Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an triple tap target system including: a target section including: a steel silhouette plate with an aperture in a center portion; a first and second chest plates mounted to the center portion of a rear of the steel silhouette plate; and a head plate mounted to a top portion of the rear of the steel silhouette plate; a reset mechanism operable affixed to the steel silhouette plate operable to position first and second chest plates and the head plate into a position substantially coplanar with the steel silhouette plate; and a base section comprising one or more steel angle legs, wherein the target section is affixed to the base section.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to target systems. In particular, the invention relates to a target system having multiple targets. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The objective of defensive shooting is to immediately incapacitate a target so as to render that person unable to attack. Contrary to popular belief, gunshot wounds rarely kill the target instantly. Rather, the incapacitation caused by gunshots is the result of a neurocirculatory shock resulting from the gunshot. For example, the trauma resulting from impact and wound channel after two shots to a target&#39;s center of mass will produce a reflexive nervous system collapse in about 96% of cases. In the other 4% of cases, either an adrenaline rush or the effect of stimulant drugs will override the reflexive nervous system collapse, and further shots to the targets center mass will not produce this instantly-incapacitating shock. 
         [0003]    A popular shooting technique, know as the Mozambique Drill was developed to take into consideration the deficiency of the pistol round in stopping an adversary. For example, many times it is the case that after absorbing the trauma of the first shots, the enemy will disregard further ballistic insult and simply “more shots” are not the answer. The Mozambique Drill instructs the shooter to place a double-tap in the center of mass, followed by a carefully aimed headshot. Or in other words, to successfully hit the center of a target twice and then the head of the target once. The third shot of the Mozambique Drill is aimed to destroy the brain, ensuring that the target&#39;s nervous system will shut down and leave the target unable to attack. The third shot is most effective when placed between a target&#39;s eyes as a higher shot is more likely to deflect off of hard bone and a lower shot is unlikely to produce the nervous system damage required to instantly stop an attacker. 
         [0004]    The Mozambique Drill, also known as the ‘failure to stop drill’ or ‘2+1 drill’, is commonly part of the U.S. National Guard Combat Pistol and other military combat pistol competitions and is frequently a discriminator between the average shooter and the gifted shooter, especially in a timed competition. 
         [0005]    A variety of different types of targets are currently available for shooting drills, various targets have been developed based on specific requirements or training practices of specific drills. These targets can range from paper targets, to static targets, such as steel or paper, to moving steel, paper targets, or the like, and are generally arranged at a distant end of a shooting range. Each of the targets can generally be moved around and configured within the range depending on, for example, a particular training drill for a shooter. 
         [0006]    Currently, shooters typically use paper silhouette targets for the Mozambique Drill. The paper silhouette targets have several drawbacks that limit their effectiveness for use with the Mozambique Drill. For example, the paper silhouette targets are limited to a single effective use and it can be difficult to quickly and accurately determine if the paper target was hit in the proper location from a distance. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, what is needed is an improved target that is designed for use with the Mozambique Drill. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Disclosed herein is an triple tap target system including: a target section including: a steel silhouette plate with an aperture in a center portion; a first and second chest plates mounted to the center portion of a rear of the steel silhouette plate; and a head plate mounted to a top portion of the rear of the steel silhouette plate; a reset mechanism operable affixed to the steel silhouette plate operable to position first and second chest plates and the head plate into a position substantially coplanar with the steel silhouette plate; and a base section comprising one or more steel angle legs, wherein the target section is affixed to the base section. 
         [0009]    Also disclosed herein is a method for using a triple tap target system including: causing a first ballistic impact with a first chest plate in an first position, wherein the first ballistic impact causes a second chest plate to change position from an first position to a secondary position; causing a second ballistic impact with the first chest plate, wherein the second ballistic impact causes the first chest plate to change from its first position to a secondary position; causing a third ballistic impact with a head plate in an first position, wherein the third ballistic impact causes the head plate to change position from its first position to a secondary position; and resetting the triple tap target system by returning the first chest plate, the second chest plate, and the head plate to their respective first positions from their secondary positions. 
         [0010]    Further disclosed herein is a triple tap target system including: a first chest plate rotationally affixed to a silhouette plate about a first axis; a second chest plate rotationally affixed to the silhouette plate about the first axis; a head plate rotationally affixed to the silhouette plate about a second axis; one or more steel angle legs affixed to a bottom portion of the silhouette plate; and a reset mechanism affixed to the silhouette plate operable for rotating the first and second chest plates about the first axis and the head plate about the second axis. 
         [0011]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a portion of a triple tap target system in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the rear of a triple tap target system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the rear of a triple tap target system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates another perspective view of the rear of a triple tap target system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates another perspective view of the rear of a triple tap target system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrate a perspective view of a triple tap target system including a automated reset device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrate a perspective view of a triple tap target system including a manual reset device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the rear of a triple tap target system in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a target section  50  of a triple tap target system  100  is depicted. The target section  50  includes a silhouette shaped steel plate  52  that has a center section cutout. The target section  50  also includes two chest plates  54  that are located behind the center cutout portion of the silhouette shaped steel plate  52 . Furthermore, the target section  50  includes a single head plate  56  mounted at the top of the silhouette shaped steel plate  52 . The two chest plates  54  are pivotally mounted to the silhouette shaped steel plate  52  and are in direct surface-to-surface contact with each other. In exemplary embodiments, for clarity purposes, the steel silhouette plate  52  may be painted black and the chest plates  54  and head plates  56  are white. The target section  50  of the triple tap target system  100  is constructed such that after two shots hit the chest plates  52  they both fall out of sight and after a single shot hit the head plate  56  it falls out of sight. 
         [0023]    In an exemplary embodiment, the two chest plates  52  are mounted such that prior to impact of a bullet the chest plates  54  are in direct surface-to-surface contact with one another. In another exemplary embodiment, the two chest plates  54  are mounted such that prior to impact of a bullet the chest plates  54  are both in a upright position in close proximity to one another. Once a first shot impacts the front chest plate  54  the energy from the impact is transferred to the rear chest plate  54  and the rear chest plate falls while the front face plate remains in its first position. After the front chest plate  54  is shot a second time, the front chest plate  54  time falls rearward. The shooter then would take a third shot at the head plate  56  knocking it rearward when it is struck. The head plate  56  may extend above the silhouette plate  52 , however, it is also contemplated that the head plate  56  may be located behind an aperture in an upper portion of the silhouette plate  52 . 
         [0024]    The triple tap target system  100  also includes a base section  10 . The base section  10  is constructed of a structural steel channel  12  and one or more steel angle legs  14  and provides a steady platform for which to mount the target section  50 . The steel angle legs  14  are welded vertically on top of the steel channel  12  and provide ballistic protection for the different reset mechanisms that are located behind the steel angle legs  14 . In an exemplary embodiment, at the top of the steel angle legs  14 , there are threaded studs  16  that are used to locate and secure the target section  50  with flat washers and nuts. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 5  which illustrate perspective views of a portion of the triple tap target system  100  during various stages of use.  FIG. 2  illustrates the triple tap target system  100  after it has been reset and no ballistic impact has occurred. Accordingly, both chest plates  54  and the head plate  56  are in their first position, which is substantially parallel with the silhouette plate  52 . For example, in their first position the plates  54  and the head plate  56  may be within twenty degrees of the silhouette plate  52 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2  the two chest plates  54  may be in direct surface-to-surface contact with one another when in their first position.  FIG. 3  illustrates the triple tap target system  100  after a first ballistic impact has occurred with the first chest plate  54 . Accordingly, the first chest plate  54   a  and the head plate  56  are substantially near their first position, which is substantially parallel to the silhouette plate  52 , and the second chest plate  54   b  is in a second position.  FIG. 4  illustrates the triple tap target system  100  after a second ballistic impact has occurred with the first chest plate  54 . Accordingly, only the head plate  56  is substantially near its first position and both of the chest plates  54  are in a second position.  FIG. 4  also illustrates the center cut out portion of the silhouette plate  52 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the triple tap target system  100  after a first ballistic impact has occurred with the head plate  56 . Accordingly, both chest plates  54  and the head plate  56  are in a second position, which is substantially non-coplanar with the silhouette plate  52 . Once the head plate  56  and the two chest plates  54  are in their second position the triple tap target system  100  is reset and the head plate  56  and the two chest plates  54  are returned to their first positions as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    The resetting of the triple tap target system  100  may be accomplished by an automated or manual process, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , respectively. The automated reset mechanism  58  may be a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electric motor, or the like. The manual reset mechanism  60  may be a lever that is connected to a rope or cord. The automated reset mechanism  58  may be activated by pressing a button or switch located on a control box and the manual reset mechanism  60  may be activated by pulling the rope towards you (the shooter). The resetting of the triple tap target system  100 , be either an automated or manual process, includes actuating a vertical reset bar  62 , which is connected to a head reset bar  64  and a chest reset bar  66 . The head reset bar  64  is designed to contact the head plate  56  and reposition the chest plate  56  from its second position to its first position. Likewise, the chest reset bar  66  is designed to contact the second chest plate  54   b  and reposition both of the chest plates  54  from their second positions to their first positions. 
         [0027]    In an exemplary embodiment, multiple triple tap target systems  100  that have automated reset mechanisms  58  can be operated from a single control box. Also, the reset mechanism of the triple tap target systems  100  may optionally be converted to/from a manual reset mechanism  60  from/to an automated reset mechanism  58  due to the design of the triple tap target system  100 . The conversion from a manual reset mechanism  60  from/to an automated reset mechanism  58  allows a single triple tap target system  100  to be used in a wide variety of environments including outdoors and in an existing shooting range. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of the rear of the triple tap target system  100  in accordance with exemplary embodiment is illustrated. The chest plates  54  and head plate  56  may include bushings  68  designed to keep the rotational and falling motion smooth and consistent. In an exemplary embodiment, the bushings  68  may be constructed of bronze or another suitable material. Furthermore, the target section  50  of the triple tap target system  100  can include one or more spring loaded ball-detents  70  that are in contact with the rotating portion of the chest plates  54  and the head plate  56 . The ball-detents  70  keep the chest plates  54  and head plate  56  from moving as the target section  50  is shot at. Without the ball-detents  70 , the chest plates  54  and the head plate  56  may move due to any excess vibration of the silhouette area that can result from being hit by misplaced rounds. The ball-detents  70  are used to ensure that the vibrations do not cause the chest plates  54  and the head plate  56 , that were not hit directly, to fall. Additionally, when the chest plates  54  and the head plate  56  are shot at by a larger caliber handgun, the higher force may cause the plate to slam rearward so hard that it bounces back to an upright position. The ball-detents  58  are designed to prevent such bounce back of the chest plates  54  and the head plate  56 . 
         [0029]    Whereas the present invention has been described in detail it is understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention, as described herein before and as defined in the appended claims. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all mean-plus-function elements, if any, in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.