Target apparatus

Abstract

Target apparatus ( 2 ) comprising a target profile ( 4 ), a container ( 6 ) for containing a plurality of targets ( 8 ), a first receiving station ( 10 ) in the target profile ( 4 ) and for receiving the targets ( 8 ) from the container ( 6 ), a second receiving station ( 12 ) in the target profile ( 4 ) and for receiving the targets ( 8 ) from the container ( 6 ), feed means ( 14 ) for feeding the targets ( 8 ) one at a time from the container ( 6 ) to the first and second receiving stations ( 10, 12 ), and drive means ( 16 ) for causing the automatic operation of the feed means ( 14 ) each time a target ( 8 ) is hit and destroyed.

1 . Target apparatus comprising a target profile, a container for containing a plurality of targets, a first receiving station in the target profile and for receiving the targets from the container, a second receiving station in the target profile and for receiving the targets from the container, feed means for feeding the targets one at a time from the container to the first and second receiving stations, and drive means for causing the automatic operation of the feed means each time a target is hit and destroyed.  
   
   
       2 . Target apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the feed means is a sweeping arm feed means.  
   
   
       3 . Target apparatus according to  claim 2  in which the sweeping arm feed means comprises an arm which sweeps an open dispensing end of the container and causes the delivery of the targets one at a time from the container.  
   
   
       4 . Target apparatus according to  claim 3  in which the container includes biasing means for biasing the targets in the container towards the open dispensing end of the container.  
   
   
       5 . Target apparatus according to  claim 4  in which the biasing means is a spring and plate arrangement.  
   
   
       6 . Target apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the drive means is a mechanical drive means.  
   
   
       7 . Target apparatus according to  claim 6  in which the mechanical drive means is a spring powered drive means.  
   
   
       8 . Target apparatus according to  claim 7  in which the spring powered drive means includes a constant force spring.  
   
   
       9 . Target apparatus according to  claim 6  in which the mechanical drive means includes a pulley arrangement.  
   
   
       10 . Target apparatus according to  claim 9  in which the pulley arrangement comprises a drive pulley, a drive belt, a cam pulley, and a connecting rod, the connecting rod being such that it connects the cam pulley to the feed means.  
   
   
       11 . Target apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the target profile is that of a known animal, person or object.  
   
   
       12 . Target apparatus according to  claim 11  in which the target profile is that of a crow, rabbit or squirrel.  
   
   
       13 . Target apparatus according to  claim 11  in which the first receiving station is in a head part of the target profile, and in which the second station is in the body part of the target profile.  
   
   
       14 . Target apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the target profile is a non-moving target profile.  
   
   
       15 . Target apparatus to  claim 1  in which the target profile is a moving target profile.  
   
   
       16 . Target apparatus according to  claim 15  in which the moving target profile is a rocking target profile and in which the target apparatus include rocker means for causing the moving target profile to rock.  
   
   
       17 . Target apparatus according to  claim 16  in which the rocker means is an eccentric cam and spring arrangement.  
   
   
       18 . Target apparatus to  claim 1  and including a base on which the target profile stands.  
   
   
       19 . Target apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the first and the second receiving stations are apertures.  
   
   
       20 . Target apparatus according to  claim 19  and including size-reducing means for reducing the size of each one of the apertures.  
   
   
       21 . Target apparatus according to  claim 20  in which the size-reducing means is a first insert for being received in the aperture forming the first receiving means, and a second insert for being received in the aperture forming the second receiving means, and in which the first and the second inserts each has an insert aperture which is smaller than the aperture into which the insert is placed.  
   
   
       22 . Target apparatus according to  claim 1  and including the targets.