GB2351026A

GB2351026A - Target discs formed by freezing a gas or fluid

Info

Publication number: GB2351026A
Application number: GB9913878A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stylianos Panaghe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-16
Filing date: 1999-06-16
Publication date: 2000-12-20
Also published as: GB9913878D0

Abstract

Targets for use in sports shooting comprise bodies of frozen fluid or liquids. The liquid may be water and the fluid may be a gas such as carbon dioxide. The target may incorporate a colouring and/or other additives such as grit. An apparatus for the manufacture of the targets may be combined with a launching mechanism. The combination of the apparatus and launcher may be portable so that the targets may be made in situ at the launch location. Alternatively, the targets made be made off-site and delivered to the site of the launcher in a thermally insulated enclosure.

Description

2351026 TARGET DISCS FORMED BY FREEZING A GAS OR FLUID

Statement of Novelty

The features proposed here for which novelty is claimed is the application of water or other fluids or gases or mixtures of, with suitable colouring andlor other additives, lowering its temperature below its freezing point and to a sufficient level so as to give similar clay target-disc characteristics, replacing the existing "clay" target-discs used as targets for sporting shooting.

Background

Traditionally "clay pigeon" target-discs for sporting shooting are fabricated using bitumen as the main compound it is shaped for the purpose, in a suitably designed mould, then baked, it is then painted for ease of both identification and targeting. They are delivered to the sporting ground site, loaded and positioned in a mechanism ready for ejection and when required it is ejected at high speed and direction to the targets requirement. When the target disc has been hit the targetdisc shatters, the size of the shattered pieces normally depends where the shot impacts, the clay material of the discs is non degradable and remains on the surface of sporting grounds, this is recognised and accepted as environmentally undesirable, however it is also recognised that it is uneconomic to collect and dispose of the fractured target disc fragments that are widely scattered properly. The target-discs proposed here for which novelty is claimed can be fabricated by the methods and machinery outlined below either on site at the sporting grounds with suitable machinery and sequentially placed on the ejection mechanism or they can be delivered in a suitable thermally insulated enclosure ready for loading and ejection. The target-discs can have as their main constituent either water or Carbon Dioxide - ( C02) with added colouring and if when required grit and or other such additives that may be required for the purpose.

It is also to be appreciated that the mechanism for fabricating the discs must operate under all weather conditions must rugged and portable and therefore should be light in weight, consisting of either a vapour type freezer or a A f storing device either containing C02 or liquid Nitrogen the choice being one of economics, depending on the temperature reducing method used their may be a requirement for water, either running water or a water container and that both colour and or grit and or other additives can be introduced if and when required. The time required to fabricate a target-clay should be commensurate with time required and as requested by the end user, it may be necessary to fabricate a small quantity simultaneously and fed into the ejection mechanism sequentially ready for ejection.- CLAIMS

1. A target for use in sports shooting comprising a body of frozen fluid or fluids.

Claims

2. A target as claimed in Claim 1 in which the body incorporates a

colouring and/or other additive such as grit.

3. A target as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the fluid comprises water.

4. A target as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the fluid comprises a gas.

5. A target as claimed in Claim 4 in which the gas is carbon dioxide.

6. A target as claimed in Claim 3 or 5 in which the water or carbon dioxide is the main constituent of the target.

7. In combination, at least one target as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 and a launching mechanism.

8. The combination of Claim 7 in which a plurality of targets are provided in a thermally insulated enclosure.

9. In combination, mechanism for manufacturing targets as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 and a launching mechanism for use in lauching the targets so produced while still in the frozen state.

10. The combination of Claim 9 in which the mechanism is portable.

L 11. The combination of Claim 9 or 10 in which the mechanism is a vapour type freezer or a storing device containing liquefied carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen.

12. A method of supplying targets to a launcher foruse in sports shooting, comprising making targets by freezing a fluid, optionally water or carbon dioxide, and loading the targets so produced into the launcher in readiness for launching.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12 in which the targets are made in situ at the location of the launcher.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 12 in which the targets are made offsite and delivered to the site of the launcher.

15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14 in which a number of said targets are made simultaneously.

16. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 15 in which colouring and/or other additives, such as grit, are incorporated into the targets.