Laser target practice system, method and apparatus

Abstract

Laser target practice using an ultra-violet light emitting laser that is pulsed on when a weapon trigger is pulled. The UV laser light pulse illuminates a spot on a target having a coating of phosphorescent material on a face thereof. The phosphorescent material within the illuminated spot glows for a certain time thereby visually indicating a location of the spot on the target. The UV laser light pulse may also illuminate a spot on a target having a photochromic paint coatings on a face thereof. The photochromic paint coatings within the illuminated spot changes color thereby indicating a location of the spot on the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for weapon target practice using an ultra-violet (UV) light fire training laser and a target having a coating of phosphorescent material on a face thereof, said system comprising:
 a weapon;   an UV training laser adapted to fit into a barrel of the weapon, wherein the UV training laser emits an ultra-violet light pulse when the weapon trigger is pulled causing a hammer to thereby drop; and   a target comprising a substrate and a coating of phosphorescent material on a face thereof, wherein the ultra-violet light pulse illuminates a spot on the face of the substrate and the phosphorescent material within the spot will visibly glow for a time period longer than the ultra-violet light pulse, thereby indicating a location of the spot on the face of the target substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of different colored light emitting phosphorescent materials coated on the face of the target at different locations thereof, wherein the coated plurality of different colored light emitting phosphorescent materials represent different distances from a center of the target. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of concentric rings of different colored light emitting phosphorescent materials coated on the face of the target, wherein the coated plurality of concentric rings of different colored light emitting phosphorescent materials represent different distances from a center of the target. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a printed pattern on the phosphorescent material coating. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the printed pattern is a bull's eye with concentric rings therearound. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the time persistence of the UV laser light illuminated spot on the phosphorescent material is from about two seconds to about one minute. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UV laser light is at a wavelength of from about 100 nanometers to about 400 nanometers. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UV laser light is at a wavelength of from about 360 nanometers to about 480 nanometers. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UV laser light is at a wavelength of about 405 nanometers. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UV training laser is actuated by a sound of the dropped hammer. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UV training laser is actuated by a mechanical force from a firing pin moved by the dropped hammer. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is paper. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the weapon is selected from the group consisting of a rifle and a shotgun. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the weapon is selected from the group consisting of a pistol and a revolver. 
     
     
         15 . A system for weapon target practice using an ultra-violet (UV) light fire training laser and a photochromic paint coated target, said system comprising:
 a weapon;   an UV training laser adapted to fit into a barrel of the weapon, wherein the UV training laser emits an ultra-violet light pulse when the weapon trigger is pulled causing a hammer to thereby drop; and   a target comprising a substrate and a photochromic paint coating on a face thereof, wherein the ultra-violet light pulse illuminates a spot on the face of the target and the photochromic paint within the spot changes color, thereby indicating a location of the spot on the face of the target.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the color change within the spot is permanent. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the color change within the spot is temporary. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of different color pigment photochromic paints coated on the face of the target, wherein the coated plurality of different color pigment photochromic paints represent different distances from a center of the target. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of concentric rings of different color pigment photochromic paints coated on the face of the target, wherein the plurality of concentric rings of different color pigment photochromic paint coatings represent different distances from a center of the target. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a printed pattern on the photochromic paint coating. 
     
     
         21 . A method for target practice with a weapon using an ultra-violet (UV) light fire training laser and a target having a coating of phosphorescent on a face thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a weapon;   providing a target comprising a substrate and a phosphorescent material coating on a face thereof;   pulsing on a UV light emitting laser when the weapon trigger is pulled;   illuminating a spot on the face of the target with a UV light pulse from the UV laser; and   indicating a location of the spot on the face of the target when the phosphorescent material within the spot visibly glows for a time period longer than the ultra-violet light pulse.   
     
     
         22 . A method for target practice with a weapon using an ultra-violet (UV) light fire training laser and a photochromic paint coated target, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a weapon;   providing a target comprising a substrate and a photochromic paint coated on a face thereof;   pulsing on a UV light emitting laser when the weapon trigger is pulled;   illuminating a spot on the face of the target with a UV light pulse from the UV laser; and   indicating a location of the spot on the face of the target when the photochromic paint within the spot changes color.   
     
     
         23 . An ultra-violet (UV) light training laser target, comprising:
 a substrate;   a light emitting phosphorescent material coated on a face of the substrate; and   a printed target pattern on the phosphorescent material coating, wherein when an ultra-violet light pulse illuminates a spot on the phosphorescent material coating the spot will visibly glow for a time period longer than the ultra-violet light pulse, thereby indicating a location of the spot on the phosphorescent material coating.   
     
     
         24 . The UV light training laser target according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of different colored light emitting phosphorescent materials coated on the face of the substrate at different locations thereof, wherein the coated plurality of different colored light emitting phosphorescent materials represent different distances from a center of the printed pattern. 
     
     
         25 . An ultra-violet (UV) light training laser target, comprising:
 a substrate;   a photochromic paint coated on a face of the substrate; and   a printed pattern on the photochromic paint coating, wherein when an ultra-violet light pulse illuminates a spot on the photochromic paint the spot changes color, thereby indicating a location of the spot on the face of the target substrate.   
     
     
         26 . The UV light training laser target according to  claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of different color pigment photochromic paints coated on the face of the substrate at different locations thereof, wherein the coated plurality of different color pigment photochromic paints represent different distances from a center of the printed pattern.