Abstract:
The target according to the present disclosure is configured to indicate to the shooter whether the shot hit or missed the target. The target also provides the shooter feedback as to shot placement relative to particular locations on the target. This configuration is advantageous for many types of shooting and is especially advantageous in situations where immediate and consistent shot placement feedback is desire.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure provides a reactive shooting target and related methods. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Shooting targets are most commonly paper images that include a bullseye in the center of concentric rings. Paper based targets are generally not configured to move or make noise when impacted by the bullet. To determine the point of impact on the target, the shooter typically either walks up to the target to examine the target or the shooter examines the target from a distance with the aid of a spotting scope. The feedback regarding shot placement on such targets is therefore not immediate. 
         [0003]    Reactive shooting targets provide the shooter immediate visual and/or audio indication of whether the shot hit or missed the target. An example reactive target is a hanging steel plate. When the bullet impacts the steel plate, the plate will swing and the impact can also be heard. These reactive targets provide advantages over passive targets as the shooter can immediately know if the target was hit. The present disclosure provides an improved reactive type shooting target. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The target according to the present disclosure is configured to provide immediate indication to the shooter whether the shot hit or missed the target. The target also provides the shooter feedback as to shot placement relative to particular locations on the target (e.g., immediate feedback as to shot placement relative to the bullseye). This configuration is advantageous for many types of shooting and is especially advantageous in situations where immediate and consistent shot placement feedback is desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the reactive shooting target according to the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of the target of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the target of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are side views of target component mounting assemblies of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the reactive shooting target according to the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the target of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a rear isometric view of the target of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a rear isometric view of the target of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front isomeric view of an alternative embodiment of the reactive shooting target according to the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the target of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the reactive shooting target of the present disclosure; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a front isometric view of the target of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The shooting target according to the present disclosure makes shooting more efficient. The shooter need not continuously take down and put up new disposable targets or reset the targets (resetting knock down style targets). When using a shooting target according to the present disclosure, the shooter need not even approach the target until after the shooting session is over. This functionality is of particular value when the target is difficult to access. Examples include where there are multiple shooters at a range and therefore limited opportunities to safely approach the target, when shooting at a target located many hundreds of yards away from the shooter, where the shooter is physically disabled, where the terrain between the shooter and target is difficult to traverse, etc. As will be described in more detail below, it should be appreciated that the target system of the present disclosure could also be used with disposable target components. 
         [0019]    The target of the present disclosure also makes shooting more cost effective. As described above, the target components themselves do not need to be constantly replaced like standard paper targets. Also, since the actual impact location of shots that are substantially off the bullseye are reliably tracked, less ammunition is needed to sight in the firearm. In other words, the target according to the present disclosure minimizes the situation where the shooter firing a shot has no idea where the bullet impacted (i.e., the bullet impacts at a unknown location relative to the target) and therefore has no basis to make an adjustment to improve the accuracy of the next shot. 
         [0020]    The shooting target according to the present disclosure also enables a shooter to use the same target for precision shooting as well as sighting in the weapon. Initially, the shooter&#39;s shots may be impacting a substantial distance from the center of the target yet still impacting on at least one zone of the target. After some adjustments (e.g., adjusting the firearm sights or scope), the shooter can bring the shot groupings closer to the bullseye and continue to shoot at the bullseye target component for precision shooting. This avoids the need to set up multiple targets of different sizes. According to the present disclosure, the bullseye component&#39;s effective size can also be adjusted (e.g., the effective size can be adjusted by reorientation of certain target components or swapping certain target components). In addition, as will be described in more detail below, the target of the present disclosure can include multiple “bullseye” of differing sizes as part of the single target. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , in the depicted embodiment, the reactive shooting target  10  includes a frame assembly  12 . The frame assembly is configured to support front target components  14 ,  16  such that the upper target components are positioned forward of lower target component  18 ,  20 . In the depicted embodiment, the bottom portions of the lower target components  18 ,  20  are exposed to the shooter and the top portions of the lower target components are covered by bottom portions of the upper target components  14 ,  16 . In the depicted embodiment the upper left target component  14 , the upper right target component  16 , the lower left target component  18 , the lower right target component  20 , and the center bullseye target component  22  together form a single target area  24 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0022]    In the depicted embodiment the single target area  24  includes a desired bullet impact zone (e.g., bullseye target component  22 ), and surrounding target components (e.g, upper left target component  14 , the upper right target component  16 , the lower left target component  18 , the lower right target component  20 ) that provide feedback to the shooter regarding shot placement on shots that miss the desired impact zone. In the depicted embodiment the upper left and upper right target components  14 ,  16  are located in a first vertical plane (the forward most vertical plane), the bullseye target component  22  is located in a second vertical plane (a plane rearward of the first vertical plane), and the lower left and lower right target components  18 ,  20  are located in a third vertical plate (a plane rearward of the second vertical plane). It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment the upper left and upper right target components  14 ,  16  are center about the bullseye target component  22  and include quarter circle cutouts to expose an upper portion of the bullseye target component to the shooter. In the depicted configuration the upper right and upper left target components  14 ,  16  define a semicircular opening with a radius of 2.5 inches. In the depicted embodiment, the upper left and upper right target components includes smaller quarter circle cutouts on the lower outer corners. Therefore, swapping the location of the upper left target component  14  and upper right target component  16  will define a semicircular opening with a radius of 1.5 inches, thereby exposing relatively less of the bullseye component, thereby creating a smaller effective bullseye. The bullseye component can itself be raised in this second configuration to expose less of the bullseye in the vertical direction (e.g., the connection point between chains and the frame or the chains could be adjusted to shorten the effective length of the chains from which the bullseye component hangs). It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0024]    The lower left and lower right components  18 ,  20  are also centered about the bullseye target component  22 . In the depicted embodiment they do not include cutouts to expose bullseye component  22  since the bullseye component is located forward of the lower components  18 ,  20  and is already exposed to the shooter. In the depicted embodiment, the bottom edges of the rear plates  18  and  20  are positioned several inches from the ground (e.g., 3 inches) to ensure that the plates do not interfere with the ground as they move rearward and therefore can swing freely when impacted. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0025]    The depicted target component arrangement results in precise feedback to the shooter on shots that miss the bullseye. The shooting target in the depicted embodiment provides the shooter information immediately regarding the shot impact location. In other words the target of the present disclosure informs the shooter if the shot missed high, low, to the right, or to the left. The shooting target enables the shooter to make quick adjustments to improve shooting accuracy. 
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment the target area  24  is almost completely closed with minimal through openings. Through openings as referenced herein are openings within a perimeter of the target area  24  that extend through the target from the vantage of a shooter that is located directly in front of the target (e.g., 100 yards up range of the target) that are at least large enough for a bullet to pass through. In the depicted embodiment the target area is rectangular and defined by four lines (an upper line, a bottom line, a left vertical line and a right vertical line). The upper line is defined by the upper edges of upper left and right target components  14 ,  16 . The bottom line is defined by the bottom edge of the lower right and left target components  18 ,  20 . The left vertical edge is defined by the left edge of the upper target component  14  combined with the exposed portion of the left vertical edge of the bottom left component  18  (less than the combination of the vertical edges of upper left target component  14  and lower left component  18 ). The right vertical edge is defined by the right edge of the upper target component  16  combined with the exposed portion of the right vertical edge of the bottom right component  20 . In the depicted embodiment the target area  24  includes a first through opening located between the upper left and upper right target components  14 ,  16  above the bullseye target component  22 . And a second through opening is located below the bullseye target component  22  between the lower left and lower right target components  18 ,  20 . In the depicted embodiment, these two through openings amount to less than twenty percent of the total area of the target area  24  (e.g., less than 15 percent, less than 5 percent, zero percent). 
         [0027]    In the depicted embodiment the target components are steel plates (e.g., ¼-½ inch thick AR 500 steel) that are cut into two dimensional simple geometric shapes. In alternative embodiments the shapes can be more complex than those depicted. For example, a hunter type target may include multiple plates that are arranged together to form the shape of an animal silhouette. In some embodiments the target components can be configured to spin when impacted (about a vertical or horizontal axis or both). It should be appreciated that three dimensional objects could also be used as target components (e.g., sphere or cubed shaped target components). In addition, different material can be provided on the target components to provide additional visual feedback (e.g., Tannerite). Also, although in the depicted embodiment the target components overlap or only define small gaps, it should be appreciated that there alternatively could be substantial through spaces between the target components. Also, the target components can be material designed to be destroyed by bullet impacts (wooded plates, thin steel plates, plastic objects, etc.). 
         [0028]    In the depicted embodiment, the frame assembly  12  is a freestanding frame that can be assembled and disassembled quickly in the field (e.g., without the need to use tools). The frame assembly  12  includes a front cross bar  26  that extends generally horizontally across a front of the shooting target  10 , a rear cross bar  28  that extends generally horizontally across a front of the shooting target. In the depicted embodiment the front cross bar  26  is positioned above the rear cross bar  28 . In the depicted embodiment the rear cross bar  28  is rearward of the front cross bar  26 . In the depicted embodiment, the upper left and right target components  14 ,  16  are supported on the front cross bar  26  such that the lower portions of the components move rearward when impacted by a bullet. In the depicted embodiment the target components swing when impacted (pivot about the cross bar). Likewise, the lower left and right components  18 ,  20  are supported on the rear cross bar  28  such that they also can move rearward when impacted by a bullet. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0029]    In the depicted embodiment target components can move independent of each other meaning that moving one of them does not necessarily cause another one to immediately move as well. For example, in the depicted embodiment, if a bullet impacts the lower left target component  18 , it would be the only target component that substantially swings. If a bullet impacts the upper left target component  14 , it would swing and possibly bullseye component  22  would also swing if the motion of target component  14  was great enough (e.g., bullseye component  22  may swing when component  14  is impacted by a heavy, fast bullet yet not move at all if component  14  is impacted by a lighter, slower bullet). 
         [0030]    In the depicted embodiment, the frame assembly  12  includes a first front leg  30  and a second front leg  32 , a first rear leg  34  and second rear leg  36 . The frame assembly includes a leg connection assembly configured to connect the front leg to the rear leg. The frame assembly also includes a front cross bar mounting assembly configured to engage the front cross bar  26 . In the depicted embodiment the leg connection assembly includes a section of pipe  38  that is welded to the rear legs and slideably connected to the front legs. The front cross bar mounting assembly includes a section of pipe  40  that is welded to the leg connection assembly which is configured to slideably engage the front cross bar. In the depicted embodiment the front legs  30  and  32  are interchangeable. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0031]    In the depicted embodiment the front legs  30 ,  32  are more vertical than the rear legs  34 ,  36 . Both the front legs  30 ,  32  and rear legs  34 ,  36  angle inwardly when viewed from the front (the legs lean inwardly towards the center of the shooting target). The depicted configuration provides stability to the target. The inward tilt angle of the front and rear legs is defined by the configuration of the cross bar mounts (e.g., the orientation of the pipe sections  40 ). The angle of the front legs relative to the rear legs is defined by the configuration of the leg connecting assembly (e.g., the orientation of the pipe section  38 ). It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0032]    In the depicted embodiment, the upper left and right target components  14 ,  16  shroud a portion of the front cross bar  26 , and lower left and right target components  18 ,  20  shroud a portion of the rear cross bar  28 . This configuration protects the bars from direct bullet impact. In the depicted embodiment rear cross bar  28  is also shrouded by the lower portion of the upper left and upper right target components  14 ,  16  as the upper left and upper right target components horizontally overlap with the lower left and lower right target components. In other words, an imaginary straight line extending from the shooter&#39;s vantage through the lower edge of the upper left target component would pass through the top edge portion of the lower left target component. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A-C , in the depicted embodiment the target components  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  are configured to connect in front of the cross bars  26 ,  28 . The mounting assembly can include one or more sections of pipe welded to the back surface such that they can slide over the cross bars as the frame is being assembled (see  FIG. 4A ). This configuration allows the plate to rotate  360  degrees around the cross bars  26 ,  28  without the possibility of inadvertent disengagement therefrom. The mounting assembly can also define a small gap between adjacent plates to prevent the adjacent edges from binding and inhibiting independent movement of the adjacent target components. For example, the sections of pipe could extend 1/32 of an inch thereby maintaining a 1/16 inch gap between adjacent plates. The target components can be held in place by pins  15  at each end that prevent target components from spreading apart during use. 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment the target components  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  can be configured to be connected to the cross bars  26 ,  28  after the frame assembly is fully assembled (after the cross bars are engage with the legs).  FIGS. 4B and 4C  illustrate alternative mounting assemblies that allow the target component to be attached to the cross bars without access to the end of the cross bar. Alternatively, the target components can be hung from the cross bars via cables ( FIG. 10 ), chains ( FIG. 4E ), sections of bars ( FIG. 4D ), or the like. In embodiments wherein the target components are hung below the cross bar, the cross bar will be exposed and could be constructed of a bullet proof material (e.g., AR 500 steel) or otherwise protected (e.g., pieces of bullet proof material (AR 500 plate) could be welded to the front surface of the cross bar). It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , an alternative embodiment is shown. In the depicted embodiment the target  50  includes reactive components  51 - 57  mounted to cross bars  58 ,  59 ,  60  that are part of an A-frame target stand  62  which includes two pairs of legs  63 ,  64 ,  65 ,  66 . The frame is constructed such that deploying the frame can require simply extending the front legs relative to the rear legs. It further includes the step of mounting cross bars to the legs. This step could entail aligning holes in the cross bars with hook-like bosses extending from the legs. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible (e.g., three-leg frames). 
         [0036]    In the depicted embodiment each pair of legs is pinned together at a top end, and the maximum angle between the legs is limited by a linkage or chain  67 ,  68 . Each of the components has a pair of arms  69 ,  70  that enable the component to hang from the pivot rods  58 ,  59 ,  60 . In the depicted embodiment the arms are curved to match the profile of the rods, and are open at the bottom end so that the target components can be lifted off and removed. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0037]    In the depicted embodiment the target components  54 ,  55 ,  56  are in a first plane located closest to the shooter, target components  51 ,  52 ,  53  are located in a second plane located rearward of the first plane. Target component  57  is located in a third plane rearward of the second plane. From the front of the target only a circular section of the target component  57  can be seen as the other parts of the target components are shrouded by target components  52 ,  55 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-9 , another embodiment of the target of the present disclosure is shown. In the depicted embodiment the target  90  includes target components  91 - 102 . Components  92 ,  95 ,  105 ,  98  include sub-components  103 ,  104 ,  106 ,  107 . The inclusion of the sub-components allows for precision shooting since the sub components present bullseyes of different sizes. In the depicted embodiment, the main bullseye target component  105  includes a central aperture that is covered by a trap door that defines the sub component  106 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0039]    In the depicted embodiment the frame assembly is substantially hidden from a front view which can, in addition to being visually clean, also improve the durability of the target as the bullets will not impact directly on the frame structure located behind the target components. In the depicted embodiment only the lower portions of the legs  108 ,  109  are exposed. In particular the cross bars  110 ,  112 ,  114  and the frame structural members  116 - 121  are all hidden from the front view and therefor protected by the target components from direct bullet impacts. The legs  122  and  123  extend below and are visible and are constructed to not fail due to multiple bullet impacts. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-11 , an alternative embodiment is shown. In the depicted embodiment the shooting target  150  includes a top member  152  and a number of legs that extend therefrom. In the depicted embodiment the legs  154 ,  156 ,  158 ,  160  are removable from the top  152  via a quick connect assembly. Many configurations are possible; for example, the legs  158  and  160  are depicted as being flat steel bars that interlock with tabs  162 ,  164  that extend downward from the top member  152 . The tabs include a pair of bosses that are received in apertures at the upper end of legs  158  and  160  and are retained therein via pins. The legs  154  and  156  have round cross sections and are received within short sections of pipe  166 ,  168  that extend downward from the top member. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0041]    In the depicted embodiment, the top member  152  has an open frame structure with cross bars ( 170 ,  172 ,  174 ) that extend between the left and right sides of the top member. In the depicted embodiment the cross bars are flat steel members each having a plurality of apertures therethrough to engage hooks  176  that support the cable  178  from which the target components  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  188  hang. It should be appreciated that the top member can have many alternative configurations. For example the top member could alternatively be a plate with apertures sized so that the cables/chains can be lowered through the apertures from the top and be stopped from falling through the apertures via a washer/nut assembly. Other top configurations are also possible (e.g., a box frame with a steel mesh connected thereto). It should also be appreciated there exist many alternative means for hanging the target components from the top member including, for example, via rods/bars that extend downward or via chains. 
         [0042]    In the depicted embodiment, the frame supports the plurality of target components  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  188  in different vertical planes and together form a single shooting target when viewed from the front. In the depicted embodiment some of the target components overlap when viewed directly from the front such that the shooter does not see substantial gaps between the components. 
         [0043]    In the depicted embodiment, target components  180  and  184  are in the same plane and do not overlap with each other. Target components  186  and  188  are in the same plane and overlap in the horizontal direction with target components  180  and  184 . Target component  182  is in a third plane and overlaps with each of the other components in the horizontal direction. It should be appreciated that alternatively none of the target components would overlap. For example, there could be a gap in the horizontal direction between the bottom edge of target component  180  and the top edge of target component  186 , and target component  180  could have a quarter circle cutout exposing a gap between bullseye target component  182  and target component  180 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0044]    This offset vertical plane arrangement allows target elements to swing independently, meaning that one target component can be moved without necessarily immediately moving another target component. For example, the bullseye target component  182  could swing rearward when impacted by a bullet without immediately causing other target components to move. If, however, the bullseye target component is impacted hard and swings back far enough, it may run into target components  180  and  184  causing them to also move some. As described above, target component  180  and  182  can move independently. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , another alternative embodiment is shown. In the depicted embodiment the target components  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  overlap so that the target area does not include through gaps that would allow a bullet to pass through. The target area in the depicted embodiment is defined by the upper edge of component  202  and a portion of the edge of component  204 , the lower edge of component  206  and a portion of the lower edge of component  208 , the left edge of  202  combined with a portion of the left edge of component  208 , and the right edge of component  206  and a portion of the right edge of component  204 . 
         [0046]    The frame assembly in the depicted embodiment includes a first base leg  212  and a second base leg  210  and a plurality of U-shaped cross bars  214 ,  216 ,  218 . The cross bars  214 ,  216 ,  218  extend between the base legs  212 ,  210  and provide support for the target components in different vertical planes. In the depicted embodiment the cross bars include a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the cross bars that spans the base legs. Hooks from cables/chains/or bars can extend between the target components and the upper portions of the cross bars. In the depicted embodiment, the lower portion of the cross bars are slideably received in the base for easy assembly and disassembly. The staggered arrangement of the target components (in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction) provides a target area that is substantially free of through gaps. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are possible. 
         [0047]    It should be appreciated that many alternative target configurations other than what is depicted in  FIGS. 1-13  are possible, different target component sizes and shapes, for example, in different planes. The same frame structure can be configured to be used with multiple different target components (sizes and shapes). This would allow the target system to be used at multiple different distances with multiple different weapons (handguns at close range, .22 rifle with lighter weight small plates, and large caliber rifles at long distances). 
         [0048]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.