Patent Abstract:
An automatic resetting target apparatus consisting of multiple knockdown targets and a reset target on the same vertical and horizontal plane. The knockdown targets, when hit by a bullet or other projectile, will fall backward and down. The knockdown targets will remain down until the reset target is hit by a bullet or other projectile. All targets will then return to their original upright position allowing for continuous shooting.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to automatic resetting targets arranged in an upright position with all targets on the same vertical and horizontal plane. The targets drop when hit by a bullet or projectile and remain down until the reset target is also hit by a bullet or projectile. This would allow for constant shooting by the Shooter, and therefore would be challenging. Challenging the shooter&#39;s ability is one of the joys of target shooting. Targets that reset rapidly without swinging would result in faster shooting since the Shooter does not have to wait for the target to stop swinging. It is also desirable to be able to shoot safely at the target from different shooting positions, for example, Prone, Benchrest, and Kneeling. Targets that could be placed on a bench or close to the ground would make shooting from different positions easier. Simplicity in its operation and ease of manufacture would be very desirable. The shooting gallery should be stable enough to keep it from moving about when hit by a bullet or projectile and light enough for ease of carry. The operating mechanism must be protected from a damaging hit from a bullet or projectile.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention is a shooting gallery made up of numerous targets that are in an up right vertical position, spaced evenly on the same vertical and horizontal plane. All the targets pivot on a horizontal shaft that extends the length of the shooting gallery. Compression springs and spacers along the shaft assist the extension springs in holding the targets up right in a vertical position. The extension spring is attached at one end to the bottom of the target leg and the other end is attached to a rod that is mounted on the back support frame. The said extension spring holds the back portion of the target leg firmly against the front edge of the back support frame. When the target is hit by a bullet or projectile, with ample force, the target will pivot back and down stretching and loading the extension springs enough to lift the target when released. A latch made into the bottom of the target leg will come into contact with the catch bar preventing the target from returning to its original position. The catch bar running the length of the shooting gallery, and attached at both ends, is allowed to pivot freely. All the targets operate the same way except the reset target which does not have a latch. The catch bar is held into position just far enough to allow the target latch to pass by and come into contact with the catch bar. The catch bar is held into above said position with an adjustable stop. When the reset target is hit by a bullet or projectile it will pivot back and down in the same manner as the other targets. The bottom portion of the reset target is radiused so that when the target is almost all the way down the radiused end will come in contact with and move the catch bar to release the targets. The reset target returns to its original position and the sequence starts over. Compression springs and spacers between the targets maintain the targets in an up right position and compensate for wear. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is an end view thereof  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof showing one target lying down after being hit by a bullet or projectile.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line  4 - 4  of figure three showing one upright target.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along lines  5 - 5  of figure three showing one target being held down after being hit.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along lines  6 - 6  of figure three showing the farthest right target about to be hit while the other targets are held down after being hit.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 7 is a view similar to figure six but with the end target falling while releasing all of the targets to spring up to the reset position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 shows the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery with multiple targets numbered  10 . All targets are in the vertical upright position before being hit by a bullet or projectile. All the targets are arranged along the same vertical and horizontal plane. The individual targets are made preferably of metal or other material capable of resisting the continued impact of a bullet or other projectile. The support frame consists of a front angle support  11  which extends upward to protect the target support shaft  12 , spacers  13 , compression springs  14 , target latch  15 , extension springs  16 , and the catch mechanism consisting of catch angle bar  22 , support shaft  21 , stop  23 , washers  24 , and locking collars  25 . The other side or surface of front angle support  11  forms the base for the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery to sit; said surface of front angle support  11  also forms a support base for side support angles  17 .  
         [0011]    Side support angles  17  are attached to front angle support  11  by welding or other means of secure attachment. Side support angles  17  are so positioned as to form the outside surface of the support frame and also forms a base to sit the rear support angle  18 . Rear support angle  18  is so positioned so that one surface forms the outside edge of the frame with the other surface inside the frame and rests on the side support angle  17 . Front support angle  11 , side support angles  17 , and rear support angle  18  are welded together or firmly attached by other means to form the rectangular support frame and base of the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 of the Automatic Resetting Shooting gallery is an end view showing front angle  11 , and side support angle  17 . Side support angle  17  has a spacer  19  made of metal, wood, or other material attached by welding or other means to firmly attach the spacer  19 . Spacer  19  will make up the difference of front angle support  11  to hold the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery level. Front support angle  11  is positioned so that one surface extends vertically upward to form the front surface of the shooting gallery, the other surface of said front support angle  11  is positioned inward and flat to form the base of the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery. The side support angle  17  is placed on the flat base surface of front angle  11  so that one surface of said side support angle  17  is in a vertical upright position to form the outside surface of the support frame, the other surface of said side support angle  17  is placed inward and rests flat on the base of front support angle  11 . Side support angle  17  is notched slightly to seat shaft  12 , a washer  20  is attached to said side support angle  17  to accept and hold said shaft  12 . Shaft  12  extends the length of the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery and is held in place on end support angle  17  by lock collars  25  or other suitable means.  
         [0013]    Side support angle  17  has a hole drilled through on the outside vertical surface towards the front of the Automatic Resetting Shooting Gallery, the said hole is slightly larger than shaft  21  to allow rotation. Individual targets  10  are attached to the top portion of target legs  27  and target leg  26  by welding or other secure means of attachment, and said target legs  26  and  27  have a hole drilled through to allow mounting on shaft  12  so that said target legs  26  and  27  can pivot freely.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a top plain view showing one target after being hit by a bullet or projectile. Targets  10  when hit by a bullet or projectile of sufficient force will cause said target  10  to fall back and down, whereas target legs  26  and  27  pivot upon shaft  12  stretching and loading extension springs  16 . Latch  15  is in contact with catch bar  22 , and said catch bar  22  is held in position by adjustable stop  23  and adjustable stop  30 . Extension springs  16  are attached at one end to a rod  28  that extends the inside length of the rear support angle  18 . Rod  28  is secured to rear support angle  18  by welding or any other means to firmly attach and allow springs  16  to be connected. Center shaft support  29  has a hole drilled through it to allow shaft  12  to pass through. Center shaft support  29  is attached to rear support angle  18 . Latch  15  is made from one piece of wire that is inserted through a hole drilled in target legs  27  and bent to allow said latch  15  to pivot freely. One end of the wire is carried back towards the top of the said target leg  27  and wrapped over the front edge to form the latch stop when the bottom of said latch  15  is in contact with catch bar  22 . The other end of the wire is bent down toward the bottom of said target leg  27 , bent perpendicular across the bottom edge and close enough to the bottom edge of said target leg  27  to form a stop for latch  15  when not in contact with said catch bar  22 .  
         [0015]    Spacers  13  of round tubing are placed over shaft  12  and between target legs  27  and target leg  26  to provide even spacing of targets  10 . Washers  24  are placed on each side of target legs  27  and target leg  26 . Spacers  13  are cut to length to allow even spacing of target  10 . Compression springs  14  are placed over shaft  12  and on each side of the center target  10  so as to force target legs  27 , target leg  26 , spacers  13 , and washers  24  towards the locking collars  25 . Therefore, said target legs  27  and target leg  26  are held in a perpendicular position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3 showing one upright target. Target leg  27  is supported on shaft  12  and is allowed to pivot backwards. Extension springs  16  attached to the bottom and back portion of target leg  27  at one end, and attached to rod  28  at the other end, holds said target leg  27  against rear support angle  18 . Latch  15  is in a relaxed position. Catch bar  22  is in the reset position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along lines  5 - 5  of FIG. 3 showing one target being held down after being hit by a bullet or other projectile. Target  10  after being hit by a bullet or other projectile forces target leg  27  to pivot backward onto shaft  12  until said target leg  27  contacts the edge of rear support angle  18 . At the same time, extension springs  16  are stretched and loaded to pull target leg  27  back down. Latch  15  is now in a position to contact catch bar  22 , therefore preventing the target leg  27  from returning to the upright position. The top portion of latch  15  is now in contact with the front edge of target leg  27  preventing it from rotating.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 3 showing the farthest right target about to be hit while the other targets are held down after being hit. Catch bar  22  is held in its normal position by adjustable stop  23  and adjustable stop  30 . Adjustable stop  23  is attached to catch bar  22  so as to weigh one edge of said catch bar  22  to hold said catch bar  22  and adjustable stop  23  against adjustable stop  30 . Target  10  and reset target leg  26  are in their normal upright position held against rear support angle  17  by extension spring  16 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with the end target falling while releasing all of the targets to spring up to the normal upright position. Target  10 , attached to reset target leg  26 , is forced back and down by a bullet or other projectile until said reset target leg  26  contacts rear support angle  17 . The radiused end of reset target leg  26  contacts catch bar  22  causing said catch bar  22  to pivot away from adjustable stop  30  releasing all targets. Reset target leg  26  is pulled back down by extension spring  16  until it stops against rear support angle  17 . Catch bar  22  and adjustable stop  23  simultaneously pivots back to the normal position against adjustable stop  30 . The process is ready to repeat.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5