Advanced target system

Abstract

A biodegradable target ( 10 ) for sports-shooters comprising a body ( 12 ) defining an internal cavity ( 22 ), and a display material ( 34 ) is contained within the cavity ( 22 ) wherein the display material ( 34 ) expands upon breakage of the body ( 12 ) by a projectile ( 24 ), such as a bullet, to give visual confirmation that the projectile ( 24 ) has hit the body ( 12 ). The target ( 10 ) is made by molding body segments which are configured to cooperatively define an internal cavity ( 22 ) when joined, adding a display material ( 34 ) to at least one of the body segments and joining the body segments to form the target ( 10 ).

I claim:  
     
         1 . A biodegradable projectile target comprising: 
 a frangible body defining an internal cavity; and    a display material contained within said cavity; 
 said material characterized by the property of rapid expansion upon breakage of said body by said projectile in order to give a visual confirmation of said projectile hitting said body.  
   
     
     
         2 . The target of  claim 1 , said body having a substantially spherical shape.  
     
     
         3 . The target of  claim 2 , said body having an outer diameter of from about 1 to 4 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The target of  claim 1 , said body being substantially disc-shaped.  
     
     
         5 . The target of  claim 4 , said body having an outer diameter of four inches.  
     
     
         6 . The target of  claim 1 , said body comprising sugar.  
     
     
         7 . The target of  claim 6 , said body further comprising corn syrup and water.  
     
     
         8 . The target of  claim 6 , said sugar being respective quantities of dextrose and maltose.  
     
     
         9 . The target of  claim 1 , said display material being a flowable colorant.  
     
     
         10 . The target of  claim 9 , said flowable colorant being selected from the group consisting of powder, gel and liquid.  
     
     
         11 . A biodegradable projectile target comprising: 
 a body defining an internal cavity;    said body comprising sugar; and    a display material contained within said cavity, said material characterized by the property of rapid expansion upon breakage of said body by said projectile in order to give a visual confirmation of said projectile hitting said body.    
     
     
         12 . The target of  claim 11 , said body having a substantially spherical shape.  
     
     
         13 . The target of  claim 12 , said body having an outer diameter of from about 1 to 4 inches.  
     
     
         14 . The target of  claim 11 , said body being substantially disc-shaped.  
     
     
         15 . The target of  claim 14 , said body having an outer diameter of four inches.  
     
     
         16 . The target of  claim 11 , said body comprising sugar.  
     
     
         17 . The target of  claim 16 , said body further comprising respective quantities of corn syrup and water.  
     
     
         18 . The target of  claim 16 , said sugar being respective quantities of dextrose and maltose.  
     
     
         19 . The target of  claim 11 , said display material being a flowable colorant.  
     
     
         20 . The target of  claim 19 , said flowable colorant being selected from the group consisting of powder, gel and liquid.  
     
     
         21 . A method of making a biodegradable projectile target comprising the steps of: 
 (a) molding a plurality of frangible body segments, said segments being configured, when joined, to cooperatively define an internal cavity;    (b) adding a display material to at least one of said molded body segments; and    (c) joining said body segments to form said target.