Abstract:
The firearm target assembly includes a target mount, an upper target assembly, and a lower target assembly. The target mount is clamped to a support beam. Two vertical spaced apart ears extend rearward from the rear of the mount. An upper target assembly and a lower target assembly both have a flat metal disk attached to a shank with a shank free end. The free end of the upper shank is pivotally attached to the ears for pivotal movement about an upper horizontal axis. The free end of the lower shank is pivotally attached to the ears for pivotal movement about a lower horizontal axis. The upper target moves from a vertical position to a horizontal position upon being struck by a bullet and forces the lower target to a ready position. The lower target returns the upper target to a ready position upon being struck by a bullet.

Description:
REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/635,860, filed on Dec. 14, 2004. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The firearm target system includes two metal targets, pivotally attached to a common metal frame, each of which is moved from a vertical ready position by the impact of a projectile and simultaneously moves the other target to a ready position, and wherein one target is free to pivot relative to the frame while the other target remains stationary.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Cardboard or paper targets are employed when a shooter desires to determine where each round strikes the target relative to a target center. These targets are used where each round is to be scored in competition. These targets are also used where it is desired to adjust firearm sights.  
         [0004]     Cardboard or paper targets have a number of drawbacks. Generally the shooter can not tell where a target was hit without moving close to the target or using a telescope or other optical device. With some target systems the target is moved toward a firing line. With other target systems the shooter moves toward the target. Moving the target toward the firing line requires a target support system that can move the target. Target moving systems are expensive, require maintenance, and take time to operate. Permitting a shooter to move forward to inspect a target requires time and requires control of the firing line if there is more than one shooter on the firing line.  
         [0005]     Shooters may desire to know only if a target is hit or missed after the sights are adjusted. Target systems have been developed which move a target from a vertical position to a horizontal position after the target is hit. Target systems are also available which rotate a target about a vertical axis between a position facing a firing line and a position facing ninety degrees to one side or the other of the shooters line of sight. Power is generally required from an outside source to pivot targets about an axis.  
         [0006]     Two steel target plates have been pivotally attached to a beam with one target plate to the rear of the other target plate. A control link pivotally attached to both target plates raises one target plate to a generally vertical position when the other target plate is lowered from a generally vertical position. With this system, a projectile strikes the target plate that is in a generally vertical position causing the struck target plate to pivot from the generally vertical position and simultaneously raise the target plate that was not struck by the projectile to be raised to the generally vertical position. The target plate that was not struck by the first projectile is then in a generally vertical position to be hit by a second projectile. The bolts that pivotally attach the target plates to the beam and the bolts that pivotally attach the control link to both target plates are loosened or tightened to obtain the desired functioning of the target system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The firearm target assembly includes an elongated target mount with a top frame wall, a front frame wall integral with the top frame wall and a rear frame wall integral with the top frame wall and a channel adapted to receive horizontal target supports. A pair of threaded fasteners mounted in the rear frame wall to clamp the elongated target mount to a target support. A first vertical ear is fixed to the rear frame and extends rearward from the rear frame wall. A second vertical ear is parallel to and spaced from the first vertical ear. An upper target includes an upper flat metal disk with an upper disk face and an upper disk back. An upper shank is secured to the upper disk back of the upper flat metal disk. The upper shank extends radially from the upper flat metal disk to an upper shank free end. An upper target pivot pin extends through a first upper pin bore through the first vertical ear, through the upper shank free end and through a second upper pin bore through the second vertical ear. The upper target pivot pin supports the upper target for pivotal movement about an upper horizontal axis between an upper target ready position in which the upper disk face is substantially vertical and a front upper stop surface on the upper shank engages a mount stop surface on the elongated target mount and a generally horizontal position down range from the elongated target mount. A lower target includes a lower flat metal disk with a lower disk face and a lower disk back. A lower shank is secured to the lower disk back and extends radially from the lower flat metal disk to a lower shank free end. A lower target pivot pin extends though a first lower pin bore through the first vertical ear, through the lower shank free end and through a second lower pin bore through the second vertical ear. The lower target pivot pin supports the lower target for pivotal movement about a lower horizontal axis that is parallel to the upper horizontal axis and below the upper horizontal axis. The lower target is moved by gravity to a lower target rest position in which the lower target face extends downwardly and rearwardly when the upper target is in an upper target ready position. A rear stop surface on the upper shank contacts a stop bar on the lower shank free end and forces the lower target to pivot about the lower target pivot pin axis from the lower rest position to a lower target ready position in response to the upper target moving to the upper target moving to the horizontal position upon being struck by a bullet. The lower target pivots the upper target to the upper target ready position in response to being struck by a bullet. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent in view of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plurality of firearm target assemblies mounted on one elongated horizontal beam;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rear of the firearm target assembly mounted on a horizontal beam with parts broken away and with the upper target plate in a generally vertical ready position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the firearm target assembly with the upper target plate in a generally vertical ready position and the lower target in a rest position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the firearm target assembly with the upper target plate in the generally vertical ready position and with the lower target plate at the upper limit of its range of pivotal movement; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the firearm target assembly with the lower target plate in a vertical ready position and the upper target plate holding the lower target plate in the vertical ready position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The firearm target assembly  10  includes a target mounting frame  12 , an upper target assembly  14  and a lower target assembly  16 . The target mounting frame  12  is a channel shaped member with a top frame wall  18 , a front frame wall  20 , and a rear frame wall  22 . The channel  24  in the channel shaped member receives the upper edge of a two by six or a two by four wood beam  26 . A pair of threaded nuts  28  and  30  are fixed to the outside of the rear frame wall  22 . A bolt  32  screws into the threaded nut  28 , extends through the rear frame wall  22  and forces the beam  26  toward the front frame wall  20 . A bolt  34  screws into the threaded nut  30 , extends though the rear frame wall  22  and forces the beam  26  toward the front frame wall  20 . Tightening both bolts  32  and  34  clamps the target mounting frame  12  to the beam  26 . The bolts  32  and  34  are preferably relative large in diameter and do not penetrate too far into the wood beam  26 . If necessary a metal plate can be inserted between the bolts  32  and  34  and the wood beam  26  or a steel beam can be substituted for the wood beam  26 . The mounting frame  12  can also be attached directly to the beam  26  by bolts. A pair of vertical spaced apart ears  36  and  38  are fixed to the rear frame wall  22 . An upper pivot pin bore  40  is drilled through the ears  36  and  38 . A lower pivot pin bore  42  is also drilled though the ears  36  and  38 . The position of the upper pivot pin bore  40 , the lower pin bore  42  and the rear frame wall  22  relative to each other is important to operation of the target assembly  10 .  
         [0015]     The upper target assembly  14  includes a flat metal target disk  44  fixed to an upper shank  46 . The metal target disk  44  has sufficient thickness and strength to prevent penetration by a projectile and to minimize deforming. If the weights or velocity of the projectile increase, it may be necessary to increase the thickness of the target disk  44  to provide adequate strength. If the weight or velocity of the projectile decrease significantly, it may be necessary to decrease the thickness or diameter of the target disk  44  to obtain the desired operation of the upper target assembly. A fillet A shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  4  and  5  is provided to reduce stress and prevent crack formation in the upper shank  46 .  
         [0016]     The upper shank  46  of the upper target assembly  14 , extends radially outward from the center of portion the target disk  44  to an upper shank free end  48 . A shank pivot bore passes though the upper shank free end  48 . The free end  48  of the upper shank  46  is positioned between the ears  36  and  38 . An upper target pivot pin  50  passes through the upper pivot pin bore  40  through the ears  36  and  38  and through an upper shank pivot pin bore to pivotally attach the upper target assembly  14  to the mounting frame  12 . The pivot pin  50  may be non-rotatable relative to the upper shank  46 . The pivot pin  50  can also be a hardened steel bolt. If a bolt is used, the upper shank will rotate and the bolt will be fixed in the upper pivot pin bore  40 . A front upper stop surface  52 , on the upper shank  46 , contacts the upper edge of the rear wall  22  of the target mounting frame  12  to limit pivotal movement of the upper target assembly  14  in one direction. A rear stop surface  54 , on the upper shank  46  limits pivotal movement of the upper target assembly  14  in another direction as described below. The upper shank  46  also has a shank bottom stop surface  55  which is not normally used.  
         [0017]     The lower target assembly  16  includes a flat metal target disk  56  fixed to a lower shank  58 . The flat metal target disk  56  has sufficient thickness and strength to prevent penetration by a projectile and to minimize deforming. If the weight or velocity of the projectile increase, it may be necessary to increase the thickness of the target disk  56  to provide adequate strength. If the weight or velocity of the projectile decreases significantly, it may be necessary to decrease the thickness or diameter of the flat metal target disk  56  to obtain the desired operation of the lower target assembly  16 .  
         [0018]     The lower shank  58 , of the lower target assembly  16 , extends radially outward from the center portion of the target disk  56  to an upper shank free end  60 . A shank pivot bore passes thought the lower shank free end  60 . The free end  60  of the lower shank  58  is positioned between the ears  36  and  38 . A lower target pivot pin  62  passes through the lower pivot pin bore  42  through the ears  36  and  38  and through a lower shank pivot pin bore to pivotally attach the lower target assembly  16  to the mounting frame  12 . The pivot pin  62  may be non-rotatable relative to the lower shank  58 . The pivot pin  62  can also be a hardened steel bolt. If a bolt is used, the lower shank  58  will rotate and the bolt will be fixed in the lower pivot pin bore. The stop surface  64  on the lower shank free end  60  engages the rear stop surface  54  to limit pivotal movement of the lower target assembly  16  in one direction when the upper target assembly  14  is in a horizontal position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . A stop bar  66  of hardened steel is fixed to the lower shank free end  60  and extends laterally from each side of the lower shank  58 . The stop bar  66  contacts the inclined surfaces  68  and  70  on the ears  36  and  38  to limit pivotal movement of the lower target assembly  16  in a second direction about the axis  72  of the lower target pivot pin  62 .  
         [0019]     During target practice with a firearm, the firearm target assembly is clamped to a beam  26  by tightening the bolts  32  and  34  to clamp the target mounting frame  12  to the beam. The upper target assembly  14  is placed in the raised vertical position shown in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 . The lower target assembly  16  is inclined downwardly and rearwardly placing the center of gravity  74  of the lower target assembly  16  directly below the axis  72  of the lower target pivot pin  62 . In this position the lower target assembly  16  is still visible. However, the angle of the flat metal target disk  56  is moved sufficiently from vertical to be observed from a firing line. The upper flat metal target disk  44  is substantially vertical. The shooter has been instructed to fire at the top round target disk  44  if two targets disks  44  and  56  are visible. A projectile that strikes the front face  76  of the flat metal target disk  44  will pivot the upper target assembly  14  about the upper target pivot pin  50  and move the target disk rearward and downward to the position shown in  FIG. 5 . Pivotal movement of the upper target assembly  14  will stop when the stop surface  64  on the lower shank  58  contacts the rear stop surface  54  on the upper shank  46 . The rear stop surface  54  on the upper shank  46  contacts the stop bar  66  on the lower shank free end of the lower shank  58  before pivotal movement upper target assembly  14  from the vertical position is stopped. The weight of the upper target assembly  14  exerts a force through the stop bar  66  that pivots the lowered target front disk front face  78  on the lower target assembly  16  to a generally vertical position, shown in  FIG. 5  from the inclined position shown in  FIG. 3 . The lower target assembly  16  is in a ready position with the front face  78  of target disk  56  generally vertical and the upper target assembly  14  generally horizontal and below the top frame wall  18  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The shooter  5  can see the lower target assembly  16  but not the upper target assembly  14  from a firing line. The next projectile launched by the shooter  5  will strike the front face  78  of the target disk  56  and pivot the lower target assembly  16  about the axis  72  of lower target pivot pin  62  in the direction indicated by the arrow  80  in  FIG. 4 . The stop bar  66  on the lower shank  58  exerts force on the rear stop surface  54  and pivots the upper target assembly  14  about the axis of the upper target pivot pin  50 . Pivotal movement of the lower target assembly  16  continues until the stop bar  66  contacts the inclined surfaces  68  and  70  on the ears  36  and  38  and further upward movement of the lower target assembly is blocked as shown in  FIG. 4 . Upon reaching the position shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper target assembly  14  is in a vertical ready position and gravity will pivot the lower target assembly  16  to the position shown in  FIG. 3 . Upon the upper and lower target assemblies  14  &amp;  16  reaching the positions shown in  FIG. 3 , the firearm target assembly  10  is ready to start the cycle over.  
         [0020]     Occasionally the projectile will not exert sufficient force to pivot the lower target assembly  16  from the ready position shown in  FIG. 5  to the position shown in  FIG. 4  due to low projectile weight or low projectile velocity. When there is a failure to lift the upper target assembly  14  to the position shown in  FIG. 4 , gravity will return the upper target assembly and the lower target assembly  16  to the position shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0021]     The pivotal connections between the target pivot pins  50  and  62  and the respective target assemblies  14  and  16  are important to operation of the target assembly  10  the number of pivots is limited to two to minimize the effect of friction and wear on the target assembly. As explained above, the pivot pins  50  and  62  can be fixed to the respective upper shank  46  and the lower shank  58 . This doubles the bearing area thereby decreasing the load and wear. An alternate construction could include bearing sleeves clamped between the ears  36  and  38  by bolts that replace the pivot pins  50  and  62 . Washers can be used to insure that the shanks  46  and  58  do not contact the ears  36  and  38 . Bearing seals can be employed to keep foreign matter out of contact with bearing surfaces.  
         [0022]     A third possible pivotal connection between target assemblies  14  and  16  includes bolts in place of the pivot pins  50  and  62 . Large diameter bolts would provide the same bearing surface as the bearing sleeves descriped above. Bending of the ears  36  and  38  could be prevented by employing a torque wrench to limit tightening of the nut. A bolt with a shoulder could also be used to eliminate bending loads on ears  36  and  38 .