| Electronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identification -> Monitor Keywords |
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Electronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identificationElectronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identification description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080088089, Electronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identification. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/672342 FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH--Not applicable SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM--Not applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]The invention relates to target systems, specifically to target systems used to train shooters to correctly recognize and accurately shoot a target. [0004]2. Related Art [0005]Target systems used today to train civilian and military shooters are predominantly of the following types: [0006]a. A target system wherein the target image is placed in front of the shooter and is stationary and visible at all times. This system has the disadvantage of allowing the shooter to constantly recognize the target image as a threat; the shooter knows he is in a shoot condition. The shooter is not required to recognize whether the target image is of a threat or not a threat. The shooter simply draws his weapon as quickly as possible and shoots the target image as accurately as possible. [0007]b. A target system wherein the target is suspended from a motor driven cable. The system allows the target to be located closer or further away from the shooter. This action is meant to decrease or increase the difficulty in hitting the target image by altering the distance from the target to the shooter. This system has the disadvantage of the target system as described in a) above. [0008]c. A target system wherein the target image is stationary and rotates in a horizontal plane and is positioned to face toward or away from the shooter. The target image is first hidden from view by being positioned at 0 degrees. The target image is then rotated 90 degrees to face [0009]d. A target system wherein the target image is in a stationary location and is physically moved into the shooters field of view. As an example, a pneumatic system with rubber targets that are brought into view by filling them with air. This system has the disadvantage of having stationary targets that simply appear and disappear from view in a location that is known to the shooter after they appear one time. This system has the disadvantage of the target system as described in a) above. [0010]e. A target system wherein the targets are driven to different locations by means of a reversible cable drive with a manually engaged switch. The shooting instructor moves the target to various locations and manually controls the speed and direction of the target movement. This system has the disadvantage of not allowing accurate programming of the targets direction of movement, speed and the time the target is held stationary before moving to a new location. The speed of movement and positioning is random and is not repeatable. Repeatability is required in order to accurately assess the skills of the shooters. It also has the disadvantage of the target system as described in a) above. TABLE-US-00001 [0010]US Patent Documents FIELD OF SEARCH: 273/359, 366-370, 378, 383, 386-388, 390-392 Boss; Richard K. Sep. 19, 1975 4,029,318 Doughty; Steven P Mar. 22, 1985 4,614,345 Allard; Jean-Claude Apr. 14, 1987 4,657,511 Scholem; Paul Sep. 8, 1987 4,691,925 Bateman; Kyle E. Nov. 17, 1992 5,163,689 Koma; Yozo Sep. 28, 1993 5,248,150 Graham; Richard D Jan. 25, 1994 5,280,919 Miyake; Masahito May 10, 1994 5,310,192 Jones; Michael A. Jun. 14, 1994 5,320,358 Acock; Joseph Sep. 27, 1994 5,350,180 Hazard; Bowdien H. Jun. 27, 1995 5,427,380 O'Neil; Kent D Nov. 18, 1997 5,688,196 Muehle; Eric G Oct. 20, 1998 5,823,779 Theissen; Peter-Paul Feb. 9, 1999 5,868,396 Corcoran; Thomas M Oct. 19, 1999 5,967,522 Muehle; Eric G. Nov. 9, 1999 5,980,254 Westphal; Robert L Dec. 19, 2000 6,162,057 Amrein; Bruce E. Apr. 17, 2001 6,217,027 Elliott; Jerry R Dec. 4, 2001 6,325,376 Beckwith, Sr.; James C Aug. 20, 2002 6,435,512 Witmeyer; Aaron D. Nov. 12, 2002 6,478,301 Huston; James J. Dec. 10, 2002 6,491,303 Slifko; John D Jan. 7, 2003 6,502,820 Rosa; Stephen P Jun. 10, 2003 6,575,753 Wolff; Ronald S. Aug. 5, 2003 6,604,064 [0011]3. Objects and Advantages [0012]We determined that all the disadvantages of the aforementioned systems could be overcome and the training of the shooter could be of a higher quality, more consistent and subjectively gradable if the target movement is controlled by a programmable system. The programmable system moves single or multiple targets in a predetermined, programmed direction and speed. The programmable system also moves and halts the targets in direct relationship to other targets. The programmable system allows the operator to challenge the shooter with an infinite number of variables. [0013]As an example, multiple targets with target images presenting multiple threats to the shooter can be presented at the same time, requiring the shooter to constantly be aware of the location of each threat target. Alternately, one target image can depict a threat to the shooter and another target image can depict no threat to the shooter. This scenario requires the shooter to constantly locate the target that is not a threat and not shoot it. At the same time the shooter must constantly locate and shoot the target that is a threat. She must ensure that she does not shoot the target that is a threat when it is in a location that could expose the target that is not a threat to injury due to an inaccurately placed bullet or projectiles. [0014]The invention proposed has target obscuring panels located in front of the targets. These panels prevent the shooter from seeing the target unless the target is in an opening in the panels or a location that is purposely void of a panel. As an example, the target obscuring panels may be made of cardboard with simulated window and door cut outs to represent the front of a house. This configuration greatly adds to the realism and difficulty in recognizing the threat level of the targets and accurately shooting them. In the proposed invention the targets are first positioned out of the shooters field of view behind the obscuring panels. The targets are then quickly moved into the cutout representing a window, the cutout representing a door or are positioned in the shooters field of view directly above a panel made to resemble a fence. [0015]After stopping in this location for a period of time selected by the operator the targets are then removed from the shooters field of view by quickly moving them back behind the target obscuring panels where there is no cutout area. [0016]The difficulty and realism is further increased by the target system's ability to change the target transport speed, direction of travel and the location and amount of time the target stops at that location. The location at which the target stops can be chosen by the operator to be either in a location that is within the shooters field of view or a location that is not within the shooters field of view. After stooping in the chosen location for an operator determined period of time, the targets are moved to a new location. The speed and direction of movement, and locations and times the targets are stopped are all operator selectable. [0017]The difficulty and realism the invention presents is further increased by ability of the operator to quickly change the physical makeup of the target obscuring panels. The panels may made to resemble any number of locations including a bus, interior of an airplane, control room of a nuclear power plant, a business, etc. [0018]The operator can use panels that depict actual locations where an armed conflict occurred and train the shooter to not repeat mistakes know to have been made during a previous documented armed conflict. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0019]The proposed invention comprises a means of accurately and with repeatability, controlling the speed and direction of movement and the location and duration of time single or multiple targets are stopped before resuming movement. [0020]The mechanical assembly used to suspend the target is part of the invention. Existing target systems use a cable or framework to rigidly suspend the target carrier on pulleys or rolling wheels positioned on a framework. The target follows the motion of the target carrier along a horizontal plane because the cable or framework and target carrier are rigid and inflexible. The target carrier portion of the invention we propose is unique in that the target carrier has several independently movable arms on each of its sides. These moving arms suspend the target mounting medium, which is usually cardboard. The target image is affixed to the target mounting medium, usually by staples or tape. The moving arms independently pivot and rotate, causing the target image to execute unpredictable, random movements when the target carrier is driven from one location to another location; when the target carrier is stopped or when the target carrier is made to abruptly change direction while in motion. This mechanical action more closely mimics the movements of a person as they move from one location to another, adding to the realism and difficulty. As an example, a person moving quickly to the left or right does not stay perfectly horizontal to the ground. Leg and body muscle movements require that they move in several low angle arcs as they overcome inertia. As they begin to move they lower their head and push off with one leg or the other. This action is displayed by the target image using our invention. [0021]The proposed invention incorporates target obscuring panels used to alternately obscure and not obscure the target from the field of view of the shooter. The target obscuring panels are designed to overlap, thus preventing the shooter from looking between the panels if the panels do not exactly mate. Should the shooter have the ability to see between the target obscuring panels due to a slight mismatch in their alignment to one another, the shooter could anticipate the next location of the target and/or the direction in which the target was moving. [0022]Target systems in use today usually depict an image of a person or persons or the likeness of the human anatomy. The image on the target has a pattern superimposed on it which designates points given to the shooter for their accuracy in placing bullets into specific sections of the target image. The more likely the shooter's hits are to immediately incapacitate the person depicted on the target image, the higher the points. The target image is affixed to a target mounting medium. The most prevalent target mounting medium in use today is inexpensive cardboard. The target image is stapled or taped to the target mounting medium and mounted to the target carrier, usually by inexpensive spring clips of the type used to hold many sheets of paper in order. For many years shooters have been using target mediums suspended by a trip device which causes the target mounting medium to fall to the ground when it is hit in an area that depicts the human anatomy that would immediately incapacitate a person if they were hit in a corresponding location. These target mounting mediums have a problem because the target mounting medium, being made of inexpensive cardboard, is presently manufactured with a flat bottom. After disengaging from the target carrier, the target mounting medium falls to the ground and can remain upright and in the shooters field of view. As a part of our invention the target mounting medium is manufactured with the bottom section having a longer center section dimension than the dimensions of the left and right sides. This design causes the target mounting medium to land on its center section and having insufficient area to remain upright, to fall over. The target then remains out of the shooters field of view. [0023]Additionally, as part of the invention, the targets incorporate a movable arm which quickly comes into the shooters field of view as the target is moved into an open area in the target obscuring panels such as a window cutout. The moving arm can be configured to hold one of any number of objects. These objects may depict no threat to the shooter, such as a can of soda, a cell phone or a flashlight. When these types of images are quickly brought into the shooters field of view the shooter must quickly recognize them and if they are not a threat to not shoot the target. Alternately, if the movable arm on the target is holding the image of a weapon, the shooter must instantly react and shoot the target as quickly and accurately as possible. [0024]Additionally, the invention incorporates a means of covering the cutouts in the target obscuring panels that simulate a window glass with a plastic material that has the approximate reflective properties of glass. This condition is advisable for training as the reflective properties of the simulated glass can obscure or alter the shooters perspective and visual acuity. This condition is especially true when the simulated glass is illuminated in a night condition and the target images are behind the simulated glass. [0025]Our invention allows instructors to train military, law enforcement and civilian shooters, using live fire weapons, in both target threat recognition and speed of accurate shot placement on moving targets. This invention approaches realism by forcing the shooter to immediately and correctly identify and then accurately shoot targets that rapidly appear in openings or from behind target obscuring panels and then moves the targets to new locations that do not allow the shooter to see them. These actions all take place in real time. The shooter must engage targets that are at one moment stationary and in view and the next moment are moving at controlled speeds and directions. In the next moment the targets disappear and in another moment reappear. In multiple target scenarios the targets an be selected so both target images represent a threat to the shooter, or alternately the target images can be selected so one target image represents a threat and the second target image represents no threat. Continue reading about Electronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identification... Full patent description for Electronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identification Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electronically controlled target positioning system for training in marksmanship and target identification patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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