Abstract:
A target device and method of manufacture includes providing a substrate with a printing surface upon which multiple coatings are deposited so as to provide a target image that allows for improved capacity for visually determining impact or penetration locations on the target image. The coatings include a first coating which defines target areas, with uncoated areas forming borderlines between and around the target areas. A transparent laminate of adhesive and a low dyne surface material is applied over the initial coating. Multiple layers of additional coatings having a variety of colorants are placed over the low dyne surface layer of the second coating to form the final target image. A projectile passing through the resulting target device will leave a halo of material around the impact site comprised of the first coating or the visible surface of the printing layer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure describes targets, coatings for use in manufacturing targets and methods for manufacturing targets using a variety of material layers, which result in a target that includes at least one flake-off or release layer to provide improved visual indication of a successful impact or hit upon or through the target. 
     SUMMARY 
     Targets and target devices for use with firearms or other projectile weapons are well known and are used for recreational and training purposes. Targets are often painted or coated with a bright or contrasting surface to provide the target with improved visibility in order to allow an observer/user to more easily determine if and where the target has been struck. 
     Some targets such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,631,877, issued on Dec. 15, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference, utilize multiple layers of materials including a release layer applied between a target substrate and an ink layer which defines the target image. The release layer acts to allow areas of the ink layer printed thereon, and adjacent to an impact point, to be released or flake off from the area around the impact so as to present a penetration hole which appears larger than the actual hole created through the target substrate. The use of a release layer(s) is that the tendency of the target indicia to flake off at and around a penetration site makes it difficult to discern the precise placement of a shot relative to adjacent regions of the target surface lacking additional visual cues. 
     To avoid such difficulty in determining shot location on the target surface, the present invention avoids the use of a release layer, and also employs a printing strategy which ensures that each discrete area of the target surface remains visually distinct even after the target is surface is marred by one or more projectiles passing therethrough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the invention comprising a target device. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the target device shown following the deposition of a first coating thereon. 
         FIG. 3 a    is a front view of an embodiment of the target device shown following the deposition of a second coating thereon. 
         FIG. 3 b    is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the target device shown in  FIG. 3 a    following the deposition of a second coating thereon. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the target device shown in  FIG. 3 a    or  3   b.    
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of the target device shown following the deposition of a third coating thereon. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the target device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment of the target device shown following the deposition of a fourth coating and fifth coating selectively applied to discrete areas of the device. 
         FIG. 8 a    is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the target device shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 8 b    is an alternative embodiment of the target device shown in  FIG. 8   a.    
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the target device shown in  FIG. 7  following the deposition of a sixth coating to surface of the device. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the target image has been penetrated by a projectile. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 10  focusing on the region of the device where the target image has been penetrated. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of this disclosure include target devices such as may be used in shooting sports, riflery training or marksmanship practice. Embodiments also include techniques and methods for manufacturing the target device and printing the target image. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a representative embodiment of a target device or target  10  is shown. Target  10  comprises a base or substrate  12  upon which the target design or image  14  is printed. The image  14  may be of any pattern or sequence of geometric shapes, including one or more sequences of concentric rings, wedges, or any other pattern of target regions desired. In some embodiments the image  14  may be in the form of an animal&#39;s profile or shape. In some embodiments the target image is comprised of one or more primary target areas  18 , also known as a “bullseye”, with secondary target areas  16  adjacent thereto. In some embodiments each target area  16  and  18  is bordered by a distinct border “line”  20 , which forms the overall pattern of the image  14 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the substrate  12  is comprised of a base paper. The paper may be of any thickness or quality. In some embodiments the paper has a thickness of approximately eight points. In some embodiments the substrate is any type of paper, card board, corrugated material, wood, or other type of material (composite, layered or uniform), or any desired thickness, through which most common calibers and types of ballistic projectiles will readily pass when fired through a gun at the target  10 . In some embodiments the substrate is a pressure sensitive material or includes a pressure sensitive component in its composition. 
     The substrate  12  include a printing surface  13 , which may in some embodiments, include an inherent coating of material such as clay or other substances that provide a sheen, or a more uniform printing surface, upon which ink or other materials may be applied. Substrate  12  may include a backing surface  15  that may or may not include a coating (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     In the present disclosure the printing and formation of the target image  14  is unique in that it forms an image which readily displays impact or penetration sites while maintaining sufficient integrity to also clearly show the placement of the impact within the target areas  16  and  18  while maintaining the visual representation of the border lines  20 . This allows a viewer to quickly visually discern if a shot is entirely within a given region  16  or  18  of the target image  14  or of the shot has straddled multiple regions  16  or  18 . 
     In order to provide this feature, the target image  14  is initially created by first placing or printing on the printing surface  13  of the substrate  12 , a first coating  30  of brightly colored ink on all of the printing surface  13 —except on the pattern corresponding to the border lines  20 . An example of this initial printing step is shown in  FIG. 2 , where for purposes of illustration the regions  16  and  18  of the printing surface  13  that are coated with first coating  30  are shown with single line cross-hatching. 
     The ink of which the first coating  30  is comprised may be any color or style of ink or colorant. In at least one embodiment, the colorant of the first coating is selected to visually contrast with the colors of the fourth and fifth coatings ( 34  and  35 ) such as are described in greater detail below. In at least one embodiment the first coating  30  comprises an ink having a fluorescent color or affect. In at least one embodiment the first coating  30  comprises a water based, flexographic ink. The first coating  30  may be applied to the substrate  12  by any method of printing, painting or material deposition. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 3 a   , following the application of the first coating  30  to the selected regions  16  and  18  of the printing surface  13 , a second coating  32  is applied over the entire area of the printing surface  13 , including the areas already coated with first coating  30 , as well as the as of yet coated areas comprising the border lines  20 . The areas outside of the target image  16 , that is to say the “corner” regions  22  of the quadrilateral shaped substrate  12  shown in the embodiment of in  FIGS. 1-6 , are likewise coated with the second coating  32 . In some embodiments however, the corner regions  22  or other areas surrounding the target image  14  are not coated with the second coating. In some embodiments, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 3 b   , border lines  20  extend around the target image  14  to provide an image border line  24  that is coated with second coating  32 , but wherein the surrounding corner regions  22  remain un coated substrate. For purposes of illustration the second coating  32  is shown as single line cross-hatching perpendicular to that used to depict the first coating  30 . 
     In should be recognized that the sheet of substrate material  12  may, like the image  14 , be provided in any shape desired. The image  14  may cover the entire printing surface  13  of the substrate  12  or take up only a portion thereof. Thus the “corner” regions  22  which lie outside of the image  14  may likewise be of any shape or area. The term “corner” as used above should therefore not be construed as being limited in reference to any particular shape or area of limitation, but rather is being used to designate the areas of the substrate printing surface  13  that are part of the printing surface  13  but are visually distinct and exterior to the target image  14 . 
     Returning to the application process, the second coating  32  comprises a transparent bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film  42 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , one side of the film  42  includes an adhesive or adhesive layer  44  which is placed against the uncoated border lines  20  and the regions  16  and  18  having the first coating  32  thereon. The adhesive  44  may be any type of adhesive, but in at least one embodiment it is a pressure sensitive adhesive. The BOPP film  42  is a low dyne film, which means it is difficult for materials to stick to it. Coating  32  may be a laminate of film  42  and adhesive  44 , such that the naturally low dyne surface (no adhesive)  46  of the film  42  is exposed following the application of the second coating  32  to the printing surface. In some embodiments second coating  32  may be any form of release layer, temporary bond adhesive or other substance or combination of substances which will release from the target surface when abraded by the impact of a projectile. 
     Second coating  32  may be applied by any suitable application process. In at least one embodiment however, the second coating  32  is a transparent laminate film which is laid across the printing surface  13  of the substrate and then pressed against the substrate  12  to engage the adhesive  44  to the underlying printing surface  13  and first coating  30 . 
     Following the application of the second coating  32  to the entire printing surface  13  of the substrate  12 , in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 a    and described above; a third coating  33  is applied over the second coating  32  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In some embodiments, the second coating  32 , is applied over the entire printing surface  13 , in a manner similar to the application of the second coating  32  shown in  FIG. 3 a   . To put it another way: wherever the second coating  32  has been applied, the third coating is applied over that area as well. In some embodiments, the third coating  33  is selectively applied only over the regions of the border lines  20  (and  24 ) such in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 b   . For purposes of illustration, the third coating  33  is depicted in  FIG. 5  as vertical line cross hatching. 
     The third coating  33  comprises an ink or colorant similar in composition to that of the first coating  30 . In at least one embodiment the third coating  33  has the same composition as the first coating  30 . 
     Following the application of the third coating  33 , a fourth coating  34  and fifth coating  35  are selectively applied upon the third coating  33  to create and provide the external visualization of the target image  14 . It should be noted that in embodiments where the third coating  33  is applied only over the regions of the target image  14  corresponding to the location of the border lines  20  (and  24 ) the third coating  33  may be applied before, after or simultaneously with the application of the fourth coating  34  and/or fifth coating  35 . 
     An example application of a sequence of applying coatings  33 ,  34  and  35  is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , wherein a fourth coating  34  is applied over a uniform third coating  33  so as to create the visually distinct primary target area  18  of the target image  14 . In an embodiment where the primary target area  18  is a “bullseye”, such as is depicted in  FIG. 7 , the fourth coating  34  may comprise an ink with a distinctive red coloring. 
     The fifth coating  35  comprises an ink having a different color than that of the fourth coating  34 . The fifth coating  35  is selectively applied upon the third coating  33  to form the secondary target areas  16  of the target image  14 . In the traditional “roundel style” target image  14 , such as is shown in  FIG. 7 , the secondary target areas  16  are formed in the shape of a series of concentric circular rings, that are broken up into discrete target areas. In the embodiment shown each ring of the secondary target area  16  is formed by the uniform application of fifth coating  35  providing a single color to all aspects of the secondary target area  16 . In some embodiments one or more rings, sections of rings or any regions of the secondary target area may be formed of any of a variety of similar or different colored inks. 
     As is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8   a , between the visually distinct primary target region(s)  18  and secondary target regions  16 , the border lines  20  remain coated only by coatings  32  and  33 . Because third coating  33  is of a color visually distinct from both the fourth coating  34  and the fifth coating  35  the resulting target image  14  is provided with several visually distinct target regions that are readily apparent by visual inspection. 
     As mentioned above, in some embodiments the third coating  33  is not a flood application, but rather a layer selectively applied only to the areas of the target image  14  corresponding to the border lines  20 . In such an embodiment, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 8 b   , the third coating  33  is shown in between the primary target region  18  of fourth coating  34  and secondary target regions  16  of fifth coating  35  as opposed to underlying the fourth and fifth coatings as in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8   a.    
     Once sufficient coatings of ink have been applied to form the primary  18  and secondary  16  target area of the target image  14 , the entire surface of the target device  10  is coated with an overlay varnish or sixth coating  36 . The overlay varnish is a transparent coating configured to provide protection to the target image  14  against incidental scuffs and scratches and its application is shown in  FIG. 9 . In at least one embodiment, the sixth coating  36  comprises a clear, water-based, flexographic overlay varnish. This sixth coating  36  may be applied in any manner desired, but in at least one embodiment is applied in a flood coating printing process. 
     A key feature of the present disclosure is that the inks of the third coating  33 , fourth coating  34  and fifth coating  35  are all placed on top of one another against the low dyne surface of the BOPP layer of the second coating  32  (not visible in  FIG. 10 ). This arrangement, will result in the ready release of the third coating  33 , and whichever top coating is applied thereupon (fourth coating  34  or fifth coating  35 ) in a region of the target where a significant physical impact or penetration occurs. As a result, when the target device  10 , such as is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , is fired upon and a hit is registered, the impact of the projectile will result in the third coating  33 , and whichever of the fourth  34  and fifth  35  coatings are at the impact site  50 , being abraded at and around the impact site  50 . This creates a visually distinct opening where the respective coatings  33 ,  34 , and/or  35  are removed and the contrasting color of the underlying first coating  30 , forms a halo  52  around the impact site thereby making the impact site  50  visually apparent to even a distant observer. 
     An additional mechanism which aids in accurately identifying precisely where on the target image  14  an impact site  50  is located, even at a glance, is the presence of border lines  20 . As previously mentioned border lines  20  surround each target area  16  and  18  of the target image  14 . Border lines  20  share the color of the printing surface  13  of the substrate  12 . In at least some embodiments, the color of the printing surface  13  is normally white or selected to be some other relatively bright color as compared to the color of the target areas  16  and  18  (see also the discussion of the fourth coating  34  and fifth coating  35  above). As discussed above, the regions of the printing surface  13  that correspond to the location of the border lines  20  are coated with the laminate second coating  32  and he third coating  33  of ink which is also selected to contrast the colors of the target areas  16  and  18 . 
     Given the distinctive colors and layers of the border lines  20 , in the event that an impact site  50  occurs near a border line  20 , even if the third coating  33  applied thereto abrades away as a result of an impact, such as in the manner shown in  FIG. 11 ; the border line  20  will still present a clearly contrasting color—that of the printing surface  13 —relative to the color of the target areas  16  or  18  as well as being distinct from the color of the first coating  30  and second coatings  32 . This feature ensures the ability of an observer to distinguish shot placement on the target image even if the impact site  50  is close to, or on the edge, of a given target area  16  or  18  even if all of the colored coatings  30 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  are abraded away. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the above description. Numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Since such modifications are possible, the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Rather, the present invention should be limited only by the following claims.