US3914879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Firearms training apparatus and method
Assignee: Advanced Training Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1973-12-20
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1993-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A combat firearm training system which may be made portable, or installed in the stationary indoor range, and which includes mechanism for moving each target into either one of two positions from a central position so that in any training exercise each of the targets can be selectively presented as either a friend or a foe. A trainee must then make a decision to identify the target before firing. The unit can be programmed for random selection and operation and may include timers and/or time delays so that the interval between exposures of the targets, the time of exposure of the target, and the catagory of each target can be changed as desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Iii Edwin J Taylor
- 👤 James E Lafortune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:41
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41J; F41J7/00; F41J7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for supporting and rotating targets from a nonfiring position selectively to two separate firing positions comprising a base independently supportable in a desired location, a substantially planar target having at least two oppositely facing surfaces, each surface carrying target indicia different from the other, means to rotatably mount said target on said base, and means mounted on said base and being remotely controllable to rotate said target selectively from a center nonfiring position in a first direction to a first position wherein the first of said two surfaces of said target is in a first firing position and to rotate said target from said center nonfiring position in a second direction to a second different position wherein the other of said two surfaces of said target is in a second firing position, said last mentioned means being independent of any other target and when operated not affecting the position of any other target.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for supporting and rotating targets from a nonfiring position selectively to two separate firing positions comprising a base independently supportable in a desired location, a substantially planar target having at least two oppositely facing surfaces, each surface carrying target indicia different from the other, means to rotatably mount said target on said base, and means mounted on said base and being remotely controllable to rotate said target selectively from a center nonfiring position in a first direction to a first position wherein the first of said two surfaces of said target is in a first firing position and to rotate said target from said center nonfiring position in a second direction to a second different position wherein the other of said two surfaces of said target is in a second firing position, said last mentioned means being independent of any other target and when operated not affecting the position of any other target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as specified in claim 1 whereIn said means to rotate said target comprises power actuated means, and control means to selectively operate said power actuated means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said power actuated means comprises a motor member, said motor member having an output shaft rotatable about a substantially upright axis, and said means to mount said target being directly connected to said output shaft and rotatable about said upright axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as specified in claim 3 and control means including means to selectively operate said motor member in opposite directions of rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as specified in claim 4 and programming means including means to time the operation of said motor means when the motor member has moved said target to either of its first and second positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as specified in claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of individual target supports, and a sequence programmer to selectively operate said target supports in a desired sequence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said targets comprise a main member substantially wider than it is thick to form a narrow edge, said nonfiring positon comprising a position with the edge of said target generally facing in a selected direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination as specified in claim 7 wherein said main member comprises a target support, and a target cover member comprising a sleeve having two sheets of material joined along at least portions of a target outline to provide two outwardly facing surfaces on opposite sides of said sleeve, said sleeve being of size to fit over said target support and having suitable indicia on each of said outwardly facing surfaces to indicate two different types of targets on said outwardly facing surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
A target support device for a shooting range comprising a base supportable individually on a surface, a substantially flat target holder of sufficient size to define opposed target areas rotatably mounted on said base about a substantially upright axis when supported in a normal position, said target holder having a narrow edge and being adapted to support a target member having different classes of target surfaces on oppositely facing sides thereof and a narrow edge between said target surfaces, which align with the narrow edge of said target holder, motor means to rotate said target holder about said upright axis, control means for said motor means, said control means including means to rotate said motor means from a normal centered position with the narrow edge of said target holder directes toward a shooter position selectively in each of two opposite directions of rotation from said centered position to two separate positions wherein the opposed target areas of said target holder are selectively displayed as two separate firing positions with different target surfaces carried by said target holder exposed to a desired line of sight in each of said separate positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
190 words
A target support device for a shooting range comprising a base supportable individually on a surface, a substantially flat target holder of sufficient size to define opposed target areas rotatably mounted on said base about a substantially upright axis when supported in a normal position, said target holder having a narrow edge and being adapted to support a target member having different classes of target surfaces on oppositely facing sides thereof and a narrow edge between said target surfaces, which align with the narrow edge of said target holder, motor means to rotate said target holder about said upright axis, control means for said motor means, said control means including means to rotate said motor means from a normal centered position with the narrow edge of said target holder directes toward a shooter position selectively in each of two opposite directions of rotation from said centered position to two separate positions wherein the opposed target areas of said target holder are selectively displayed as two separate firing positions with different target surfaces carried by said target holder exposed to a desired line of sight in each of said separate positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination as specified in claim 9 wherein said control means comprises switch means actuable to energize said motor means to rotate to a preselected position, cam means driven by said motor means, means actuable by said cam means to disable said motor means when said target holder reaches a preselected position in each of the directions of rotation from its normal position regardless of the position of said switch means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination as specified in claim 10 wherein said motor means is an electric motor, and said switch means having a normal position, and said control means for said electric motor means being operable to return said motor means to its normal centered position whenever said switch means is moved to its normal position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of operating a target system for training shooters, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of targets, each individually rotatable between a nonfiring position and at least two opposed firing positions, providing two different indicia rEpresenting friend and foe, respectively, on each of said targets with a different one of said indicia only visible in each of said opposed firing positions, and selectively moving one or more targets from a nonfiring position to a selected one of the firing positions of the respective target in a manner so that the selection of indicia is unknown to the shooter until the target indicia is visible to the shooter.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of operating a target system for training shooters, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of targets, each individually rotatable between a nonfiring position and at least two opposed firing positions, providing two different indicia rEpresenting friend and foe, respectively, on each of said targets with a different one of said indicia only visible in each of said opposed firing positions, and selectively moving one or more targets from a nonfiring position to a selected one of the firing positions of the respective target in a manner so that the selection of indicia is unknown to the shooter until the target indicia is visible to the shooter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12 including the further step of individually selecting each of the targets to be rotated, and selecting which indicia should be exposed to a shooter using the target.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2104171A
Cited
US2494210A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |