METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING A BALLISTIC TARGET

A method and system for suspending a target above a surface that provides for supporting a support member above the surface. A hanger is used to suspend a target from the support member. When the target is hanging from the support member, it is induced into an angle so that its top portion is closer to a shooter. When the target is struck by an incoming projectile, it is allowed to pivot downward from its initial position and the target is also restrained from rotating about the axis of suspension.

BACKGROUND

There are many apparatus for suspending a ballistic target. Most of these mechanisms are made of a hardened steel, which typically, but not always an abrasion resistant material. The targets themselves are also typically made of hardened, abrasion resistant steel. These targets typically resemble a gong, especially when they are attached to a corresponding suspending mechanism.

Such gong type targets are quite commonplace. In fact, target systems made by competing manufactures are very similar to each other and there are little to no distinguishing characteristics. This is typical in an industry where innovation fell off early because the products are very simple and “low tech”.

Among the simplest gong target systems includes a pair a leg assemblies where each leg assembly itself includes two legs and each assembly is designed to fit over a horizontal bar. A simplistic horizontal bar is inserted into receptacles included in the leg assembly. One leg assembly is so provided on each side of the bar to form a dual “A-Frame” much akin to a small children's swing set. In the most simple of systems, the leg assembles are structured to fit over a piece of lumber, e.g. a 2-by-4.

In these simplistic gong target systems suspend a target from the horizontal bar using metal chain. There are several problems with such simplicity, one of which has serious safety implications. When a target suspended by chain is struck by a bullet, the kinetic energy is dissipated in a completely uncontrolled manner. At the moment of impact, the target is displaced but its direction of travel in unpredictable. This means that a bullet's path, post impact, cannot be predicted. Ricochet derived injuries are a real threat.

Recognizing the lethality of ricochet events, the industry has made some strides in restraining the movement of the target when it is struck by a bullet. Some target suspension systems are structured so as to partially restrain the target, but still cannot maintain an orthogonal orientation of the target relative to the shooter. So, there is always some axial rotation around a vertical axis. A ricochet can still be directed toward others on the shooting range.

In those systems that attempt to partially restrain a gong target, the target is suspended using solid hanger members. These prior art hanging members move independently and, worse yet, the target itself can still rotate about the vertical axis because the solid hangers are allowed to move independently. Also, these prior art systems typically attach the solid hangers to the horizontal bar using a free-moving attachment mechanism, for example a short span of chain. The same type of attachment is also used at the target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a pictorial a representation of one example embodiment of a system for suspending a ballistic target. According to one example embodiment, a system for suspending a ballistic target comprises a horizontal support member100. The horizontal support100itself comprises a plurality of leg bracket receptacles which receives leg receive legs140. When all of the legs140are installed onto the leg brackets130, the assembly resembles an “A” frame support structure. According to this example embodiment, the horizontal support member100includes a horizontal bar100. The horizontal bar100spans a first “A” support structure to a second “A” support structure. It should be appreciated that these two support structures are created by the two legs140to a single leg bracket130. Then, the leg bracket130is installed into the leg bracket receptacles included in the horizontal support member100.

In further illustration of one example embodiment of a president system,FIG. 1further illustrates that a target150is suspended from a the horizontal bar110using one or more hangers120. It should be appreciated that, according to this illustrative embodiment, the hangers120includes amounting flange125. The amounting flange, according to some embodiment, also includes a front-facing attachments surface123. The front-facing attachments surface123is disposed against a rear surface of the target150. It should likewise be appreciated that the target150, in this illustrative embodiment, is attached using fasteners. Fasteners are received through attachment orifices155. It should also be appreciated that the attachment orifices155included in the target150are set below a center of gravity160of said target150.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram that depicts one example method for suspending a target. According to this example method, a target is suspended by maintaining a horizontal support member above a surface (step5). Then, a target is supported from the horizontal support member. It should be appreciated that, according to one alternative illustrative use case, the present method is applied in situations where the horizontal support member includes a horizontal bar from which a target is supported. In either of these alternative methods, the target is supported from the horizontal support member at a declining angle (step10). In this illustrative method, the declining angle is such that the top side of a target is positioned closer to the source of an incoming projectile.

When the target is struck by a projectile (step15), is allowed to deflect from its initial position (step20). In this example method, the target is also substantially constrained from rotating about the axis of suspension (step25). It should be appreciated that by ensuring that the target is supported at a declining angle, an incoming projectile will not only deflect the target further downward, any ricocheting projectile will also be directed substantially downward rather than outward toward the direction of a shooter. This is a significant safety enhancement over prior art technology in this realm.

FIG. 3is a flow diagram that depicts one alternative method for suspending a target at a declining angle. According to this alternative method, suspended target is caused to be oriented at a declining angle by applying a toward component to at least one end of one hangar suspended from the horizontal support member (step30). It should be appreciated that such a toward component must be applied so as to cause the bottom of the target to be further away from the source of a projectile and the top of the target to be closer to the source of a projectile.

FIG. 4is a flow diagram is a flow diagram that depicts one alternative method for achieving a declining angle through application of a torque component that is substantially derived from the weight of the target itself. As will become apparent by additional teachings in this disclosure, a hangar120supported from a horizontal bar110included in a horizontal support member100will typically angle from a horizontal bar110at a substantially vertical angle. Referring again toFIG. 1, this vertical angle is natural since the weight of the hangar120is substantially uniformly distributed immediately below the horizontal bar110.

Even a mounting flange125included in a hangar120will not significantly offset the center of gravity of the anger120. As such the anger120continues to dangle vertically from the horizontal bar110. Once on additional weight, for example the weight of the target150, is introduced, the center of gravity of the hangar120and the target150is shifted and causes the hanger120to swing backward away from the source of a projectile. Hence, the torque component is substantially derived from the weight of the target (step35). This toward component is then applied to the hangar, which causes the hanger to pivot about a pivot point where the target is suspended (step37) from being horizontal support member100(e.g. a horizontal bar110included therein).

FIG. 5is a flow diagram that depicts alternative methods for supporting a target at a declining angle. According to one example alternative method, An attachment point on a hanger is offset forward toward the direction of an incoming projectile (step45). It is to be appreciated that the offset is relative to the center of gravity of the hanger. Then, a target is attached to the hanger at this offset attachment point (step50).

In yet another alternative method, at an attachment point on a a target is selected such that international point on the target is below the center of gravity of the target (step40). The target is then attached to the anger at the selected attachment point (step50).

And in yet another alternative method, the attachment point on a target is selected such that the attached to put all the target is below the center of gravity of the target (step40), the catcher point on the hanger is also offset forward from the center of gravity of the hanger (step45) and the target is then attached to the hanger at the selected catcher point (step50), in this alternative method this is accomplished at the offset attachment point on the hanger (step50). Further illustration of these methods is presented infra along with description of various hardware structures utilizing these methods are described.

FIG. 6is a flow diagram that depicts one alternative method for constraining a target from rotating about an axis of suspension. According to this alternative method, constraining a target from rotating about an axis of suspension is accomplished by rigidly attaching the target to a first hanger suspended from a horizontal support member (step55). The target is also attached in a rigid matter to a second hanger suspended from the same horizontal support member (step60). It should be appreciated that there must be some lateral spacing between the first and second hangers, relative to the direction from which a projectile might be fired toward the target, in order to resist torsional forces upon the target when the target is struck by such a projectile.

FIG. 7is a flow diagram that depicts yet another alternative method for constraining a target from rotating about an axis of suspension. In this alternative method, a front-facing attachment surface is provided at a bottom end of a first hanger (step65). Typically, this front-facing attachment surface comprises a planar surface that is oriented substantially facing the direction from which a projectile may be received. The front-facing attachment service included in the first hanger is then positioned against the rear surface of the target (step70).

To secure the front-facing attachment surface to the back of the target, a force is applied to the front of the target and a substantially opposite force is applied to a rear surface of the front-facing attachment surface (step75). It should be appreciated that the surface included in the hanger is sufficient to restrain a wobble movement of the target positioned thereon. Hence, according to this alternative method, a projectile striking the target will impart torsional forces that are resisted by the planar interface between the rear surface of the target and the front surface of the front-facing attachment surface provided at the bottom end of a first hanger.

FIG. 8is a flow diagram dedicates yet another alternative method for constraining a target from rotating about an axis of suspension. In this alternative method, and orifices provided in the target. It should be appreciated that, according to this alternative method, the orifices provided in the target at a point below the center of gravity of the target (step80). A force is applied to the front of the target proximate to the orifice (step85). A substantially opposite force is applied to the rear of the target, again proximate to the orifice (step90). Additionally the forces are substantially restrained from rotating about a substantially vertical axis (step95).

FIG. 9is a pictorial diagram that depicts one alternative example embodiment of a horizontal support member. According to this example embodiment, a horizontal support member100comprises a horizontal bar110. On either side of the horizontal bar110, there are included in the horizontal support member100a leg bracket receptacle300. Each leg bracket receptacle300further comprises a tab305that is used to retain a leg bracket once the leg bracket is received into the receptacle300. A further description of how the leg bracket interacts with the leg receptacle is provided in the Incorporated reference atFIG. 10and corresponding text at Para. [0022].

FIG. 10is a pictorial diagram that illustrates how a target, according to one illustrative embodiment, is attached to a hanger. In this alternative example embodiment, the hanger120includes a pivot orifice122. The pivot orifice122dispose around the horizontal bar110included in the horizontal support member. At the bottom end of the hanger120, there is included in mounting flange125. It should be appreciated that the mounting flange125includes a front surface123and the rear surface131.

In some alternative embodiment, the mounting flange125has included therein that orifice129, which is used to receive a fastener that penetrates the mounting flange125and a target150. Accordingly, in such alternative embodiment, the target150has disposed therein a corresponding orifice155. It should be appreciated that, according to this alternative example embodiment, the target150is oriented such that the center of gravity160is higher than the mounting orifice155. This places a greater level of the target's mass above the mounting flange125.

FIG. 11is a pictorial diagram that depicts the forces at work that cause a target to be suspended at a declining angle. It should be appreciated that, when a hanger120is suspended from a horizontal bar110, it will ordinarily hanger downward such that is center of gravity273will be below its pivot point260. If a target150were to be attached to the bottom of the hanger, which is the hanging arrangement in prior art systems, the center of gravity160of the target150with essentially be in vertical alignment with the center of gravity273of the hanger120. In this, and other new embodiments described herein be target150is offset255from the ordinary centerline121of the hanger120. It should be appreciated that this centerline121of the hanger120is defined as a a line running through the center of the hanger120through its center of gravity273and through the pivot point260.

It is important to realize that, according to various embodiment is presented herein, attachment of the target150is accomplished in such an offset manner. The amount of offset can be adjusted to accommodate different targets of different amounts of mass and also adjusted in order to achieve different angles of declination as depicted inFIG. 11. Such analysis is not necessarily presented here because such vector moments (e.g.270and275) may be determined by simple static analysis, which is based on the mass of the hanger120and the mass of the target150.

Those skilled in the art would appreciate that such simple static analysis would also consider the amount of offset in the other geometries associated with any particular embodiment. Accordingly, all such variations are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. By positioning the center of gravity160of the target150above the attachment point a greater portion of the mass of the target may be displaced from the centerline of the hanger. Hence, in one embodiment, the target150is situated so that its center of mass is higher than the attachment point provided at the lower end of the hanger120.

FIG. 12is an illustrative embodiment that depicts the forces applied to hold a target against a mounting flange included at the lower end of a hanger. In this example embodiment, forces280are applied to the front of the target proximate to an orifice155disposed therein. Substantially equal and opposite forces281are applied to the rear surface of the mounting flange125. In various alternative embodiments, application of such forces is accomplished by means of a fastener. For example, one alternative embodiment utilizes a machine screw290and a corresponding machine nut285.

FIG. 13is a pictorial depiction of how, in one example embodiment, a hanger is installed over a horizontal bar. It should be appreciated that, according to various alternative embodiment, the horizontal support member100includes features for receiving a leg bracket130. In such embodiment, the leg bracket130is received into a leg bracket receptacle300, which is included at least one end of the horizontal support member100. Installation of a hanger120over the horizontal bar110is accomplished by sliding the pivot orifice122over the end of the horizontal support member100.

Typically, the hanger120will be orthogonal to its normal position but it is suspended by the horizontal bar110. Accordingly, a right angle path113is followed from the end of the horizontal support member100around to the horizontal bar110. It should be appreciated that, in a plan view (e.g. the view presented inFIG. 9), one example embodiment of a horizontal support member100resembles a very wide “U” shape. Accordingly, the hanger120is positioned over one end of the “U” and is worked around to the bottom of the “U” according to the right angle path113depicted inFIG. 13. Once one or more hangers are installed onto the horizontal bar110in this manner, the leg bracket130is inserted into the leg bracket receptacle300.

FIG. 14is a pictorial representation that illustrates how legs are attached to a leg attachment bracket. Just as taught to the incorporated reference, the leg bracket130, when it is inserted into the leg receptacle300, interacts with the restraint tab305to reduce the possibility of inadvertent extraction from the leg bracket receptacle300. The leg bracket130includes a large orifice235sized to fit over the restraint tab305. According to this example embodiment, a leg bracket130includes leg tabs245there oriented downward and together substantially form a A-frame shape. The leg tabs245are sized to fit into the inner diameter of a leg230. It should be appreciated that such legs are typically made from some form of piping. The legs, according to various alternative embodiments, may or may not be included in the system for suspending a ballistic target.

While the present method and apparatus has been described in terms of several alternative and exemplary embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the true spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents.