REUSABLE SHOOTING TARGET

Abstract

A shooting target that can be reused multiple times and can also capture bullets hitting the target. The shooting target includes a base having a front face. Several spaced and upstanding tines protrude from the front face of the base. The tines are configured to retain the bullets hitting the shooting target.

Claims

1. A shooting target comprises: a base having a front face; and upstanding tines protrude from the front face of the base and distributed throughout the front face of the base, the tines configured to capture and retain a bullet hitting the shooting target.

2. The shooting target according to claim 1, wherein the bullet is captured within a plurality of adjacent tines.

3. The shooting target according to claim 1, wherein a length of the tines and spacing between adjacent tines is proportional to dimensions of a bullet that the shooting target can receive.

4. The shooting target according to claim 3, wherein the tines are about 1 cm in length and adjacent tines are spaced about 1 cm from each other.

5. The shooting target according to claim 3, wherein the tines are made of a material such as to absorb the shock of a bullet hitting the tines and flexible just enough to receive and retain the bullet without letting the bullet fall.

6. The shooting target according to claim 1, wherein the shooting target is divided into distinguishable regions.

7. The shooting target according to claim 6, wherein the distinguishable regions are having a different color.

8. The shooting target according to claim 1, wherein the base is made of rigid and durable material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 is the front face of the shooting target, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the shooting target, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0019] The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0020] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0021] The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or 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 will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

[0022] Disclosed is a shooting target for shooting practices that can be reused multiples times and can also capture the bullets hitting the shooting target. The bullets hitting the shooting target can both be tracked and retrieved. Referring to FIG. 1 which shows an exemplary embodiment of the shooting target 100. The shooting target 100 shown in FIG. 1 is round, however, shooting targets of any other shape are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the shooting target of a square shape or human outline is within the scope of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the front face of the base 110. Upstanding tines 120 protrudes perpendicularly from the front face of the base 110. Referring to FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the shooting target 100 showing multiple tines 120 that extend upwards from the front face of the base 110. The tines 120 can be provided throughout the surface of the base 110. The tines 120 are spaced at regular intervals from each other. The spacing between the tines and the length of the tines can be optimized based on the dimensions of a bullet and the approximate speed at which the bullet hits the target.

[0023] The bullets, particularly the low-energy bullets can be captured within a cluster of tines when the bullet hits the front face of the shooting target. Unlike known paper-based shooting targets wherein the bullet either penetrates or sputter, the disclosed shooting target can retain the bullets. The retained bullets can be tracked and retrieved from the shooting target. A bullet when hits the front face having upstanding tines, the bullet gets stuck in situ upon the first contact with the tines. Thus, the disclosed shooting target can provide a convenient and accurate way to track where the bullets hit the target.

[0024] The base can be made from a durable and rigid material, such as wood, plastic, or metal. Although the major portion of the shock of the bullet hitting the target can be absorbed by the tines, the durable base can withstand any remaining portion of the shock, thus having a longer life and multiple uses. The tines can be made from rubber that can be modified for additional strength to withstand the shock of a bullet hitting the target. For example, vulcanization is one of the known techniques to strengthen rubber material. It is to be understood that any material known to a skilled person that is rigid enough to withstand the shock of the bullet hitting the target and flexible just enough to capture and retain the bullet hitting the target without letting the bullet fall, such a material is within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the spacing and length of the tines may depend upon a number of factors including the material of the tines, the speed at which the bullet hits the target, and the dimensions of the bullet. Considering such factors, the space and length of the tines can be tailored. The disclosed shooting target can easily stop and catch low-energy bullets from air guns, BB guns, slingshots, and like. In one case, the shooting target can have the tines of length about 1 cm and spacing between adjacent tines can be about 1 mm tailored for bullet pellets having dimensions of about 4.3-4.4 mm (0.171-0.173 inch) diameter and weigh 0.33-0.35 g. The tines can be made long enough such that the bullet hitting the target comes in contact with the tines, and the kinetic energy of the bullet gradually decreases down to zero before hitting the roots of the tines or the front face of the base. This allows the bullet to be captured and retained without any damage to the base.

[0025] The shooting target can be divided into several regions wherein the tines can be densely distributed throughout the front face of the base. The different regions can be separated by an outline and different regions can have different colors. Such patterns are known to a skilled person for use in shooting targets, and any such pattern or design is within the scope of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the shooting target having concentric circles of increasing diameter wherein the center of the round shooting target can be the bull eye. FIG. 1 also shows bullet 130 captured by the shooting target 100. FIG. 2 shows the bullet 130 stuck within the tines 120. It is to be understood that the invention has been described as a base having spaced upstanding tines densely distributed throughout the front face of the base, however, the base can have more than one board or layer. For example, the tines may extend from a layer that is supported on the board.

[0026] To view the shooting target positioned far from the shooter, a camera can be provided that can capture the shooting target and provide the image of the shooting target on a display device near the shooter. For example, the display can be of a monitor or smartphone. The user can check the image to know where the bullet hit on the target.

[0027] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.