Remotely manually controlled multi-axis skeet target throwing system

Abstract

A target throwing system for use in shooting sports includes a target throwing mechanism and a control system. The target throwing mechanism includes a pedestal, a thrower carriage atop the pedestal and a clay target thrower assembly atop the thrower carriage. The control system includes a remote fire control unit a control interface collocated with the target throwing mechanism. The thrower carriage provides a pitch assembly to adjust the pitch angle of the target thrower assembly and a roll assembly to adjust the roll angle target thrower assembly. Linear actuators effect the desired adjustments. The fire control unit receives manual user input, through a joystick, to independently select the pitch and roll angles of the thrower assembly and, through a push button switch, to initiate ejection of a shooting target from the thrower assembly. The fire control unit may be integrated with the control interface by wired or wireless connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A target throwing system for use in shooting sports, said target throwing system comprising:
 a target throwing mechanism, said target throwing mechanism comprising:
 a pedestal; 
 a thrower carriage dependently supported atop said pedestal, said thrower carriage comprising:
 a top portion; 
 a pitch assembly adapted to adjust the pitch angle, front to back with respect to said pedestal, of said top portion; and 
 a roll assembly adapted to adjust the roll angle, side to side with respect to said pedestal, of said top portion; and 
 
 a thrower assembly dependently supported atop said thrower carriage and being adapted to forcefully eject a shooting target therefrom; and 
   a control system, said control system comprising:
 a fire control unit adapted for use at a location remote from said target throwing mechanism, said fire control unit being operable, in response to manual user input, to independently:
 select the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; 
 select the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and 
 initiate ejection of said shooting target from said thrower assembly; and 
 
 a control interface collocated with said target throwing mechanism, said control interface being adapted to operably interconnect said fire control unit and said target throwing mechanism. 
   
     
     
         2 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said fire control unit comprises a joystick;   said joystick is adapted to receive manual user input in selection of the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and   said joystick is adapted to receive manual user input in selection of the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage.   
     
     
         3 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said pitch assembly comprises:
 a pitch frame; and   said pitch frame is rotatably attached to said roll frame.   
     
     
         4 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said roll assembly comprises:
 a roll frame; and   said roll frame is rotatably attached to said pedestal.   
     
     
         5 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said pitch assembly comprises:
 a pitch frame; and   said pitch frame is rotatably attached to said roll frame.   
     
     
         6 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said roll assembly comprises:
 a roll frame; and   said roll frame is rotatably attached to pitch frame.   
     
     
         7 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said pitch assembly comprises:
 a pitch frame; and   said pitch frame is rotatably attached to said pedestal.   
     
     
         8 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said roll assembly comprises:
 a roll frame; and   said roll frame is rotatably attached to said pitch frame.   
     
     
         9 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said thrower carriage further comprises:
 a first linear actuator dependently connected between said pitch frame and said pedestal, said first linear actuator being thereby adapted to effect the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and   a second linear actuator dependently connected between said roll frame and said pitch frame, said second linear actuator being thereby adapted to effect the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage.   
     
     
         10 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said control interface comprises a relay bank;   said relay bank is adapted to provide electrical power to said first linear actuator in response to said manual user input received by said joystick in selection of the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and   said relay bank is adapted to provide electrical power to said second linear actuator in response to said manual user input received by said joystick in selection of the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage.   
     
     
         11 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said fire control unit comprises a radio transmitter;   said control interface comprises a radio receiver; and   said radio receiver is adapted to receive signals generated by said radio transmitter indicating manual user input selecting the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage, selecting the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage and initiating ejection of said shooting target from said thrower assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said control interface comprises a relay bank;   said relay bank is adapted to provide electrical power to said first linear actuator in response to said manual user input received by said joystick in selection of the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and   said relay bank is adapted to provide electrical power to said second linear actuator in response to said manual user input received by said joystick in selection of the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage.   
     
     
         13 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said fire control unit is connected with said control interface through an electrical cable. 
     
     
         14 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said control interface comprises a relay bank;   said relay bank is adapted to provide electrical power to said first linear actuator in response to said manual user input received by said joystick in selection of the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and   said relay bank is adapted to provide electrical power to said second linear actuator in response to said manual user input received by said joystick in selection of the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage.   
     
     
         15 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said pedestal comprises a pillar upwardly extending from a substantially planar base. 
     
     
         16 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said top portion of said thrower carriage comprises a table top. 
     
     
         17 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said shooting target comprises a clay shell. 
     
     
         18 . A target throwing system for use in shooting sports, said target throwing system comprising:
 a target throwing mechanism, said target throwing mechanism comprising:
 a pedestal; 
 a thrower carriage dependently supported atop said pedestal, said thrower carriage comprising:
 a top portion adapted to dependently support a thrower assembly for forcefully ejecting shooting targets; 
 a pitch assembly adapted to adjust the pitch angle, front to back with respect to said pedestal, of said top portion; and 
 a roll assembly adapted to adjust the roll angle, side to side with respect to said pedestal, of said top portion; and 
 
   a control system, said control system comprising:
 a fire control unit adapted for use at a location remote from said target throwing mechanism, said fire control unit being operable, in response to manual user input, to independently:
 select the pitch angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; 
 select the roll angle of said top portion of said thrower carriage; and 
 initiate ejection of a shooting target from a thrower assembly dependently supported atop said top portion of said thrower carriage; and 
 
 a control interface collocated with said target throwing mechanism, said control interface being adapted to operably interconnect said fire control unit and said target throwing mechanism. 
   
     
     
         19 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said top portion of said thrower carriage comprises a table top. 
     
     
         20 . The target throwing system for use in shooting sports as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said table top comprises a plurality of prearranged holes for mounting any one of a plurality of thrower assemblies.