GB2464450A

GB2464450A - Modular adaptable shooting range

Info

Publication number: GB2464450A
Application number: GB0818340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Rust
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-08
Filing date: 2008-10-08
Publication date: 2010-04-21
Also published as: GB0818340D0

Abstract

A modular adaptable training range for simulating real-life scenarios comprises rooms (R) and at least one interconnecting corridor (C) formed using a plurality of panels (P,P1,P2,P3,P4,10,15,33,34,35). The panels are so sized and shaped as to define said rooms and at least one corridor. Means (12,40) for connecting said panels to one another are provided. A method of assembling a modular adaptable shooting range is also described, together with an interconnect system for securing a plurality of panels to form a temporary or semi-permanent structure. The interconnect system, and connecting means comprises a plurality of elements (12,40), each including at least one panel edge receiver (17,42) and having a plurality of securing holes (21,47) adapted to align with corresponding securing slots (25) in a panel received by the panel edge receiver.

Description

MODULAR ADAI'TABLE SHOOTING RANGE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular adaptable shooting range, a method of assembly and an interconnect system for securing modular elements to assemble a shooting range. The invention is particularly concerned with providing an adaptable forum for the training of police, army and security personnel.

Background to the Invention

It is well appreciated that standard open firing ranges provide limited training for personnel who may be required to enter buildings to alleviate dangerous situations, such as kidnapping or hostage scenarios. To provide adequate training for these individuals, it is necessary to construct either purpose built buildings or assemblies of rooms arid corridors within which practice techniques may be applied.

A major disadvantage of fixed building structures is that over time individuals become familiar with the scenarios that can be played out within a single layout and there is limited means to change the layout without significant expense.

Where panels are provided to form new or additional internal building structures they must either be secured together or secured to existing structures.

There have been numerous attempts in the past to provide a shooting range which can be added to and modified, however not without significant skilled labour and expense.

In one prior art arrangement, a series of pre-fabricated corridor sections (ground, ceiling and side wall elements) are linked together to provide a series of shooting range "lanes", however, the disclosure does not describe a modular adaptable range which can be altered sufficiently to challenge experienced police, army or security personnel.

To provide a realistic environment, at least three different panel structures must be provided, namely: plain wall panel; a panel including a window frame; and a panel including a doorframe and door. To be suitable for a firing range where live ammunition may often be used, the panels must be of sufficient thickness or density to absorb an incident round without the risk of injury through penetration or ricochet. As a result, the panels are often heavy or difficult to manoeuvre.

This has particular challenges when assembling a shooting range or modifying the layout of an existing scene or scenario. These challenges include aligning connecting holes, particularly when the range floor is uneven and elevating heavy sections in an attempt to align connecting holes.

In a prior art solution presented by the present Applicant a series of hinge elements are attached at appropriate points to panels, which together form a scene or practice range layout, so that when pairs of hinge elements are brought into alignment a hinge pin maybe dropped into position.

Another little-appreciated problem is that where metal panel securing means or fittings are used, there is an enhanced risk of ricochet should a round hit one of the fittings.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide a modular adaptable shooting range which is easily and manually adjustable to provide a wide variety of range layouts or scenarios.

A further objection of the invention is to provide a method of assembly of a modular shooting range.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide an interconnect system for panel or panel elements to provide a safe means of securing them to one another and to decrease the incidence of ricochets within a shooting range environment.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a modular adaptable training range S for simulating real-life scenarios, the range comprising rooms and at least one interconnecting corridor formed using a plurality of panels so sized and shaped as to define said rooms and at least one corridor and means for connecting said panels to one another, in which the means for connecting the panels to one another comprises at least one panel edge receiver and a plurality of securing holes adapted to align with corresponding securing slots in a panel.

In a first preferred arrangement, the means for connecting the panels comprises a single panel edge receiver having securing means adapted to fix said edge receiver to the planar surface of a panel.

Advantageously, the securing means may be adapted to fix said edge receiver in angular disposition to the planar surface of a panel.

In a first construction, the securing means determines a secured panel is disposed perpendicularly to the first panel. By adapting the securing means an angled arrangement of panels may be provided, so that further variations of shooting range layout may be assembled. Although not limited to the following, angled panel arrangements of 30°, 45° & 600 provide significant layout variation.

Preferably, the securing means comprises locking pins adapted to engage the upper and lower edge regions of a panel.

Advantageously, the locking pins engage pin-receiving apertures spaced along said upper and lower edge regions of a panel.

Alternatively, the securing means comprises locking bolts adapted to engage receiving apertures defined within the planar surface of the panel.

These arrangements avoid the need for permanent fixing elements, which increase the risk of ricochet, while maximising the shooting range layout variations available.

In a second preferred arrangement, the means for connecting the panels comprises two or more panel edge receivers, whereby two or more panels are removeably secured to one another via securing means adapted to fix the panels to said connecting means.

The present invention further provides a method of assembling a modular training range, the method comprising securing a panel connecting means having at least one panel edge receiver, to a first pane!, bringing a second panel into alignment with a panel edge receiver, so that at least one securing slot disposed towards the edge of the panel is brought into alignment with corresponding securing holes formed within the side wall portions of the panel edge receiver.

Preferably, the first and second panels are angularly disposed so as to be self-supporting when secured together and subsequent addition of further panels assures stability of the range.

Advantageously, fixing pegs are positioned through the securing hole on one side wall portion of a panel edge receiver, through a securing slot of the panel to penetrate the securing hole on the second wall of the panel edge receiver.

Conveniently, the fixing pegs are threaded bolts with associated nuts.

Advantageously, the fixing pegs are manufactured from a material which attenuates the risk of ricochet.

Ideally, the fixing pegs are made from materials selected from wood, plastics materials such as nylon, and soft metals or metal alloys.

The present invention yet further provides an interconnect system for securing a plurality of panels to form a temporary or semi-permanent structure, the system comprising a plurality of elements each including at least one panel edge receiver and having a plurality of securing holes adapted to align with corresponding securing slots in a panel.

In one preferred arrangement of interconnect system, there is provided a first element having a single panel edge receiver and securing means adapted to fix the panel edge receiver to the planar surface of the panel.

Advantageously, the securing means is adapted to fix said edge receiver in angular disposition to the planar surface of a panel.

Conveniently, the locking pins engage pin-receiving apertures spaced along said upper and lower edge regions of a panel.

In an alternative preferred arrangement of interconnect system, the securing means comprises locking bolts adapted to engage receiving apertures defined within the planar surface of the panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, a modular training range, an interconnect system for securing panels and a method of assembling a range layout according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a proposed internal room layout as an example of a hostage scenario; Figures 2a and 2b are perspective elevation and side view of a prior art arrangement of securing panels together Figures 3 is a perspective elevation of a first embodiment of panel connecting means in use; and Figure 4 is a perspective elevation of a second embodiment of panel connecting means in use.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawing and initially to Figure 1, a modular adaptable training range is assembled using a number of pre-fabricated panels P which can be arranged in a large number of different layouts. In the proposed simple layout illustrated, several rooms R are connected via doors D to a corridor C. To construct the layout, four different panel types are required, namely: plain panel P1, central door pane! P2, offset door panel P3 and corridor door panel P4.

Although not illustrated, it will be appreciated that many different panel types are available, including: central window panel, offset window panel, half-length panel and so on. By having the facility to rapidly and inexpensively alter the layout of a training range, the personnel being trained face different challenges with each layout and do not become jaded or complacent with existing layouts.

In a prior art arrangement presented by the Applicant, as illustrated in Figure 2, hinge elements H are fixed to the planar surfaces and edges of panels P to be joined. The alignment of the hinge elements allows for some variation of height of respective panels P to account for the unevenness of the floor surface on which the panels are located. When the hinge elements align, a hinge pin HP is dropped into position to secure the panels. One of the disadvantages of this system is the need for hinge elements to be permanently fixed to panels and, if further variations of layouts are required, further hinge elements are provided and secured at appropriate locations on a panel. A consequence of this is that permanent metal elements are unnecessarily provided in certain scenarios and each additional hinge element provides a further ricochet risk, as the hinges and pins are formed from hard metal.

In Figure 3, a first panel 10 is shown with a first arrangement of panel connector 12 adapted to receive a second panel 15 and secure it in position at 900 relative to the first panel 10. The panel connector 12 defines a panel edge receiver 1 7 between two side wall portions 19,20, each of which have a number of corresponding securing holes 21 for receiving a locking peg 23. The securing holes 21 are positioned to align with dual-purpose slots 25, formed adjacent the abutting edge region 27 of a panel, which not only receive the locking pegs 23 but also act as a hand-hold during the manoeuvring and positioning of the panels.

The panel connector 12 is fixed to the first panel using locking pins passing through the panel connector into spaced receiving apertures (not shown) in the planar surface of the panel. This arrangement allows the position of the panel connector to be moved along the length of the panel without utilising permanent fixing elements which increase the risk of ricochet. In the alternative illustrated arrangement, the panel connector 12 includes upper and lower locking pins 29 which are adapted to engage corresponding receiving holes 31 in the upper and lower edge regions of the first panel. To allow the position of the panel connector to be moved with respect to the panel, a series of spaced receiving holes 3 1 is provided along said upper and lower edge regions of the or each panel 10,15.

In the illustrated arrangement of Figure 3, the position of the panel connector 1 2 determines that the second panel 15 is disposed perpendicularly to the first panel 10. It will be apparent to the skilled addressee that an angled panel connector (not shown) may be provided to allow a set of different angular connections to be made, for example, 30°, 450 and 60°.

With reference to Figure 4, three panels 33,34,35 are shown connected to one another using a second arrangement of panel connector 40. As before, the panel connector 40 defines a panel edge receiver 42 between two side wall portions 44,45, each of which have a number of corresponding securing holes 47 for receiving a locking peg 49, which also penetrates the hand-hold slot (not shown) located in the respective panels 33,34,35.

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This arrangement of panel connector 40 facilitates the rapid construction of the simplified layout illustrated in Figure 1. It will be readily appreciated that more complex layouts are facilitated by the combination of all of the panels and panel connectors discussed herein.

In use, a shooting range is assembled by bringing a first and second panel together at 90° to be self-supporting and locking the two panels together via the interconnect system comprising the panel connectors and locking pegs. The panels are more easily manoeuvrable using the hand-hold slots through which the locking pins are passed.

The T-profile panel connectors 40 allow for rapid assembly of a required layout by building either a corridor from which rooms are formed or by assembling a first corner area and building onto that. as required.

Plain panels may be exchanged for door panels to provide interconnecting rooms and door panels may be reversed or offset to provide new variations to existing layouts.

As will be appreciated by the skilled addressee, the interconnect system and the method of assembly may also be applied to the erection of pre-fabricated buildings and stage or screen scenery.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A modular adaptable training range for simulating real-life scenarios, the range comprising rooms and at least one interconnecting corridor formed using a plurality of panels so sized and shaped as to define said rooms and at least one corridor and means for connecting said panels to one another, in which the means for coniecting the panels to one another comprises at least one panel edge receiver and a plurality of securing holes adapted to align with corresponding securing slots in a panel.
2. A modular adaptable training range as claimed in Claim 1, in which the means for connecting the panels comprises a single panel edge receiver having securing means adapted to fix said edge receiver to the planar surface of a panel.
3. A modular adaptable training range as claimed in Claim 2, in which the securing means is adapted to fix said edge receiver in angular disposition to the planar surface of a panel
4. A modular adaptable training range as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the securing means comprises locking pins adapted to engage the upper and lower edge regions of a panel.
5. A modular adaptable training range as claimed in Claim 4, in which the locking pins engage pin-receiving apertures spaced along said upper and lower edge regions of a panel.
6. A modular adaptable training range as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the securing means comprises locking bolts adapted to engage receiving apertures defined within the planar surface of the panel.
7. A modular adaptable training range as claimed in Claim 1, in which the means for connecting the panels comprises two or more panel edge receivers, whereby two or more panels are remove ably secured to one another via securing means adapted to fix the panels to said connecting means.
8. A method of assembling a modular training range, the method comprising securing a panel connecting means having at least one panel edge receiver, to a first panel, bringing a second panel into alignment with a panel edge receiver, so that at least one securing slot disposed towards the edge of the panel is brought into alignment with corresponding securing holes formed within the side wall portions of the panel edge receiver.
9. A method of assembling a modular training range as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first and second panels are angularly disposed so as to be self-supporting when secured together and subsequent addition of further panels assures stability of the range.
10. A method of assembling a modular training range as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein fixing pegs are positioned through the securing hole on one side wall portion of a panel edge receiver, through a securing slot of the panel to penetrate the securing hole on the second wall of the panel edge receiver.
11. A method of assembling a modular training range as claimed in Claim 10, in which the fixing pegs are threaded bolts with associated nuts.
12. A method of assembling a modular training range as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which the fixing pegs are manufactured from a material which attenuates the risk of ricochet.
13. A method of assembling a modular training range as claimed in Claim 13, in which the fixing pegs are made from materials selected from wood, plastics materials such as nylon, and soft metals or metal alloys.
14. An interconnect system for securing a plurality of panels to form a temporary or semi-permanent structure, the system comprising a plurality of elements each including at least one panel edge receiver and having a plurality of securing holes adapted to align with corresponding securing slots in a panel.
15. An interconnect system as claimed in Claim 14, in which there is provided a first element having a single panel edge receiver arid securing means adapted to fix the panel edge receiver to the planar surface of the panel.
16. An interconnect system as claimed in Claim 15, in which the securing means is adapted to fix said edge receiver in angular disposition to the planar surface of a panel.
17. An interconnect system as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15, in which the securing means comprises locking pins adapted to engage the upper and lower edge regions of a panel.
18. An interconnect system as claimed in Claim 17, in which the locking pins engage pin receiving apertures spaced along said upper and lower edge regions of a panel.
19. An interconnect system as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15, in which the securing means comprises locking bolts adapted to engage receiving apertures defined within the planar surface of the panel.
20. A modular adaptable training range substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of assembling a modular training range substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. An interconnect system for securing a plurality of panels to form a temporary or semi-permanent structure substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.