Patent Publication Number: US-11385032-B2

Title: Archery target pin

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/958,333 filed Jan. 8, 2020 for “Archery Target Pin,” hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Archery as a target sport is assessed based on the performance of one&#39;s ability to launch an arrow from a bow (e.g., longbow, traditional recurve, Olympic recurve or compound bow) that lands in the center of a target. These targets are made from a variety of materials, usually the thickness of heavy paper. These targets are attached to the target butt or backing with pins or nails. Pins and nails can be difficult to remove, as the head of the pins are generally flush with the surface of the target and target butt. The target butts can vary in material to include foam, layers of carpet, layers of polymer sheets, excelsior, and “bag” targets (which are filled with shredded material contained in a nylon weave outer bag). 
     All of these target butt mediums represent an array of conditions that make it difficult to securely attach and hold an archery target in place. To attach a target to a target butt, on average it requires four (4) pins. When the pins are not in use, the archer has to manage and keep the pins together and organized. Usually a bag is provided for this purpose or the pins are simply left to the archer to manage as individual items, which can result in lost or misplaced pins. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an example target pin having a shaft with a ribbed shank. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an example target pin having a shaft with a smooth shank. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates assembly of an example target pin. 
         FIG. 3A  is a first (e.g., front) side perspective view of a body of the example target pin shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a second (e.g., back) side perspective view of a body of the example target pin shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an unassembled target pin. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of an assembled target pin. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example group of target pin assemblies. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Target pins are disclosed herein as these may be used to secure targets to target backings. In an example, the target pins are implemented with archery targets. However, it is noted that the target pins disclosed herein are not limited to use only with archery targets, and may be implemented to retain any suitable target (e.g., for target shooting). Indeed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand these targets to have end-uses in other areas and are not limited only to use with targets. 
     An example target pin includes interchangeable shafts. In addition, the target pins may be integrated together with other shafts and/or target pin(s) for the purposes of storage and handling. An example of an integrating feature enables each individual target pin to attach to another target pin to help the user manage a set of pins (usually four target pins) when not in use (e.g., during storage, transportations, etc.). 
     Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including” and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on” means “based on” and “based at least in part on.” 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an example target pin  10  having a shaft  14   a  with a ribbed shank.  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an example target pin  10  having a shaft  14   b  with a smooth shank. 
     In an example, the target pin  10  includes a body  12  with a support structure having mechanical features that allow the archer or other user the ability to interchange the shaft  14   a ,  14   b  for the type of target butt and/or other conditions to hold the aiming target securely in place, e.g., during a competition. When the target pins  10  are not in use to hold the target (or other aiming reference), additional mechanical features in the support structure  22  of the body  12  allow for the shafts  14   a ,  14   b  and/or target pins  10  to be assembled together for ease of handling and transportation or storage, and to protect the archer from the sharp tips  13  of the target pins. 
     Before continuing, it should be noted that the examples described above are provided for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting. Other devices and/or device configurations may be utilized to carry out the operations described herein. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates assembly of an example target pin  10 . In an example, the shaft  14   a  (or  14   b , or any other shaft) is inserted in a through-hole feature  18  in body  12 . When the shaft  14   a  is rotated (e.g., as illustrated by arrow  2 ) in the body  12 , the end surface or shaft head  15  of the shaft  14   a  aligns coincident with base portion  20  of the body  12  while simultaneously aligning with guide or support structure  22  where the shaft  14   a  is received by a support structure  22 . When the shaft  14   a  is seated in the support structure  22  while the shaft head  15  is coincident with the base portion  20  of the body  12 , the assembly operations are complete. 
     In an example, the shaft  14   a ,  14   b  can be interchanged to accommodate the target butt and/or other conditions, e.g., by reversing the assembly steps to remove one of the shafts (e.g., shaft  14   a ) and then repeated with the other shaft (e.g., shaft  14   b ) to replace it with a shaft having a smooth shank shaft and/or a shaft having a ribbed shank. 
     The operations shown and described herein are provided to illustrate example implementations. It is noted that the operations are not limited to the ordering shown. Still other operations may also be implemented. 
       FIG. 3A  is a first (e.g., front) side perspective view of the body  12  of the example target pin  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3B  is a second (e.g., back) side perspective view of the body  12  of the example target pin  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an unassembled target pin  10 .  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of an assembled target pin  10 . The example target pin  10  is shown having a removable shaft  14   b  and a body  12  having a base  20  and a support structure  22  on the base  20 . 
     The support structure  22  is configured to retain the removable shaft  14   b  substantially perpendicular to the base  20  (see  FIG. 4B ) when the removable shaft  14   b  is assembled in the support structure  22  of the body  12 . The removable shaft  14   b  is assembled in the body  12  and then it can be pressed through a target into a target backing to hold the target securely in place on the target backing during archery or other target shooting. 
     In an example, a first elongated opening  26  extends between a middle portion and an upper portion of a first side of the support structure  22 . A second elongated opening  24  extends between a middle portion and a lower portion of a second side of the support structure  22 . In this example, the first side is opposite of the second side of the support structure  22 . 
     In an example, a portion of the first elongated opening  26  overlaps with a portion of the second elongated opening  24  to form the through-hole opening  18  between the first side and the second side of the support structure  22 . 
     In an example, a tip  13  of the removable shaft  14   b  is inserted into the through-hole opening  18  on the second side of the support structure  22 . Then the shaft  14   b  is rotated such that the shaft  14   b  enters the support structure  22  and is maintained substantially perpendicular to the base  20  by the support structure  22 . For example, the removable shaft  14   b  may have a flat head portion  15 . When the shaft  14   b  is rotated into the support structure  22 , the flat head  15  of the shaft  14   b  aligns coincident with the base  20  while simultaneously fitting lengthwise through the first elongated opening  26 . 
     In an example, the support structure  22  has a detent feature  28 . Assembly of the shaft  14   b  into the body  12  is completed when the removable shaft  14   b  is seated in the detent feature  28  and the flat head  15  of the shaft  14   b  is coincident with the base  20 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example group of target pin assemblies  50 . When the target pins  10  are not in use, a feature (e.g., connectors  30   a ,  30   b ) on the body  12  receives the shaft of each adjacent pin to form a group of target pins  50 . 
     In an example, the support structure  22  includes one or more connector (e.g., connectors  30   a ,  30   b ) for accepting a shank of another shaft to hold the both shafts adjacent to the support structure  22  or another feature of the target pin  10 . As such, a single body  12  may hold multiple shafts. In another example, the other shaft(s) can be installed in another target pin and the target pins connected to one another (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
     In an example, a first shaft is connected to the support structure  22  in a direction that is facing opposite another shaft, and so forth for as many shafts that are connected. As such, the pointed ends of the shaft are protected so that these do not poke the user&#39;s hand (or through the user&#39;s pocket). 
     In an example, the connectors  30   a ,  30   b  are situated on the support structure at about 180 degrees apart from the second connector. However, more than 2 connectors  30   a ,  30   b  may be provided and spaced apart from each other (e.g., 3 connectors at 120 degrees apart from one another; 4 connectors at 90 degrees apart from one another, etc.). 
     It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other examples are also contemplated.