US3744796A - Holder for mobile target - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile practice target comprises a pattern of tracks which enables a carriage to be moved at different speeds and in opposite directions, in a random manner. A target is mounted in the carriage to simulate the movement of a wild animal, such as a rabbit. When a gunshot strikes the target, it is released to simulate the striking of the animal.

Description

United States Patent 91 Renault [111 3,744,796 July 10, 1973 HOLDER FOR MOBILE TARGET [76] Inventor: Norbert Emmanuel Renault, Rue des Princes, Combourg, France [22] Filed: Mar. 23, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 237,282

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 30, 1971 France 7112006 52 U.S.Cl. ..27s 10s.2,273/1o2.1c 51 lm. Cl ..F4lj9/02 5s FieldotSearch 273/1021 R, 102.10,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,385,724 9/1945 Olson 273/l02.l C

2,503,877 4/1950 Kuemmerlein 273/102.l C 2,510,380 6/l950 Clifford 273/l05.2 2,968,337

l/l96l Bartlett 272/55 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney Irwin C. Alter, .I Warren Whitesel et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A mobile practice target comprises a pattern of tracks which enables a carriage to be moved at different speeds and in opposite directions, in a random manner. A target is mounted in the carriage to simulate the movement of a wild animal, such as a rabbit. When a gunshot strikes the target, it is released to simulate the striking of the animal.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HOLDER FOR MOBILE TARGET The present invention relates to a holder for mobile target designed for shooting practice and particularly for rabbit target shooting practice with environmental conditions as similar as possible to those occuring when actually shooting rabbit.

In known shooting simulation systems such as the pigeon shooting, the target representing the pigeon is tossed by a ball-trap up and describes in the air a substantially parabolic trajectory. Parabola parameters are fully determined by the initial velocity applied to the target from the ball-trap and by the ball-trap elevation angle. During the flight, it is therefore no longer possible to change the trajectory curve. To avoid that drawback, the ball-trap is given several possible initial con ditions so as to offer numerous trajectories, trajectory selection being performed just before the target release. Obviously, however, the greater the possible trajectory number is, the more expensive the balltrap and control thereof are, to such a point that pigeon shooting is still considered as a sport of luxury. Lastly, shootings being made upward, it is necessary to provide, for security purposes, an adequate clearance behind targets with the result that a pigeon ball-trap may be installed only in rather remote places, unless protective devices are added thereto which still increases costs.

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a shooting system which recalls at best certain hunting conditions, which is not too expensive and which may be installed without danger in any field, for example about hundred meters long and about 50 meters wide, or even smaller. The simulated hunting is the rabbit hunting; thus shootings are toward ground. A target representing a rabbit may be moved along a pattern made of a runway, but target speed may be controlled at any time and in any point of the runway. The target may be moved on the runway in both directions and turned back at any time.

According to a feature of the present invention, there is provided a target, having substantially an actual size, mounted on a holder secured to a carriage, the said holder comprising a plate on which mounted are a front spring and a rear spring, each of the said springs having a curved branch with a point-shaped end, and latching means, the target shown to the shooter being supported by the said spring points and kept in that position by the latching means, and a hit to the target triggering the latching means so that the said spring points release the target.

According to another feature of the present invention, the rear spring is fixed while the front spring is pivotably mounted on the plate, the second end of the pivotable front spring being engaged with a rest integral with the target and forming together with the said rest the said latching means, the said rest being moved as a result of a hit to the target so as to release the pivitable front spring, the point of which ceases to support the target which is ejected forwards due to the rear spring force.

According to another feature of the invention, the said front and rear springs are fixed and a third spring is mounted between the plate and the target and pushes the target upwards, the said latching means comprising the front spring point having a bond with the target weaker than the bond between the rear spring point and the target so as to be typically released the first when the target is subject to a hit and to enable the target to jump forwardly due to the combined action of the rear spring and the third spring.

According to another feature of the invention, the said holder comprises, in addition to the plate, an axis supporting the said plate and which secures the holder to the carriage, the said axis being rotatable when operated by turning means secured to the carriage.

According to another feature of this invention, turning means control is coupled to carriage direction reversing means control so that any carriage direction reversal immediately results in turning the target.

According to another feature of the invention, the target turning means comprises an electromagnet and helical guides, the said axis including an electromagnetic portion constituting the electromagnet plunger and being provided with two pins engaged in the helical guides so that, the electromagnet being not operated, the axis due to a return force rotates down guided by its pins sliding on the helical guides up to positioning in bottom condition the target parallel to the carriage runway direction, and that, the electromagnet being operated, the plunger drives up the axis which rotates in the helical guides up to positioning in top condition the target also parallel to the carriage runway direction, but reversely.

According to another feature of the invention, the carriage is moved by a reversible DC electric motor secured to the carriage, the runway rails serving to supply DC current, a voltage polarity change applied to the said rails resulting in reversing the carriage direction, and one of the electromagnet terminal being directly connected to one of the rails while the second electromagnet terminal is connected to the second rail via a diode so that, for one polarity, the electromagnet is operated and that, for the other polarity, the electromagnet is not operated.

According to another feature of the invention, the runway is at a lower level than the ground so as to let only the target visible to the shooter side.

Other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of embodiments, the said description being made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a shcematic view of the assembly of a target, a holder and a carriage, according to this invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder according to this invention,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rest used as latching means in the holder shown in the FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of direction reversing means used in the holder shown in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another holder according to this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a rabbit-shaped target 1 carried by a holder 2 above a carriage 3 to which holder 2 is secured to. The carriage 3 is movable on rails 4 in lower level trench 5, either dug in ground 6 or natural. The height of holder 2 is such that, in areas where shooting is foreseen, target 1 appears at the ground level to the shooter, that is to people who sees target 1 in the direction of arrow F. Reversely, in other areas, the target may entirely disappear from shooter sight.

Carriage 3 may be moved by any adequate device. However, if the rail pattern or runway 4 includes curves, which is desirable for better simulating the rabbit hunting, it may be provided a carriage moved with an initial speed, then moved by accumulated motional energy, or preferably, if direction reversing possibilities are provided, a self-propelled carriage. In this respect, a reversible conventional or linear, DC or AC electric motor may be provided for. In the following, for simplicity, assumption will be made that carriage 3 is moved by a DC electric motor, two of the wheels of carriage 3 being also used for passing current from rails 4. While, in the FIG. 1, rails 4 are both represented in horizontal plane, obviously they may also be in a vertical plane when derailments, possibly caused by centrifugal effect in curves, should be avoided.

To achieve a very realistic simulation of rabbit moves, as the motor enable carriage move direction to be reversed, holder 2 comprises rotatable means which returns target 1 each time carriage move is reversed so that target 1 always runs with head in front. Assumption will be made that rails 4 are connected to a DC power supply source by means of a switch able to switch polarities applied to rails 4.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed embodiment of holder 2 and returning means thereof, according to this invention. Holder 2 comprises three parts: a fixed rear spring 7, which is illustrated as a coil-spring, but which may be of any type of spring applying a force along arrow F1 to the rear of target 1; a front spring pivotally mounted around an axis 9 and able to apply to target 1 a force along arrow F2 by means of its pointed end 10 while its end 1 1 is resting against a rest area 12, as shown in FIG. 3, integral with target 1; a plate 13, onto which secured are axis 9 and spring 7, carried by a vertical axis 14. Returning means comprise the electromagnet coil with a plunger and the helical guide 16, axis 14 passing through coil 15 and guide 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, point 10 of spring 8 is engaged in a small recess 17 of a flat surface 18 integral with target I. Free end of spring 7 is also ended by a point which is similarly engaged in a recess of the rear flat surface of target I. If assumption is made that end 11 of 8 is held fixed, target 1 is being elastically hanged between its two flat surfaces and forces applied thereto by springs 7 and 8 are sufficient for holding target 1 even in curves, because assuming that the target is made of plastic material or of any other light material, target inertia is low. Connection of 11 with 8 also avoids any roll of l in curves.

It will be now described what occurs when target 1 is reached by a fowling-piece shot, for example. Target 1, having a very low inertia, will be horizontally pushed back in the direction of arrow F and, due to flexibility of springs 7 and 8, will remain hung up by them as long as connection between end 11 of 8 and rest 12 of l is not released. Such a connection will be explained with more details hereafter in conjunction with FIG. 3. Then spring 8 pivots and no longer pushed onto 18 while force of 7 is still applied. The rabbit is forwardly ejected down which better simulates the reality when the actual hit rabbit rolls on the ground. In order to bring target 1, when fallen, back to the starting point thereof, a wire 19 binds target I to plate 13. Of course, if direction of both target 1 and plate 13 has been reversed, the process is the same.

FIG. 3 shows end 11 of spring 8 engaged in concave rest surface 12 of a stud, for example projecting out of the envelope of target 1. If the hit target is moved in the direction of arrow F, end 11 is released from 12. Obviously, any other releasable latching means may be also used.

Axis 14 passes through coil 15 and, below 15, includes an electromagnetic portion 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Lastly, lower end of 14 carries pins 21, FIG. 4, which may slide in helical ramps of guide 16. Ramps 22, of which one is shown in FIG. 2 and symbolized in FIG. 4, cause axis 14 to rotate when it is lifted up or down. Lifting up of axis 14 is caused by energization of coil 15 which makes plunger 20 up. If current flowing through 15 is suppressed, a return force causes axis 14 to fall down. Such a return force may be provided by the holder weight alone or, when such a weight is not enough, by a return spring, not shown, pulling holder 2 downward. The length of helical ramps 22 is such that the angle difference is of between bottom and top positions of axis 14. As coil 15 operates inherently as a digital device, there is no intermediate position.

Electric power supply circuit for coil 14, of which two leads are schematically shown in 23, is connected to power supply of the motor of carriage 3 in such a manner that, in one motor power supply direction, the current passes through coil 14 while, in the other motor power supply direction, no current passes through it. In this case, for blocking the current a diode may be provided on one of the leads 23 with a suitable bias direction.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the holder shown in FIG. 2. On plate 13 mounted are a fixed rear spring 7, a fixed front spring 24 and a third fixed spring 25. Spring 24 applies, as spring 8, a force to 18 along F2. The third spring 25 tends to lift target 1 up along arrow F3 and constitutes a component of latching means precluding the target from rolling. The rest of the latching means comprises the point of 24 and the flat surface 18 between which the bond is weaker than between the point of 7 and rear flat surface 18 of 1. Thus, when the target is hit, bond 24-18 is the first released and, under action of springs 7 and 25, the target jumps forward to better simulate the manner as a hit rabbit rolls on the ground.

Also, as a modification, target 1 is bound by means of a flexible wire 28 to the end of a stick 29 secured to tha carriage by its bottom end. Stick 29, shown in profile in FIG. 5, is purposed for holding the fallen rabbit away from the carriage and so avoiding any possible jamming of the target hauled behind carriage 3.

It is also to be noted that DC power supply of rails 4 may also be achieved through a rheostat for varying carriage speed and improving movement simulation.

As shown in FIG. 1, provisions are made for protecting carriage 3 and holder 2 against gun-shots, shooted in the direction of arrow F, by a material strip stopping shots and vertically arranged in the right side of the bank, a strip cross-section appearing in 30. However, if plate 13 or holding springs were damaged, plate 13 could removed by providing an interlocking connection between 13 and axis 14.

While the present invention has been hereabove described in relation with specific embodiments, it must be understood that the said description has only been made by way of example and is not a limitation on the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A holder for a mobile target designed for shooting practice comprising:

a. a movable carrier,

b. a holder means for mounting said targer on said movable carrier,

0. said holder further including a plate on which front and rear springs are mounted,

d. each of springs having a curved branch with a sharp point at the end thereof,

e. said sharp pointed ends engaging opposite sides of said target for biasingly holding and supporting said target in a position facing a person who is shooting at the target,

f. latch means for holding said springs in a biased equilibruim position which presents said target to the shooter,

g. and said latch means being responsive to a gunshot hit upon the target disturbing said equilibrium and enabling said springs to release said target.

2. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 1 wherein said rear spring is fixed and said front spring is pivotally mounted on the said plate, and a second end of the pivoting front spring engaging a rest integral with the target, said second end and said rest cooperating to form said latch means, the said rest being moved away from said spring responsive to a gunshot hitting the target so as to release the pivoting front spring, the point of which thereupon ceases to support the target which is ejected due to the rear spring force.

3. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 1 wherein said front and rear springs are fixed, and means comprising a third spring mounted between said plate and the target for pushing the target upward, said latch means comprising the front spring point having a bond with the target which is weaker than the bond between the rear spring point and the target so that said target is typically released from the first spring when the target is hit, said target jumping forward responsive to the combined action of the rear spring and the third spring.

4. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 1 wherein said holder comprises, in addition to the plate, an axis supporting said plate for securing the holder to the carriage and turning means secured to the carriage for rotating said axis.

5. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 4 and means for controlling said turning means, said control means being coupled to the carriage for immediately turning the target responsive to reversing the direction of carriage travel.

6. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 5 wherein the target turning means comprises an electromagnet and helical guide ways, the said axis including an electromagnetic plunger having two pins engaged in the helical guides, and return means operative when said electromagnetic means is not energized for moving said pins in said guide ways to position the target parallel to the direction of said carriage movement, and means responsive to energization and operation of the electromagnet means for lifting the axis which rotates the pins in the helical guide ways to position the target parallel to the carriage movement in a reverse direction.

7. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 6, and means comprising a reversible DC electric motor for moving said carriage, means including runway rails for said carriage to move over, said rails serving to supply DC current to said motor, means for reversing the voltage polarity applied to the said rails for reversing the direction of carriage movement, one of the electromagnet terminals being directly connected to one of the two rails and a second electromagnet terminal being connected to the second rail via a diode so that, for one polarity, the electromagnet is energized and that, for the reverse polarity, the electromagnet is not energized.

Claims (7)

1. A holder for a mobile target designed for shooting practice comprising: a. a movable carrier, b. a holder means for mounting said target on said movable carrier, c. said holder further including a plate on which front and rear springs are mounted, d. each of said springs having a curved branch with a sharp point at the end thereof, e. said sharp pointed ends engaging opposite sides of said target for biasingly holding and supporting said target in a position facing a person who is shooting at the target, f. latch means for holding said springs in a biased equilibruim position which presents said target to the shooter, g. and said latch means being responsive to a gunshot hit upon the target disturbing said equilibrium and enabling said springs to release said target.

2. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 1 wherein said rear spring is fixed and said front spring is pivotally mounted on the said plate, and a second end of the pivoting front spring engaging a rest integral with the target, said second end and said rest cooperating to form said latch means, the said rest being moved away from said spring responsive to a gunshot hitting the target so as to release the pivoting front spring, the point of which thereupon ceases to support the target which is ejected due to the rear spring fOrce.

3. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 1 wherein said front and rear springs are fixed, and means comprising a third spring mounted between said plate and the target for pushing the target upward, said latch means comprising the front spring point having a bond with the target which is weaker than the bond between the rear spring point and the target so that said target is typically released from the first spring when the target is hit, said target jumping forward responsive to the combined action of the rear spring and the third spring.

4. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 1 wherein said holder comprises, in addition to the plate, an axis supporting said plate for securing the holder to the carriage and turning means secured to the carriage for rotating said axis.

5. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 4 and means for controlling said turning means, said control means being coupled to the carriage for immediately turning the target responsive to reversing the direction of carriage travel.

6. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 5 wherein the target turning means comprises an electromagnet and helical guide ways, the said axis including an electromagnetic plunger having two pins engaged in the helical guides, and return means operative when said electromagnetic means is not energized for moving said pins in said guide ways to position the target parallel to the direction of said carriage movement, and means responsive to energization and operation of the electromagnet means for lifting the axis which rotates the pins in the helical guide ways to position the target parallel to the carriage movement in a reverse direction.

7. A holder for a mobile target according to the claim 6, and means comprising a reversible DC electric motor for moving said carriage, means including runway rails for said carriage to move over, said rails serving to supply DC current to said motor, means for reversing the voltage polarity applied to the said rails for reversing the direction of carriage movement, one of the electromagnet terminals being directly connected to one of the two rails and a second electromagnet terminal being connected to the second rail via a diode so that, for one polarity, the electromagnet is energized and that, for the reverse polarity, the electromagnet is not energized.

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