METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A TARGET HANGER
A method and apparatus for supporting a post used to support a ballistic target. A post is supported in a vertical position by retention in a post stand. The post stand is assembled using a bottom plate, a top plate and two side plates. Once assembled, the post stand receives a post. Two types of posts are contemplated. One post type is made of wood. A second post type is made of steel and projects a low profile toward a shooter. A top hanger is then installed over the post and provides mounting holes so that a target can be suspended therefrom.
This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING A TARGET HANGER”, by Fernandez and which was filed on Dec. 9, 2016 as Application Ser. No. 62/432,556, the text and figures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDThere are many apparatus for suspending a ballistic target. Most of these mechanisms are made of a hardened steel, which typically, but not always is an abrasion resistant material. The targets themselves are also typically made of hardened, abrasion resistant steel. These targets resemble a gong, especially when they are attached to corresponding suspending mechanism.
Such gong type targets are quite commonplace. In fact, target systems made by competing manufactures are very similar to each other and there are little to no distinguishing characteristics. This is typical in an industry where innovation fell off early because the products are very simple and “low tech”.
Among the simplest gong target systems includes a pair a leg assemblies where each leg assembly itself includes two legs and each assembly is designed to fit over a horizontal bar. A simplistic horizontal bar is inserted into receptacles included in the leg assembly. One leg assembly is so provided on each side of the bar to form a dual “A-Frame” much akin to a small children's swing set. In the most simple of systems, the leg assembles are structured to fit over a piece of lumber, e.g. a 2-by-4.
In these simplistic gong target systems suspend a target from the horizontal bar using metal chain. There are several problems with such simplicity, one of which has serious safety implications. When a target suspended by chain is struck by a bullet, the kinetic energy is dissipated in a completely uncontrolled manner. At the moment of impact, the target is displaced but its direction of travel in unpredictable. This means that a bullet's path, post impact, cannot be predicted. Ricochet derived injuries are a real threat.
Recognizing the lethality of ricochet events, the industry has made some strides in restraining the movement of the target when it is struck by a bullet. Some target suspension systems are structured so as to partially restrain the target, but still cannot maintain an orthogonal orientation of the target relative to the shooter. So, there is always some axial rotation around a vertical axis. A ricochet can still be directed toward others on the shooting range.
In those systems that attempt to partially restrain a gong target, the target is suspended using solid hanger members. These prior art hanging members move independently and, worse yet, the target itself can still rotate about the vertical axis because the solid hangers are allowed to move independently. Also, these prior art systems typically attach the solid hangers to the horizontal bar using a free-moving attachment mechanism, for example a short span of chain. The same type of attachment is also used at the target.
One additional hazard is that the A-Frame includes legs that are also potential targets. When an incoming projectile strikes a leg of such a target hanger, the resulting ricochet is also unpredictable. What is needed is a target suspension system that reduces the overall potential for ricochet.
Several alternative embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings and figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and in which:
In the interest of clarity, several example alternative methods are described in plain language. Such plain language descriptions of the various steps included in a particular method allow for easier comprehension and a more fluid description of a claimed method and its application. Accordingly, specific method steps are identified by the term “step” followed by a numeric reference to a flow diagram presented in the figures, e.g. (step 100). All such method “steps” are intended to be included in an open-ended enumeration of steps included in a particular claimed method. For example, the phrase “according to this example method, the item is processed using A” is to be given the meaning of “the present method includes step A, which is used to process the item”. All variations of such natural language descriptions of method steps are to be afforded this same open-ended enumeration of a step included in a particular claimed method.
In various alternative methods, the bottom plate and the first side plate are maintained at a particular first angle (step 20). Typically, the bottom plate and the first side plate are maintained at a substantially orthogonal orientation to each other. However, other angles may be possible as varying needs dictate. Likewise, the bottom plate and the second side panel are maintained at a second angle (step 25). In this alternative method, both side plates are maintained at a substantially orthogonal orientation with the bottom panel.
Once the bottom panel is coupled to the first and second side plates, a top plate is coupled to both the first and second side plates in a substantially contemporaneous manner (step 30). In this example method, this is done by engaging the top plate with both side plates at substantially the same time. A slot is then provided in the top plate in order to accept the post (step 35).
In this alternative method, the top panel also includes two vertical tabs that are disposed at either side of the top panel. Accordingly, a first vertical tab included in the top panel is positioned over a vertical receiver included in the first side panel (step 65). The second vertical tab is likewise positioned over a vertical receiver included in the second side panel (step 70). Once in this position, the top panel is lowered into a first détente position (step 75), which is included in the first and second side panels as part of the structure of their vertical receivers. Once the top panel is situated in this first détente position, it may be moved forward so as to engage the butterfly tabs into a restraint section included in the first and second side panels and incorporated into the structure of the horizontal receivers included in said side panels (step 80).
As the top panel is moved forward in order to engage the butterfly tabs into a restraint section included in the horizontal receivers disposed toward the rear of each side panel, the first and second vertical tabs included in the top panel will fall into a second détente position, which is included in the vertical receivers disposed toward the front of the first and second side panels (step 85). At this point, the top panel is coupled firmly with the two side panels. Some additional forward movement may aid in retaining the butterfly tabs in the horizontal receivers included in the first and second side panels.
Referring to
It should be appreciated that the top plate 300 and the bottom plate 350 are joined at their opposite ends to one of each of the two side panels. Accordingly, the top plate 300 and the bottom plate 350 straddle the two side panels 200A and 200B. As can be seen in the
Two butterfly tabs are included and situated at the rear of the bottom plate 350. According to at least one alternative embodiment, the butterfly tabs are offset vertically from the planar portion of the bottom plate 350. As can be seen in this figure, this is typically done by banking, either upward or downward, the trailing edge of the bottom plate 350. Then, the butterfly tab is disposed somewhere along the end 354 of the banked portion 351 of the bottom plate 350. It should likewise be appreciated that the banked portion 351, according to some alternative embodiments, is set at any convenient angle. In fact, the banked portion 351 can just as easily be orthogonal to the planar portion 352 of the bottom plate 350. Any angle specified here is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto.
In order to receive the wings of the butterfly tab 365, the circular orifice 210 includes channels 212 that emanate radially from the circular profile 210. It should be apparent that the collective length of the orifice 210 and two channels 212 are sized to accommodate the span of the wings included in the butterfly tab 365. In this example embodiment, the tab 360 included in the forward section of the bottom plate 350 is received into a substantially rectangular receptacle 205, which is included in the side panel 200. This ensures that the bottom plate will not rotate to a position where the butterfly tabs can escape from the rotational receptacles included in each side panel 200A, 200B.
In order to disengage the top panel 300 from the détente interlock system, the forward vertical tab 382 is pulled upward and then, once the rib portion of the tab 382 clears the capture slot 247, the top plate 300 is pulled forward.
While the present method and apparatus has been described in terms of several alternative and exemplary embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the true spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents.
Claims
1. A method for supporting a target comprising:
- coupling a bottom plate to a first side panel;
- coupling the bottom plate to a second side panel;
- maintaining the distance between the first and second side panels according to a width of the bottom plate;
- maintaining the bottom plate substantially at a first pre-established angle with the first side panel;
- maintaining the bottom plate substantially at a second pre-established angle with the second side panel;
- coupling, in a substantially contemporaneous manner, a top plate to the first and second side panels; and
- providing a slot in the top plate for accepting a post.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling the bottom plate to the first side plate comprises:
- inserting a butterfly tab included in the bottom plate into a rotational butterfly receptacle included in the first side plate; and
- rotating the bottom plate to a position where the butterfly tab in the bottom plate is retained in the rotational butterfly receptacle included in the first side panel.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising maintaining the position of the of the bottom plate so that it does not rotate back to a position where the butterfly tab can be retracted from the rotational butterfly receptacle included in the first side panel.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling, in a substantially contemporaneous manner, a top plate to the first and second side panels comprises:
- situating a first butterfly tab disposed at rear portion of a right side of the top panel over a horizontal receiver included in the first side panel;
- situating a second butterfly tab disposed at rear portion of a left side of the top panel over a horizontal receiver included in the second side panel;
- situating a first vertical tab disposed at from portion of a right side of the top panel over a vertical receiver included in the first side panel;
- situating a second vertical tab disposed at from portion of a left side of the top panel over a vertical receiver included in the second side panel;
- lowering the top panel into a first détente position;
- moving the top panel forward so that the butterfly tabs included in the top panel enter a restraint section included in the horizontal receivers included in the first and second side panels; and
- dropping the first and second vertical tabs into a second détente position in the vertical receivers included in the first and second side panels.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprises providing a slot in the bottom plate for accepting a post.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprises accepting a post through the bottom plate.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- accepting a bottom end of a post through the top plate:
- positioning an upper bracket at a top end of the post; and
- attaching a target onto the upper bracket.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein attaching a target onto the upper bracket comprises providing an orifice at a portion of the upper bracket that is opposite the post.
11. A method for attaching a top bracket to a post:
- receiving a post through a bottom flange included in a top bracket;
- abutting the post against a top flange included in the top bracket;
- maintain the bottom flange and the top flange at a pre-established distance; and
- providing a target mount on at least one of a forward extending portion of the bottom panel and a forward extending portion of the bottom panel.
12. A method for attaching a top bracket to a post:
- receiving a post through slot included in the top bracket;
- restraining the top bracket at a fixed point on the post; and
- providing a target mount on a forward extending portion of the top bracket.
13. A post support comprising:
- first and second side plate each comprising: rotational receptacle for a butterfly tab; horizontal detent receiver disposed along a top edge toward a rear portion of the side panel; vertical detent receiver disposed along a top edge toward a front portion of the first side panel;
- bottom plate having a right side and a left side and comprising a first butterfly tab disposed along the right side and a second butterfly tab disposed along the left side;
- top plate having a right side and a left side and comprising: first butterfly tab disposed along a rear portion of the right; second butterfly tab disposed along rear portion of the left side; first vertical tab disposed along front portion of the right side; second vertical tab disposed along a front portion of the left side.
14. The post support of claim 11 wherein the first a second side panels further include horizontal tab receptacles disposed toward a lower front portion of each side panel and where the bottom plate further includes a first horizontal tab disposed along a front portion of the right side and a second horizontal tab disposed along a front portion of the left side.
15. A target bracket comprising:
- top flange that includes a front facing extension that includes a mounting orifice;
- separation web being linearly attached to the top flange opposite the front facing extension; and
- bottom flange being linearly attached to the separation web and including a slot sized to accommodate a post.
16. A target bracket comprising:
- top flange;
- bottom flange that includes a front facing extension that includes a mounting orifice; and a slot sized to accommodate a post; and
- separation web being linearly attached to the top flange and the bottom flange opposite the front facing extension included in the bottom flange.
17. A low-profile post comprising:
- side profile;
- front profile; and
- retention notch disposed on a rear profile and sized to accommodate a thickness of target hanger.
18. A low-profile target hanger comprising:
- Substantially rectangular plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- slot cut through the plate being sized according to a side profile and a front profile of a low-profile post; and
- a mounting orifice being cut through the plate and disposed at a position forward of the slot.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2017
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2017
Inventor: ANDREW FERNANDEZ (LA VERNE, CA)
Application Number: 15/456,452