SHOOTING TARGET

Abstract

A shooting target device having a target board with multiple openings to receive an inflated balloon in each opening. Each opening includes radial projections to frictionally engage a balloon with an interference fit. A size gauge is provided to assist in inflating the balloons to a proper size to be engaged by the radial projections when a balloon is inflated and inserted into an opening. A one-way valve can be provided for ease of inflating the balloon and retaining the balloon in an inflated condition until it is hit by a projectile and exploded.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This apparatus relates generally to multiple-balloon target structures, and more particularly to such an arrangement having positive elements for holding each balloon in place as a target, and having a gauge to enable each balloon to be inflated to a precise size in relation to the target holder openings.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Boards or supports to which one or more balloons are mounted for some kind of target purposes, typically in relation to a game where scores are achieved, have been known. In some cases a balloon is burst upon contact, for example, with a dart. In others a blunt object or projectile forces the inflated balloon against a sharp point to result in the balloon being exploded. There are many other target involving openings in a surface which do not involve balloons.

Balloons are also used in groups for decorative or artistic purposes.

In some cases target balloons are inflated to a desired pressure or to a desired approximate size. Usually the full neck of the balloon must be tied off in some manner to prevent air from escaping too rapidly.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Among its purposes, the present apparatus includes a gauge to enable target balloons to be inflated to a predetermined size or main-body diameter to fit into openings which are equipped with positive balloon engagement elements.

In an alternative embodiment, a conventional air valve, for example, a Schrader valve, is mounted in each balloon prior to its being inflated. The valve performs its normal function of allowing air in and preventing air from leaking out. The valve is then easily retrieved after the balloon is burst.

The support device for holding multiple balloons in a target-ready position can be formed in a manner that allows it to be flat and compact prior to use, that is, prior to being fitted with target balloons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The objects, advantages, and features of this target apparatus will be more clearly perceived from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shooting target in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the target board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view of a single opening in the target board of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged plan view of a size gauge for balloons to be inflated to fit in the opening of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the target board of FIG. 2 with the gauge of FIG. 3B connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged back side perspective view of a balloon in an opening of the target board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of an opening and a size gauge as part of the target board;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of the target board of FIG. 2 with an alternative hole shape;

FIG. 8 is an alternative perspective view similar to FIG. 1, without the balloons, showing different size balloon openings;

FIG. 9 is a single exemplary balloon fitted with a valve to assist in inflating the balloon; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shooting target in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a foldable target board 11 resting on a surface 12 in a free standing arrangement. Mounted in openings in the board are a plurality of balloons 13, twelve in this case. There is no practical limitation of the size and number of balloons this target set up may have. It could be larger or smaller, or it could be arranged to hold more or fewer balloons.

Board 11 may have three panels as shown, which enable it to fold flat for convenience. However, while being folded flat is preferred, the support need not be foldable. It could be a single, relatively rigid board which could be mounted on a convenient stand, wall, hung from a rod, or mounted on any appropriate element or device. It could also have more than three panels with the side panels folding over the center panel. See FIG. 2, showing fold score lines 14, 15, with panels 16 and 17 being foldable onto center panel 21.

Board 11 could be formed of more than three panels with more than two fold lines, and still be able to be folded reasonably flat. An example of such a structure 45 is shown in FIG. 10, which is formed as a “W” or “M” with panels 46, 47, 48, and 49 foldable upon each other. More than four panels, or as few as two panels, or even a single panel, may form the target board.

Openings 22 are sized for a particular balloon. A convenient size is nine inches in diameter, which fits a common size balloon. It is desired that balloons be inflated to a reasonable inflation pressure or stress size so that a relatively loud pop is heard when the balloon bursts or explodes. Suitable balloons are typically made of rubber, but they can be any material that readily explodes when pierced after being inflated to a pressure which leads to a readily audible pop.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3A, it can be seen that there are several articulated wedge members or fingers 23 arranged around openings 22. The material of board 11 is contemplated to be a relatively stiff cardboard. However, it could be made of any material, including plastic or metal, that has sufficient rigidity to stand on its own, as shown in FIG. 1, and has sufficient flexibility so that undercut fingers 23 bend when engaged by the surface of an inflated balloon without puncturing the balloon. If the target board is intended to be mounted on a wall or other structure, or hung from a rod, it need not have rigidity to enable it to stand on its own.

In order to quickly and efficiently inflate a balloon to the proper size for openings 22, gauge 24 (FIG. 3B) is provided. The gauge is formed with opening 25 that is slightly larger in diameter than is opening 22. For a nine-inch opening 22, opening 25 in gauge 24 would be about 9.25 inches in diameter. These are exemplary dimensions only.

When balloon 13 is urged into opening 22 from the back side of board 11, as shown in FIG. 5, fingers 23 bend a small amount and the wall of the balloon flexes a small amount. Once the balloon is mounted in an opening 22, it is held firmly by a combination of friction and the very small amount of biting action into the balloon wall by fingers 23. As an alternative, small projections 42 into openings 41 are shown in FIG. 7, in place of fingers 23 in openings 22 in FIG. 2.

Gauge 24 is shown as a separate element in FIG. 3B. However, as shown in FIG. 4, gauge 26 can be connected, permanently or removably, to board 11 by tether 27. Tether 27 may be any type of flexible or bendable strip, string strap, or thong.

Alternatively, a gauge 31 may be formed integrally with board 11, as shown in FIG. 6. In this arrangement, one space that would otherwise be for receiving a balloon, is dedicated to providing the desired gauge function.

Another alternative is that a further flap or panel may be attached to panel 16 or panel 17, which incorporates a gauge of the type shown in FIGS. 4 or 6, without using one of the balloon opening positions for the gauge.

FIG. 8 shows that balloon-retaining openings may have different sizes to accommodate larger or smaller, or both, balloons. This figure is to suggest that openings 32 in the middle row of target board 28 may be a smaller size than openings 31 in the top row, and openings 33 in the bottom row may be larger than openings 31. When the target device is used as a game, each different size balloon may be assigned a different point value. When the target device is used for shooting practice the shooter might choose to aim at the largest balloons first, go to the medium size balloons second, and then aim to burst the smaller balloons in openings 32.

FIG. 9 shows that a preferred way to use the target device is to use a power air supply (not shown) in conjunction with a one-way valve 34, such as the standard and well known Schrader valve, to inflate balloon 35. Schrader valves have been available for more than 100 years and are the standard automobile tire valve. Of course, other one-way valves may be used as long as they are of comparable size and can be engaged by the neck of a typical balloon.

It is contemplated that the target device of this concept could be sold as a kit or unit of board 11, a multiplicity (such as 100, for example) of balloons, and a dozen valves. In operation, a dozen balloons would be fitted with a dozen valves and the balloons would be inflated. Without removing the valves, the balloons would be mounted to board 11 by urging the rounded end from the back of the board through an opening such as opening 22, until the balloon is positively engaged by fingers 23, as shown in FIG. 5. If desired, as an alternative to leaving the valve in the neck of the balloon until the balloon is burst, the open end of the balloons could be secured/sealed by a string tied around the neck after the balloon is inflated, or the neck itself could be knotted to retain the air in the balloon.

The target device as shown and described herein, can be used in conjunction with any appropriate projectile launching device, including air soft guns, B-B guns, bow and arrows, or thrown knives. Any other types of projectiles that will cause an inflated balloon to burst upon forceful contact could also be used with this target device.

After some or all of the balloons in board 11 have been exploded, the balloon residue element and the valves, are cleaned up and retrieved. The valves are then recycled to another set of balloons.

In addition to balloon-exploding games and target practice for training of any type, the described apparatus can be applicable for many uses, including practice for battle reenactments.

Because of the positive engagement of balloons in the openings in board 11, this target device can be used outdoors because the positions of balloons in board 11 will not be affected by light to moderate winds. Of course, the target device shown and described here may be used indoors.

Claims

1. A shooting target system comprising:

a target board having a front surface and a back surface;

a plurality of circular openings through said target board, each opening having a predetermined diameter and having a plurality of projections extending radially into the openings, each opening being configured to receive and retain an inflated balloon in frictional surface contact with the interior periphery of the opening; and

a size gauge comprising a circular opening slightly larger in diameter than are the openings in the support board, the circular opening of the gauge being configured to receive an inflated balloon of a size to be frictionally engaged with the circular openings in said target board.

2. The shooting target system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of projections comprises a flexible finger.

3. The shooting target system of claim 2, wherein each said finger extends into the opening a distance of about three to about six percent of the diameter of the opening.

4. The shooting target system of claim 1, wherein said target board is a relatively rigid single panel.

5. The shooting target system of claim 1, wherein said target board comprises a plurality of panels each panel of said plurality of panels being formed with a plurality of circular openings through said target board, each opening having a predetermined diameter and having a plurality of projections extending radially into the openings, each opening being configured to receive and retain an inflated balloon in frictional surface contact with the interior periphery of the opening, said plurality of panels being configured to fold upon each other to form a flat, compact target board.

6. The shooting target system of claim 5, wherein said target board comprises a pair of panels.

7. The shooting target system of claim 2, wherein said fingers are configured to flex toward said front surface when engaged by a force from said back surface.

8. A shooting target kit comprising:

a target board;

a plurality of circular openings through said target board, each opening having a predetermined diameter and having a plurality of projections extending radially into the openings;

a size gauge having a circular opening slightly larger in diameter than are the openings in the target board, the circular opening of the gauge being configured to receive an inflated balloon in frictional surface contact with the interior periphery of the opening;

a multiplicity of uninflated balloons; and

a plurality of one-way valves.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein said target board comprises a plurality of panels configured to fold upon each other to form a flat, compact target board, each panel of said plurality of panels being formed with a plurality of circular openings through said target board, each opening having a predetermined diameter and having a plurality of projections extending radially into the openings, each opening being configured to receive and retain an inflated balloon in frictional surface contact with the interior periphery of the opening, said plurality of panels being configured to fold upon each other to form a flat, compact target board.

10. The kit of claim 8, wherein said valves are Schrader valves.