FIRING TARGET FOR FIREARMS SHOOTING TRAINING

Abstract

A firing target for firearms shooting training including a bullet collecting casing having a lattice structure disposed inside the bullet collecting casing in front of a rear wall thereof, which lattice structure is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of incident bullets and includes at least a first series of deflecting plates designed to deflect the trajectory of the incident bullets, with the first series of deflecting plates arranged according to a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall. The firing target further includes a protective screen placed in front of the lattice structure of the bullet collecting casing, on the trajectory of the incident bullets, and designed to halt any bullet fragments. The lattice structure includes at least a second series of deflecting plates arranged according to a second inclined plane relative to the rear wall and arranged between the first series of deflecting plates and the rear wall.

Claims

1.-50. (canceled)

51. A firing target for firearms shooting training comprising a bullet collecting casing, said bullet collecting casing comprising a lattice structure disposed inside the bullet collecting casing in front of a rear wall of the bullet collecting casing, which lattice structure is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of incident bullets and includes at least a first series of deflecting plates designed to deflect a trajectory of the incident bullets, which first series of deflecting plates is arranged according to a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall, the firing target further comprising a protective screen placed in front of the lattice structure of the bullet collecting casing, on the trajectory of the incident bullets, and designed to halt any bullet fragments produced upon the bullets impacting the lattice structure, wherein the lattice structure includes at least a second series of deflecting plates arranged according to a second inclined plane relative to the rear wall and distinct from the first inclined plane, which second series of deflecting plates is disposed between the first series of deflecting plates and the rear wall.

52. The firing target according to claim 51, wherein the first and second series of deflecting plates are arranged such that the incident bullets are not able to impact directly the rear wall and are first deflected by the lattice structure.

53. The firing target according to claim 52, wherein the first and second series of deflecting plates are arranged in such a manner as to be contiguous.

54. The firing target according to claim 51, wherein the first and second inclined planes are planes inclined relative to a same horizontal plane.

55. The firing target according to claim 54, wherein an angle (a) formed between the first and second inclined planes is of the order of 90.

56. The firing target according to claim 54, wherein the lattice structure further includes at least two vertical support plates arranged substantially perpendicularly to the rear wall, which vertical support plates are provided with first and second series of notches designed to receive the first and second series of deflecting plates.

57. The firing target according to claim 56, wherein the first and second series of deflecting plates are mounted on the vertical support plates by simple nesting of said deflecting plates in the notches provided for that purpose.

58. The firing target according to claim 51, wherein a front edge of the bullet collecting casing is covered by a protective frame providing protection against direct bullet impacts, said protective frame being mounted in an interchangeable manner on said bullet collecting casing.

59. The firing target according to claim 58, wherein the protective frame is disposed between the front edge of the bullet collecting casing and the protective screen.

60. A firing target for firearms shooting training comprising a bullet collecting casing, said bullet collecting casing comprising a lattice structure arranged inside the bullet collecting casing in front of a rear wall of the bullet collecting casing, which lattice structure is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of incident bullets and includes a plurality of deflecting plates designed to deflect a trajectory of the incident bullets, said deflecting plates being arranged according to at least a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall, the firing target further comprising a protective screen placed in front of the lattice structure of the bullet collecting casing, on the trajectory of the incident bullets, and designed to halt any bullet fragments produced upon the bullets impacting the lattice structure, wherein a front edge of the bullet collecting casing is covered by a protective frame providing protection against direct bullet impacts, said protective frame being mounted in an interchangeable manner on said bullet collecting casing, and wherein the protective frame is disposed between the front edge of the bullet collecting casing and the protective screen.

61. The firing target according to claim 60, wherein the protective screen is secured to the protective frame and to the front edge of the bullet collecting casing by a set of fixing elements disposed on left-hand and right-hand lateral sides of the firing target.

62. The firing target according to claim 61, wherein said fixing elements are disposed outside the bullet collecting casing, on either side of left-hand and right-hand lateral walls of the bullet collecting casing.

63. The firing target according to claim 60, wherein the protective frame is supported on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing by a set of notches and corresponding extensions arranged on the protective frame and on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing.

64. The firing target according to claim 63, wherein the protective frame is provided with notches cooperating with corresponding extensions arranged on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing.

65. A firing target for firearms shooting training comprising a bullet collecting casing, said bullet collecting casing comprising a lattice structure disposed inside the bullet collecting casing in front of a rear wall of the bullet collecting casing, which lattice structure is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of incident bullets and includes a plurality deflecting plates designed to deflect a trajectory of the incident bullets, said deflecting plates being arranged according to at least a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall, the firing target further comprising a protective screen placed in front of the lattice structure of the bullet collecting casing, on the trajectory of the incident bullets, and designed to halt any bullet fragments produced upon the bullets impacting the lattice structure, wherein said protective screen consists of a plurality of nested elements secured to one another by means of a set of nestable securing elements.

66. The firing target according to claim 65, wherein said plurality of nested elements includes a plurality of identical and interchangeable nested intermediate elements each including at least an upper nestable securing element designed to cooperate with a complementary nestable securing element of another, adjacent element of the protective screen placed immediately above it and at least a lower nestable securing element designed to cooperate with a complementary nestable securing element of another, adjacent element of the protective screen placed immediately below it.

67. The firing target according to claim 66, wherein each intermediate element includes a facade-forming portion directed toward the exterior of the firing target and a back-forming portion directed toward the interior of the firing target and the lattice structure located therein, the facade-forming portion being offset relative to the back-forming portion in such a manner as to form a shoulder on which an adjacent element of the protective screen comes to bear.

68. The firing target according to claim 66, wherein each intermediate element includes a pair of upper nestable securing elements and a pair of lower nestable securing elements complementary to the pair of upper nestable securing elements.

69. The firing target according to claim 67, wherein the facade-forming portion and the back-forming portion are each provided with an upper nestable securing element and a lower nestable securing element complementary to the upper nestable securing element.

70. The firing target according to claim 66, wherein said plurality of nested elements further includes an upper terminal element disposed in the top portion of the protective screen and nested in an upper portion of a first intermediate element, or top intermediate element, and a lower terminal element disposed in the bottom portion of the protective screen and nested in a lower portion of a final intermediate element, or bottom intermediate element, said upper terminal element being provided with at least a lower nestable securing element complementary to and cooperating with the upper nestable securing element of the top intermediate element, and said lower terminal element being provided with at least an upper nestable securing element complementary to and cooperating with the lower nestable securing element of the bottom intermediate element.

71. A firing target for firearms shooting training comprising a bullet collecting casing, said bullet collecting casing comprising a lattice structure disposed inside the bullet collecting casing in front of a rear wall of the bullet collecting casing, which lattice structure is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of incident bullets and includes a plurality of deflecting plates designed to deflect a trajectory of the incident bullets, said deflecting plates being arranged according to at least a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall, the firing target further comprising a protective screen placed in front of the lattice structure of the bullet collecting casing, on the trajectory of the incident bullets, and designed to halt any bullet fragments produced upon the bullets impacting the lattice structure, wherein the deflecting plates are disposed such that, after impacting the lattice structure, the bullets and bullet fragments are conveyed by gravity firstly toward a rear portion of the bullet collecting casing forming a space between the lattice structure and the rear wall and then toward a collecting zone situated in a bottom portion of or below said space, and wherein the firing target further includes a collecting bin disposed in said collecting zone in order to collect the bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues.

72. The firing target according to claim 71, wherein the bullet collecting casing is mounted on a base, wherein said collecting zone for the bullets and bullet fragments is situated below the bullet collecting casing, in said base, and wherein a lower wall of the bullet collecting casing, resting on said base, is provided with one or more orifices communicating with said collecting zone.

73. The firing target according to claim 71, wherein the collecting bin is disposed in a removable manner in order to be removed from the firing target during maintenance operations.

74. The firing target according to claim 72, wherein the collecting bin is disposed in a removable manner in the base in order to be removed from the firing target during maintenance operations.

75. The firing target according to claim 74, wherein the base is equipped with a locking device for locking the collecting bin, which locking device is arranged to lock the collecting bin against the lower wall of the bullet collecting casing and thereby enable the collecting of bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues or to unlock and release the collecting bin from the lower wall of the bullet collecting casing and thereby enable removal of the collecting bin.

76. The firing target according to claim 71, wherein the collecting zone for the bullets and bullet fragments is accessible from the back of the firing target.

77. The firing target according to claim 56, wherein the lattice structure is mounted in a removable manner inside the bullet collecting casing and wherein the firing target further includes a securing mechanism for securing the lattice structure to the bullet collecting casing, said securing mechanism including a plurality of horizontal transverse bars passing through mounting orifices provided in the vertical support plates.

78. The firing target according to claim 77, wherein said horizontal transverse bars are fixed to the rear wall and secured at their ends to left-hand and right-hand lateral walls of said bullet collecting casing.

79. The firing target according to claim 77, wherein the horizontal transverse bars are disposed between the deflecting plates and the rear wall in such a manner as not to be exposed to direct bullet impacts.

80. A firing target for firearms shooting training comprising a bullet collecting casing, said bullet collecting casing comprising a lattice structure disposed inside the bullet collecting casing in front of a rear wall of the bullet collecting casing, which lattice structure is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of incident bullets and includes a plurality of deflecting plates designed to deflect a trajectory of the incident bullets, said deflecting plates being arranged according to at least a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall, the firing target further comprising a protective screen placed in front of the lattice structure of the bullet collecting casing, on the trajectory of the incident bullets, and designed to halt any bullet fragments produced upon the bullets impacting the lattice structure, wherein the protective screen includes a back-forming section directed toward the interior of the firing target and the lattice structure located therein, which back-forming section is arranged to bear against the lattice structure and to form a plurality of corresponding compartmented zones.

81. The firing target according to claim 80, wherein each compartmented zone is provided with an opening at its bottom to enable the evacuation by gravity of the bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues to a collecting zone.

82. The firing target according to claim 80, wherein the back-forming section is provided with bulges coming to bear on the lattice structure.

83. The firing target according to claim 51, wherein the firing target is mobile and supported by a positioning device enabling adjustment of a ground position of said firing target.

84. The firing target according to claim 60, wherein the firing target is mobile and supported by a positioning device enabling adjustment of a ground position of said firing target.

85. The firing target according to claim 65, wherein the firing target is mobile and supported by a positioning device enabling adjustment of a ground position of said firing target.

86. The firing target according to claim 71, wherein the firing target is mobile and supported by a positioning device enabling adjustment of a ground position of said firing target.

87. The firing target according to claim 80, wherein the firing target is mobile and supported by a positioning device enabling adjustment of a ground position of said firing target.

88. The firing target according to claim 65, further including a trim covering in particular the bullet collecting casing, which trim is made from a resilient material, especially a synthetic material such as polyurethane.

89. The firing target according to claim 80, further including a trim covering in particular the bullet collecting casing, which trim is made from a resilient material, especially a synthetic material such as polyurethane.

90. The firing target according to claim 61, further including a trim covering in particular the bullet collecting casing, which trim is made from a resilient material, especially a synthetic material such as polyurethane, and wherein the trim also covers said set of fixing elements disposed on the left-hand and right-hand lateral sides of the firing target.

91. The firing target according to claim 88, wherein the protective screen is produced in the same resilient material as the trim.

92. The firing target according to claim 89, wherein the protective screen is produced in the same resilient material as the trim.

93. The firing target according to claim 51, wherein the bullet collecting casing and the lattice structure are made of metal, especially ballistic steel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are provided solely by way of non-restrictive examples and are illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a firing target for firearms shooting training in accordance with the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 2A is a front view of the target of FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the target taken along a vertical sectional plane A-A passing through a right-hand lateral side of the target, which sectional plane A-A is shown in FIG. 2A;

[0044] FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the target taken along an inclined sectional plane B-B passing through the target, which sectional plane B-B is shown in FIG. 2A;

[0045] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the target according to FIG. 1, which illustrates the main components constituting said target;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the target as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 without its trim, illustrating the internal structure of the target comprising a bullet collecting casing mounted on a base;

[0047] FIG. 5A is a front view of the internal structure of the target according to FIG. 4;

[0048] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the target taken along a vertical sectional plane C-C passing through a median part of the internal structure of the target, which sectional plane C-C is shown in FIG. 5A;

[0049] FIG. 5C is a perspective view from below of the internal structure of the target according to FIG. 4;

[0050] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal structure of the target according to FIG. 4, which illustrates the main components constituting said internal structure;

[0051] FIG. 7 is a front view of a protective screen disposed on a front portion of the target of FIG. 1, in front of the bullet collecting casing;

[0052] FIG. 8 is a side view of the protective screen according to FIG. 7 as taken from the left;

[0053] FIG. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the protective screen according to FIGS. 7 and 8 which illustrates the various elements constituting said protective screen;

[0054] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a rear portion of the firing target illustrating a bullet collecting zone for collecting bullets and bullet fragments disposed in a base of the firing target, in which bullet collecting zone a removable collecting bin and an associated locking device are advantageously positioned; and

[0055] FIG. 11 is another partial perspective view of the collecting zone of FIG. 10 as seen from a different viewing angle.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0056] Various aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to various preferred embodiments as illustrated in particular by FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a firing target for firearms shooting training in accordance with the present invention, which target is designated globally by reference numeral 1. This target 1 consists of various elements only some of which can be seen in FIG. 1, comprising a protective screen 50 disposed on a front portion of the target 1 substantially facing the shooter(s) and thus on the trajectory of incident bullets fired in the direction of the target 1.

[0058] As will be seen hereinafter, the protective screen 50 is placed in front of a bullet collecting casing as well as a lattice structure housed inside said bullet collecting casing, which elements are not directly visible in FIG. 1 as they are preferably covered by a trim 51-56 comprising a plurality of trim elements 51, 52A, 52B, 53, 54, 55 and 56. This trim 51-56, like the protective screen 50, is advantageously made from a resilient material, preferably a synthetic material such as polyurethane, which material proves particularly suitable and resistant use.

[0059] FIG. 2A shows a front view of the target 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2B and 2C show cross-sectional views of said target 1 respectively taken along a vertical sectional plane A-A passing through a right-hand lateral side of the target 1 and along an inclined sectional plane B-B passing through the target 1, which sectional planes A-A and B-B are shown in FIG. 2A.

[0060] FIG. 2B accordingly shows a right-hand lateral wall 104 of the aforementioned bullet collecting casing, designated by reference numeral 100, which bullet collecting casing 100 is covered on its exterior faces by the trim element 51 and on its front portion by the protective screen 50.

[0061] FIG. 2B also shows a positioning device 160/161 comprising a set of castors 160 and 161 secured to a plinth 120 of the target 1, optional features which advantageously facilitate displacement of the target 1 for the purpose of positioning thereof on a shooting training site. This set of castors 160, 161 is also partly visible in front view in FIG. 2A and in its entirety in FIG. 5C. The plinth 120 is covered by the trim element 54 as well as a base (not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C) on which the bullet collecting casing 100 rests, which base is covered by the trim element 53.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the trim 51-56 also includes trim elements 55, 56 bearing distinctive signs or information, such as a trim element 55 with a logo on the lower portion of the target, disposed on and in front of the lower portion of the protective screen 50, as well as a trim element 56 bearing information, such as a target number. Two other trim elements 52A and 52B are also disposed on the front portion of the target 1, respectively on the left-hand and right-hand lateral edges of the protective screen 50.

[0063] It will obviously be understood that the trim of the target 1 could have any other appropriate shape and that the illustrated trim elements 51-56 are in no way limiting the invention.

[0064] FIG. 2C similarly shows a part of the lattice structure, designated by reference numeral 200, that is disposed inside the bullet collecting casing 100 and in front of which is placed the protective screen 50. The right-hand lateral wall 104 of the bullet collecting casing 100 can be seen again in FIG. 2C, as well as a left-hand lateral wall 103 and a rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100, which are therefore covered on their exterior face, as already mentioned, by the trim element 51. A fixing plate 25 is moreover disposed on the back of the target 1 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0065] In accordance with the invention, the target 1 comprising the bullet collecting casing 100, the lattice structure 200 disposed inside said bullet collecting casing 100 in front of the rear wall 105, and the protective screen 50 placed in front of the lattice structure 200 assure efficient and optimum capture of incident bullets as well as of bullet fragments and possibly other bullet residues. To be more precise, the lattice structure 200 is designed to dissipate kinetic energy of the incident bullets and to this end includes a plurality of deflecting plates 201, 202 (partly visible in FIG. 2C) designed to deflect the trajectory of the incident bullets, which plates 201, 202 are arranged in at least a first inclined plane relative to the rear wall 105, whereas the protective screen 50 is designed to stop possible bullet fragments produced on impact of the bullets on the lattice structure 200.

[0066] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the target 1 according to FIG. 1, which illustrates the main components constituting the target 1, in particular the bullet collecting casing 100, the lattice structure 200 located therein, and the protective screen 50.

[0067] Once stripped from the various trim elements 51, 52A, 52B, 53, 54, 55 and 56 and the protective screen 50, the target 1 reveals its internal structure (or skeleton) 10, which is more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 and preferably includes the bullet collecting casing 100 mounted on a base 110 itself secured to the plinth 120, which is advantageously provided with a set of castors 160, 161 as already mentioned. This positioning device 160/161 is particularly useful in order to enable adjustment of the ground position of the firing target 1 and therefore offer the possibility of dynamic and flexible adjustment of the shooting training scenarios in which the target 1 in accordance with the invention is likely to be employed. This positioning device 160/161 is all the more opportune in that it enables easier manipulation of the firing target 1 despite a weight that may reach several hundred kilograms. In the illustrated preferred embodiment (see in particular FIG. 5C) the positioning device 160/161 consists of a rolling device including a set of three castors comprising two fixed castors 160 placed in a front position and a steerable castor 161 placed in a rear position that is mounted to swivel and is provided with a brake/locking mechanism. It is however understood that any other appropriate positioning device may be adopted, whether rolling or operating in accordance with any other principle enabling displacement, positioning or repositioning of the firing target.

[0068] By way of nonlimiting example, the bullet collecting casing 100 may have an essentially parallelepipedal shape comprising, in addition to the left-hand lateral wall 103, the right-hand lateral wall 104 and the rear wall 105, an upper wall 101 and a lower wall 102. In this preferred example the bullet collecting casing 100 is mounted by its lower wall 102 on the base 110 itself mounted on its plinth 120. The bullet collecting casing 100 is therefore vertically erected on its base 110 such that its open side is oriented toward the front, substantially in the direction of the shooting position, it being understood that the target in accordance with the invention enables shooting training with a wide range of angles of incidence relative to the plane formed by the rear wall 105 of the target 1.

[0069] The rear wall 105 is advantageously provided with an opening 105A (see FIGS. 5B and 6) for the optional connection of a suction device (not represented) by way of a conduit 106 also visible in FIG. 2B. In the illustrations of FIGS. 2B and 5B this conduit 106 is closed by a removable plug 107. Once connected to the suction device, this arrangement enables optional suction and extraction of smoke and other emanations produced inside the bullet collecting casing 100.

[0070] It may also be noted that the upper wall 101 of the bullet collecting casing 100 is here equipped with a mounting bracket 101A provided with mounting orifices 101B in particular for fixing the trim element 56 and a top portion of the protective screen 50. The lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100 is likewise equipped with a mounting bracket 102A also provided with a mounting orifice 102B in particular for fixing the trim element 55 and a bottom portion of the protective screen 50.

[0071] In the illustrations of FIGS. 4 to 6, it can be seen that a front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 (in this instance the edge consisting of the front edges of the upper, lower and lateral walls 101 to 104) is advantageously covered by a protective frame 150 that is mounted in an interchangeable manner on the bullet collecting casing 100. This protective frame 150 therefore constitutes a sacrificial element that is designed to protect the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 from direct bullet impacts, thereby greatly limiting direct damage to the bullet collecting casing 100 that could necessitate replacement of one or the other of the walls 101 to 104. Incidentally, this protective frame 150 constitutes the second aspect of the invention mentioned above, which may be implemented independently of the other aspects of the invention.

[0072] It will be noted that, in the illustrated embodiment, the protective frame 150 is disposed between the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 and the protective screen 50 (see also FIGS. 2B and 2C). In this context, as illustrated, the protective screen 50 may advantageously be secured to the protective frame 150 and the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 by a set of fixing elements disposed on left-hand and right-hand lateral sides of the target 1, preferably outside the bullet collecting casing 100, on either side of the left-hand lateral wall 103 and the right-hand lateral wall 104. In this example (see in particular FIGS. 2B, 2C and 3), the fixing elements each comprise a holding rod 20, preferably a threaded nylon rod, extending from the protective screen 50 to the rear wall 105, and two retaining elements 20A, 20B, preferably nylon nuts, placed at each end of the holding rod 20, namely a front retaining element 20A and a rear retaining element 20B respectively in the vicinity of the protective screen 50 and of the rear wall 105, or more exactly of the fixing plate 25 disposed on the back of the target 1.

[0073] A left-hand front crossmember 21 and a right-hand front crossmember 22 are moreover disposed between the front retaining elements 20A and the protective screen 50 in order to press the protective screen 50 optimally against the protective frame 150 and the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100. Likewise, a left-hand rear crossmember 151 and a right-hand rear crossmember 152 are placed on the left-hand and right-hand rear lateral edges of the bullet collecting casing 100. Like the left-hand and right-hand exterior edges of the protective frame 150, the left-hand rear crossmember 151 and the right-hand rear crossmember 152 are structured to feature indentations at the positions where the holding rods 20 are disposed, here eleven in number on each lateral side.

[0074] In accordance with the illustrated preferred embodiment, the trim 51-56 partly covers the fixing elements 20/20A/20B disposed on the left-hand and right-hand lateral sides of the target 1. To be more precise, the trim element 51 covers the left-hand and right-hand lateral sides of the target 1, including the holding rods 20. Moreover, left-hand and right-hand trim elements 52A, 52B are placed in front of the front retaining elements 20A, thereby masking those elements 20A placed at the front end of the holding rods 20.

[0075] The aforementioned protective frame 150 can advantageously be supported on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 by a set of notches and corresponding extensions arranged on the protective frame 150 and on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100. In the illustrated example (see in particular FIGS. 4 to 6) the protective frame 150 is provided with a set of eight notches 150A (two per edge) cooperating with corresponding extensions 100A arranged on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100, namely a pair of extensions 100A on each front edge of the upper, lower and lateral walls 101 to 104.

[0076] In the illustrations of FIGS. 4 to 6, it can also be seen that the plinth 120 of the firing target 1 is advantageously provided with a protective skirt 120A-B that covers at least the front and lateral parts of the plinth 120 and the positioning device 160/161 disposed on the lower portion of said plinth 120. Like the aforementioned protective frame 150, the protective skirt 120A-B is designed to protect the positioning device 160/161 against direct bullet impacts, it being understood however that this constitutes protection against possible, poorly aimed shots and that the shooting surface, adapted to effectively capture and trap the bullets, consists of the bullet collecting casing 100, the lattice structure 200 located therein and the protective screen 50 placed on the front portion of the firing target 1, in front of the lattice structure 200.

[0077] The protective skirt 120A-B preferably comprises on its front edge essentially vertical deflecting plates 120A advantageously forming an inverted V as illustrated in the view of FIG. 5C. In this preferred variant, the protective skirt 120A-B further includes two other essentially vertical deflecting plates 120B placed on the left-hand and right-hand lateral edges of the plinth 120. As a result, the protective skirt 120A-B offers increased protection against direct bullet impacts that could damage the positioning device 160/161.

[0078] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure 10 of the target 1 taken along a vertical sectional plane C-C passing through a median part of the internal structure 10 of the target 1, which sectional plane C-C is shown in FIG. 5A, and that illustrates in more detail the lattice structure 200 in accordance with the aforementioned first aspect of the invention, which first aspect may be implemented independently of the other aspects of the invention.

[0079] This lattice structure 200 thus includes (see also FIGS. 4, 5A and 6) a first series of deflecting plates 201, which is arranged according to a first inclined plane P1 relative to the rear wall 105 and at least a second series of deflecting plates 202 arranged according to a second inclined plane P2 relative to the rear wall 105 and distinct from the first inclined plane P1, which second series of deflecting plates 202 is disposed between the first series of deflecting plates 201 and the rear wall 105. These first and second series of deflecting plates 201, 202 are preferably arranged such that incident bullets are not able to impact directly the rear wall 105 and are first deflected by the lattice structure 200. The first and second series of deflecting plates 201, 202 are preferably arranged in such a manner as to be contiguous, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 5B and 6.

[0080] In accordance with a particularly preferred variant of the invention, as illustrated, the first and second inclined planes P1, P2 are planes inclined relative to a same horizontal plane P0 (see FIG. 5B), the angle formed between the first and second inclined planes P1, P2 preferably being of the order of 90. In the latter context the lattice structure 200 may moreover include at least two vertical support plates 205, as illustrated, arranged substantially perpendicularly to the rear wall 105, which vertical support plates 205 are provided with first and second series of notches 205A, 205B designed to receive the first and second series of deflecting plates 201, 202. These deflecting plates 201, 202 may in particular be mounted on the vertical support plates 205 by simple nesting of said deflecting plates 201, 202 in the notches 205a, 205b provided for that purpose, which greatly facilitates mounting and possible replacement of damaged plates.

[0081] The lattice structure 200 is advantageously mounted in a removable manner inside the bullet collecting casing 100 and may moreover include a securing mechanism for securing the lattice structure 200 to the bullet collecting casing 100. In the illustrated preferred example, this securing mechanism includes a plurality of (namely three) horizontal transverse bars 210 (visible in particular in FIG. 6 and partly in FIG. 2C), which pass through mounting orifices 205A provided in the vertical support plates 205, which mounting orifices 205A are in particular visible in FIG. 5B. These horizontal transverse bars 210 may in particular be fixed to the rear wall 105 and secured at their ends to the left-hand lateral wall 103 and right-hand lateral wall 104 of the bullet collecting casing 100, as illustrated, corresponding mounting orifices being arranged to this end both in the rear wall 105 and in the left-hand lateral wall 103 and the right-hand lateral wall 104 (which orifices 103A and 104A are represented in particular in FIGS. 2B, 4 and 6). As illustrated, these transverse bars 210 are advantageously disposed between the deflecting plates 201, 202 and the rear wall 105 in such a manner as not to be exposed to direct bullet impacts. Still in accordance with a particularly preferred variant of the invention, the protective screen 50 includes a facade-forming section 50A directed toward the exterior of the target (section 50A which is substantially planar) and a back-forming section 50B (see in particular FIGS. 2C and 8) directed toward the interior of the firing target 1 and the lattice structure 200 located therein, which back-forming section 50B is arranged to bear against the lattice structure 200 and to form a plurality of corresponding compartmented zones 250 (see also FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B in which these compartmented zones 250 can be seen). As a result, any impact of an incident bullet occurs in one of the compartmented zones 250 defined on the one hand by the lattice structure 200 housed within the bullet collecting casing 100 and on the other hand by the protective screen 50. Incidentally, this constitutes the fifth aspect of the invention mentioned above, that may be implemented independently of the other aspects of the invention. Moreover, each compartmented zone 250 is preferably provided with an opening 250A at its bottom (see FIG. 5B) to enable evacuation by gravity of bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues to a collecting zone.

[0082] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, it can be seen that the deflecting plates 201, 202 are advantageously disposed such that, after impacting the lattice structure 200, bullets and bullet fragments are conveyed by gravity firstly toward a rear portion of the bullet collecting casing 100 forming a space 300 between the lattice structure 200 and the rear wall 105 (see in particular FIGS. 2C and 5B), then toward a collecting zone 310 situated in a bottom portion of the space 300 or, as illustrated, below said space 300. In the latter context, the target 1 may moreover include a collecting bin 350 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) disposed in the collecting zone 310 in order to collect bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues. Incidentally, this constitutes the fourth aspect of the invention mentioned above, which may be implemented independently of the other aspects of the invention.

[0083] Arranging the first and second series of deflecting plates 201, 202 in different planes P1, P2 is in this regard particularly advantageous. Indeed, on impacting the lattice structure 200 incident bullets undergo a plurality of successive rebounds against the deflecting plates 201, respectively 202, thereby drastically reducing their kinetic energy. The bullets are therefore greatly decelerated by these multiple rebounds on the deflecting plates 201, 202 such that bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues are therefore conveyed at low speed toward the rear portion of the bullet collecting casing 100 and the collecting zone 310, thereby preventing the accumulation of bullet fragments and residues in a compact heap difficult to remove, which phenomenon is commonly referred to as lead clump and that is typically produced if the bullet is deflected without having been decelerated sufficiently.

[0084] In the illustrated preferred example, the collecting zone 310 is situated below the bullet collecting casing 100, in the base 110, the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100 that rests on the base 110 being provided with one or more orifices 102a (see FIG. 6) communicating with the collecting zone 310.

[0085] The collecting bin 350 is preferably disposed in such a manner as to be removable in order to be withdrawn from the firing target 1 during maintenance operations. Disposing the collecting bin 350 in the base 110, as illustrated by way of a preferred embodiment variant, ensures optimum accessibility of the collecting bin 350 and thereby facilitates maintenance operations.

[0086] The collecting zone 310 (and the collecting bin 350 advantageously located therein) is preferably accessible from the back of the target 1, which is in particular made possible, in the context of the illustrated embodiment, by arranging the collecting zone 310 in a rear portion of the base 110.

[0087] FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate in more detail an advantageous structure of the protective screen 50 in accordance with a preferred variant of the invention. That preferred variant also constitutes the third aspect of the invention mentioned above, that may be implemented independently of the other aspects of the invention. Thus the protective screen 50 advantageously consists of a plurality of nested elements 500, 505, 510 secured to one another by means of a set of nestable securing elements designated by reference numerals 501a, 502a, 506a, 506b, 507a, 507b, 511a and 512a in the illustrated preferred embodiment variant. This arrangement ensures optimum imbrication of the elements 500, 505, 510 one with the other and in particular prevents accidental disengagement of said elements as a result of the shots.

[0088] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the nested elements 500, 505, 510 are provided with mounting orifices 500A, 505A, 510A for fixing the protective screen 50 onto the front portion of the target 1, in particular by means of the fixing elements 20/20A/20B already referred to. Mounting orifices 500B and 510B are also provided on the top and bottom portions of the protective screen 50 for respectively attachment to the upper wall 101 and the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100.

[0089] In the illustrated preferred embodiment variant, the protective screen 50 includes a plurality of identical and interchangeable nested intermediate elements 505 (here eight in number) each including at least an upper nestable securing element 506a, 507a (for example a groove) designed to cooperate with a complementary nestable securing element of another, adjacent element 500 or 505 of the protective screen 50 placed immediately above it. Likewise, each intermediate element 505 includes at least a lower nestable securing element 506b, 507b (for example a lip) designed to cooperate with a complementary nestable securing element of another, adjacent element (505 or 510) of the protective screen 50 placed immediately below it.

[0090] Each intermediate element 505 preferably includes a facade-forming portion 506 directed toward the exterior of the target 1 and a back-forming portion 507 directed toward the interior of the target 1 and the lattice structure 200 located therein, the facade-forming portion 506 being offset relative to the back-forming portion 507 in such a manner as to form a shoulder on which an adjacent element comes to bear. That shoulder also contributes to providing optimum support of the elements 500, 505, 510 on one another.

[0091] In the illustrated embodiment variant, it will be noted that each intermediate element 505 advantageously includes a pair of upper nestable securing elements 506a, 507a and a pair of lower nestable securing elements 506b, 507b complementary to the pair of upper nestable securing elements 506a, 507a, in this instance an upper groove and a lower lip on each of the facade-forming and back-forming portions 506, 507.

[0092] Moreover, the back-forming portion 507 of each intermediate element 505 is advantageously provided with flared sections 507c at each lower and upper end, which flared sections 507c are directed toward the interior of the target 1 and the lattice structure 200 located therein to bear on the lattice structure 200. These flared sections 507c therefore contribute to forming corresponding bulges on the back-forming section 50B of the protective screen 50, which bulges come to bear on the lattice structure 200. As a result, the protective screen 50 is also mechanically supported on its back-forming section 50B against the lattice structure 200, which contributes to reinforcing the protective screen 50 and enabling it to better resist the passage of incident bullets.

[0093] As illustrated, the protective screen 50 further includes an upper terminal element 500 disposed in the top portion of the protective screen 50 and nested with an upper portion of a first intermediate element 505, or top intermediate element, and a lower terminal element 510 disposed in the bottom portion of the protective screen 50 and nested with a lower portion of a final intermediate element 505, or bottom intermediate element. The upper terminal element 500 is provided with at least a lower nestable securing element 501a, 502a (here in the form of lips) complementary to and cooperating with the upper nestable securing element 506a, 507a of the top intermediate element 505, whereas the lower terminal element 510 is provided with at least an upper nestable securing element 511a, 512a (here in the form of grooves) complementary to and cooperating with the lower nestable securing element 506b, 507b of the bottom intermediate element 505. As will be clear on examining FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper terminal element 500 and the lower terminal element 510 are each provided, like the intermediate elements 505, with a facade-forming portion 501, respectively 511, directed toward the exterior of the target 1, and a back-forming portion 502, respectively 512, directed toward the interior of the target 1 and the lattice structure 200 located therein, which portions are likewise offset in order to form a shoulder the same size as the shoulder formed on each of the intermediate elements 505.

[0094] Although FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate an embodiment variant in which grooves 506a, 507a, 511a, 512a are formed on the upper portion of the elements 505 and 510 and lips 501a, 502a, 506b, 507b are formed on the lower portion of the elements 500 and 505, the number as well as the arrangement and the configuration of the nestable securing elements may be modified. Any other arrangement or any other configuration or combination of nestable securing elements is possible in the context of the present invention.

[0095] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate in more detail the collecting zone 310 of the target 1 accommodating the collecting bin 350, which variant is given by way of a preferred embodiment example. As already mentioned, this collecting zone 310 is advantageously situated in the base 110 of the target 1, below the bullet collecting casing 100, and the collecting bin 350 is disposed in a removable manner in said base 110. A locking device 114 for locking the collecting bin 350 may to this end be provided in order to lock the collecting bin 350 against the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100. This locking device 114 may in particular include a support 115 secured for example to the plinth 120 (which support 115 is also represented in FIGS. 5B and 6) along with an associated locking lever 116 (itself represented in FIG. 3) cooperating with the support 115 and a lower portion of the collecting bin 350 in order to selectively raise it in the direction of and press it against the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100 to lock it or to lower it and thereby release it from the bullet collecting casing 100 and enable its removal from the target 1.

[0096] In the illustrated embodiment variant, the support 115 and the locking lever 116 are arranged such that a rotational movement of the locking lever 116 in the actuating direction R represented in FIG. 10, in this instance from left to right, translates into an upward vertical movement of the collecting bin 350, thereby pressing it against the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100 (not represented in FIGS. 10 and 11), the rear portion of the base 110 serving as a guide for the collecting bin 350. Conversely, a rotational movement of the locking lever 116 in the opposite direction, in this instance from right to left, translates into a downward vertical movement of the collecting bin 350, thereby releasing it from the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the locking lever 116 is represented in its locking position (on the right) in solid line. The locking lever is also represented in its unlocking position (on the left) in dashed line and in this position is designated by reference numeral 116 for the sake of distinction. The collecting bin 350 is likewise represented in FIGS. 10 and 11 in its locked position in solid line and in its unlocked position in dashed line.

[0097] It will generally be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious for the person skilled in the art may be made to the embodiments described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0098] As already mentioned above, the trim 51-56 of the target 1 in accordance with the embodiment described above may advantageously be made from a resilient material, in particular a synthetic material such as polyurethane, the protective screen 50 preferably being made of the same resilient material as the trim 51-56. Polyurethane proves to be a material particularly suited to this application and robust in use. Other substitute resilient materials could nevertheless be used, such as synthetic foams or rubber.

[0099] Moreover, the bullet collecting casing 100 and the lattice structure 200 (as well as, where appropriate, the other components of the internal structure 10 of the target 1, such as the base 110 and the plinth 120) may advantageously be made of ballistic steel or any other metal having sufficient properties to offer increased resistance to repeated shots.

[0100] Moreover, the fixing elements of the protective screen 50 could take a form other than holding rods, such as elements enabling fixing simply by clipping or any other means.

[0101] Finally, the positioning device of the target could take any other appropriate form or configuration and could use components other than castors as illustrated. Rolling devices with spherical castors or air cushion lifting devices could be adopted for example in order to ensure mobility and displacement of the target.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE PRESENT DESCRIPTION AND IN THE DRAWINGS

[0102] 1 firing target for firearms shooting training in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention [0103] 10 internal structure (or skeleton) of the firing target 1 [0104] 20 threaded rods (in particular nylon rods) for fixing the protective screen 50 and the protective frame 150 onto the bullet collecting casing 100 [0105] 20A front retaining elements (for example nylon nuts) disposed at a front end of the threaded rods 20 in the vicinity of the protective screen 50 [0106] 20B rear retaining elements (for example nylon nuts) disposed at a rear end of the threaded rods 20 in the vicinity of the rear wall 105 [0107] 21, 22 left-hand and right-hand front crossmembers disposed between the front retaining elements 20A and the protective screen 50 [0108] 25 fixing plate disposed on the back of the firing target 1 [0109] 50 protective screen preferably made of a resilient material, in particular of a synthetic material such as polyurethane [0110] 50A facade-forming section of the protective screen directed toward the exterior of the firing target 1 [0111] 50B back-forming section of the protective screen 50 directed toward the interior of the firing target 1 and the lattice structure 200 located therein [0112] 51-56 trim of the firing target made of a resilient material, in particular a synthetic material such as polyurethane [0113] 100 bullet collecting casing [0114] 100A extensions on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 to support the protective frame 150 [0115] 101 upper wall of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0116] 101A mounting bracket [0117] 101B mounting orifices [0118] 102 lower wall of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0119] 102a orifices arranged in the lower wall 102 to evacuate bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues to the collecting zone 310 [0120] 102A mounting bracket [0121] 102B mounting orifice [0122] 103 left-hand lateral wall of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0123] 103A mounting orifices for securing the lattice structure 200 to the bullet collecting casing 100 [0124] 104 right-hand lateral wall of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0125] 104A mounting orifices for securing the lattice structure 200 to the bullet collecting casing 100 [0126] 105 rear wall of the bullet collecting casing [0127] 105A opening in the rear wall 105 for connection to a suction device [0128] 106 conduit for connection to a suction device [0129] 107 removable plug [0130] 110 base of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0131] 114 locking device for locking the collecting bin 350 against the lower wall 102 of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0132] 115 support of the locking device 114 for locking of the collecting bin 350 (secured to the plinth 120 of the firing target 1) [0133] 116 locking lever of the locking device 114 for locking of the collecting bin 350 mounted on the support 115 and cooperating with the lower portion of the collecting bin 350 (lever in locking position) [0134] 116 locking lever of the locking device 114 in the unlocking position [0135] R direction of actuation of the locking lever 116 [0136] 120 plinth of the firing target 1 [0137] 120A-B protective skirt on the front and lateral parts of the plinth 120 [0138] 120A deflecting plates placed on the front edge of the plinth 120 facing the shooting position and forming part of the protective skirt 120A-B [0139] 120B deflecting plates placed on the left-hand and right-hand lateral edges of the plinth 120 forming part of the protective skirt 120A-B [0140] 150 protective frame covering the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 mounted in an interchangeable manner on the bullet collecting casing 100/protection against direct bullet impacts [0141] 150A notches formed on the protective frame 150 to support the protective frame 150 on the front edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0142] 151 left-hand rear crossmember placed on the left-hand rear lateral edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0143] 152 right-hand rear crossmember placed on the right-hand rear lateral edge of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0144] 160-161 positioning device for positioning the firing target 1, for example rolling device consisting of a set of castors secured to the plinth 120 comprising two (fixed) front castors 160 and one (steerable) rear castor 161 mounted to swivel and provided with a braking/locking mechanism [0145] 200 lattice structure disposed (preferably in a removable manner) inside the bullet collecting casing 100 [0146] 201 first series of deflecting plates forming part of the lattice structure 200/deflecting plates inclined according to the first inclined plane P1 [0147] 202 second series of deflecting plates forming part of the lattice structure 200/deflecting plates inclined according to the second inclined plane P2 and disposed between the first series of deflecting plates 201 and the rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0148] 205 vertical support plates arranged substantially perpendicularly to the rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0149] 205a first series of notches arranged in the support plates 205 and designed to receive the first series of deflecting plates 201, preferably by simple nesting [0150] 205b second series of notches arranged in the support plates 205 and designed to receive the series of deflecting plates 202, preferably by simple nesting [0151] 205A mounting orifices arranged in the support plates 205 for securing the lattice structure 200 to the bullet collecting casing 100 [0152] 210 horizontal transverse bars for securing the lattice structure 200 to the bullet collecting casing 100 and designed to cooperate with the mounting orifices 205A [0153] 250 compartmented zones defined jointly by the lattice structure 200 and the protective screen 50 [0154] 250A opening at the bottom of each compartmented zone 250 for evacuation by gravity of bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues [0155] 300 space formed between the lattice structure 200 and the rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100 enabling evacuation by gravity of bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues to the collecting zone 310 [0156] 310 collecting zone for bullets and bullet fragments situated in a bottom portion of or below the space 300, preferably in the base 110 [0157] 350 collecting bin (preferably removable) for the collection of bullets, bullet fragments and other bullet residues, situated in the collecting zone 310 [0158] 500 nested element of the protective screen 50/upper terminal element disposed in the top portion of the protective screen 50 [0159] 500A mounting orifices [0160] 500B mounting orifices [0161] 501 facade-forming portion of the upper terminal element 500 [0162] 501a (first) lower nestable securing element (for example lip) designed to cooperate with the upper nestable securing element 506a of an intermediate element 505 [0163] 502 back-forming portion of the upper terminal element 500 [0164] 502a (second) lower nestable securing element (for example lip) designed to cooperate with the upper nestable securing element 507a of an intermediate element 505 [0165] 505 interchangeable nested element of the protective screen 50/nested intermediate elements [0166] 505A mounting orifices [0167] 506 facade-forming portion of the intermediate element 505 [0168] 506a (first) upper nestable securing element (for example groove) designed to cooperate with the lower nestable securing element 501a of the upper terminal element 500 or the lower nestable securing element [0169] 506b of another intermediate element 505 [0170] 506b (first) lower nestable securing element (for example lip) designed to cooperate with the upper nestable securing element 511a of the lower terminal element 510 or the upper nestable securing element 506a of another intermediate element 505 [0171] 507 back-forming portion of the intermediate element 505 [0172] 507a (second) upper nestable securing element (for example groove) designed to cooperate with the lower nestable securing element 502a of the upper terminal element 500 or the lower nestable securing element 507b of another intermediate element 505 [0173] 507b (second) lower nestable securing element (for example lip) designed to cooperate with the upper nestable securing element 512a of the lower terminal element 510 or the upper nestable securing element 507a of another intermediate element 505 [0174] 507c flared sections at the lower and upper ends of the back-forming portion 507 directed toward the interior of the firing target 1 and the lattice structure 200 located therein [0175] 510 nested element of the protective screen 50/lower terminal element disposed in the bottom portion of the protective screen 50 [0176] 510A mounting orifices [0177] 5106 mounting orifice [0178] 511 facade-forming portion of the lower terminal element 510 [0179] 511a (first) upper nestable securing element (for example groove) designed to cooperate with the lower nestable securing element 506b of an intermediate element 505 [0180] 512 back-forming portion of the lower terminal element 510 [0181] 512a (second) upper nestable securing element (for example groove) designed to cooperate with the lower nestable securing element 507b of an intermediate element 505 [0182] P0 horizontal plane perpendicular to the rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100 [0183] P1 first inclined plane relative to the rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100/plane preferably inclined relative to the horizontal plane P0 [0184] P2 second inclined plane relative to the rear wall 105 of the bullet collecting casing 100, distinct from the first inclined plane P1/plane preferably inclined relative to the horizontal plane P0 [0185] angle formed between the first and second inclined planes P1, P2