Target face

Abstract

A laminar element ( 16 ) for use as a target face is composed of non-woven polymer fibres compressed and bonded to form a single layer of penetrable material which is resistant to water and dimensionally stable over a wide range of temperatures, flexible non-deformable and printable. Target indicia are formed on one face by any one of a wide range of printing techniques. The polymer may be TYVEK™ by DuPont, KEVLAR™ or carbon fibre.

1 . A laminar element for use as a target face, characterised in that it at least substantially comprises a piercable layer composed of a mesh of polymer fibres bearing target indicia of water resistant ink or dye.  
     
     
         2 . A laminar element according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the mesh comprises a non-woven polymer fibre layer.  
     
     
         3 . A laminar element according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , characterised in that it comprises a substantially homogeneous single layer.  
     
     
         4 . A laminar element according any of  claims 1  to  3 , characterised in that the ink or dye impregnates the said non-woven material.  
     
     
         5 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said layer of non-woven polymer fibres is rendered substantially non-deformable in the plane of the layer by treatment on by composition with an adjacent layer.  
     
     
         6 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the printed or dyed surface of the said layer is a substantially non-reflective or matt surface.  
     
     
         7 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said ink or dye of which the target indicia are formed is a water-based material.  
     
     
         8 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said layer is composed of a material not susceptible to shrinkage upon contact with water, upon drying out or upon exposure to solar radiation.  
     
     
         9 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said layer is at least partly composed on non-woven TYVEK (RTM) sheet material.  
     
     
         10 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said layer is composed entirely of non-woven TYVEK (RTM) non-woven sheet material.  
     
     
         11 . A laminar element according to any of claims from  1  to  9 , characterised in that the said layer is at least partly composed of non-woven KEVLAR (RTM) or carbon fibre, or a KEVLAR or carbon fibre mesh.  
     
     
         12 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the thickness of the said layer lies in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.67 mm, preferably 0.2 mm.  
     
     
         13 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the density of the said layer lies in regions of 30 gsm to 200 gsm, preferably between 50 gsm and 70 gsm.  
     
     
         14 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said layer is reinforced with a backing layer of another material, preferably in the form of a mesh.  
     
     
         15 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that one surface of the said layer has a layer of adhesive thereon.  
     
     
         16 . A laminar element according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said layer is composed of a heat-bonded and compressed non-woven mesh of polymer fibres.  
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a target face, characterised in that comprises the steps of forming a web composed of a mesh of polymer fibres, applying a plurality of target indicia to one face of the web by printing or dyeing techniques, and separating individual target faces from the web between adjacent target indicia.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , characterised in that the target indicia are applied to the web by one of flexographic printing, gravure printing, screen printing and web offset printing.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  or  claim 18 , characterised in that it further comprises the steps of perforating the web between adjacent target indicia, coiling the thus-perforated web on a roll and storing the roll prior to separation of individuals target faces therefrom.  
     
     
         20 . A laminar element according to any of  claims 1  to  16 , characterised in that the said layer comprises a permeable material.  
     
     
         21 . A perforated web coiled on a roll and bearing target indicia formed by the method of any of  claims 17  to  19 .