US3057622A - Target and indicator - Google Patents

Description

T. J. GIANNONE TARGET AND INDICATOR Oct. 9, 1962 Filed Sept. 6, 1960 yz INVENTOR.

170M4 5 a, g/A/m/a/r/a United States Patent OT 3,057,622 TARGET AND INDICATOR Thomas J. Giannone, Brooklyn, N.Y. (145-83 224th St., Laurelton, N.Y.) Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 54,008 1 Claim. (Cl. 273102.2)

This invention relates to target apparatus and, more particularly, to a fast draw type target device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanically operated and electrically illuminated target apparatus which will test the gun drawing ability of the player in a contest against the simulated cowboy mounted upon the target assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide target apparatus of the type described in which the panel includes impact responsive means for immediately deactivating the timer mechanism in response to the striking of a projectile thereupon following the initiation of the timing mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide target apparatus of the aforementioned type having means for adjusting the timing mechanism to control the changing of illuminated positions of the target apparatus in order to adjust for the skill of the participant.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of target apparatus made in accordance with the present invention in actual use;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a section of the target apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 prior to initiation of the timing mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating the first illuminated position of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating the next illuminated position of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, illustrating the final illuminated position of the apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view, with parts broken away, of certain parts of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic Wiring diagram, and fragmentary perspective view of certain operating parts of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, target apparatus 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a base 12 having a pair of uprights 14 which support springs 16 from which suspend a main target panel 18 freely thereupon.

As is more clearly shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawing, the target panel 18 is preferably of transparent material having a sheet 20 sandwiched between such panel 18 and a backing board 22. Upon the sheet 20, is imprinted the figure of a cowboy which is visible through the transparent sheet 18. The backing panel 22 is provided with three angularly related openings 24, 26, 28, which openings are blocked from light transmitting relationship with each other by means of an X-shaped 'baffle 30. Individual lamps 32, 34, 36, are mounted behind each of the openings 24, 26, 28, respectively, so as to illuminate the forearm of the simulated cowboy target in various angularly related positions, all of which are imprinted upon the sheet 20. When the device is completely deenergized, the target will have the appearance of that shown in FIGURE 2. In response to illumination of one lamp 32, the forearm 38 of the target will appear 3,057,622 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 to assume the position shown in FIGURE 3. Upon deenergization of the lamp 32, and energization of the next lamp 34, the forearm 40 of the simulated cowboy will assume the position shown in FIGURE 4 in contact with the holster gun thereof. Finally, upon deenergization of the second l-amp 34, the third lamp 36 will illuminate the third area 28 of the target panel to simulate the firing of the gun 42, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The illumination of each of the lamps 3-2, 34, 36 is controlled by a timer mechanism 44 mounted within the housing upon the back of the backing plate 22. This timer 44 includes a driven gear wheel 46 that is in meshing engagement with a rack gear 47 of a pull bar 48 having a tension spring 50 connected to one lower end that is connected to the backing panel 22. The upper portion of the pull bar 48 is provided with a pair of oppositely facing cutouts 52 which are movable relative to a pair of spring contacts 54, 62, for controlling energization of the lamps in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

In the at rest position of the apparatus, the pull bar 48 is normally disposed in a lowered position, as a result of the tensioning of the spring 50. However, in response to an upward pulling movement upon the bar 48, into the position shown in FIGURE 8, the spring 50 will tend to return the bar 48 to its lowered position, during which movement, motion is transmitted to the gear wheel 46 and then to the timer 44 that includes a mechanism for pacing the downward movement of the bar 48. In the elevated position of the pull bar 48, as shown in FIGURE 8, the spring contact 54 is in a circuit closing position with a fixed contact 56 which initially illuminates the first lamp 32 behind the outstretched arm 38 of the target. As the bar 48 moves downwardly, the spring contact 54 will be received within one of the side openings 52 of the pull bar, thus open-ing the circuit through the lamp 32 and closing the circuit through an adjacent fixed contact 60 and second lamp 34 immediately behind the forearm 40 in the reach position. Shortly thereafter, upon the continued downward movement of the pull bar 48, the other contact spring 62 will be received within the other side opening 52 of the pull bar 48 to cloes the circuit through the fixed contact 66 and the third lamp 36 that is disposed between the fired gun 42 of the target, and simultaneously deenergizing the second lamp 34. This signifiies the fact that the target has been able to fire at a faster rate than the participant. However, it is possible to adjust the rate at which the timer mechanism 44 paces the energization of the various lamps, by means of a rod 68 pivotally connected at one end upon a hinge pin 70, and having a knob 72 at its opposite end extending through an arcuate slot 74 in the panel 18. By rotating the knob 72, the height of the spring contact 54 relative to the fixed contacts 56, 60 and the cutouts 52 and pull bar 48 may be adjusted, thus also adjusting the rate of speed at which the lamps are illuminated and deenergized between the positions shown in FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4.

If the participant happens to fire the weapon, such as a dart gun, before the timing mechanism has caused energization of the third lamp 36 and gun 42, and the projectile strikes the target panel, apparatus is provided for immediately preventing continuation of the timer mechanism. As is shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawing, an impact sensitive bar 76 depending from the upper portion of the backing panel 22, is freely receivable within an opening 82 of a pedestal bracket 84 and is received at its lower end upon an upper concave portion of a rest bar 78. A compression coil spring acting between the bracket 84 and a cross bar of the rod 76, will tend to cause downward movement of the rod 76 and panel to which it is secured in the event that an impact occurs upon the front face of the target panels, as is accommodated by the spring mounting 16. When such occurs, the cross bar 79 will move downwardly into electrical contact with the fixed contact 92 of a signal lamp 94 that signifies the fact that the target has been struck prior to the closing of the circuit through the third lamp 36. At the same time, an angle portion 86 on the upper end of the rod 76 is moved into the path of rotation of a lever 87 mounted upon the main output gear 90 of the timer mechanism 44, thus blocking continued rotation of the timer mechanism and downward movement of the push bar 48 by the spring 50. Thus, the gun lamp 36 is prevented from being illuminated by the faster drawing and firing of the participaant than that provided for by the target timer 44. A dry cell 58 may be used to energize the various electrically operated parts of the present invention, and can be conveniently replaced whenever required.

If, however, the target is not hit by the participant until after the gun firing lamp 36 is illuminated, the moving of the spring contacts 62 into the space 52 of the push bar 48, opens the circiut through the fixed contact 64, thus opening the circuit through the signal lamp 94 and preventing it from being illuminated. Thus, illumination of the signal lamp 94 automatically signifies that the target has been hit before the timing mechanism has been able to illuminate the gun firing lamp 36.

It will be recognized that the target may be of any desired shape, and when it is constructed so as to conform to the outline of a cowboy, it presents a more naturally appearing and more authentic appearance for target purposes.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

Target apparatus comprising, in combination, a base, a target panel, a pair of support arms extending vertically upward from said base in spaced apart positions, a pair of springs each extending laterally from one of said arms to a corresponding side of said panel to yieldingly support said panel from said arms, a plurality of areas defined by said panel, a lamp mounted behind each of said areas, timer means for sequentially energizing each of said lamps, said timer means including a bar movable between two positions that is biased toward one of said positions and a motion pacer having a motion transmitting gear in mesh with said bar and pacing the movement thereof toward its unbiased position and impact responsive means for mechanically deactuating said timer means in response to an object striking said panel after initiation of said timer means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,012 Breitenstein et a1 June 6, 1939 2,181,948 McClellan Dec. 5, 1939 2,538,118 Miller Jan. 16, 1951 2,710,754 Varney June 14, 1955 2,722,420 Adamson Nov. 1, 1955 2,926,916 Pearson Mar. 1, 1960 2,957,693 Ross Oct. 25, 1960

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