SHOOTING TARGET WITH ANNUNCIATION OF ENGAGEMENT OF TARGETED REGIONS OF THE TARGET

Abstract

A remotely-perceptible, impact-indicating target for a projectile, such as a bullet or the like, constructed so as to remotely perceptibly indicate and annunciate very realistically, to a target shooter at a projectile shooting location, the impact of a shot or fired projectile or bullet on a remotely located target in a manner clearly visibly perceptibly indicating not only the hit, but the impact location of the projectile or bullet on the target, by causing the effective expansion in an explosion-simulating manner of a quantity of visibly perceptible target material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to targets intended for use in shooting a type of projectile, more particularly for use in target shooting with a gun which fires bullets at the target for the purpose of testing shooting accuracy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Targets are typically used to test shooting accuracy and for building and maintaining shooting skill. However, moveable and/or portable targets can make it difficult for the shooter or observer if, or where, the projectile has hit the target after shooting or firing at it. It is therefore often necessary to either walk to the target to examine it, or have the target moved along a conveyer to bring it close to the shooter for examination. This is disadvantageous for a number of reasons, among them being the inconvenience of having to walk up to the target frequently, or stop shooting to allow the target to move closer to the shooter in order to carefully examine it for the bullet impact. Furthermore, there is always the possibility of someone else shooting at the target while a first person is near the target which, of course, is extremely dangerous. Finally, the enjoyment of the activity is disrupted by the examination of the target.

One known and obvious method to overcome these problems is the use of various telescopic or binocular type optical devices to allow the shooter or observer to remotely observe the target. However, these devices are expensive and require interruption of the shooting activity to utilize.

Another prior art method is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,228 wherein it is disclosed that a target comprises an assembly of target material of a visibly perceptible color capable of being remotely visible when a projectile impacts any portion of the target material. However, '228 discloses only fine particle solid material which is contained in packets mounted on the face of the target. Thus, '228 has target material packets which, in essence, are the targets themselves, mounted on the front surface of the target. The shooter is positioned on the same side of the target as the target material packets and, in order to receive the desired sensory feedback, must actually aim at and hit the target material packets. Such an arrangement is therefore not desirable in the case of the shooting target comprising a form such as an animal or human silhouette or image. Further, the nature of the fine particulate solid material within the packets dictates that, when struck with the projectile, a dust will be emitted. While this does provide notice of striking, it is not realistic or particularly visually satisfying if the shooter is expecting a burst of, e.g., blood or tissue-containing blood to increase the perception of reality, as will be the case for shooters utilizing the present invention.

Thus, it would be highly advantageous to provide some type of readily portable target which would be convenient for casual field target shooting use, or any target shooting use for that matter, and which would provide a very perceptible and realistic indication to a remote target shooter of the hitting or missing of the target by a fired bullet or other projectile and which would be relatively inexpensive and ecologically safe and non-damaging to the environment. It is precisely such a highly desirable and advantageous type of remotely-perceptible impact-indicating and projectile target capable of realistic annunciation of the striking of the target in a particular area that is provided by and in the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A remotely-perceptible, impact-indicating target for a projectile, such as a bullet or the like, constructed so as to remotely perceptibly indicate and annunciate very realistically, to a target shooter at a projectile shooting location, the impact of a fired bullet, or shot or thrown projectile on a remotely located target in a manner clearly visibly perceptibly indicating not only the hit, but the impact location of the projectile or bullet on the target, by causing the effective expansion in an explosion-simulating manner of a quantity of visibly perceptible target material.

The Figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these and other embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention is provided in FIGS. 1-4. In this embodiment, an individual target 12 with an image I disposed on the front surface F of the individual target 12 and a simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16 affixed to the rear surface of the individual target. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image I may be supplemented with a bull's eye as defined by a series of concentric rings centered around a particular targeted region 14. In the illustrated case, the image I comprises the outline of a person, with the bull's eye surrounding the targeted region 14, the approximate center of the head of the image I. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16 affixed to the rear surface R of the individual target 12. As shown, the blood and/or tissue packet 12 is arranged to substantially cover the area covered by the bull's eye or targeted region 14.

FIG. 1 illustrates a shooter S located at a distance from the present invention 10, having shot a bullet B from a weapon W toward the target 12. In the illustrated example, the weapon is a rifle, though it is understood that the weapon W may be a handgun or any other form of gun. Further, the weapon W may be any device which is capable of shooting any projectile, e.g., a bow shooting an arrow will fall within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the bullet is a projectile. Other projectiles within the scope of the present invention include any item that may be shot, fired and/or thrown with sufficient force to pierce the target and the simulated blood packet(s) mounted behind the target. FIGS. 1-3 thus illustrate the exemplary bullet B traversing the distance between the weapon W and the target 12 and, ultimately, piercing the target 12 in substantially the center of the targeted region 14, exemplified by the bull's eye in the Figures, and subsequently piercing the simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16, causing an exploding release of the simulated blood and/or tissue 18 contained within the packet 16. Such an exploding release results in a visually satisfying annunciation 20, preferably blood colored liquid mist, confirming striking the desired targeted region 14, in the illustrated case, the image's head region, with the projectile.

The annunciation provided when the blood and/or tissue packet 16 is pierced by the exemplary projectile bullet B may comprise a cloud 20 of colored liquid and/or granular particulates comprising in the preferred embodiment a substantially blood-red color and composition consistent with the particular anatomical region of the target's image that has been targeted and engaged and pierced by the exemplary bullet B. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the bull's eye targets the head region of the image. Thus, the simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16 will preferably contain a reddish mixture of simulated blood and brain tissue 18.

Moreover, FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the target of FIGS. 1-4, wherein a second bull's eye identifying a second targeted region 22 is provided targeting the image's heart region in addition to a first bull's eye targeting region 14, as described above, the image's head region. Thus, a first simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16 is affixed to the rear surface R of the target 12, substantially covering the head region of the target's image I. A second simulated blood and/or tissue packet 24 is affixed to the rear surface R of the target 12, substantially covering the heart region of the target's image.

FIGS. 5-7 thus illustrate an exemplary bullet B traversing the distance between the weapon W and the target 12 and, ultimately, piercing the target 12 in substantially the center of the first bull's eye 14 and subsequently piercing the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16, causing an exploding release cloud and annunciation 20 of the simulated blood and/or tissue 18 contained within the packet 16. Such an exploding release results in a visually satisfying annunciation 20 of hitting the desired targeted region 14.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7, the first simulated blood and/or tissue packet, i.e., the head region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16, will preferably be filled with a combination of materials 18 to simulate both exploding release of blood and brain matter when the exemplary bullet B passes through the bull's eye targeted region 14 around the image's head and pierces the head region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16. In contrast, the second simulated blood and/or tissue packet, i.e., the heart region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 24 will preferably be filled with a blood simulation material to simulate the exploding release of blood when an exemplary bullet B passes through the bull's eye targeted region 22 around the image's heart region, piercing the heart region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 24. In this manner, the shooter is provided with a satisfying annunciation 20 of successful targeting of the target image's head region and/or heart region.

The targets 12 illustrated are exemplary only. As described, human images may be used, but also animal images or fantastical creatures such as zombies, werewolves and the like. In addition, more than two simulated blood and/or tissue packets may be arranged in coincidence with more than two bull's eye target regions on the target image. For example, individual limbs may comprise bull's eye target regions and associated simulated blood and/or tissue packets. Moreover, the head region may comprise more than one simulated blood and/or tissue packet which is coincident with a targeted region. For example, targeted regions may be provided in association with simulated blood and/or tissue packets as follows: one on the image's forehead region, one on each eye socket and one on the image's mouth region. The number, placement, size and shaping of the targeted regions and associated simulated blood and/or tissue packets is limited only by the imagination of the designer. Consequently, the present invention comprises at least one targeted region on the front surface of the target with an associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet for each at least one targeted region, the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet being located and affixed on the rear surface of the target, substantially behind the associated targeted region.

The targeted region(s) are illustrated as comprising a bull's eye on the front surface F of the target 12. This is preferred, though a bull's eye is not necessary to identify the targeted region(s) for the shooter in advance of shooting. The targeted region(s) may comprise other mechanisms for designating the targeted region(s), or alternatively may comprise no mechanism for designating the targeted region(s). In this latter case, the shooter is left to discover the targeted region(s) without aid of, e.g., a bull's eye.

The simulated blood and/or tissue packets of the present invention are, as discussed supra, designed to provide the most realistic annunciation of a targeted strike on the targeted region(s) of the target image possible. The composition that is provided in a simulated “blood” packet comprise well known mixtures. Exemplary simulated “blood” composition A may comprise 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 gallon of water and between 5-20 ounces of red food coloring. Exemplary simulated “blood” composition B may comprise 2 cups of corn syrup, 1 cup water, 10 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of red food coloring. Exemplary “tissue”, e.g., brain, composition may be formed from exemplary simulated “blood” compositions A or B, but also including material for texture, e.g., bread chunks, instant oatmeal, grapes and the like. These compositions are all within the public domain and are provided, as described herein, to provide the most realistic annunciation of a targeted hit as possible. Other compositions will certainly be readily recognized by the skilled artisan, each such composition is within the scope of the present invention.

The blood packet construction may comprise a thin plastic which may be arranged to create a sealed void therein, within which the blood and/or tissue composition is placed in preparation for affixation to the rear surface R of the target 12. Generally, two flattened sides are the most efficient design for the blood and/or tissue packets, with the edges being heat sealed to form a tight bond and thereby sealing the composition within. Alternatively, a self-sealing material as is known to the skilled artisan may be used to create the sealed simulated blood and/or tissue packets, with the composition being injected into the void of the sealed packets. Various packet construction methods and materials will present themselves to the skilled artisan, each of which is within the scope of the present invention, so long as the construction and materials used for the simulated blood and/or tissue packets allows piercing annunciation of a target hit or strike of the target's image I.

The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the present specification.

Claims

1. An annunciating target for a shooter of a projectile, wherein the shooter is located remotely from the target, the target comprising:

a front surface having an image thereon, the image having at least one targeted region;

a rear surface;

a simulated blood and/or tissue packet affixed to the rear surface and comprising substantially liquid material therein in association with each of the at least one target regions, the simulated blood and/or tissue packet adapted to create a blood-colored liquid mist cloud upon piercing of the at least one targeted regions and the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet, the blood-colored liquid mist cloud annunciating to the shooter that the targeted region was engaged and the simulated blood and/or tissue packet was pierced by the projectile.

2. The annunciating target of claim 1, further comprising the at least one targeted region comprising the image's head and wherein the substantially liquid material within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood and red textured composition to simulate brain matter.

3. The annunciating target of claim 1, further comprising the at least one target region comprising the image's heart region and wherein the substantially liquid material within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood.

4. The annunciating target of claim 2, further comprising the at least one target region comprising the image's heart region and wherein the substantially liquid material within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood.

5. The annunciating target of claim 1 wherein the simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises two plastic sides with heat-sealed edges forming a void therein, wherein the substantially liquid material is disposed.

6. The annunciating target of claim 5, further comprising the plastic sides formed from a self-sealing material.

7. The annunciating target of claim 1, further comprising a bull's eye centered on each of the at least one targeted regions.

8. A method for annunciating a targeted hit of a shooting target by a shooter with a weapon and associated projectile, the shooter located remotely from the shooting target, comprising:

providing a target with a front surface and a rear surface and located remotely from the shooter;

providing an image on the front surface of the target;

designating at least one targeted region on the image;

affixing to the rear of the target, and in association with the at least one targeted region, a simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprising a substantially liquid composition comprising blood-colored liquid and/or textured simulated tissue material;

shooting the projectile from the weapon;

engaging the at least one targeted region with the projectile;

piercing the simulated blood and/tissue packet associated with the engaged at least one targeted region;

annunciating the engaging of the at least one targeted region with a blood-colored mist cloud, visible to the remotely located shooter.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising designating the at image's head region as the at least one targeted region and ensuring the substantially liquid material within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises a blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood and blood-colored textured composition to simulate brain matter

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising designating the image's heart region at least one target region as the image's heart region and ensuring the substantially liquid material within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises a blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising designating the image's heart region as the at least one target region and ensuring the substantially liquid material within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises a blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood.