Hit scoring apparatus for shooting practice
The invention provides a hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice, comprising a target holder consisting of a body constituting the first and second jaws of a clamping device, the first jaw and the second jaw being electrically insulated from one another, means adapted to produce a relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw, and a target panel clampable between the first and second jaws, the target panel consisting of a plurality of layers including an electrically conductive front layer and an electrically conductive second layer separated and spaced apart from the front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer. When the target panel is clamped between the first and second jaws of the target holder, separate electrical contacts are established between the front layer and the first jaw on the one hand, and between the second layer and the second jaw on the other hand, the first and second jaws being further connectable to a hit-scoring unit.
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/384,207 filed Mar. 6, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. ______.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice. It also relates to a hit-scoring target panel for shooting practice.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWhile hit-scoring targets per se are known which operate on the principle of producing a short circuit between two conductive layers whenever a projectile traverses the target (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,576,960; 2,749,125; 3,004,735; 3,004,763 and 3,580,579), none of these prior art disclosures teaches an apparatus including not only the target panel, but also a solid, ground-anchorable holder for the panel that also provides the terminals for the electrical connections to a remote counter unit.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONIt is thus one of the objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the rapid and secure mounting and dismounting of a target panel, as well as to provide a target panel easily and reliably positioned for use.
It is a further object of the invention to ensure that, once mounted, the two conductive surfaces of the panel are in intimate electrical contact with the holder terminals.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an apparatus that permits differentiation between hits on at least two different, predetermined regions of a target panel.
According to the invention, the above objects are achieved by providing a hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice, comprising a target holder consisting of a body constituting the first and second jaws of a clamping device, said first jaw and said second jaw being electrically insulated from one another; means adapted to produce a relative movement between said first jaw and said second jaw; a target panel clampable between said first and second jaws, said target panel consisting of a plurality of layers, including an electrically conductive front layer and an electrically conductive second layer separated and spaced apart from said front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer; wherein, when said target panel is clamped between said first and second jaws of said target holder, separate electrical contacts are established between said front layer and said first jaw on the one hand, and between said second layer and said second jaw on the other hand, said first and second jaws being further connectable to a hit-scoring unit, whereby, when a projective penetrates said target panel, a transient electrical short is produced between said front and second layers of the panel, thereby actuating said hit-scoring unit and scoring a hit.
The above objects are further achieved by providing a hit-scoring target panel for shooting practice, comprising a plurality of layers including an electrically conductive front layer separated and spaced apart from said front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer, and at least one location aperture passing through said plurality of layers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.
With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings:
Referring now to the drawings, there is seen in
Attached to each of the lateral sections of jaw 2 are an electrically insulating plate 6 made, e.g., of an epoxy resin, as well as a pair of contact strips 8, seen to better effect in
The central section of jaw 2 is provided with an insulating plate 16, of a thickness approximately equaling the combined thicknesses of plate 6 and strips 8, but has no contact strips.
The two holes 18 in each of the lateral sections of jaw 2 serve for the connection of the clamping jaw to a base member such as that shown in
Further seen in
The movable jaw 32 of the clamping device is connected to plunger 30 (
Making electrical contact with the second (rear) conductive surface of the target panel, movable jaw 32 must be electrically insulated from stationary jaw 2, which is in contact with the conductive front surface of the target panel. Insulation is ensured in two ways. As seen in
The apparatus according to the invention permits distinguishing between hits at two different, pre-determined regions of the target panel.
Target panel 46, of a per se known cross-section, is shown in
The rear face of target panel 46 is represented in
The rear face of panel 46 requires a different treatment: a strip of aluminum foil 60 is applied to the surface of paper layer 54, the left end of which strip is tucked in between cardboard layer 50 and aluminum film 52 and is brought into permanent, positive contact with film 52. The manner in which this is effected is illustrated in
If it is desired to provide two or more distinct hit-scoring regions on both sides of the target panel, or on several layers thereof, the wiring of the clamping device shown in
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A hit-scoring target panel for shooting practice, comprising:
- a plurality of layers including an electrically conductive front layer and an electrically conductive second layer separated and spaced apart from said front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer, and
- at least one locator aperture passing through said plurality of layers.
2. The target panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rear layer covering said second layer and consisting of resin-impregnated paper.
3. The target panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the conductive layers of said target panel is subdivided into at least two mutually electrically insulated hit-scoring regions.
4. The target panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two hit-scoring regions in said target panel are defined and delineated by narrow strips peeled off said conductive front layer.
5. The target panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear layer is provided with a strip of a metal foil one end of which is brought into permanent positive contact with said electrically conductive second layer, to serve as an electrical terminal for said second layer.
6. The target panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel is provided with two longitudinally extending creases, imparting to said panel a cross-sectional shape comprised of three integral sections, said lateral sections including with said central section an obtuse angle.
7. A hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice, comprising:
- a target holder consisting of a body constituting the first and second jaws of a clamping device, said first jaw and said second jaw being electrically insulated from one another;
- said stationary jaw consists of three sections, a central section and two lateral sections, said lateral sections including with said central section an obtuse angle;
- means adapted to produce a relative movement between said first jaw and said second jaw, and
- a target panel clampable between said first and second jaws, said target panel consisting of a plurality of layers including an electrically conductive front layer and an electrically conductive second layer separated and spaced apart from said front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer;
- wherein, when said target panel is clamped between the first and second jaws of said target holder, separate electrical contacts are established between said front layer and said first jaw on the one hand, and between said second layer and said second jaw on the other hand, said first and second jaws being further connectable to a hit-scoring unit.
8. A hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice, comprising:
- a target holder consisting of a body constituting the first and second jaws of a clamping device, said first jaw and said second jaw being electrically insulated from one another;
- one of said jaws further comprises locating projections for registering with and engaging complementarily shaped, window-like openings in the lower part of said target panel;
- means adapted to produce a relative movement between said first jaw and said second jaw, and
- a target panel clampable between said first and second jaws, said target panel consisting of a plurality of layers including an electrically conductive front layer and an electrically conductive second layer separated and spaced apart from said front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer;
- wherein, when said target panel is clamped between the first and second jaws of said target holder, separate electrical contacts are established between said front layer and said first jaw on the one hand, and between said second layer and said second jaw on the other hand, said first and second jaws being further connectable to a hit-scoring unit.
9. A hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice, comprising:
- a target holder consisting of a body constituting the first and second jaws of a clamping device, said first jaw and said second jaw being electrically insulated from one another;
- said stationary jaw consists of three sections, a central section and two lateral sections, said lateral sections including with said central section an obtuse angle;
- said target panel is provided with two longitudinally extending creases, imparting to said target panel a cross-sectional shape substantially conforming to a gap formed between said stationary jaw and said movable jaw;
- means adapted to produce a relative movement between said first jaw and said second jaw, and
- a target panel clampable between said first and second jaws, said target panel consisting of a plurality of layers including an electrically conductive front layer and an electrically conductive second layer separated and spaced apart from said front layer by at least one electrically non-conductive layer;
- wherein, when said target panel is clamped between the first and second jaws of said target holder, separate electrical contacts are established between said front layer and said first jaw on the one hand, and between said second layer and said second jaw on the other hand, said first and second jaws being further connectable to a hit-scoring unit.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 29, 2005
Inventors: Mordechai Tessel (Kfar-Saba), Kira Tessel (Kfar-Saba), Dina Rolel (Kfar-Saba), Netanel Tessel (Kfar-Saba)
Application Number: 11/128,042