US20200191534A1

US20200191534A1 - Reflective shooting target

Info

Publication number: US20200191534A1
Application number: US16/658,932
Authority: US
Inventors: Doris R. Reyes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2019-10-21
Publication date: 2020-06-18

Abstract

A shooting target includes a backing layer, a reflective layer, and an ink layer. The backing layer includes a front surface and a rear surface. The reflective layer includes a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface of the reflective layer is adhered to the front surface of the backing layer. The ink layer is applied to the front surface of the reflective layer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/778,348, filed Dec. 12, 2018, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shooting target and, more particularly, to a target that provides a visual enhancement.
Shooting targets are objects in various forms and shapes that are used for pistol, rifle, shotgun, and other shooting sports. The center is often called the bullseye. Targets can for instance be made of paper, “self healing” rubber or steel. Paper targets may use a bright ink overlaid with a dark ink. When struck by a bullet, the contrast between the bright ink and the dark ink provides a visual enhancement in seeing where the target was struck. However, at longer ranges the strike is still not visible, which means a scope would need to be used to view the target or the user would need to get closer to the target.
As can be seen, there is a need for a target that provides a visual enhancement for viewing strikes at longer distances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a shooting target comprises: a backing layer comprising a front surface and a rear surface; a reflective layer comprising a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the reflective layer is adhered to the front surface of the backing layer; and an ink layer applied to the front surface of the reflective layer.
In another aspect of the present invention, a shooting target comprises: a reflective layer comprising a front surface and a rear surface; a film layer comprising a translucent sheet having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the film layer is coupled to the front surface of the reflective layer and a plurality of grooves are defined on the front surface of the film layer; and an ink layer applied to the front surface of the film layer.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention includes a shooting target that when struck by a bullet shatters the ink and exposes a reflective halo around the bullet hole. The reflective halo creates a vibrant reflective aura for a user to see from a distance. In certain embodiments, the target includes a substrate, reflective grooved structure on the substrate, and an ink layer on the reflective grooved structure such that the reflective grooved structure is positioned between the ink layer and the substrate. The ink layer at least partially defines a target image and is digitally printed on the film. The velocity of the bullet causes the reflective grooved structure, being more durable than the ink, to be exposed as a halo around the bullet penetration point. Tactical and Non-tactical target shooting becomes a lot more interesting as the holographic halo is exposed and sparkles like your shooting through metal.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention includes a shooting target 70. The shooting target 70 may include a backing layer 10, a reflective layer 30, and an ink layer 60. The backing layer 10 includes a front surface and a rear surface. The reflective layer 30 includes a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface of the reflective layer 30 is adhered to the front surface of the backing layer 10. The ink layer 60 is disposed over the front surface of the reflective layer 30.
The backing layer 10 may include a paper-based sheet for supporting the shooting target 70. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shooting target 110 may include a permanently adhered backing layer 10. Alternatively, the shooting target 120 may include a removable backing layer, in which the shooting target 120 may be adhered onto a separate substrate.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a film layer 40. The film layer 40 may be a translucent sheet having a front surface and a rear surface. The film layer 40 may be made of a polymer, such as polyester, polypropylene, and the like. The film layer 40 is adhered in between the ink layer 60 and the reflective layer 30. In certain embodiments, a plurality of grooves 50 are defined on the front surface of the film layer 40. The plurality of grooves 50 may be formed by heating a hot plate with grooves and pressing the hot plate against the front surface of the film layer 40, thereby melting grooves into the front surface of the film layer 40. The grooves may be parallel to one another and may be evenly spaced apart. The grooves provide for a holographic effect of the translucent sheet.
As mentioned above, the reflective layer 30 is adhered to the backing layer 10. For example, an adhesive layer 20 may adhere the reflective layer 30 to the backing layer 10. The reflective layer 30 may include a metal foil, such as a tin foil, aluminum foil, and the like. When a bullet penetrates the target 70, the reflective layer 30 and the film layer 40 are revealed, and light reflected by the reflective layer 30 is refracted by the film layer 40, causing a halo appearance around the bullet hole.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the target 70 may be a square shape. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the target 80 may be a circular shape. FIG. 2 further illustrates a bullet hole 130, the reflective layers 140 revealed from the bullet hole 130, and the shining halo 150 caused by reflection and refraction. FIG. 3 illustrates a target 30 that is circular with different markings. FIG. 4 illustrates a target 100 having a human shape.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shooting target comprising:

a backing layer comprising a front surface and a rear surface;

a reflective layer comprising a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the reflective layer is adhered to the front surface of the backing layer; and

an ink layer applied to the front surface of the reflective layer.

2. The shooting target of claim 1, further comprising a film layer comprising a translucent sheet having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the film layer is adhered in between the ink layer and the reflective layer.

3. The shooting target of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of grooves defined on the front surface of the film layer.

4. The shooting target of claim 2, wherein the film layer is made of one of a polyester and a polypropylene.

5. The shooting target of claim 1, wherein the ink layer is black with target markings.

6. The shooting target of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer adhering the reflective layer to the backing layer.

7. The shooting target of claim 1, wherein the reflective layer is a metal foil.

8. The shooting target of claim 7, wherein the metal foil is at least one of a tin foil and an aluminum foil.

9. The shooting target of claim 1, wherein the backing layer is a paper sheet.

10. A shooting target comprising:

a reflective layer comprising a front surface and a rear surface;

a film layer comprising a translucent sheet having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the film layer is coupled to the front surface of the the reflective layer and a plurality of grooves are defined on the front surface of the film layer; and

an ink layer applied to the front surface of the film layer.