Patent Publication Number: US-4147324-A

Title: Shotgun target mold for ice targets

Description:
I have invented a new and novel shot gun target mold for ice targets. My device permits a user to manufacture a target out of an inexpensive material which has the additional advantage of not polluting the environment after use in as much as the ice used in these targets will melt after being shattered by a shot gun pellet. Furthermore, the mold can be stacked to form a large quantity of targets in a freezing compartment in a refrigerator and the molds can be stored therein until needed for use. The individual target mold has a frustrum shape bottom portion and an upper portion with a central concave depression. Ferrules attached to the edges of the mold can be used to stack the molds one on another and the hinge mold compartment can be closed using barbed studs engaging stud holding apertures in the mating sections of the mold. 
    
    
     My invention can be understood in view of the accompanying figures. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the molds in an open position about to be stacked on a closed mold. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the mold in the fully opened position. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the upper portion of the mold taken along the plane 3--3 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of the lower section of the mold taken along the plane 4--4 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the mold taken along the plane 5--5 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side view of the closed mold. 
    
    
     With regard to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a mold 10 can be stacked on another mold 12 for storage and hardening of the mold material in a refrigerator freezer compartment. The top side 14 of the mold 10 has a plurality of mold areas 16 each of which has a concave depression 18 to form the upper surface of the target and has barbed studs 20 for sealing the mold 10. The bottom section 22 has a mating depression 24 matching the mold area 16 of the upper section 14. The mating depression 24 is of frustrum shape 26. Stud holding apertures 28 in the lower section 22 engage the barbed stud 20 to seal the mold 10. The central hinge 30 is used to pivot the mold sections closed and to hold the mold sections in proper alignment when opened. When in the closed configuration, as seen in FIG. 6, a portion of water frozen to form ice 32 forms the target which can be thrown for contest and practice purposes. A female separating ferrule 34 can be mounted under the stud holding aperture 28 to engage a male separating ferrule 36 which can be positioned on top of the barbed studs 20 in order to separate individual molds such as 10 and 12. 
     Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, I desire to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.