ADJUSTABLE TARGET SUPPORT ARM ASSEMBLY

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/688,866, filed Aug. 29, 2024, which is expressly incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND

State of the Art

[0002]The present disclosure relates to an adjustable target support arm assembly used to hold targets used for target practice. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to target support arms which can accommodate multiple different targets.

Field of Art

[0003]In order to maintain proficiency in the use of firearms, it is common for law enforcement officers, members of the military, and sportsmen to engage in target practice. A wide variety of targets may be used to practice and improve various skills and shooting from a variety of positions.

[0004]To facilitate different training scenarios, multiple different targets may be used. For example, one target may simply be a series of rings in which a shooter is trying to group his or her shots into the smallest ring. In other situations, a target may include a silhouette of a person, or a photograph of a person who may or may not be a threat.

[0005]Often during training, a target will be positioned so that the front of the target is not visible to the shooter and then the target is turned so the target front is visible. The shooter may then have a limited amount of time to shoot at the target and obtain a sufficient score to pass the exercise. In such situations, the target is often made of paper or cardboard and is preferably held from the top by a string or band which engages a target support arm, and held at the bottom by a rotatable clamp. As the rotatable clamp turns, the target is exposed to and then rotated away from the shooter.

[0006]As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional target support arm assembly 1 is typically formed by a support rod 2 attached adjacent the rotatable clamp 4 of a target actuator 5 at one end 2a of the target support arm assembly 1. The support rod 2 is generally C-shaped so that the opposing end 2b is positioned above the target, shown in dashed lines at 6. A holder 8, such as a rubber band or string, may be used to hold up the top of the target 6. While such a configuration works well for a standard sized target 6, it does not allow a broad range of targets of different sizes to be used. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an adjustable target support arm assembly which facilitates the use of a broader range of targets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]The following summary of the present disclosure is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every possible implementation of the invention, but rather to give illustrative examples of application of principles of the present disclosure. It will be understood that the invention is defined by the claims which ultimately issue.

[0008]In one or more embodiments, the invention may comprise an adjustable target support arm assembly for use in holding a target.

[0009]In one or more embodiments, the adjustable target support arm assembly may include a mounting bracket disposed on a target actuator. The mounting bracket may be configured with a clamp assembly which may include a quick release clamp.

[0010]In one or more embodiments, the mounting bracket may receive an end of a target hanger arm to selectively hold one end of the target hanger arm.

[0011]In one or more embodiments the target hanger arm may be configured with a stop to limit the amount of the target hanger arm which will advance into the quick release clamp.

[0012]In one or more embodiments, the mounting bracket may be configured to allow the target hanger harm to be inserted into a quick release clamp from a plurality of directions.

[0013]In one or more embodiments, the target hanger arm may include a hole for receiving a support rod. The target hanger arm may include a slot adjacent to and extending from the hole to facilitate orienting the support rod.

[0014]In one or more embodiments, the target hanger arm may include a quick release clamp for securing the support rod to the target hanger arm.

[0015]In one or more embodiments, the support rod may have a keyed portion to facilitate alignment of the support rod.

[0016]These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in an adjustable target support arm assembly as shown and described in the following figures and related description. It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the invention may not include each aspect set forth above and aspects discussed above shall not be read into the claims unless specifically described therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]Various embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 illustrates perspective view of a target support arm on a target actuator in accordance with the prior art;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of an adjustable target support arm assembly;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of a mounting bracket and a fragmented view of a target hanger arm;

[0021]FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the mounting bracket;

[0022]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the mounting bracket;

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the mounting bracket;

[0024]FIG. 7 shows an end view of the mounting bracket;

[0025]FIG. 8 shows a top perspective view of the target hanger arm;

[0026]FIG. 9 shows an end view of the target hanger arm;

[0027]FIG. 10 shows a top view of the target hanger arm;

[0028]FIG. 11 shows a side view of the target hanger arm;

[0029]FIG. 12 shows a support rod;

[0030]FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the support rod;

[0031]FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the adjustable support arm assembly in an assembled configuration; and

[0032]FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the adjustable support arm assembly attached to a target actuator with a target being held by the target actuator and the adjustable support arm assembly.

[0033]It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It will be appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the present disclosure in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of different aspects of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not all configurations or embodiments described herein or covered by the appended claims will include all of the aspects of the present disclosure as discussed above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034]Various aspects of the invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the system and methods described below can be practiced without employing these specific details, or that they can be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they can be modified and can be used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The drawings and the descriptions thereof are intended to be exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of the present disclosure in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures.

[0035]Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “one configuration,” “an embodiment,” or “a configuration” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment, etc. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places may not necessarily limit the inclusion of a particular element of the invention to a single embodiment. Rather, the element may be included in other or all embodiments discussed herein.

[0036]Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details may be provided, such as examples of products or manufacturing techniques that may be used, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of an adjustable target support arm assembly in accordance with the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments discussed in the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0037]Before the adjustable target support arm assembly is disclosed and described in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular structures, process steps, or materials discussed or disclosed herein, but is extended to include equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinarily skill in the relevant art. More specifically, the invention is defined by the terms set forth in the claims. It should also be understood that terminology contained herein is used for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the invention only and is not intended to limit the invention to the aspects or embodiments shown unless expressly indicated as such. Likewise, the discussion of any particular aspect of the invention is not to be understood as a requirement that such aspect is required to be present apart from an express inclusion of that aspect in the claims.

[0038]It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a bracket” may include an embodiment having one or more of such brackets, and reference to “the target plate” may include reference to one or more of such target plates.

[0039]As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result to function as indicated. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context, such that enclosing nearly all of the length of a lumen would be substantially enclosed, even if the distal end of the structure enclosing the lumen had a slit or channel formed along a portion thereof. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, structure which is “substantially free of” a bottom would either completely lack a bottom or so nearly completely lack a bottom that the effect would be effectively the same as if it completely lacked a bottom.

[0040]As used herein, the term “generally” refers to something that has characteristics of a quality without being exactly that quality. For example, a structure said to be generally vertical would be at least as vertical as horizontal, i.e., would extend 45 degrees or greater from horizontal. Likewise, something said to be generally circular may be rounded like an oval but need not have a consistent diameter in every direction.

[0041]As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint while still accomplishing the function associated with the range.

[0042]As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member.

[0043]Concentrations, amounts, proportions and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range, or the characteristics being described.

[0044]Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown an exploded perspective view of an adjustable target support arm assembly, generally indicated at 10, in accordance with the present disclosure. The adjustable target support arm assembly 10 may include a mounting bracket 14, a target hanger arm 18 and a support rod 22. As will be explained below, the adjustable target support arm assembly allows targets of a variety of sizes to be used and supported.

[0045]The target hanger arm 18 may include a first, mounting portion 18a which is sized and shaped to nest into the mounting bracket 18 as will be discussed below. The target hanger arm 18 may include a stop 18b which limits the distance which the mounting portion 18a can be advanced into the mounting bracket 14. An arm portion 18c may extend from the stop 18c to a quick release clamp 18d for selectively holding a support rod 22. The quick release clamp 18d may receive a lower end 22a of the support rod 22 so as to hold the support rod so as to allow an upper opposing end 22b thereof to be held at a number of distances from the mounting bracket 14 so as to adjust for targets of varying heights.

[0046]Turning now to FIG. 3, the mounting bracket 14 may include a top plate 14a which forms an upper surface and one or more slots 14b which can be used to receive projections from one or more sidewalls 14c. The top plate 14a may also include one or more openings 14d for mounting the mounting bracket 14 on the target actuator 5 (FIG. 1).

[0047]The sidewall(s) 14c may include a central portion 14e and one or more flared ends 14f to facilitate insertion of the mounting portion 18a of the target hanger arm 18 into the mounting bracket 14. The sidewall(s) 14c may include one or more slots 14g which may receive a projection 14h from one or more rails 14i for guiding the mounting portion 18a of the target hanger arm 18.

[0048]Also shown in FIG. 3 is a quick release clamp 14j which may be used to selectively secure the mounting portion 18a of the mounting arm 18 and prevent its release until the quick release clamp is released. FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the mounting bracket 10, including the top plate 14a with the openings 14d, and the sidewalls 14c with the flared ends 14f and the rails 14i attached thereto via the projections 14h extending into the slots 14g in the sidewalls. The quick release clamp 14j may include a quick release cam lever 14k which engages a quick release shaft 14l which is secured on an opposite side by a fastener 14m (FIG. 6). By rotating the quick release cam lever 14k, a cam on a pivoting point pulls on the quick release shaft 141, thereby pulling the sidewalls 14c toward each other so as to clamp down on the mounting portion 18a of the target hanger arm 18 and securely hold the mounting portion in the mounting bracket 14.

[0049]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the mounting bracket numbered in accordance with the discussion above. It will be appreciated that the projections 14 disposed in the slots 14g may be secured by welding, by an adhesive or being press fit so that they will hold the mounting bracket 14 together.

[0050]FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the mounting bracket 14. The quick release clamp 14j is disposed in a position in which the quick release cam lever 14k is rotated as push the lower sidewall 14 toward the upper sidewall, while the upper sidewall in pulled toward the lower sidewall by the fastener 14m.

[0051]Also shown in FIG. 6 are the rails 14i, Like the sidewalls 14c, the rails 14i may have ends 14n which flare or end at a downward angle for the lower pair of rails and at an upward angle for the upper pair of rails to help facilitate advancing the mounting portion 18a of the target hanger arm into the void 140 between the upper and lower rails 14i and the sidewalls 14c.

[0052]FIG. 7 shows an end view of the mounting bracket 14. The top plate 14a can be seen with projections 14p extending upwardly from the sidewalls 14c to secure the sidewalls to the top plate. The void 140 formed by the sidewalls 14c and the rails 14i can be seen.

[0053]FIG. 8 shows a top perspective view of the target hanger arm 18, which may have a mounting portion 18a, a stop 18b and an arm portion 18c for extending away from the stop (and mounting bracket 14 (FIGS. 3-7) when mounted therein). With the mounting portion 18a being considered a proximal end of the target hanger arm 18, a distal end, opposite the mounting end, may include a quick release clamp 18d which may include a quick release shaft 18e which ends across the cross-section of the target hanger arm. A slot 18f may be formed in the distal end of the arm to enable the two sides of the arm along the slot to pull together when the quick release clamp 18d is in a clamping position. Along the slot, the arm may also form a hole or a portion of the slot which has a greater width as shown at 18g. When the cam portion 18h of the quick release lever is rotated into a closed/clamping position, a support rod (not show) may extend through the hole 18g and be help in place by the clamping force of the quick release clamp 18d against distal portion of the arm.

[0054]FIG. 9 shows an end view of the target hanger arm 18. The quick release shaft 18e may have a fastener 18i, such that rotation of the cam portion 18h pulls on the quick release shaft 18e and presses the opposing sides of the distal end of the arm together. FIG. 10 shows a top view of the target hanger arm 18 as discussed above, and FIG. 11 shows a side view of the target hanger arm numbered in accordance with the previous discussion.

[0055]FIG. 12 shows a front view of a support rod 22 for use in the adjustable target arm assembly 10. The target arm has a lower end 22a which engages the distal end of the target hanger arm 18. The lower end 22a may be keyed, in that it may have a projection along the lower end so that the support arm 22 is slid into the opening 18g along the slot, with the projection 22c being disposed in the proximal portion of the slot 18f so that the projection prevents the support arm from rotating in the opening. When the quick release clamp 18d is in a closed/clamping condition, the sidewall of the target hanger arm which defines the opening will engage the support rod to secure the support rod in place.

[0056]FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 12. The central portion 22 may be disposed in the opening, while the projection 22c will extend into the slot 18f proximal from the opening 18g (FIG. 8).

[0057]FIG. 14 shows the lower end 22a of the support rod 22 mounted in the opening 18g along the slot 18f in the target hanger arm 18. With the quick release clamp 18d being in a closed/clamping position, the opposing end 22b is held above the mounting bracket 14.

[0058]The quick release clamp 18d allows the support rod 22 to be moved upward or downward easily, thereby allowing the arm of the opposing end 22b to be moved toward or away from the mounting bracket 14, as shown in FIG. 15, so that different sized targets can be used. Additionally, the target support arm 18 can be mounted in either side of the mounting bracket 14 so as to allow the support rod 22 to be positioned to the right or to the left of the target actuator 5 depending on the desire of the operator of the range.

[0059]While the mounting bracket and target hanger arm are shown configured for a generally square cross-sectional shape, it should be appreciated that other shapes may also be used. Likewise, a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metals, polymers and the like make be used to form some or all of the components.

[0060]Thus, there is disclosed an adjustable target support arm assembly. It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications.