Self-Healing Polymer Target with Reflective Diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shooting target systems lack the ability to withstand high-volume bullet strikes while providing interactive, illuminated feedback, as they are either too destructive or fail to maintain functionality under extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
A self-healing polymer or elastomer shooting target system that incorporates a light diffuser with reflective properties, allowing bullets to pass through with minimal damage and maintaining illumination, using a combination of self-healing materials and programmable logic controllers for hit detection and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid polycarbonate shield is used to protect the light source, then the light source is protected from bullet impacts, but the shield will eventually be destroyed by larger caliber bullets and has a limited thickness before manufacturing becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid polycarbonate shields with flexible self-healing polymer films that can deform under bullet impact and then reform to seal the puncture. This flexible film approach provides unlimited durability against any caliber while maintaining thin profile, eliminating the thickness limits and manufacturing impracticalities of rigid shields
Solution Approach 2:
The self-healing polymer automatically repairs bullet punctures through molecular bond reforming without external intervention. The material detects and heals its own damage, continuously maintaining integrity and protection of the light source without requiring replacement or maintenance of rigid shields
2Reliability
If a self-healing polymer is used to allow bullet pass-through, then the material can withstand any caliber and continue operation, but the material must be flexible and conformable which may affect structural stability
Solution Approach 1:
The self-healing polymer is designed with inherent energy absorption capabilities that cushion the bullet impact before it reaches the light source. The material's flexibility and molecular structure provide built-in protection, allowing it to deform and absorb impact energy while maintaining its position and function
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines self-healing polymer material with reflective properties and light diffusion capabilities in a single integrated component. This composite approach maintains structural functionality for light manipulation while providing bullet resistance through the self-healing mechanism
3Ease of manufacture
If disposable lighting systems are used, then the system can be replaced after damage, but the lighting system cannot withstand high-volume bullet strikes and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The self-healing polymer continuously maintains its own integrity by automatically repairing bullet punctures through molecular bond reforming. This eliminates the need for manual replacement of disposable components, allowing the system to withstand high-volume bullet strikes and maintain operational continuity indefinitely
4Ease of repair
If projected systems onto diffusers with break-away reflection systems are used, then the reflection system can be replaced, but the system lacks durability and cannot withstand repeated bullet impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The self-healing polymer automatically repairs its own damage without requiring removal or replacement. The material's molecular bond reforming capability provides continuous self-maintenance, eliminating the need for manual repair operations and ensuring uninterrupted operation under repeated bullet impacts
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables prolonged durability and functionality under extreme conditions, providing interactive and programmable feedback to shooters, allowing for gamified interactivity and data recording across multiple targets.
Implementation Method 1
Self-healing polymers and elastomers, and even those without self-healing properties, have a natural flexible and conformable property that allows the material to tear and deform upon projectile incursion, then reform and seal or partially seal as the projectile exits the material
Implementation Method 2
This design uses a projection system that bounces light off the back of a self-healing polymer with a highly reflective mirror paint applied to the back
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a partial or fully self-healing illumination system connected to or directly on a shooting target used for practice, competition, or qualification. More specifically, this invention relates to a system that uses a light and a self-healing reflector configured to project light towards the shooter while allowing partial or full pass-through projectile strikes.