U.S. patent application number 11/532534 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for portable target assembly for shooting.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPECIAL TACTICAL SERVICES, LLC. Invention is credited to Dale Alan McClellan.
Application Number | 20080078900 11/532534 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39277091 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080078900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McClellan; Dale Alan |
April 3, 2008 |
Portable Target Assembly for Shooting
Abstract
A portable target assembly includes an upper plate unit, an
upright and a base unit. The upper plate unit is comprised of a
strike plate and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket comprises
a top plate, a side plate, a bottom plate and an upright housing.
The side plate of the mounting bracket has an X-shaped opening. The
side plate of the mounting bracket is welded to the strike plate
through the X-shaped opening. The bottom plate of the mounting
bracket has a protrusion. The upright housing of the mounting
bracket is welded to the top plate of the mounting bracket and
extends vertically through the protrusion of the bottom plate of
the mounting bracket to receive the upright. The upright housing
has a crest for a tight fit of the upright. Furthermore, in the
present embodiment the base unit is comprised of a base and a post.
The post is welded to the base. The post extends vertically to
receive the upright. The post is positioned in relation to the base
in such way that upright could be switched in positions when it
received by the post.
Inventors: |
McClellan; Dale Alan;
(Chesapeake, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INNA S. SHESTUL
1200 N. Veitch St, Apt 737
Arlington
VA
22201
US
|
Assignee: |
SPECIAL TACTICAL SERVICES,
LLC
Chicago
IL
|
Family ID: |
39277091 |
Appl. No.: |
11/532534 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/220.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41J 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/220.22 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. A portable target assembly, comprising: an upper plate unit,
wherein the upper plate unit comprises a strike plate and a
mounting bracket, the mounting bracket defining at least one plate
and an upright housing, the mounting bracket welded to the strike
plate; wherein the plate of the mounting bracket defines a
protrusion and the upright housing of the mounting bracket extends
vertically through the protrusion; an upright, the upright received
by the upright housing; and a base unit, the base unit comprising a
plurality of legs and a post, wherein the post is connected to the
plurality of legs; wherein the strike plate of the upper plate unit
is at a deflection angle of 10.degree.-30.degree. to the upright,
when the upright is received by the upright housing of the mounting
bracket.
2. The portable target of claim 1, wherein the post of the base
unit extends vertically to receive the upright.
3. The portable target assembly of claim 2, wherein the plate of
the mounting bracket defines an X-shaped opening.
4. The portable target assembly of claim 3, wherein the plate of
the mounting bracket is welded to the strike plate through the
X-shaped opening.
5. The portable target assembly of claim 4, wherein the upright
housing of the mounting bracket has a crest for tight fit of the
upright.
6. The portable target assembly of claim 5, wherein the base unit
comprises two pairs of legs.
7. The portable target assembly of claim 6, wherein the post of the
base unit is positioned in relationship to the two pairs of legs so
that the upright may be switched in positions.
8. The portable target assembly of claim 1, wherein the deflection
angle is 15.degree.-25.degree..
9. The portable target assembly of claim 8, wherein the deflection
angle of an approximately 20.degree..
10. The portable target assembly of claim 9, wherein the upper
plate unit has resistance of at least AR500.
11. An apparatus comprising: a first member, a second member and a
third member; the first member comprising a strike plate and a
mounting bracket, the mounting bracket defining at least one plate
and an upright housing, the mounting bracket welded to the strike
plate; wherein the plate of the mounting bracket defines a
protrusion and the upright housing of the mounting bracket extends
vertically through the protrusion; the second member is received by
the upright housing of the first member; and the third member
comprises a base providing a stable footing for the apparatus and a
post, wherein the post extends vertically to receive the second
member, the post is welded to the base; wherein the first member is
at a deflection angle of 10.degree.-30.degree. to the second
member, when the second member is received by the first and the
third member.
12. A method for use with a base, an upright, and upper plate unit
comprising a strike plate, the method comprising the steps of:
placing the base on the surface, relative to a shooting location;
mounting the upright upon the base, orienting the upright so that
no flat surface of the upright faces the shooting location;
mounting the upper plate unit upon the upright, the strike plate of
the upper plate unit angled at 10.degree.-30.degree. relative to
the upright; and firing bullets toward the strike plate.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps, performed
after the firing step, of: removing the upper plate unit for the
upright; and removing the upright from the base.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a steel target
for shooting and more particularly to a steel target that can be
assembled and re-assembled depending on the circumstance; these are
easily portable.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] As is well known there is a need for a target support
structure that can be easily assembled and re-assembled. Today,
various targets are employed by law enforcement agencies, military
units, and shooting competition organizations. Such targets are
usually configured as integral, heavy-gauge metal frameworks
consisting of a large number of interconnected braces that provide
a rigid assembly on which strike plates are mounted. As a result,
such a support structure is effectively permanent and it cannot be
readily disassembled, transported and reassembled for use at
different shooting ranges.
[0005] Examples of devices generally related to this art include
U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,925 issued on Sep. 8, 1987 to Paul Scholem
(Portable Steel Target for Pistol Shooting).
[0006] However, none of the targets disclosed in this prior art
provide adequate personal protection, while being easily
transported and assembled. In this regard, most prior art target
assemblies typically have a steel circular target affixed
vertically to the mounting base of the target support
structure.
[0007] It would be desirable to provide a portable target assembly
that provides enhanced general protection for upright users but is
easy to transport and to assemble with no tools involved.
[0008] It would also be desirable to provide a new and improved
bulletproof target assembly, which may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
[0009] It would likewise be desirable to provide a new and improved
target assembly of a durable and reliable construction.
[0010] Finally, it would be desirable is to provide a new and
improved target assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the
consuming public, thereby making such target assemblies
economically available to the buying public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In one embodiment of this invention, a portable target
assembly includes an upper plate unit, an upright and a base unit.
The upper plate unit is comprised of a strike plate and a mounting
bracket. The mounting bracket comprises a top plate, a side plate,
a bottom plate and an upright housing. The side plate of the
mounting bracket has an X-shaped opening. The side plate of the
mounting bracket is welded to the strike plate through the X-shaped
opening. The bottom plate of the mounting bracket has a protrusion.
The upright housing of the mounting bracket is welded to the top
plate of the mounting bracket and extends vertically through the
protrusion of the bottom plate of the mounting bracket to receive
the upright. The upright housing has a crest for a tight fit of the
upright.
[0012] In the present embodiment the upright has a tight fit into
the upright housing.
[0013] Furthermore, in the present embodiment the base unit is
comprised of a two pairs of legs and a post. The post is welded at
an intersection of the two pairs of legs. The post extends
vertically to receive the upright. The post is positioned in
relation to the legs in such way that upright could be switched
into positions when it is received by the post.
[0014] Furthermore, personal safety can best be achieved when the
strike plate is at on deflection angle of 10.degree.-30.degree. to
the upright when it is received by the upright housing of the
mounting bracket and the post of the base unit. Better results are
achieved when the lo strike plate and the upright are at a
deflection angle of 15.degree.-25.degree.. However, the best
results appear to be achieved when the strike plate and the upright
are at a deflection angle at approximately 20.degree..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These aspects, along with the various features of novelty,
which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its
operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,
reference should be made to the accompanying drawing and
descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary
embodiments of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a
portable target assembly.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view of a mounting bracket of the exemplary
embodiment of the portable target assembly.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the exemplary embodiment of
the portable target assembly.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a top view of an upright of the exemplary
embodiment the portable target assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0020] With reference to FIG. 1, a portable target assembly 10
formed of an upper plate unit 20, an upright 30, and a base unit
40.
[0021] The parts of the assembly may be formed from AR500 (Abrasion
resistance) material that withstands virtually any standard caliber
of handgun or short gun ammunition. A strike plate 21 is a
rectangular or flat plate, which in one embodiment is 1/2'' thick
and size 12''.times.12'' or 12''.times.18''. In another embodiment
the strike plate is 3/8'' thick. The strike plate 21 is formed from
AR500 material.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper plate unit 20 is comprised of
the strike plate 21 and a mounting bracket 22. The mounting bracket
22 has a top plate 23, a side plate 24, a bottom plate 25 and an
upright housing 26. The side plate 24 of the mounting bracket 22
has an X-shaped opening 24A. The side plate 24 of the mounting
bracket 22 welded to the strike plate 21 through the X-shaped
opening 24A. The bottom plate 25 of the mounting bracket 22 has a
protrusion 25A as shown in FIG. 2. The upright housing 26 of the
mounting bracket 22 is welded to the top plate 23 of the mounting
bracket 22 and extends vertically through the protrusion 25A of the
bottom plate 25 of the mounting bracket 22 to receive the upright
30. The upright housing 26 has a crest 26A for a tight fit of the
upright 30.
[0023] In the present embodiment the upright 30 has a tight fit
into the upright housing 26. The upright 30 has a top portion 31
and a bottom portion 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the top portion 31 of
the upright 30 is received into the upright housing 26 of the
mounting bracket 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the upright 30 also has a
flat section 33 and an angled section 34.
[0024] Furthermore, in the present embodiment the base unit 40 is
comprised of two pairs of legs 41 and 42 and a post 43. The post 43
is welded at an intersection of the two pairs of legs 41 and 42.
The post 43 extends vertically to receive the bottom portion 32 the
upright 30 as shown in FIG. 3. The post 43 is positioned in
relation to the legs in such way that upright 30 could be switched
into various positions, when the upright bottom portion 32 is
received by the post 43 as shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, personal
safety can best be achieved when the angled section 34 of the
upright 30 is facing the shooter.
[0025] In the actual embodiment each of the pair of the iron legs
41 and 42 may comprise of 1/2''11/2''.times.183/4'' section steel
iron approximately 3 feet in length. The post 43 may comprise
6-inch-thick steel plate 43 with the size 13/8''.times.6''. More
generally the base unit 40 is shaped to provide a stable
footing.
[0026] Furthermore, personal safety can best be achieved when the
strike plate 21 at a deflection angle 44 (deflection angle 44 in
FIG. 3) of 10.degree.-30.degree. to the upright 30 when its top
portion 31 is received by the upright housing 26 of the mounting
bracket 22 and its bottom portion 32 is received by the post 43 of
the base unit 40. Better results are achieved when the strike plate
21 and the upright 30 are at a deflection angle of
15.degree.-25.degree.. However, the best results appear to be
achieved when the strike plate 21 and the upright 30 are at a
deflection angle at approximately 20.degree..
[0027] The above assembly provides 100% true ballistic integrity
even if mounted on uneven ground. As to the manner of usage and
operation of the instant invention, the same should be apparent
from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further discussion
relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant
invention shall be provided.
[0028] This assembly provides enhanced general protection for
upright users but is easy to transport and to assemble without any
tools involved. Further, this embodiment provides that the target
assembly has laser-cut smooth borders and radius corners to
eliminate sharp edges for safe handling and gives a professional
appearance. Further, the above-mentioned angles provide additional
protection by deflecting bullets to one side or the other (in case
of angled section 34 of the upright 30) or downwards (in case of
the deflection angle formed between the strike plate 21 and the
upright 30). Furthermore, the angled strike plate allows the shield
to be tailored to its location. Finally, all target assemblies are
built with all the surfaces, as mentioned above, angled so that
fragmentation is directed in a reliable pattern away from the
firing line.
[0029] With regard to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0030] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
[0031] For example, although the target assembly shown herein
includes angled strike plates, it should be understood that the
strike plate could be non-angled.
* * * * *