Indicating target

A target system for use with spring, air, and CO.sub.2 operated pistols and rifles and with slingshots. The target system prevents ricochets by use of a flexible backstop suspended within a housing while permitting the shooter and spectators to easily discern where the projectiles have penetrated a target which is disposed across the front of this housing. The system utilizes supports incorporated into the housing to receive tubes upon which the target is wound for easy movement and removal of used targets and installation of a new roll of targets to replace a used roll. Each individual target on the roll is indexed to a display position by hand winding of the tubes. A locking mechanism incorporated into the supports cooperates with the tubes and wound target material to tautly position each target in the target opening. A chamber in the base of the apparatus entraps projectiles, permitting collection and removal without damage for reuse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to target systems and in particular to a 
self-contained, portable target system providing a highly visible hit 
indication without ricochet or loss of projectiles. 
In the past, target apparatus for use with airguns and conventional 
firearms have typically utilized paper targets. Targets fabricated of 
paper have been found to be less than satisfactory in providing a clearly 
visible marking of the spot of projectile impact which is easily discerned 
from a distance. In addition, paper targets, while printable, are usually 
of a stock and texture that prevents good quality, attractive printing of 
target indicia. Paper targets also wear rapidly and require replacements 
after relatively few hits. 
The use of targets with airguns and CO.sub.2 operated guns and the like 
make it desirable to provide a target system which is highly portable and 
at the same time is safe and able to sustain a high level of use before 
target replacement is required, entraps projectiles for reuse and with 
which minimum time is lost in changing individual targets. 
The prior art with respect to such target systems is extensive. In some 
instances, such targets are backlighted to enhance the visibility of 
projectile holes. Illustrative of such prior art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 
1,027,371; 1,223,519; and 3,334,902. In many instances, such systems are 
movable and utilize rolls or reels upon which target material is wound. 
Typical of such prior art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 840,610; 1,482,725; 
1,981,293; 2,034,839; 2,048,155; 398,186; and 3,519,272. 
Such prior art systems are generally characterized by a number of 
difficulties. An important problem is the lack of safety, but, in 
addition, they are generally expensive to manufacture and operate. Target 
replacement is a problem due to elaborate winding mechanisms. The movement 
of individual targets into and out of the shooting window or aperture is 
also cumbersome and slow. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention provides a target apparatus comprising a housing 
having a target opening. The apparatus includes a length of perforatable 
material having target indicia thereon and tubular roller means having the 
target material coaxially wound thereon. Means for supporting the roller 
means are mounted in the housing, the supporting means being located to 
position a portion of the length of target material at the opening. A 
backstop is mounted within the housing at a predetermined distance 
interiorly from the target opening, the backstop being fabricated of a 
flexible material and of a size commensurate with the target opening. 
Finally, restraining means associated with the roller supporting means for 
engaging and releasably locking the roller means with targets supported 
thereon for accurately and tautly positioning a specific target in 
registration in the target opening is also provided. 
In the preferred embodiment, the length of targets is made of a synthetic 
material such as polyethylene. Polyethylene is desirable because of the 
characteristic hole which a projectile passing through such material 
makes. The projectile impact on the target cuts or tears a hole in the 
target material that is essentially identical in size and cross-section to 
the projectile itself. The target material is either torn away completely 
or is torn around a major portion of the circumference, leaving a hole of 
a size which is highly visible when viewed against a contrasting backstop. 
The provision of a backstop located intermediate the front and back wall 
of the housing prevents ricochets and in addition allows the use of the 
target system as a self-contained housing for the collection of spent 
projectiles after impinging upon the backstop. The backstop and the 
polyethylene target material cooperate to contain the spent projectiles 
within the housing. The use of roller means and supports for the roller 
means provides a quick and inexpensive mounting for tubes or cylinders 
upon which the target material is reeled. The provision of cooperating 
receptables at the base of the support means enables the tubes or 
cylinders to be wedged into position, causing the target to be displayed 
tightly in the target opening. In its preferred embodiment, the housing is 
constructed of injection-molded plastic, corrugated board or the like. 
Because of the more sharply outlined projectile holes, reduced weight and 
high degree of colorability, the polyethylene targets of the present 
invention are a tremendous improvement over traditional paper targets 
while being competitive with paper targets in terms of cost. Polyethylene 
targets are significantly more durable in the number of discernable hits 
sustainable without tearing in comparison to paper. Polyethylene likewise 
has greater tear resistance than paper, making for increased usage as well 
as longer lasting serviceability in cooperation with the backstop in 
confining spent projectiles within the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT 
A target apparatus 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 
1. Apparatus 10 comprises a housing 12 enclosing a roll of targets 14 on a 
pair of spaced-apart elongated rollers or reels 16, 18. Rollers 16, 18 are 
a pair of elongated tubes which are mounted on locator rods 19 and seated 
in receptacles 24 at opposite sides of the housing. The targets 14 are 
printed on a plastic sheet 15, such as polyethylene, which is wound on one 
of said rollers to be unreeled and rewound on the opposite roller after 
use with specific targets on the sheet being brought into registration in 
an opening 20 at the front of the housing. 
As shown in FIG. 1, housing 12 is an upright, narrow elongated box-like 
structure which is closed at the rear side and defines opening 20 at the 
front. Housing 12 includes a one-piece molded base 13 in which is formed 
support 22 defining a receptable 24 for receiving the foot or base of 
roller 18. An elongated aperture 26 is provided at the top of housing 12 
which registers with and passes the upper end of roller 18 therethrough. A 
similar aperture 28 is located at the opposite side of the upper portion 
of housing 12 to register with and allow the upper portion of roller 16 to 
pass therethrough. 
In use, a target is unreeled and brought into registration with the window 
20. A marksman using an air rifle or the like directs BB shot or pellets 
32 at the target producing shot holes 30. The projectiles 32 pass through 
the polyethylene target and strike a backstop 42 located interiorly of the 
housing where a portion of their energy is absorbed. The projectiles 32 
rebound from backstop 42, strike the rear of the polyethylene target, fall 
and are collected in the bottom of the housing enabling their subsequent 
reuse. 
In one embodiment of the invention, twenty individual targets are printed 
on the length or sheet of polyethylene. The individual printed targets, as 
presently contemplated, comprise various subject matter, for example, 
bull's eye targets, silhouettes and the like. If desired, individual 
targets are bordered to facilitate the indexing or registration of the 
target with opening 20 in the target housing 12. 
An elevation view of the roll of targets before assembly into the target 
apparatus is shown in FIG. 2. As shown therein, the polyethylene roll 15 
is wound up on roller 18. The leading edge 34 of the roll of material 
having the plurality of targets printed thereon is secured to roller 16 by 
means of pressure sensitive tape 36. Alternatively, adhesives, clips and 
the like can be used. As will be discussed in more detail in conjunction 
with FIG. 5, the sheet of targets is unrolled in a manner similar to 
rolling and unrolling scrolls. When in place in the housing, the base ends 
of the rollers 16, 18 are frictionally secured in receptacles 24 molded 
into base 13 which are located in the interior of the housing 12. When 
placed in the housing at the start of the use of a new set of targets, the 
top of the housing is opened, roller 18 is unreeled until a length of 
target material of the housing 12 and roller 16 is located at the opposite 
side of the housing. The rollers are then placed over locator rods 19 and 
slid downwardly to be seated in their receptacles. A specific target is 
then indexed into position with opening 20 and rollers 16, 18 are turned 
in opposite directions, pulling the target material taut. The target 
apparatus is then ready for use. When a sufficient number of holes have 
been created by target practice with a given target, such that that 
particular target is no longer useful, roller 16 is advanced or wound by 
hand to reel up the used target thereon and cause a new, fresh target to 
be unreeled from roller 18 and displayed in window 20. 
A projectile piercing the target creates a hole 38 (FIG. 3) or a partial 
hole 40 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The projectile passing through the target 
either completely tears away the target material or tears away material 
around more than half of the circumference, creating a tab 41 and thereby 
bending the tab of torn material, making the hole highly visible, 
particularly when the backstop behind the target is colored so as to 
contrast with the color of the target, allowing the marksman and 
spectators to readily see where the projectile has penetrated the target. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, a side elevational view in section taken along 
lines 5--5 of FIG. 1, it can be seen that projectiles piercing target 14 
impact against a backstop 42 which stops the projectiles without ricochet. 
The projectiles rebound striking the rear of the target material. The 
energy of the projectiles is sufficiently spent such that they do not 
repierce the target due to energy absorption by the backstop and its 
spacing from the front of the housing. Several preferred materials can be 
utilized as the backstop, including a pad of a rubber material or of a 
woven material having a size slightly greater than the opening 20 to 
provide a barrier for projectiles regardless of the angle of entry. When 
projectiles 32 have penetrated the target, most of their remaining energy 
is absorbed by the backstop with a minimum of rebound so that none of the 
projectiles have enough energy to repenetrate the target. The use of a 
plastic material such as polyethylene having a superior strength also 
deters projectiles from repenetration. The projectiles thus drop into 
collection area 44 at the bottom of the housing. 
The installation and removal of target rolls will be described in 
conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 6. The top of housing 12 is hinged to provide 
a flap 45 which is lifted up and away from the top of the housing as slots 
26 and 28 clear the top or roller 16 and 18 respectively. The rollers 
containing the spent targets are then removed by hand from the locator 
rods 19 and a new target roll is set in place. The first target is 
stretched across the opening by rotating the roller with the target 
material wound thereon and then pushing and wedging the rollers 16, 18 
with target material rolled thereon into the roller receptacles 24. Once 
in place, flap 45 is closed and latched to the top of the housing. 
When it is desired to register or index the next target in opening 20, it 
is necessary to lift or pull up on target rollers 16 and 18 without 
opening flap 45 to free the bases thereof from the roller-locking 
receptacles or pockets 24. The rollers are rotated until the next target 
is brought into position in window 20. The target material is then pulled 
tight and taut between the rollers and the base of the target rollers is 
again pushed into the roller-locking pockets. 
Backstop 42 is supported adjacent its top edge by means of brackets 46 
fixed to the rear wall 48 of housing 12. The backstop 42 is hung from the 
brackets 46 and extends downwardly past the bottom of opening 20. As seen 
from FIG. 7, bracket 46 is secured to rear wall 48 by means of fasteners 
50 passing through the rear wall and through the downward extending 
portion 52 of bracket 46. Washers 54 are provided for supporting the 
bracket on the fasteners and are particularly useful where the material 
from which the housing is fabricated is corrogated paper or the like. A 
retainer 56 extends outwardly from upper portion 58 of bracket 46 and 
passes through an aperture 43 in backstop 42. A retaining washer 60 
completes the assembly whereby the backstop is supported by the bracket. 
In one embodiment, the backstop has pre-cut or molded holes formed therein 
in registration with the location of the retainers 56 and the backstop is 
assembled or mounted on the brackets by stretching the pre-cut or molded 
holes over the retainers 56. Once in position, the backstop 42 is then 
allowed to drape freely from the retainers. 
The base 13 of housing 12 is shown in enlarged sectional detail view in 
FIG. 6. It is preferably fabricated of injection molded plastic to provide 
a cup-shaped or conical area 60 located approximately midway between the 
front and back edges of the base member. This cup-shaped member has a well 
or counter-sunk portion 62 for receiving the target roller locator rods 
19. The base 21 of rod 19 is cemented or otherwise secured in well 62 to 
hold the locator rod in position. The hollow rollers 16 and 18 are of a 
cylindrical configuration and a diameter such that they slip over and are 
slidingly fitted on rods 19. The upper portion of cup-shaped area 60 has 
slanted sides to provide the receptacles 24 whereby the target rollers are 
wedged or secured in position to hold the target taut. When a target has 
been brought into position between the rollers, rollers 16, 18 are pushed 
down into cup-portions 60, the wedging action produces a friction-fit and 
holds the target taut while in use. To bring a new target into position, 
rollers 16 and 18 are raised out of frictional engagement with cup-shaped 
portions 60 to permit the turning of the rollers and the reeling of a new 
target into position. 
The front portion of base 13 has a sloping or slanted surface 64. A slot 66 
is located immediately interiorly of surface 64. Surface 64 provides a 
deflecting surface for projectiles which have been poorly aimed. Slot 66 
provides the means for receiving and supporting the front portion of 
housing 12 in position on the base. Likewise, the rear wall 48 of housing 
12 is slid into position on shelf 68 of the base. Rear wall 48 is then 
secured to base 13 by riveting, glueing or adhesively securing the base 
portion of rear wall 48 to a vertical member 70 molded into base 13. 
Interiorly of vertical member 70, the interior surface 72 of housing 13 is 
sloped or slanted away from a projectile-discharging aperture 74 to 
prevent the collected projectiles from prematurely existing. The sloping 
surface 72 inclines away from aperture 74 preventing the projectiles 32 
falling into the bottom of the housing from rolling toward the aperture, 
under the influence of gravity, until the housing is tipped or tilted to 
the desired angle to overcome the slope and cause the projectiles to pass 
from within the interior of the housing through aperture 74 for collection 
and reuse by the target user. 
An alternate and presently preferred target apparatus according to the 
present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 to 14. As shown in FIG. 8, the 
apparatus includes a target housing 76 which includes an upright, narrow, 
elongated, box-like housing shell 78, a base 80 and supports 82, 84 
secured to base 80 for mounting tubular target material supporting rollers 
86, 88. As better seen when viewed in conjuction with FIGS. 9 and 10, 
shell 78 has a back portion 90 with which two side panel portions 92, 94 
are integrally formed and extend forward at an angle to back portion 90 to 
the front side 96 of the housing. The front side or target side 96 of the 
housing is totally open. Target material extends from one roller along the 
side of the housing, across the open front 96, back along the opposite 
side of the housing to the opposite roller. The tubular rollers 86, 88 and 
the roller support means 82, 84 are located immediately behind side panels 
92, 94 on base 80. To assist in the removal of a spent projectiles 
entrapped within the housing after being shot at the target, a BB or 
pellet removal aperture 98 is provided in side panel 94. 
In assembly, base portion 80 is slidably fitted into the bottom of shell 78 
with the base of side panels 92, 94 abutting triangular-shaped panels 93, 
95 respectively on base 80. Fasteners such as screws 100, 102 secure 
supports 82 and 84 and base 80 to shell 78. Alternatively, supports 82, 84 
are cemented into receptacles integrally formed in base 80 and base 80 is 
similarly secured to shell 78 by cementing or other bonding process such 
as ultrasonic welding. 
As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, a backstop 104 is supported from the top 106 of 
the target housing 76 and is located interiorly of the target housing at a 
point which is approximately midway between front edge 96 and back panel 
90. Base 80 includes rearwardly inclined shelf 108 integrally molded into 
base 80. Shelf 108 extends upwardly from back panel 90 to a position 
slightly beyond the front edge 96 of the housing and terminates in a 
vertical lip 109. 
The tubular rollers are adopted to be mounted on supports 82, 84 that are 
short pegs which are cross-shaped in cross section. Supports 82, 84 have 
an effective outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of 
tubular rollers 86, 88. When mounted, tubular rollers 86, 88 are placed on 
pegs 82, 84 and slid axially down thereon to provide the means whereby the 
rollers are maintained in position relative to the housing. As will be 
described in more detail in conjuction with FIGS. 12A and 12B, the roller 
support pegs 82, 84 are associated with circumscribing restraining means 
for releasably locking the tubular rollers in position with respect to the 
housing. 
As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, backstop 104 is provided with conically-shaped 
extensions 118 which are integrally formed into the backstop and extend 
upwardly therefrom. Extensions 118 are adapted to be force fitted through 
apertures 120 located at the top of shell 78 to position the backstop at 
the predetermined position within the housing 76. Spacers 122 extend from 
the back side of backstop 104 and provide the means whereby the backstop 
is prevented from contacting the back panel 90 of the shell when impacted 
by a projectile. Backstop 104 thus provides a pliable barrier for stopping 
the projectile wherein spacers 122 act to prevent backstop 104 from being 
forced backwardly under the force of the projectile to a point where it 
would bear directly against back panel 90, thus resulting in too strong a 
rebound of the projectile from the back panel of the housing. The backstop 
is positioned and selected of a material such that sufficient energy is 
absorbed and removed from the projectile to result in a rebound of the 
projectile from the backstop with an energy insufficient to repenetrate 
the target material located at the front of the housing. 
Further details of the structure of the target apparatus and the steps 
involved in the installation and removal of target rolls will be described 
in conjunction with FIGS. 10, 12A, and 12B. The sequential placement of 
individual targets on a target roll in registration with the front or open 
side of the target apparatus will also be described. 
Rollers upon which target material 91 is wound are first held and one 
roller is unreeled relative to the other. Rollers 86, 88 are thus 
separated relative to each other to expose a length of target material 
sufficient to cover the sides and front of housing 78. The target material 
is positioned across the front side 96 with the bottom edge just above 
shelf 108 and the rollers 86, 88 are positioned adjacent peg supports 82, 
84. 
As seen in FIG. 12A, the bottom open end of roller 88 is then placed over 
peg support 84 and axially slid down onto the peg to an intermediate 
position. Roller 86 is similarly mounted. Rollers 86, 88 are then 
manipulated to take up any slack target material and to accurately 
register a specific target in the target opening at the front of the 
housing. When the target material is taut, roller 88, as shown in FIG. 
12B, is slid further down peg 84 into circumscribing receptacle 124 which 
is conically shaped at its bottom. The converging sides of the conically 
shaped bottom of receptacle 124 locks tube 88 in position. 
In cooperation with a similar receptacle for roller 86, the two receptacles 
lock tubes 86, 88, thus maintaining the target material taut across the 
target opening. 
Pushing down on the rollers wedges and locks the rollers and target 
material in position. Raising them unlocks the bases of the rollers 
permitting a new target on the roll to be reeled into position or the 
removal of a spent set or roll of targets. When a new target is 
positioned, the rollers are once again pushed down on peg supports 82, 84 
into locking receptacles 124. 
The support for the top end of roller 88 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 13. An 
elongated, vertical compartment 126, 128 is located at each rear corner of 
housing 78. Compartment 128 is defined by side 94 of housing 78, base 80 
and a curved support 130 formed into the housing at the top 106 between 
the rear of each portion 94 and the outer side edge of the housing. The 
top of the compartment is formed with a lip 132 which overlaps the top end 
of roller 88 to retain that end of roller in the compartment. The 
cooperative action of the taut target material 91, peg support 84 at the 
bottom and curved support 130 at the top holds and retains the roller 
against the housing to provide a secure mounting. A mirror image of the 
foregoing structure arrangement is provided for roller 86 at the opposite 
side of the housing. 
As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, target material 91 extends along the side of 
the housing 76 under an outwardly extending lip 133, across the front of 
the housing with the bottom edge of the target material just above shelf 
108 such that lip 109 overlaps the bottom of the target material. The 
overlap of the lip 109 and target material 91 is important in retaining 
projectiles 134 such as BB's or pellets within the housing when they 
rebound from backstop 104. 
The path 136 of a typical projectile 134 is shown in FIG. 14. The 
projectile typically pierces the target 91 and impacts on backstop 104 
where a substantial portion of its energy is absorbed. Sufficient energy 
is left, however, to cause the projectile to rebound from backstop 104 and 
impact against the backside of the target material. The energy of the 
projectile has been reduced to the extent that it has insufficient energy 
to repierce the target material. Instead it rebounds once more from the 
target material and falls to the bottom of the housing onto shelf 108. The 
projectile then follows the incline of shelf 108 to rest against the back 
wall 90. Tilting of the housing to one side causes the accumulated 
projectiles to be rolled to removal aperture 98, thereby saving the 
projectiles without damage to them, thus permitting their repeated reuse. 
What has been provided is a target and target housing which is safe, 
inexpensive to manufacture and attractive to use. The target of the 
present invention is constructed so as to essentially eliminate any 
possibility of ricochet of projectiles directed at it. By providing target 
material of a plastic material such as polyethylene rather than paper or 
other conventional materials, improve visual performance by the target is 
obtained, making the location of hits easier to see and the marking of 
hits and scoring facilitated. The housing also provides the means whereby 
the projectiles can be collected without damage and reused rather than 
lost. The interior of the housing is constructed with a sloped interior 
base portion in such a way that spent projectiles are easily and quickly 
collected and removed. The ability to retain spent projectiles without any 
significant damage is an important attribute of the present invention. 
Projectiles such as BB's or pellets can now be reused a number of times 
without causing the rifle or gun to jam. 
The safety of the target apparatus of the present invention also proceeds 
from the use of plastic or heavy paper material as the preferred material 
for target housing construction and the configuration and location of the 
various elements of the target apparatus. Errant projectiles which miss 
the target aperture but pass through the paper housing lose a significant 
portion of their energy in penetrating the paper reducing the possibility 
of rebounding back through the front of the housing. In the preferred 
alternate embodiment, the entire front side of the housing is open and 
thus has essentially no structure at the front of the apparatus that would 
tend to cause the projectiles to deflect or ricochet back toward the 
shooter or observers. Location of backstop in the middle of the housing 
interior and the target rollers directly behind structural portions of the 
housing prevents misaimed projectiles from striking the rollers and 
ricocheting back to the shooter. 
The target apparatus of the present invention likewise provides a means 
whereby insertion, removal and replacement of target rolls is quick and 
easy. An extremely simple yet secure and quick-locking means for securing 
the targets in position is provided. The provision of clearance slots in 
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7 at the top of the housing means that the top 
of the housing can be opened and closed without interfering with the 
target assembly. In the preferred embodiment, access to the roller 
mountings is open and unimpeded eliminating even the clearance slots. The 
use of polyethylene likewise means that the targets can be printed with a 
choice of colors and designs. In the embodiment wherein the housing 12 is 
manufactured of corrugated paper, a permanent location is provided for 
reproducing operational instructions. In an alternate embodiment, the rear 
of the housing can be apertured or slotted to provide the means whereby 
the target can be hung on a wall.