Patent Abstract:
A modular ballistic ceiling allows increased flexibility in building and reassembling shoot houses. Shoot houses may be built with multiple levels which are completely modular.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/668,708, filed Apr. 5, 2005, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. The Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to shoot houses and ballistic training. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for forming shoot houses with modular ballistic walls and/or a modular ballistic ceiling.  
         [0004]     2. State of the Art  
         [0005]     In conducting training for individuals such as police officers, military personnel, etc., it is desirable to duplicate the conditions which the individual may encounter while working. Thus, training should simulate real life scenarios, with the goal of making the training as realistic as is practical.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, it is common to form shoot houses for training purposes. A shoot house is a building which is formed with bullet proof walls such that police officers, military personnel, or the like may train in the building under line of fire conditions. The training may include breaking into a building, sweeping the area to make it secure, finding objects in the building, etc. and targets may be used in the building to represent the threats encountered in the course of duty.  
         [0007]     It is desirable to make such shoot houses modular so that they may be constructed in a variety of configurations, and even partially or completely disassembled to move the shoot house or reconstruct it in a different configuration. A modular shoot house is thus more useful as it may be used to train for a variety of different situations.  
         [0008]     For similar reasons, it is desirable to form a shoot house which has two or more levels so that the shoot house resembles a building with multiple floors, such as a two story building. It would also be desirable if the shoot house remains modular even with multiple floor levels.  
         [0009]     In making shoot houses with multiple levels, individuals have formed a separately supported concrete ceiling over the first level which also forms the floor of the second level. This, however, is a permanent structure that can not be changed without significant difficulty. The concrete ceiling and floor is typically formed on top of permanent walls or pillars and thus may not be changed. The walls, pillars, stair openings, etc. often are not in the proper location for a desired shoot house arrangement. Additionally, if the shoot house is to be moved the concrete ceiling and support structure must either be left behind or demolished at a sizable expense.  
         [0010]     Additionally, it has been known to form small catwalks above a shoot house to allow a supervisor to oversee the training occurring in the shoot house. They do not, however, prevent bullets from exiting the shoot house and would not support a second floor of a shoot house. As such they do not present a safe and effective way of forming a two story shoot house. It has also been known to suspend bullet proof ceiling baffles above a shoot house. The baffles may be suspended in an arc above the shoot house, forming a canopy above the shoot house to prevent stray bullets from exiting the training area. The baffles do not form a ceiling, however, being merely suspended from a structure above the shoot house.  
         [0011]     There is thus a need for a modular ceiling which may be easily disassembled and which may be easily rearranged when changing the configuration of the shoot house.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for forming shoot houses. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a modular ceiling which is bullet proof. It is a further object to provide a method of forming a modular shoot house having multiple levels.  
         [0013]     According to some aspects of the present invention, a modular ceiling may be formed as part of a modular shoot house. The ceiling may thus be formed from standard sized steel panels. The ceiling may thus be rearranged easily when changing the configuration of the shoot house and is less expensive to manufacture. Replacement plates may be obtained or constructed with less machining required.  
         [0014]     According to other aspects of the invention, the ceiling may be formed from standard sized bullet proof plate. The steel plate is then easier to replace and requires less machining of the hardened steel, which is difficult and may weaken the steel.  
         [0015]     According to other aspects of the invention, the ceiling may be relatively inexpensive. Using standard sized steel panels for the ceiling reduces the machining required to produce the ceiling parts and makes the parts easier to replace. Additionally, parts which require more machining may be formed of a milder steel.  
         [0016]     According to other aspects of the invention, the ceiling may be easily constructed. The ceiling may be assembled with readily available tools and without great difficulty. A modular ceiling made of standard pieces is relatively easy to construct.  
         [0017]     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the ceiling may be easily configured to operate with a variety of different shoot house configurations. Because standard sized steel panels may be used in combination with standard joining and support pieces, the ceiling may easily be arranged in a number of configurations without the hassle of purchasing or acquiring many specialized pieces. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a portion of a modular shoot house wall as is known in the prior art;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a portion of a shoot house wall according to aspects of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   e  show ceiling brackets according to aspects of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show end views of a ceiling according to aspects of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d  show details of a bullet proof plate according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a ceiling according to aspects of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6   a  shows a side view of another ceiling according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6   b  shows a side view of another ceiling according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of yet another ceiling according to the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   f  show end views of support members according to the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9   a  shows a side view of a portion of a shoot house according to the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9   b  shows a side view of a portion of a shoot house according to the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  shows a front view of first and second floor walls according to the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11   a  shows a front view of a bracket of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 11   b  shows a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 11   a;    
         [0034]      FIG. 12   a  shows a front view of a bracket of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 12   b  shows a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 12   a;    
         [0036]      FIG. 13  shows a joint of a shoot house using the bracket of  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b;    
         [0037]      FIG. 14  shows a joint of a shoot house using the bracket of  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b;    
         [0038]      FIG. 15   a  shows a top view of a bracket of the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 15   b  shows a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 15   a;    
         [0040]      FIG. 15   c  shows an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 15   a;    
         [0041]      FIG. 16   a  shows a side view of a bracket of the present invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 16   b  shows a top view of the bracket of  FIG. 16   a;    
         [0043]      FIG. 17  shows a joint of a shoot house using the bracket of  FIGS. 16   a  and  16   b ; and  
         [0044]      FIG. 18  shows a joint of a shoot house using the bracket of  FIGS. 15   a  through  15   c.   
     
    
       [0045]     It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The various embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is further appreciated that it is not possible to show each structure and element of the invention in a single drawing, and as such multiple drawings are presented which each show aspects of the invention in greater detail. The invention thus encompasses all of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0046]     The drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0047]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a section of a modular shoot house wall as known in the prior art is shown. Modular shoot houses have been formed with bullet proof steel plate wall panels  10 ,  14 , and  18 . The joints  22  between the plates  10 ,  14 ,  18 , may be covered with a backing strip of steel  26  and a facing strip of steel  30  which are bolted together to prevent bullets from passing through the joint.  
         [0048]     Additionally, strips of wood  34  may be attached to the steel wall, with sheets of sheetrock or plywood  38  attached to the wood strips  34 , forming a space to contain bullets and also making the surface of the wall look more similar to a conventional wall. Typically, a simple roof, such as a layer of corrugated metal or a tent like canopy, is placed over the shoot house to protect the shoot house from rain or the like if the shoot house is used in a rainy environment.  
         [0049]     As mentioned previously, two level shoot houses have been formed by constructing sufficient support pillars or load bearing walls to support a concrete ceiling and then forming a shoot house under the structure. The lower level of the shoot house is built underneath the concrete, and an upper level is built above the concrete. As previously discussed, the concrete ceiling and supports can not be moved, and often do not integrate well into the shoot house. For example, a support column may extend into a room or may partially obstruct a hall.  
         [0050]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , a wall of a shoot house according to the present invention is shown. The wall, indicated generally at  42 , is formed of panels of steel  46  and  50 . The panels are placed adjacent each other and a facing strip  54  is placed over the joint. A backing member, such as a strip, washers, or the like (not shown), is placed across the back of the joint and the facing strip and backing member are bolted against the plates by bolts  58 , clamping the facing strip and backing member against the plates and securely holding the wall together.  
         [0051]     A bracket  62  is also attached to the wall  42 . The bracket  62  may be attached with bolts  66 , or it may be welded to the facing strip or otherwise attached to the facing strip, or formed integrally with the facing strip. The bracket  62  is designed to support the ceiling of the shoot house as will be discussed in the following figures. As the various ceiling pieces are assembled on top of the walls, the ceiling pieces brace the walls and strengthen the structure. It will be appreciated that using a number of bolts  66  not only strengthens the attachment between the wall  42  and the bracket  62 , but also provides some flexibility in mounting the bracket. In addition to bolts  66 , the bracket may simply be welded or otherwise attached to the facing strip  54  if so desired. For example, facing strips made for a multi-level shoot house may be constructed with brackets permanently attached, as nearly all facing strips can be used to support the ceiling structure. Likewise, the brackets can be formed integrally with the facing strips. It is appreciated that the wall shows in  FIG. 2  may also include spacing strips such as wood strips disposed along and/or attached to the facing strips, and plywood sheet or other sheet attached to the spacing strip to form a bullet containment chamber similar to that of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0052]     The structures shown and discussed relative to  FIG. 2  are also encompassed in the other figures, as  FIG. 2  shows only a portion of the invention.  
         [0053]     Turning to  FIG. 3   a  through  FIG. 3   e , various brackets according to the present invention are shown.  FIG. 3   a  shows a bracket  70  which is simply an L shaped bracket formed form a piece of steel. It will be appreciated that the bracket must both attach to the wall and support the ceiling, and that an L bracket provides the necessary surfaces. The bracket may be welded or otherwise attached to the walls and ceiling. Additionally, the bracket may be bolted to the walls and ceiling. In one embodiment, the bracket is bolted to the wall facing strips and the ceiling support members so that the facing strips form support columns integral to the shoot house. This leaves maximum flexibility in constructing a modular shoot house. Accordingly, the bracket may be provided with holes formed in the bracket for receiving such bolts.  
         [0054]      FIG. 3   b  shows another bracket  74  which has been formed from a strip of steel which is twisted such that one end  78  may attach to the wall and the other end  82  may be attached to the side of a ceiling rail or support. Also, holes  86  have been formed in the bracket  74  so that the bracket may be easily attached to the wall and ceiling. As many holes as are necessary may be formed in the bracket. It will be appreciated that the bracket may be made sufficiently large to be strong enough to support the weight which will be placed on it. One of skill in the art will recognize that the bracket must be sufficiently large so as not to bend or otherwise deform under the weight of the ceiling. Additionally, the attachment means, such as the bolts, must be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the ceiling and any other shoot house structure on top of the ceiling. This may mean that a particular number of bolts must be used, depending on the shear strength of the bolts.  
         [0055]      FIG. 3   c  shows another bracket according to the present invention. The bracket  90  has been formed from steel, and has an upper portion  94  which is attached to the wall. The lower portion  98  attaches to the ceiling members, and has two side arms  102  and  106  which have been bent to form a cradle. The lower portion  98  has been shaped to support a beam or channel which supports the ceiling panels. With the part of the bracket which attaches to the wall  94  being bent up above the part of the bracket which supports the ceiling  98 , the upper portion  94  is protected from bullets by the ceiling. It will be appreciated that many different means may be used to attach the bracket to the wall and ceiling, with welding and bolting being the most common methods. In one embodiment, the bracket will be formed with holes similar to the brackets in  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   d , and that the various shoot house components such as the facing strips and ceiling support members will have corresponding holes formed therein to facilitate construction of the shoot house.  
         [0056]      FIG. 3   d  shows a bracket  110  which is similar to the bracket of  FIG. 3 , except that the lower portion  114  is configured for attachment to a wall, and the upper portion  118  is shaped to support the ceiling. The upper portion has two tabs  122 ,  126  which are bent upwardly to form a cradle to receive a ceiling support member. The bracket  110  is shown with holes  130  to attach the bracket to the wall and ceiling. As many holes  130  as are needed may be formed so long as the bracket  110  is not weakened by the holes. It will be appreciated that while the lower portion  114  is more exposed to bullets than the upper portion  94  of the bracket of  FIG. 3   c , the bracket  110  of  FIG. 3   d  may be easier to install.  
         [0057]      FIG. 3   e  shows another bracket  134  according to the present invention. The bracket  134  may be formed from an L shaped piece of metal which has been bent twice into the shape shown. The bracket  134  is thus simple to form. A lower portion  138  is provided to attach the bracket to a wall, and an upper portion  142  is attached to the ceiling members. A tab  146  is bent as shown to further support the ceiling members. Holes  150  have been formed in the upper portion  142  of the bracket  134  to allow the ceiling members to be bolted to the bracket. Additionally, a number of holes  154  have been formed in the lower portion  138  of the bracket  134  for attachment to the walls of a shoot house. Having a number of holes  154  may allow the height of the bracket  134  relative to the wall to be adjusted if so desired, ensuring that the floor is level and in the correct position. Having a number of holes will also allow more bolts to be used to attach the bracket to the wall, providing a more secure attachment to the walls of the shoot house.  
         [0058]     It is appreciated from  FIGS. 3   a - 3   e  that many different bracket shapes and configurations are available which are suitable for attaching a ceiling member (typically a support beam type member) to a modular ballistic wall. The brackets of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   e  are thus part of  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b , and of the other figures. Many of the figures show only subassemblies or portions of the invention and are thus viewed in combination with the other figures to appreciate the entire invention.  
         [0059]     Turning to  FIG. 4   a , an end view of a ceiling of the present invention is shown. The ceiling may be formed of standard sized steel plates  158 . Typically, the edges  162  of the plates  158  are placed adjacent one another forming a joint. The joint is covered with a facing strip  166  and a backing means or backing member  170 , which may be a backing strip, a number of washers, or the like. The facing strip  166  and backing member  170  may be held together by an attachment means such as bolts  174  and nuts  178  which may extend between or through the plates. Alternative methods of fastening are available, such as threading the backing member, using rivets or screws or the like, but a nut and bolt are the most convenient.  
         [0060]     The steel plate may be supported by various support members, such as channels  182 . The support members may be sized and spaced according to the strength needed in the ceiling. The support members may typically be attached to the brackets which are attached to the walls. They will then serve to both support and strengthen the ceiling and brace the walls. It will be appreciated that many different shapes of support members may be used, including members with cross sections such as channels, boxes, I beams, C beams, etc. Additionally, many methods of attaching the steel plate  158  to the support members  182 , such as welding, bolting, gluing, etc. The more preferred method of attaching the plate to the support members is bolting, as it leaves maximum flexibility in constructing and modifying the shoot house.  
         [0061]     Turning now to  FIG. 4   b , another side view of a ceiling of the present invention is shown. The ceiling shown is similar to the ceiling of  FIG. 4   a , and is a functional equivalent of the ceiling of  FIG. 4   a . The ceiling includes steel plates  158  which are placed adjacent each other and joined with a facing strip  166  and backing means  170 , which may be a backing strip, washers, etc. The edges  162  of the steel plates  158  have openings  164  formed therein to allow the bolts  174  to pass through the plates  158  to assemble the joint. It is appreciated that various methods of forming the joint are possible, including passing the bolts  174  between the plates or through the plates. What is important is forming a joint which is not easily penetrated by bullets, as is accomplished by securely fastening the facing strip  166  to the edges  162  of the plates  158 .  
         [0062]     Turning now to  FIG. 4   c , a perspective view of a part of a plate as may be used in forming walls or ceilings is shown. The plate  158  includes an opening  164  which a bolt may pass through. In the plate  158  shown, the opening  164  is a hole.  FIG. 4   d  shows a similar portion of a plate  158  where the opening  164  is formed as a keyhole slot. Such a keyhole slot may be more easily formed by a plasma cutter, or other methods. It is thus appreciated that it is not critical precisely how a hole may be formed. Any of the joints between plates shown in the present invention may be formed as shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d . For clarity, not every possible type of joint is shown with every possible wall or ceiling structure, or in combination with every possible shape of support beam.  
         [0063]     Turning to  FIG. 5 , another side view of a ceiling is shown. The ceiling is formed with steel plates  186 ,  190 , and  194 . The edges of the plates are placed together forming joints, indicated generally at  198  and  202 . Here, support members  206  and  210  having C shaped cross sections have been used. An upper edge  214  and  218  of the members  206 ,  210  has been used as a facing strip to cover the joints  198 ,  202 . Accordingly, the backing member  222  and  226  may be bolted to the support  206 ,  210  using bolts  230  and  234  and nuts  238  and  242 . Using the support members to cover the joint simplifies the joint and makes it easier to manufacture and assemble.  
         [0064]     It will be appreciated that a ceiling such as that of  FIG. 5  may be assembled by attaching the support members  206 ,  210  to the brackets which have been attached to the tops of the walls, placing the steel panels  186 ,  190 ,  194  on top of the support members, placing backing members such as backing strips  222 ,  226  over the joint, and bolting the assembly together. The resulting structure may easily be made strong enough to support the weight of another floor of the shoot house and the individuals and equipment placed in the shoot house.  
         [0065]     If necessary, additional support members may be placed between the joints to stiffen the ceiling and prevent the steel plate from bending under the weight which may be placed upon it. Such support member may be similar to the supports  206 ,  210 , and may run parallel to or transverse to the support members  206 ,  210 . Additionally, one will realize that many variations may be made without departing from the present invention, such as using washers instead of backing strips, or using a fastener other than bolts. The present invention encompasses such variations.  
         [0066]     In addition to ease of assembly, the ceiling may be assembled in a variety of configurations. If the ceiling is assembled with standard sized steel panels, each panel may be placed in any location in the ceiling whereas specially shaped panels must be placed in particular locations in a ceiling. Additionally, the steel panels used may be the same size as the walls of the shoot house. For example, if four foot by eight foot panels are used, the walls of the first level of the shoot house would form joints which are spaced apart every four feet and walls would be spaced apart in four foot increments. All of the joints would be evenly spaced in four foot increments.  
         [0067]     Accordingly, ceiling plates which are also four foot by eight foot panels would align with the wall panels such that the ceiling joints and edges would align with the joints of the wall panels. Thus, it is easy to locate the support members and construct the ceiling. Accordingly, support members may be placed in a parallel arrangement between the joints of the wall panels, stretching across the shoot house, and the ceiling panels would line up properly on the support members. Additionally, the support members would only need be provided in four foot increments, and the maximum length of the members needed would be determined by the width of the rooms. Many configurations of shoot houses could be built by having four, eight, and twelve foot support members. If the members all stretch the same direction across the shoot house, rooms with a side longer than twelve feet such as hallways may be oriented perpendicular to the support members.  
         [0068]     Turning to  FIG. 6   a , a side view of another ceiling according to the present invention is shown. The ceiling has been formed from a number of steel plates  246 ,  250 ,  254 . The steel plates have bee joined at the edges using facing strips  258 ,  262  which are used in combination with bolts  266 ,  270  and nuts  274 ,  278  to hold the plates  246 ,  250 ,  254  firmly between the facing strips  258 ,  262  and the support members  282 ,  286 . The ceiling has also been constructed with a floor surface for an upper level of the shoot house. The floor surface is made of panels  290 ,  294  which are placed on top of the ceiling panels and joints. The floor panels  290 ,  294  may be plywood, particle board, oriented strand board, ordinary construction floor sheeting, etc. so long as the material is sufficiently durable for use as a floor material. The floor sheeting  290 ,  294 , while not strictly necessary, forms a smoother floor surface by covering the ridges made by the facing strips  258 ,  262  and bolts  266 ,  270 , making the floor surface somewhat safer.  
         [0069]     Additionally, sheets of a second material have been attached to the ceiling. The sheets  298 ,  302 ,  306  may be attached to the support members  274 ,  278  by bolts  310  and nuts  314 , or by screws or any other suitable attachment method. The sheets  298 ,  302 ,  306  may be formed of sheetrock, ceiling tile, plywood, etc. The sheets provide an enhanced appearance to the ceiling as viewed from the shoot house beneath. More importantly, the sheets may be designed so as to provide a bullet containment area  318  in the ceiling to prevent bullets from striking the ceiling and ricocheting back towards people in the shoot house. Thus, plywood may be an ideal sheeting material as it is not overly damaged by a bullet and is strong enough to prevent bullets from exiting the containment area. Additionally, the floor sheeting may make the floor less slippery when wet.  
         [0070]     Turning now to  FIG. 6   b , another side view of a ceiling according to the present invention is shown. The ceiling is similar to the ceiling of  FIG. 6   a , but includes additional floor support structure. The structure of  FIG. 6   b  includes brackets  264  which may be formed as part of or simply attached to the facing strips  258 ,  262 . The brackets  264  may be used to attach support rails  268 , such as 2×4 lumber, which are used to support the floor panels  290 ,  294 . The support rails  268  may run parallel to or transverse to the support members  282 ,  286 . It is appreciated that the use of such support members may help in isolating the floor from the bullet proof plates. Additionally, if the support rails  168  are placed transverse to the support members  282 ,  286 , the support rails may be spaced at different intervals than the support rails.  
         [0071]     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , an end view of another ceiling according to the present invention. The ceiling, indicated generally at  322 , is formed with a plurality of steel panels  326 ,  330 ,  334  which have been placed adjacent each other. The joints  338 ,  342  have been covered by the support members  346 ,  350 . The support members  346 ,  350  have been formed as elongate square members. The panels have been attached to the support members using backing strips  354 ,  358  and a plurality of bolts  362 ,  366 . The support member, facing strips, and plates are attached to form bullet proof joints. If a ceiling is formed as shown in  FIG. 7  and a second floor is to be built above the ceiling, sheet material  370 , such as plywood, may be placed on top of the support members  346 ,  350  such that a smooth surface is provided. If the ballistic ceiling is the uppermost surface on the complete structure, the sheet material  370  may be replaced by a roofing material of choice, or whatever material is necessary and suitable.  
         [0072]     The strips and support members cover the joint between the panels and make it very unlikely that a bullet striking the joint would be able to pass through the joint. It will be appreciated from this figure that a large number of different ceiling configurations are possible with the present ceiling. As shown, the steel plates may be suspended from the support members. Additionally, the support members may have a variety of different shapes. In a preferred embodiment, the shapes may have a flat side for attachment to the steel panels.  
         [0073]     Turning now to  FIGS. 8   a - 8   f , a number of different shapes for support members are shown. The shapes shown are support member shapes according to a more preferred embodiment, and do not represent all of the shapes of support members which are suitable for use in the invention. The shapes include a box section  374 , a C section  378 , an L section  382 , an I beam  386 , and two channel shaped members  390  and  394 . Of note, all of the shapes shown have at least one flat surface  398 ,  402 ,  406 ,  410 ,  414 ,  418 ,  422 ,  426 ,  430 ,  434 ,  438 ,  442 ,  446 , which may be used to attach steel plates to form the ballistic ceiling, or to attach other materials, such as a bullet penetrable material as may be used to form a bullet containment chamber, and are thus a preferred embodiment, though other shapes may be used.  
         [0074]     A shoot house which is formed according to the present invention should be sufficiently rigid and strong for most applications. While an open framework of facing strips and ceiling support members may be moved somewhat with relative ease, that same framework is quite stiff with the steel plate panels attached thereto. The steel plates prevent motion of the framework. As the shoot house is built by adding steel plates and either facing strips or ceiling support members in close succession, it is naturally rigid as it is being constructed. It is not, however, beyond the scope of the invention to use bracing members to further strengthen a shoot house where the size or particular configuration necessitates such bracing strips.  
         [0075]     The bracing strips primarily prevent the shoot house from swaying side to side, front to back, or from twisting, as may be caused by wind, weather, moving objects within a shoot house, etc. Accordingly, the bracing strips may simply be strips of steel which attach to existing joints within the shoot house, such as facing strips, backing means, ceiling support members, etc. The bracing strips would typically be placed so as to connect two pieces, such as facing strips or ceiling support members, with the bracing strip being at an angle, preferably a 45 degree angle or close thereto, relative to the facing strips or support member. The bracing strip, when placed at an angle relative to the facing strip or support member, substantially inhibits movement of the facing strip or support member.  
         [0076]     According to the present invention, multi-story shoot houses may be formed. A shoot house may be formed which has a modular ceiling attached at or near the top of the walls. As discussed, the ceiling members will substantially stiffen the shoot house and inhibit movement of the shoot house. A second story or shoot house level may be constructed on top of the ceiling. Accordingly, the ceiling members may form part of or support for a floor for the second level. The walls for the second level may be attached to the upper portion of the first level walls, or may be attached to ceiling joints. It will be appreciated that if a modular shoot house is formed with each wall panel being a consistent width, such as four feet, the ceiling panels are also in four foot increments and joints may be found every four feet. Thus, virtually any configuration is possible for the second floor of the shoot house as joints between wall and ceiling panels occur every four feet, in each possible location for joints between wall panels for the second floor.  
         [0077]     Turning to  FIG. 9   a , a side view of a multi story shoot house is shown. A lower level wall has been formed with bullet proof wall panels  450 , a backing strip  454  and facing strip  458  placed to cover the joint between adjacent wall panels, and bolts  462  placed to hold the facing strip, backing strip, and panels firmly together. A bracket  466  has been attached to the wall via facing strip  458  with bolts  470 . It will be appreciated, however, that the bracket  466  may simply be welded to the facing strip  458 , or may be formed integral to the facing strip. A support member  474  is attached to the bracket  466  and used to support ceiling panels  478  in a manner similar to that shown in  FIG. 6 . A backing strip  482  may be used to cover joints between ceiling panels if necessary. The ceiling panels have been bolted  486  to the support member  474 . As shown, the ceiling forms a floor for a second level of a shoot house.  
         [0078]     A bracket  490  has been attached to the ceiling with bolts  494 , and used to support a second floor wall. The wall has been formed with bullet proof panels  498 , a facing strip  502 , and a backing strip  506  held together with bolts  510 . The wall is attached to the bracket  490  via the facing strip  502  and is secured with bolts  514 . Additionally, a plate or strip  518  may be attached to the walls and used to support the upper level wall alone or in combination with a bracket  490 . A second bracket  522  has been attached to the ceiling via the backing strip  482 , and has been bolted  526  to the support member  474 . The bracket  522  has been used to attach a wall to the ceiling where there is not a lower level wall. The wall is formed with bullet proof panels  530 , a facing strip  534 , and a backing strip  538 , and the facing strip and backing strip are held to the panels with bolts  542 . The wall is bolted  546  to the bracket  522  via the facing strip  534 .  
         [0079]     Turning to  FIG. 9   b , a side view of a shoot house of the present invention is shown. The shoot house is similar to that of  FIG. 9   a  and is numbered accordingly. One difference is that a space  516  has been formed between the lower wall (including steel plate  450 , backing strip  454 , and facing strip  458 ) and the ceiling (including the panels  478  and backing strips  482 ). The space  516  may be used to route electrical cables, target control cables, etc. between adjacent rooms of the shoot house. Such a space may also be used for ventilation in the shoot house if desired.  
         [0080]     A strip or plate  518  may be used to bridge between the lower wall (including steel plate  450 , backing strip  454 , and facing strip  458 ) and the ceiling (including the panels  478  and backing strips  482 ) or an upper wall (including steel plates  498 , facing strips  502 , and backing strips  506 ). A plate  518  may be used which partially, substantially, or completely closes the space  516 , or a strip may be used to provide a stronger joint. Thus, the shoot house may be formed with spaces  516  which are then closed if desired with plates  516  after installation of all necessary wires, control cables, etc. Substantially closing the space  516  would aid in containing bullets which might otherwise pass through the opening and exit the shoot house. It is appreciated that the areas adjacent the ceiling and floor of a shoot house often may pose increased risk of bullets passing around the ballistic walls, and often “no shoot zones” are designated for these areas.  
         [0081]     While omitted for clarity, the walls and ceiling shown in  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  may also be covered with a sheeting material similar to the wall of  FIG. 1  and the ceiling of  FIG. 6 . The sheeting material is preferably a material which is penetrable by bullets but sufficiently durable to not be rapidly be broken down by the bullets. The sheeting material also should be sufficiently durable to not allow a bullet which has passed through the sheeting and ricocheted off of the bullet proof panel to again pass through the sheeting and exit the wall. It is also preferable to space the sheeting apart from the bullet proof panels. The sheeting would thus form a bullet containment area and would make the shoot house significantly safer by substantially eliminating the risk of being hit by a ricocheting bullet. Plywood has been found to be an optimal material for covering the walls and ceiling. Sheeting material may also be placed on top of the ceiling to make a smoother floor for the second shoot house level. The sheeting may cover any backing strips, bolts, or the like which protrude from the ceiling.  
         [0082]     It is appreciated that  FIG. 9   a  and  FIG. 9   b  show assembled portions of a shoot house according to the present invention. It is not possible to show each of the structures without making these drawings confusing. Accordingly, wall joints, brackets, bullet containment chambers, etc. have been omitted for clarity in showing the assembled structure. As such, it is appreciated that  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  encompass and include the attachment details of  FIG. 2 , the brackets of  FIGS. 3   a  through  3   e , the joint details shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b ,  5 ,  6   a ,  6   b , and  7 , the plate details shown in  FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d , the bullet containment structures and floor structures of  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , and  7 , the beams of  FIGS. 8   a - 8   f , and the joint details of  FIG. 10 . These structures are all shown individually for clarity in discussing the various substructures of the invention, but are all part of the whole invention embodied in a modular shoot house, as detailed in  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b.    
         [0083]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  show, in cross section, the general joint structure of a modular shoot house according to the present invention. It is appreciated that the specific shape and configuration of the brackets, joiner strips, pieces or plates, etc. may vary according to the use of the joint in the shoot house structure. Thus, different brackets and different resulting joint structures may be necessary where a ceiling support member is parallel to or perpendicular to a wall, or where the ceiling support member is placed above a wall or abutting into a wall. Thus,  FIGS. 10 through 18  show details of the bracket shapes and resulting joint structures which accomplish various joints required in constructing a modular shoot house. As such, the joints and structures shown in  FIGS. 10 through 18  are considered as part of  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b , being variations of the joint structures based on particular location or application within the resulting shoot house.  
         [0084]     Turning now to  FIG. 10 , a front view of upper and lower bullet proof walls as used in a modular shoot house of to the present invention is shown. A lower wall has been formed with bullet proof panels  550  and facing strips  554  covering the joints between panels  550 . An upper wall has been similarly formed with bullet proof panels  558  and facing strips  562 . It will be appreciated that often a joint  566  will exist between upper wall panels  558  and lower wall panels  550 . To further strengthen the shoot house, the joint  566  may be covered with a facing strip  570  which is attached to the wall panels  550 ,  558  by bolts  574 . A backing means such as a backing strip, washer, or the like, may be placed on the opposite side of the joint  566  and held to the joint with the bolts  574 . Alternatively, the joint  566  may be strengthened by smaller joint plates  578  which are attached to the wall panels  550 ,  558  by bolts  582 . Additionally, the joint  566  may simply be strengthened by a plurality of bolts  586  and washers  590 , having washers and nuts placed on the opposite side of the joint  566 . As the joint  566  will typically be covered by the lower level ceiling/upper level floor or will be very near the floor in an area unlikely to be struck by a bullet, it may not be necessary to cover the entire joint  566  with a joint strip  570 . It may, however, be desirable to use a simple fastener such as bolts  586  and washers  590  to further attach the upper panels  558  to the lower panels  550  and thereby brace the panels.  
         [0085]     It will be appreciated that in building a shoot house according to the present invention, it is desirable to cover the joints between wall and ceiling panels with a continuous strip of metal. Thus, facing strips have been shown covering the wall joints and ceiling joints. It is also possible to cover the ceiling joints with a flat surface of a support member, as has been shown. Once the joint has been covered by a metal strip, it is not necessary, though it is desirable, to cover the side of the joint opposite the facing strip or support member with a continuous metal strip. Washers or other similarly sized objects are sufficient to secure the bolts and facing strips to the joints, providing an increased support surface for attaching the bolts. Backing means may not be necessary in all situations. It will also be appreciated that whenever bolts are used in this application to fasten objects together, the bolts may be inserted into threaded holes in the appropriate location, or may simply be attached and tightened with nuts. Screws, rivets, welding, or other fastening methods are also equally applicable and within the scope of the invention.  
         [0086]     Turning now to  FIG. 11   a  a front view of a bracket of the present invention is shown. The bracket  610  is configured to attach a horizontal support member as may be used in a ceiling to a shoot house wall. The bracket therefore has holes  614  formed therein for attachment to the wall, such as by bolting to the facing strip or to the joint between wall plates. The bracket  610  also includes a flange  618  which is disposed perpendicular to the body of the bracket and which is used to attach the ceiling support member to the bracket.  
         [0087]      FIG. 11   b  shows a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 11   a . The side view of the bracket  610  more clearly shows the flange  618  and the holes  622  formed in the flange which are used to bolt or otherwise attach the bracket to the ceiling support member. It will be appreciated that the flange  618  may be formed integrally to the bracket, such as by bending a flat plate into a bracket with perpendicular flange. Alternatively, the flange may be a separate plate which is welded or otherwise attached to the bracket.  
         [0088]     Turning now to  FIG. 12   a , a front view of another bracket of the present invention is shown. The bracket  626  is configured to attach a ceiling support member to a wall where the support member is parallel to the wall. As such, the bracket has a first flange  630  which is attached to the wall and a second flange  634  which is attached to the support member.  
         [0089]      FIG. 12   b  more clearly shows the first flange  630  and second flange  634 . It is again appreciated that the first flange  630  and second flange  634  may be formed as part of the bracket  626 , such as being cut from flat sheet and bent into place, or may be welded or attached to the bracket. Holes  638  are formed in the first flange  630  and used to attach the flange to the wall, such as by attachment to a facing strip or to the joint. Similarly, holes may be formed in the second flange  634  and used to attach the bracket to the ceiling support member.  
         [0090]     Turning now to  FIG. 13 , a joint of a shoot house incorporating the bracket of  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  is shown. The bracket  610  is attached, with fasteners  654  such as bolts, to a joint (indicated generally at  650 ) formed between two plates  652 ,  656 . The joint  650  is typically formed with a facing strip  658  as has been discussed. For clarity, many of the structures such as facing or backing strips, bolts, bullet containment chambers, sheeting, flooring, etc. are removed from the joints shown in  FIGS. 13, 14 ,  17 , and  18 . The joints are shown without such structures to allow for greater clarity in viewing the brackets and methods of attaching wall panels and joints to ceiling support members and ceiling panels. The ceiling panels may not be shown, but are attached according to the methods shown.  
         [0091]     The bracket  610  is typically bolted to a ceiling support member  662  via flange  618 . The ceiling support member  662  is used to support the ceiling structure, shown generally at  666 . The ceiling structure  666  is as has been discussed and may include ballistic panels and joints, as well as support rails and flooring sheets such as plywood or subflooring. Another wall section (indicated at  670 ) may be attached to the ceiling structure  666  as has been shown, such as in  FIG. 9   a.    
         [0092]     Turning now to  FIG. 14 , a joint of a shoot house of the present invention is shown. The joint utilizes the bracket of  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b . As has been discussed, the bracket  626  is configured for mounting a ceiling support member  678  parallel to a wall  682 . The wall  682  is formed with steel panels  686  joined with a facing strip  690  as has been discussed. The bracket  626  is attached to the wall  682  by bolting the first flange  630  to the joint, and to the ceiling support member  678  by bolting the second flange  634  to the ceiling support member. A ceiling/floor  694  may be attached to the ceiling support member  678 , and may possibly include bullet proof panels, bullet containment chambers, floor beams and sheeting, etc. as has been discussed. An upper wall  698  may be attached to the ceiling support member  678  or to the floor/ceiling  694  as has been previously shown and discussed, such as in  FIG. 9   a  or  9   b.    
         [0093]     Turning now to  FIG. 15   a , a top view of another bracket of the present invention is shown. The bracket  706  is configured for attaching a support member such as the ceiling support members discussed to a wall where the support member is perpendicular to the wall and extends from a wall rather than being disposed above the wall. The bracket  706  includes a first flange  710  having holes  714  which is configured for attachment to a wall, such as by bolting to a joint between wall panels. The bracket  706  also includes a second flange  718  having holes  722  which is configured for attachment to a support member.  
         [0094]      FIG. 15   b  shows a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 15   a , better illustrating the second flange  718  and holes  722 .  FIG. 15   c  shows an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 15   a , and better illustrates the first flange  710  and holes  714 . In discussing this and all other brackets, it is appreciated that the number and location of holes as well as the configuration of the bracket may be adjusted according to the mounting location of the bracket, weight carried by the bracket, etc.  
         [0095]     Turning now to  FIG. 16   a , a side view of a bracket of the present invention is shown. Then bracket  730  is configured for attaching a support member to a wall where the support member is generally parallel to the wall and extends from the wall instead of being above the wall. The bracket  730  has a first flange  734  having holes  738  which attaches to a wall, such as to a joint or facing strip. The bracket also has a second flange  742  with holes  746  which may be attached to a support member. As can more clearly be seen in  FIG. 16   b , the bracket  730  may have a center section  750  which connects the first flange  734  and second flange  742  in a zigzag shape. Such a center flange  750  offsets the first flange  734  and second flange  742  from each other, allowing for easier attachment of the bracket to both a wall and support member.  
         [0096]     Turning now to  FIG. 17 , a joint of a shoot house incorporating the bracket of  FIGS. 16   a  and  16   b  is shown. The bracket  730  is shown attaching a support member  758  to a wall joint, indicated at  762 . The wall structure and joint  762  are formed as has been shown and discussed previously. It will be appreciated that a space  766  may formed between the plates  770  adjacent the bracket  730  and support member  758 , or no space may be present. Attaching a support member parallel to a wall as shown may allow for the installation of stairs, etc. in the shoot house.  
         [0097]     Turning now to  FIG. 18 , a joint of a shoot house using the bracket of  FIGS. 15   a  through  15   c  is shown. The bracket  706  has been used to attach a support member  778  to a wall. The support member  778  extends perpendicularly from the wall. The wall includes steel panels  782  joined by a facing strip  786  as has been previously discussed. The bracket  706  has been bolted to the joint, but may be welded or otherwise attached.  
         [0098]     It is appreciated that the various structures and assemblies of the shoot house which have been discussed are each small parts of the invention, which may require a combination of these structures to form a completed shoot house. Various structures of the shoot house, such as ceilings, floors, stairs, etc. will each require different types of brackets, or combinations of the brackets and joints shown.  
         [0099]     There is thus disclosed an improved method for forming shoot houses. It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. The preceding examples are illustrative of the invention, and do not define the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5