Target and entrapmment system

Abstract

Disclosed is a multi-section target system configured to absorb the kinetic energy of a less lethal round fired at the target to minimize or prevent ricochets. The sections of the target are connected by connectors configured to both absorb some of the kinetic energy as well as transfer some of the kinetic energy to the other sections of the target. An entrapment system may be located in front of the target that becomes entangled with the round thereby further reducing the round's kinetic energy. The entrapment system may comprise vertical fingers that engage with the round as it first passes through the entrapment fingers then as it rebounds from the target after impact.

1 . A multi-section target system comprising:
 an upper section;   a middle section;   a bottom section;   at least one flexible joint connecting the upper section to the middle section such that the middle section hangs below the upper section; and   at least one flexible joint connecting the middle section to the bottom section such that the bottom section hangs below the middle section,   wherein kinetic energy from an impact by an object is transferred from the point of impact of the object on one of the sections, through the at least one flexible joint to at least one of the other sections.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible joint is a spring, an elastic cord, a rope, a chain, a wire, a gas cylinder, or a liquid filled cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , further comprising a suspension tab configured to suspend the multi-section target and transfer some of the kinetic energy from the impact to a fixed suspension point. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-section target of  claim 3 , wherein the suspension tab further comprises at least one additional layer of a material. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , wherein the top section, the middle section, and the bottom section are constructed from at least one from the group of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, foam, or cloth. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , wherein the top section, the middle section, and the bottom section are configured to resemble a human. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate suspension device configured to couple a fixed suspension tab connected to the top section to a fixed suspension point. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible joint is configured to absorb kinetic energy imparted to the multi-section target by an object impacting the multi-section target. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-section target of  claim 1 , further comprising a design feature applied to the front of the multi-section target. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-section target of  claim 9 , wherein the design feature comprises words or symbols indicating areas of the multi-section target to aim at and to avoid aiming at. 
     
     
         11 . A target with entrapment system comprising:
 a target; and   an entrapment device disposed in front of the target, the entrapment device comprising:
 an entrapment frame; 
 a plurality of entrapment panels connected to the entrapment frame and extending in a downward direction. 
   
     
     
         12 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , wherein the entrapment device is disposed in front of the target at approximately the length of a less lethal round such that the less lethal round can pass fully through the entrapment device before impacting the target. 
     
     
         13 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , wherein the entrapment panels are configured to at least partially wrap around the less lethal round after the less lethal round rebounds from the target thereby removing at least some of the kinetic energy of the less lethal round. 
     
     
         14 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , wherein the entrapment panels are constructed from flexible plastic, cloth, leather or flexible fibrous material. 
     
     
         15 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11  wherein the entrapment panels return to their original positions after releasing the less lethal round. 
     
     
         16 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , wherein the entrapment device absorbs essentially all of the kinetic energy of an object after it passes through the entrapment device and rebounds from the target. 
     
     
         17 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 16 , wherein the entrapment panels release the object after absorbing the object's kinetic energy thereby allowing it to fall free of the entrapment device. 
     
     
         18 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , wherein the entrapment device is located at the approximate middle of the target. 
     
     
         19 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , wherein the entrapment frame is located at the approximate top of the target and the entrapment panels extend downward to at least the approximate middle of the target. 
     
     
         20 . The target and entrapment device of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more visual design features disposed on the front of the entrapment panels.