Reactive firearm target

Abstract

A reactive firearm target is provided. The reactive firearm target includes a shoot-through, ricochet-free surface, a rigid support having a first end coupled to a portion of the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface, and a hinge mechanism coupled to a second end of the rigid support, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to swing from a first position to a second position when the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface is contacted by a firearm projectile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reactive firearm target device, comprising:
 a shoot-through, ricochet-free surface;   a rigid support having a first end coupled to a portion of the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface; and   a hinge mechanism coupled to a second end of the rigid support, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to swing from a first position to a second position when the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface is contacted by a firearm projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 1 , wherein the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface is a flexible self-healing polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid support is a multi-channel reinforced stiff polymer board. 
     
     
         4 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the rigid support is rigidly coupled to the portion of the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface. 
     
     
         5 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism is a long fiber reinforced material. 
     
     
         6 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the hinge mechanism is coupled to the second end of the rigid support, and wherein a second end of the hinge mechanism is configured to be mounted to a rigid backing. 
     
     
         7 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 6 , wherein the second end of the hinge mechanism includes one or more openings for mounting the second end of the hinge mechanism to the rigid backing with one or more couplers. 
     
     
         8 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism is open when in the first position and is at least partially closed when in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The reactive firearm target device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism is at 180 degrees when in the first position and is at less than 180 degrees when in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . A firearm training system, comprising:
 at least one reactive firearm target device, each reactive firearm target device including:
 a shoot-through, ricochet-free surface, 
 a rigid support having a first end coupled to a portion of the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface, and 
 a hinge mechanism coupled to a second end of the rigid support; and 
   a rigid backing to which a second end of the hinge mechanism of each reactive firearm target device is mounted;   wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to swing from a first position to a second position when the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface is contacted by a firearm projectile.   
     
     
         11 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , wherein the rigid backing includes an opening that frames the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , wherein the firearm training system includes a plurality of reactive firearm target devices. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm training system of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid backing includes a plurality of openings that each frame the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface of a respective one of the reactive firearm target devices. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to swing in a knock-down motion. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to swing in a swing up motion. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to swing in a side swing motion. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor that:
 detects when the hinge mechanism swings from a first position to a second position, and 
 responsive to the detection, causes instant feedback to be provided to an operator of the firearm. 
   
     
     
         18 . The firearm training system of  claim 17 , wherein each sensor of the at least one sensor is one of:
 an optic switch,   a magnetic switch,   a proximity switch, or   a contacts switch.   
     
     
         19 . The firearm training system of  claim 17 , wherein the instant feedback is at least one of:
 an audible sound,   a light output,   a message output,   a vibration, or   a visual display.   
     
     
         20 . The firearm training system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a shoot back flash simulating device that is triggered to emit a simulated shoot back flash when the shoot-through, ricochet-free surface is contacted by a firearm projectile.