Reactive target system, method and kit

Abstract

A reactive target system, method and kit. The reactive target system includes a substrate, a volumetrically variable retainer to be attached to the substrate, and a housing to receive the retainer and be attached to the substrate. The retainer may be a balloon inflatable from an unfilled or partially filled, undeployed state to a filled, deployed state. In the deployed state, the retainer exerts a retention force on the housing sufficient to hold a weight of the substrate and the retainer within the housing. Related systems, kits, methods, apparatuses, techniques and articles are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reactive target system for a substrate, the system comprising:
 a retainer configured to be attached to the substrate;   a housing configured to receive the retainer and be attached to the substrate,   wherein the retainer has a volume that varies between an undeployed state and a deployed state,   wherein in the deployed state, the retainer is configured to exert a retention force on the housing sufficient to hold a weight of at least the substrate and the retainer within the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is configured to deform or break in response to a projectile substantially impacting the retainer,
 wherein, the retainer is configured so that after the retainer deforms or breaks in response to the projectile substantially impacting the retainer, the retention force on the housing is no longer sufficient to hold the weight of the at least the substrate and the retainer within the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein only the retention force on the housing is sufficient to hold the weight of at least the substrate and the retainer within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is inflatable, wherein the undeployed state corresponds with an uninflated or partially inflated retainer, and wherein the deployed state corresponds with an inflated retainer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is a balloon. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is mounted proximate a position on a first portion of the substrate corresponding with a desired target on a second portion of the substrate different than the first portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is mounted on a position on a first side of the substrate corresponding with a desired target on a second side of the substrate directly opposite the first side. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the retainer includes at least a first retainer and a second retainer,   wherein the first retainer is mounted on a first position on a first side of the substrate corresponding with a first desired target on a second side of the substrate directly opposite the first side,   wherein the second retainer is mounted on a second position on the first side of the substrate corresponding with a second desired target on the second side of the substrate directly opposite the first side, and   wherein the first position is a spaced distance apart from the second position.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is suspended from an external support via a cord. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is suspended from an external support via an alligator clip. 
     
     
         11 . A reactive target method using a reactive target system for a substrate, the reactive target system comprising:
 a retainer configured to be attached to the substrate;   a housing configured to receive the retainer and be attached to the substrate,   wherein the retainer has a volume that varies between an undeployed state and a deployed state,   wherein in the deployed state, the retainer is configured to exert a retention force on the housing sufficient to hold a weight of at least the substrate and the retainer within the housing, and   wherein the method comprises:
 inserting the retainer in the undeployed state into a cavity within the housing; 
 inflating the retainer into the deployed state; and 
 shooting the target with a projectile until the projectile deforms or breaks the retainer. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 retrieving the housing;   inserting another retainer in the undeployed state into the cavity within the housing; and   repeating the inflating, shooting, retrieving, and inserting.   
     
     
         13 . A reactive target kit for a substrate, the kit comprising:
 a retainer configured to be attached to the substrate; and   a housing configured to receive the retainer and be attached to the substrate,   wherein the retainer has a volume that varies between an undeployed state and a deployed state,   wherein in the deployed state, the retainer is configured to exert a retention force on the housing sufficient to hold a weight of at least the target substrate and the retainer within the housing, and   wherein the housing is configured to lie substantially flat in an undeployed state.   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , comprising: a cord, a clip, and an attachment device. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the cord is a nylon cord or a parachute cord, wherein the clip is an alligator clip, and wherein the attachment device is at least one from the group consisting of double-sided tape, spray adhesive, a hook and loop fastener with an adhesive back, and a combination of the same. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a self-healing polymer or elastomer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a self-healing polymer or elastomer. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises a self-healing polymer or elastomer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to fold into a flat configuration, wherein the flat configuration is optimized to reduce shipping costs, and wherein a weight of the system is optimized to reduce shipping costs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is configured to fold into a flat configuration, wherein the flat configuration is optimized to reduce shipping costs, and wherein a weight of the system is optimized to reduce shipping costs. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is configured to fold into a flat configuration, wherein the flat configuration is optimized to reduce shipping costs, and wherein a weight of the kit is optimized to reduce shipping costs. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a shooting target. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate is a shooting target. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the substrate is a shooting target.