COLLAPSIBLE SHOOTING TARGET STAND

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/640,751, filed Apr. 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to shooting targets for guns, and more specifically to a target with a base that allows for easy assembly and disassembly without the use of tools.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a shooting target stands. Shooting targets are used in open country environments with varied terrain and conditions. These locations may also be very remote and require the stand to be transported over long distances. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to pack and transport the stand in a small package. In these remote locations tools may not be readily accessible either. It is also desirable that the components of the assembled stand be securely retained to allow movement of the stand in the shooting environment.

Prior art shooting target stands have been made to be disassembled and reassembled for transport, but they require the use of multiple tools in order to do so. In other embodiments, prior art stands exist that are assembled without at least some components that may be removed and added without tools, but these components are not securely retained on the stand and result in a flimsy stand that is not sturdy and is of generally low quality. At least some conventional shooting target stands have also included mechanisms to at least partially account for adjustments based on terrain-some using tools and others that are driven into the ground.

In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to produce a sturdy and stable shooting target stand that is configured for quick and easy assembly and disassembly. It would be of further advantage if such shooting target stand were capable of adjustments to account for terrain. It would also be advantageous if such stand were relatively easy and inexpensive to produce and could be sold in compact form.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a shooting target stand base that improves upon prior art offerings. In at least one embodiment, the shooting target stand comprises a base, at least one first leg, at least one second leg, and an upright. The base includes a first leg coupling, a second leg coupling, and an upright coupling, the upright coupling including a plurality of catches. The at least one front leg is configured to releasably engage the first leg coupling. The at least one second leg is configured to releasably engage the second leg coupling. The upright includes a lower support configured to engage one of the plurality of catches in the base, wherein each of the plurality of catches in the base is configured to hold the upright at a different angle relative to the base. At least one shooting target is coupled to the upright.

In another embodiment, the shooting target stand comprises an upright with at least one target, the upright including a lower support with a tongue and at least one locking plate including a pin hole. The shooting target stand further comprises a base configured to releasably receive the upright. The base includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a forward plate, and a rearward plate. The first side plate includes at least three upright slots, each of the upright slots of the first side plate configured to receive the tongue of the lower support and each of the upright slots extending along different angles on the first side plate, the first side plate further including at least three pin holes associated with each of the upright slots of the first side plate. The second side plate is parallel to the first side plate and includes at least three upright slots, each of the upright slots of the second side plate configured to receive the tongue of the lower support and each of the upright slots extending along different angles on the second side plate, the second side plate further including at least three pin holes associated with each of the upright slots of the second side plate. The forward plate is perpendicular to and extends between the first side plate and the second side plate. The rearward plate is perpendicular to and extends between the first side plate and the second side plate. At least one forward leg is releasably coupled to the forward plate. At least one rearward leg releasably coupled to the rearward plate. At least one pin is configured to slide through (i) one of the at least three pin holes of the first side plate, (ii) one of the pin hole of the at least one locking plate, and (iii) one of the at least three pin holes of the second locking plate such that the upright is locked in place relative to the base.

In at least some embodiments, the shooting target stand of the present disclosure allows for portability by breaking down without the need for tools, while also positively retaining the assembled members to allow movement or repositioning of the stand. The construction of the present disclosure utilizes tab and slot interaction to locate the components in the proper position, and a retaining pin is installed at each location to retain the members.

In one embodiment the upright member of the shooting target stand has three discrete assembly positions in order to adjust for terrain and to provide certain shooting characteristics. The multiple positions may account for unlevel terrain and allow the user to angle the targets downward toward the ground to help control ricochet and bullet fragment splash. In other embodiments more or less than three installation positions may be offered.

In one embodiment there are three legs that insert into the base and are retained with a hand installed pin. Three legs provide a stable support envelope for the stand and allow the user to choose appropriate ground contact points for stable positioning. In this embodiment two legs are installed on one end of the base, and the other end receives a single leg. The single leg is made from flat material, and the remaining legs have a bend near the assembly interface to widen the support envelope for the stand.

In other embodiments more legs may be added if a specific use case requires more ground contact points. The additional legs may be flat or have bends in them as required to control the support envelope for the stand.

The various embodiments of the shooting target stand further result in a method of assembling and disassembling a target shooting stand.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. While it would be desirable to provide a shooting stand target and related method for assembly that provides one or more of these or other advantageous features as may be apparent to those reviewing this disclosure, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they include or accomplish one or more of the advantages or features mentioned herein

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a shooting target stand with an upright member set perpendicular to the base (and level ground); the shooting target stand includes legs assembled to the base and retained with hand-inserted quick release pins; the shooting target stand further includes a plurality of targets that hang from features on the upright member.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the shooting target stand of FIG. 1, with the upright member set at an angle to the base (and level) ground, thus putting the targets at a forward angle relative to the ground.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the components of the shooting target stand of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base and quick release pins in isolation from the legs and the upright member of the shooting target stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the upright member in isolation from the base, legs, and quick release pins of the shooting target stand of FIG. 1, the upright member including a lower support with a tongue and a side plate.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the base of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION

The following description of embodiments of a shooting target stand makes use of relative terms that are dependent on an orientation of the stand at a given time (e.g., while the stand is in use and on level ground of the earth). Accordingly, it will be recognized that many terms of orientation and position as used herein are defined with reference to what may be shown in the drawing and/or other common positions. While efforts have been made herein to reference portions of the shooting target stand with respect to non-changing features (e.g., “axial,” “elongated,” etc.), it will be recognized that other terms are relative terms that depend on the position of the shooting target stand. For example, the terms “top” (or “upper” or “above”), “bottom” (or “lower” or “below”), “left” or “right” (or “side”), “front” (or “forward”), “back” (or “rearward”), “vertical” and “horizontal” may all be used herein in association with what is shown in a drawing and/or the intended configuration of components when the shooting target stand is fully assembled, but such positions may switch or change if the shooting target stand is disassembled or placed in a different position other than that of the intended use.

With reference now to the figures, a shooting target stand 10 includes an upright member 20 that extends from a base 40. A plurality of legs 60 are releasably coupled to the base 40. A plurality of targets 80 are coupled to the upright member 20 and hang from features on the upright member 20. The upright member 20 is configured to be secured to the base 40 at one of a plurality of different angular orientations relative to the base. Quick release pins 70 are used to secure the upright member 20 and the legs 60 to the base 40.

Upright Member

With particular reference now to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the upright member 20 (which may also be referred to herein as simply and “upright”) includes a tower 22 that extends upwardly from a lower support 30. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the tower 22 is a post having a triangular cross-section. In this embodiment, the tower 22 includes a rear panel 24 and two angled front panels that meet in a front vertex 26. The front vertex 26 is arranged on a front of the tower pointing toward the front of the shooting target stand 10, and the other two vertices are arranged on a rear of the tower, pointing toward a left and right rear of the shooting target stand.

The tower 22 may be any number of different heights as are common for firearm targets. For example, in at least one embodiment, the tower 22 extends about 36″-58″ above the base. A plurality of target mounts 28 are arranged along the length of the tower 22. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the target mounts 28 are provided as small cut-out panels that define recesses in the tower 22 configured to receive mounting tabs 84 on the targets 80. In at least some embodiments, the target mounts 28 provide cylindrical bearings configured to receive the mounting tabs 84 and facilitate rotation thereof when one of the targets is struck.

The lower support 30 of the upright 20 includes a downwardly extending tongue 32 and two locking plates 34. The tongue 32 may be provided by an extension of a rear panel 24 of the tower 22 that extends further downward than the two angled front panels of the tower. The locking plates 34 are small plates that are arranged perpendicular to the tongue 32. In at least one embodiment, the locking plates are fitted into slots in the tongue 32 and welded or otherwise adhered thereto. A pin hole 36 is formed in each locking plate 34. As explained in further detail below, each pin hole 36 is configured to receive a locking pin 70 and lock the upright in position relative to the base 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the targets 80 are arranged above the lower support on an upper side of the upright member. The targets may be provided in any number of different forms and/or shapes. In the embodiment disclosed herein, each target 80 is provided as a paddle including a target blade 82 and a tab 84. The tabs 84 are configured to be inserted into the target mounts 28 on the upright 20. When a tab 84 is inserted into a target mount 28, the target 80 securely hangs from the upright. When the target 80 is struck with a sufficient force (e.g., when struck by a bullet), the target mount 28 allows the target to swing from one side of the upright to another.

Base Member

With reference now to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the base member 40 (which may also be referred to herein as simply a “base”) includes a plurality of plates that are coupled together to provide a support for the upright 20. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the base member 40 includes two side plates 42, two front plates 44, and two rear plates 46. Each of the plates includes features that provide couplings for other components of the target shooting stand.

The two side plates 42 are arranged in parallel and extend along the left and right sides of the base 40. The side plates 42 are spaced apart from one another by the two front plates 44 and the two rear plates 46 which are arranged in perpendicular planes with respect to the two side plates 42. The two front plates 44 include an upper plate and a lower plate. The two rear plates 46 also include an upper plate and a lower plate. The two front plates 44 and the two rear plates 46 are identically sized and shaped, and the two front plates 44 are arranged symmetrically on the base in relation to the two rear plates 46. Each of the two front plates 44 and the two rear plates 46 includes a plurality of slots 48 positioned along an outer edge. Each slot 48 is provided by a long narrow notch that extends inwardly from an outer perimeter of the associated plate. The slots of the two front plates 44 are open to the front of the base 40, and the slots of the two rear plates 46 are open to the rear of the base 40. These slots 48 serve as leg couplings for the legs 60 of the base, as described in further detail below. Side tabs 49 are included on each side of the two front plates 44 and the two rear plates 46. The side tabs 49 are inserted into apertures in the side plates 42 and secured thereto.

Each side plate 42 is generally elongated from front to back and includes two feet 58 arranged on the front and rear of the side plate 42. The feet 58 are configured to contact the ground or other solid surface on which the base rests. Each side plate 42 extends upward from the feet 58 with an outer face and an inner face. An upright coupling 50 is provided at an upper central location on each side plate 42. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the upright coupling 50 is provided by a group of angled slots 52.

Each slot 52 of the upright coupling 50 is provided by a long narrow notch that extends downwardly from an upper perimeter of the plate and terminates in a middle region of the plate (e.g., halfway down the height of the plate). Three slots 52 are included on each side plate 42 in the embodiment disclosed herein, including a forward slot 52a, a middle slot 52b, and a rearward slot 52c. The forward slot 52a extends downwardly and toward a rear portion of the base. The middle slot 52b extends directly downward. The rearward slot 52c extends downwardly and toward a front portion of the base. As illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 6, each slot 52 is arranged at an angle, co, relative to the other slots 52. This angle, ∞, is typically between 10° and 45°. In at least one embodiment, the angle, co, is approximately 15° (i.e., 15°+/−5°).

Each of the slots 52 provides a catch in the base 40 that is configured to receive the upright 20. As a result, a plurality of catches for the upright 20 are arranged in the base 40. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the slots 52 configure the upright coupling 50 as a receptacle that receives the tongue 32 of the upright 20. Specifically, the tongue 32 of the upright 20 may be inserted into one of the slots 52a, 52b, 52c of each side plate 42. Because the side plates 42 are arranged in parallel and are identical in form, the slots are configured as slot sets, with each slot set including a left slot and a right slot wherein the tongue is selectively positioned in one of the slot sets (i.e., in one of the two forward slots 52a, the two middle slots 52b, or the two rearward slots 52c). When the upright 20 is arranged in the forward slots 52a, the upright is held by the base along a forward angle (i.e., parallel to the forward angle defined by the forward slots). When the upright 20 is arranged in the rearward slots 52c, the upright is held by the base along a rearward angle (i.e., parallel to the rearward angle defined by the rearward slots). When the upright 20 is arranged in the middle slots 52b, the upright is held by the base along an angle that is perpendicular to the length of the base (and level ground when the base rests on level ground) (i.e., parallel to the perpendicular angle with the length of the base defined by the middle slots). When the upright is in the middle slots 52b, it may also be considered to extend along a “neutral” angle defined as an angle between the forward angle and the rearward angle.

In addition to the slots 52, each of the side plates 52 also includes a plurality of plate apertures 54 and a plurality of pin holes 56. The plate apertures 54 are laterally extending slots on the side plates that are configured to receive the side tabs 49 on the two front plates 44 or the two rear plates 46. The side tabs 49 on the two front plates 44 and the two rear plates are inserted into the plate apertures 54 and secured with an adhesive, welding, or other connection means.

The pin holes 56 on the side plates 52 include three central pin holes 56a, 56b, 56c, one forward pin hole 56d, and one rearward pin hole 56e. Each of the three central pin holes 56a, 56b, 56c is associated with one of the three slot sets 52a, 52b, 52c of the upright coupling 50 on the side plates 42. As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the pin holes 56 is configured to slidably receive a pin 70. The forward pin hole 56d is configured to receive a pin 70 that locks one or more legs 60 to the front of the base 40. The central pin holes 56a, 56b, 56c are configured to receive a pin 70 that locks the upright 20 to the base 40 in one of three positions, based on the lower support being inserted into the forward slot 52a, the middle slot 52b, or the rearward slot 52c. The rearward pin hole 56e is configured to receive a pin 70 that locks one or more legs 60 to the rear of the base 40. Each of the pin holes 56a-56e is similarly sized such that the pins 70 are interchangeable between the different pin holes.

The pins 70 of the base 40 may be any type of pin that will readily slide in and out of the pin holes 56 and provide a locking mechanism for the various components of the shooting target stand 10 to the base 40. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the pins 70 are quick release pins including a shaft 72, a handle 74, and a locking mechanism 76 such as a spring loaded ball. The diameter of the shaft 72 is slightly less than the diameter of the pin holes 36, 56, 66 (e.g., 1 mm+/−0.5 mm). This allows the pins 70 to easily slide in and out of the pin holes 56 while keeping the components tightly together with little play between the components. The length of the shaft 72 is sufficient to extend completely across the base 40, from side-to-side, with the handle 74 on one side of the base and the locking mechanism 76 on the opposite side of the base. While the pins 70 have been described herein as quick release pins, it will be recognized that a different type of pin may be used, such as cotter pins, provided such pin is configured as complementary to the shape and size of the pin holes 36, 56, 66.

Leg Members

With particular reference now to FIGS. 1-3, the plurality of legs 60 are releasably coupled to the base 40. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the plurality of legs include a forward leg 62 and two rear legs 64. The forward leg 62 may be slightly shorter in length than the two rear legs (e.g., about 75-85% of the length of the rear legs). Each leg 60 includes a tongue 65 and a pin hole 66 positioned on a proximal end of the leg. Each leg also includes a foot 68 positioned on a distal end of the leg. The foot 68 of each leg is configured to rest on the ground when the shooting target stand 10 is in use.

The tongue 65 of each leg is configured for insertion in the leg couplings provided by the slots 48 in the two front plates 44 and two rear plates 46. The forward leg coupling is provided by the forward set of slots 48 configured to receive the tongue 65 extending from a proximal end of the forward leg 62. The rearward leg coupling is provided by the rearward set of slots 48 which are configured to receive the tongue 65 extending from a proximal end of the rear legs. Once inserted into the slots 48, the pin holes 66 align with the pin holes 56d and 56e in the side plates 42, thus allowing for insertion of a pin 70 into the pin holes and thereby locking the legs to the base 40.

The components of the shooting target stand 10, including the upright 20, the base 40, and the legs 60 are all formed from a relatively stiff and rigid material, such a steel, or another strong metal. However, in at least some embodiments, one or more components of the shooting target stand 10 may be formed from a relatively stiff and strong polymer material such as PAI, PEEK, PPS, Nylon, or any number of other polymers.

Method of Assembling a Shooting Target Stand

It will be recognized from the foregoing disclosure that a method of assembling a shooting target stand is also contemplated herein. The method includes coupling at least one forward leg to the base by engaging the at least one forward leg with the base such that a forward pin hole in the base is aligned with a pin hole in the forward leg and then inserting a forward leg pin through the pin hole in the side plates and the pin hole in the forward leg. With the pin inserted through the side plates and the forward leg, the forward leg is locked in position on the base. The method further includes coupling at least one rearward leg to a base by engaging the at least one rearward leg with the base such that a rearward pin hole in the base is aligned with a pin hole in the rearward leg and then inserting a rearward leg pin through the pin hole in the base and the pin hole in the rearward leg. With the pin inserted through the side plates and the rearward leg, the rearward leg is locked in position on the base. In at least one embodiment, coupling the rearward leg to the base involves inserting a single pin through two rearward legs coupled to the leg coupling provided at the rear plates. Additionally, the method includes selecting one of a plurality of slots (or slot sets) on the base to receive a support of an upright, each of the plurality of slots associated with one of a plurality of support pin holes, wherein said plurality of slots include at least one forward leaning slot, a vertical slot, and a rearward leaning slot. When the forward leaning slot (or slot set) is selected the upright is positioned at a forward angle relative to the base. When the vertical slot (or slot set) is selected the upright is positioned at a vertical angle (i.e., perpendicular relative to the base and ground). When the rearward leaning slot (or slot set) is selected the upright is positioned at a rearward angle relative to the base. Thereafter, the method includes coupling the upright to the base by inserting the support of the upright into the selected one of the plurality of slots in the base and then inserting an upright pin through a pin hole in the support and the one of the plurality of support pin holes associated with the selected one of the plurality of slots.

The foregoing description of one or more embodiments of the shooting target stand has been presented herein by way of example only and not limitation. Accordingly, while the foregoing discloses one embodiment of a shooting target stand, it will be recognized that other embodiments are also contemplated herein. For example, in at least some embodiments, the base may be a monolithic component that does not include two side plates, two front plates and two rear plates, or only includes a subset of these plates. As another example, in other embodiments, the upright couplings and the leg couplings may be differently configured, including embodiments with additional slots, or embodiments that are free of slots and include other coupling features.

Additionally, it will be recognized that there are advantages to certain individual features and functions described herein that may be obtained without incorporating other features and functions described herein. Moreover, it will be recognized that various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different embodiments, systems or applications. Presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by any appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.