Apparatus For Target Mounting

Description

This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 111 patent application that claims the benefit of priority and is entitled to the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of GB Patent Application 2407706.7, filed May 30, 2024, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to mounting targets to be shot at using pellets, in particular Airsoft pellets.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Airsoft guns (sometimes known as realistic imitation firearms or RIFs) are recreational, replica toy guns that use, and hence shoot, pellets. The guns are realistic and designed to look like real guns. The pellets are typically plastic but, importantly, are non-metallic. Again, importantly, Airsoft pellets are distinct from metallic spherical pellets used by BB guns.

Airsoft guns can have spring-loaded air pistons or be powered by compressed gas cartridges. Airsoft guns further differ from BB guns by their different power limits; Airsoft guns generally fire pellets at higher velocity than BB guns. Airsoft guns can fire pellets from a maximum distance of around 90 m; they typically fire pellets from around 35 to 55 m away from the target but they can also be used to fire pellets at point blank range.

Airsoft competitions often involve setting up a series of targets and shooting at each target in sequence as quickly as possible. Therefore, competitions and training drills are often held indoors and occasionally in confined spaces (e.g. including stairwells). Accordingly, there is a need for safe target backstops which prevent pellets from ricocheting or passing through the targets and causing damage to either the building or spectators standing by.

An existing backstop is a mesh catcher, having a mesh cage with an open front, with the target placed in or in front of the mesh. Mesh catchers are typically small and intended to be positioned on a flat surface, for example a tabletop.

Whilst mesh catchers are satisfactory for indoor use when shooting with small toy guns (e.g. a lower powered children's gun), they are not safe for shooting at a point-blank range, nor are they safe for indoor use when shooting with an Airsoft gun. This is because Airsoft guns are much more powerful and therefore the mesh is not strong enough to stop the pellet (i.e. the pellets can penetrate the mesh). Also, the more powerful shot from an Airsoft gun might cause a mesh catcher to topple over or move from its position, since these are not secured in place.

Another disadvantage of known mesh catchers is that they are intended to be used for stationary shooting only. They therefore cannot be used for “assault course” training, i.e. they are not safe to use when positioning an assortment of targets around a room and practicing shooting multiple targets positioned apart from each other in a short space of time.

Similar to mesh catchers are cardboard targets of the type known from US 2019/0178612, which describes a cardboard box for use as a firearm target, designed to catch the pellets within the box. Also known are apparatus made from corrugated materials, such as the frame assembly disclosed in US 2011/0062667. These types of targets encounter the same limitations as mesh catchers.

Other existing backstops include frames akin to those described in US 2013/0187336 and GB 2409892, having either only one panel or a front panel with an aperture and thus there exists a high risk of pellets ricocheting.

Another type of existing backstop is the ATTACKSENSE® electronic target system. This is an advanced reactive target system designed for use with air guns. The target system comprises pads which electronically track each hit. However, the targets themselves are small and therefore they are not safe for use in small indoor spaces. Due to its electronic nature, the system is also very expensive, requires regular charging and can malfunction.

Other systems for trapping bullets from conventional weapons are known but these are not practical for use in Airsoft-type competitions.

Thus, there exists a need for improved backstops for shooting Airsoft pellets from point blank range and/or for indoor use (i.e. in training for competition shooting), preferably one that is both safe and inexpensive.

An aim of the present invention is to provide alternative, preferably improved, apparatus for Airsoft target shooting activities, especially for indoor use. An aim of specific embodiments of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for holding Airsoft targets and managing or controlling pellets fired at the targets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus for mounting a target for Airsoft pellets, comprising: a front panel and a rear panel, spaced apart wherein the target can be mounted on the front panel, the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, the rear panel is not penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, and the front panel is not penetrable by a pellet that rebounds off the rear panel, wherein the front panel is or comprises a first fabric panel on which the target can be mounted, and the rear panel is or comprises a second fabric panel, made of a different fabric than the first.

Also provided by the invention is a kit for Airsoft shooting, comprising the apparatus, optionally, one or more targets, and an aperture panel comprising openings through which a user can shoot at a target attached to the apparatus.

Further provided by the invention is a method of Airsoft shooting, using the apparatus or kit, wherein the method comprises shooting an Airsoft pellet at a target attached to the apparatus and trapping the pellet between the front panel and rear panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now described in more specific detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an apparatus of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic back view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a top pole and a portion of the panels of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic of an aperture panel in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic of a target for use with the invention,

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a target attached.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of another apparatus according to the invention with a target attached,

FIG. 9 shows a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 shows a close-up of the side view of the apparatus of FIG. 8,

FIG. 11 shows a close-up of the trough and baffle of the apparatus of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 shows a close-up of the frame of the apparatus of FIG. 8 when collapsed for storage,

FIG. 13 shows a close-up of the target of FIG. 8 after shooting,

FIG. 14 shows the slight pellet damage caused to the front panel of the apparatus of FIG. 8 after shooting,

FIG. 15 shows a close-up of an S-clip used to attach the target of FIG. 13 to the apparatus of FIG. 8,

FIG. 16 shows a front view of another apparatus according to the invention, and

FIG. 17 shows a side view of the apparatus according to FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFICATION

Apparatus of the invention, for mounting a target for Airsoft pellets, comprises: a front panel and a rear panel, spaced apart wherein the target can be mounted on the front panel, the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, the rear panel is not penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, and the front panel is not penetrable by a pellet that rebounds off the rear panel, wherein the front panel is or comprises a first fabric panel on which the target can be mounted, and the rear panel is or comprises a second fabric panel, made of a different fabric than the first.

In use the apparatus traps pellets between the panels, preventing ricochets, as rebounding pellets do not have the energy to pass back through the front panel into a shooting area, and enabling easy collection of pellets.

The second fabric panel is preferably denser than the first fabric panel. The panels are preferably not made of cardboard.

The target is for Airsoft pellets, and the apparatus is for use with Airsoft pellets fired by an Airsoft gun. Apparatus of the invention may be used with Airsoft pellets having a diameter of 4.5 to 8 mm; typically the pellets will be about 6 mm in diameter. Suitable Airsoft pellets range from 0.12 to 0.40 g in weight, or up to 0.60 g in weight for larger guns, with common weights being 0.12 g, 0.20 g, 0.25 g, 0.28 g, 0.30 g and 0.40 g; preferably the pellets will weigh about 0.25 g.

Herein, reference to Airsoft pellets preferably does not include metallic pellets and in particular does not include metallic 4.5 mm diameter pellets (or similar ‘bb’-sized, metallic pellets).

Apparatus of the invention may be suitably used for shooting with an Airsoft gun and Airsoft pellets from a point blank distance up to a distance of 55 m away from the target. Preferably apparatus of the invention will be used for shooting with an Airsoft gun from a distance of up to 45 m away from the target.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet, 6 mm in diameter, made of plastic, fired at a distance between point blank range and up to 55 m away, and at this distance the rear panel is not penetrable by said Airsoft pellet, and the front panel is not penetrable by said Airsoft pellet that rebounds off the rear panel. Suitable plastics from which said Airsoft pellets may be made are polymers, for example polylactic acid (PLA) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

As described in more detail below, the apparatus preferably comprises a frame, with both panels being mounted on the frame, wherein the frame holds the panels spaced apart with a gap between the panels. Usually, the frame holds panels spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other. The apparatus can thus present a flat surface or larger area onto which one or more targets can be attached.

Spacing between the panels is preferably such that the gap between the front and rear panel is at least 10 mm, more preferably at least 15 mm. In particular, a gap of about 30-35 mm is found to work well. In the specific examples described below and shown in the figures, the air gap is about 32 mm. The apparatus is intended to be easily portable so the gap is preferably not so wide as to make the whole apparatus awkward to carry and store, so the gap is suitably not more than 200 mm, preferably not more than 100 mm or more preferably not more than 50 mm.

Typically, the panels are approximately square when viewed from the front (with optional side and/or top/bottom tabs or flaps, etc. to attach them to the frame). In general, the panels may be 0.5 m-1.5 m×0.5 m-1.5 m, suitably 0.7 m-1.2 m×0.7 m-1.2 m; in an example below the panels are about 95 cm by 95 cm.

When mounted on the frame, the panels forming the pellet backstop may extend across the entire width of the frame so that there is no gap between the edges of the panels and the frame, meaning pellets cannot not escape through the sides.

The frame is sized to hold the targets on the front panel and may be between 1 m to 2 m tall and between 0.5 m to 1.5 m wide. The frame is typically made from rigid wooden, metal and/or plastic poles or tubes. Preferably, the frame is made from plastic tubing, such that it is lightweight and easily portable. Suitably, the frame can easily be lifted and transported by one person. Hence, it may be less than 5 kg in weight, or preferably less than 2 kg in weight, or even less than 1 kg in weight.

The panels are held on the frame, and the panels may be the same dimensions in width as the frame, as the panels preferably extend to the full width of the frame. Frame and panel dimensions are not critical to the invention and thus can be a range of shapes and sizes, though preferred frames are around 150 cm tall and 95 cm wide, with the panels being about 95 cm squared. Preferred panels are square or rectangular in shape, primarily for ease of fixing the panels on to the frame, however other shapes, e.g. circular panels, are also suitable.

The apparatus is for supporting one or more targets on its front surface and is wide enough and deep enough to support at least one conventional Airsoft target, preferably with areas of the front panel above, below and to the sides of the target. Examples of dimensions for the apparatus are discussed below.

Pellets hitting the target (which is easily penetrated) or missing the target but nevertheless hitting the front panel pass through the front panel, rebound off the rear panel and then do not pass back through the front panel, being as a result trapped between the panels. The apparatus further suitably comprises a receptacle, e.g. a trough, for collecting pellets trapped between the panels. Pellets do not ricochet into the shooting area. Instead, pellets that are trapped or retained between the front and rear panel can then fall into the receptacle for later recovery and reuse or disposal. A trough can be formed from a lower portion of the rear panel looped forwards and upwards into a “U” shape. For example, there may be a rigid bar extended across the lower end of the rear panel. The rigid bar may be stitched or otherwise fastened into place. The rigid bar may be pulled forwards and upwards such that the bottom section of the rear panel loops in front of the front panel to form a trough. The rigid bar may define the front of the trough and connect to a forwardly extending cross bar on either side of the frame to secure the trough in place. Alternatively, there may be no rigid bar across the front of the trough and, instead, the trough may be held in place by two small reinforcement bars or props extending across the width of the trough at either end. The reinforcement bars or props may be comparable to the props used in tents to hold the air vents open. In this case, the number of rigid metallic/plastic components exposed for pellets to hit is reduced, thus reducing the risk of pellets ricochetting. The reinforcement bars may be covered with the same material used for the back panel and they may optionally also be padded to further reduce the risk of ricochet. The reinforcement bars or props may be inserted into the trough and held in place by suitable fastening means, such as hook and loop fastenings, inside the trough. The receptacle may also be a separate component of the apparatus.

Optionally, the trough may be provided with a baffle. This is a structure or object used to restrain pellets that are trapped within the panels of the backstop and fall into the trough and ensure they remain within the trough as opposed to bouncing out and falling on the floor. The baffle may be part of or fixed to the trough or, alternatively, it may be a separate component which can be slotted into the trough. Suitably, the baffle is long and thin in shape. Preferably, the shape of the baffle mimics the shape of the trough such that it slots inside the trough comfortably. In other words, the baffle is dimensioned to fit inside the trough and fill the majority of the space inside the trough. The baffle may be made from a rigid foam, such as polystyrene, PVC or cardboard. Preferably, the baffle is made from foam.

The apparatus is optionally adapted for attachment to a wall. In embodiments, it comprises support structure for attachment to a wall, with the rear panel spaced from the wall. The support may include one or more brackets, suitably at or towards both the upper and lower portions of its frame to hold the apparatus firm with respect to and spaced away from the wall—this allows the rear panel to move backwards towards the wall when absorbing pellet impact. In these embodiments the rear panel can be held at least 10 mm away from the wall.

The apparatus is optionally adapted for use on a flat surface, e.g. on the ground. In embodiments, it comprises support legs and/or support feet, so the apparatus is free-standing. Conveniently, the legs and/or feet can be folded to lie in the plane of the frame for ease of storage and transportation. Preferred apparatus is portable and free-standing and convenient for indoor use and to be quickly set up and taken down.

For example, the frame may comprise a top bar extending between adjacent left-hand and right-hand support legs, each of which is connected to a left-hand and right-hand support foot, respectively. Optionally, the end of each support leg may be connected to the center of the corresponding support foot, such that in use the support feet extend outwards in front of and behind the apparatus at right angles to the plane of the frame and panels, to keep the frame stable when pellets are fired at it and prevent it from toppling over under the force. For storage, the legs and feet may be easily rotated such that the feet lie in the plane of the frame and panels.

Alternatively, the end of each support leg may be connected to one end of the corresponding foot and the feet may extend backwards behind the apparatus to provide support, such that when the apparatus is hit with pellets from in front it does not topple over backwards under the force. There may also be provided a cross bar extending across the ground between the two feet for further support. In this case, the feet may rotate or fold upwards for storage, such that they sit flat against the legs.

The front and back panels are both made from fabric or woven material. In order to meet the requirement that the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range and the rear panel is not penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range. The front and back panel are made from different materials. Hence, in embodiments, the front panel is or comprises a first fabric panel on which the target can be mounted, and the rear panel is or comprises a second fabric panel, made of a different fabric than the first. The denier of the material for the rear panel may be 50 denier or more, or 100 denier or more or 300 denier or more higher in denier than the front panel. Fabric panels are generally flexible, readily available and inexpensive; they are readily replaced in full or in part-see below for more details. Targets can easily be hung or otherwise attached to fabric, e.g. using clips.

The back or rear panel is suitably made from material which will not be penetrated by an Airsoft pellet fired at the distances specified. Typically, the back panel comprises or is made from materials having a linear density of 300 or greater, preferably 500 or greater and more preferably 1000 or greater denier. Typically, the material used to make the back panel is woven, with a basket weave. Specific suitable materials for the back panel include ballistic nylon, terrycloth towelling, canvas, PVC backed nylon, CORDURA®, a synthetic fiber fabric, KEVLAR®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, TWARON®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, TECHNORA®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, HERACRON®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, and ALKEX®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric. For less powerful guns, typically nylon is suitable. Preferably, particularly for more powerful guns, the back panel is made from ballistic nylon, used successfully in an example described below. Known ballistic nylon can have denier of about 840 and 1680 denier. Other materials having the penetration-resistance properties set out herein are also suitable for the rear panel.

The front panel is suitably made from material which allows the Airsoft pellet to penetrate it but does not allow the pellet to pass back through it after hitting and bouncing off the rear panel. In use, the rear panel absorbs pellet impact, and may move backwards slightly on impact, slowing the pellet such that if the pellet rebounds to any extent its energy is significantly reduced and so much so that it cannot penetrate the front panel on the rebound. Generally, the front panel is made from fabric with lower density than the rear panel, usually of 500 denier or below or 300 denier or below. Typically, the front panel is made from a plastic mesh material, such as construction grade netting. Preferably, the material is UV resistant. Suitable materials for the front panel include nylon mesh, polyester mesh, polyethylene and polypropylene mesh. Suitably, the density of the front panel is between 50 and 150 grams per square meter (gsm), or between 60 and 100 gsm. Preferably, the density of the front panel is around 70 gsm.

Preferably the front panel is made from debris netting, used and described in more detail in the example below. Debris netting is durable and heavy-duty. It is a 1.59 mm ( 1/16 inch) knitted mesh material commonly used for safety purposes, e.g. for scaffolding enclosures and guardrail debris protection. Debris netting is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and is reinforced with UV inhibitors to maximize life expectancy. It typically has a density of around 50 gsm and is around 70% air permeable. A known debris netting is made from HDPE monofilament of 250 denier (available from STARK Building Materials UK Limited, UK, trading as JEWSON®). Again, other materials having the penetration-resistance properties set out herein are also suitable for the front panel.

Typically, the front panel will be under tension, such that when a pellet hits the front panel its material will not notably be forced backwards and, importantly, it will not move backwards so far as to contact the back panel. This ensures that pellets penetrate the front panel, and a small amount of tension also keeps the front panel flatter for ease of mounting targets. The tension in the front panel may be maintained by one or more weights, e.g. a weighted front bar, fixed at or towards the bottom of the front panel to hold it down. Alternatively, the tension may be maintained by attaching the panel to the sides of the frame, with a slight stretch to impart tension and then secured under this slight tension by the rigidity of the frame. Hook and loop strips on either side of the front panel can be used, which secure the right- and left-hand edges of the front panel to the frame sides or to corresponding edges of the back panel. In use, although not quickly damaged, the front panel generally accumulates some damage over time by the action of multiple pellets passing through it, and so the front panel may be replaced regularly once it is beginning to fail to trap rebounding pellets.

The back panel may optionally be loose or slack or alternatively it may also be under slight tension. It is preferred, however, that there is some give in the mounting of the rear panel material, allowing some movement and a cushioning effect when hit by pellets. Suitably, portions of the back panel can move backwards by around 5 cm or more when hit by a pellet. The back panel suitably has enough give to ensure that it will always stop the pellet and not allow the pellet to penetrate it; the back panel should absorb pellet impact and not be under such high tension that pellets bounce off with enough energy to penetrate back through the front panel. This balance is achieved in examples of the invention, as described below.

In one embodiment, the front and back panels are joined together along one or more of their edges, for example they may be stitched together. Suitably, the front and back panel may be joined together along three edges to form a sock-like pouch or sack which can be passed over the top of the frame. In this embodiment, there is no need for a weighted bar or other means to keep the tension in the front panel because both panels are held taut as a result of being (slightly) stretched over the frame. As mentioned above, the front panel may become damaged over time and need replacing. In this embodiment, rather than replacing the whole pouch or sack (i.e. both panels), a new front panel may be placed over the top of the existing, damaged front panel. The new front panel may be slightly larger in width than the frame, such that the edges of the new front panel are able to fold around the frame and contact the rear surface of the back panel. The new front panel may be held in place and under tension by hook and loop fastenings connecting the left-hand and right-hand edges of the new front panel to the left-hand and right-hand edges of the back panel respectively.

A kit for Airsoft shooting is also provided by the invention, comprising the apparatus of the invention and an aperture panel comprising openings through which a user can shoot at a target attached to the apparatus.

The aperture panel is conventional and comprises opaque sections that obscure the target for the shooter with one or more, usually two or more, apertures through which the shooter can see the target and shoot at the target. In preferred kits there is an apparatus of the invention having the front and rear panels mounted on a frame and an aperture panel mounted on a similar frame. Kits also preferably include one or more targets. Kits also preferably comprise one or more replacement front panels. Suitable replacement front panels include single panels, e.g. a single layer of mesh, and double panels, e.g. two layers of mesh stitched together on one or more (preferably three) sides to form a sock-like structure. Single replacement panels may be held in place by fastenings, such as hook and loop fastenings, to the existing front panel, the frame or the back panel. Preferably, a single replacement panel is held in place by hook and loop fastenings which connect it to the back panel. Double replacement panels may be slid over the top of the frame and existing front and back panels. Preferably, the replacement panel is a double replacement panel as these can be turned over or reversed and reused, i.e. there is two replacement pieces of mesh in one panel, so the panel is longer lasting.

A method of Airsoft shooting is further provided by the invention, using the apparatus or kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises shooting an Airsoft pellet at a target attached to the apparatus and trapping the pellet between the front panel and rear panel. Trapped pellets are preferably then caught in the receptacle, e.g. trough.

Apparatus of the invention may be suitably used with Airsoft competition targets of a wide range of sizes. Typically, they are used with targets which are 46 cm by 76 cm. Suitable targets include official UK competition targets and official US competition targets. Typically, the invention is used with printed targets, such targets include paper and cardboard targets. Paper targets are preferred, particularly for use with less powerful guns, because there is less risk of pellets ricocheting off a paper target. Targets can be 0.05 mm to 5 mm thick, commonly 2 mm to 5 mm thick.

Apparatus of the invention are suitably used for shooting with Airsoft guns having a power of 25 Joules or less; typically they will be used with Airsoft guns having a power of about 4 Joules or less, preferably they will be used with Airsoft guns having a power of 2.5 Joules or less. Generally, they will be used with Airsoft guns having a power of between 0.5-2.5 Joules, or preferably 1-1.8 Joules.

There are options for attaching targets to the apparatus.

Targets can be directly attached to the material of the front panel. There may be one or more target lines hung across the front panel. Preferably the target line (or lines) will be made from a material which is strong and durable, such that it does not break if hit by a pellet. Preferably the target line (or lines) will be made of a material which is also flexible, such that it will flex and move out of the way if hit by a pellet. Elastic lines can be used. In examples below, the target line (or lines) was made from paracord. There may be one or more pegs hung on each target line, for attachment of the target.

Alternatively, the target may have one or more holes along the top edge, and optionally one or more holes along the side and bottom edges. In such embodiments the target may be fixed directly on to the backstop front panel, for example the target may be tied by lacing through the one or more holes and the target and also through the front panel to secure the target to the front panel. Alternatively, the target may be fixed to the backstop using one or more S-clips or hooks. These may be made from metal or plastic and they may be hooked through the one or more holes in the target and also through the front panel to secure the target in place. This eliminates the need to use target lines and/or pegs, therefore resulting in an even lower chance of the pellet hitting a hard element in the target zone and ricocheting. Lacing is suitably nylon or polyester.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples are provided for illustrative purposes only in order to facilitate a more complete understanding of representative embodiments now contemplated. These examples should not be construed to limit any of the embodiments described in the present specification, including those pertaining to the apparatus, kits, or methods and uses disclosed herein.

Example 1

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7 there is shown an apparatus (10) of the invention which comprises a frame and front and rear panels mounted thereon, forming a pellet backstop.

The frame (12) has a height of 150.5 cm and a width of 94 cm. It stands on two horizontal feet (20a, 20b) each of which is 100 cm in length. The frame (12) also has a left-hand side bar (16a) and a right-hand side bar (16b), each of which are 150.5 cm in length. The frame (12) has a top bar (14) and a bottom bar (28) each 94 cm in length. The width of the top bar (14) is 32 mm.

Front panel (30) and back panel (32) are spaced apart with an air gap between. The front panel (30) is made from debris netting and the back panel (32) is made from ballistic nylon (approx. 1600 denier, commercially available). Both the front panel (30) and back panel (32) are square panels with dimensions 95 cm by 95 cm.

The front panel (30) comprises right- and left-hand attachment wings (31a, 31b) which wrap around the right- and left-hand side bars (16a, 16b), respectively, and overlap the side edges of the back panel (32). Attached to the back surface of each of the left and right hand wings (31a, 31b) are hook and loop strips (34a, 34b, VELCRO®) which contact corresponding hook and loop strips on either side of the back surface of the back panel (32) when the right and left hand wings (31a, 31b) are wrapped around the right and left hand side bars (16a, 16b), such the front panel (30) and back panel (32) are fastened together on either side.

The back panel (32) is secured by a top stretched loop (33), which wraps around the top bar (14) and is overlapped by the top edge of the front panel (30). Attached to the front surface of the top stretched loop (33) there is a top hook and loop strip (35, VELCRO®) which contacts a corresponding hook and loop strip on the top of the back surface of the front panel (30) when the stretched loop (33) is wrapped around the top bar (14), such that the front panel (30) and back panel (32) are fastened together at the top.

The back panel (32) further comprises a bottom stretched loop (25) which extends under the bottom bar (28) and attaches to the front of the bottom bar (28), such that a trough (26) is formed under the bottom bar (28). The trough collects trapped pellets which fall by gravity through the enclosed air gap between the front panel (30) and back panel (32).

The apparatus (10) of FIG. 7 was assembled by fastening the top hook and loop strip (35) on the top edge of the back panel (32) to the top edge of the front panel (32) to create the backstop panel. The backstop panel was then hung over the top bar (14) of the frame (12) such that it was folded in half and the top stretched loop (33) where the front panel (30) and the back panel (32) overlap was positioned over the top bar (14). The corresponding sides of the front panel (30) and back panel (32) were then also attached, by wrapping the right- and left-hand wings (31a, 31b) on the front panel (30) around the right- and left-hand side bars (16a, 16b), respectively, and fastening the right- and left-hand hook and loop strips (34a, 34b) to the back panel (32). The trough (26) was then created by passing the bottom stretch loop (25) of the back panel (32) under the bottom bar (28) of the frame (12) and securing the bottom edge of the back panel (32) to the front of the bottom bar (28). This created an enclosed space, or air gap (22), between the front panel (30) and the back panel (32), the width of which was approximately equal to the depth of the frame (12). The excess material at the bottom of the front panel (30) was then tucked into the trough (26) to create an entirely enclosed pocket between the front panel (30) and back panel (32), such that the Airsoft pellets were not able to escape the air gap (22).

A target line (18) made from a 94 cm length of paracord was then hung between the two side bars and the target was then secured to the centre of the target line (18) using a peg (21).

In use, the pellet backstop of FIG. 2 is positioned up to 45 m away from the shooter and the shooter fires an Airsoft pellet at the target. The pellet penetrates the target and the front panel. The pellet then hits the back panel and does not penetrate it. Its energy is absorbed by the rear panel and if the pellet rebounds sufficiently to hit the back surface of the front panel it does not penetrate the front panel on the rebound. The pellet is thus contained in the air gap between the front and back panels and falls by gravity into the trough. Pellets do not ricochet into the playing area, and therefore do not cause danger to players and do not leave mess on the playing surface. Pellets are conveniently collected after play and can be counted as part of the process of confirming hits for accurate scoring.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an aperture panel that can be attached to the same frame as shown in other figures, and in FIG. 6 there is shown another example of a target that can be used with the apparatus.

Example 2

Referring to FIGS. 8-12, there is shown another apparatus (50) of the invention.

This apparatus differs from the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, firstly, in that the front and rear panels are stitched together on three sides (i.e. along the top, left-hand side and right-hand side), as can be seen in the close-up of the side view in FIG. 10. This design allows the front and rear panels to form a sack to be slid over the frame. The front and rear panel are sized such that they are stretched slightly when slid over the frame, also seen in FIG. 10, thus holding the front panel in particular under tension and eliminating the need for a weight or hook and loop fastenings or other means to keep the front panel taut.

Another difference, as can be seen in FIGS. 8 & 13 is that the target is held on to the front panel by S-clips (53), which comprise a bulldog clip connected to a metal wire/rod shaped into an S. The bulldog clip is clipped onto the paper target, as shown in FIG. 8, and the metal wire/rod is hooked though the holes in the mesh front panel to hold the target in place. The advantage of using S clips to attach the target to the backstop is that the surface area of metal and other non-mesh materials obstructing the backstop is decreased with respect to an elastic target line, for example. Hence, the risk of the pellet hitting something which is not the mesh front panel is decreased and the risk of the pellet ricochetting is therefore decreased.

FIG. 11 shows a close-up of the trough, which is formed by the lower portion of the rear panel being looped around in front of and underneath the front panel. Inside the trough is a foam baffle (52) which is dimensioned to fit comfortably inside the trough the extend the length of the trough, acting as a barricade for any pellets which may land in the trough and bounce back out. The baffle stops the pellets bouncing back out of the trough, preventing the need for the user to engage in the tiresome task of clearing up lots of escaped pellets from the surrounding floor after shooting.

FIG. 12 shows the frame of the apparatus in the collapsed position for easy transport and storage. As can be seen, the legs of the frame are each rotated 90 degrees, such that the frame becomes a very thin, almost 2D structure allowing multiple frames to be stacked together in a cupboard for storage. The frame is very light, less than 2 kg in weight, and can therefore be easily picked up, transported and stored away by one person.

FIG. 13 shows the paper target after shooting. As can be seen from the small holes in the target, in testing the pellets pass through the target and the front panel into the space between the front and rear panel and pass down between the panels into the trough. The target remains in place and fixed to the front panel.

FIG. 14 shows the slight damage that can occur over time to the front panel, caused by the pellets passing through the mesh repeatedly. After multiple shooting sessions this slight damage can turn into small holes in the front panel, which is of course undesirable because there becomes a risk of the pellets bouncing off the back panel and passing back through the holes in the front panel and ricocheting. To prevent this happening, a new front panel can be placed over the existing front panel. The new front panel is dimensioned slightly wider than the existing, damaged front panel and has hook and loop fastenings along the left-hand and right-hand edges. The new front panel is stretched across the front of the existing, damaged front panel and around the side bars of the frame to contact the back surface of the rear panel. The hook and loop fastenings on the edges of the new front panel make contact with the hook and loop fastenings on the edges of the rear panel (51), as shown in FIG. 9, to hold the new front panel in place and under tension.

The ability to place a new front panel over the top of the existing, damaged front panel means that the apparatus can continue to be used safely for longer, without the need to replace the whole front and back panel section (i.e. the sack) which can be costly and inefficient because the strong and durable ballistic nylon material used to make the back panel is particularly expensive in comparison to the thin debris netting used to make the front panel.

Example 3

Referring to FIGS. 16 & 17, there is shown another apparatus of the invention, comprising a foldable goal-post type frame having feet which extend backwards at right-angles to the legs and are connected by a cross bar which sits on the ground to the rear of the frame. In use, the feet and crossbar keep the frame steady and upright whilst pellets are fired at the apparatus. After use, the feet and cross bar can be folded upwards such that the feet sit flush against the legs of the frame for convenient transport and storage.

The invention thus provides apparatus for mounting targets for Airsoft use.