Patents by Inventor Michel Laporte

Michel Laporte has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180010893
    Abstract: A machine for launching targets, comprising a chassis on which a support is mounted. A barrel is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, the barrel comprising a plurality of columns for storing stacked targets. The columns each have an axis parallel to the axis of rotation. The chassis comprises a surface for receiving targets for a launch, the support comprising a hole configured to allow the passage of a target from a column of the barrel to the receiving surface. The support comprises a first locking position with respect to the chassis and at least a second locking position with respect to the chassis, the first position and the second position having an angular offset along the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Marc FOUQUES, Jean-Michel LAPORTE
  • Patent number: 9835421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for launching targets for sport shooting, with instantaneous take-off of the target which comprises first and second means for locking the rotation of the arm associated with the motor means and cooperating with complementary locking means inserted between the launching means and the arm rotating shaft, with the locking means being so configured as to lock the arm beyond the “zero point” over an angular sector set beforehand according to the direction of rotation of the arm in a launching position and so as to release the arm beyond the launching position, with the launching means expanding so as to execute the rotation for launching the target. Applications in the field of sport shooting, both rifle shooting or revolver shooting and in archery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LAPORTE HOLDING
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 9605931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for throwing targets for shooting sports, with instant projection of the target. The device is characterized in that it comprises means for blocking the movement of the arm in abutment, enabling the arm, to go beyond the “zero point”, by the action of the driving means, while keeping the throwing means in tension, with these blocking means being carried by the driving means and engaging with complementary blocking means carried by the arm, and wherein the throwing arm comprises a rotating shaft, with said shaft carrying a pinion driven by a second drive pinion connected to the output pin of the driving means comprising a geared motor, with the means for blocking in abutment having a stop carried on the periphery of a crank pin rotating about the output pin of the geared motor. Applications in the field of shooting sports, both rifle shooting or revolver shooting and in archery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20160327379
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for launching targets for sport shooting, with instantaneous take-off of the target which comprises first and second means for locking the rotation of the arm associated with the motor means and cooperating with complementary locking means inserted between the launching means and the arm rotating shaft, with the locking means being so configured as to lock the arm beyond the “zero point” over an angular sector set beforehand according to the direction of rotation of the arm in a launching position and so as to release the arm beyond the launching position, with the launching means expanding so as to execute the rotation for launching the target. Applications in the field of sport shooting, both rifle shooting or revolver shooting and in archery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20160040966
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a target practice method, comprising a step of launching a target into a portion of space, a step of firing a projectile towards the target and a step of impact of the projectile on the target, characterized in that use is made of a projectile comprising a shell delimiting an internal volume containing a marking material and in that it involves a step of breaking the shell upon impact of the projectile on the target, thereby releasing the marking material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20150338195
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a device for launching targets comprising a target storage organ movable around a rotation axis, an organ for delivering a target from the storage organ at a delivery zone, a launch arm movable around a rotation axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the storage organ and able to apply a projection force to a target situated in the delivery zone, characterised by the fact that the launch arm and the storage organ are movable in opposite directions of rotation and in that the delivery zone is located between two distinct parallel planes in each of which the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage arm are located respectively. The invention will find its application for launching targets for archery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 9163913
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for launching discoidal targets for archery, comprising a launch housing able to accept a first target, a launch device able to move at least partly in the launch housing and able to launch the first target from the launch housing, and a feed magazine able to store a plurality of second and third targets awaiting loading into the launch housing, characterized in that the feed magazine emerges in the launch housing level with the first target able to be accepted so that the second target is able to be held in the feed magazine by contact of the first target which at least partially opposes gravity. The invention will find its application for automatically launching several targets one after the other in the air for competitions or archer training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 9086257
    Abstract: Device for launching targets comprising a surface supporting a target to be launched and a launch arm capable of applying a launch force to the target, characterized in that the supporting surface includes frictional means for rotating the target when it is launched by the launch arm. Application in particular to launching archery targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: LAPORTE HOLDING
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20150168108
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for throwing targets for shooting sports, with instant projection of the target. The device is characterized in that it comprises means for blocking the movement of the arm in abutment, enabling the arm, to go beyond the “zero point”, by the action of the driving means, while keeping the throwing means in tension, with these blocking means being carried by the driving means and engaging with complementary blocking means carried by the arm, and wherein the throwing arm comprises a rotating shaft, with said shaft carrying a pinion driven by a second drive pinion connected to the output pin of the driving means comprising a geared motor, with the means for blocking in abutment having a stop carried on the periphery of a crank pin rotating about the output pin of the geared motor. Applications in the field of shooting sports, both rifle shooting or revolver shooting and in archery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 9057589
    Abstract: A target launching device comprising a surface supporting a target to be launched and a rotary launch arm capable of applying a launch force on the target, characterized in that the supporting surface has a concave longitudinal profile located in a plane parallel to the rotation plane of the launch arm. The invention is particularly suitable for launching archery targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 9052169
    Abstract: Provided is a target launching machine having a circular section portion. The machine includes a launching arm rotatable about an axis of rotation and a bearing surface that accommodates a circular section portion of the target and includes an offset portion that is configured so that a spacing between a trajectory of the launching arm and the offset portion increases in a direction of rotation of the launching arm. The offset portion includes a portion having a circular profile about a portion axis that is offset relative to the axis of rotation and parallel to the axis of rotation. The offset between the portion axis and the axis of rotation has a non-zero component in a primary direction defined in a vertical plane, with the non-zero component positioned relative to the axis of rotation opposite the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 9004055
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for delivering targets (2) comprising at least one column (4) for storing targets (2) capable of receiving a first target (11) at the lowest point of the column (4) and at least a second target (12) stacked on the first target (11), means for delivering the first target (11), and retention means for retaining the second target (12) in the column (4), characterized in that the retention means for retaining comprise a ramp (21) configured to exert a bearing force on the lower face of the second target (12) during the delivery of the first target (11). This invention also relates to a machine for launching targets (2) equipped with a device and a method for distributing the targets (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Laporte Holding (SAS)
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: 8899216
    Abstract: A machine for launching disk-shaped targets has two faces located on each side of an edge. The machine includes means for loading a target into a launch area, an arm for launching the target placed in the launch area and a surface guiding the target by means of contact with at least one of the aforementioned faces thereof. The guiding surface has at least one portion wherein the areas that come into contact with the face of the target are not continuous. The machine is particularly suitable for shooting practice, such as archery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: LaPorte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20140318520
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for launching discoidal targets for archery, comprising a launch housing able to accept a first target, a launch device able to move at least partly in the launch housing and able to launch the first target from the launch housing, and a feed magazine able to store a plurality of second and third targets awaiting loading into the launch housing, characterised in that the feed magazine emerges in the launch housing level with the first target able to be accepted so that the second target is able to be held in the feed magazine by contact of the first target which at least partially opposes gravity. The invention will find its application for automatically launching several targets one after the other in the air for competitions or archer training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20140239593
    Abstract: A system for shooting arrows at targets, comprising at least one device for shooting arrows, at least one target and at least one arrow, characterised by the fact that it comprises a reflection wall and that the arrow comprises a head portion, the reflection wall and the head portion being configured so as to return the arrow in the direction of the shooting device when the head portion impacts the reflection wall instead of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Laporte Holding
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20130269667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a target launching machine (1) having a circular section portion, said machine comprising a launching arm (2) able to rotate about an axis of rotation (3) and a bearing surface (4) of the circular portion section, characterized in that the bearing surface (4) has an 10 offset portion configured so that the distance between the trajectory of the launching arm (2) and the offset portion increases in the direction of rotation of the launching arm (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: LAPORTE HOLDING
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20130154191
    Abstract: A target (1) for archery training, which is to be launched into the air and is suitable for being hit by an arrow, includes at least two mutually opposing surfaces, at least one of which forms a surface for receiving arrows, characterized in that at least one receiving surface has at least one surface relief (3a, 3b). A device for launching such a target, and a method for making such a target with surface reliefs made advantageously by hot marking are also described. Applicable to shooting at any projectile, especially in archery, and particularly when the target is mobile, for example by being launched into the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: LAPORTE HOLDING
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20130125869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for delivering targets (2) comprising at least one column (4) for storing targets (2) capable of receiving a first target (11) at the lowest point of the column (4) and at least a second target (12) stacked on the first target (11), means for delivering the first target (11), and retention means for retaining the second target (12) in the column (4), characterised in that the retention means for retaining comprise a ramp (21) configured to exert a bearing force on the lower face of the second target (12) during the delivery of the first target (11). This invention also relates to a machine for launching targets (2) equipped with a device and a method for distributing the targets (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Publication number: 20130118467
    Abstract: Device for launching targets comprising a surface supporting a target to be launched and a launch arm capable of applying a launch force to the target, characterized in that the supporting surface includes frictional means for rotating the target when it is launched by the launch arm. Application in particular to launching archery targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: LAPORTE HOLDING
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Laporte, Jean-Marc Fouques
  • Patent number: D694340
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Laporte Holding
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Laporte