Collapsible shooting target stand

Abstract

Disclosed is a shooting target stand base. The shooting target stand base allows for portability by breaking down without the need for tools, while also positively retaining the assembled members to allow movement or repositioning of the stand. The construction of the stand base utilizes tab and slot interaction to locate the components in the proper position, and a retaining pin is installed at each location to retain the members. The stand base also allows for multiple configurations of the assembled members to suit specific shooting and location situations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shooting target stand comprising:
 a base comprising a first leg coupling, a second leg coupling, and an upright coupling, the upright coupling including a plurality of catches;   at least one front leg configured to releasably engage the first leg coupling;   at least one second leg configured to releasably engage the second leg coupling;   an upright including a lower support configured to engage one of the plurality of catches in the base, wherein each of the plurality of catches in the base is configured to hold the upright at a different angle relative to the base; and   at least one shooting target coupled to the upright.   
     
     
         2 . The shooting target stand of  claim 1  wherein the upright coupling is a receptacle configured to receive the lower support of the upright. 
     
     
         3 . The shooting target stand of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of catches include a plurality of slots including at least three slots arranged at different angles relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The shooting target stand of  claim 3  wherein the lower support of the upright includes a tongue configured to configured to slide into at least one of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         5 . The shooting target stand of  claim 4  wherein the at least three slots include:
 a first set of slots arranged at a forward angle, 
 a second set of slots arranged at a rearward angle, and 
 a third set of slots arranged at a neutral angle between the forward angle and the rearward angle. 
 
     
     
         6 . The shooting target stand of  claim 5  wherein the upright extends at a forward angle relative to the base when the lower support is inserted into the first set of slots, wherein the upright extends at a rearward angle relative to the base when the lower support is inserted into the second set of slots, and wherein the upright extends perpendicular to the base when the lower support is inserted into the third set of slots. 
     
     
         7 . The shooting target stand of  claim 6  wherein the base further includes a first side plate and a second side plate, wherein the first set of slots includes a first forward angle slot in the first side plate and a second forward angle slot in the second side plate, wherein the second set of slots includes a first rearward angle slot in the first side plate and a second rearward angle slot in the second side plate, and wherein the third set of slots includes a first perpendicular slot in the first side plate and a second perpendicular slot in the second side plate. 
     
     
         8 . The shooting target stand of  claim 7  wherein the first side plate further includes a first pin hole associated with the first set of slots, a second pin hole associated with the second set of slots, and a third pin hole associated with the third set of slots. 
     
     
         9 . The shooting target stand of  claim 8  further comprising a locking pin, wherein the locking pin is defined by a diameter such that the locking pin is configured to be slidably received by one of the first pin hole, the second pin hole or the third pin hole. 
     
     
         10 . The shooting target stand of  claim 9  wherein the lower support of the upright includes at least one locking plate further comprising a pin hole defined by the diameter such that the locking pin is configured to be slidably received by the pin hole of the locking plate. 
     
     
         11 . The shooting target stand of  claim 7  wherein the first side plate is parallel to the second side plate, wherein the first leg coupling includes a forward set of slots configured to receive a tongue extending from a proximal end of the first leg, and wherein the second leg coupling includes a rearward set of slots configured to receive a tongue extending from a proximal end of the second leg. 
     
     
         12 . The shooting target stand of  claim 11  wherein:
 the first side plate further includes a forward pin hole and a rearward pin hole, 
 the proximal end of the first leg includes a pin hole, 
 the proximal end of the second leg includes a pin hole, 
 a forward pin extends through the forward pin hole and the pin hole of the first leg, and 
 a rear pin extends through the rear pin hole and the pin hole of the second leg. 
 
     
     
         13 . The shooting target stand of  claim 12  wherein the forward set of slots are positioned on at least one forward plate extending between the first side plate and the second side plate, and wherein the rearward set of slots are positioned on at least one rearward plate extending between the first set of slots and the second set of slots. 
     
     
         14 . The shooting target stand of  claim 1  wherein the at least one shooting target includes a plurality of paddles, each of the plurality of paddles including a tab inserted into paddle couplings on the upright. 
     
     
         15 . A shooting target stand comprising:
 an upright with at least one target, the upright including a lower support with a tongue and at least one locking plate including a pin hole;   a base configured to releasably receive the upright, the base comprising:
 a first side plate including at least three upright slots, each of the upright slots of the first side plate configured to receive the tongue of the lower support and each of the upright slots extending along different angles on the first side plate, the first side plate further including at least three pin holes associated with each of the upright slots of the first side plate; 
 a second side plate parallel to the first side plate, the second side plate including at least three upright slots, each of the upright slots of the second side plate configured to receive the tongue of the lower support and each of the upright slots extending along different angles on the second side plate, the second side plate further including at least three pin holes associated with each of the upright slots of the second side plate; 
 a forward plate that is perpendicular to and extends between the first side plate and the second side plate; and 
 a rearward plate that is perpendicular to and extends between the first side plate and the second side plate; 
   at least one forward leg releasably coupled to the forward plate;   at least one rearward leg releasably coupled to the rearward plate; and   a pin configured to slide through (i) one of the at least three pin holes of the first side plate, (ii) one of the pin hole of the at least one locking plate, and (iii) one of the at least three pin holes of the second locking plate such that the upright is locked in place relative to the base.   
     
     
         16 . The shooting target stand of  claim 15  wherein the forward plate includes a leg coupling comprised of a plurality of slots, and wherein the rearward plate also includes a leg coupling comprised of a plurality of slots. 
     
     
         17 . The shooting target stand of  claim 16  wherein the first side plate further includes a forward pin hole in proximity of the forward plate and a rearward pin hole in proximity of the rearward plate. 
     
     
         18 . The shooting target stand of  claim 17  wherein the at least one rearward leg includes a first rearward leg and a second rearward leg wherein a single pin extends through the first rearward leg and the second rearward leg. 
     
     
         19 . The shooting target stand of  claim 15  wherein each of the pin holes of the first side plate are aligned with the associated one of the upright slots of the first side plate, and wherein each of the pin holes of the second side plate are aligned with the associated one of the upright slots of the second side plate. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a shooting target stand, the method comprising:
 coupling at least one forward leg to a base by engaging the at least one forward leg with the base such that a forward pin hole in the base is aligned with a pin hole in the forward leg and then inserting a forward leg pin through the pin hole in the base and the pin hole in the forward leg;   coupling at least one rearward leg to a base by engaging the at least one rearward leg with the base such that a rearward pin hole in the base is aligned with a pin hole in the rearward leg and then inserting a rearward leg pin through the pin hole in the base and the pin hole in the rearward leg;   selecting one of a plurality of slots on the base to receive a support of an upright, each of the plurality of slots associated with one of a plurality of support pin holes, wherein said plurality of slots include at least one forward leaning slot, a vertical slot, and a rearward leaning slot; and   coupling the upright to the base by inserting the support of the upright into the selected one of the plurality of slots in the base and then inserting an upright pin through a pin hole in the support and the one of the plurality of support pin holes associated with the selected one of the plurality of slots.