Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Target
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-07-03
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Target
C273S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254100
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains generally to archery targets, and more particularly to a three-dimensional archery target with a replaceable target section.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of archery targets are known, including conventional three-dimensional life-size animal-simulating archery targets. Such targets have a shape resembling that of a game animal, for example, a deer or other animal. Such targets may be formed in a single piece from a lightweight foam material, such as polyurethane foam. Such targets are adapted for use with both broadhead arrows, which comprise a plurality of intersecting razor blades tapering to a sharp point, and field point or target arrows. Critical target areas may be indicated on the target, e.g., by bull's eye markings which are either applied onto or molded into the foam target.
Repeated arrow strikes on a foam archery target will cause the target to deteriorate. This is especially true when broadhead arrows are used. When a broadhead arrow hits a target, the blades forming the arrowhead slice through the target material to a considerable depth. As the target material is hit repeatedly, pieces of the target are cut loose. Therefore, a target is destroyed much more rapidly with broadhead arrows than with field point or target head arrows. However, even when field point or target head arrows exclusively are used, at least a portion of the target will inevitably be destroyed with repeated use.
In practice, a very large proportion of the arrow strikes on an archery target fall within a relatively small portion of the target. For example, an archer will typically aim at an area of the target corresponding to vital organs of the animal which the target represents. Most archers will hit this target or bull's eye area most of the time. Therefore, this target area will be destroyed rapidly, due to repeated arrow strikes, while most of the remaining target remains relatively undamaged.
The functional life of a three-dimensional life-size animal simulating archery target may be extended, and the cost of using such a target reduced, by making replaceable a target section of the archery target which is likely to be destroyed rapidly due to repeated arrow strikes. Instead of forming the target from a single piece of molded foam, a three-dimensional life-size animal simulating archery target may be molded in multiple pieces, which are detachably joined together to form the target. As one piece of the target, i.e., the target section, is destroyed by repeated arrow strikes, this section alone may be replaced, eliminating the need to replace the entire target. Thus, the life of the target is extended, and the operating cost thereof reduced.
An exemplary multi-section three-dimensional life-size animal simulating archery target of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,082 to McKenzie, et al. This patent describes a three-dimensional archery target including head and tail body sections with a replaceable target section positioned therebetween. The target section is connected to the other body sections by dovetail joint structures formed in the molded foam body sections. As the target section, corresponding generally to the chest area of the animal, is destroyed by repeated arrow strikes, it may be replaced. It is noted, however, that the replaceable target section comprises approximately one-third of the total target. Thus, it is relatively expensive to replace. Further, the vertical dovetails holding the body sections together tend to come apart with repeated arrow strikes, due to the dynamic force of arrows impacting the target.
Another known three-dimensional life-size animal-simulating archery target is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,403 to Morrell. This archery target includes a foam body, which may be formed of front and rear body sections connected together by a dovetail joint structure. The foam body includes a target insert receiving recess into which a target insert is placed. The target insert may be filled with packing material, such as cotton molt, for use with only target arrows, or may be formed of foam, for use with both broadhead and target arrows. The target insert may be held in place in the recess using straps and wire. A body cover, which may be made of cloth, or molded in foam, is used to cover the removable and replaceable target insert.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a three-dimensional archery target having a replaceable target section, which is easy to assemble and structurally stable during the use and transportation thereof. An archery target in accordance with the present invention includes one or more target body sections. The target body sections may be molded of a polyurethane foam material, and are preferably shaped and sized to represent a game animal in a realistic fashion. The target body sections are connected together via a support structure, such as dovetail joint structures molded into the target body sections. At least one of the target body sections includes a target section aperture formed therein. A replaceable target section, also molded of polyurethane foam, is positioned in the target section aperture. One or more support rods are positioned in support rod apertures formed through the replaceable target section and the target body section in which the replaceable target section is placed, to hold the replaceable target section in position therein. The support rods also preferably extend into support rod apertures formed in other body sections of the archery target. The support rods thus hold the archery target together, to provide a structurally stable archery target during use, but are easily removable, to disassemble the archery target, for example, to replace the replaceable target section.
The replaceable target section may have a target insert aperture formed therein, into which a replaceable target insert is placed. At least one of the support rods extending through the replaceable target section preferably also extends through a support rod aperture formed in the replaceable target insert, to hold the replaceable target insert in position in the replaceable target section.
The replaceable target section and replaceable target insert are used for portions of an archery target in accordance with the present invention which are most likely to be destroyed by repeated arrow strikes. The useful life of an archery target in accordance with the present invention is increased, and the operating cost thereof reduced, by replacing the replaceable target insert and/or the replaceable target section when it becomes destroyed, rather than replacing the entire archery target. The replaceable target section and replaceable target insert preferably are designed for easy replacement, by reducing friction between the replaceable target section and the replaceable target insert and the apertures in which they are positioned. The easily removable and insertable support rods extended through the support rod apertures formed through the replaceable target section and the replaceable target insert ensure that these pieces are held firmly in place when arrows strike them and/or are removed from them, and provide structural integrity to the archery target as a whole.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 858090 (1907-06-01), Meinecke
patent: 1818939 (1931-08-01), Brading
patent: 2812947 (1957-11-01), Fatzinger et al.
patent: 3163418 (1964-12-01), Myers
patent: 3164384 (1965-01-01), Stewart
patent: 4054288 (1977-10-01), Perrine, Sr.
patent: 4066261 (1978-01-01), Stewart
patent: 4239236 (1980-12-01), Parham et al.
patent: 4477082 (1984-10-01), McKenzie et al.
patent: 4597574 (1986-07-01), Wolfe
patent: 4643434 (1987-02-01), Carlin
patent: 5308084 (1994-05-01), Morrell
patent: 5383671 (1995-01-01), Teets et al.
patent: 5498001 (1996-03-01), Franks et al.
patent: 5503403 (1996-04-01), Morrell
patent: 554044
Foley & Lardner
Graham Mark S.
Rinehart Family Company
LandOfFree
Archery target with replaceable target section does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Archery target with replaceable target section, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Archery target with replaceable target section will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2477896