Automatic Reset Target Assembly

The invention is directed to automatic reset targets for projectiles. The target is a portable device having a silhouette held in a position so as to be hit with projectiles shot from firearms.

This invention relates to a target assembly for use in shooting practice. Shooting, in general, has been popular since prehistoric days where there was rock throwing, spear tossing, and knife throwing. Today, silhouette shooting is enjoyed by many hobbyists and competitors. Targets for shooting practice are commonly used. These targets include clay discs and various cut-out figures or silhouettes, such as silhouettes of animals, beer cans or bottles, and human torsos. One target assembly comprises a cut-out silhouette rotatably mounted on a U-shaped frame anchored to a support or ground. A shaft extends downwardly from the center of the frame and is attached to the cut-out. The frame ends are inserted into the ground. When the silhouette is hit, it swings relative to the frame until stopped by gravitational forces. Another target assembly has silhouettes mounted on a rubber shock-absorbing member which is secured to a grounded stake. The silhouette and rubber bend rearwardly as they are hit by a projectile. The rubber member causes the silhouette to spring back to an upright position.

Prior target assemblies for shooting practice have had many difficulties. One major difficulty is resetting the silhouette to its original upright position when hit by a projectile. After being hit the silhouette continues to vibrate or to swing or is lying flat to the ground. There is a time elapse before the silhouette is fixed in an upright position. This mades the shooting of consecutive shots or rapid fire impractical and time consuming.

The invention is directed to a target assembly that automatically returns to a selected position after being hit with a moving projectile, such as a bullet. The target assembly has a target remotely positioned from an anchor. A line connected to a biasing spring operably connects the target with the anchor to yieldably position a silhouette mounted on the target in a generally upright position. The target assembly is portable and can be set up in a relatively short period of time in an appropriate shooting area.

One form of the invention has a target that includes a base secured to a downwardly directed stake. The stake is adapted to penetrate into the ground to anchor the target in a fixed position. The movable member is part of a hinge means that is connected to the base. The movable member is pivotally mounted on the base for movement between a generally upright position and a generally horizontal position. A silhouette in the shape of a selected outline form, such as an animal, bird, person torso, or the like, is attached to the movable member. The movable member normally holds the silhouette in a generally upright position making it a visible target for the shooter. An arm connected to the movable member is used with an elongated flexible line attached to a biasing spring to yieldably hold the silhouette in a generally upright position. The line is attached to an anchor that is secured to a support or ground remote from the target. The anchor is a generally upright bar having an anchor arm at its upper end. The line is attached to the anchor arm. The bar is adapted to be forced into the ground so as to maintain tension on the line to yieldably hold the silhouette in an upright position.

The target assembly automatically resets the silhouette in a generally upright position after the impact force of the projectile is dissipated. The entire target assembly is durable in construction and can take impacts from the bullets of all types of firearms handguns from BB to a 45 caliber and larger firearms. The target assembly is also useable in other types of target practice and competition, such as bow and arrow, cross bow, sling slot, golf, hand throwing or pitching of a ball. The above advantages and features of the target assembly are embodied in the following detailed description thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the target assembly of the invention anchored to the ground;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the target with the silhouette shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the target;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the target.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an automatic reset target assembly of the invention indicated generally at 10 used for firearm practice. Target assembly 10 also can be used for other sport activities including but not limited to bow and arrow, cross bow, sling slot, golf, hockey, and like projectile devices.

Target assembly 10 has a target, indicated generally at 11, fixed to the ground. Target 11 can be attached to other supports. For example, when target assembly 10 is used indoors a support, such as a platform or floor is used to hold target 11. An anchor 12 is located in front of target 11. A long flexible line or cord 13 joined to a coil spring 14 connects target 11 with anchor 12. Coil spring 14 is normally under tension so as to continuously and yieldably hold the silhouette 36 in its upright position as seen in FIG. 1. When silhouette 36 is hit with a projectile 41, it swings backward against the biasing force of spring 14. Line 13 and spring 14 resets target 11 to its upright position.

Anchor 12 has an upright stake 16 terminating in a lower pointed end 17. The upper end of stake 16 is turned in a generally normal direction forming an anchor arm 18. Arm 18 has a hole 19 accommodating a ring 21 that joins tension coil spring 14 to arm 18. Stake 16 extends down into ground 22 to secure anchor 12 in a fixed location. In one form of the invention, anchor 12 has a stake 16 having a length of 8 inches and an anchor arm of 2 inches. Stake 16 is made of 1/4 inch mild steel having a width of 1 inch. Anchor 12 can be attached to other fixed supports spaced from target 11.

Target 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, has a generally upright stake 23 terminating in a lower pointed end 24. Stake 23 is a generally flat bar having a narrow forward edge so as to provide a minimum surface which can be hit with stray projectiles. In other words, the stake 23 is located along the longitudinal plane that is parallel to the direction of the flight path of the projectile. A horizontal transverse base 26 is secured by welds or the like to the upper end of stake 23. Base 26 is a flat block of metal having a rectangular box shape. A generally flat vertically disposed bar or stop member 27 is secured to the back of the upper end of stake 23 with welds or the like. A hinge, indicated generally at 28, is attached to the top of base 26. Hinge 28 has a first member or plate 29 that is secured to base 26 and a second generally upright member 32 pivotally joined to first member 29 with a generally horizontal pivot pin 31. Pin 31 and coiled part of plate 29 is located behind base 26 where it is protected from moving projectiles. First member 29 has a number of holes 30 that are filled with weld material and like fasteners to secure member 29 to the top of base 26. A cap plate 35 comprising a hard steel plate is secured with welds to the front edges of base 26 and member 29. Plate 35 protects base 26 and member 29 from projectiles, such as bullets. Second member 32 has a plurality of holes 33 accommodating fasteners 34, such as bolts or screws or welds that connect a silhouette member 36 to the forward side of member 32. Silhouette member 36 is shown as an outline of a person torso. Member 36 can have other configurations such as small animals, birds, or a simulated concentric circle target design. Silhouette member 36 is a hard steel plate that extends in an upright direction. Member 36 is relatively narrow as compared to its height. There is only minimal side pressure on the hinge when member 36 is hit with a projectile. Silhouette member 36 will flip over when hit with a projectile.

A forwardly directed arm 37 is secured to the center of the bottom of member 32. Arm 37 is normally located in a horizontal psosition in engagement with the top of member 29. Arm 37 has at its forward end a hole 38 accommodating a ring 39. Line 13, such as a nylon line, is secured to ring 39.

In use, stake 23 is inserted into the ground by applying a downward pressure on bar 27. Bar 27 can also be pushed into the ground thereby further anchoring target 11 to the ground. Anchor 12 is pressed into the ground in front of target 11. Line 13 is held tight with coil spring 14 under tension. This biases and holds the silhouette member 36 in its generally upright position. Arm 37 is generally horizontal and in engagement with the top of first member 29. First member 29 functions as a stop to yieldably hold silhouette member 36 in a generally upright position. Anchor 12 is forced into the ground to fix its position and hold coil spring 14 under tension.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a projectile 41, such as a bullet, strikes the silhouette member 36, hinge 28 allows silhouette member 36 to swing in a rearward direction as indicated by arrow 42. This swings second member 32 downwardly and backward until it strikes the top of bar 27. Arm 37 will be moved in a generally upright position. The movement of arm 37 is against the biasing force of coil spring 14. When the impact force of projectile 41 is dissipated, coil spring 14 will automatically return member 32 and silhouette member 36 to its upright position.

Target assembly 10 is usable for target practice and shooting competition with rifles and handguns. Preferably, rifles using 22 caliber long and 22 caliber magnum ammunition and handguns using 22 caliber long to 44 caliber magnum ammunition do not destroy the target 11 including the silhouette member 36.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that changes in the structure, size of structure, materials, silhouette designs, and arrangement of the structure can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The invention is defined in the following claims.