WO2023223201A1

WO2023223201A1 - Reset device for targets

Info

Publication number: WO2023223201A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/055025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Stefano SOGLIA
Original assignee: Soglia Angelo Stefano
Priority date: 2022-05-17
Filing date: 2023-05-16
Publication date: 2023-11-23
Also published as: IT202200010268A1

Abstract

Reset device for targets, compri sing a supporting frame, a reset member connected to the frame and rotatable relative thereto around a first axis, the reset member having a first retaining element and a second retaining element, actuation means being operable to rotate the reset member around said first axis in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction, characteri zed by comprising at least one first target hinged to the reset member and freely rotatable relative thereto around a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis, between a first end position defined relative to the reset member by the first retaining element and a second end position defined relative to the reset member by the second retaining element.

Description

RESET DEVICE FOR TARGETS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a reset device for targets . In particular, the present invention refers to a reset device for targets of the "pepper" type which is applied in the sport discipline of dynamic shooting .

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

In the field of sport target shooting, the discipline of dynamic shooting is spreading more and more . Said discipline is practiced on a special course along which various targets are arranged : each athlete is required to move along the course in the shortest possible time , hitting all the targets by using a firearm with which it is equipped .

The targets to be hit have di f ferent dimensions and characteristics , so as to limit the repetitiveness of the exercise and test all the di f ferent characteristic skills of the shooters , such as , for example , precision and speed of execution .

A particular type of target used in the discipline of dynamic shooting is represented by the so-called "pepper" , namely, a small square metal plate , whose side is about ten centimetres long, hinged along a hori zontal axis to a supporting frame , so as to be able to take a vertical position in which it is exposed to the view of the shooter and a hori zontal position in which it is hidden . Along the shooting path, the pepper is initially presented in the vertical position, and therefore it is visible to the athlete , whereas , when it is hit it flips down, taking the hori zontal position . The peppers are usually placed in groups in which they are arranged side by side , so as to train the ability of the athlete to perform multiple shots in rapid sequence .

Some types of pepper have a reset system designed to bring the plate back from the hori zontal position to the vertical position, re-presenting the same target to the shooter after the first time it has been shot down and further expanding the possibilities of fered by a shooting path . Said systems generally comprise linear actuators having a first end connected to the supporting frame and a second end connected to the plate , so as to be able to control the li fting of the target once it has been shot down .

However, it is clear that said solution has some drawbacks . In the first place , in fact , the linear actuator must necessari ly be close to the shooting line of the athlete , and is therefore subj ect to the risk of being hit by a proj ectile and becoming damaged . Furthermore , said solution provides for the use of an actuator for each target , even when several peppers side by side are provided, making the overall system rather expensive and complicated to manage .

An alternative solution for resetting peppers is described in document US 2008023915 Al : said solution, which makes use of an inclined transversal conveyor belt on which the targets are mounted, is however mechanically complicated, and therefore expensive and more prone to breakdowns .

The problem of obtaining a reset device for targets of the pepper type which is simple to manage and inexpensive is currently unsolved, and represents an interesting challenge for the Applicant .

In consideration of the situation described above , it would be desirable to have an inexpensive and practical solution that allows to limit , and possibly overcome , the typical drawbacks of the state of the art .

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reset device for targets . In particular, the present invention refers to a reset device for targets of the "pepper" type which finds application in the sport discipline of dynamic shooting . The drawbacks set forth above are solved by the present invention according to at least one of the following claims .

According to some embodiments of the present invention a reset device for targets is provided, comprising a supporting frame , a reset member connected to said frame and rotatable relative thereto around a first axis , said reset member having a first retaining element and a second retaining element , actuation means being operable to rotate said reset member around said first axis in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction, characteri zed by comprising at least a first target hinged to said reset member and freely rotatable relative thereto around a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis , between a first end pos ition defined relative to said reset member by said first retaining element and a second end position defined relative to said reset member by said second retaining element .

According to an embodiment as described above , said first retaining element and said second retaining element are structured respectively as a first surface and a second surface which define a seat therebetween, said at least one first target being freely rotatable inside said seat between said first position, in which said at least one first target is resting on said first surface , and said second position, in which said at least one first target is resting on said second surface . According to an embodiment as described above , said first surface and said second surface are flat and parallel to said first axis , and form a right angle therebetween .

According to an embodiment as described above , said device comprises a second target hinged to said reset member and freely rotatable relative thereto around said second axis , said second target being rotatable inside said seat between said first surface and said second surface .

According to an embodiment as described above , said actuation means comprise a linear actuator having a first end connected to said frame and a second end connected to said reset member .

According to an embodiment as described above , said actuation means are operable to rotate said reset member between a first operating configuration in which said first position defined by said first retaining element coincides with a display position of said at least one first target , and a second operating configuration in which said first position defined by said first retaining element coincides with a reset position of said at least one first target .

According to an embodiment as described above , said frame has a first abutment portion designed to define a third intermediate position of said at least one first target relative to said reset member when said reset member is arranged in said first operating configuration, said third position being defined between said first position and said second position .

According to an embodiment as described above , said device comprises a signaller hinged to said reset member and freely rotatable relative thereto around said second axis , said signaller being designed to rest on said first abutment portion when said reset member takes said first configuration .

According to an embodiment as described above , said device comprises a signalling device designed to signal the correct reset of said targets .

According to an embodiment as described above , said signalling device comprises a s ignaller hinged to said reset member and freely rotatable relative thereto around said second axis , said signalling device being designed to rest on said first abutment portion when said reset member takes said first configuration .

According to an embodiment as described above , said device comprises remote control means designed to selectively activate said actuation means . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the device according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, set forth with reference to the attached figures which illustrate at least one non-limiting embodiment thereof . In particular :

- Figure 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a preferred non-limiting embodiment of a device according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a detail of Figure 1 , from a di f ferent point of view;

- Figure 3 is a side elevation view of Figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Number 1 , in Figure 1 , denotes as a whole a reset device for targets of the "pepper" type , which finds application in the sport discipline of dynamic shooting . In use , the device 1 rests on a flat hori zontal surface S , and comprises a supporting frame 2 and a reset member 3 connected to the frame 2 so as to be freely rotatable relative thereto around a first hori zontal axis A.

In detail , the frame 2 is made up of four rods 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 connected to one another at their respective ends so as to form a rectangular structure resting on the surface S . In particular, the first rod 21 is paral lel to the second rod 22 , and the third rod 23 is parallel to the fourth rod 24 . Respectively in the middle of the length of the third rod 23 and of the fourth rod 24 suspension means are arranged configured to support the reset member 3 at the respective ends , which is therefore freely rotatable around the first axis A that is substantially parallel to the f irst rod 21 and to the second rod 22 .

Preferably, the reset member 3 has an elongated shape and extends parallel to the first axis A, being supported between the third rod 23 and the fourth rod 24 , and has a longitudinal seat 31 delimited by a first surface 32 and a second surface 33 , better shown in Figure 2 . Preferably, the first surface 32 and the second surface 33 are flat and parallel to the first axis A, and form a right angle therebetween which defines the seat 31 . In particular, the reset member 3 can be shaped like an L- shaped profile arranged along the first axis A, where the two sides of the profile coincide with the first surface 32 and the second surface 33 , respectively, the seat 31 being defined by the right angle between the two sides of the profile .

With reference to Figure 2 , targets 4 are hinged to the reset member 3 , which are therefore freely rotatable relative to the reset member 3 around a second axis B hori zontal and parallel to the first axis A. In particular, each target 4 comprises a support rod 41 hinged at one end to the reset member 3 , and to a preferably circular metal plate 42 carried by the opposite end of the support rod 41 . Each support rod 41 is preferably hinged to the reset member 3 on the bottom of the seat 31 : in this way the rotational movement of each target 4 around the second axis B relative to the reset member 3 is limited inside the seat 31 by the first surface 32 , which defines a first end position for the target 4 relative to the reset member 3 , and by the second surface 33 , which defines a second end position for the target 4 relative to the reset member 3 . In particular, the target 4 takes the first position relative to to the reset member 3 when it is resting on the first surface 32 , whereas it takes the second position relative to the reset member 3 when it is resting on the second surface 33 .

It should be emphasi zed that the first position and the second position of the target 4 are defined in relation exclusively to the reset member 3 . Consequently, as the configuration of the reset member 3 varies , which is rotatable relative to the frame 2 , the first position can coincide , relative to the frame 2 and to the surface S , for example with a vertical display position or with a hori zontal reset position .

It is clear how the first surface 31 and the second surface 32 can be replaced by other retaining elements configured to limit the rotational movement of the targets 4 around the second axis B relative to the reset member 3 , defining a first end pos ition and a second end position for each of the targets 4 relative to the reset member 3 .

It is also clear that the targets 4 can be in any number, even j ust one , and that each of them can be hinged to the reset member 3 along di f ferent rotation axes , as long as they are substantially parallel to one another .

The various support rods 41 can have respective lengths di f ferent from one another, so that the respective metal plates 42 are arranged at di f ferent heights relative to the surface S .

Furthermore , preferably, the various support rods 41 are hinged to the reset member 3 at irregular intervals along the second axis B , so that the respective metal plates 42 are arranged in an irregular manner also parallel to the first axis A. For this purpose , the reset member 3 can have a plurality of fixing seats 34 arranged to reversibly couple with the fixing means 35 , which fix the various support rods 41 to the reset member 3 leaving the same freely rotatable around the second axis B . In this way the various support rods 41 can be arranged as desired along the second axis B .

Again, with reference to Figure 1 , the device 1 comprises actuation means 5 which can be selectively operable to rotate the reset member 3 relative to the frame 2 around the first axis A. In particular, the actuation means 5 comprise a linear actuator 5 having a first end connected to the frame 2 , for example to the third rod 23 , and a second end connected to the reset member 3 . In this way the actuation means 5 can rotate the reset member 3 relative to the frame 2 around to the first axis A both in the clockwise direction SO and in the counterclockwise direction SA, between a first operating configuration and a second operating configuration .

In the first operating configuration, shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 3 , the first surface 32 forms a small angle relative to the vertical direction, so that each target 4 , when it is in the first position relative to the reset member 3 and therefore resting on the first surface 32 , it takes a display position in which it also forms a small angle with the vertical , resulting clearly visible to the shooter .

The second operating configuration is not shown in the figure , but can be obtained from the first operating configuration of Figure 2 simply with a 90 ° rotation in the clockwi se direction SO of the reset member 3 relative to the frame 2 around the first axis A. In this way each target 4 , when it is in the first position relative to the reset member 3 and therefore resting on the first surface 32 , takes a reset position in which it is arranged substantially hori zontally .

With reference to Figure 3 , the first rod 21 also acts as a first abutment portion, which, when the reset member 3 is arranged in the first operating configuration, defines a third intermediate position between the first position and the second position for each target 4 relative to the reset member 3 , limiting the possibility of rotation of the targets 4 and in particular preventing them from taking the respective second position in contact with the second surface 33 .

Optionally, the second rod 22 also acts as a second abutment portion, which, when the reset member 3 is arranged in the second operating configuration, defines a fourth intermediate position between the first position and the second position for each target 4 relative to the the reset member 3 , limiting the possibility of rotation of the targets 4 and in particular preventing them from taking the respective first position in contact with the first surface 33 , namely, the reset position .

In more detail , the targets 4 take said third and fourth positions relative to the reset member 3 when they rest on the first rod 21 and on the second rod 22 , respectively .

Again, with reference to Figure 1 , the device 1 comprises , furthermore , a signalling device designed to signal the correct reset of the targets 4 . The signalling device comprises a signaller 6 hinged to the reset member 3 , so as to al so be freely rotatable relative to the reset member 3 around the second axis B or around an axis substantially parallel thereto . In particular, the signaller 6 comprises a support rod 61 hinged at one end to the reset member 3 , and a plate 62 carried by the opposite end of the support rod 61 . The support rod 61 i s hinged to the reset member 3 on the bottom of the seat 31 : in this way the rotational movement of the signaller 6 around the second axis B relative to the reset member 3 is limited inside the seat 31 by the first surface 32 , which defines a first end position for the signaller 6 relative to the reset member 3 , and by the second surface 33 , which defines a second end position for the signaller 6 relative to the reset member 3 . In particular, the signaller 6 takes the first position relative to the reset member 3 when it is resting on the f irst surface

32 , whereas it takes the second position relative to the reset member 3 when it is resting on the second surface

33 , exactly like the targets 4 .

The signaller 6 is shaped so as to have a centre of gravity slightly more shi fted towards the first rod 21 than the targets 4 . In this way, when the reset member 3 takes the first conf iguration, the balance position of the signaller 6 is resting on the first rod 21 , and not resting on the first surface 32 as for the targets 4 .

The device 1 further comprises remote control means , not shown in the figure , configured to selectively operate the actuation means 5 , triggering the clockwise rotation SO or the counter-clockwise rotation SA of the reset member 3 relative to the frame 2 around the first axis A. The operation of the device 1 is easily understandable from what has been described above and does not require particular explanations .

However, it may be useful to speci fy that the device 1 initially appears as in Figure 1 , with the reset member 3 in the first configuration, the targets 4 in the first position and therefore in the display position and the signaller 6 resting on the first rod 21 .

The shooter, who is located relative to the targets 4 in the direction identi fied by the second rod 22 , is required to hit the metal plates 42 of the targets 4 in sequence . When one of the metal plates 42 is hit , the inertia of the shot causes a rotation in counterclockwise direction SA of the corresponding target 4 around the second axis B relative to the reset member 3 (which instead remains stationary relative to the frame 2 ) , and said target 4 rests on the first rod 21 thus taking the third pos ition described above and is hidden from the view of the shooter .

Since the target 4 , once knocked down, rests on the first rod 21 and not on the second surface 33 , there is no impact on the latter which could also cause the knocking down of other targets 4 still in the exposed position . When all the targets 4 have been shot down, or when even only a part of them has been shot down, the reset cycle is operated by means of the remote control means .

The actuation means 5 initially rotate the reset member 3 around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in the clockwise direction SO, therefore in the direction of the second configuration . In this way, the second surface 33 is brought into contact with the downed targets 4 and the signaller 6 , which are , as mentioned, is resting on the first rod 21 : in this way the downed targets 4 and the signaller 6 take , relative to the reset member 3 , the second position described above , namely, resting on the second surface 33 .

By continuing the rotation of the reset member 3 around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in the clockwise direction SO, the targets 4 and the signaller 6 also begin to rotate around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in the clockwise direction SO, driven by the second surface 33 on which they are now resting .

During the clockwise rotation SO, when the centre of gravity of a target 4 exceeds the vertical of the point where it is hinged to the reset member 3 , the force of gravity causes the rotation of said target 4 around the second axis B relative to the reset member 3 in the clockwise direction SO : the target 4 then detaches from the second surface 33 and rests on the second rod 22 thus taking the fourth position described above . In a similar way, again following the rotation of the reset member 3 around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in the clockwise direction SO, the signaller 6 also rests on the second rod 22 .

When the reset member 3 reaches the second configuration, all the targets 4 are in the fourth position, namely, resting on the second rod 22 , and the signaller 6 i s also resting on the second rod 22 .

At this point , the action of the actuation means 5 is reversed, and the reset member 3 is rotated around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in a counterclockwise direction SA, therefore in the direction of the first configuration . In this way, the first surface 32 is brought into contact with the targets 4 and with the signaller 6 which rest on the second rod 22 : the targets 4 and the s ignaller 6 thus take the first described above position relative to the reset member 3 , namely, resting on the first surface 32 .

By continuing the rotation of the reset member 3 around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in a counterclockwise direction SA, the targets 4 and the signaller 6 also rotate around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in a counter-clockwise direction SA, driven by the first surface 32 on which they rest .

The rotation of the reset member 3 around the first axis A relative to the frame 2 in a counter-clockwise direction SA stops when the reset member 3 reaches the first configuration : the signaller 6 , as already mentioned, rests on the first rod 21 signalling the correct completion of the reset cycle , while the targets 4 remain in the first position, namely in the display position .

On the basis of what has been described above , it is easy to understand that the device 1 is perfectly capable of solving the drawbacks of the state of the art illustrated above .

In fact , the device 1 is simple to manage and inexpensive , since it can make use of a single linear actuator to restore a plurality of targets , said actuator being able to be arranged even well away from the shooting line of the athletes .

Claims

1. Reset device (1) for targets (4) , comprising a supporting frame (2) , a reset member (3) connected to said frame (2) and rotatable relative thereto around a first axis (A) , said reset member (3) having a first retaining element (32) and a second retaining element (33) , actuation means (5) being operable to rotate said reset member (3) around said first axis (A) in a clockwise direction (SO) and in a counter-clockwise direction (SA) , characterised by comprising at least a first target (4) hinged to said reset member (3) and freely rotatable relative thereto around a second axis (B) substantially parallel to said first axis (A) , between a first end position defined relative to said reset member (3) by said first retaining element (32) and a second end position defined relative to said reset member (3) by said second retaining element (33) .

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first retaining element (32) and said second retaining element (33) are structured respectively as a first surface (32) and a second surface (33) that define therebetween a seat (31) , said at least one first target (4) being freely rotatable inside said seat (31) between said first position, in which said at least one first target (4) is resting on said first surface (32) , and said second position, in which said at least one first target (4) is resting on said second surface (33) .

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said first surface (32) and said second surface (33) are flat and parallel to said first axis (A) , and form therebetween a right angle.

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterised by comprising a second target (4) hinged to said reset member (3) and freely rotatable relative thereto around said second axis (B) , said second target (4) being rotatable inside said seat (31) between said first surface (32) and said second surface (33) .

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said actuation means (5) comprise a linear actuator (5) having a first end connected to said frame (2) and a second end connected to said reset member (3) .

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said actuation means (5) are operable to rotate said reset member (3) between a first operating configuration in which said first position defined by said first retaining element (32) coincides with a display position of said at least one first target (4) , and a second operating configuration in which said first position defined by said first retaining element (32) coincides with a reset position of said at least one first target (4) .

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that said frame (2) has a first abutment portion (21) designed to define a third intermediate position of said at least one first target (4) relative to said reset member (3) when said reset member (3) is arranged in said first operating configuration, said third position being defined between said first position and said second position .

8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by comprising a signalling device designed to signal correct reset of said targets (4) .

9. Device (1) according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 7, characterised in that said signalling device comprises a signaller (6) hinged to said reset member (3) and freely rotatable relative thereto around said second axis (B) , said signaller (6) being designed to rest on said first abutment portion (21) when said reset member (3) takes said first configuration.

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by comprising remote control means designed to selectively activate said actuation means (5) .