Target suspension apparatus for firearms

Abstract

An improved target and suspension for extending target life and stability. Aspects of the present invention provide an attachment point behind the target where the attachment point is protected from bullet strikes. In other aspects of the invention, the target suspension apparatus orients a suspended target at an angle such that a projectile striking the target is at least partially deflected towards the ground and so that the target does not absorb the full force of the projectile when hitting the target. The target suspension is also adapted to retain targets of varying thicknesses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A target suspension apparatus, comprising:
 a support arm having a top end, a bottom end, a front edge, and an aft edge;   a mounting pin protrudes rearwardly from the aft edge at an upwardly inclined angle, the mounting pin is dimensioned to be received in an aperture of a target;   a cam finger extends from the aft edge and extends beyond an aft extent of the mounting pin; and   a cam is adjustably attached to the cam finger, the cam has a plurality of faces disposed at a predetermined radial distance from a cam attachment to the cam finger such that a selected one of the plurality of faces urges the target against the support arm to orient the target at a declined angle.   
     
     
         2 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an aperture defined through the top end of the support arm, the aperture dimensioned to be received on a frame element to carry the target suspension apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the aperture is disposed transversely across the support arm. 
     
     
         4 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the aperture is rearwardly offset from a vertical centerline of the support arm. 
     
     
         5 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 4 , further wherein the mounting pin is rearwardly offset from a vertical centerline of the support arm. 
     
     
         6 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sizing notch defined in one or more of the plurality of faces, the sizing notch having a width corresponding to a thickness of a selected target.   
     
     
         7 . A target suspension apparatus, comprising:
 a support arm having a front end, a back end, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   a mounting pin protrudes downwardly from a bottom edge and rearwardly from the front end, a rearward facing edge of the support arm adjacent to the mounting pin is inclined relative to a vertical axis of the support arm, the mounting pin is dimensioned to be received in an aperture of a target;   a cam finger extends from the bottom edge and extends beyond an aft extent of the mounting pin; and   a cam is adjustably attached to the cam finger, a plurality of faces disposed at a predetermined radial distance from a cam attachment to the cam finger, such that a selected one of the plurality of faces urges the target against the rearward facing edge to orient the target at a declined angle, when mounted to the support arm.   
     
     
         8 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a mounting notch at a back end of the support arm, the mounting notch dimensioned to be received on a to end of a T-shaped post;   a retaining plate attached on each side of the support arm at the mounting notch; and   a slot defined in the retaining plate dimensioned to correspond with a thickness of a top leg of the T-shaped post.   
     
     
         9 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a sizing notch defined in one or more of the plurality of faces, the sizing notch having a width corresponding to a thickness of a selected target.   
     
     
         10 . The target suspension apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting pin is oriented upwardly from a longitudinal centerline of the support arm.