Target system with unique target sensing

Abstract

A portable target apparatus is described including a threat/shoot target and a no threat/no shoot target positioned near the threat/shoot target. A user defined number of projectile impacts on only the threat/shoot target move it to a position out of the shooter's field-of-view. The threat/shoot target remains in the shooter's field-of-view whenever the no threat/no shoot target is impacted by a projectile.

Claims

1. A portable target apparatus, comprising: a) a primary target composed of a material penetrable to a projectile, and b) a secondary target composed of the material penetrable to the projectile, positioned near the primary target and c) a control circuit and a position drive assembly operable to move the primary target from a position within the user's field-of-view to a position not within the user's field-of-view when only the primary target is impacted by a user selectable number of projectile impacts and d) a control circuit operable to not move the primary target from the position within the users field-of-view to the position not within the user's field-of-view whenever the secondary target is impacted by any projectiles.

2. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a colored indicating light extinguishes for a time interval when only the primary target is impacted by a projectile.

3. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the colored indicating light extinguishes for a time interval not equal to the time interval in claim 2, whenever the secondary target is impacted by a projectile.

4. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the primary target resembles a living creature.

5. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the secondary target resembles a living creature and a. an aperture in the secondary target is in a location of at least one of a head and a chest area of the living creature.

6. The portable target apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a. an automatic reset circuit operable to, after a user selectable time interval, move the primary target from the position not in the user's field-of-view to the position within the user's field-of-view.

Description

[0064] 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.

[0065] (FIG. 1) is an elevational front view of a portable target apparatus showing a Primary Target and a Secondary Target in a position within the shooter's FOV and a projectile moving toward the Primary Target and Secondary Target in accordance with the present invention;

[0066] (FIG. 2) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus showing the Primary Target and the Secondary Target containing an area removed from the Secondary Target that coincides with the center mass of a human body and a projectile moving toward the removed area of the Secondary Target; the Primary Target and Secondary Target being in the position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

[0067] (FIG. 3) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus showing the Primary Target and Secondary Target containing an area removed from the Secondary Target that coincides with a critical area of the head of the human body and a projectile moving toward the removed area of the Secondary Target; the Primary Target and Secondary Target being in the position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

[0068] (FIG. 4) is an elevational side view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 3) showing a position drive assembly coupled to the Primary Target and a projectile moving toward the removed area of the Secondary Target with the Primary Target and Secondary Target being in the position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

[0069] (FIG. 5) is an elevational side view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 4) showing the Primary Target in the position not within the shooter's FOV, the projectile having passed thru the Secondary Target and not impacting the Secondary Target in accordance with the present invention;

[0070] (FIG. 6) is an elevational front view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 1) showing the Primary Target and Secondary Target in the position within the shooter's FOV with the lateral distance reduced between the Primary Target and the Secondary Target and a projectile moving toward the Primary Target in accordance with the present invention;

[0071] (FIG. 7) is an elevational downward looking view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 6) showing the Primary Target and Secondary Target in the position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

[0072] (FIG. 8) is an elevational downward looking view of the portable target apparatus of (FIG. 5) showing the Primary Target in the position not within the shooter's FOV and the Secondary Target being in the position within the shooter's FOV in accordance with the present invention;

[0073] (FIG. 9) is an elevational front view of a portable target apparatus of (FIG. 1) showing the Primary Target and a Primary sensor connected to the Primary Target and a Primary cable connected to the Primary sensor and the Primary cable connected to a control electronics unit.

[0074] Additionally, (FIG. 9) demonstrates the Secondary Target and a Secondary sensor connected to the Secondary Target and a Secondary cable connected to the control electronics unit in accordance with the present invention;

[0075] (FIG. 10) is a detailed block diagram of a signal flow process of the control electronics in accordance with the present invention in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] Referring now to (FIG. 1), one embodiment of the present invention in an elevational front view shows several advantageous features, 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.

[0081] A preferred embodiment of a portable target apparatus, as shown in (FIG. 1), includes a Primary Target 12 and a Secondary Target 14 affixed to a base frame 16. The Primary 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 Primary Target 12 may be of a rectangular, circular or other similar shape. Additionally, a colored indicating light 20 is illuminated only when the Primary Target 12 is in a position within the shooter's FOV. In this embodiment, the Secondary Target 14 is always within the shooter's FOV but could be configured in a differing embodiment to also move out of the shooter's FOV concurrent with the Primary Target.

[0082] The Primary Target 12 is operable in conjunction with a position drive and indicating light control circuitry 26 and a position drive assembly 24 to move from the Primary Target 12 from the position within the shooter's FOV (FIG. 1) to the position not within the shooter's FOV (FIG. 5) when only the Primary Target 12 is impacted by a user defined number of projectiles 18, as will be explained further herein.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the Primary Target 12 and the Secondary 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 thru the Secondary Target 14 and also pass thru the Primary Target 12 without causing significant damage to either the Primary Target 12 or Secondary Target 14.

[0084] In one embodiment (FIG. 1) the Secondary Target 14 is positioned in front of the Primary Target 12 and represents the non-engagement portion of the Secondary Target 14 the shooter should avoid impacting with the projectile 18. Alternately, the Secondary Target 14 may be positioned behind the Primary Target 12 and the invention will operate in exactly the same manner as described herein.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the position of the Primary Target 12 within the shooter's FOV is an upright and vertical 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.

[0086] In one embodiment (FIG. 2), a Secondary Target 14 contains an aperture 22 representative of the anatomically sensitive area, i.e. vital portion of a living creature, e.g., the center mass of the body, as depicted in (FIG. 2) or the head 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 impacted by a projectile 18 are susceptible to causing the living creature instantaneous and severe trauma.

[0087] In the preferred embodiment, the shooter is required to miss the aperture 22 in the Secondary Target 14 to cause a projectile 18 to pass thru the aperture 22 and to impact only the Primary Target 12 positioned directly behind and in alignment with the Secondary Target 14. Each impact of a projectile 18 will extinguish the colored indicating light 20 for a predetermined time interval e.g. 200 milliseconds. When the user selectable number of projectiles 18 passes thru aperture 22 and impact only the Primary Target 12, the Primary Target 12 will move to a position out of the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20 will extinguish.

[0088] Advantageously, when the shooter impacts the non-engagement portion of the Secondary Target 14 with a projectile 18 the Primary Target 12 will remain in the position within the shooter's FOV. Impacts on the Secondary Target 14 also extinguish the colored indicating light 20 for a discernably longer period of time e.g. 500 milliseconds, providing the shooter with a visual indication that the Secondary Target 14 was impacted by a projectile 18 and giving reason as to why the Primary Target 12 did not move to the position out of the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20 did not extinguish.

[0089] In one embodiment, the Secondary Target 14 may be located at various lateral distances from the Primary Target 12, e.g., obscuring none or obscuring only a portion of the Primary Target 12 as depicted in (FIG. 6) in comparison to (FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown in (FIG. 6), the Secondary Target 14 is configured to be a solid structure free of the aperture 22. The Secondary Target 14 may represent an innocent bystander the shooter should aim to avoid impacting with a projectile 18. The Primary Target 12 represents the vital portion that the shooter should aim to impact with the projectile 18 to cause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within the shooter's FOV. More specifically, the shooter should aim to launch the projectile 18 to impact only the visible area of the Primary Target 12.

[0090] (FIG. 7) depicts a top down view of the portable target apparatus having the position drive assembly 24 connected to the Primary Target 12. Generally speaking, the position drive assembly 24 is configured to move the Primary Target 12 from the position within the shooter's FOV to the position not within the shooter's FOV or from the position not within the shooter's FOV to the position within the shooter's FOV.

[0091] (FIG. 8) depicts a top down view of the Primary Target 12 in the position not within the shooter's FOV, such as when the shooter has accurately impacted only the Primary Target 12 with a user defined number of projectiles 18.

[0092] (FIG. 9) depicts a Primary sensor 28 connected to the Primary Target 12 with a Primary cable 30 connecting the Primary sensor 28 to a control electronics unit 50. Additionally, a Secondary sensor 32 is connected to the Secondary Target 14 with a Secondary cable 34 connecting the Secondary sensor 32 to the control electronics unit 50.

[0093] 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.

[0094] The position of the Primary 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).

[0095] The Primary sensor 28 when mechanically stressed, as is the case when the Primary Target 12 is impacted by a projectile 18, generates a signal, either by an electronics or mechanical means, that then travels through the Primary cable 30 to the control electronics unit 50 containing Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36. Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36 then generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse and when transitioning from positive back to zero, activates Primary Pulse Generator PPG2 40 generating a positive 10 millisecond timed pulse. When transitioning from positive back to zero the 10 millisecond timed pulse causes a count control 44 to reduce its count register by 1 count i.e. count down by 1 digit, from the total counts programmed into the count control 44 by a remote control 46. As in this example, the count control 44 is programmed using the remote control 46 to require the shooter to accurately impact only the Primary Target 12 with 1 projectile 18 to cause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within the shooter's FOV. When the count control 44 counts down by 1 digit from the programmed count of 1, the count control in turn sends a signal to the position control and indicating light circuitry 26 that sends a signal to the position drive assembly 24 to cause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within the shooter's FOV as depicted in (FIG. 5). Additionally, the count control 44 sends a signal to the position control and indicating light circuitry 26 which extinguishes the colored indicating light 20.

[0096] As in another example, the position of the Primary Target 12 is assumed to be in the upright position within the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light 20 illuminated as depicted in (FIG. 9). In this example the count control 44 has been programmed using the remote control 46 to require the shooter to accurately impact only the Primary Target 12 with 3 projectiles 18 to cause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within the shooter's FOV. The Primary sensor 28 when mechanically stressed, as is the case when the Primary Target 12 is impacted by a projectile 18, generates a signal, either by an electronics or mechanical means, that then travels through the Primary cable 30 to the control electronics unit 50 activating Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36 which then generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse. When transitioning from positive back to zero the 5 millisecond timed pulse activates, Primary Pulse Generator PPG2 40 generating a positive 10 millisecond timed pulse. When transitioning from positive back to zero the positive 10 millisecond timed pulse causes the count control 44 to reduce its count register by 1 count from the total 3 counts programmed. The count control 44 sends a signal to the position control and indicating light circuitry 26 that extinguishes the colored indicating light 20 for a predetermined time interval e.g. 200 milliseconds.

[0097] When the colored indicating light 20 is extinguished for the predetermined time interval of 200 milliseconds, and the Primary Target 12 does not move out of the shooter's FOV, the shooter knows he/she must engage the Primary Target 12 with additional projectile 18 impacts to cause the Primary Target 12 to move to the position not within the shooter's FOV and fully extinguish the colored indicating light 20.

[0098] The aforementioned and described sequence of events occurs when the shooter accurately sends a user defined number of projectiles 18 that impact only the Primary Target 12. When the shooter inaccurately sends a projectile 18 and impacts the Secondary Target 14 or impacts both the Primary Target 12 and Secondary Target 14 with the same projectile 18, the following sequence of events occur.

[0099] The Secondary sensor 32 when mechanically stressed, as is the case when the Secondary Target 14 is impacted by a projectile 18, generates a signal either by an electronics or mechanical means to travel 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 Primary Target 12 was also impacted by the same projectile 18, the Primary sensor 28 is activated and sends a signal to the Primary Pulse Generator PPG 1 36 by the aforementioned sequence of events that generates a positive 5 millisecond timed pulse. When the Primary Pulse Generator PPG1 36 times out the positive 5 millisecond pulse while transitioning back to zero attempts to activate Primary Pulse Generator PPG2 40, but Primary Pulse Generator PPG2 40, is prevented from generating a 5 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 Secondary Target 14 was incorrectly impacted by the projectile 18 and additionally that the shooter did not completely miss the Primary Target 12 and/or the Secondary Target 14.

Advantages of the Proposed Invention

[0100] 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 alerts both the FI and shooter when the Primary Target is in their FOV by illuminating a colored indicating light and indicates when an accurate projectile impacts the Primary Target alone by extinguishing the colored indicating light for a predetermined time interval e.g. 200 milliseconds.

[0101] When the correct number of projectile impacts on only the Primary Target equal the number programmed into the control electronic unit the Primary Target moves out of the shooter's FOV and the colored indicating light extinguishes.

[0102] Most importantly, the invention also alerts the FI and shooter when an inaccurate projectile impact has been made on the Secondary Target by extinguishing the colored indicating light for a longer time interval e.g. 500 milliseconds than was observed when the Primary Target alone was impacted by a projectile and additionally prevents the count control within the control electronic unit from indexing down one digit.

[0103] A further advantage of the present invention over prior art is appreciated when a section of the Secondary Target is removed forming an aperture that corresponds to the anatomical area the shooter must impact on a human threat so as to cause immediate physiological and mental incapacitation, such as the critical area of the head containing the brain, that when impacted by a projectile, prevents the human threat from harming either the shooter or innocent bystanders.

[0104] When the present invention is configured with an aperture in the Secondary Target, the shooter is visibly alerted when the projectile does not pass thru the aperture. In this example, when the projectile misses both the Primary Target and Secondary target, the colored indicating light remains fully on. This action has the training advantage of alerting the shooter that the projectile missed both the Primary Target and the Secondary Target. But when the projectile does not pass thru the aperture and impacts any area of the Secondary Target, the invention extinguishes the colored indicating light for the noticeably different time interval e.g. 500 milliseconds, than the colored indicating light extinguished when only the Primary Target alone is impacted by a projectile e.g. 200 milliseconds, thus indicating to the shooter that the projectile impacted the Secondary Target in an area (such as 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 impact on the human threat was not in a critical area that would have been incapacitating to the threat human and by missing the critical area the threat human would continue to function and harm the shooter or innocent bystanders. The shooter immediately recognizes that additional accurate projectile impacts on only the Primary Target are required.