ARCHERY TARGET AND METHOD OF USING SAME

Abstract

An archery target includes a cylindrical body having a substantially circular top surface, a substantially circular base surface, and an intermediate section extending between the top surface and base surface. The target can be made by winding at least one layer of a flexible material, such as polyurethane foam, to form the cylindrical body. The target can be positioned such that the top surface faces upward and the base surface faces downward, and the user shoots arrows at the intermediate section. After a substantial number of arrows have been shot into the particular area of the intermediate section facing the user, the target can be rotated to expose a previously unused and unblemished area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice. The target can be part of a kit that includes instructions for using the target accordingly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/954,454, filed Aug. 7, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an archery target and a method of using same. One embodiment of the invention enables the user to shoot a plurality of arrows into one area of the target, and then rotate the target so that a previously unused and unblemished area of the target faces the user. The user can then take aim at the unblemished area of the target to obtain further use of the target.

Foam archery targets are known in the art. Such targets are typically formed in a square or rectangular shape, with the front and rear sides substantially larger than the four minor sides. As such, it is generally contemplated that archers shoot at the major front and rear sides of the target only. This results in limited life and use of the target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an archery target, in which the user can shoot many different areas of the target to maximize the life and use of the target.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an archery target, in which the user shoots at a particular area of the target for a period of time, and then rotates the target to expose an unblemished, unused area for further target practice.

These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved in the various embodiments of the invention disclosed below. One embodiment of the invention is an archery target comprising a cylindrical body comprised of a flexible material. The cylindrical body includes a first substantially circular surface, a second substantially circular surface, and an intermediate section extending between the first surface and the second surface for receiving an arrow.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the flexible material comprises an open-celled foam.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the flexible material comprises polyurethane foam.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first substantially circular surface is the top surface, and the second substantially circular surface is the base surface.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the intermediate section has a length of about eighteen to nineteen inches.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the target is made by winding the layer of material onto a spool until a roll of material having a desired diameter of the target is obtained.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the process for making the target includes cutting the roll of wound material to obtain a desired length for the intermediate section of the target.

Another embodiment of the invention includes an archery target kit comprised of an archery target and instructions for using the target. The target can comprise a cylindrical body made of a flexible material, such as polyurethane foam, and includes a first substantially circular surface, a second substantially circular surface, and an intermediate section extending between the first surface and the second surface. The instructions instruct a user to shoot arrows at the intermediate section of the archery target.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the instructions instruct the user to position the target such that the first substantially circular surface faces upward and the second substantially circular surface faces downward.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the instructions instruct the user to position the target such that the first substantially circular surface is placed on a ground surface.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the instructions instruct the user to move the archery target to expose a previously unused area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into an area of the intermediate section facing the user.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the instructions instruct the user to shoot arrows at a first area of the intermediate section of the archery target facing the user.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the instructions instruct the user to rotate the archery target to expose a previously unused second area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into the first area of the intermediate section.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of using an archery target that can include the steps of providing a cylindrical archery target having a first substantially circular surface, a second substantially circular surface, and an intermediate section extending between the first surface and the second surface, and shooting arrows at the intermediate section of the archery target.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the archery target is moved to expose a previously unused area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into an area of the intermediate section facing the user.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the target is positioned such that the first substantially circular surface faces upward and the second substantially circular surface faces downward.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the archery target is positioned such that a first area of the intermediate section of the archery target faces the user, and arrows are shot at the first area of the intermediate section.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the archery target is rotated to expose a previously unused second area of the intermediate section after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into the first area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention may appear as the description of the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an archery target according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the archery target of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the archery target of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is schematic view illustrating a method for using the archery target of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is another schematic view illustrating a method for using the archery target of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 6-12 are schematic views illustrating a method for making the archery target of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, an archery target according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, and shown generally at reference numeral 10. The archery target 10 generally comprises layers 12 of a flexible material wound into a cylindrical body. The flexible material can be an open-celled polymeric foam, such as polyurethane foam.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the target 10 is cylindrical, and has a circular top surface 14, a circular base surface 16 and an intermediate section 18 between the top surface 14 and the base surface 16. The base surface 16 sits on the ground, as shown in FIG. 4, or alternatively the target 10 can be held in a stand with the top surface 14 facing upward and the base surface 16 facing downward. The intermediate section 18 is wide enough to function as the area of the target 10 at which the user shoots arrows.

In a preferred method of using the target, the user “U” aims and shoots arrows into the particular area of the intermediate section 18 that is facing the user “U”, as shown in FIG. 4. After a substantial number of arrows have been shot into the particular area of the intermediate section 18 facing the user “U”, the user can then rotate the target 10 to expose a previously unused and unblemished area of the intermediate section 18 of the target 10, as shown in FIG. 5, for further target practice by the user “U”. Generally, this can be repeated as many as four times or more. As such, the usable life of the target 10 is maximized. In addition, by rolling layers 12 of foam in a cylindrical body and by shooting the arrows at the intermediate section 18 of the cylindrical body, the tendency of the arrow to rip out material when being removed from the target 10 is reduced.

The target 10 can be part of an archery target kit that includes the target 10, and instructions informing the user “U” on how to use the target 10 in accordance with the method described above. The term “instructions” as used throughout this application, refers generally to any and all forms of printed matter, including, but not limited to, one or more sheets, leaflets, pamphlets, manuals, brochures, and/or booklets having text, graphics, photos, diagrams and/or drawings referring or relating to the method of using the target 10 described above. Such “instructions” can be printed on a document contained inside of the packaging of the target 10, on the packaging and/or on the target 10 itself. In addition, the term “instructions” can include references to an Internet website address, company mailing address and/or other remote source having text, graphics, photos, diagrams and/or drawings referring or relating to the method of using the target 10 described above. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the packaging containing the archery target 10 may have an Internet website address printed thereon along with directions to the user to visit the Internet website to access instructions on using the archery target 10.

Preferably, the target 10 has a diameter of about 21 inches, and is about 18 to 19 inches tall, when standing upright as shown in FIG. 3. A preferred method of making the target is illustrated in FIGS. 6-12. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, layers 12 of polyurethane foam are wound onto a spool 32. Preferably, each layer 12 is approximately four inches thick, five feet wide and 100 feet long. The polyurethane layers 12 are wound onto the spool 32 until a desired diameter, such as about 21 inches, is obtained, forming a roll 20 having a length of about five feet. Shrink plastic wrap 28 can be wrapped around the roll 20, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 8, each end 24 of the rolled up layers 12 is cut off to form an even edge. As shown in FIGS. 9-12, the five foot long roll 20 can be cut with a saw 34 into units of a desired length, such as about 18-19 inches each.

While a particular embodiment of the archery target of the invention is described above as being comprised of layers 12 polyurethane foam wrapped to form a cylindrical body, it should be noted that the target does not have to be formed with layers and can be comprised of a solid polyurethane foam, or other suitable material. In addition, although the steps of using and making the archery target are described above in a particular sequence, the invention is not limited to such sequence and the steps for these methods can be carried out in varying order and remain within the scope of the invention.

An archery target and a method for using same are described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. For example, while a preferred embodiment of the archery target is described above as having a cylindrical shape, other shapes can be utilized. The foregoing description of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An archery target comprising a cylindrical body comprised of a flexible material, the cylindrical body including a first substantially circular surface, a second substantially circular surface, and an intermediate section extending between the first surface and the second surface for receiving an arrow.

2. An archery target according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises an open-celled foam.

3. An archery target according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises polyurethane foam.

4. An archery target according to claim 1, wherein the first substantially circular surface comprises a top surface, and the second substantially circular surface comprises a base surface.

5. An archery target according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate section has a length of about eighteen to nineteen inches.

6. An archery target according to claim 1, wherein the target comprises at least one layer of flexible material wound to form the cylindrical body.

7. An archery target according to claim 6, wherein the target is formed by winding the layer of flexible material onto a spool until a roll of material having a desired diameter of the target is obtained.

8. An archery target according to claim 7, further wherein the target is formed by cutting the roll of wound material to obtain a desired length for the intermediate section of the target.

9. An archery target kit comprising:

(a) an archery target comprising a cylindrical body comprised of a flexible material, the cylindrical body including a first substantially circular surface, a second substantially circular surface, and an intermediate section extending between the first surface and the second surface; and

(b) instructions that instruct a user to shoot arrows at the intermediate section of the archery target.

10. An archery target kit according to claim 9, wherein the target comprises at least one layer of open-celled foam wound to form the cylindrical body.

11. An archery target kit according to claim 9, wherein the instructions further instruct the user to position the target whereby the first substantially circular surface faces upward and the second substantially circular surface faces downward.

12. An archery target kit according to claim 9, wherein the instructions further instruct the user to position the target whereby the first substantially circular surface is placed on a ground surface.

13. An archery target kit according to claim 9, wherein the instructions further instruct the user to move the archery target to expose a previously unused area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into an area of the intermediate section facing the user.

14. An archery target kit according to claim 9, wherein the instructions further instruct the user to shoot arrows at a first area of the intermediate section of the archery target facing the user.

15. An archery target kit according to claim 14, wherein the instructions further instruct the user to rotate the archery target to expose a previously unused second area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into the first area of the intermediate section.

16. A method of using an archery target comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cylindrical archery target comprising a first substantially circular surface, a second substantially circular surface, and an intermediate section extending between the first surface and the second surface; and

(b) shooting arrows at the intermediate section of the archery target.

17. A method of using an archery target according to claim 16, wherein the archery target comprises at least one layer of polyurethane foam wound to form a cylindrical body.

18. A method of using an archery target according to claim 16, further comprising the step of moving the archery target to expose a previously unused area of the intermediate section of the target for further target practice after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into an area of the intermediate section facing the user.

19. A method of using an archery target according to claim 16, further comprising the step of positioning the target whereby the first substantially circular surface faces upward and the second substantially circular surface faces downward.

20. A method of using an archery target according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the archery target whereby a first area of the intermediate section of the archery target faces the user;

(b) shooting arrows at the first area of the intermediate section; and

(c) rotating the archery target to expose a previously unused second area of the intermediate section after a substantial number of arrows have been shot into the first area.