Patent Publication Number: US-5829753-A

Title: Multifunctional portable target stand and dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention relates generally to support devices and more specifically it relates to a multifunction portable target stand. The multifunction portable target stand has convenience, total organization and excellent portability built therein, so that a person will be able to carry various targets to an archery or rifle shoot and set it up in a short period of time. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous support devices have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,519 to Hand; 4,029,318 to Boss; 4,884,658 to Banfield; 5,169,157 to Salmon and 5,280,920 to Knapper, II all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     HAND, GENE WILLIAM 
     PORTABLE TARGET HOLDER 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,519 
     A portable target holder for targets used in rifle and pistol target practice. The holder is supported by at least one freely pivoted leg attached to each side thereof. The supporting arrangement is particularly adapted to support the target vertically on uneven terrain. 
     BOSS, RICHARD K. 
     PORTABLE, ADJUSTABLE TARGET STAND 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,318 
     A target stand comprises a target holder pivotably mounted on a scissors frame base. The scissors frame base and pivotably mounted target holder are adjustable, collapsible, and portable. The height of the target can be adjusted by extending or retracting the scissors frame base, with a cord or chain running from one side to the other side of the scissors frame base holding the base at its desired position. The target holder is held in position on the scissors frame base by an adjustable position support rod running from the target holder to the scissors frame base. Targets are held in place on the target holder by spring operated plastic clips which are slideably mounted on the target holder. The target stand can be securely attached to the ground by means of removable spikes on the bottom of the base. 
     BANFIELD, WILLIAM A. 
     COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,658 
     A collapsible sawhorse including a crossbeam and two pairs of legs connected at opposite ends of the crossbeam for disposition between a load-supporting position and a folded position. Each pair of legs is pivotally connected to a support member that is pivotally connected to the crossbeam, so that each support member and its pair of legs may collectively pivot between the two positions. Brackets are provided for detachably supporting a projectile target to the crossbeam. 
     SALMON, MICHAEL E. 
     TARGET HOLDER 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,157 
     An automatic target holder is provided for positioning targets for projectiles at a location remote from a shooter. The target holder includes a housing having a relatively low silhouette and a target support removably mounted upon the housing for positioning a target in a substantially planar firing position normal to a path of a projectile fired by the shooter. A target drive mechanism is located within the housing and is remotely operable by the shooter to advance a target roll to move a new target into the firing position. The target support structure and the housing is oriented outboard of the target in the firing position providing an unobstructed path for the projectile as it passes through the target. The preferred embodiment is provided with a target illumination panel positioned behind the target and shiftable between an inactive position out of the projectile path and an active position behind the target in order to increase the visibility of the projectile holes formed in the target. 
     KNAPPER, II, WILLIAM J. 
     PORTABLE TARGET SYSTEM 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,920 
     A portable, reusable, disposable, compact package that opens up and reconnects to form an upright target and sight-in system for guns. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction portable target stand that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another object is to provide a multifunction portable target stand that has convenience, total organization and excellent portability built therein. 
     An additional object is to provide a multifunction portable target stand wherein as one unit a person will be able to carry various targets to an archery or rifle shoot and then set it up to be ready to be used in a short period of time. 
     A further object is to provide a multifunction portable target stand that is simple and easy to use. 
     A still further object is to provide a multifunction portable target stand that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein; 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the instant invention in a folded position. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the instant invention in an extended position with a pair of archery targets installed. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 3, with a roll of perforated paper targets installed. 
     FIG. 6 is a top perspective view taken in the direction of arrow 6 in FIG. 5, with the lid of the storage compartment opened and parts broken away and in section. 
     FIG. 7 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 3, with a soda bottle and beverage cans suspended from the J-hooks to be used as other types of targets. 
     FIG. 8 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 7, showing a lantern suspended from one of the J-hooks. 
     FIG. 9 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 7, showing a dart board suspended from two of the J-hooks. 
     FIG. 10 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 7, showing another type of archery target suspended from two of the J-hooks. 
     FIG. 11 is a top perspective view similar to FIG. 6, showing various articles within the storage compartment. 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the instant invention in the folded position being carried by the adjustable shoulder strap on a shoulder of a person. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 to 12 illustrate a multifunction portable target stand 14 of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing 
     14 multifunction portable target stand 
     16 holding assembly of 14 for 18 
     18 target 
     supporting structure of 14 on 16 
     22 ground 
     24 person 
     26 shooting weapon 
     28 transporting facility of 14 on 20 
     29 frame for 16 
     30 first side member of 29 
     32 second side member of 29 
     34 top target rear stop crossbar of 29 
     35 bottom cross frame member of 29 
     36 bottom target rear stop crossbar of 29 
     38 styrofoam archery target for 18 
     40 target area in 29 
     41 movable mount in 29 
     42 target compartment of 16 
     44 longitudinal front slit in 42 
     46 roll of perforated paper targets for 18 
     48 vertical groove in 30 and 32 
     50 rod for 46 
     52 lid of 42 
     54 rear hinge between 42 and 52 
     56 front latch mechanism between 42 and 52 
     58 other item 
     60 J-hook of 16 
     62 other target for 18 
     64 lantern 
     66 first pair of legs of 20 
     68 first stationary pivot bolt of 20 
     70 first lock bolt of 20 
     72 second pair of legs of 20 
     74 second stationary pivot bolt of 20 
     76 second lock bolt of 20 
     78 handle for 28 
     80 shoulder strap for 28 
     82 shoulder of 24 
     84 adjustment clip on 80 
     The multifunction portable target stand 14 comprises an assembly 16 for holding a target 18. A structure 20 is pivotally connected to the holding assembly 16, for supporting the holding assembly 16 in an upright position above the ground 22 when the supporting structure 20 is in an extended position, so that a person 24 with a shooting weapon 26 at a remote location on the ground 22 can shoot at the target 18. A facility 28 on the supporting structure 20 is for transporting the multifunction portable target stand 14 to another location, when the supporting structure 20 is in a folded up position. 
     The holding assembly 16 is a frame 29 that includes a pair of spaced apart parallel side members 30 and 32. A top target rear stop crossbar 34 is connected to and extends between the side members 30 and 32. A bottom cross frame member 35 is connected to and extends between the side members 30 and 32. A bottom target rear stop crossbar 36 is connected to and extends between the side members 30 and 32 directly behind the bottom cross frame member 35, so that the target 18 being a pair of styrofoam archery targets 38 can be installed within a target area 40 formed thereby. Four movable mounts 41, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, are also provided. Each movable mount 41 is pivotally connected at each front corner of the frame 29, to hold the styrofoam archery targets 38 in place within the target area 40. 
     The holding assembly 16 further includes a target compartment 42 attached to a top surface of the top target rear stop crossbar 34 and between upper ends of the side members 30 and 32. The target compartment 42 has an open top and a longitudinal front slot 44 therealong, so that the target 18 being a paper target on a roll of perforated paper targets 46 placed within the target compartment 42 can extend through the longitudinal front slot 44 and be fastened along its bottom edge to a front edge of the bottom cross frame member 35. 
     The target compartment 42 consists of each of the side members 30 and 32 at an upper end having an inwardly facing aligned vertical groove 48 therein, so that a rod 50 holding the roll of perforated paper targets 46 can rest within the vertical grooves 48. The target compartment 42 further contains a lid 52 to cover the open top. A pair of rear hinges 54 are between the lid 52 and the target compartment 42. A front latch mechanism 56 is between the lid 52 and the target compartment 42. When the roll of perforated paper targets 46 is removed therefrom, a plurality of other items 58, as shown in FIG. 11, can be stored within the target compartment 42. 
     The holding assembly 16 further includes a plurality of J-hooks 60 spaced apart and attached to a bottom surface of the top target stop crossbar 34, so that the target 18 being a variety of different types of targets 62, such as a soda bottle and beverage cans in FIG. 7, a dart board in FIG. 9, and another type of archery target in FIG. 10, and a lantern 64, shown in FIG. 8, can be suspended from the J-hooks 60. 
     The supporting structure 20 consists of a first pair of legs 66. A first stationary pivot bolt 68 is for pivotally connecting upper ends of the first pair of legs 66 to a lower end of the first side member 30. A first lock bolt 70 is for connecting lower ends of the first pair of legs 66 to an upper end of the first side member 30, when the first pair of legs 66 are in a folded up position, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 12, and for connecting upper ends of the first pair of legs 66 to the lower end of the first side member 30, when the first pair of legs 66 are in an extended inverted V-position, as in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 7 through 10. 
     A second pair of legs 72 are also provided. A second stationary pivot bolt 74 is for pivotally connecting upper ends of the second pair of legs 72 to a lower end of the second side member 32. A second lock bolt 76 is for connecting lower ends of the second pair of legs 72 to an upper end of the second side member 30, when the second pair of legs 72 are in a folded up position, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 12, and for connecting upper ends of the second pair of legs 72 to the lower end of the second side member 32, when the second pair of legs 72 are in an extended inverted V-position, as in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 7 through 10. 
     The transporting facility 28 is a handle 78 connected to one side of the outermost one of the second pair of legs 72. A person 24 can grasp the handle 78, when the first pair of legs 66 and the second pair of legs 78 are in the folded up position. 
     The transporting facility 28 is also a shoulder strap 80 affixed at opposite ends to one side of the outermost one of the second pair of legs 72. A person 24 can carry the multifunction portable target stand 14 via the shoulder strap 80 on a shoulder 82, when the first pair of legs 66 and the second pair of legs 78 are in the folded up position (see FIG. 12). The shoulder strap 80 includes an adjustment clip 84, so that the length of the shoulder strap 80 can be adjusted to fit comfortably on the shoulder 82 of the person 24. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.