft 22. 
Another continuously rotatable electric drive motor 34 is carried upon 
movable frame 24 and has an output shaft 36 which acts through another 
drive connection comprising a crank 38 and links 40, 42 to pivot or rotate 
light 28 in an approximately 45.degree. to 60.degree. vertical arc up and 
down about the axis 32. The speed of motor 34 may be altered, if desired, 
by adjustment of a rheostat 86. A pair of cams 44, 46 on shaft 36 are 
respectively engageable with a pair of microswitches 50, 52. Cam 44 is 
arranged to depress switch 50 whenever the light 28 is at its minimum 
vertical position as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Similarly, cam 46 
includes a full semi-circular section for depressing microswitch 52 
throughout approximately one-half a revolution of shaft 36 during upward 
motion of light 28, and is configured to allow release of switch 52 during 
the other one-half revolution while light 28 is moving downwardly. 
The projector further includes an externally mounted control panel 54 
having a main power switch 56, a "ready" indicator light 60, rheostat 86, 
and a remotely located pushbutton switch 62. In the electrical control 
circuitry as illustrated in FIG. 4, the indicator lights 58 and 60, target 
light 28, and electric motors 14, 34 all are arranged in parallel to an 
electrical power source 64. Microswitch 52 is in series relationship to 
motor 14 and target light 28, while microswitch 50 is in series 
relationship to the "ready" indicator light 60 and motor 34. Pushbutton 
switch 62 is connected to motor 34 in parallel relationship to microswitch 
50. 
Auxiliary equipment which may be utilized in conjunction with projector 10 
include a second light source 66 releasably clamped to the barrel of a 
conventional gun 68, a microswitch 70 releasably attached to the gun to be 
operated by the trigger 72 thereof, and a plunger solenoid 74 releasably 
attached to the stock 76 of the gun. As clear from the circuitry of FIG. 
4, closing of microswitch 70 by actuation of the trigger energizes the 
light source 66 to project a beam simulating gun firing, and solenoid 74 
is activated to produce an impact at the gun stock simulating gun recoil. 
In operation, light 28 is normally at its minimum vertical position as 
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 with both cams 44, 46 respectively depressing 
the associated microswitches 50 and 52 to position the latter in their 
righthand position shown in FIG. 4. Upon closing main switch 56, the power 
indicator light 58 is energized. Swing motor 14 is started due to the 
position of switch 52, and indicator light 60 is energized by virtue of 
the position of microswitch 50. Thus one drive means comprising the motor 
14 and the drive connection 16-22 associated therewith causes repetitive 
rotation of the frame and light 28 back and forth in an approximately 
90.degree. arc about the axis of shaft 22. As depicted in FIG. 7, the 
action of motor 14 causes the pivot axis 32 of the light to rock back and 
forth between preselected limits of different azimuthal angles in a plane 
extending generally perpendicular to the axis of shaft 22. The amount of 
change in the azimuthal angular position of the light 28 and the projected 
beam thereof upon the remote screen 78 is in relation to the degree of 
non-alignment between light 28 and the axis of shaft 22. 
To simulate the release of a clay pigeon or other projectile utilized in 
trap shooting, push button switch 62 (which may be foot operated if 
desired) is momentarily depressed to energize drive motor 34. The drive 
means comprising motor 34 and associated drive connection 38-42 begins 
rotating light 28 upwardly from its minimum vertical position. The 
clockwise rotation of shaft 36 as illustrated in FIG. 3 disengages both 
cams 44, 46 from the associated microswitches 50, 52 to cause these 
microswitches to shift to their lefthand position shown in the FIG. 4 
circuit. As a result, motor 14 is stopped to place the light 28 at a 
random azimuthal angle unknown to the person awaiting the simulated 
release of the clay pigeon. At the same time, the leftward switching of 
switch 52 energizes target light 28 to project a light beam onto the 
screen 78 simulating release of the target. The leftward movement of 
microswitch 50 assures continued operation of motor 34 after push button 
switch 62 is released. Once light 28 leaves its minimum vertical position 
and cam 44 releases switch 50, the "ready" indicator light 60 is 
de-energized. 
Motor 34 continues rotating to drive light 28 toward its maximum vertical 
position illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 3, thus causing upward flight 
movement of the projected beam of light on the screen 78 at the random 
azimuthal angle determined solely by the angle of rotation of motor 14 at 
the time it was de-energized. Once the maximum vertical light position is 
reached, the semi-circular portion of cam 46 again contacts and depresses 
switch 52 to shift the latter its righthand position of FIG. 4 to 
simultaneously de-energize light 28 and restart motor 14. Motor 34 
continues operating until a complete full revolution of shaft 36 has 
occurred, whereupon cam 44 again depresses microswitch 50 to stop motor 34 
and at the same time energize "ready" light 60 to indicate that light 28 
has returned to its minimum vertical position in preparation for the next 
sequence of operation. It will be apparent that while light 28 is 
energized in projecting an upwardly moving beam of light at a random 
azimuthal angle on screen 78 between the preselected azimuthal angle 
limits 82, 84 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7, that the gun operator will 
attempt to "hit" the moving light target by depressing trigger switch 70 
to project a beam of light 60 from source 66 onto the screen 78. Thus it 
will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved projector 
and accompanying control logic circuitry which automatically resets the 
light 28 to its minimum vertical position after completion of the firing 
sequence. Motor 14 continues to pivot the light through a variety of 
azimuthal angles so that upon the next operation of the projector, the 
light 28 will be at a randomly selected azimuthal angle. If desired the 
light source may comprise a pair or other number of lights to simulate 
shooting "doubles." 
I have found by providing an output speed on shafts 22 and 36 of about 0.75 
rpm, and swinging shaft 22 through approximately a 90.degree. arc while 
rotating pivot 30 through an approximately 45.degree. to 60.degree. arc, 
that the projected beam of light on the remote screen 78 approximately 5 
to 8 feet distant simulates the speed and random direction of the flight 
of a clay pigeon released during trap shooting. 
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides 
first circuit means including switches 62, 50 and 52 which substantially 
simultaneously stop motor 14, energize light 28, and start motor 34 upon 
depressing switch 62. Further, second circuit means including switch 52 
and the parallel interconnection of motor 14 and light 28, automatically 
de-energizes light 28 and restarts motor 14 when the light 28 reaches its 
maximum vertical position. Similarly, third circuit means including switch 
50 and the parallel interconnection of motor 34 and light 60 stops the 
vertical rotation of light 28 to reset the latter at its minimum vertical 
position, and energizes indicator light 60 when light 28 reaches its 
minimum vertical position. 
From the foregoing it will also be apparent that the present invention 
contemplates an improved method of simulating the flight of objects 
utilized in trap shooting which includes the steps of continually pivoting 
a light source back and forth between different azimuthal angles, then 
selectively stopping and pivoting motion at a random azimuth while 
simultaneously energizing the light and starting vertical upward movement 
thereof. Upon reaching maximum vertical position, the light source is 
de-energized and the pivoting motion restarted. Vertical downward movement 
continues to reset the light at its minimum position. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically set 
forth above, the foregoing detailed description should be considered 
exemplary in nature and not as limiting to the scope and spirit of the 
invention as set forth in the appended claims.