US2890051A - Target holder - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1959 L. WILLIAMS TARGET HOLDER Filed Dec. 24,

INVENTOR. M/V/fi A. [WW/ W5 United Sttes Patent TARGET HOLDER Melvin L. Williams, Lansing, Kans.

Application December 24, 1956, Serial No. 630,395

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-402) This invention relates to a target holder and has for its primary object the provision of lightweight, fully collapsible structure that may be easily transported to a point of use and thereupon quickly set up for use without need of tools or auxiliary structure to hold the same in an upright position.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to provide a target holder in the nature of an extensible frame having novel leg means as a part thereof for permitting erection at selected heights and to permit sizing of the frame to fit the target to be mounted thereon.

Another important object is to provide a target holder of the aforementioned character that is in turn provided with novel means for quickly attaching the target thereto and taking the form of reciprocable, spring-loaded clamps that releasably hold the target in place against a like number of inward projections or plates spaced strategically throughout the periphery of the frame.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a target holder made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Target is shown fragmentan'ly in Fig. 1 of the drawing supported by a polygonal frame broadly designated by the numeral 12 and including a pair of side members 14 and 16, a top member 18 and a bottom member 20. Gussets 22 assist in presenting a rigid connection of the members 18 and 20 to the members 14 and 16.

When the target 10 (made from paper or other suitable material) is supported by the frame 12, it bears directly against the gussets 22 as well as against additional inwardly extending elements rigid to the frame 12 and, like the gussets 22, taking the form of small plates 24. All of the elements 22 and 24 are preferably provided with roughened faces cooperable with clamps 26 in firmly holding the target 10 in place.

The clamps 26 are L-shaped, there being a clamp 26 for each element 22--24 respectively, presenting a finger 28 normally overlapping the corresponding element 22- 24 and a shaft 30 extending at right angles to the finger 28. Each shaft 30 is reciprocable and rotatable within a bearing 32 on the frame 12 and is provided with a finger knob 34 receiving one end of a spring 36 coiled about the shaft 30 and engaging the bearing 32. A rubber tip or the like 38 on each finger 28 engages the target 10 and holds the latter clamped against the corresponding element 22-24.

Each side member 14 and 16 is in the nature of a tube and has a leg 40 slidable therein and extending downwardly from the lowermost end thereof. A set collar 42 on each tube 1416 releasably holds the corresponding leg 40 against sliding movement and, therefore, in adjusted positions.

2,890,051 Patented June 9, 1959 A pair of rear legs 44 and 46 normally extend downwardly and rearwardly from the top member 18 and each includes a pipe 48 and a bar 50 slidable. within the pipe 48 and extending beyond the uppermost end of the latter. Set collars 52 on the pipes 48 releasably hold the same against reciprocable movement relative to their bars 50. Each bar 50 has, a sleeve 54 slidable and rotatable on the upper member 18 to the end that the legs 44 and 46 may be shifted toward and away from each other and the angularity thereof adjusted as desired.

The upper member 18 and the. lower member 20 are identical and each includes a pair of rods 56 and 58 having collars 60 and 62 respectively rigidly connected to the innermost ends thereof. As best seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, collar 60 is slidable on the rod 58 and the collar 62 is slidable on the rod 56. A set collar 64 between the collars 60 and 62 is rigid to the rod 56 and slidable on the rod 58 when released.

From the foregoing it is clear that when the holder is in the completely collapsed condition, tubes 14 and 16 are moved together to the limit of their paths of travel, pipes 48 are held at the uppermost ends of their paths of travel by set collars 52, and legs 40 are held telescoped within the tubes 14 and 16 by set collars 42. In this condition the entire holder is relatively small and can be easily transported to a point of use.

When it is desired to place the holder in use, the set collars 64 are released and the distance between the legs 14 and 16 vary to properly receive the target 10, whereupon the set collars 64 are tightened. The height of the holder is adjusted by extending the legs 40 and the pipes 48 and thereupon tightening the set collars 42 and 52.

The fingers 28 of the clamps 26 may be swung out of the way by grasping the knob 34 to rotate the shafts 30 within the bearings 32, whereupon the target 10 is placed on the elements 22 and 24. The operator thereupon pushes inwardly on the knobs 34 and therefore, the shafts 30, against the action of spring 36, and rotates knobs 34 to spring the fingers 28 into position overlapping the target 10, and releases the clamps 26 so that springs 36 clamp the resilient tips 38 tightly against the target 10 to hold the latter against the roughened surfaces of the elements 22 and 24. Such surfaces cooperating with the rubber tips 38 hold the target 10 in a taut condition both horizontally and vertically within the open frame 12 and the entire assembly is ready for use.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A target holder comprising a continuous polygonal frame having a pair of side tubes, a top member and a bottom member, each member including a pair of rods provided with collars interconnecting the same for movement of the tubes toward and away from each other, one collar of each member being provided with a releasable fastener for holding the rods against relative movement; a leg slidable in each tube respectively and extending downwardly from the lowermost end thereof, each tube having a releasable fastener for holding its leg against sliding movement therein; and a pair of legs normally extending downwardly and rearwardly from the top member and each including a pipe having a bar slidable therein, each bar having a sleeve rotatable and reciprocable on the top member, each pipe having a releasable fastener for holding its bar against sliding movement therein, said tubes and said members having a plurality of spaced, inwardly-extending elements and a clamp for each element respectively, each clamp having a spring biased L-shaped finger overlapping its element for holding a target thereagainst.

2. A target holder comprising a continuous polygonal frame having a pair of side tubes, a top member and a bottom member, each member including a pair of rods provided with collars interconnecting the same for movement of the tubes toward and away from each other, one collar of each member being provided with a releasable fastener for holding the rods against relative movement; a leg slidable in each tube respectively and extending downwardly from the lowermost end thereof, each tube having a releasable fastener for holding its leg against sliding movement therein; and a pair of legs normally extending downwardly and rearwardly from the top member and each including a pipe having a bar slidable therein, each bar having a sleeve rotatable and reciprocable on the top member, each pipe having a releasable fastener for holding its baragainst sliding movement therein, said tubes and said members having a plurality of spaced, inwardly-extending plates and a clamp for each plate respectively for holding a target against the plates,

said frame having a bearing adjacent each plate respectively, the clamps being L-shaped, presenting a shaft, reciprocable and rotatable in the corresponding bearing and a finger normally overlapping the corresponding plate, there being springs coiled about the shafts for yieldably biasing the fingers toward the plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,160,753 Pickett Nov. 16, 1915 1,568,013 Warfield Dec. 29, 1925 2,048,155 Armantrout July 21, 1936 2,372,111 Norberg Mar. 20, 1945 2,538,118 Miller Ian. 16, 1951 2,562,089 Fishlove July 24, 1951 2,722,420 Adamson Nov. 1, 1955

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