U.S. patent application number 11/104304 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for modular shoot house facility.
Invention is credited to H. Addison Sovine.
Application Number | 20060107985 11/104304 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36459837 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060107985 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sovine; H. Addison |
May 25, 2006 |
Modular shoot house facility
Abstract
A modular shoot house facility is formed by building a modular
shoot house and a modular enclosure around the modular shoot house
for protecting the modular shoot house from the wind.
Inventors: |
Sovine; H. Addison; (Orem,
UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RANDALL B. BATEMAN;BATEMAN IP LAW GROUP
8 EAST BROADWAY, SUITE 550
PO BOX 1319
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84110
US
|
Family ID: |
36459837 |
Appl. No.: |
11/104304 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60562164 |
Apr 13, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/96 ;
52/84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/096 ;
052/084 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/02 20060101
E04H015/02 |
Claims
1. A modular shoot house facility comprising: a modular shoot house
configured for stopping bullets; and a modular enclosure disposed
around the shoot house so as to protect the shoot house from wind
gusts.
2. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 1, wherein
the modular shoot house is formed from a plurality of steel panels
attached to one another.
3. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 1, wherein
the modular enclosure comprises a tent.
4. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 1, wherein
the modular enclosure has a plurality of anchors attached thereto
for holding the modular enclosure to the ground.
5. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 1, wherein
the modular enclosure comprises a teepee.
6. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 1, wherein
the modular enclosure comprises a plurality of pieces of metal
attached to one another so as to form an enclosure.
7. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 6, wherein
the modular enclosure is generally arcuate.
8. The modular shoot house facility according to claim 1, wherein
the modular enclosure comprises a Quonset hut.
9. A method for forming a shoot house facility comprising: forming
a modular enclosure by attaching a plurality of pieces of material
together so that the plurality of the pieces can be repeatedly
assembled and disassembled; and forming a modular shoot house
inside of the modular enclosure such that the modular enclosure
protects the modular shoot house from wind.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises
forming the modular enclosure by erecting a tent.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises
forming the modular enclosure by erecting a teepee.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises
forming a Quonset hut.
13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further
comprises attaching the modular enclosure to the ground by an
anchor.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further
comprises forming a modular enclosure which withstands high
wind.
15. A shoot house comprising: a plurality of bullet proof walls
disposed so as to form at least one room for ballistic training,
the plurality of walls being configured for repeated assembly and
disassembly so as to form a portable shoot house; and a covering
structure, the covering structure being built independent of the
bullet proof walls such that the bullet proof walls do not form a
part of the walls or ceiling of the covering structure, the
covering structure being configured for assembly and disassembly so
as to be portable and being formed so as to withstand high
winds.
16. The shoot house of claim 15, wherein the plurality of bullet
proof walls are formed from plate steel.
17. The shoot house of claim 15, wherein the covering structure is
selected from the group consisting of a tent, a teepee, and a
Quonset hut.
18. The shoot house of claim 15, wherein the shoot house lacks a
permanent foundation.
19. The shoot house of claim 15, wherein the shoot house further
comprises a temporary foundation.
20. The shoot house of claim 15, wherein the shoot house further
comprises a plurality of anchors configured for attaching the shoot
house to the ground.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Related Applications
[0002] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/562,164, filed on Apr. 13, 2004.
[0003] 2. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to modular ballistic walls for
decelerating projectiles, commonly referred to as a shoot house,
and to an enclosure for the same. More specifically, the present
invention relates to modular shoot houses and a modular structure
designed to protect the shoot house from gusts of wind to thereby
make the shoot house more modular while ensuring stability.
[0005] 3. State of the Art
[0006] In order to maintain proficiency in the use of firearms, it
is common for law enforcement officers and sportsmen to engage in
target practice. While target practice has traditionally been
conducted on a range in which targets were placed a distance away
from the shooter, many have realized that such a scenario does not
adequately train officers for many real life situations. For
example, a substantial percentage of the police officers who are
killed each year are killed within fifteen feet of the perpetrator.
Many are killed within five feet--often within the confines of a
house or other building.
[0007] In order to better train police officers, many individuals
began building ballistic walls in arrangements to resemble a house
or other building. These structures, typically referred to as shoot
houses, enabled police officers to train in situations in which the
officer faces realistic threats to their safety. Additionally, as
the type of combat to which military troops may be exposed
increasingly involves urban warfare, it is critical that military
troops also be trained in house to house combat.
[0008] Shoot houses were originally constructed out of concrete,
gravel filled walls, or tire walls. While these shoot houses
provided a marked improvement over traditional training, they are
not as realistic and often do not resemble conventional looking
walls.
[0009] A significant improvement in shoot houses was achieved with
the invention of modular shoot house walls in which plates of steel
were attached together in a ballistically sound manner by facing
and backing strips and then covered by a frame. The frame typically
had two-by-fours attached to the facing strips that held the plates
together, and pieces of plywood that extend between the
two-by-fours. A more detailed description of one preferred
construction of a shoot house is set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
5,822,936.
[0010] When the plywood was painted, the shoot house looked very
similar to a conventional home with the roof removed. In such a
shoot house, an officer is able to train in a ballistically safe
environment that closely resembles what may be the most dangerous
scenario that he will face.
[0011] One problem which is present in modular shoot houses is
structural rigidity. While the panels of a shoot house are wood and
steel, they can act like a sail in response to strong wind gusts.
If a portion of a shoot house collapses due to a wind storm, the
risk of serious injury to anyone inside is significant.
[0012] To alleviate these concerns, it is common to extensively
cross-brace the different panels. The cross-bracing is highly
advantageous from the point of structural integrity and virtually
insures that the wall panels will not fall in even the severest of
storms. The use of the cross-braces, however, also has the
corresponding disadvantage of making the shoot house less modular
and mobile. Specifically, the more that cross-bracing is used to
provide structural support, the less mobile the shoot house is, as
the cross-bracing must be removed in order to take apart and move
the panels.
[0013] Thus, there is needed an improved system and method for
protecting a modular shoot house, while maintaining portability of
the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved modular shoot house facility.
[0015] It is another object of the invention to provide such a
modular shoot house facility which provides improved protection
from the elements.
[0016] In accordance with the above and other objects of the
invention a modular ballistic shoot house facility is disclosed
which includes a plurality of metal plates which are connected to
form a shoot house, and a portable/modular external structure
disposed so as to enclose the shoot house.
[0017] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the external
structure is a portable modular building, such as a teepee or tent
which is engineered to withstand high winds.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
external structure is a modular building, such as a Quonset hut,
which can be disassembled, moved with the steel plates and
reassembled at a desired location.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
shoot house and the portable building are disposed directly on the
ground, or on some temporary frame or foundation such as logs or
railroad ties or metal pieces, rather than on a permanent
foundation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from a consideration of the
following detailed description presented in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows an end view of a shoot house disposed in a tent
in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a teepee formed in
accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a shoot house and a cut-away view of a Quonset
hut in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the Quonset hut in FIG. 3 and
anchors used to secure the hut in the ground.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the
various elements of the present invention will be given numeral
designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to
enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is
to be understood that the following description is only exemplary
of the principles of the present invention, and should not be
viewed as narrowing the pending claims.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a shoot house 100
disposed in a portable, modular enclosure in the form of a tent
104. The shoot house 100 is assembled in the manner disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,936, or in any other appropriate configuration.
Rather than extensive cross-bracing of the shoot house 100, the
tent 104 is configured to withstand a significant wind storm, to
thereby prevent the walls of the shoot house 100 from being
collapsed by the wind. It will be appreciated that a variety of
tent configurations can be used to provide aerodynamics.
Additionally, a door 106 may be provided which may be opened to
provide access to the shoot house 100, and which may be closed to
isolate the shoot house 100 from the wind, rain, etc. Additionally,
support cables 108 and anchors 112 can be used to ensure that the
tent 104 will not collapse.
[0027] In addition to protecting the walls of the shoot house 100,
the tent 104 also enables use of the shoot house in a variety of
weather conditions. For example, such a configuration could be used
in a desert environment, such as Kuwait, where sand storms can
damage fire arms. By closing the tent 104, the shoot house can
continue to be used without risk to the weapons or the soldier's
training in the shoot house. Similarly, the tent 104 could permit
the use of the shoot house 100 during rain or other weather
conditions.
[0028] One big advantage of the construction shown in FIG. 1 is
that a foundation is not necessary. The shoot house 100 can be
built directly on the dirt, on a gravel bed, or on many other
surfaces. When it is desirable to relocate the shoot house 100, the
tent 104 is taken down, as is the shoot house 100, and the two are
moved to the new location. In such a manner, the military and other
mobile law enforcement are able to take their training facilities
to wherever they are stationed with having to pour or otherwise
form a new foundation each time. A temporary foundation such as
logs, wood, metal plates, etc. which is easily moved and which
helps support the weight of the shoot house may be used.
Additionally, the shoot house 100 can be readily reconfigured to
replicate an intended target. For example, if a special operations
unit were about to make an assault on a building believed to house
terrorists, the floor plan of the building could be replicated in
the shoot house 100, to enable timing and other planning to be
perfected.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of a
teepee 120 having the shoot house 100 disposed inside. The sloped
walls 124 of the teepee 120 are more aerodynamic than the flat,
straight walls of the shoot house 100 and therefore are less likely
to give way due to high winds. The configuration enables military
troops or law enforcement to train in the shoot house in a variety
of weather conditions, while still allowing the shoot house and
external structure to be moved to another location when
desired.
[0030] Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a partial cut-away
view of a modular shoot house facility, generally indicated at 128.
The facility 128 includes a modular shoot house 100 and a Quonset
hut 130. The Quonset hut 130 is made from a number of arcuate ribs
134 and sheets of tin or other metal 138 which are attached
together to form a generally hemispherical structure. A door 142 is
placed at one end to provided access. Braces or anchors 146 may be
used to support the weight of the Quonset hut or otherwise
stabilize the structure as may be necessary. The braces or anchors
146 may provide a temporary foundation, aiding in preventing
movement of the shoot house. The anchors 146 may be railroad ties,
wood, metal, even concrete footings if desired.
[0031] Quonset huts 130 have been common in the military since the
start of World War II, as convenient storage facilities. Utilizing
a Quonset hut 130 or other similar, modular structure has both the
benefit of limiting the need for cross-bracing and the benefit of
allowing the shoot house to be used in almost any environment.
Quonset huts 130 are particularly advantageous in this context
because they are easy to assemble and disassemble, relatively
inexpensive, and have been demonstrated to handle hurricane force
winds without collapsing. Thus, the risk that a windstorm could
topple the Quonset hut 130 and the shoot house 100 is extremely
small.
[0032] While attempts have been made to place awnings or other
coverings above shoot houses to allow their use during rain, there
has been no meaningful attempt to provide an enclosure structure
which limits the need to cross-brace the shoot house to protect
against windstorms, etc. Use of a Quonset hut 130 has all of these
advantages, while also providing security against collapse of the
shoot house independent of cross-bracing. The use of the Quonset
hut 130 also provides increased security, thereby limiting access
to the shoot house 100 to authorized personnel only.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a side view of the
Quonset hut 130. While a Quonset hut 130 and a shoot house can be
placed on a foundation, or a temporary foundation 154 such as
railroad ties, the present invention is advantageous because a
foundation is not required. The shoot house 100 and the Quonset hut
can be placed on dirt, gravel, or on a make-shift foundation, such
as railroad ties, wood, metal plates, as is desired. To prevent the
Quonset hut 130 from being blown away, a plurality of anchors 150
can be used to secure the Quonset hut to the ground. The anchors
150 may be elongate stakes, may be corkscrew shaped, etc. The
anchors 150 may then be removed or cut and the Quonset hut 130 and
shoot house 100 disassembled if the shoot house facility 128 is
needed in another location.
[0034] Thus there is disclosed an improved modular shoot house
facility. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous
modifications which can be made without departing from the scope
and spirit of the present invention. The appended claims are
intended to cover such modifications.
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