Target mounting system and method of use

Abstract

A target mounting system that includes a target having opposing tangs arranged near a bottom of the target. A cylindrical pivot disk is mounted on each tang. The pivot disk/tang combinations are arranged in the recesses of the pivot disk retaining portions of opposing pivot disk bracket assemblies that are mounted on a target channel of a target system, thereby mounting the target on said target channel. When the target is mounted on the target channel between the first pivot disk bracket assembly and second pivot disk bracket assembly, the target is rotatable between a target ready position and a target down position.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A target mounting system, comprising:
 a target having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side;   a tang extending outwardly from the first side near the bottom;   a cylindrical pivot disk defining a tang receiver shaped and arranged for receiving the tang; and   a pivot disk bracket assembly having a pivot disk retaining portion and a securing portion for mounting the pivot disk bracket assembly to a target channel, the pivot disk retaining portion having a cylindrical recess arranged for receiving the cylindrical pivot disk such that the pivot disk is rotatable within the cylindrical recess;   wherein, when the tang is arranged in the pivot disk tang receiver and the pivot disk is arranged in the cylindrical recess, the tang and pivot disk are rotatable within the cylindrical recess.   
     
     
         2 . The target mounting system of  claim 1  further comprising;
 a second tang extending outwardly from the second side of the target near the bottom, the second tang arranged opposite the tang; 
 a second cylindrical pivot disk defining a tang receiver shaped and arranged for receiving the second tang; and 
 a second pivot disk bracket assembly having a pivot disk retaining portion and a securing portion for mounting the second pivot disk bracket assembly to the target channel, the pivot disk retaining portion having a cylindrical recess arranged for receiving the second cylindrical pivot disk such that the pivot disk is rotatable within the cylindrical recess; 
 wherein, when the second tang is arranged in the second pivot disk tang receiver, the second cylindrical pivot disk is arranged in the cylindrical recess of the second pivot disk bracket assembly and the target front is in a vertical position, the target will rotate when the front is impacted by a bullet. 
 
     
     
         3 . The target mounting system of  claim 1  wherein the tang is rectangular shaped and the tang receptacle has a complementary shape that surrounds the tang. 
     
     
         4 . The target mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot disk retaining recess comprises a closed back. 
     
     
         5 . The target mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot disk bracket assembly further comprises a shield attached to the pivot disk retaining portion, the shield comprising a closed back for the pivot disk retaining recess. 
     
     
         6 . The target mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot disk retaining portion is arranged generally perpendicular to the target channel when the securing portion is attached to the target channel. 
     
     
         7 . A target mounting system, comprising:
 a target having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side;   a first tang extending outwardly from the first side near the bottom;   a second tang extending outwardly from the second side near the bottom, the second tang arranged opposite the first tang;   a first cylindrical pivot disk defining a tang receiver shaped and arranged for receiving the first tang;   a second cylindrical pivot disk defining a tang receiver shaped and arranged for receiving the second tang;   a first pivot disk bracket assembly having a pivot disk retaining portion and a securing portion for mounting the first pivot disk bracket assembly to a target channel, the pivot disk retaining portion having a cylindrical recess arranged for receiving the first cylindrical pivot disk such that the first pivot disk is rotatable within the cylindrical recess;   a second pivot disk bracket assembly having a pivot disk retaining portion and a securing portion for mounting the second pivot disk bracket assembly to the target channel, the pivot disk retaining portion having a cylindrical recess arranged for receiving the second cylindrical pivot disk such that the second pivot disk is rotatable within the cylindrical recess;   wherein, when the first and second tangs are arranged in their respective pivot disk tang receivers and the first and second cylindrical pivot disks are arranged in the respective cylindrical recesses of the first and second pivot disk bracket assemblies, and the first and second pivot disk bracket assemblies are secured to the target channel, the target is mounted on the target channel and will rotate when the front is impacted by a bullet.   
     
     
         8 . The target mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein when the target is mounted on the target channel in a target ready position and is struck by a ballistic round, the target will freely rotate to a target down position, said target being rotatable back to the target ready position. 
     
     
         9 . The target mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein each cylindrical recess includes a closed back. 
     
     
         10 . The target mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second tangs are rectangular shaped and the first and second pivot disk tang receivers have a complementary shape, the first and second tang receivers constructed to surround the respective first and second tangs. 
     
     
         11 . The target mounting system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a shaft arranged below the target channel;   a target bar assembly attached to the shaft, the target bar assembly mounted to the target channel; and   a reset arm extending from the shaft;   wherein when the target is in the target down position, the reset arm may be used to rotate the target to the target ready position.   
     
     
         12 . A method of using a target mounting system, the steps comprising:
 providing a target mounting system comprising a target having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side; a tang extending outwardly from the first side near the bottom;   a pivot disk defining a tang receiver shaped and arranged for receiving the tang; and a pivot disk bracket assembly having a pivot disk retaining portion and a securing portion for mounting the pivot disk bracket assembly to a target channel, the pivot disk retaining portion having a recess arranged for receiving the pivot disk such that the pivot disk is rotatable within the recess;   arranging the target mounting system for a target practice session;   arranging the target to a target ready position;   striking the front of the target with a ballistic round causing the target to move to a target down position; and   rotating the target from the target down position to the target ready position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the target mounting system further comprises a second tang extending outwardly from the second side of the target near the bottom, the second tang arranged opposite the tang, a second pivot disk defining a second tang receiver shaped and arranged for receiving the second tang, and a second pivot disk bracket assembly having a second pivot disk retaining portion and a second securing portion for mounting the second pivot disk bracket assembly to the target channel, the second pivot disk retaining portion having a second recess arranged for receiving the second pivot disk such that the second pivot disk is rotatable within the second recess. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the first pivot disk bracket assembly from the target channel: 
 separating the target from the removed first pivot disk bracket assembly and from the second pivot disk bracket assembly that is still mounted on the target channel; 
 disengaging any pivot disks still connected to the target tangs; 
 attaching the pivot disks on a first and second tang of a new target; 
 inserting one of the new target tangs with its attached pivot disk into the cylindrical recess of the second pivot disk retaining portion of the second pivot disk bracket assembly that is still mounted on the target channel; 
 sliding the removed first pivot disk bracket assembly first pivot disk retaining portion cylindrical recess onto the first tang of the new target; 
 mounting the first pivot disk bracket assembly onto the target channel such that the new target is secured between the first pivot disk bracket assembly and the second pivot disk bracket assembly and the new target is rotatable between the target ready position and the target down position.