Abstract:
A firearm target support utilizes a wooden support frame and separate removable footings for ease in transport and storage. The frame includes a pair of support legs to which the footings are attached when deploying the target support. For storage, each of the footings is removed from the terminus of the support legs, and is attached in a linear manner to the support legs at another location. In this manner, the footings project fore and aft of the support frame to enhance target stability when the target support is deployed, and run lengthwise along the support legs when stored. The replaceable target can either be received directly by the opposed support legs, using grooves formed therein, or it can be received in a separate target frame, which in turn is received between the opposed support legs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/124,332, Filed Mar. 14, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to firearm targets and, more particularly, to target supporting structures. More specifically, the present invention relates to a target support that can be readily disassembled for transport and storage, and subsequently reassembled at a suitable location for deployment. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Recent years have shown an increasing popularity in the recreational use of firearms. With the associated costs of wild game hunting spiraling ever upwards, gun owners in even rural areas have turned towards rifle and pistol ranges when it comes time to use their weapon. 
     In many of these outdoor ranges, convenient supporting structures from which to hang targets are simply not available. As a result, shooters will often attach their targets to pasteboard boxes, slabs of scrap wood, and all types of odd materials that they may have brought to the range. The less-prepared shooters will resort to aiming at cans, bottles, plastic jugs or whatever other refuse they can salvage from nearby garbage containers. 
     What might not prove a problem when only occasionally done on a dispersed basis in open fields has become a disaster when such activity is concentrated in the narrow confines of a shooting range. Under constant bombardment, the shooting range is covered with shards of broken glass, shredded plastic, and torn-up remains of boxes and cans. Even the periodic efforts of volunteer cleanup crews do not prevent a shooting range from taking on the appearance of a disaster movie set. 
     The lack of dependable target supports also hurts the more serious shooter. Having invested perhaps hundreds of dollars in a first-class rifle (and scope), and then spending dozens of hours at a loading bench carefully manufacturing the ammunition, it almost seems pointless to then take careful aim at a target attached to a shaky box. A need exists for an easily transported and placed target holder that is fabricated out of a material that permits quick replacement should damage occur to the frame when bullets inadvertently hit the target frame structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a firearm target support that may be easily disassembled, transported, and re-assembled during its cycle of use. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a support in a material that is of sufficient rigidity and strength to create a stable target zone having the ability to absorb impacts of errant bullets. 
     In this regard, a wooden frame structure is provided having a lower support frame and an upper target frame. Removable footings are attachable to the support frame and are stored within the target frame during transport and storage. A replaceable target is received within the target frame, and can easily be replaced as needed during use. Where vertical variance of the target height is required, an inner target frame is slidably received within the primary target frame, and can be extended from such frame in a stabilized manner to place the target above the primary supporting framework. 
     Use of wood in the target frame structure provides the required strength and rigidity, while also permitting easy repair or replacement when individual wooden members are damaged during use. When configured for storage or transport, the footings are removed from their attachment points on the lower support frame, and are attached to opposed inner walls of the inner target frame, which itself is received by and secured within the primary target frame. 
     Some further objects and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the ensuing description and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions in phantom, showing a portable target in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, with portions in phantom, showing a portable target in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partially-exploded perspective view, showing the manner in which a support footing is attached to a portable target in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, showing a support footing for use with a portable target in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial end view, with portions in phantom, showing the manner in which a target is received within the portable target holder in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing placement of a portable target holder within a target holding frame in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a partially exploded plan view, with portions in phantom, showing attachment of the support footings to the support frame during storage of a portable target in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view, with portions in phantom, showing an alternative manner of placing a target directly in a target holding frame in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view showing an end of a support frame in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. A target holder  10  is shown in FIG. 1, having an outer support frame  14  that is releasably received in a pair of detachable support footings  18 . An adjustable target frame  22  is slidably received within an upper portion of the support frame  10 , and a pair of cross support members  26  is attached to and provides structural rigidity to a lower portion of the support frame  10 . 
     An entry slot  32  is formed in a top frame member  34  of the adjustable target frame  22 , enabling the easy insertion and removal of a replaceable target  38  that is held in position within the target frame  22  during use. Positioning of the adjustable target frame  22  at varying vertical elevations relative to the support frame  14  is provided using a plurality of vertical adjustment holes  42  formed in an opposing pair of side frame members  44  (only one shown in FIG.  1 ). A corresponding plurality of side support holes  46  are formed in an opposing pair of side target frame members  48 . 
     At certain preselected elevations, at least one of the opposing pair of vertical adjustment holes  42  and the opposing pair of side support holes  46  pair align, permitting a threaded pin  52  to be received therein, thus maintaining such registration as long as desired. A pair of threaded nuts  54 , such as the wing nuts depicted in the Figures, are each received by a respective one of said pair of threaded pins  52 , further securing their position within the vertical adjustment and side support holes  42 ,  46 . Removal of the threaded nuts  54 , followed by removal of the treaded pins  52  permit changing the vertical position of the adjustable target frame  22  relative to the support frame  14 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, a slide support trim panel  58  is attached to each lateral edge of the pair of side frame members  44 . The slide support trim panels  58  serve as a support and guide for the adjustable target frame  22  when it is received within the support frame  14  of the target holder  10 . As is also shown in FIG. 2, the threaded pin  52  and the threaded nuts  54  also are preferably the fastener system used to attach the support footings  18  to the support frame  14 . 
     As is best shown in FIG. 3, a connection tab  62  is formed as an extension of the inner board of the side frame members  44 . A connection slot  66  is formed in the support footing  18  and is configured to slidably receive the connection tab  62  when attachment of the support footing  18  to the support frame  14  is desired. A securement hole  68  is formed in the connection tab  62  at a location appropriate to permit its registration with a tab engagement hole  72  formed in the support footing  18  upon fully receiving the connection tab  62  within the connection slot  66 . When so aligned, the threaded pin  52  is inserted into the tab engagement hole  72 , and extends through the securement hole  68  of the connection tab  62 . Upon its emergence on the opposite side of the support footing  18 , the threaded pin  52  is secured by the attachment of the threaded nut  54 . 
     In FIG. 4 a presently preferred construction of the support footing  18  is depicted. A doubler  76  is centrally located along an extended footer board  78 . A pair of spacer boards  82  separates and attaches the doubler  76  to the footer board  78 , forming the connection slots  66  therebetween. The tab engagement hole  72 A,  72 B passes through both the doubler  76  and the footer board  78 , enabling the threaded pin  52  (not shown in FIG. 4) to extend entirely through the support footing  18 . A pair of storage securement holes  86  are formed in the footer board  78  spaced from opposing ends thereof. As will be discussed hereinafter, the pair of storage securement holes  86  is used to attach each of the support footings  18  to one of the side frame members  44  of the support frame  14  during storage. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the manner in which the replaceable target  38  is received within the adjustable target frame  22 . Turning first to FIG. 5, a narrowed receiving slot  92  is located immediately inside of the entry slot  32 . The juxtaposition of these two slots is intended to form a funnel-like structure to assist in the receiving of the replaceable target  38  within the target frame  22 , as well as to help direct the leading edge of the replaceable target  38  into slidable inter-engagement with the target frame  22 . 
     A retaining slot  96  is formed in each of the pair of side panels  48  of the adjustable target frame  22  (only one shown in FIG.  6 ). The use of the pairs of threaded pins  52  and threaded nuts  54  to secure the positioning of the adjustable target frame  22  with respect to the side frame members  44  of the outer support frame  14  is also shown in FIG. 6, as is a presently preferred optional side frame notch  98 , the utility of which is discussed hereinafter in the context of FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     In FIG. 7, the target holder  10  is being readied for storage and/or transport. The pair of support footings  18  are shown as having been removed from their respective connection tabs  62  for attachment to one of the side frame members  48  forming a lateral side of the adjustable target frame  22 . The support footing  18  is placed against one of the side target frame members  48  in a manner causing the registration of the pair of storage securement holes  86  formed on the footer board  78  of the support footing  18  and the vertical adjustment holes  42  located on the side target frame members  48  of the adjustable target frame  22 . 
     Upon the occurrence of such registration, a pair of threaded pins  52  is placed within the thus-aligned storage securement holes  86  and the vertical adjustment holes  42 . As previously the case, the threaded pins  52  are secured within the registered holes by use of the threaded nuts  54 . 
     As is also shown in FIG. 7, a central support board  101  is attached to and extends between opposite side frame members  44  of the support frame  14  immediately adjacent to the upper ends of the cross support members  26 . The central support board  101  provides additional stability and strength. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a presently preferred alternative embodiment, which permits the use of the replaceable target  38  without the adjustable target frame  22 . As is briefly discussed in the context of FIG. 6, the side frame members  44  of the support frame  14  are each provided with the centrally located side frame notch  98  (see also FIG.  9 ). With the adjustable target frame  22  removed from the support frame  14 , the opposed pair of side frame notches  98  are positioned to slidably receive the appropriately dimensioned replaceable target  38 . The central support board  101  provides a support floor upon which the replaceable target  38  can rest while held within the opposed pair of side frame notches  98 . After sustaining projectile damage, replacement of the target  38  is easily accomplished by its slidable removal from the side frame notches  98  of the side frame members  44 . 
     In a presently preferred embodiment, the target holder  10  is fabricated out of 1″ by 2″ and 1″ by 4″ boards of wood such as redwood and clear pine, wood screws, ¼″ carriage bolts, and wing nuts. The dimensions of the support frame  14  are preferably 47½″ high by 23″ wide by 5″ thick. As so dimensioned, a suitably-sized adjustable target frame measures 24″ high by 18″ wide, permitting the target held within to be adjusted from 48″ high to 67″ in height. 
     The retaining slot  96  is preferably ¼″ which is sufficient to slidably retain a target formed out of a standard cardboard material (⅛″-{fraction (3/16)}″). As noted previously, the entry slot  32  at ⅝″ is slightly larger than the ½″ of the narrowed receiving slot  92  located below. Both of these measurements are greater than the retaining slot  96  (¼″), which permits the easy removal of the target after use, notwithstanding the “expansion” damage caused by the bullet impacts. 
     The side frame members  44  are fabricated out of two 1″ by 4″ boards screwed together, with a 1″ by 2″ board used to form the slide support trim panels  58  located along each lateral edge of the two-board construction (side frame members  44 ). Along the upper portion of the support frame  14 , the slide support trim panels  58  form the receiving track for the target frame  22 , permitting its sliding adjustment over the several fixed adjustment positions created by the location of the vertical adjustment holes  42 . The side frame notches  98  consist of a ¼″ by ¼″ slot formed in the side frame members  44 . The sides of the support frame  14  are held together by one 1″ by 4″ board attached to form the central support board  101  and two 1″ by 4″ boards that cross at 45-degree angles to form the cross support members  26 . 
     The target frame  22  is fabricated out of three 1″ by 4″ boards with a central ¼″ slot extending along all of the boards to create the retaining slot  96 . The top is constructed from two 1″ by 2″ boards that are separated ½″ to form the receiving slot opening. 
     The support footings  18  are constructed out of four pieces of 1″ by 4″ board, with each support footing  18  having four separate wood pieces, the longer footer board  78  being 23½″ long, the doubler is 10½″, and two boards that are 3½″ long create the spacer boards. The resulting connection slot  66  created upon the assembly of these four component boards has a preferred width and thickness of 3⅝″ by ¾″. 
     My invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, which provides an improved target holder that is of great novelty and utility. Various changes, modifications, and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications.