Abstract:
A biodegradable target ( 10 ) for sports-shooters comprising a body ( 12 ) defining an internal cavity ( 22 ), and a display material ( 34 ) is contained within the cavity ( 22 ) wherein the display material ( 34 ) expands upon breakage of the body ( 12 ) by a projectile ( 24 ), such as a bullet, to give visual confirmation that the projectile ( 24 ) has hit the body ( 12 ). The target ( 10 ) is made by molding body segments which are configured to cooperatively define an internal cavity ( 22 ) when joined, adding a display material ( 34 ) to at least one of the body segments and joining the body segments to form the target ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of sport-shooting targets. In particular, the present invention is concerned with a frangible, biodegradable and non-toxic shooting target having a body and an internal cavity containing a flowable colorant that expands and spreads upon breakage of the body by a projectile.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Conventional target practice with firearms involves the use of stationary paper targets or skeet, also known as clay pigeons. Because paper targets are generally uninteresting, many sport-shooters substitute other objects such as beverage cans, bottles or other breakable targets. The destruction of these objects when used for target practice is not only dangerous to the shooter because of the risk of flying debris, but the debris is also detrimental to the environment as well as the wildlife that inhabits the particular area.  
           [0005]    Skeet is typically mechanically thrown into the air to allow shooters to aim at the skeet and to provide a more realistic practice environment for hunting birds and the like. Once hit, the skeet will shatter and the remains will scatter throughout the surrounding environment. Skeet is typically formed of asphalt pitch which is a toxic and non-biodegradable material and therefore harmful to the environment. Accordingly, a biodegradable stationary or skeet-like target that will not harm the environment and is relatively easy to manufacture is needed.  
           [0006]    There is also a need in the sport of skeet-shooting for a target that provides visual confirmation when hit during both shooting practice and competition and is particularly beneficial to home viewers during televised competitions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention solves the prior art problems discussed above and provides a distinct advance in the state of the art. In particular, the advanced target system hereof provides a frangible, biodegradable and non-toxic target that is easily manufactured and provides visual confirmation when hit by a projectile.  
           [0008]    A first preferred embodiment of the biodegradable target of the present invention includes a body (typically spherical) defining an internal cavity and containing a quantity of a spreadable display material that expands when the body of the target breaks upon impact with a projectile such as a bullet. The preferred target also includes a mounting portion configured to receive a support member, such as a rod or hanger, for stationary positioning of the target. More particularly, the preferred target body is composed of respective quantities of sugar, water and corn syrup.  
           [0009]    A second preferred embodiment of the biodegradable target of the present invention includes a generally disc-shaped target body including a sidewall and a bottom wall. The sidewall and bottom wall cooperatively define an internal cavity containing a quantity of display material that expands upon breakage of the target by a projectile. The preferred target is made from a sugar composition. A method of making the target of the present invention is also provided. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the target of the present invention according to one preferred embodiment;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the target of FIG. 1 upon breakage by a projectile;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the target of FIG. 2 showing the expansion of the display material of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cross-section of the target of FIGS.  1 - 3 ;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the target of the present invention according to a second preferred embodiment; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the target of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a first embodiment of target  10  is disclosed. Target  10  includes a body  12  and a mounting portion  14 . Body  12  is generally spherically-shaped and presents a sidewall  16  having an outer surface  18  and inner surface  20 . Sidewall  18  defines an internal cavity  22  and has a thickness of 0.25 inches which is sufficient to withstand user handling yet break upon impact by a projectile  24  shot from a rifle or pistol at a range of 10-100 yards. It will be appreciated that the thickness of sidewall  18  may vary according to the user&#39;s preferences, the range at which the target is being placed, the type of firearm and the type of projectile used. Outer surface  18  presents an outer diameter of from about 1 to 4 inches and inner surface  20  presents an inner diameter of from about 1.5 to 3.5 inches. Mounting portion  14  is generally cylindrical and radially extends from outer surface  18  of sidewall  16 . Mounting portion  14  presents an outer surface  26  and an annular generally flat face  28 . Outer surface  26  has a diameter smaller than outer surface  18  preferably from about ⅝ to ¾ inches. Bore  30  radially extends from face  28  through mounting portion  14  toward but not through sidewall  18 . Bore  30  is configured to receive a support member  32  for positioning target  10  in a stationary manner. The preferred support member  32  may be rod or the like which may be inserted into the ground for positioning target  10 . Another preferred support member  32  may be a string or the like having opposed ends wherein one end is coupled with a resilient body configured to be received within bore  30  and the other end is coupled with a hanging member such as a hook to be placed over a tree branch or the like for hanging target  10  at a desired height. Internal cavity  22  is configured to receive a display material  34  therein. Display material  34  may be a powder, liquid or gel capable of expanding and providing a visual marker when body  12  is broken by projectile  24  as shown in FIG. 3. The preferred display material  34  is a flour or other flowable colorant.  
         [0017]    Target  10  is preferably comprised of 75 to 80% by volume of sugar. Any type of edible sugar may be used to provide the preferred composition of the body. In addition to the sugar, preferred components of the body composition include corn syrup, and water. Preferred corn syrup content ranges are from about 15 to 20% by volume and water, preferably distilled water, comprises from about 5 to 10% by volume.  
         [0018]    The preferred target  10  may be formed by molding the preferred mixture of sugar, water, and corn syrup to form a plurality of body segments and preferably two segments. Display material  34  is added to one of the body segments so that, when body segments are joined, display material  34  is contained within internal cavity  22 . The body segments may be joined using an adhesive or the like.  
         [0019]    In use, a shooter inserts support member  23  into bore  30  and positions target  10  in the desired location at a desired height. Upon discharge of a firearm, projectile  24  enters and breaks sidewall  18 , as shown in FIG. 2, thereby releasing display material  34  which expands and confirms that target  10  has been successfully hit by projectile  24  as shown in FIG. 3. Cross-hairs or other target-identifying designs may be printed on outer surface  18  of target  10  to aid the user in aiming at target  10  for maximum impact.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. A skeet  36  is provided having the generally disc shape customary in skeet or clay pigeons. Skeet  36  includes a sidewall  38  and a cap  40 . Sidewall  38  has a preferred thickness of 0.1 inches and includes a bottom rim  42  and an integral depending annular rim  44 . Bottom rim  42  has a preferred diameter of four inches as is customary for skeet or clay pigeons. It will be appreciated, however, that the thickness of sidewall  38  as well as the diameter of bottom rim  42  may vary according to the user&#39;s preferences, the type of mechanical skeet-tosser, the type of firearm being used, and the type of projectile used. Annular rim  44  extends radially upwardly from sidewall  38  and presents an outer diameter of two inches. Annular rim  44  cooperatively engages cap  40  to define an internal cavity  46 . Internal cavity  46  is configured to receive a display material  48  therein. Display material  48  may be a powder, liquid or gel capable of expanding and providing a visual marker when skeet  36  is broken by a projectile. The preferred display material  48  is flour or other flowable colorant. The preferred total weight of display material  48  is 3 grams and the preferred weight of skeet  36  is 95 grams.  
         [0021]    Skeet  36  is preferably comprised of sugar. The preferred composition contains from about 90 to 95% tableting dextrose and from about 5 to 10% maltose. The preferred skeet  36  may be formed by compression molding the preferred sugar mixture to form sidewall  38  and cap  40 . Display material  48  is added to the inner surface of annular rim  44  so that, when annular rim  44  and cap  40  are joined, display material  48  is contained within internal cavity  46 . Annular rim  44  and cap  40  may be joined using an adhesive or the like.  
         [0022]    In use, skeet  36  is thrown into the air as a target for a shooter. Upon discharge of the shooter&#39;s firearm, a projectile enters and breaks skeet  36  thereby releasing display material  48  which expands and confirms that skeet  36  has been successfully hit by the projectile.  
         [0023]    Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention described herein. For instance, many different target shapes may be used. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific and preferred embodiments illustrated and described herein. Rather, it is intended that the scope of the invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.