GB2478910A

GB2478910A - Target

Info

Publication number: GB2478910A
Application number: GB1004679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Webster
Original assignee: PRECISE ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: PRECISE ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-22
Filing date: 2010-03-22
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Also published as: GB201004679D0

Abstract

A target (1) for an air rifle includes a target member (3) comprising a first indicator surface indicative of a first target state, and a second indicator surface indicative of a second target state. The target member (3) is supported by a target member support (20). The target member (3) is pivotally and slidingly mounted to the target support (20) such that in a first rest position in which the first indicator surface is facing in a viewable direction, the target member (3) is pivotable when engaged by a projectile. A stop is provided which is arranged to engage the target member (3) during rotation to halt rotation thereof and cause the target member (3) to slide to a second rest position in which the second indicator surface is facing in the viewable direction.

Description

A TARGET FOR AIR RIFLES

The present invention relates to a target for air rifles and the like, and particular to an automatically resetting target.

The sport of air rifle field target shooting is well established and increasing in popularity.

Field target shooting involves a series of targets placed at varying distances from the shooter. The targets typically include a face plate constructed from heavy gauge steel, cut out of a solid sheet to create a life-sized silhouette representative of typical small game that can be hunted with an airgun, such as rabbits, pigeons and rodents. The animal shaped face plates are provided with holes of approximately 40mm or 25mm diameter representative of a "kill-zone", which the shooter attempts to hit, To indicate whether the kill zone has been struck, a paddle or disc is generally provided behind the hole, which is arranged to fall when struck to indicate a successfiil strike. Failure to strike the kill zone with a shot leaves is the paddle standing. Targets of this type are used extensively in recreational and competition shooting.

However, once a target has been struck, it cannot then be used again until the paddle has been reset to the original position, which requires the shooter to walk over to the target and physically reset the paddle. This activity is frustratingly time consuming, and can be dangerous if more than one shooter is present as the shooter is required to walk into the target zone. Therefore, resetting targets have been developed which the user or a competition organizer can reset from outside the target zone without needing to access the target directly.

One type of resetting target uses cables which are attached to the paddle mechanisms, which cause the paddle to reset when pulled. However, such arrangements can be cumbersome, and in competition situations where fifty or more targets may be present, each requiring a separate cable, the number of cables becomes prone to tangling, presents a trip hazard, and is generally inconvenient. In addition, many courses are laid out to place the target animals in environments representative of their natural habitat, such that some of the birds may be in trees, rabbits in bushes, and squirrels feeding" in the clearing across a stream bed. Leading cables from such positions can therefore be difficult.

Electronically resetting targets provide a wireless, and more clutter free solution, with targets being able to be reset remotely via an infra red signal. Such systems are considerably more expensive. Furthermore, electric targets of this type are not suited to outdoor environment and exposure to the elements can lead to failure of the targets. In addition, other system faults which can typically be experienced with any electrical systems, such as power failure, can render and entire range unusable, which may potentially bring an end to an organised competition.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved target for air rifles and the like which addresses the above described problems and/or which offers improvements generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a target as described in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a target comprising a target member comprising a first indicator surface indicative of a first target slate, and a second indicator surface indicative of a second target state; a target member support; and a slop. The target member is pivotally and slidingly mounted to the target support such that in a first rest position in which the first indicator surface is facing in a viewable direction the target member is pivotable when engaged by a projectile, the stop being arranged to engage the target member during rotation to halt rotation thereof and cause the target member to slide to a second rest position in which the second indicator surface is facing in the viewable direction.

This arrangement ensures that each time the target is bit, the target is automatically re-set to target state which both indicates that a strike has occurred, and also in which target is ready to receive a further strike. The claimed arrangement therefore provides a mechanical automatically re-setting target, which requires minimal parts, is cheap to manufactures, and in addition is reliable in use and does not require electrical means, pull cables or any mens external to the target to reset the target following a bit, The target member may comprises a guide channel configured such that in the first rest position the target member is supported on the target member support by a first end of the channel and is pivotable thereabout, and when the target member is engaged by the stop member during rotation the guide channel slides relative to the target member support to guide the target member to the second rest position in which the target member is supported by the second end of the guide channel. The guide channel therefore facilitates the transition between first and second target states by rotationally engaging the target member support during rotation and by guiding the target member as is slides relative to the target support to the second rest position. In addition, the guide channel acts to secure and retain the target member on the target member support.

In the first rest position the target member is preferably substantially vertically oriented and the first end of the guide channel is positioned above the second end. The stop member is arranged to engage the target member at a rotational position in which the second end of the guide channel is positioned above the first end such that when rotation is halted the target member slides to the second rest position under the action of gravity. In this way the target automatically resets under its own weight without requiring a complex re-set mechanism.

The target member preferably comprises a hollow elongate member including a pair of opposing side walls having outer surfaces defining the first and second indicator surfaces and inner surfaces defining the sides of the guide channel, and opposing end walls having inner surfaces defining the first and second ends of the guide channel. The target member is therefore simple in structure and easy to manufacture, and in addition defines the guide channel which is integral therewithin.

The target may further comprise a face plate having a target aperture formed therein, the face plate being position in front of the target member in the viewable direction, and the target member being aligned with the aperture such that is engagable by a projectile tberethrougb. The face plate defines the front of the target and is able to be formed to define the target shape. In addition, the formation of the target aperture within the face plate more clearly defines the target point.

The target member support defines a pivot axle for the target member. Preferably the target member support is a rod or shaft which is configured to permit rotational movement of the target member thereabout. The target member support is preferably mounted to the rear face of the face plate.

The target member support is positioned above the target aperture such that engagement by a projectile of any part of the portion of the target member aligned with the aperture causes the target member to rotate. This arrangement prevents the target member from failing to rotate by preventing it from being struck along the rotation axis.

The stop member preferably comprises a portion of the face plate. The portion of the face plate defining the stop is located on the rear of the face plate and above the target aperture, with the target member support being positioned to ensure engagement of the target member with the face plate during rotation of the target support member above the target member support. This provides a simplified arrangement which obviates the requirement for a separate stop member thereby reducing parts and therefore cost.

The stop may alternatively comprise a stop member projecting from the rear surface of the face plate at a position above the target aperture. This enables the stop point to be varied and moved away from the face plate by selecting a suitably dimensioned stop.

The target member comprises a central body portion including a guide channel configured to enable pivoting and sliding of the target member about the target member support, and a pair of target elements extending from opposing ends of the body portion, the stop being arranged such that it is spaced above the uppermost target plate when the target member is in the first rest position and such that the target plate which is lowermost in the first rest position engages the stop during rotation of the target member about the first end of the guide channel to halt rotation and cause the target member to slide to the second rest position.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following illustrative figures in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a target according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is rear view of a portion of the target of Figure 1 showing the target member mechanism; Figures 3a-3c show a diagrammatic representation of the resetting sequence of' the target of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a target mechanism according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a target 1 comprises a face plate 2 formed from heavy gauge steel shaped to define the silhouette of an animal which may be typically hunted with an air rifle. The face plate 2 comprises a target aperture 3 formed within the face plate 2 located at a position on the face plate 2 corresponding to a kill zone' for the animal concerned.

The target aperture 3 is circular, but this is not essential and alternatively shaped apertures may be utilized to vary the target shape.

The face plate 2 is supported by a base stand 4 for supporting the face plate 2 in an upright position. A target member 6 is positioned behind the target aperture 3 such that a portion of the target is viewable through the aperture 3 and such that the viewable portion of the target member 6 fills the aperture 3 when viewed from the front.

In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, the target member 6 comprises an elongate hollow member having a first side wall 10 and opposing second side wall 12, and a first end wall 24 and an opposing end wall 26. The inner surfaces of the side walls 10 and 12 and end walls 24 and 26 define a guide channel 30.

The first side wall 10 comprises an outer surface 14 which is coloured red to indicate a first target state. The second side wall 12 has an outer surface 16 coloured white to indicate a second target state. The first and second target states are interchangeable and may be used to indicate for example hit' and not hit', or hit once' and hit twice'.

A cylindrical shaft 20 defines a pivotal target member support. The shaft 20 extends through the guide channel 30, and is supported on either side of the target member by brackets 32. Each bracket 32 include a flange member secured to the rear surface 2a of the face plate 2 and having a support arm 33 extending rearwardly away from the face plate 2.

An aperture 34 is formed in the support arm 32 for receiving the shaft 20, and is located at a distance along the support arm 33 to space the target member 6 from the face plate 2 to enable the target member to rotate unhindered. A locking pin 22 or similar removable locking member is provided in at least one end of the shaft 22, to prevent the shaft from becoming removed from the brackets 32 during use. The opposite end of the shaft 20 may is be provided with a similar locking pin 22, or a permanent stop to prevent that end of the shaft 20 passing through the aperture 34.

The shaft 20 is removable from the brackets 32 and the target member 6 by releasing the locking pin 22 and withdrawing the shaft 20 through the apertures 34. This enables the target member 6 to be removed for replacement or repair. Additional apertures are provided along the support arm 33 at varying distances from the face plaCe 2, which permit larger target members 6 to be used to increase the force required to rotate the target member 6.

In a first rest position, as shown in Figure 3a, the target member 6 hangs downwards in a pivotally supported position on the shaft 20, and is supported on the inner surface of the first end wall 24. The shaft 20 is positioned such that the first indicator surface 14 is facing the rear surface 2a of the face plate 2 and is aligned with the target aperture 3, and preferably such that the view through the aperture 3 from the front is entirely obscured by at least a portion of the first indicator surface 14. The shaft 20 is also positioned such that is level with or above the top edge 3a of the aperture 3. In this way, when a projectile such as an air rifle pellet travelling through the aperture 3 in a direction A contacts any portion of the first indicator surface 14 viewable through the aperture 3, the target member 6 is caused to pivot about the shaft 20 in a rotational direction B. The target member 6 is suitably spaced from the rear surface 2a by the bracket 32 to prevent interference between the target member 6 and the face plate 2 during rotation of the target member 6. Providing the target member 6 is struck with sufficient force by the projectile, it will continue to rotate in the direction B about the first end 24, until the second end 26 contacts a portion of the face plate 2 defining a stop member 36, as shown in Figure 3b. At this point further rotation of the target member 6 is prevented. Once rotation halts and the centrifugal force maintaining the engagement between the shaft 20 and the first end 24 is terminated, the target member 6 begins to drop under the action of gravity in direction C. As the target member 6 drops, it slides relative to the shaft 20, and is guided by the guide channel 30 towards a second rest position. In the second rest position, the target member 6 is supported on the shaft 20 by the second end 26, such that the second is indicator surface 16 faces the rear surface 2a and is aligned with the aperture 3 such that it is viewable therethrough from the front of the face plate 2.

In the second rest position the target member 6 is thus reset in an identical arrangement to the first rest position, with the only difference being that the second indicator surface 16 rather than the first indicator surface 14 is viewable through the aperture 3. Therefore, in the first rest position a red target defined by the first indicator surface 14 is viewable through the target aperture 3, and once hit by a projectile a white target defined by the second indicator surface is viewable through the aperture 3. It will of course be appreciated that, while red and white have been selected as colours for indicating the first and second target state due to the contrast therebetween enabling easy recognition from a distance, and combination of colours or symbols may be used to define the two target states. Similarly, while the target states serve to indicate that the target as been struck relative to the previously may defined state, and such indication may be used in any desirable way by the user.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, the target member 106 is supported on a shaft 120. The shaft 120 is supported by brackets in a similar arrangement to the first embodiment described above. The target member 106 includes a guide section 128 having a guide channel 130 defined therein. A first plate member 140 and a second plate member 142 project from the first end 124 and the second end 126 of the guide section respectively. The target member 106 is rotatable about the shaft 120 on the guide section 128, and the shaft 120 is spaced from the rear surface 102a of the face plate 2 a sufficient distance that the target member 106 is able to rotate 360° about the shaft 120 without interference with the face plate 102.

A flange member 136 is provided which defines a stop. The stop 136 is affixed to the inner surface 102a of the face plate 102 at a height above the shaft 120 greater than the length of the first plate member 140 (and also the second plate member 142 which is of an equal length) but less than the length of the second/first plate member 142i140 plus the guide section 128. In addition, the shaft 120 is located level with or above the upper edge 103a of the target aperture. As such, when the target member 106 is struck by a projectile through the aperture 103 it rotates about the upper end 124 of the guide section. At the start of rotation, the upper edge of the first plate member 140 is able to pass under the stop 136 to allow the target member 106 to continue to rotate. Subsequently the distal end of the second plate member 142 comes into engagement with the stop 136 as, due to the rotation of the guide section about the first end 124, it is a greater distance from the shaft 120 than the distal end of the first plate member 140. Engagement with the stop 136 halts rotation and causes the target member 106 to slide relative to the shaft 120, under the guidance of the guide channel 130, to a second rest position in which the target is reset to a second target state.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A target comprising: a target member comprising a first indicator surface indicative of a first target state, and a second indicator surface indicative of a second target state; a target member support; and a stop, wherein the target member is pivotally and slidingly mounted to the target support such that in a first rest position in which the first indicator surface is facing in a viewable direction the target member is pivotable when engaged by a projectile, the stop being arranged to engage the target member during rotation to halt rotation thereof and cause target member to slide to a second rest position in which the second indicator surface is facing in the viewable direction.
2. The target of claim 1 wherein the target member comprises a guide channel configured such that in the first rest position the target member is supported on the target member support by a first end of the channel and is pivotable thereabout, and when the target member is engaged by the stop member during rotation the guide channel slides relative to the target member support to guide the target member to the second rest position in which the target member is supported by the second end of the guide channel.
3. The target of claim 2 wherein in the first rest position the target member is substantially vertically oriented and the first end of the guide channel is positioned above the second end, and wherein the stop member is arranged to engage the target member at a rotational position in which the second end of the guide channel is positioned above the first end such that when rotation is halted the target member slides to the second rest position under the action of gravity.9. The target of any preceding claim wherein the target member comprises a hollow elongate member including a pair of opposing side walls having outer surfaces defining the first and second indicator surfaces and inner surfaces defining the sides of the guide channel, and opposing end walls having inner surfaces defining the first and second ends of the guide channel.
4. The target of any preceding claim further comprising a face plate having a target aperture formed therein, the face plate being position in front of the target member in the viewable direction, and the target member being aligned with the aperture such that is engagable by a projectile therethrough.
5. The target of claim 4 wherein the target member support is positioned above the target aperture such that engagement by a projectile of any part of the portion of the target member aligned with the aperture causes the target member to rotate.
6. The target of claim 4 or 5 wherein the stop comprises a portion of the face plate.
7. The target of claim 6 wherein the portion of the face plate defining the stop is located on the rear of the face plate and above the target aperture.
8. The target member of any one of claims 4 or S wherein the stop comprises a stop member projecting from the rear surface of the face plate at a position above the target aperture.
9. The target of any one of claim 8 wherein the target member comprises a central body portion including a guide channel configured to enable pivoting and sliding of the target member about the target member support, and a pair of target elements extending from opposing ends of the body portion, the stop being arranged such that it is spaced above the uppermost target plate when the target member is in the first rest position and such that the target plate which is lowermost in the first rest position engages the stop during rotation of the target member about the first end of the guide channel to halt rotation and cause the target member to slide to the second rest position.
10. The target of any preceding claim wherein the target member support defines a pivot axle for the target member.
11. A target according to any preceding claim wherein the stop is positioned to engage the target member during rotation at a position above the target member support.
12. A target according to any preceding claim wherein the target member is releasably connected to the target member support to allow the target member to be removed or replaced.
13. A target substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as shown in figures 1 to 4.