WO2008143585A1

WO2008143585A1 - Method and device for competitive shooting

Info

Publication number: WO2008143585A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/050600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johnny MÖLLER
Original assignee: Johnny Moller Med Ekbacken Teknik Firma
Current assignee: Johnny Moller Med Ekbacken Teknik Firma
Priority date: 2007-05-22
Filing date: 2008-05-22
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-22
Also published as: SE0701216L; SE530941C2; EP2149026A1

Abstract

Method and device for competitive shooting for pairs or teams where the competitors shoot at the angled targets, comprising target plates (1, 1') positioned at each end of a rod (2), a pivot point (3) in the middle of the said rod (2), wherein the target plates (1, 1') are angled downward in such a way that the impact energy of the object will give 5 rise to a force that advances that target plate (1, 1') upward along a curved path (4), simultaneously as the other target plate (1, 1') advances downward along a curved path (5). After a fixed number of shots, or a fixed amount of time, it can be concluded as to who, or which of the competing teams, have won.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COMPETITIVE SHOOTING

TECHNICAL AREA

This invention related to a method and a device for competitive shooting in pairs or by teams.

TECHNICAL STANDPOINT

Competitive shooting exists in different forms. The most common method is shooting at a stationary round target marked with rings where the score points increase as one shoots closer to the middle of the target. In certain competitions, the target can be moving. The target can be similar to what was mentioned earlier, or have another type of profile, such as the silhouette of an animal or person. Targets may have either a manual or automatic hit indication system. Automatic hit indication system exists, for example, in biathlon. Naturally, a large number of descriptive and non-descriptive forms of competitive shooting exist concerning a plurality of targets for manual and automatic scoring. The following are short descriptions of various examples:

Patent document RU 2 147 115 describes a device for competitive and practice shooting. This device has an automatic hit indication system, in the form of a target that folds down when it is hit.

US Patent 2,133,552 describes a device where the target, when hit, rotates around an axis with spiral grooves located on the outer surface. When the rotating target is hit, the target moves sideways. The hit indication result is presented by a horizontal achievement indicator.

German Patent DE 4031937 Al describes a target which is placed on a vertical swivel axis. The position of the target changes between visible and invisible positions with a remote controlled motor. The target is also horizontally moveable by means of a pulley system.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a new form of competitive shooting for pairs or teams and also to provide a target device with individual indication for this type of competition. The above mentioned form of competition is a challenge between two persons or two teams which, while positioned beside each other, shoot at a target which is made up of skewed (e.g. downward sloping) plates positioned at either end of a supporting rod. The persons, or teams, each shoot at their own target, which is the above-mentioned skewed plate. When the downward sloping target is hit, the bullet's impact energy against the angled target moves the said target upward in a curved arc simultaneously as the opponent's target moves downward in a curved arc.

The person, or team, after a certain fixed number of shots, or a certain fixed time, whose target is highest, wins the competition.

In an alternate embodiment of the target device, a cover device is placed over the lower area of the target's curved part of movement. With the use of this type of target device, a shooting competition can continue until one of the targets is hidden behind the above- mentioned covering. In this case, it is obvious that the person or team whose target is hidden behind the covering can no longer influence the competition and must therefore admit defeat.

The target device shall, before every competition, be reset. Resetting means that the supporting rod with the targets at either end is placed in a horizontal position such that the targets are at equal heights. In one embodiment resetting the target device, is accomplished manually. In an alternate embodiment resetting can be completed from the shooting position by means of a cord which is connected to the rod in such a way that the rod is moved to a horizontal position by pulling of the cord.

The target device is preferably designed to be easy to assemble and disassemble. This makes the device easy to transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed figures; wherein;

Fig. 1 shows the target device in a front view.

Fig. 2 shows the target device in a side view.

Figs. 3a, 3b show the target device in rear views, representing a first embodiment of a resetting device including a cord system, wherein Fig. 3a shows the sloping position of the target plates and Fig. 3b shows the resetting position. Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a resetting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows the target device in a front view, (in other words, how the shooter sees the target device). The respective teams' target plate 1 is placed at either end of a rod 2 which in the middle is fixed to a pivot point 3. The rod 2 is shown in its neutral position, i.e. horizontally and extending perpendicularly in relation to the pivot axis 10 (see fig. 2). The target plates 1, 1 ' are angled downward in such a way that the impact energy of a bullet on a plate 1 ' will give rise to a force that advances the target 1 ' upward in a curved movement which is marked by the curved line of movement 4. Simultaneously, the opponent's target 1 advances downward in an opposite direction, which is marked by another curved line of movement 5. The rod 2 with the target plates 1, 1 ' is supported via the pivot point 3 by a stand 6 which is connected to a tripod 7. A covering 8, used to conceal a target plate 1 in its lowest position, is located on the stand 6 below the pivot point 3. To make transportation easier, the parts of the target device are easily put together so that the device is easy to assemble and disassemble. Preferably the tripod 7 is connected to the stand 6 by means of a quick coupling 9. The rod 2 with the target plates 1, 1 ' is preferably easily removable b y means of a screw 28, from the pivot point 3 adjacent the top of the stand 6. The covering 8 is preferably also positioned on the stand 6 by means of a quick coupling 11.

Fig. 2 shows the target device in a side view. This view shows the skewed position of the target plates 1, 1 ', i.e. presenting an angle α between the surface of the target plate 1, 1 ' and a vertical plane. The target plates can either be fixedly attached on the rod 2 or, in a preferred embodiment, positioned adjustably onto the rod 2, such that the sloping angle of the plates can be varied, to allow desired upward energy to be achieved when hitting a target plate 1, 1 '. Further it is shown that preferably a cylindrical device, having a smaller diameter than the plate 1, 1 ', is attached to the back of the plate 1, 1 ', to enhance strength, and providing a space possibly allowing ability to flexibly adjusting the weight, e.g. by putting material into it.

In figs. 2 and 3 there is shown a first embodiment of a resetting mechanism comprising two cords 12, 13, which are connected to the rod 2. Both points of attachment are positioned equally from the pivot point 3 of the rod 2. The other ends of the cords 12, 13, are connected to a common lead wire/cord 14. This lead cord 14 runs through an upper cord control 15 and a lower cord control 16 to the standing position of the shooter. The reset can be done from this position by pulling the cord 14. When the cord is pulled, a spring 17 is stretched. The function of the spring 17 is to return the cords 12, 13 to a relaxed position after resetting.

Further there is shown an arc-shaped rigid leverage device 25, which provides a support surface for the cords 12, 13 to safe guard that sufficient leverage will be achieved when pulling the lead cord 14 to easily reset the rod 2 into its horizontal position and also to protect the cords 12, 13 from being hit.

Moreover the adjustment screw 28 is arranged to act on a friction device (not shown) to provide varying friction within the shaft mechanism of the pivot point 3. Such an adjustment mechanism can be of varying kind, e.g. different expanding devices known per se, etc., that may fulfil the need of providing ability to adjust the friction in order to obtain desired movement of the target plate 1, 1 ' when being hit. According to another embodiment (not shown) there is arranged a shaft mechanism 30 (as indeed indicated in fig. 2) included in the pivot point 3, that has a relatively large extension, e.g. 20-100 mm, exposing a relatively large outer surface. That large outer surface may be used to arrange a friction band in contact with that surface, wherein adjustability may easily be achieved by means of attaching said friction band via an adjustment screw fixed to a bracket (or similar) attached to the stand 6. An evident modification is to use a plurality of parallelly positioned friction bands 31, for instance by the use of an intermediate spring, which will allow for easy attachment/detachment of a friction band, to easily allow for varying the number of friction bands and thereby also the exerted friction force.

Fig. 3a shows the target device in a rear view, depicting the rod 2 with the target plates 1, 1 ' in a given position when the shooter on the side of plate 1 has won the competition.

Fig. 3b shows the position when the lead wire 14 has been activated to achieve reset. The spring 17 is stretched in this position and the lead cord 14 transfers pulling force urges the cord ends 12, 13 to reposition the rod 2 horisontally. As soon as a person has reset the apparatus, the lead cord 14 may be released, whereby the spring 17 returns the cords 12, 13 to a loosened position.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative design of the reset apparatus. In this alternative, the cords 12, 13 are connected to a power device 18 which moves the connection point of the cords 12, 13 between the positions A and B. Position A indicates where it will position the cords 12,13 when being stretched, i.e. to perform resetting, and Position B indicates where it will position the cords 12, 13 after reset, i.e. having them loosened.

The power device 18 can be remotely controlled, e.g. electronically or pneumatically, from the shooter's position.

The invention is not limited to the description above, but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims. For instance it is evident for the skilled person that numerous different variations do exist of how to arrange the pivoting rod 3, e.g. using fixed stands at different locations, merely necessitating movement of the rod 2 with the target plates 1 , 1 ' and/or possibly also the cover plate 8. Moreover the size of the equipment may of course also be varied within a large range, to adapt to different needs and/or desires. For instance the principle may also be used in connection with other objects than shooting bullets, e.g. football, American football, golf, basket ball, etc., to provide a stimulating device/method for training accuracy of different kind of shooting. Of course different objects of shooting will need different adaptations to provide an appropriate functionality, which is easily adapted by the skilled person without the use of any inventive skill. Further it is evident that many different kind of friction mechanisms may be used as well as also a large variety of different resetting mechanisms, without any need of inventive skill.

Claims

1. Target device for two persons or teams, for competitive shooting, comprising target plates (1, 1 ') positioned at each end of a rod (2), a pivot point (3) in the middle of the said rod (2) and arranged to allow impact energy from an object to create a force that moves the target plates (1, 1 '), ch aracteri s e d in that the target plates (1 , 1 ') are angled downward in such a way that the impact energy of the object will give rise to a force that advances that target plate (1, 1 ') upward along a curved path (4), simultaneously as the other target plate (1, 1 ') advances downward along a curved path (5).

2. Target device according to claim 1, c harac teri s e d in a cover plate (8) arranged to cover a target plate (1, 1 ') at a lower point of a downward path (5), and thereby concealing the target plate (1, 1 ').

3. Target device according to claims 1 or 2, ch aracteri s e d in that said rod (2) is arranged to have its pivot point (3) attached to a vertical stand (6).

4. Target device according to claim 3, c harac teri s e d in that the stand (6) is arranged with a ground support comprising at least three support legs/feet (7).

5. Target device according to any of claims 3 or 4, wh ere in the rod (2), the stand (6) and the legs/feet (7) are arranged to be easy to disassemble/assemble.

6. Target device according to claims 1, c o mpri s in g a reset mechanism (12, 13, 14; 12, 13, 18) arranged to allow remote resetting of the rod (2), to its neutral position.

7. Target device according to claim 6, c harac teri s e d by cords (12, 13) having one end connected to the rod (2) and the other end connected to lead cord (14).

8. Device according to claim 6, where in the cords (12, 13) are connected to a remote- controlled switch (18) which tightens and loosens the cords.

9. Method of competitive shooting for two persons or teams wherein the competitors, who are each shooting at a target plate (1, 1 ') which is placed at each end of a neutrally- positioned horizontal rod (2) with a pivot point (3) in the middle of the rod (2), c harac teri s e d in that the target plates ( 1 , 1 ' ) are angled downward in such a way that the impact energy of an object on a target plate (1, 1') will give rise to a force that advances that target plate upward along an arched movement (4); and simultaneously, the other target plate (1, 1 ') advances downward in an arched movement (5);

10. Method according to claim 9, c harac teri s e d in that after a certain number of shots, or a certain amount of time, the position of the target plates (1, 1 ') will conclude who, or which of the competing teams, have won.