GRAVITY RESET TARGET
A gravity reset target system that includes a target plate assembly that is removably engaged with a base plate assembly. The base plate assembly includes at least two parallel guide plates having grooves cut therein and the target plate assembly includes a target plate secured to a carrier piece having at least one guide rod. The guide rod of the carrier piece is inserted into the grooves in the guide plates to removably engage the target plate assembly with the base plate assembly. The target plate begins in a vertical resting position, rocks backward to a generally horizontal position when struck with a projectile, and then automatically returns to its vertical resting position.
This application claims priority to provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61/247,475, filed Sep. 30, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNumerous target systems are commercially available for utilization during target practice. However, most existing target systems require tools for assembly, include parts that wear or break and need to be replaced, are difficult to move and transport, and are not easily interchangeable for use with different calibers of guns at different target distances. Accordingly, there is a need for a target system having strong and simple components that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and exchanged by hand and that can be easily moved and transported.
The target system of the present invention improves on existing automatic reset target systems of comparable size, function, and implementation in a number of ways. First, the target system of the present invention is a gravity reset target which pivots at the bottom rather than at the top thereby providing a more natural visual feedback motion. Second, the target incorporated in the target system of the present invention resets solely by the use of gravity and requires no springs which can weaken, break, and need to be replaced. Third, the target system of the present invention can be quickly assembled and disassembled by hand without requiring the use of tools for the quick changing of target shapes and weights, and for ease of transportation. Fourth, the design of the target system of the present invention incorporates a built in handle which makes it easy to carry and transport. Fifth, the target system of the present invention incorporates a target plate that can be quickly and easily changed to enable the target system to be used with different calibers of high powered rifles or hand guns at different target distances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a gravity reset target system that includes a base plate assembly and a target plate assembly. The base plate assembly includes a base plate removably secured to the top of a shrapnel guard plate, two aligning rails secured parallel and apart from one another to the top of the base plate, and two guide plates each having a groove cut therein wherein each of the guide plates extend vertically upward from, and are secured to, the top of the base plate at a location inside the parallel aligning rails. The target plate assembly includes a target plate removably secured to a carrier piece having two parallel side panels and a guide rod which is positioned between, and rigidly secured to, each of the two parallel side panels and wherein the guide rod is removably inserted into the grooves cut into each of the guide plates in the base plate assembly.
In one exemplary embodiment, the target plate assembly of the gravity reset target system of the present invention further includes a backing plate removably secured to the carrier piece such that the carrier piece is positioned between the target plate and the backing plate.
In another exemplary embodiment, the parallel side panels of the carrier piece of the target plate assembly each comprise at least one rounded edge for rocking against the base plate of the base plate assembly. In one exemplary configuration, the parallel side panels of the carrier piece each comprise the shape of a piece of pie where the rounded edge of the pie piece rocks against the base plate of the base plate assembly. In another exemplary configuration, the carrier piece of the target plate assembly further comprises a front panel rigidly secured to the parallel side panels where the front panel is shorter in height than the parallel side panels. In addition, in one aspect of the invention, the parallel side panels and the front panel of the carrier piece may all be formed from one piece of metal that is bent or shaped to form a front panel and two parallel side panels.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the grooves cut into each of the guide plates of the base plate assembly each comprise an arrow shape pointing downward toward the base plate. The gravity reset target system of the present invention is created by placing the guide rod of the carrier piece of the target plate assembly within the grooves cut into each of the guide plates of the base plate assembly thereby allowing the carrier piece of the target plate assembly to rock against the base plate of the base plate assembly when a projectile hits the front of the target plate of the target plate assembly. The guide rod in the carrier piece of the target plate assembly is positioned at a first position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves in each of the guide plates when the target plate is in a resting position. This first position is at the top of a side of the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves located closest to the target plate. The guide rod in the carrier piece of the target plate assembly is positioned at a second position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves in each of the guide plates when the target plate is in a mid-stroke position after being hit with a projectile. This second position is at the tip or point of the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves. The guide rod in the carrier piece of the target plate assembly is positioned at a third position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves in each of the guide plates when the target plate is in a full-stroke or end position after being hit with a projectile. This third position is at a top of a side of the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves located opposite the first position. After the guide rod moves to the third position (i.e. after the target plate is hit backwards with a projectile as far as it will go), the carrier piece of the target assembly automatically rocks forward against the base plate, and the guide rod of the carrier piece returns to the first position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves, thereby returning the target plate of the target plate assembly to its first resting position.
In still another exemplary embodiment, the carrier piece of the target plate assembly further comprises at least one stiffening rod positioned between, and rigidly secured to, each of the parallel side panels of the carrier piece. The stiffening rods give stability and rigidity to the parallel side panels of the carrier piece.
In another exemplary embodiment, the base plate of the base plate assembly includes a handle opening located near an end of the base plate for carrying or transporting the base plate assembly. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the base plate of the base plate assembly further includes a plurality of anchor spike openings and the gravity reset target system of the present invention further includes a plurality of anchor spikes which are inserted through the plurality of anchor spike openings in the base plate to secure the gravity reset target system in place.
In one aspect of the invention, the target plate and the carrier piece of the target plate assembly may be removably secured to one another via a target plate bolt and nut where the bolt is inserted through at least one opening in the target plate and in turn through at least one opening in the front panel of the carrier piece. In another aspect of the invention, the base plate and the shrapnel guard plate of the base plate assembly may be removably secured to one another with a shrapnel guard bolt that is inserted through an opening in the base plate and in turn through an opening in the top of the shrapnel guard plate.
The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
The gravity reset target system of the present invention generally provides a gravity reset target system that has strong and simple components that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and exchanged by hand, and that can be easily moved and transported. The gravity reset target system of the present invention includes a target or target plate that rocks backward to a generally horizontal position when struck with a projectile. The gravity reset target system of the present invention generally includes a base plate assembly and a target plate assembly which are easily and quickly removably engaged with one another to form the gravity reset target system of the present invention.
A side elevational view of an exemplary target plate assembly 30 of the gravity reset target system of the present invention is shown in
Referring now to
A side elevational view of the gravity reset target system 50 of the present invention is shown in
A top plan view of the gravity reset target system 50 of the present invention is shown in
As previously described above, the guide rod 44 is strongly and permanently secured to the parallel side panels 42 of the carrier piece 34 so that the guide rod does not move or become dislodged within the carrier after being slammed against the stops in the guide plates 20 and provides to limit the travel of the target plate assembly 30 after the target plate 32 is hit with a projectile. The guide rod 44 supplies rigidity to the parallel side panels 42 of the carrier piece 34 and works in conjunction with the guide plates 20 to limit the travel of the target plate assembly 30 to its travel limits. In addition, due to the angle of the grooves (i.e. the downward arrow shaped grooves 22 in one exemplary embodiment) in the guide plates 20, the guide rod 44 and guide plates 20 prevent the target plate assembly 30 from sliding or being pushed rearward on the base plate assembly 10 when the target plate 32 is struck by a projectile. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other configurations of grooves may be cut into the guide plates 20 that would be capable of enabling the same travel limiting functions when the guide rod 44 is engaged with the grooves in the guide plates 20. In addition, the weight, size, shape, and/or position of the target plate 32 may be changed in alternative target plate assemblies that can be removably exchanged with one another within the base plate assembly. For example, the position of target plate 32 may be adjusted in order to change the force required to knock back or rock back target plate 32. This could be achieved by positioning target plate 32 vertically higher on carrier piece 34 which would result in less force being required to knock back target plate 32 toward base plate 12.
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein shows various exemplary embodiments and the best modes, known to the inventor at this time, of the invention. These exemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended to teach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes and any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included figures are non-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, which similarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.
Other combinations and/or modifications of structures; arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the instant invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters, or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of the instant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.
Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonly accepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used by those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance where these meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification and the claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. If any other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, the specification will clearly state and define the special meaning.
Claims
1. A gravity reset target system comprising:
- a base plate assembly including a base plate removably secured to a top of a shrapnel guard plate, two aligning rails secured parallel and apart from one another to a top of the base plate, and two guide plates each having a groove cut therein, each guide plate extending vertically upward from, and secured to, the top of the base plate at a location inside the parallel aligning rails; and
- a target plate assembly including a target plate removably secured to a carrier piece having two parallel side panels and a guide rod which is positioned between, and rigidly secured to, each of the two parallel side panels wherein the guide rod is removably inserted into the grooves cut into each of the guide plates.
2. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the target plate assembly further comprises a backing plate removably secured to the carrier piece such that the carrier piece is positioned between the target plate and the backing plate.
3. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the parallel side panels of the carrier piece each comprise at least one rounded edge for rocking against the base plate.
4. The gravity reset target system of claim 3 wherein the two parallel side panels each comprise a shape similar to a piece of pie where the rounded edge of each pie piece shape is capable of rocking against the base plate.
5. The gravity reset target system of claim 3 wherein the carrier piece further comprises a front panel rigidly secured to the parallel side panels where the front panel is shorter in height than the parallel side panels.
6. The gravity reset target system of claim 5 wherein the parallel side panels and the front panel are formed from one piece of metal.
7. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the grooves cut into the guide plates each comprise an arrow shape with the arrow shape pointing downward toward the base plate.
8. The gravity reset target system of claim 5 wherein the target plate includes at least one opening therethrough and the front panel of the carrier piece includes at least one opening therethrough so that the target plate is removably secured to the carrier piece by a target plate bolt inserted through the openings in both the target plate and front panel of the carrier piece which is in turn secured in place by a target plate nut.
9. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the base plate has an opening therethrough and the shrapnel guard plate has an opening therethrough so that the base plate is removably secured to the top of the shrapnel guard plate by a shrapnel guard bolt inserted through the openings.
10. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the carrier piece further comprises at least one stiffening rod positioned between, and rigidly secured to, each of the parallel side panels.
11. The gravity reset target system of claim 7 wherein the guide rod is positioned at a first position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves in each of the guide plates when the target plate is in a resting position, wherein the first position is at a top of a side of the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves located closest to the target plate.
12. The gravity reset target system of claim 11 wherein the guide rod is positioned in a second position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves in each of the guide plates when the target plate is in a mid-stroke position after being hit with ammunition, wherein the second position is at a tip or point of the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves.
13. The gravity reset target system of claim 12 wherein the guide rod is positioned in a third position within the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves in each of the guide plates when the target plate is in a full-stroke position after being hit with ammunition, wherein the third position is at a top of a side of the downward pointing arrow shaped grooves located opposite the first position.
14. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the base plate includes a handle opening located near an end of the base plate for carrying the base plate assembly.
15. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the base plate further includes a plurality of anchor spike openings.
16. The gravity reset target system of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of anchor spikes which are inserted through the plurality of anchor spike holes in the base plate to secure the gravity reset target system in place.
17. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the two parallel side panels of the carrier piece each have a notch therein.
18. The gravity reset target system of claim 1 wherein the target plate assembly can be removably exchanged with alternative target plate assemblies having target plates that are different in at least one of weight, shape, size, and position relative to the carrier piece.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 27, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 31, 2011
Inventor: Charles Delbert Markley (Prescott Valley, AZ)
Application Number: 12/891,590
International Classification: F41J 7/00 (20060101); F41J 1/10 (20060101);