U.S. patent application number 14/277513 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-19 for target holder.
The applicant listed for this patent is Roger H. Ferrell. Invention is credited to Roger H. Ferrell.
Application Number | 20150330747 14/277513 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54538235 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150330747 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferrell; Roger H. |
November 19, 2015 |
Target Holder
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a target holder 5 having a front
panel 10 comprising a front surface 15, a rear surface 20, one or
more legs 25 and one or more slots 30, a support 35 comprising one
or more tabs 45 and one or more legs 40, and a horizontal connector
50, wherein the one or more tabs 45 are configured to engage the
one or more slots 30 and further wherein the front 10, support 35
and horizontal connector 50 are of integral construction. Also
provided herein is a target practice kit having a target holder and
a target, wherein the target is secured to the target holder via a
target securing means.
Inventors: |
Ferrell; Roger H.; (Decatur,
AL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ferrell; Roger H. |
Decatur |
AL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54538235 |
Appl. No.: |
14/277513 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41J 1/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41J 1/10 20060101
F41J001/10 |
Claims
1. A target holder comprising: a. a front comprising a front
surface, a rear surface, one or more legs and one or more slots, b.
a support comprising one or more tabs and one or more legs, and c.
a horizontal connector, wherein the one or more tabs are configured
to engage the one or more slots and the one or more tabs pass
through the front surface of the front when engaged with the one or
more slots and the one or more tabs extend outwardly from the front
surface and provide a horizontal surface on which a target may
placed, and further wherein the front, support and horizontal
connector are of integral construction.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The target holder of claim 1 manufactured from at least one of
cardboard, paperboard or corrugated fiberboard.
5. The target holder of claim 1 wherein the front is inclined
rearwardly from a vertical axis by angle .theta., wherein angle
.theta. is less than 45 degrees.
6. (canceled)
7. The target holder of claim 5 wherein angle .theta. is less than
20 degrees.
8. The target holder of claim 7 comprising a plurality of tabs and
slots.
9. The target holder of claim 1 further comprising a target
securing means.
10. A target holder comprising: a. a front comprising one or more
slots; b. a support comprising one or more tabs, and c. a
horizontal connector, wherein the front, support and horizontal
connector are of integral construction and further where the tabs,
when engaged with the slots, extend through the front and continue
outwardly therefrom and provide a horizontal surface on which a
target may be placed.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. The target holder of claim 10 manufactured from at least one of
cardboard, paperboard or corrugated fiberboard.
15. The target holder of claim 10 wherein the front is inclined
rearwardly from a vertical axis by angle .theta., wherein angle
.theta. is less than 45 degrees.
16. (canceled)
17. The target holder of claim 15 wherein angle .theta. is less
than 20 degrees.
18. The target holder of claim 17 comprising a plurality of tabs
and slots.
19. A target practice kit comprising: a. a target holder
comprising: (i) a front further comprising a front surface wherein
the front surface further comprises one or more female portions and
one or more slots and further comprising (ii) a support which
comprises one or more tabs, wherein the one or more tabs, when
engaged with the one or more slots, extend through the front
surface and provide a horizontal surface upon which a target can be
placed; b. a target, wherein the target comprises one or more male
portions, and wherein the male portion of the target is configured
to engage the female portion of the front thereby securing the
target to the front surface of the target holder.
20. The target holder of claim 19 wherein the target holder further
comprises a horizontal connector which connects the front to the
support, wherein the front, support and horizontal connector are
integrally constructed.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure pertains to the field of firearm
shooting accessories. More specifically, the present disclosure
pertains to a target holder.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Marksmen practice their skills by shooting at disposable or
paper targets, often the commonly known "bull's-eye" target.
Marksmen may practice either at a dedicated shooting facility, such
as a gun range, or they may prefer to practice in the field which
better simulates real world conditions more accurately than a gun
range. When practicing in the field, marksmen often will attach
their targets to trees, wooden posts, fence rails or other solid
structures. Often, these are placed in front of hills, dirt mounds
or other natural or man-made barriers for serving as a backstop to
arrest the motion of the bullet. Use of a solid structure to hold
the target could cause ricochets, which is not desirable. There
exists a need for a portable, lightweight, economical and
disposable target holder that will facilitate better and safer
shooting practice in the field. Such a target holder is disclosed
herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] To further explain the advantages and features of the
present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention
will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which
are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that
these drawings are not to be considered limiting in scope. The
invention will be described and explained with additional
specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of the target
holder 5.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of one embodiment of the target
holder 5.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows a side view of one embodiment of the target
holder 5.
[0007] FIG. 4 shows a top view of one embodiment of a template of
the target holder 5.
[0008] FIG. 5 shows a front view of one embodiment of the target
holder 5 with target 60 attached.
[0009] FIG. 6 shows a rear view of one embodiment of the target
holder 5 with target 60 attached.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a target
holder 5 comprising a front panel 10, a support 35 and a horizontal
connector 50. In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a
target holder 5 having a front panel 10 comprising a front surface
15, a rear surface 20, one or more legs 25 and one or more slots
30, a support 35 comprising one or more tabs 45 and one or more
legs 40, and a horizontal connector 50, wherein the one or more
tabs 45 are configured to engage the one or more slots 30 and
further wherein the front 10, support 35 and horizontal connector
50 are of integral construction. Also provided herein is a target
practice kit having a target holder and a target, wherein the
target is secured to the target holder via a target securing
means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The present disclosure provides a target holder 5 that is
portable, lightweight, economical and disposable that will
facilitate more effective and safer shooting practice in the field.
Now referring to FIGS. 1-6, in one embodiment, the target holder 5
comprises a front panel 10, a support 35 and a horizontal connector
50.
[0012] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3, the front panel 10
further comprises a front surface 15 that faces the marksman, a
rear surface 20, one or more legs 25 and one or more slots 30. The
front surface 15 is directed towards the marksman during use and
may optionally be inclined at angle .theta. from vertical axis A as
shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, angle .theta. is approximately
between 1-45 degrees, while in an alternate embodiment angle
.theta. is approximately between 1 and 20 degrees, while in yet
another embodiment angle .theta. is between 1 and 10 degrees.
[0013] The one or more slots 30 are configured or adapted to
receive one of more tabs 45 (as discussed below). The front 5 may
comprise many different shapes, by way of non-limiting example, the
front 5 may be a rectangle or, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, it may be a
silhouette generally shaped like the torso of a human. The front 5
may be solid or it may comprise one or more openings (not shown).
Finally the front 5 may comprise one or more legs 25 which serve to
stabilize the target holder 5.
[0014] The support 35 contacts both the front 5 and the horizontal
connector 50. Generally the support 35 is positioned at an angle
from its connection point with the front 10 to its connection point
with the horizontal connector 50. The support 35 provides the
rigidity and stability needed for the target holder 5 to maintain
an upright position during use.
[0015] The support 35 comprises one or more legs 40 positioned
distal to its connection point with the front 10. As with the legs
25 on the front 10, the support's 35 legs 40 serve to stabilize the
target holder 5. The support 35 also comprises one or more tabs 45
that extend from support 35 towards the front 10. The tabs 45 are
adapted or configured such that they extend through the front 10
from the rear surface 20 towards the front surface 15 through the
one or more slots 30 (via a sliding or other engagement) and
continue extending a distance away from the front surface 15
thereby both securing the front 5 to the support 35 and, in one
embodiment, serving as one or more platforms on which a target 60
can be placed. In one embodiment, the target holder 5 comprises a
plurality of slots 30 and a plurality of tabs 45. In yet another
embodiment, the plurality of slots 30 and tabs 45 is two. Of
course, it should be understood that any number of slots 30 and
tabs 45 should be considered within the scope of this
disclosure.
[0016] The slots 30 and tabs 45 securement mechanism described
above is typically sufficient to position and secure the target
holder 5 in an upright position for use and no other fastening
agents (such as elastic glue is required). Additionally, the target
holder 5 is more transportable and easy to handle if no fastening
agent is used. However, as would be recognized by one skilled in
the art, it is possible to use a fastening agent (such as elastic
glue) to provide additional support to secure the target holder 5
in an upright position for use. Further, to aid in the
transportation and handling of the target holder 5, the target
holder 5 may comprise one or more handles 55 as shown in FIGS.
5-6.
[0017] The horizontal connector 50 is connected to both the front
10 and the support 35 and provides the rigidity and stability
needed for the target holder 5 to maintain an upright position
during use.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the front 10, support 35 and
horizontal connector 50 are all integrally constructed from one
piece of material. In this preferred embodiment, as described
below, the target holder 5 could be manufactured through the use of
blanks with pre-folded boundaries separating the front 10, support
35 and horizontal support 50. In an alternate one embodiment, the
horizontal connector 50 and the support 35 are distinct pieces of
material.
[0019] The target holder 5 may be manufactured from any suitable
material. If weight, mobility and expense are of concern, then the
target holder may be manufactured from cardboard, paperboard,
plastics, composition materials or corrugated fiberboard.
Additionally, the target holder 5 may be manufactured from wood or
other suitable materials.
[0020] Also within the scope of this disclosure are templates
useful for forming the target holder 5 from cardboard (or similar
material) blanks. As shown in FIG. 4, the templates are considered
to have each of the elements discussed above for the front 10,
support 35 and horizontal connector 50. The template generally has
folding points (indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 4) that allow
the template to be folded or manipulated in such a manner so that
the front 10, support 35 and horizontal connector 50 are formed via
a series of folds or manipulations and then the tabs 45 may be
inserted into the slots 30 completing assembly. Templates are
especially useful if the target holder is manufactured from
cardboard or similar material.
[0021] Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in one embodiment, the
target holder 5 comprises one or more target securing means 65
which serve to engage with the target 60 and secure the target to
the front 10 for use. In a preferred embodiment, the target 60
comprises a male portion 70 of the target securing means 65 which
is adapted or configured to fit into a female portion 75 of the
target securing means 65 present on the front 10. In this preferred
embodiment, the male portion 70 comprises an arrow shaped element
which is passed through the female portion 75 wherein the arrow
shaped element once through the front 10 provides adequate
resistance via one or more engagement tabs 80 that prevent the male
portion 70 from easily passing back through the female portion 75.
The target holder 5 may include female portions 75 at many
different locations. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, there may
be a series of female portions 75 used for securing a target 60
both on the lower and upper portions of the front 15. Of course,
other means of securing the target 60 to the front 10 should be
considered within the scope of this disclosure such as tape, tacks
or the like.
[0022] Although particular embodiments of the present disclosure
have been described, it is not intended that such references be
construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure except
as set forth in the claims.
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