Patent Publication Number: US-6983938-B2

Title: Rapid fire resetting target

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The Rapid Fire Resetting Target relates to the target shooting sport. More specifically, to the automatic resetting target systems used in the shooting field. There are patents of resetting targets, each having a single mechanism to reset a plurality of knockdown target. Other patents use different types of linkage to reset their targets. The Rapid Fire Resetting Target uses a reset target for each knockdown target, with no linkage or other complicated mechanism to reset the knockdown target. Thus simplifying the automatic resetting target system. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The objective of the Rapid Fire Resetting Target is to give target shooters an automatic resetting target apparatus that is reliable and simplistic in design, giving shooters fewer parts to maintain. The lightweight compact design, gives shooters a portable resetting target that is easy to transport and set up at a shooting range. Affordable via a simple and compact design making this resetting target available to more shooters of varying incomes. 
   Another objective is to provide a resetting target, that is not dependent on a single reset mechanism, and is versatile enough to be used for rapid, and slow fire. The target apparatus may also be used in any of the preferred shooting positions, and varying distances, making this invention as challenging as the shooter prefers. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     Figure one is a top perspective view of my Rapid Fire Resetting Target 
     Figure two is an end view thereof 
     Figure three a top plan view taken along lines  3 — 3  of figure two 
     Figure four is a cross-section taken along lines  4 — 4  of figure three showing a sequence of the top target being hit 
     Figure five is a view similar to figure four with the top target down 
     Figure six is a view similar to figure four showing a sequence of the bottom target being hit and thereby resetting the top target 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RAPID FIRE RESETTING TARGET 
     FIG. 1  is a top prospective view showing face plate  11  in a vertical upright position. Side plates  12  are attached to the inside edge of face plate  11  by welding or other secure attachment so as to make the frame for the Rapid Fire Resetting Target. Knockdown targets  13  rest on top of faceplate  11  ,and said knockdown targets  13  are attached to stem  14  by welding or other secure means of attachment. Side plates  12  have a hole drilled slightly larger than shaft  17 . Where as shaft  17  extends though side plates  12 . Stems  14  are drilled through to allow said stem  14  to pivot freely onto shaft  17 . Reset targets  15  are positioned in front of face plate  11 , and held in position by threaded rod  18  and reset spring  16 . Reset targets  15  are welded or secured by other means of attachment to threaded rod  18 . 
     FIG. 2  is an end view thereof with knockdown target  13  resetting on top of face plate  11 . A cut away view of stem  14  illustrates the angle of attachment to shaft  17 . Knockdown target  13  is in its normal position before being hit by a bullet or other projectile. Threaded rod  18  is inserted through a hole drilled through face plate  11 , the hole in said face plate  11  is slightly larger then said threaded rod  18 , so as to allow free movement of said threaded rod  18 . Reset target  15  is in the normal position before being hit by a bullet or other projectile. Support angle  19  extends the whole length of face plate  11  to side plates  12 . Support angle  19  is welded or attached by other secure means to said face plate  11  and said side plate  12 . Supports angle  19  is drilled and positioned so as to allow threaded rod  18  to extend through freely. Stop nut  20  comes into contact with support angle  19  to apply slight tension onto reset spring  16 . Contact nut  21  is threaded onto the end of threaded rod  18  to form an adjustable contact surface for stem  14 . Angle stop  22  is welded or attached by other means to the bottom edge of face plate  11  and the bottom edge of side plate  12  so as to be placed over the edge of a table or other type of support. 
     FIG. 3  a top plan view taken along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2  illustrates target stem  14  in vertical alignment with thread rod  18 . Target stem  14  is positioned on shaft  17  so that knockdown target  13  will clear side plate  12  when said knockdown target  13  is hit with a bullet or other projectile. Shaft  17  is secured to side plates  12  with nuts  23  or other secure means. Spacers  24  are placed along shaft  17  so that compression springs  25  force washers  26  and stems  14  towards nuts  23  holding said stem  14  in alignment with threaded rod  18 . 
     FIG. 4  is a cross section taken along  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3  showing a cross sequence of the knockdown target  13  being hit by a bullet or other projectile. Knockdown target  13  when hit by a bullet or projectile is forced backwards and down behind faceplate  11  out of view of the shooter. Stem  14  pivots on shaft  17  until coming to rest in a vertical position slightly touching contact nut  21 . 
     FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  with the knockdown target  13  at rest after being hit by a bullet or projectile. Reset target  15  is in its normal position before being hit by a bullet or projectile. 
     FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing sequence of the reset target  15  being hit by a bullet or projectile. Reset target  15  when hit by a bullet or projectile is forced back towards faceplate  11 , and reset spring  16 . Threaded rod  18  slides in faceplate  11  and support angle  19 , and contact nut  21  strikes stem  14  whereas said stem  14  pivots onto shaft  17  returning knockdown target  13  to the top of face plate  11 , verifying that reset target  15  was hit by bullet or projectile.