Shooting Target with Integrated Stake
Disclosed is a shooting target in the form of a single sheet of wood or other material that is substantially flat and comprised of a body portion and a pointed portion at the bottom end. In many embodiments the body portion has a cut that extends most or all the way through the thickness of the material. The cut may be in any shape and may not connect one end of the cut to the other such that a small piece of material is left, creating the bridge. Two key elements to most embodiments of the invention herein are the point on the lower end and the cut that creates the bridge. The bridge is present in many embodiments, in other embodiments there is not a cut and the piece is one single piece in any shape with the point at its lower end.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTarget shooting is very common and popular type of sportsmanship and is done recreationally, competitively, and as preparatory tool for other sporting endeavors. Targets need to be affixed to something to shoot them. These structures or back drop apparatus add complexity to the endeavor and are not always available depending on the location.
This invention makes a target and or a reactive target out of a singular rigid material, in some embodiments wood, with a stake integrated into the bottom. The target may be simply pushed into the ground of any penetrable surface, and therefore eliminating the need for any additional structure to hold the target. If people are going to shoot a target they must find something to attach the target to. People will use old pallets, boards and other unstable structures. People will also use trees which can kill the tree.
Targets are typically made of paper, corrugated board, or plastic and require an additional structure of wood or metal to hold the target. These holding apparatus can be very expensive. This invention herein requires no additional hardware as it has a stake integrated into the shape. Target stands can be expensive and heavy for the shooter to haul around. With this invention no structure is needed to mount the target. The target is self mountable. The shooter pushes the target into the ground and is ready to shoot.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to targets and shooting, riflery, or shooting accessories.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed is a shooting target in the form of a single sheet of wood or other material that is substantially flat and comprised of a body portion and a pointed portion at the bottom end. In many embodiments the body portion has a cut that extends most or all the way through the thickness of the material. The cut may be in any shape and may not connect one end of the cut to the other such that a small piece of material is left, creating the bridge. Two key elements to most embodiments of the invention herein are the point on the lower end and the cut that creates the bridge. The bridge is present in many embodiments, in other embodiments there is not a cut and the piece is one single piece in any shape with the point at its low end.
In preferred embodiments the bridge is located at or near the center of any particular shape transposed upon the surface, for example a circle as shown in
The design scheme creates a reactive target, such that when struck by a projectile in the center at the bridge the interior area of the cut falls out, indicating a “bull's-eye” shot, as shown in the center, element A of
The basic structure may be altered, decorated, added to, or augmented in any number of ways to create a display. The face, or display portion, of the wood or other material may be printed by methods such as digital printing, silkscreen, or laser etched and other methods recognizable by those skilled in the art.
The target piece may be made of any suitable material such as wood, recycled wood, metal, aluminum, plastic or other polymers as well as any material that may not fracture or splinter when penetrated by a projectile. Preferred embodiments include use of a HDF fiberboard. Such materials are ideal with the current disclosure as it produces distinct holes for every projectile that passes through the target, versus a large, splintered, or indistinct blow out area in the target making it difficult to discern the exact position or entry point individual projectile when in a group of closely aligned holes or punctures. The targets may be used with any type of projectiles, including but not limited to shooting, rifles, pistols, rim fire, air gun and more then used anywhere simply by driving them into the ground.
Disclosed are embodiments comprising a shooting target in the form of a single sheet of wood or other material that is substantially flat and comprised of a body portion and a pointed portion at the bottom end. The invention in many embodiments may be made out of a single piece of material, such as wood, plastic, metal or otherwise. The wood or other material may be milled, die-cut, hang crafted, or laser cut into desired shape. The face of the wood or other material may be decorated, designed, or printed by methods such as digital printing, silkscreen, or laser etched among others that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The body portion, which may take on any shape, may have one or more protrusions located at the bottom, an extension of the main face, wherein the protrusions have a point at the bottom. The protrusions and point, or the pointed portion, act as a stake to push into the ground or any penetrable surface. The body portion may be in any shape as may be the bottom portion provided it is substantially pointed inserting into the ground or other surface. The body portion may be shaped and designed, drawn upon, etched, or painted or otherwise decorated in any manner.
In many embodiments the body portion has a cut that extends most or all the way through the depth or thickness of the material (see to left of
Two key elements to most embodiments of the invention herein are the point on the lower end and the cut that creates the bridge. The bridge is present in many embodiments, in other embodiments there is not a cut and the piece is one single piece in any shape with the point at its lower end. See
In preferred embodiments the bridge is located at or near the center of a particular shape which may be transposed upon the surface, for example a circle as shown in
The design scheme creates a reactive target, such that when struck by a projectile in the center at the bridge the interior area of the cut falls out, indicating a “bull's-eye” shot, as shown in
The basic structure may be altered, decorated, added to, or augmented in any number of ways to create a display. The face, or display portion, of the wood of other material may be printed by methods such as digital printing, silkscreen, or laser etched and other methods recognizable by those skilled in the art. The display may comprise a series of shapes and individual targets (see
The thickness of the wood piece may vary, however in preferred embodiments is between 1/16 of an inch and ½ of an inch, however may also be from 1/32 of an inch and 5 inches. Additionally, the thickness may be more or less as desired according to the caliber of projectile used with the target. However, in preferred embodiments the target and the reactive target function properly as described herein regardless of the caliber of the projectile. The height and width may be any range of values creating a target that is very small (inches) or very large (tens of feet) in any shape, design, or resemblance.
Further alternative embodiments may include a single piece as described in other parts herein however utilizing a curved surface, a rounded design, or otherwise curving or warping the flat structure described elsewhere. Some embodiments may include a plastic or metal pipe, either in whole or half into half pipes, with the cuts made into the pipe as described for the flab embodiments herein.
The target piece may be made of any suitable material. Particular embodiments includes wood, recycled wood, metal, aluminum, plastic or other polymers as well as any material that may not fracture or splinter when penetrated by a projectile.
Preferred embodiments include use of a HDF fiberboard. Such material is useful as it has no grain, thus when a projectile passes through it the material does not splinter and leaves behind holes substantially resembling the shape of the projectile as it passed through the board. See
Such materials are ideal with the current disclosure as it produces distinct holes for every projectile that passes through the target, versus a large, splintered, or indistinct blow out area in the target making it difficult to discern the exact position or entry point of an individual projective when in a group of closely aligned holes or punctures. The ability to discern holes or punctures from different projectiles in a closely aligned group is very desirable in the art, for example when “sighting-in” in a particular weapon, precision shooting, or competitions. The targets may be used with any type of projectiles or shooting anywhere simply by driving them into the ground.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms “comprising,” “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. The following illustrations of various embodiments use particular terms by way of example to describe the various embodiments, but this should be construed to encompass and provide for terms such as “method” and “routine” and the like.
Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
The characteristics and utilities of the present invention described in this summary and the detailed description below are not all inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the following description. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
In this respect, by explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the description be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. The characteristics and utilities of the present invention described in this summary and the detailed description below are not all inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the detailed description.
Claims
1. A shooting target comprising:
- a single piece of non-splintering material, with a pointed protrusion extending downward;
- and
- a visual display inked, painted, stained, etched, carved, cut, attached, glued, or drawn on the surface of the target piece.
2. The target of claim 1, wherein a cut if made along the width and height of the target, the cut extending most or all of the way through the depth of the target, and the cut made such that the two opposite ends of said cut approach but do not connect to each other and an area of the target between the two cut ends remains to form a bridge component
3. The target of claim 1 wherein the target is comprised of wood metal, aluminum, tin, or plastic.
4. The target of claim 3, wherein the wood is HDF fiberboard.
5. The target of claim 4, wherein the depth is between 1/32 and 3 inches.
6. The target of claim 5, wherein the height is between 3 inches and 20 feet, and the width is between 1 inch and 100 feet.
7. The target of claim 6, wherein the target is in the approximate shape of one of either a mammal, reptile, bird, fish, insect, cartoon character, a caricature, a celebrities, a primate, a human, a symbol, a numbers, a target, a gopher, a prairie dog, a rabbit, a woodchuck, a crow, a bottle, a can, a machine, a vehicle, a plant, a vegetable, an edifice, or a famous mark.
8. The target of claim 2 wherein the target is comprised of wood, metal, aluminum, tin, or plastic.
9. The target of claim 8, wherein the wood is HDF fiberboard.
10. The target of claim 9, wherein the depth is between 1/32 and 3 inches.
11. The target of claim 11, wherein the height is between 3 inches and 20 feet, and the width is between 1 inch and 100 feet.
12. The target of claim 11, wherein the cut design is in the approximate style of one selected from those shown in FIG. 2.
13. The target of claim 12, wherein the target is in the approximate shape of one of either a mammal, reptile, bird, fish, insect, cartoon character, a caricature, a celebrities, a primate, a human, a symbol, a numbers, a target, a gopher, a prairie dog, a rabbit, a woodchuck, a crow, a bottle, a can, a machine, a vehicle, a plant, a vegetable, an edifice, or a famous mark.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
Inventor: Jeffery Podergois (Chanhassen, MN)
Application Number: 13/932,000
International Classification: F41J 1/00 (20060101);