Reusable Shooting Target with Rotary Spin and Collision Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shooting targets do not effectively provide a visual indication of bullet impact and often allow bullets to pass between rotary targets or collide with them, lacking in bullet resistance and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A reusable shooting target system featuring rotary targets with a pivot section attached to crossbars, where the distance between targets on a crossbar is less than bullet width to prevent passage and the distance between crossbars is sufficient to prevent collisions, utilizing bullet-resistant materials like steel with specific Brinell hardness values and weather-resistant coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distance between rotary targets on a crossbar is reduced to prevent bullet passage, then bullet resistance is improved, but the risk of collision between spinning targets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by introducing a third dimension - vertical spacing between crossbars. While horizontal spacing on crossbars is reduced to prevent bullet passage, sufficient vertical distance is maintained between crossbars to accommodate the spin radius of rotary targets, preventing collisions during rotation.
2Device complexity
If conventional shooting targets are used, then simplicity is maintained, but visual indication of bullet impact is not effectively provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static conventional targets into dynamic rotary targets that spin when struck by bullets. This dynamic response provides clear visual indication of bullet impact location and direction, while the rotary mechanism remains mechanically simple with pivot sections and basic mounting structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional targets are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but structural integrity and bullet resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction combining steel crossbars with Brinell hardness of 400-500 HB for structural framework, and harder steel rotary targets with Brinell hardness of 500-700 HB for bullet impact resistance. This multi-material approach achieves superior bullet resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard metalworking processes.
4Reliability
If the distance between crossbars is increased to prevent collisions, then safety is improved, but the overall target size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the vertical spacing parameter between crossbars to the minimum sufficient distance that prevents collision during target spin, rather than using excessive spacing. This parameter optimization achieves collision prevention while minimizing the overall height of the target structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A reusable shooting target or target system may include multiple rotary targets each having a target plate section having a bottom end, a top end, a front end, and a back end, and a pivot section. The target may include crossbars having a first end, a body portion, and a second end, front legs and back legs. The pivot section of each rotary target is fixedly or removably attached to the body section of one of the crossbars such that the target plate section of the rotary target is positioned below the crossbar to which the pivot section is attached. The pivot section of each rotary target and the crossbar to which the pivot section is attached are together adapted such that when hit with a bullet the rotary target spins around an axis aligned with the respective crossbar to which the rotary target is attached.