Target pigeon and a method of launching such a target pigeon

Abstract

The invention comprises a target pigeon of the type which is used in sport shooting such as trap shooting, and which is fired in such a manner that the propeller-shaped wings ( 10 ) of the target pigeon move it in an unpredictable trajectory. The invention moreover comprises a method of launching target pigeons. An object of the present invention is to provide a target pigeon which has a very low effective height when it is stacked. Another object is to provide a target pigeon and a method of launching the target pigeon, where it is not necessary to orient the pigeon relative to the retaining and force-transferring means on the launching machine. The novel aspects of the invention comprise interconnecting the wing part ( 4 ) and the witness part ( 6 ) structurally, and applying energy for launching via the witness part ( 6 ), thereby ensuring that the witness part ( 6 ) can impart both strength and rigidity to the target pigeon, which may be used for a saving on the wing part ( 4 ) so that the total costs are reduced When energy for launching is applied via the witness part ( 6 ) it is moreover ensured that there is no need for parts of the wing part ( 4 ) to be present around the centre of the target pigeon, but instead only parts of the witness part ( 6 ). This makes it easier to see the witness part ( 6 ) from all angles and minimizes the shade effect of the wing part ( 4 ), just as the effective height for stacking is made as low as possible.

1 . A target pigeon having a witness part ( 6 ) of the type which is used in sport shooting such as trap shooting, and which is launched in such a manner that the propeller-shaped wings ( 10 ) of the target pigeon move it in an unpredictable trajectory which extends across an area in which pellets are shot at the target pigeon, characterized in that the target pigeon comprises a wing part ( 4 ) having a substantially ring-shaped body ( 8 ), at least one of the wing part ( 4 ) and the witness part ( 6 ) comprising means for structural interconnection of the wing part ( 4 ) and the witness part ( 6 ), and that the target pigeon is intended to ensure that energy for launching is applied via the witness part ( 6 ).  
     
     
         2 . A target pigeon according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the witness part ( 6 ) comprises a substantially plane and circular disc ( 15 ), said disc comprising a central hole ( 16 ), and that launching energy is applied to the target pigeon at the hole ( 16 ).  
     
     
         3 . A target pigeon according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the rim of the hole ( 16 ) comprises a toothing.  
     
     
         4 . A target pigeon according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the witness part ( 6 ) comprises at least one hole which is offset from the centre.  
     
     
         5 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  14 , characterized in that the witness part ( 6 ) comprises at least one face which is angled relative to the disc.  
     
     
         6 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  15 , characterized in that the target pigeon is supplied as an assembled unit consisting of wing part ( 4 ) and witness part ( 6 ).  
     
     
         7 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  16 , characterized in that the witness part ( 6 ) is separated from the wing part ( 4 ) when the target pigeon is hit by pellets from a shot.  
     
     
         8 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  1 - 7 , characterized in that the witness part ( 6 ) is embedded in the wing part ( 4 ).  
     
     
         9 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  1 - 8 , characterized in that the effective height at stacking of the target pigeon is less than 10 mm, and is less than 5 mm in a preferred embodiment.  
     
     
         10 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  1 - 9 , characterized in that the witness part ( 6 ) and/or the wing part ( 4 ) is made of a biologically degradable material.  
     
     
         11 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  1 - 10 , characterized in that the wing part ( 4 ) is made of a material that comes to pieces when hit by shotcartridges.  
     
     
         12 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  1 - 11 , characterized in that the target pigeon is launched by an automatic launching machine, said launching machine comprising a magazine for a suitably large number of target pigeons.  
     
     
         13 . A target pigeon according to one or more of claims  1 - 12 , characterized in that the target pigeons are supplied in a transportable magazine which is suitable for being positioned in a launching machine.  
     
     
         14 . A method of launching a target pigeon of the type which is used in sport shooting such as trap shooting, and which is fired in such a manner that the propeller-shaped wings ( 10 ) of the target pigeon move it in an unpredictable trajectory which extends across an area where pellets are fired at the target pigeon, characterized in that the target pigeon comprises at least a wing part ( 4 ) and a witness part ( 6 ) which are structurally interconnected, and that the energy for launching the target pigeon is applied via the witness part ( 6 ).  
     
     
         15 . A method of launching a target pigeon according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the energy for launching the target pigeon is applied via a central hole placed in the witness part ( 6 ).  
     
     
         16 . A method of launching a target pigeon according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the energy for launching the target pigeon is applied via at least one hole which is offset from the centre.