Target system with unique target sensing

Abstract

A portable target apparatus is described including a first sensored, penetrable target and a second sensored, penetrable target positioned adjacent the first sensored, penetrable target. A user defined number of projectile penetrations on only the first sensored, penetrable target position it non-upright out of the shooter's field-of-view. Whenever the second sensored, penetrable target is penetrated by a projectile the first sensored, penetrable target does not move to the non-upright position out of the shooter's field-of-view even when the same projectile also penetrates the first sensored, penetrable target.

Claims

1. A portable target apparatus, comprising: a first sensor, penetrable target intended to be penetrated by a projectile; and a second sensor, penetrable target not intended to be penetrated by a projectile; and a control circuit and positional drive assembly operable to move the first sensor, penetrable target from an upright position to a non-upright position when only the first sensor, penetrable target is penetrated by a user selectable number of projectiles; and the control circuit and positional drive assembly also being operable to not move the first sensor, penetrable target from an upright position to a non-upright position whenever the second sensor, penetrable target is penetrated by a projectile; and the control circuit and positional drive assembly also being operable to not move the first sensor, penetrable target from an upright position to a non-upright position whenever a projectile penetrates the first sensor, penetrable target and continues on to also penetrate the second sensor, penetrable target; and the control circuit and positional drive assembly also being operable to not move the first sensor, penetrable target from an upright position to a non-upright position whenever a projectile penetrates the second sensor, penetrable target and continues on to also penetrate the first sensor, penetrable target.

2. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first sensor, penetrable target and the second sensor, penetrable target resemble a living creature and at least one aperture in the second sensor, penetrable target are in a location of at least one of a head and a chest area of the living creature; and a first sensor, penetrable target intended to be penetrated by a projectile is located adjacent the second sensor, penetrable target and is visible through the aperture in the second sensor, penetrable target at locations of at least one of a head and a chest area of the living creature, thus requiring a projectile to not penetrate the second sensor, penetrable target; an accurate projectile passing through the second sensor, penetrable target aperture causes the projectile to only penetrate the first sensor, penetrable target.

3. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein a control circuit extinguishes or illuminates for a predetermined time interval, a colored indicating light when the first sensor, penetrable target intended to be penetrated by a projectile is penetrated by a projectile; and the control circuit also being capable to extinguish or illuminate the colored indicating light for a different predetermined time interval whenever the second sensor, penetrable target not intended to be penetrated by a projectile is penetrated by a projectile.

4. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an automatic reset apparatus operable to move the first sensor, penetrable target from an upright position to a non-upright position; and the automatic reset apparatus also to be operable to move the first sensor, penetrable target from a non-upright position to an upright position after the completion of a user selectable time interval.

Description

(1) The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

(2) (FIG. 1) is an elevational front view of a portable target apparatus showing a first sensored, penetrable target and a second sensored, penetrable target in an upright position within the shooter's field-of-view (FOV) and a projectile moving toward the first sensored, penetrable target in accordance with the present invention;

(3) (FIG. 2) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus showing the first sensored, penetrable target and the second sensored, penetrable target having an area removed from the second sensored, penetrable target that coincides with the Center of Mass of a human body and a projectile moving toward the removed area of the second sensored, penetrable target; the first sensored, penetrable target being in the upright position within the shooter's FOV;

(4) (FIG. 3) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus showing the first sensored, penetrable target and second sensored, penetrable target having an area removed from the second sensored, penetrable target that coincides with a critical area of the Cranial-Ocular Cavity in the head of a human body and a projectile moving toward the removed area of the second sensored, penetrable target; the first sensored, penetrable target being in the upright position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

(5) (FIG. 4) is an elevational side view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 3) showing a position drive assembly coupled to the first sensored, penetrable target and a projectile moving toward the removed area of the second sensored, penetrable target with the first sensored, penetrable target being in the upright position within the shooter's FOV;

(6) (FIG. 5) is an elevational side view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 4) showing the first sensored, penetrable target in the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV, the projectile having passed through the removed section of the second sensored, penetrable target and not penetrating the second sensored, penetrable target in accordance with the present invention;

(7) (FIG. 6) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 1) showing the first sensored, penetrable target in the upright position within the shooter's FOV with the lateral distance reduced between the first sensored, penetrable target and the second sensored, penetrable target;

(8) (FIG. 7) is an elevational downward looking view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 6) showing the first sensored, penetrable target and second sensored, penetrable target with the first sensored, penetrable target in the upright position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

(9) (FIG. 8) is an elevational downward looking view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 7) showing the first sensored, penetrable target in the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV and the second sensored, penetrable target being within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

(10) (FIG. 9) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus showing the first sensored, penetrable target and a primary sensor connected to the first sensored, penetrable target and a primary cable connected to the primary sensor and the primary cable connected to a control electronics unit.

(11) Additionally, (FIG. 9) demonstrates the second sensored, penetrable target and a secondary sensor connected to the second sensored, penetrable target and a secondary cable connected to the control electronics unit in accordance with the present invention;

(12) (FIG. 10) is a detailed block diagram of a signal flow process of the control electronics of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) Although the invention as illustrated and described herein is embodied in a portable target apparatus, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

(14) Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

(15) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.

(16) Referring now to (FIG. 1), one embodiment of the present invention is shown in an elevational front view. (FIG. 1) shows several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in various shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components.

(17) A preferred embodiment of a portable target apparatus, as shown in (FIG. 1), includes a first sensored, penetrable target 12 and a second sensored, penetrable target 14 affixed to a base frame 16. The first sensored, penetrable target 12 is sized and shaped to resemble a living creature. The term living creature is defined herein as a person or an animal, portrayed as living. In another embodiment, the first sensored, penetrable target 12 may be of a rectangular, circular or other similar shape. Additionally, a colored indicating light 20 is illuminated only when the first sensored, penetrable target 12 is in an upright position within the shooter's FOV. In a preferred embodiment, the first sensored, penetrable target 12 and the second sensored, penetrable target 14 are made of a material, such as polymer, capable of withstanding the force of a projectile 18 by allowing the projectile 18 to pass through the second sensored, penetrable target 14 and continue on to pass through the first sensored, penetrable target 12 without causing significant damage to either.

(18) In one embodiment (FIG. 1) the second sensored, penetrable target 14 is positioned in front of the first sensored, penetrable target 12 and represents the non-engagement portion of the second sensored, penetrable target 14 the shooter should avoid penetrating with the projectile 18. The first sensored, penetrable target 12 is operable in conjunction with a position drive assembly 24 to move from the upright position within the shooter's FOV (FIG. 1) to a non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV (FIG. 5) when only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 is penetrated by a user defined number of projectiles 18, as will be explained further herein.

(19) In a preferred embodiment, the position of the first sensored, penetrable target is within the shooter's FOV in an upright position. The position not within the shooter's FOV is a non-vertical, non-upright position that is visually distinct from the upright position, such as a horizontal position, or the like.

(20) In one embodiment (FIG. 2), a second sensored, penetrable target 14 is manufactured to contain an aperture 22 representative of the anatomically sensitive area, (i.e. vital portion) of a living creature, e.g. a human being, the Center of Mass of the body of the human being as depicted in (FIG. 2) or the critical Cranial-Ocular Cavity head area of the human body as depicted in (FIG. 3), respectively. The term anatomically sensitive is defined herein as those parts of the anatomy of a living creature that when penetrated by the projectile 18 are susceptible to causing the living creature instantaneous and severe trauma. In the preferred embodiment, the shooter is required to miss the aperture 22 in the second sensored, penetrable target 14 to cause the projectile 18 to pass through the aperture 22 and to penetrate only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 that is positioned directly behind and in alignment with the second sensored, penetrable target 14. When the user selectable number of projectiles 18 pass through the aperture 22 and penetrate only the first sensored, penetrable target 12, the first sensored, penetrable target will move to a non-upright position out of the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20 will extinguish. Each penetration of a projectile 18 to the first sensored, penetrable target 12 will extinguish the colored indicating light 20 for a predetermined time interval (e.g. 250 milliseconds.) Advantageously, the first sensored, penetrable target 12 will remain in the upright position within the shooter's FOV when the shooter penetrates the non-engagement portion of the second sensored, penetrable target 14 with the projectiles 18. The aforementioned event also extinguishes the colored indicating light 20 for a discernably different period of time (e.g. 500 milliseconds) with each projectile 18 penetration of the second sensored, penetrable target 14, providing the shooter with a visual indication that the second sensored, penetrable target 14, and not the first sensored, penetrable target 12 only was penetrated by the projectile 18, giving reason as to why the first sensored, penetrable target 12 did not move to a non-upright position out of the shooter's FOV.

(21) In one embodiment, the second sensored, penetrable target 14 may be located at various lateral distances from the first sensored, penetrable target 12, (e.g., obscuring none or obscuring a portion of the first sensored, penetrable target 12) as depicted in (FIG. 6) in comparison to (FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown in (FIG. 6), the second sensored, penetrable target 14 is configured to be a solid structure free of the aperture 22. The second sensored, penetrable target 14 may represent an innocent bystander the shooter should aim to avoid penetrating with the projectile 18. The full sized first sensored, penetrable target 12 represents the vital location at which the shooter should aim to penetrate with the projectile 18 to cause the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to move from the upright position within the shooter's FOV to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV. More specifically, the shooter should aim a projectile 18 to penetrate only the visible area of the first sensored, penetrable target 12.

(22) (FIG. 7) depicts a top down view of the portable target apparatus having a position drive assembly 24 connected to the first sensored, penetrable target 12. Generally speaking, the position drive assembly 24 is configured to move the first sensored, penetrable target 12 from the upright position within the shooter's FOV to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV or from the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV to the upright position within the shooter's FOV.

(23) (FIG. 8) depicts a top down view of the first sensored, penetrable target 12 positioned in the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV, such as when the shooter has accurately penetrated only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 with a user defined number of projectiles 18.

(24) (FIG. 9) depicts a primary sensor 28 connected to the first sensored, penetrable target 12 with a primary cable 30 that connects the primary sensor 28 to a control electronics unit 50. Additionally, a secondary sensor 32 is connected to the second sensored, penetrable target 14 with a secondary cable 34 that connects the secondary sensor 32 to the control electronics unit 50.

(25) The operation of the control electronics unit 50 will now be discussed. (FIG. 10) is a block diagram drawing depicting signal flow within the control electronics unit 50. The position of the first sensored, penetrable target 12 is assumed to be in the upright position within the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20 is illuminated as depicted in (FIG. 9).

(26) The primary sensor 28 when mechanically stressed, as is the case when the first sensored, penetrable target 12 is penetrated by a projectile 18, generates a signal that then travels through the primary cable 30 to the control electronics unit 50 containing Primary Pulse Generator One PPG1 36. Primary Pulse Generator One PPG1 36 generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse. When the positive 5 millisecond timed pulse is transitioning from positive back to zero, it activates Primary Pulse Generator Two PPG2 40 that generates a positive 10 millisecond timed pulse. When the positive 5 millisecond timed pulse is transitioning from positive back to zero it causes a count control 44 to reduce its count register by 1 count (e.g. count down by 1 digit), from the total counts programmed into the count control 44 by a remote control 46. As an example, when the count control 44 has been programmed using the remote control 46 to require the shooter to accurately penetrate only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 with 1 projectile 18 to cause the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to move from the upright position within the shooter's FOV to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV, the count control 44 will subtract 1 from the programmed count of 1 and cause the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to move to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV and extinguish the colored indicating light 20.

(27) As in another example, when the count control 44 has been programmed using the remote control 46 to require the shooter to accurately penetrate only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 with 3 projectiles 18 to cause the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to move from the upright position within the shooters FOV to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV, the count control 44 will subtract 1 digit after the first projectile 18 penetrate on only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 from the programmed count of 3, thus requiring 2 more accurate projectile 18 penetrations to only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to cause the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to move to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV and additionally extinguish the colored indicating light 20. Additionally, when the shooter successfully penetrates only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 with a projectile 18 the count control 44 sends a signal to the position drive and colored indicating light control circuitry 26 that extinguishes the colored indicating light 20 for a predetermined time interval (e.g. 250 milliseconds), indicating to the shooter that only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 was successfully penetrated by the projectile 18. But, in this example, when the colored indicating light 20 extinguished for the above noted 250 millisecond time interval and the first sensored, penetrable target 12 did not move to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV, the shooter will know they have accurately penetrated only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 but also that the first sensored, penetrable target 12 requires more projectile 18 penetrations to cause the first sensored, penetrable target 18 to move to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV. When the shooter successfully penetrates only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 with the user defined number of projectiles 18 the count control 44 sends a signal to the position drive and colored indicating light control circuitry 26 that in turn sends a signal to the position drive assembly 24 that moves the first sensored, penetrable target 12 to the non-upright position not within the shooter's FOV. Additionally, the position drive and indicating light control circuitry 26 extinguishes the colored indicating light 20.

(28) The aforementioned and described sequence of events occurs when the shooter accurately sends a user defined number of projectiles 18 that penetrate only the first sensored, penetrable target 12. When the shooter inaccurately sends a projectile 18 and penetrates the second sensored, penetrable target 14 or penetrates both the first sensored, penetrable target 12 and second sensored, penetrable target 14 with the same projectile 18, the following sequence of events occur.

(29) The secondary sensor 32 when mechanically stressed, as is the case when the second sensored, penetrable target 14 is penetrated by a projectile 18, generates a signal that travels through the secondary cable 34 to the control electronics unit 50 containing a Secondary Pulse Generator SPG 38 that generates a positive 500 millisecond timed pulse. If the first sensored, penetrable target 12 was also penetrated by the same projectile 18, the primary sensor (23) is activated and sends a signal to the Primary Pulse Generator One PPG 1 36 that generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse. When the Primary Pulse Generator One PPG1 36 times out its positive 5 millisecond pulse while transitioning back to zero attempts to activate Primary Pulse Generator Two PPG2 40, but Primary Pulse Generator Two PPG2 40, is prevented from generating a 10 millisecond signal to send to the count control 44 because a hold off signal 48 from Secondary Pulse Generator SPG 38 has the time interval of 500 milliseconds. The 500 millisecond pulse from Secondary Pulse Generator SPG 38 also causes the position drive and colored indicating light control circuitry 26 to extinguish the colored indicating light 20 for the 500 milliseconds. This action demonstrates to the shooter that the second sensored, penetrable target 14 that should not have been penetrated by the projectile 18 was penetrated by the projectile 18 and that the shooter did not completely miss the first sensored, penetrable target 12 and/or the second sensored, penetrable target 14.

Advantages of the Proposed Invention

(30) The advantages of the proposed invention are obvious to those schooled in the art of training individuals to correctly and accurately employ firearms. The invention indicates to both the FI and the shooter when the first sensored, penetrable target is in their FOV by illuminating a colored indicating light and indicates when an accurate projectile penetrates the first sensored, penetrable target alone by extinguishing the colored indicating light for a time interval (e.g. 250 milliseconds.) When the correct number of projectile 18 penetrations on only the first sensored, penetrable target equal the number programmed into the control electronic unit 50 the first sensored, penetrable target moves non-upright out of the shooter's FOV.

(31) The invention also alerts the FI and shooter when an inaccurate projectile 18 penetration has been made on the second sensored, penetrable target 14 by extinguishing the colored indicating light 20 for a longer time interval (e.g. 500 milliseconds) than was observed when the first sensored, penetrable target 12 alone was penetrated by a projectile 18 and additionally the 500 millisecond pulse prevents the count control 44 from indexing down one digit.

(32) A further advantage of the invention over prior art is appreciated when a section of the second sensored, penetrable target 14 is removed forming an aperture 22 that corresponds to the anatomical area the shooter must penetrate on a human body so as to cause immediate physiological and mental incapacitation, such as the critical area of the head containing the brain, that when penetrated by a projectile 18, prevents the human threat from harming either the shooter or innocent bystanders.

(33) When the invention is configured with an aperture 22 in the second sensored, penetrable target 14, the invention alerts the shooter when the shooter does not pass the projectile 18 through the aperture 22. In this example, when the projectile 18 misses both the first sensored, penetrable target 12 and second sensored, penetrable target 12, the colored indicating light 20 remains on. This action has the training advantage of alerting the shooter that the projectile missed both the first sensored, penetrable target 12 and the second sensored, penetrable target 14. But when the projectile 18 does not pass through the aperture 22 and penetrates any area of the second sensored, penetrable target 14, the invention extinguishes the colored indicating light 20 for the noticeably different time interval (e.g. 500 milliseconds), than the invention extinguished the colored indicating light 20 when only the first sensored, penetrable target 12 alone is penetrated by a projectile 18 (e.g. 250 milliseconds). This alerts the shooter that the projectile 18 penetrated the second sensored, penetrable target 14 in an area (as an example the shoulder) that would not have immediately incapacitated the threat human. This is a critical indication for the training of the shooter as it alerts the shooter that the projectile 18 penetration on the threat human was not in an area that would have been incapacitating and could thus would provide the threat human the opportunity to continue to function and harm the shooter or innocent bystanders and that more projectile 18 penetrations on the first sensored, penetrable target 12 are immediately required.