Hit-scoring apparatus and target panel for shooting practice

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hit-scoring apparatus for shooting practice. It is also directed to a hit-scoring target panel for shooting practice.

1 . A target panel comprising a pair of spaced-apart, electrically conductive first and second layers, separated by at least one electrically non-conductive layer, wherein each of the first and second conductive layers has at least two discrete conductive areas routed by respective conductive tracks to separate contact pads on a common edge of the target panel, at least one of said conductive tracks in each layer intersecting a conductive area in said layer that is routed by a different conductive track to a different contact pad in said layer and wherein the conductive tracks in each of the conductive layers are arranged such that a portion of a conductive track that intersects a contact area in the first layer does not overlap a portion of a conductive track that intersects a contact area in the second layer. 
     
     
         2 . The target panel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second layers is provided with a registration aperture for engaging respective lugs of a hit-scoring apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The target panel of  claim 1 , comprising at least one additional conductive layer intermediate the first and second layers and insulated therefrom and having contact areas connected to respective contact pads for sub-dividing contact areas in the first and second layers and providing finer resolution discrimination. 
     
     
         4 . The target panel of  claim 2 , wherein each of the conductive areas in each of the first layer and second layer are electrically insulated from each other and are each connected to a corresponding electrical contacts on a first jaw included in the hit scoring apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The target panel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second layers further comprise at least two tracks forming a pattern corresponding to critical anatomical feature connected with a corresponding contact pad, the at least two tracks pattern in the first layer overlapping the pattern in the second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The target panel of  claim 4 , wherein the hit-scoring apparatus comprises:
 a target holder having a body constituting a fixed first jaw and a movable second jaw of a clamping device, said first jaw and said second jaw being electrically insulated from one another,   a closure mechanism for imparting to said second jaw a substantially linear movement relative to the first jaw; and   the target panel of  claim 1 , capable of being clamped between said first and second jaws, wherein:   a. the first jaw supports on a rear surface thereof a plurality of first and second electrical contacts, at least one of which first electrical contacts is adapted make contact with at least one respective contact pad of the electrically conductive first layer and at least two of which second electrical contacts are adapted make contact with respective contact pad of the electrically conductive second layer through one or more respective apertures or gaps formed in the first layer;   b. each of the first electrical contacts is connectable to a source of first polarity DC voltage,   each of the second electrical contacts is connectable to a source of opposite second polarity DC voltage via a respective normally open switch that is adapted to close in response to a bullet electrically coupling the first layer and the second layer thereby applying said first polarity DC voltage to a respective switch coupled to the second electrical contact;   c. a respective first indicator is coupled to each of the first electrical contacts and is responsive to the switch closing for producing a first signal indicative of an area in the first layer hit by the bullet;   d. a respective second indicator is coupled to each switch and is responsive to the switch closing for producing a second signal indicative of an area in the second layer hit by the bullet; and   e. said hit-scoring apparatus is adapted for coupling to each of the first indicators and to each of the second indicators and is responsive to the respective first and second signals for determining an area of the target that is commonly connected to the respective first and second contacts.   
     
     
         7 . A method of discriminating among a target panel sub-areas, comprising:
 (a) Providing the hit-scoring apparatus, comprising:
 i) a target holder having a body comprised of a fixed first jaw and a movable second jaw of a clamping device, said first jaw and said second jaw being electrically insulated from one another, a closure mechanism for imparting said second jaw with a substantially linear movement relative to the first jaw; and 
 ii) a target panel comprising a pair of spaced-apart, electrically conductive first and second layers, the first layer configured to face a shooter, separated by at least one electrically non-conductive layer, wherein each of the first and second conductive layers has at least two discrete conductive areas routed by respective conductive tracks to separate contact pads on a common edge of the target panel, at least one of said conductive tracks in each layer intersecting a conductive area in said layer that is routed by a different conductive track to a different contact pad in said layer and wherein the conductive tracks in each of the conductive layers are arranged such that a portion of a conductive track that intersects a contact area in the first layer does not overlap a portion of a conductive track that intersects a contact area in the second layer wherein:
 (1) the first jaw supports a plurality of first and a plurality of second electrical contacts on a rear surface thereof, whereby each first electrical contact is adapted make contact with at least one corresponding area sub-division of the electrically conductive first layer; 
 (2) each second electrical contacts are adapted make contact with corresponding area sub-division of the electrically conductive second layer through one or more respective apertures or gaps formed in the first layer; 
 (3) each area sub-division on the electrically conductive first layer, forms a pair with a corresponding sub-division area on the electrically conductive second layer, each pair of corresponding area sub-divisions associated with a discriminator; 
 (4) each of the first electrical contacts is connectable to a source of first polarity DC voltage; 
 (5) each of the second electrical contacts is connectable to a source of opposite second polarity DC voltage via a respective normally open switch adapted to close in response to a bullet electrically coupling the first layer and the second layer of the target panel, thereby applying said first polarity DC voltage to the respective switch coupled to the second electrical contact; 
 
 iii) a respective first indicator is coupled to each of the first electrical contacts and is responsive to the switch closing for producing a first signal indicative of an area in the first layer hit by the bullet; 
 iv) a respective second indicator is coupled to each switch and is responsive to the switch closing for producing a second signal indicative of an area in the second layer hit by the bullet; and 
 v) said hit-scoring apparatus is adapted for coupling to each of the first indicators and to each of the second indicators and is responsive to the respective first and second signals for determining an area of the target that is commonly connected to the respective first and second contacts; 
   (b) using the first and the second jaws, clamping the target panel between the first and the second jaws;   (c) upon the bullet hitting any conductive area on the first layer, scanning the plurality of discriminators; and   (d) using the discriminators, determining the area sub-division on the first panel corresponding to the bullet hit.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each discriminator comprises a first timer having an input connected to the corresponding area sub-division in the electrically conductive first layer and a second timer having an input connected to the corresponding area sub-division in the electrically conductive second layer, the timers configured to produce pulses of much longer duration upon activation, the method further comprising:
 (a) scanning all discriminators; and   (b) determining the discriminator comprising the active timers.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising assigning a color to each conductive area in each of the first and second layers of the target panel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising identifying the area hit by the bullet using a matrix set forth in table 1. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing the shooter with feedback on the entry and/or exit areas in the target panel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the feedback comprises at least one of: graphically on a display device coupled to the hit scoring apparatus, and a dummy target coupled to the hit scoring apparatus, having discrete areas of the dummy target with different colored LEDs arranged to illuminate in response to a hit provide visual record. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein cumulative hit count is displayed on the display device, or on a separate dedicated counter.