Target holder rigidly securing small arms target and transducer mounted thereon

Claim 2

The combination of a target holder and an inertia switch type transducer, said target holder comprising an elongated front portion having a substantially planar target engaging member with at least one rearwardly extending projection, an elongated rear portion having a second target engaging member which extends adjacent to and is spaced from said first target engaging member, the upper edge portion of said second target engaging member having at least one slot therein which divides the edge portion into at least two parts, each part being deformed forwardly, clamping means engaging both said target engaging members and adapted to clamp a target between said first and second target engaging members so that said projection and deformations are adapted to engage with and deform such target to rigidify the same, said inertia switch type transducer being mounted on said target holder and comprising an elongated base of rigid electrically insulating material, a first electrical contact mounted at one end thereof, a leaf spring having a second electrical contact fixed to one end thereof, said spring being mounted at its other end to the base so that said contacts are engaged, and adjusting means engaged with said leaf spring adjacent the end mounted on the base and movable to vary the spring tension in said spring thereby to vary the force holding said contacts in engagement.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein said second target engaging member of the target holder makes an angle less than a right angle with the base section extending therefrom.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1, wherein two slots are provided in the upper edge of the second target engaging member of the target holder, and each of the parts of the second target engaging member between said slots and between said slots and the side edges of the second target engaging member is deformed forwardly.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3, wherein the upper edges of each deformed part of the second target engaging member of said target holder between said slots and the side edges form an arc of a circle.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3, wherein the deformed parts of the target holder extend forwardly of the plane of the second target engaging member a distance at their upper edges at least equal to approximately half the thickness of the second target engaging member.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1, wherein said rearwardly extending projection of the first target engaging member of the target holder is formed by a portion of the upper edge portion of the first target engaging member being displaced rearwardly, said projection being of inverted part conical shape.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1, wherein said base of said transducer is formed with a groove extending longitudinally thereof beneath said leaf spring, and said adjusting means is arranged to deflect said spring into said groove to increase the tension in said spring thereby to vary the force holding said contacts in engagement.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1, wherein said base of said transducer is mounted in a casing which is mounted to said target holder, and said adjusting means includes a threaded screw engaged in a correspondingly threaded hole in said casing, and wherein an elongate bracket is attached by one end to the inner surface of said casing and is arranged so that the other end thereof is engageable by said screw, and wherein a pin extends between said bracket and said leaf spring to transmit movements of the bracket to said spring upon rotation of said screw.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8, wherein an indication dial is carried by the outer end of said screw of said transducer and is adapted to indicate the amount said screw is screwed into the casing.

Claim 11

The combination of a target holder and an inertia switch type transducer, said target holder comprising an elongated front portion having a substantially planar target engaging member with at least one integral rearwardly extending projection, an elongated rear portion having a second target engaging member which extends adjacent to and is spaced from said first target engaging member, the upper edge portion of said second target engaging member including at least two integral sections that are deformed forwardly, clamping means engaging both said target engaging members and adapted to clamp a target between said first and second target engaging members so that said projection and deformations are adapted to engage with and deform such target to rigidify the same, said inertia switch type transducer being mounted on the target holder and comprising first and second electrical contacts which are normally engaged, the first and second electrical contacts being opened consequent to the impact of a projectile on the target and hit shock waves being generated thereby and passing along the target through the target holder to the transducer thereby registering a hit, with lesser impact forces in the target area not disengaging the contacts and thus not registering a hit, and adjusting means associated with said transducer for varying the force holding said contacts in engagement thereby permitting the registering of hits only above a predetermined level of impact.

Claim 12

The combination of a target holder and an inertia switch type transducer, said target holder comprising an elongated front portion having a substantially planar target engaging member with at least one integral rearwardly extending projection, an elongated rear portion having a second target engaging member which extends adjacent to and is spaced from said first target engaging member, the upper edge portion of said second target engaging member including at least two integral sections that are deformed forwardly, clamping means engaging both said target engaging members and adapted to clamp a target between said first and second target engaging members so that said projection and deformations are adapted to engage with and deform such target to rigidify the same, said inertia switch type transducer being mounted on the target holder and comprising first and second electrical contacts which are normally engaged, the first and second electrical contacts being opened consequent to the impact of a projectile on the target and hit shock waves being generated thereby and passing along the target through the target holder to the transducer thereby registering a hit, with lesser impact forces in the target area not disengaging the contacts and thus not registering a hit, and adjusting means associated with said transducer for varying the force holding said contacts in engagement thereby permitting the registering of hits only above a predetermined level of impact.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 further including a one-piece self-supporting target comprising a generally elongated sheet of relatively rigid, ductile, synthetic, plastic material clamped between said first and second target engaging members, said plastic material having low shock transference characteristics and being of a thickness and ductility such that a projectile passing therethrough forms a flanged hole having dimensions less than the corresponding dimensions of the projectile.