battle target

Abstract

Combat target (10), in particular for military shooting exercises, wherein the combat target (10) comprises a plate (12) extending substantially in a plane, which is made of a plastic and in which one or more beads (20, 26) are arranged, characterized in that the one or the more beads (20, 26) are formed by a vacuum deep drawing process.

Description

Technical field: The invention relates to a combat target, in particular for military shooting exercises. Technical background: Combat targets are used primarily for military shooting exercises. These are typically automatically deployed targets, also known as pop-up targets. Such combat targets are designed and functionally optimized to provide a dynamic training experience. They can come in various shapes and sizes, depending on their specific application. Often, they simulate silhouettes of attacking individuals or soldiers, or represent enemy vehicles or artillery through their silhouettes, creating realistic training conditions for users. Sometimes, these more complex shapes are reduced to very simple geometric forms such as circles, squares, trapezoids, rectangles, or combinations thereof, etc., for basic shooting practice. The various armed forces in Europe now have standardized and defined target shapes for different types of firearms to ensure uniform training conditions. Specific dimensions are detailed, for example, in document no. A2-222 / 0-0-4750, German Armed Forces (2015, downloaded from the internet on January 26, 2026, e.g., at https: / / www.reservistenverband.de / wp-content / uploads / 2018 / 05 / Zentralrichtlinie-Schießen-mit-Handwaffen.pdf), see section "The focus of training is live-fire combat training". The battle targets are usually made of smooth, durable materials such as thick (e.g. 6 mm) plastic, rubber or light metal (sheet metal) to absorb hits. The patented polyethylene material (patent published as EP 0 485 040 B1) has proven particularly advantageous for shooting and combat targets. This polyethylene material offers the benefit of being splinter-free and, upon impact with a small- or medium-caliber projectile, preventing the permanent formation of a bullet hole in the target. This hole almost completely closes itself due to the frictional heat generated by the projectile as it passes through the target, a process caused by the melting and flow of the material. This ensures a high impact capacity on the combat target. The combat targets used are typically connected to a mechanical or electromechanical system that automatically sets them up and falls them over to simulate combat conditions. For this purpose, the combat targets are clamped in a rotating mounting device. Raising / lowering or rotating the target disc causes torsional and bending moments to act on the clamped target disc, which are to be reduced or eliminated by vertical beads that stiffen the target disc. These grooves are conventionally only manufactured in the area above the clamping device. However, rapid mechanical movements or external influences such as weather conditions – high temperature fluctuations, strong winds, high and prolonged exposure to sunlight – lead to material fatigue in this transition area, causing the target to buckle or sag. Description of the invention: It is an object of the invention to provide an improved combat target, particularly one for military exercises, which allows for increased stiffness and torsional strength and avoids rebound upon resetting. In particular, it is an object to significantly increase the service life and cost-effectiveness of a combat target. This problem is solved by a combat target, particularly for military exercises, according to claim 1, and in particular by the fact that the combat target comprises a plate extending substantially in one plane, which is made of a plastic and in which one or more beads are arranged, wherein the one or more beads are formed by a vacuum deep-drawing process. These beads are distinguishable from those conventionally formed beads on the actual product. For example, polyethylene, a material patented according to EP 0 485 040 B1, can be used as the plastic. As described, its high impact absorption capacity already fulfills the requirement for an extended service life. Economic efficiency is achieved through optimization of the manufacturing process using thermoforming. Thermoforming, or a vacuum deep-drawing process, is carried out, for example, in roughly five steps, described here as positive thermoforming. Before the process can begin, an aluminum tool, including cooling and vacuum drilling, is required. The sheet is first clamped securely in the machine designed for the process. Then, the sheet is heated on both sides to a material-dependent temperature range; in the case of the aforementioned polyethylene mixture, for example, 130 °C, allowing for easy forming without damaging the material. Care is taken to ensure uniform heating of the sheet across its entire thickness. Next, before the actual forming process, the material is pre-stretched using pre-blowing to achieve an even distribution. In the following step, the tool is moved towards the sheet, and the air between the sheet and the mold is extracted. The mold has small holes evenly distributed across its surface, allowing for uniform air extraction. This ensures the sheet fits snugly against the mold surface and achieves an identical contour. The small holes are barely visible on the finished product, yet detectable to the naked eye without any technical aids. Next, the sheet is cooled under vacuum until the thermoformed part has sufficient dimensional stability to be removed. Once cooling is complete, the sheet is demolded. To prevent the sheet from shrinking during cooling and becoming stuck to the die, air is preemptively blown between the die and the sheet to separate them. Once demolded, the thermoformed part can be removed from the machine and further processed. The next processing step involves trimming the sheet. Unlike conventional plastic stamping, vacuum thermoforming achieves a consistently homogeneous thickness of the plate, even within the grooves, despite deep three-dimensional structures. While variations in thickness are detectable, they occur precisely where the grooves provide significant stiffening. This allows for the creation of curved grooves or complex groove geometries with welded opposing groove faces, as demonstrated in the examples. It should be noted that this is not possible with conventional stamping. Furthermore, the greater freedom in contour selection during thermoforming allows for the incorporation of more stiffening contours, particularly in the base area (i.e., the clamping and transition area mentioned above) of the target plate, thereby increasing its rigidity and torsional strength. In summary, it can be said that the vacuum-deep-drawn beads according to the invention are materially distinguishable as a product feature from beads produced by press forming or embossing according to the prior art and offer significant advantages for the combat disc: the beads stiffening the plate can be manufactured at a greater depth perpendicular to the plane of the plate, they exhibit less inhomogeneity of thickness at the same depth, the polymer structure is significantly improved, particularly in the local area of ​​greatest stress and strain in the case of external load, thus increasing tear resistance, and significantly more complex and intricate three-dimensional structures (beads) can be manufactured.which in turn can meet the individual stiffness requirements of the overall geometry of the battle target much better than in the conventional case of merely flat, linear, and parallel grooves. The desired extension of the service life of battle targets against material fatigue under external stress is therefore achieved with particular advantage. According to a further development of the general inventive concept, the patented polyethylene mixture is composed of HDPE and LDPE and is used as a sheet with an initial thickness of 4-6 mm. A weight fraction of HDPE of 70% to 90% and of LDPE of 30% to 10% is preferred. However, other compositions and weight fractions are also possible. This achieves the aforementioned advantages regarding the immediate sealing of the bullet channel in the case of small and medium caliber projectiles and enables a bullet-holding capacity of up to 5,000 rounds with 7.62 mm and 8,000 rounds with 5.56 mm. Furthermore, a particular advantage arises from the combination with the characteristic of the grooves, which are formed in a vacuum deep-drawing process. As the inventor has determined, this material is particularly well suited for carrying out the process. A further embodiment of the general inventive concept provides that the target has one end with a clamping area designed and configured to be clamped in a mechanical or electromechanical setup system, enabling the target to be dynamically set up or tilted. The target is thus a falling disc which, as described, is subjected to considerable torsional and bending moments during use by the setup system and which withstands the forces acting upon it in severe weather conditions (storms, intense and prolonged sunlight, etc.). The combat target may have an angled outer edge that limits the plate to the outside outside the clamping area. According to one embodiment, the one or more beads can comprise a first group consisting of several first beads, or even just a single first bead, wherein these first beads (or the single first bead) extend along the outer edge of the plate, preferably parallel to the outer edge. Tests 5 showed that maximum stiffness against arbitrarily acting forces is achieved and that wear is negligible even after a very large number of lowering and raising cycles of the battle target. In particular, this results in very high resistance to storms and weathering. Furthermore, the stability against buckling when the target is flipped over can be increased in the base area by adding further ribs. By forming these ribs, welds, and bent outer edges in a thermoforming process, almost any desired shape of target can be produced with dimensional stability, and any oscillation when the target is righted can be prevented. According to a further development of the embodiment, the one or more first beads of the first group are at least partially non-linear and curved, and in plan view, they follow, in particular, a curve of the outer edge of the target. The best possible result can be achieved if the first group, with the one or more first beads extending along the outer edge of the plate, completely or almost completely encloses an inner area of ​​the plate together with the clamping area at the lower end of the target. According to a particular embodiment, the one or more first beads of the first group, which extend along the outer edge of the plate, are welded section by section with respect to their opposing flanks. The beads, which are typically elongated, i.e., long and narrow, are thereby further subdivided, preferably into approximately equal sections. These welds result in a significant additional stabilization of the structure and a further improved stiffening of the plate. Another embodiment provides that the one or more beads in the plate comprise a second group consisting of at least two secondary beads extending parallel to each other in an inner region of the plate in a substantially vertical direction when the target is erected. These beads correspond approximately in arrangement to the conventional design, but, like the beads of the first group, they are vacuum-formed, i.e., formed in a thermoforming process, and are therefore structurally distinguishable from the conventional design. The depth of the secondary beads can also be significantly greater compared to the conventional design. For example, at least two of the second set of ribs can extend into the clamping area at the lower end of the target, preferably to a lower edge of the target. This allows the torque during flipping to be transferred more reliably from the clamping area to the remaining mass of the plate, and also significantly improves the wind and storm resistance of the target. This avoids the formation of a kind of predetermined breaking point in a rib-free area of ​​the plate, as is possible in the conventional case. Similarly, alternatively or additionally, one or more of the first beads of the first group can extend into the clamping area at the outer edge of the target, preferably to a lower edge of the target. The same advantages are achieved as described with regard to the second beads. According to embodiments, the target disc can contain a schematic, pictorial representation of a target object with a complex outer contour on one surface of the plate, the outer edge of the plate following this contour of the target object. A complex outer contour here refers to a silhouette that deviates from a simple geometric shape. The latter is included in the invention and by no means excluded. The target can, for example, have a height of 125 cm or less and a width of 60 cm or less, and in particular also a width of 56 cm or less. Other dimensions can be supplied upon request. As examples of embodiments of the invention, the target patterns No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 according to the target catalog (cf. Central Directive "Shooting with Small Arms" (A2-222 / 0-0-4750, 2015 edition, downloaded from the internet on January 26, 2026) of the German Federal Armed Forces are particularly suitable for the outer contours and schematic representations. The target can be set up (based on the plastic used) for practice firing of handguns with calibers up to 12 mm, preferably for medium (6.5 mm to 9 mm) and / or small calibers (below 6.5 mm). The patented plastic used for the plate can already be colored appropriately in its raw state, for example according to a camouflage color (according to RAL) of the depicted object, e.g. olive green, desert beige, snow white, etc. Pictorial details of the object can be applied to appropriate places on the target, for example by screen printing. Further advantageous embodiments of a combat target can be found in the attached claims. Brief description of the drawings: The invention is explained below by way of example only with reference to the schematic drawings: Fig. 1 shows a battle target according to the prior art in a top view; Fig. 2 shows a battle target according to an embodiment of the invention in a top view; Fig. 3 shows the battle target from Fig. 2 in cross-section along lines BB looking towards the upper edge; Fig. 4 shows a section of the battle target according to a second embodiment of the invention in an enlarged perspective view (magnification C); Fig. 5 shows a section along a line AA in Fig. 6 through the battle target from Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows an overview of the battle target according to the second embodiment. Detailed description of preferred embodiments: In the following description of preferred embodiments, it should be noted that the present disclosure of the various aspects is not limited to the details of the construction and arrangement of the components as shown in the following description and in the figures. The embodiments can be implemented or carried out in practice in various ways. Furthermore, it should be noted that the language and terminology used here are employed solely for the purpose of concrete description and should not be interpreted restrictively by those skilled in the art.Furthermore, in the following description, identical reference numerals in the embodiments or figures denote identical or similar features or objects, so that in some cases a repeated detailed description of the same is omitted in order to maintain the compactness and clarity of the presentation. For comparison with an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 1 shows a conventional target 110 according to the prior art in a top view. The target 110 is made of a plastic, for example, a polyethylene material, and comprises a substantially flat plate 112 with a contour that has a flat outer edge 113 and reflects the shape of a target object. Within the substantially flat plate 112, two straight grooves 126 are formed, extending vertically upwards from a transition area 119 at a lower end 115 above a clamping area 116 of the plate 112. These grooves are produced by embossing the otherwise flat plate 112. The grooves 126 are recessed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 1 and extend through an inner area 114 of the plate 112. The target 110 or plate 112 has at its lower end 115 a clamping area 116, configured in a prescribed manner and approximately 15 cm deep (in the vertical direction), which is received and fixed in a corresponding movable receptacle of a mechanical or electromechanical system (not shown). The receptacle can be rotated, for example, by 90° to raise or lower the target. The clamping area 116 comprises, for example, three recesses extending from the lower edge 117 of the plate 112, into which corresponding elements of the receptacle can engage. As described at the outset, the tilting or lifting of the combat discs, as well as external weather influences, can exert considerable torsional or bending moments on the plate 112, considering that only the lower 15 cm of the plate or disc in question are rigidly clamped. The vertically extending corrugations 126 continue upwards to the outer edge, where they are open. A weak point against these torsional and bending moments exists, among other places, in the unreinforced transition area 119. The embossing of the beads 126 could, for example, have been achieved by using two longer rods and corresponding opposing dies. The beads are therefore ultimately hollow ribs formed by outward pressing, i.e., by pressing and shaping the previously sheet-shaped plastic mass. A first embodiment of a target 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows a top view of the target 10, while Figure 3 shows a cross-section along a line BB from Figure 2. The target 10 of the first embodiment comprises a substantially flat plate 12 made of a polyethylene mixture of HDPE and LDPE, as described and patented, for example, in the aforementioned EP 0 485 040 B1 et al. with regard to the respective weight proportions. This results in significant advantages, such as the immediate sealing of the bullet channel in the case of small and medium caliber projectiles, and enables a hit-in-trapping capacity of up to 5,000 rounds with 7.62 mm and 8,000 rounds with 5.56 mm.The contour of the combat target 10 is similar to that of the prior art example, except that one width is slightly reduced, which is not related to the invention. Without limiting the generality of the invention, the shape and size can also be chosen differently. The number of notches or recesses 18 extending from the lower edge 17 of the plate 12 and designed for positioning and fixing in the receptacle of a mechanical or electromechanical system (not shown) for raising or lowering the combat disc 10 is therefore reduced here to one. Two parallel and straight ribs 26 extending vertically are formed in the essentially flat plate 12. To distinguish them from the first ribs 20 in the edge region introduced in the second embodiment (see Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6), which are not provided in the first embodiment, the ribs 26 in the inner region 14 of the plate 12 of the present first embodiment are referred to as second ribs 26. The second ribs 26 contribute to a significant stiffening of the plate 12. Unlike the example in Fig. 1, they do not extend from a transition region 119 above a corresponding clamping region 118, but rather extend further downwards through the clamping region 18 of the combat disc 10 to the lower edge 17 at the lower end 15 of the plate 12, so that they open towards the edge there, with the result that the lower rib ends 31 are open.The resulting extension 28 of the second beads 26 in the clamping area 16 strengthens the bending strength of the second beads 26 precisely in those areas where the strongest bending and torque forces can act. On the other hand, unlike the example in Fig. 1, the two second beads do not extend to the upper edge 39 of the plate 12, but only to the upper bead ends 32 in the upper region of the plate 12 at a distance from the upper edge 39. In the upper region of the plate 12, lower bending and torque forces act during operation, so that extended second beads 26 can be omitted in this area. Another difference from the example shown in Fig. 1 is that the plate 12 has an angled edge section 30. Here, a section of the plate 12 at the outer edge 13 is angled to one side following the contour and, for this purpose, has an approximately uniform edge width (i.e., depth) across the contour. The angled edge section 30 can advantageously extend completely around the inner area 14 of the plate 12, optionally with the exception of a region of the lower edge 17 to allow clamping in the fixture. Such a design significantly improves the stiffness of the plate 12. Another difference from the example shown in Fig. 1 is that in the first embodiment of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the second beads 26 and also the angled edge section 30 are formed in a thermoforming process or by vacuum deep drawing, which, unlike embossing with rods, further improves the stiffness and resistance through the resulting structure of the polymers and, if applicable, reinforcing fibers. A second embodiment of a combat disc 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The material of the plate 12 and the formation of the stiffening structures, i.e., the beads 20, 26 and the angled edge section(s) 30, are similar to those of the first embodiment. In particular, it is a substantially flat plate 12 made of a polyethylene mixture (HDPE, LDPE), wherein the stiffening structures are formed in a thermoforming process as described above. The second beads 26, extending parallel to each other in a vertical direction, are also present in this second embodiment. Unlike in the first embodiment, the second beads are closed at the lower edge 17, but with a similar advantage, they feature the extension 28 in the clamping area 16. Here, too, the second beads terminate in the upper region of the plate 12 at a distance from the upper edge 39. Furthermore, an additional third bead 27 is provided, which also extends vertically and parallel to the two second beads 26. It lies centrally between the two second beads 26, but, compared to them, is recessed in the plane of the plate 12 in precisely the opposite direction, as can best be seen in Fig. 5. This ensures that the stiffening and bending strength remain symmetrical but are further enhanced. As indicated above, the combat target 10 according to the second embodiment has first beads 20. These extend along the contour or along the outer edge 13 of the plate 12. In particular, they follow the contour and almost completely enclose an inner area 14 of the plate 12, except at the lower edge 17 in the clamping area 16. Like the second beads, the first beads also have an extension 22 or reach into the clamping area 16. The first beads 20 can be formed by welds 24. Opposing flanks 23 of the first beads 20 are welded together for this purpose, thus isolating adjacent first beads 20 from one another. This construction is significantly more resistant to bending forces than a large continuous bead. At the same time, it takes into account or compensates for a certain manufacturing-related thinning of the material thickness in the area of ​​the flanks 23. The first grooves 20 and the second grooves 26 are recessed on the same side with respect to the plate 12. The reverse case (opposite sides) is also possible, cf. the third groove 27. Furthermore, the angled edge section 30 is also provided in the second embodiment. Like the first grooves 20, this also follows the contour of the combat disc 10 and almost completely encloses the inner area 14 with the exception of the lower edge 17. The angled edge section 30 is angled on one side relative to the plane of the inner region 14 of the plate 12, in a direction opposite to the recess of the first grooves 20. That is, the angled edge section 30 projects from the first grooves 20 on the opposite side of the plate 12. In the exemplary embodiment, a small step at the level of the plate plane separates the first grooves from the angled edge section 30. Reference symbol list 10 Combat disc 12 Plate 13 Outer edge 14 Inner area of ​​the plate 15 Lower end 16 Clamping area 17 Lower edge 18 Notch in lower edge 19 Transition area 20 First beads 22 Extension of the first beads in the clamping area 23 Bead flanks 24 Welds 26 Second beads 27 Third bead 28 Extension of the second beads in the clamping area 30 Angled edge section 31 Lower bead end (second beads) 32 Upper bead end (second beads) QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature EP 0 485 040 B1 [0005, 0011, 0038] Cited non-patent literature https: / / www.reservistenverband.de / wp-content / uploads / 2018 / 05 / Zentralrichtlinie-Schießen-mit-Handwaffen.pdf

[0003] Central Directive “Shooting with Hand Weapons” (A2-222 / 0-0-4750, version 2015, downloaded from the Internet on 26.01.2026

[0028]

Claims

Combat target (10), in particular for military shooting exercises, wherein the combat target (10) comprises a plate (12) extending substantially in a plane, which is made of a plastic and in which one or more beads (20, 26) are arranged, characterized in that the one or the more beads (20, 26) are formed by a vacuum deep drawing process. Combat disc (10) according to claim 1, wherein the plastic is formed from a polyethylene mixture, wherein the polyethylene mixture is composed of HDPE and LDPE. Combat target (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the combat target (10) has an end with a clamping area (16) which is provided and equipped to be clamped in a mechanical or electromechanical setup system in order to be able to dynamically set up or tilt the combat target (10) optionally; Combat disc (10) according to claim 3, wherein the plate (12) has a contour with an outer edge (13) which limits the plate (12) outside the clamping area (16), wherein at least a part of the one or more beads is arranged as one or more first beads (20) in a first group, wherein the one or more first beads (20) extend along the outer edge (13) of the plate (12), preferably parallel to the outer edge (13). Combat disc (10) according to claim 4, wherein the one or the several first beads (20) are at least partially non-linear and curved and follow a curve shape of the outer edge (13). Combat disc (10) according to claim 5, wherein the one or more first beads (20) extending along the outer edge (13) of the plate (12) completely enclose an inner area (14) of the plate (12) together with the clamping area (16). Combat disc (10) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the one or more first beads (20) extending along the outer edge (13) of the plate (12) each have opposite flanks (23) which are sectionally welded together (24). Combat target (10) according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein at least a part of the one or more beads is arranged as one or more second beads (26) in a second group consisting of at least two second beads (26) extending parallel to each other in an inner area (14) of the plate (12) in a substantially vertical direction when the combat target (10) is erected. Battle disc (10) according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the one or more first beads (20) at the lower end (15) of the battle disc (10) extend at the outer edge (13) into the clamping area (16), preferably to a lower edge (17) of the battle disc (10), and / or wherein the at least two second beads (26) at the end of the battle disc (10) extend into the clamping area (16), preferably to a lower edge (17) of the battle disc (10). Combat target (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the combat target (10) contains on one surface of the plate a schematic, pictorial representation of a target object with a complex outer contour, wherein the outer edge (13) of the plate (12) follows this contour of the target object. Combat target (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the combat target (10) is designed for practice firing of firearms with calibers up to 12 mm. Battle target (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battle target has a height of 125 cm or less and a width of 60 cm or less. Combat disc (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an edge section (30) extending along the outer edge (13) and angled relative to the plane of the plate is formed, which substantially completely encloses the inner area (14) of the plate (12) together with the clamping area (16).

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