Self-Healing Polymeric Shooting Targets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shooting targets, such as paper and cardboard, are prone to water damage and lack durability, while metallic targets are expensive and do not provide precise projectile strike indication.
Innovation Solution
Self-healing targets made from resilient polymeric materials that can deform and self-heal after projectile impact, featuring a visible target zone and a coating material for impact location indication, allowing for repeated use and easy rejuvenation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paper and cardboard targets are used, then cost is reduced and effectiveness is maintained under certain conditions, but durability deteriorates due to water damage and limited reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional paper/cardboard to resilient polymeric material, which fundamentally alters the durability and reuse characteristics of the target while maintaining cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining resilient polymeric material with a coating material layer, where the base material provides durability and the coating provides strike indication and can be rejuvenated, extending the target's usable life
2Reliability
If metallic targets are used, then durability is improved, but cost increases significantly and precision of strike indication deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a coating material that changes color or creates visible contrast at impact locations, providing precise strike indication on the durable polymeric target body, thereby resolving the contradiction between durability and measurement precision
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional targets are used, then initial cost is reduced, but frequency of replacement increases due to limited reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service rejuvenation mechanism where the coating material can be reapplied to the target surface to restore strike visibility, allowing the target to serve itself and extend its operational life without requiring full replacement
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire target after limited use, the patent allows recovery and reuse of the durable polymeric body by simply replacing the consumable coating layer, thereby increasing productivity through extended target life
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 self-healing targets can withstand numerous projectile impacts without visible damage, providing clear strike indication and extending their usable life significantly compared to conventional targets.
Implementation Method 1
subsequent to passage of the projectiles therethrough, the resilient polymeric body material is configured to return to its original, or at least substantially original, shape
Data Source
AI summary
Self-healing targets, methods of manufacturing self-healing targets, and methods of utilizing self-healing targets. The self-healing targets include a target body and a target zone. The target body is defined by a sheet of resilient polymeric body material and defines a front surface, which is configured to face toward a shooter, and a back surface, which is configured to face away from the shooter. The target zone is on the front surface of the target body and is at least partially defined by a surface feature of the target body to provide a visual indication of the target zone to the shooter. The methods of utilizing include impacting the target with a projectile to form a splatter mark and rejuvenating the target by coating the splatter mark with a coating material. The methods of manufacturing include forming a target body and forming a surface feature within the target body.