Patent Publication Number: US-11391548-B1

Title: Shooting target lifter

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/983,668, filed Feb. 29, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to reuseable firearm targets. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Shooting targets for firearms, such as pistols and rifles, come in many forms. Some targets are made from disposable materials, such as paper, while other targets are meant to be shot repeatedly. Such reusable targets are often made of metal. 
     In some examples, reusable targets may be stationary where a hit is confirmed by a report (sound) of a bullet hitting the target. In other examples, reusable targets may move in response to a hit. Hanging targets that swing in response to a hit are one example; another example are spring loaded targets that fall in response to a hit before a spring returns the target to its original standing position. Other targets are designed to fall when hit, providing a satisfying and readily-verifiable confirmation of a successful shot. Falling targets, such as pepper popper falling targets, are often preferred in competition over other reusable targets to aid in scoring and target acquisition by removing hit targets from a shooter&#39;s view. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     While falling targets provide advantages over other reusable targets, one disadvantage is that such targets need to be reset before being shot again. Resetting falling targets requires ensuring safety of the target range a process that can take many minutes. However, techniques disclosed herein include a remote-activated target lifter for resetting a falling target. Manually resetting a falling target generally requires first closing a shooting range to active fire and physically traveling to and from the target from the shooting line—often a distance of 100 yards or more. The use of remote-activated target lifters improves both the speed and safety of resetting falling targets. 
     In one example, this disclosure is directed to a shooting target lifter including a projectile-resistant tubular housing configured for coupling to a base of a falling shooting target, the falling shooting target including the base and a reusable shooting target rotatably connected to the base movable between an upright position and a down position, a target lifter arm rotatably connected to the tubular housing and an actuator with an actuator housing and a ram actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position relative the actuator housing. The actuator is within the tubular housing and includes a first end pivotably mounted to the tubular housing and a second end pivotably mounted to the target lifter arm, the second end extending beyond an open end of the tubular housing. A free end of the target lifter arm is configured to lift the reusable shooting target from the down position to the upright position when the ram is extended from the retracted position to the extended position. The shooting target lifter further includes a controller configured to, in response to a wireless signal, output a control signal to extend the ram to reset the reusable shooting target from the down position to the upright position. The controller is within the tubular housing. 
     In a further example, this disclosure is directed to a shooting target system including a remote with a user input and a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal in response to activation of the user input, and a falling shooting target. The falling shooting target includes a base, and a reusable shooting target rotatably connected to the base movable between an upright position and a down position. The shooting target system further includes a shooting target lifter including a projectile-resistant tubular housing coupled to the base, a target lifter arm rotatably connected to the tubular housing, and an actuator with an actuator housing and a ram actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position relative the actuator housing. The actuator is within the tubular housing and includes a first end pivotably mounted to the tubular housing and a second end pivotably mounted to the target lifter arm, the second end extending beyond an open end of the tubular housing. A free end of the target lifter arm is configured to lift the reusable shooting target from the down position to the upright position when the ram is extended from the retracted position to the extended position. The shooting target system further includes a controller configured to, in response to the wireless signal, output a control signal to extend the ram to reset the reusable shooting target from the down position to the upright position. The controller is within the tubular housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system including a falling shooting target, a shooting target lifter, and a wireless remote for activating the shooting target lifter. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the shooting target lifter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a conceptual block diagram of a controller of the shooting target lifter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate the shooting target lifter of  FIG. 1  as it resets the falling shooting target of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system  10  including a falling shooting target  30 , a shooting target lifter  100 , and a wireless remote  20  for activating shooting target lifter  100 .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate shooting target lifter  100 . More specifically,  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of shooting target lifter  100 , and  FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of shooting target lifter  100 . 
     Shooting target system  10  includes a falling shooting target  30 , and a shooting target lifter  100  configured to reset falling shooting target  30 . Shooting target system  10  further includes a wireless remote  20  with a battery  25 , a user input  22 , and a transmitter  24  configured to, in response to activation of user input  22 , transmit a wireless signal via antenna  26  configured to activate shooting target lifter  100  to reset falling shooting target  30  in response to activation of user input  22 . In some examples, user input  22  may be a button or switch. In other examples, wireless remote  20  may be embodied as a personal electronic device, such as a smartphone, and user input  22  may be a touchscreen, voice activation, or other available user input to the personal electronic device. 
     While the techniques of this disclosure may be adapted to any wired or wireless communication medium, a wireless connection between wireless remote  20  and shooting target lifter  100  is preferred. In various examples, wireless remote  20  may operate using any variety of wireless communication, including long or short-range wireless connections, such as radio frequency (RF) transmissions, such as those within a frequency spectrum range between 300-450 MHz, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and/or cellular connections. 
     Falling shooting target  30  includes a base  32 , and a reusable shooting target  34  rotatably connected to base  32  with pivot pin  35  and movable between an upright position and a down position about pivot pin  35 . In some examples, reusable shooting target  34  represents a popper target, such as an International Practice Shooting Confederation (IPSC) standard popper target, IPSC mini popper target, a United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) standard popper target, or USPSA mini popper target. Reuseable popper targets are formed from a durable material such as ⅜ inch plate steel. These popper targets are fairly heavy with IPSC and USPSA mini popper targets generally weighing 20 to 30 pounds, and IPSC and USPSA standard popper targets generally weighing 50 to 70 pounds. Shooting target lifter  100  may be configured to reset any of these falling shooting targets, or other target configurations. 
     An IPSC standard popper target includes a flat profile with a round target of with a 15 centimeter (cm) radius on top of a base. The base has width of 20 cm at the round target and a bottom width of 15 cm. The center point of the round target is 70 cm above the bottom of the base. An IPSC mini popper target includes a round target of with a 10 cm radius on top of a base. The base has width of 13.5 cm at the round target and a bottom width of 10 cm. The center point of the round target is 46 cm above the bottom of the base. An IPSC mini popper target includes a flat profile with a round target of with a 10 cm radius on top of a base. The base has width of 13.5 cm at the round target and a bottom width of 10 cm. The center point of the round target is 46 cm above the bottom of the base. 
     USPSA standard and mini popper targets provide include flat profiles with similar shapes to the IPSC standard and mini popper targets with the addition of top target area above the round target. A USPSA standard popper target includes a flat profile with a round target of with a 6 inch radius on top of a base. The base has width of 8 inches at the round target and a bottom width of 6 inches. The center point of the round target is 27.38 inches above the bottom of the base. The top target area is centered above the round target with a circular portion with a 3 inch radius, the center point of the circular portion being 11.63 inches above the center point of the round target. Below the center point of the circular portion the top target area has a consistent width of 6 inches, matching the diameter of the circular portion of the top target area. 
     A USPSA mini popper target includes a flat profile with a round target of with a 4 inch radius on top of a base. The base has width of 5.38 inches at the round target and a bottom width of 4 inches. The center point of the round target is 18.25 inches above the bottom of the base. The top target area is centered above the round target with a circular portion with a 2 inch radius, the center point of the circular portion being 7.75 inches above the center point of the round target. Below the center point of the circular portion the top target area has a consistent width of 4 inches, matching the diameter of the circular portion of the top target area. 
     Shooting target lifter  100  includes a target lifter arm  120  rotatably connected to arms  116  of a projectile-resistant tubular housing  110 . In the illustrated example, target lifter arm  120  is rotatably connected to holes in arms  116  of tubular housing  110  via bolt  121 . Tubular housing  110  is coupled to base  32  of falling shooting target  30 . In various examples, tubular housing  110  may be welded or bolted to base  32  via angle brackets  114 . For example, angle brackets  114  may bolt directly to crossbeams of base  32 . While non-adjustable angle brackets  114  are shown in the figures, in other examples, angle brackets may extend a length of tubular housing  110  and include multiple mounting holes to facilitate connections to falling shooting targets with a variety of dimensions. 
     As referred to herein, projectile-resistant means of durable construction sufficient to allow continued operation of the associated assembly following repeated impacts from bullets and bullet fragments discharged from firearms, such as handguns or rifles. In the preferred example, the projectile-resistant components are formed from metal, such as a steel alloy, with a thickness of at least ⅛ (0.125) inches, such as between ⅛ (0.125) inches and ½ (0.500) inches. Joints may be welded. In particular examples, projectile-resistant components are formed from 3/16 (0.188) inch steel. In some examples, such projectile-resistant components may be covered in a protective coating, such as paint, epoxy, or a layer applied through a chemical process, such as with galvanized steel or anodized aluminum. Depending on the severity of bullet impacts, the protective coating may be visibly or functionally degraded by the bullets in some examples. 
     An actuator  130  is within tubular housing  110  and includes a first end  131  pivotably mounted to tubular housing  110  and a second end  132  pivotably mounted to target lifter arm  120 , second end  132  extending beyond an open end of tubular housing  110 . Actuator  130  is configured to operate target lifter arm  120  through extension of ram  136  relative to actuator housing  134 . Specifically, ram  136  is actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to actuator housing  134  and acts on ram pivot pin  137 , which is secured to target lifter arm  120  at a position offset from bolt  121 . In some examples, actuator  130  may be an electronic actuator including an electric motor fixed relative to actuator housing  134 , the motor turning a ball screw within actuator housing  134  to drive ram  136  relative to actuator housing  134 . 
     A free end  122  of target lifter arm  120  is configured to lift reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position when the ram  136  is extended from the retracted position to the extended position. In the specific example shown, actuator housing  134  forms first end  131  pivotably mounted to tubular housing  110 , and ram  136  forms second end  132  configured to lift reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position when ram  136  is extended from the retracted position to the extended position. In other examples, this orientation of actuator  130  may be reversed. 
     A roller  126  is coupled to free end  122  of target lifter arm  120 , roller  126  being configured to roll over reusable shooting target  34  while target lifter arm  120  lifts reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position. Roller  126  is rotatably mounted to target lifter arm  120  by way of bolt  127 . In some example, roller  126  may be a formed from a solid steel rod, such as a 2.5 inch solid steel rod with a drilled center hole to fit over bolt  127 . In some examples, the center hole may be 0.5 inches in diameter. The solid steel construction of roller  126  provides impact resistance from bullets and bullet fragments. 
     A projectile-resistant actuator cover  140  is over a portion of actuator  130  and shields the open end of tubular housing  110 . Actuator cover  140  is free to move with actuator  130  as actuator  130  pivots relative to tubular housing  110  while ram  136  actuates between the retracted position and the extended position. Actuator cover  140  includes a hole  142  through which ram  136  extends, a size of hole  142  being too small to allow actuator housing  134  to pass through hole  142 . In some examples, the front of projectile-resistant actuator cover  140  with hole  142  may be formed by drilling, bending and welding a stock rectangle tube, such as a stock steel tube 2.5 inches by 2.0 inches. 
     Shooting target lifter  100  includes a number of electronic components that support the operation of actuator  130  to lift reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position. These electronic components include a controller  150 , a battery  170  and actuator  130 . Battery  170  powers controller  150 , and at least in examples in which actuator  130  is an electric actuator, battery  170  also powers actuator  130 . In other examples such as when actuator  130  is a pneumatic actuator, battery  170  may power pneumatic switches to activate actuator  130  by releasing gas from a pressure source. In such examples, the pressure source may include a tank within tubular housing  110  or may be outside tubular housing  110 . 
     The electronic components of shooting target lifter  100 , including controller  150 , battery  170  and actuator  130 , are protected within tubular housing  110 . Actuator cover  140  partially shields the open end of tubular housing  110 , and reusable shooting target  34  further covers the open end of tubular housing  110  when in the upright position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Shooting target lifter  100  further includes a projectile-resistant back cap  145  covering an end of tubular housing  110  opposing the open end of tubular housing  110 . Latch  148  releasably secures back cap  145  to the end of tubular housing  110  to allow easy access to controller  150  and battery  170 . Antenna  154  extends from controller  150  and through an antenna hole  146  in back cap  145 . 
     A bumper  112  is mounted on a top side of tubular housing  110 , bumper  112  being configured to cushion reusable shooting target  34  when it falls between the upright position and the down position. In some examples, bumper  112  may be a solid rubber bumper. Bumper  112  is attached to top cover  111  of tubular housing  110 . In some examples, bumper  112  may be attached to top cover  111  by way of a bolt through tubular housing  110  while top cover  111  is attached to tubular housing  110  by way of screws, such as self-tapping screws. 
     Shooting target lifter  100  further includes an optional flag  128  that moves in unison with target lifter arm  120 . Flag  128  is visible adjacent reusable shooting target  34  when ram  136  is in the extended position and flag  128  is lowered with ram  136  is in the retracted position. The presence of flag  128  allows a shooter to wait for target lifter arm  120  to move to the lowered position before firing in order to allow reusable shooting target  34  to fall upon impact. 
     Controller  150  is configured to, in response to a wireless signal from wireless remote  20 , output a control signal to actuator  130  to extend ram  136  to reset reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position. In some examples, controller  150  is further configured to, in response to the wireless signal, after extending ram  136  to reset reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position, pause ram  136  for at least 1 second in the extended position, and retract ram  136  to the retracted position. The pause may allow reusable shooting target  34  to sway in the upright position without falling immediately after being lifted by shooting target lifter  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a conceptual block diagram of controller  150 . In the specific example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , controller  150  includes a wireless receiver  152 , a control module  156 , and a switch  158  encased within a polymer  162  that protects wireless receiver  152 , control module  156 , and switch  158  from an external environment. Wireless receiver  152  is operable to receive wireless signals from wireless remote  20  via antenna  154  and relay the wireless signals to control module  156 . In turn, control module  156  is operable to activate switch  158 . Switch  158  controls actuator  130  via switch output  159 . In some examples, switch  158  may include a low power input from control module  156  to control the switch position (off, on, or on-reverse polarity) and a power connection  155  to battery  170  used drive actuator  130 . Switch  158  may further be configured to reverse polarity to actuator  130  in order to retract actuator  130 . 
     The electronic components of controller  150 , such as wireless receiver  152 , control module  156 , and switch  158 , are encased within a polymer  162  that protects electronic components from an external environment. In some examples, polymer  162  may be an epoxy polymer applied to controller housing  160  as a liquid precursor prior to curing. In such examples, the cured epoxy polymer may serve to limit moisture intrusion into the components of controller  150 , as well as mitigate vibrations that may damage electrical connections between the components of controller  150 . For example, solder connections may be susceptible to fracture, such as impact fracture or fatigue fracture caused by shooting projectiles or projectile fragments impacting reusable shooting target  34  and other components of falling shooting target  30  and shooting target lifter  100 . By covering the components of controller  150 , polymer  162  serves to both shield the components from moisture and to limit the relative movement of the components that could lead to impact or fatigue failure of electrical conductors including solder joints. 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate shooting target lifter  100  as it resets the falling shooting target  30  of system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , reusable shooting target  34  is in the down position relative to base  32 . Target lifter arm  120  is in the collapsed position with ram  136  retracted relative to actuator housing  134 . Reusable shooting target  34  is resting against bumper  112  on top cover  111  of tubular housing  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , shooting target lifter  100  has been activated by way of a user input via wireless remote  20  ( FIG. 1 ). Controller  150  has activated actuator  130 , extending ram  136  relative to actuator housing  134 , thereby rotating target lifter arm  120  relative to tubular housing  110 . Reusable shooting target  34  is being lifted by target lifter arm  120  with roller  126  rotating on bolt  127  while rolling against reusable shooting target  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4C , shooting target lifter  100  continues to lift reusable shooting target  34  from the down position to the upright position. Compared to  FIG. 4B , ram  136  is further extended relative to actuator housing  134 , and target lifter arm  120  is further rotated relative to tubular housing  110 . Reusable shooting target  34  continues to be lifted by target lifter arm  120  with roller  126  acting against reusable shooting target  34 . 
     One advantage of the configuration of shooting target lifter  100  is that target lifter arm  120  provides the most mechanical advantage against the weight of reusable shooting target  34  in the down position. When in the down position, much of the weight of reusable shooting target  34  is against roller  126 , but roller  126  is positioned the furthest from pivot pin  35 , thus limiting the force required by actuator  130  to lift reusable shooting target  34 . As target lifter arm  120  lifts reusable shooting target  34  progressively more upright, greater proportions of the weight of reusable shooting target  34  are born by pivot pin  35 , lowering the lifting force. However, roller  126  moves closer to pivot pin  35 , thereby decreasing the mechanical advantage while increasing lifting speed. Thus, the configuration provided by the design of shooting target lifter  100  facilitates a limited ram force required by actuator  130  with an increased lifting speed as reusable shooting target  34  pivots upright on pivot pin  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4D , shooting target lifter  100  has finished lifting reusable shooting target  34  to the upright position. Compared to  FIG. 4C , ram  136  is further extended relative to actuator housing  134 , and target lifter arm  120  is further rotated relative to tubular housing  110 . Roller  126  continues to press against reusable shooting target  34 , but reusable shooting target  34  has reached the stop that limits its rotation relative to base  32 . In some examples, controller  150  may pause ram  136  in the position shown in  FIG. 4D  before retracting to allow reusable shooting target  34  to freefall upon impact. The pause may allow reusable shooting target  34  to sway in the upright position without falling immediately after being lifted by shooting target lifter  100 . 
     The specific techniques resetting a falling shooting target, such as techniques embodied by shooting target lifter  100 , are merely illustrative of the general inventive concepts included in this disclosure as defined by the following claims.