Clay Pigeon Target Holders

A clay pigeon target support apparatus comprises an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material configured to provide resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circular ridge disposed on a forward face of the clay pigeon target. First and second ends of the open ring are disposed substantially along radii of the ring separated by an acute angle. A support member integral with the first end of the open ring extends outward from the first end substantially along a radial of the open ring. Spring tension exerted by the resilient open ring upon the clay pigeon target retains the clay pigeon target within the open ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns apparatus associated with clay pigeon target shooting, often known as “skeet” shooting, and more particularly concerns support devices for holding clay pigeon targets in a fixed position as opposed to being launched as a moving target.

2. Background of the Invention

Skeet shooting typically involves launching target objects that simulate game birds such as doves or pigeons to provide a moving target for shooters to practice their technique. A wide variety of launching devices are available for use in such practice. Moving targets such as clay pigeons, typically about the size and shape of a hockey puck, are formed of a clay material that shatters when struck by a bullet or other projectile from a gun, bow, slingshot, or other similar device. The shattered target indicates a successful shot.

Shooting for practice is not limited to moving targets, however. Practice shooting at stationary targets can be useful in improving a shooter's accuracy. There are presently available several types of holders for supporting clay pigeon targets. The conventional holders are generally formed as a stake for supporting the target on the ground. The clay pigeon is then cradled in a Y-shaped or V-shaped figure disposed at the upper end of the stake. In such devices the clay pigeon is not securely supported and susceptible to falling off under windy conditions or other types of disturbance. In other examples the stake may be unstable or is limited in how the clay pigeon target may be positioned for practice.

What is needed is a clay pigeon target holder that holds the target securely and provides greater versatility in how the target may be positioned to adapt the shooter's practice to a wider range of target shooting experiences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clay pigeon target support apparatus is disclosed, comprising an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material configured to provide resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circular ridge disposed on one face of the clay pigeon target; wherein first and second ends of the open ring are disposed substantially along radii of the ring and separated by an acute angle. A first support member integral with the first end of the open ring extends outward from the first end toward a distal end of the support member and substantially along a radial of the open ring, wherein spring tension exerted by the resilient open ring upon the clay pigeon target retains the clay pigeon target within the open ring.

In one aspect the open ring and the first support member may be formed of a single piece of the thin, rigid material.

In another aspect the open ring may be coated with a non-slip material.

In another aspect the distal end of the first support member includes a blade attached to the bottom or distal end of the first support member and shaped to extend laterally from the bottom end of the first support member, thereby enabling the first support member to resist rotation due to wind or an off-center hit to the clay pigeon target.

In another aspect a small panel may be attached to the first support member between the bottom or distal end of the first support member and the open ring, wherein a company logo or other symbol may be attached to the small panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an advance in the state of the art, a clay pigeon target support device is disclosed that includes several novel features, heretofore not known to be available, which substantially improve its function and versatility. These features enable the support device to be adapted to a variety of placements, thereby providing a more useful and interesting target practice experience for shooters, regardless of whether they are using guns, bows or crossbows, or slingshots, for example.

The invention arose from recognizing several needs of skeet shooters and other persons who need targets for practicing their shooting skills. One of the needs is to recycle clay pigeons used in skeet shooting for reuse that were launched but not damaged, falling to the earth and often discarded and, because they are biodegradable, left to decay where they fell. Another need is to provide a more suitable shooting target for practice than bottles, metal cans, and other discarded containers. Such objects are often used but are inconvenient to support, are not biodegradable, and are difficult to retrieve for disposal, etc. Another need is to provide a standard type of target for competition shooting, either formal or informal, in which the target is supported in a stationary position and which can be easily replaced when the target is damaged. This form of competition can accommodate a variety of shooting devices—guns, bow & arrow, slingshots, and even throwing by hand. Thus, the present invention permits substantial expansion of the potential uses of clay pigeon targets, whether obtained new or retrieved from skeet shooting sessions. The invention provides a practical and convenient way to support a clay pigeon target to satisfy the exemplary needs enumerated herein.

The invention comprises an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material such as metal or an engineered plastic that is formed integrally with a support member extending radially from one of the open ends of the ring to a distal end. The clay pigeon target support or holder is shaped somewhat like a question mark without the period below its lower extremity. The ring portion, preferably formed in one end of the thin, rigid, and elastic material, is open along a small part of its circumference. The ring portion thus provides resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circular ridge, which is typically disposed on a forward face of the clay pigeon target. The first and second ends of the open ring are aligned substantially along radii of the ring that are separated by an acute angle. The open ring and support member may be formed of a single piece of the thin, rigid, elastic material.

In use, the open ends of the ring may be separated slightly against the spring tension of the elastic ring material, the ring placed around the outer diameter of the circular ridge on the face of the clay pigeon, and then relaxed so that the ring clamps the circular ridge of the clay pigeon within it. On other types of clay pigeons, the open ends of the ring may be squeezed slightly against the spring tension of the ring material, and the ring placed within the inner diameter of the circular ridge on the forward face of the clay pigeon. In clay pigeons without a circular ridge on one face, the target may be gripped by positioning the ring around the perimeter of the clay pigeon. Then the support device, with the clay pigeon installed may be installed in the ground as shown inFIG. 10by pushing the distal end of the support member into the ground. It is then ready for use.

The clay target pigeon support described herein includes several embodiments that differ as to form and function. Features referred to by identical reference numbers identify features of the same form and function. Further, the clay pigeon target support device disclosed herein may include several optional features that expand its utility. One feature is (1) a hook device that may be attached to the support member so that the target support device can be hung from a branch of a tree, bush, or other object to suspend the clay pigeon target above ground level as shown inFIG. 11. Another feature is (2) an anti-rotation blade attached to the bottom end of the support member that extends laterally from a placement near the bottom end so that when inserted in the ground the support device resists rotating in the wind or rotating when a bullet or projectile strikes the clay pigeon off-center. A third feature is (3) a small panel attached to the support member between the open ring and the bottom end to which may be attached a company logo. An alternative embodiment places the small panel near the bottom end so that it may function as an anti-rotation blade.

FIG. 1illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support10in accordance with one embodiment of the claimed invention. The target support comprises an open ring12defined by a center14and first16and second18ends. The first16and second18ends are separated, thereby defining an acute angle20with respect to the center14. The acute angle20can be any size from a few degrees to 90 degrees. However, an acute angle between 10 and 60 degrees has been found to be convenient in use. A support member22extends from, and is preferably integral with, the first end16of the open ring12. The clay pigeon target support10may be formed of a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic. One preferred material is carbon steel spring wire or welding wire having a diameter of approximately 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch. In experiments it has been found that a ⅛ inch diameter resilient steel wire or rod is satisfactory. The length of the support member22from the first end16of the open ring12to the distal end46of the support member22may be adjusted to suit the application, allowing enough to support the clay pigeon above ground, and support a logo panel96(SeeFIG. 9), and not so long as to impair stability.

Also illustrated inFIG. 1is a typical example of a clay pigeon target100, a round disc102usually of a molded clay material that is biodegradable. The disc102includes a forward face104and an outer perimeter106. The forward face104of the clay pigeon target100typically includes a raised circular ridge108centered on the forward face104and of smaller diameter than the clay pigeon target100. The raised ridge108may include an outer edge110and an inner edge112that extends a short distance away from the forward face104. The outer edge110and the inner edge112provide a raised ledge that the open ring12of the clay pigeon target can use to grasp the clay pigeon target100. In use, as will be described inFIGS. 10 and 11, the open ring12of the target support10is placed around the outer border110or within the inner border112. To secure the clay pigeon target to the clay pigeon, the acute angle20of the open ring12of the target support10may be respectively opened or closed against the spring tension of the thin, rigid, resilient material used to form the open ring12. In the description that follows, the clay pigeon target100itself is not part of the invention; rather, it is the work piece the invention10is intended to be used with. Further, although also not material to the invention, the reverse side of the disc102(not shown) may be hollow or formed as a shallow cup.

FIG. 2illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support30in accordance with a second embodiment of the claimed invention. The clay pigeon target support30is adapted for use by supporting the target by placing the open ring32within the inner edge112of the clay pigeon target100. Note that the clay pigeon target100embodies the same features and uses the same reference numbers as shown inFIG. 1.

The clay pigeon target support30illustrated inFIG. 2comprises an open ring32defined by a center34and first36and second38ends. The first36and second38ends are separated, thereby defining an acute angle40with respect to the center34. A support member42extends from, and is preferably integral with, the first end36of the open ring32. The support member42includes an offset44configured to clear the raised ridge108of the clay pigeon target100when the open ring32of the target support30is installed on the forward face104of the clay pigeon target100. The clay pigeon target support30may also be formed of a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic.

FIG. 3illustrates a third embodiment of the claimed invention adapted to support a clay pigeon target100in the earth's surface at a fixed orientation that resists rotation of the clay pigeon target100by wind effects or when the clay pigeon target100may be struck off-center by a projectile. The open ring26of the clay pigeon target support24is provided with a second leg or support member. The first support member28and second support member48are respectively integral extensions of the first16and second18ends of the open ring26. The first28and second48support members may be oriented substantially parallel with each other. The clay pigeon target support24may also be formed of a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic.

FIG. 4illustrates a fourth embodiment of the claimed invention, a clay pigeon target support50that is closely similar to the clay pigeon support10ofFIG. 1. The target support50is formed of an open ring52having first16and second18open ends except that the lower end of the support member54is shaped with an integral hook56. The hook56, which may be formed from an extension of the thin, rigid resilient material of the open ring52and the support member54, enables the clay pigeon target100to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown inFIG. 11.

FIG. 5illustrates an alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted inFIG. 4. The target support60is formed of an open ring62having first16and second18open ends that define the acute angle20except that the lower end of the support member64is shaped with a hook66attached to the lower end of the support member64by wrapping the joined hook66and support member64with a length of tape or wire68. The hook66enables the clay pigeon target100to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown inFIG. 11.

FIG. 6illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted inFIG. 5. The target support70is formed of an open ring72having first16and second18open ends that define the acute angle20except that the lower end of the support member74is shaped with a hook76attached to the lower end of the support member74by a suitable adhesive or by welding or soldering the joined hook76to the support member74. The hook76enables the clay pigeon target100to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown inFIG. 11.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6depict alternate methods of providing a hook to support the clay pigeon target support50,60, or70above ground. Persons skilled in the art will realize that other methods may be adapted to the same purpose depending on the circumstances the user wishes to adapt the target support to for shooting practice or competition.

FIG. 7illustrates a fifth embodiment of the clay pigeon target support80similar to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1. The embodiment ofFIG. 7is functionally similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 3. The open ring82of the target support100includes the first16and second18open ends that define the acute angle20. Instead of a second support member however, the single support member84may be provided with a blade86that, when the target support80is installed in the earth's surface, the blade86acts to resist the rotation of the clay pigeon target100by wind effects or when the clay pigeon target100is struck off-center by a projectile. The blade86may be formed in a variety of shapes as long as the blade extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the support member and is formed for being easily staked into the ground.

FIG. 8illustrates a sixth embodiment of the clay pigeon target support90similar to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1except that it is modified by adding a logo panel96to the support member94. The open ring82of the target support90includes the first16and second18open ends that define the acute angle20. The logo panel96, shown as section A-A in the figure, enables a user to affix a logo, tradename, icon or any other mark or symbol that represents an owner, a business entity, an entry number during competition and the like.

FIG. 9illustrates a detail of the embodiment ofFIG. 8through the section A-A that depicts an edgewise view from above of the logo panel96attached to the support member94using a clip98. The clip98, which may take various forms as apparent to persons skilled in the art, may be attached to the logo panel96via an adhesive, for example.

One additional feature that may be incorporated into any of the clay pigeon target supports illustrated and described herein is to coat the open ring and support member(s) with a paint or epoxy coating to protect the finish and to provide colored surfaces to assist in identifying the target supports. For example, colored target supports may be used to distinguish competitors, to locate target supports that become dislodged from their supporting object, and other purposes. The coating material may also be selected to provide or treated with a non-slip surface that more readily grasps the raised ridges of the clay pigeon targets to secure the clay pigeon targets within the open ring of the target support.

FIG. 10illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the claimed invention depicted inFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. The assembly first130and second140clay pigeon target100, installed in a clay pigeon target support10, are shown staked into the earth's surface170.

FIG. 11illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the alternate embodiment of the claimed invention depicted inFIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The assembly third150and fourth160clay pigeon target100, installed in a clay pigeon target support10, are shown hung from a branch200of a tree supported by the earth's surface180.