US3499651A - Target with automatically terminating visual indicator - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1970 J. w. HUBBARD TARGET WITH AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATING, VISUAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2a. 1967 l/VVENTOR JOSEPH W HUBBARD 5y March 10, 1970 J. w. HUBBARD 3,499,651

TARGET WITH AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATiNG, VISUAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filer; Feb. 23, 19s? Qlb a0 Jose/w W HUBBARD 5Y9,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,499,651 TARGET WITH AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATIN G VISUAL INDICATOR Joseph W. Hubbard, Los Angeles, Calif. (26573 Basswood, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif. 90274) Filed Feb. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 617,972

The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Sept. 30, 1986, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. A63b 63/00 US. Cl. 273-1022 6 Claims ABSTRACT OE THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed herein an improved toy target arrangement having an indicating circuit operating .On low voltage, such as that supplied by small batteries. The indicating circuit provides a selective indication by means of a visual signal depending upon the portion of the toy target that is struck by a projectile. The visual signal persists for a predetermined time period and then is automatically extinguished. Upon extinguishment, the circuit is automatically reset so that it will be activated again to provide another visual signal upon the next impingement of a projectile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This invention is an improvement on my patent application, Ser. No. 479,409, filed Aug. 13, 1965.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a toy target arrangement and more particularly to a combined target and indicating structure that provides a visual indication of hits on the target when the target is struck by a projectile.

Description of the prior art Target arrangements, and more particularly indicating target arrangements that provide a positive indication of a hit on a target, are often desirable for recording hits by many different types of projectiles. While many complicated and expensive target systems have been devised, particularly for bullets and the like, there has long been a need in the toy industry for a target that would provide a positive indication of a hit from such diverse objects as BBs, projectiles from air guns, darts, and the like. 1

Since such projectiles may not be electrically conductive, the target arrangements must provide a positive and reliable indication of the hit without requiring utilization of any electrically conductive properties of the projectile. Further, it is deirable that the indication of a hit not only be provided reliably upon each hit, but that the indicating portion of the target arrangement must be capable of distinguishing and providing a proper indicating signal depending upon which portion of the target has been struck by the projectile. That is, desirably, the indicating system provides a means for selectively scoring hits depending upon the area of the target that is struck by the projec tile.

In toy target applications particularly, it is desirable that the indicating means operate at a location remote from the position occupied by, for example, the person firing the projectile, and, preferably, the indicating means should be on or adjacent to the target. Further, the visual indication provided should, preferably, operate automatically for a predetermined time period and then be extinguished in order that a subsequent strike by the projectile on the same target area may be indicated.

Target arrangements utilized in the past have not ice always been able to achieve the above desiderata. More particularly, some of the prior art target systems have provided an electrically operated indicating system that depended upon the projectile itself establishing electrical continuity between two electrodes to provide a completed circuit for an indicating arrangement. Since, as noted above, the projectiles may not always be electrically conductive, such arrangements are completely useless when the projectile is not electrically conductive and'further, such arrangements do not often provide completely reliable indication of hits due to the comparatively unknown surface condition of even electrically. conductive projectiles when impacting upon the target. This was true for both the types of targets wherein the projectile passed completely through as well as thosewhere they impacted and recoiled. When target arrangements are utilized for BBs, air guns, darts, or the like, it must be remembered that basically such projectiles are comparatively low velocity and the target system must be designed to satisfactorily function and provide hit indications with such low velocity projectiles.

Other prior target systems which did not require utilization of an electrically conductive projectile often required that the projectile pass completely through the target to insure contact between two flexible penetrable electrodes that have been penetrated completely by the projectile. Such target arrangements have often proved inaccurate and/or unreliable in providing hit' indication, since the projectile often removed portions of one of the electrodes as it passed through the target and'thereby did not allow contact between the two electrodes to provide hit indication. Such target systems requiring penetration therethrough by the projectile are, of course, generally not adaptable to darts or the like and are generally unacceptable from a safety standpoint for BB guns, air guns, or similar such arrangements. In such toy arrangements for indicating hits by projectiles from BB guns, air guns, darts or the like, it is desirable, of course, that the projectile impact upon the target structure, but not pass completely through, in order that the spent BB and/or pellet from an air gun remain in the target area after impacting upon the target. Darts, of course, never pass through the target, but only impact upon the target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved toy target arrangement.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved toy target arrangement that includes a hit indicating portion.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy target arrangement including a hit indicating portion that provides reliable hit indication when utilized with comparatively low velocity projectiles that do not penetrate completely through the target arrangement.

It is yet another object of applicants invention to provide a hit indicating toy target arrangement that provides reliable hit indication independently of the electrical conductivity properties of the projectile.

It is a still further object of applicants invention herein to provide a toy target arrangement including a hit indicating portion wherein the hit indicating portion provides a visual indication of the particular portion of the target impacted by the projectile.

The above and other objects are achieved, according to one embodiment of applicants invention, by providing in a target structure a first electrode comprising a comparatively thin electrically conductive substantially rigid plate-like sheet that is adapted to remain intact after impact by preselected projectiles. The preselected projectiles, of course, may be any desired type of projectile, but applicants invention herein has particular application to such projectiles as BBs, pellets from air guns, darts, or the like, which are generally of a comparatively low velocity nature. The first electrode is bonded to a rigid substrate to provide structural integrity to the first electrode. The first electrode may, if desired, be divided into a plurality of discrete segments, corresponding to any preselected array such as the common bulls eye target array, and each of the segments are electrically insulated from each other.

A second electrode is spaced a predetermined distance away from the first electrode and the second electrode comprises at least one electrically conductive layer, such as metallic foil or the like, that is adapted to be penetrated by the preselected projectiles impacting on the target. A dielectric layer which, for example, may be Mylar, or similar such substances, and having a predetermined resiliency, is intermediate the first electrode and the second electrode to provide electrical insulation therebetween. The dielectric layer is also adapted to be penetrated by the projectile upon impact thereon. The second electrode may, in certain embodiments of applicants invention, be considered as including the dielectric layer in intimate contact with the electrically conductive layer of the second electrode.

In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, applicant includes an energy absorbing layer in front of the second electrode so that the second electrode is between the dielectric layer and the energy absorbing layer. The outer face of the energy absorbing layer has a target diagram imprinted thereon. In the embodiment of applicants invention wherein the first electrode is divided into a plurality of discrete segments electrically insulated from each other, the target diagram, of course, corresponds to the pattern of the segments of the first electrode.

The energy absorbing layer may include an energy absorbing substance between the surface having the target diagram thereon and the second electrode. Such energy absorbing substance may, if desired, be cork, glass fibre, cardboard, or the like. The energy absorbing layer is desired by applicant where the target will be operated at comparatively close distances to the point where the projectiles originate such as the firing line where BB guns or air rifles are utilized, or the starting line where darts are utilized.

It will be appreciated that the energy absorbing layer may or may not be utilized in any particular application of applicants invention herein as may be desired from considerations of safety, convenience, or the like.

An indicating means is provided and the indicating means is electrically operated and connected between the first electrode and the second electrode. The indicating means includes a visual indicator, such as a blink lamp.

Means are provided to supply a voltage across the lamp. When a projectile impacts upon the target it penetrates through the energy absorbing layer, if present, through the second electrode including penetration completely through the dielectric layer and impacts against the first electrode. In the penetration through the electrically conductive layer of the second electrode, the electrically conductive layer is bent inwardly in the direction of flight of the projectile through the hole formed in the dielectric layer and contacts the first electrode. This contact between the electrically conductive layer of the second electrode with the first electrode acts as a momentary switch to impress a trigger voltage to the trigger terminal of a silicon controlled rectifier to provide a voltage across the lamp so that the lamp goes on to provide the visual signal. However, as the projectile recoils from the first electrode, since the projectile does not penetrate through the first electrode, the contact between the electrically conductive layer of the second electrode with the first electrode is usually broken. The preselected resiliency of the dielectric layer that is utilized aids in breaking the contact, since in the preferred embodiment of applicants invention the resiliency of the dielectric layer causes it to be self-sealing and therefore terminates contact between the first electrode and the electrically conductive layer of the second electrode after recoil of the projectile. However, because the silicon controlled rectifier continues to conduct once it has been triggered, the lamp will remain lit providing an indication of hit, even though contact between the second electrode and the first electrode is broken. After a predetermined time period, the lamp blinks off removing the voltage from the circuit and returning the silicon controlled rectifier to the nonconductive state, the lamp remains de-energized until the next hit.

Where a plurality of segments are utilized in the first electrode, a plurality of lamps are utilized with appropriate connections to each individual segment so that one lamp is lit when contact is made with the corresponding segment to which the lamp is connected.

The above and other embodiments of applicants invention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through one embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a projectile impacting on applicants improved target arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry associated with one embodiment of the hit indicating circuit of applicants invention herein;

FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of another hit indicating circuit; and

FIGURE 8 illustrates a blink lamp useful in the practice of applicants invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the above-mentioned patent application, there is described an improved toy target arrangement. As described therein and as shown in FIGURE 1, there is a target, generally designated 10, having a first electrically conductive electrode 12. The first electrode 12 is bonded or otherwise attached to a back-up sheet 14. The back-up sheet 14 may be wood or any other desirable substance to provide rigidity to the first electrode 12. If desired, the first electrode 12 may be comprised of a plurality of segments 16, 18, 20 and 22, and each of the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 are electrically insulated from each other. As shown on FIGURE 2, the first electrode 12 is divided into the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 to provide the standard bulls eye target arrangement. It will be appreciated that any other preselected array of the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be utilized, theonly requirement being that each of the segments so that indication of hit upon a particular segment may, as described below, be uniquely provided.

When the back-up sheet 14 is wood or some similar dielectric substance,'then no dielectric space between the first electrode 12 and the back-up sheet 14 is required. However, if the back-up sheet 14 were to be made of an electrically conductive substance, then an intermediate dielectric layer between the first electrode 12 and the back-up sheet 14 would be required.

If desired, dielectric rings may be placed in the spacesbetween the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22, comprising the first electrode 12, butapplicant has found that such dielectric spacers are generally not required in the preferred embodiment of applicants invention.

In such a preferred embodiment, the first electrode 12 may be electrically conductive metallic sheet on the order of 0.050 to 0.075 inch thick and may be bonded directly to the back-up sheet 14. Then the grooves separating the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 extend through the first electrode 12 down to the back-up sheet 14 to provide electrical insulation between the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22.

A comparatively thin dielectric layer 25 having a preselected degree of resiliency is positioned intermediate the first electrode 12 and a first electrically conductive, comparatively thin layer 26. A second comparatively thin electrically conductive layer 28 is separated from the first electrically conductive layer 26 by a resilient layer 30. The resilient layer 30 may be the same material as the dielectric layer 24 or, ifdesired, they maybe fabricated from different materials. There is no absolute requirement that the resilient layer 30 also be adielectric in nature. However, of course, it is absolutely necessary that the dielectric layer 24 be a good dielectric to provide selective electrical insulation between the first electrically conductive layer '26 and the first electrode 12.

The dielectric layer 24, because of its resiliency, acts in a self-sealing manner to allow substantially only momentary contact between the first electrode 12 and the electrically conductive layers 26 and/or 28 of the second electrode. Similarly, in those embodiments of applicants invention wherein the dielectric layer 30. is utilized between two electrically conductive layers such as layers 26 and 28, in the second electrode, the dielectric layer-30 not only provides a structural integrity to the second electrode 32, but also the predetermined resiliency thereof also provides a self-sealing action to help insure that only momentary contact is made. It will be appreciated, of course, thatin applicants invention described herein, only momentary electrical contact between the first electrode 12 and the electrically conducting layers of the second electrode 32 is desired so that repetitive scoring, as described below, may be accomplished.

The layers 26, 28 and 30 may be considered to com:

prise a second electrode, generally designated 32, and while the dielectric layer 24 may, in some embodiments of applicants invention, be supplied as part of. the sec: ond electrode 32, it will be appreciated that the basic requirement is that the second electrode 32 have at least one layer of electrically conductive material and that the dielectric layer- 24 provide the/selective insulation between the second electrode 32 and the'first electrode 12.

As shown on FIGURE 3, a first electrode 32 may comprise .onlya single electrically conductive layer 26' adjacent the dielectric layer 24. That is,-in the embodiment shown on FIGURE 3, the second electrode 32' is only comprised of the single layer of electrically conductive material 26. It will beappreciated that whether a single layer of electrically conductive material, such as shown on FIGURE 3, or a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material, such as shown in the second electrode 32 on FIGURE 1, .or even if more than! upon the surface 40 may correspondto the conventional bulls eye type of target.

A first surface 42 of the energy absorbing layer 34 is adjacent to and preferably in intimate contact with the electrically conductive layer 28. In some embodiments of applicants invention, on the layers 24, 26, 28 ar'1d30 may be bonded or otherwise attached to the first surface 42 of the energy absorbing layer 34 and this entire assembly may be placed in front of the first electrode 12 to complete the target structure. Then, as the assembly.

comprising the energy absorbing layer 34 and the layers 24,26, 28 and 30 is repeatedly punctured by projectiles impacting thereon and traveling therethrough, when the utility of the assembly has been substantially impaired, the entire assembly may be conveniently, economically and easily replaced with another.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the dielectric layer 24 may be provided separately from the layers 26, 28 and 30 comprising the second electrode 32 and the dielectric layer 24 may be provided directly on the first electrode 12 rather than as part of the assembly with the energy absorbing layer 34 as described above. Depending upon the number of layers intermediate the first surface 42 of the energy absorbing layer 34 and the first electrode 12, it will be appreciated that there are virtually an infinite number of combinations of dielectric layers and electrically conductive layers in the first electrode and their relative placement on one orv the other of the structures or completely independent therefrom. That is, the second electrode 32 together with the dielectric layer 24 may be supplied independently of the energy absorbing layer 34 andthe first electrode 12. Such an arrangement is discussed below in connection with the description of FIGURE 6.

When a projectile 44 impacts upon the target structure 10, the projectile 44 penetrates through the. outer layer 38 and the energy absorbing substance 36 of the energy absorbing layer 34 and loses some of its kinetic energy in traversing therethrough. Similarly, the projectile 44 penetrates completely through the electrically conductive layer 28, the resilient layer 30, the electrically conductive layer 26, and the dielectric layer 24 to impact against the first electrode 12. It Will be appreciated that the scale of the layers ,of the structure comprising the target 10 shown herein has been exaggerated for clarity. Actually, the layers 24, 26, 28 and 30 are comparatively thin, on the order of 0.001 to 0.007 inch thick.

FIGURE 4 illustratesthe moment of impact of the projectile 44 against the first electrode. As shown on FIG- URE 4, the projectile 44 has penetrated through the outer.

layer 38 and energy absorbing material36 of the energy absorbing layer 34 and has ruptured the layers 24, 26, 28 and 30. However, before the projectile 44 recoils from the first electrode 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow 46, there is contact made between the electrically conductive layer 28 and, in some impacts, also between the electrically conductive layer 26, and the first electrode 12*and/orthe layer 28. The dielectric layer 24 has been ruptured by the projectile 44 and because of the-resiliency thereof has actually tended to pull away from the impact area to allow the contact between the electrically conductive layers 26 :and/or 28 with the first electrode 12.

Whenthe projectile44 recoils from the first electrode- 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow 46, the resiliency ofthe dielectric layer 24 and resilient layer 30 be-- causeof the self-sealing action, tendsto remove the electrically conductive layers26 and 28 from-contact with the first electrode .12 so that at;the time of impact there is;

only a momentary contact between. the electrically conductive layers 26 and 28 with the first electrode 12.;After the recoil the electrically conductive layers 26 and 28 are no longer in contact withthe first electrode 12. Because of the nature of the energy absorbing layer 34.and more particularly the energy absorbing substance 36, the projectile 44 generally does not re-emerge from the target above description is believed byapplicantto be substan-.

tially correct, although it will be appreciated that the exact mechanism for contact between at least one of the electrically conductive layers 26 and 28 with the first electrode 12 will vary depending upon the type of projectile 44, the velocity and kinetic energy thereof, as well as the exact composition of the various components defining the structure 10.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, a lead 48 is provided to the segment 22, a lead 50 is provided to the segment 20', a lead 52 is provided to the segment 18, and a lead 56 is provided to the segment 16. Similarly, a lead 58 is connected to a contact means 60 that is fastened to the backup sheet 14 and contacts the first electrically conductive layer 26 and the second electrically conductive layer 28. The connecting means 60 is insulated, for example, by insulator cap 62 from the first electrode 12 and more particularly the segment 16 thereof.

The above structure comprising a preferred form of the toy target as described in the above-mentioned patent application, Ser. No. 479,409, may uniquely be utilized with the improved low voltage automatically operating hit indicating circuitry of this invention.

FIGURE illustrates in schematic form the hit indicating circuitry for providing a visual indication of the hit of the projectile on the target. As shown on FIGURE 5, there are a plurality of visual indicators 72, such as 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d, provided and the number of visual indicators 72 corresponds to the number of individual segments in the first electrode 12. In this embodiment of applicants invention, the indicating means 72 are blink lamps of the type that are adapted to become illuminated upon application of a predetermined voltage thereacross and to remain illuminated for a given period of time after which they blink off. Such lamps may be of the type manufactured, for example, by General Electric Company, No. .GE405 and is commonly utilized in various applications heretofore.

' A low voltage source, such as a battery 74 has one terminal connected to a first terminal 76 on each of the lamps 72. As described below in greater detail, a first predetermined voltage is thus selectively applied across the lamps 72 to energize the lamps 72 to provide a visual signal.

A plurality of control means 78, such as 78a, 78b, 78c and 78d, which, for example, may be silicon controlled rectifiers are provided in one-to-one relationship with the plurality of indicating means 72 and each of the silicon controlled rectifiers has a cathode terminal 80, anode terminal 82 and a trigger terminal 84. The silicon controlled rectifiers 82 are of a well known design and function in a well known manner. For clarity, the fuction of the silicon controlled rectifiers is to provide conduction between the cathode terminal 80 and anodeterminal 82 only when a predetermined voltage is applied to the trigger terminal 84. That is, the voltage applied between the cathode terminal 80 and the anode terminal 82 is generally greaterthan that applied to the trigger terminal 84 and is controlled thereby. The application of the voltage'to the trigger terminal 84 need only be momentary to start conduction of the silicon controlled rectifier between the cathode terminal 80 and the anode terminal 82. Such conduction continues until there is an interruption in this circuit.

Thus,-the second terminal of the battery 74 is connected to the cathode terminals 80 of the silicon controlled rectifiers 78, thus providing a voltage potential across each of the indicating means 72 for the condition of the silicon controlled rectifiers 78 conducting. The resistors, 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d, provide a discharge path for charge build-up on the trigger terminal.

For the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1, Where there are four separate segments, 16,18, 20 and 22, comprising the first electrode 12, there are the four separate leads 54, 52, 50 and 48, respectively, therefrom. Each of these leads are connected, respectively, to one ofthe trigger 8 terminals 84 on the silicon controlled rectifiers 78a, 78b, 78c, and 78d.

Since the first electrode 12 is not in contact with the second electrode 32 except for the condition of an impinge ment of a projectile providing the momentary contact therebetween, this function is illustrated on FIGURE 5 schematically by the switches 86a, 86b, 86c, and 86d. That is, the switches 86 represent the function of the momen tary contact provided between the first electrode 12 and second electrode 32 as the result of the impact of a projectile thereon as described above. "I i The lead 58 from the second electrode 32 is connected to the equivalent of the other side of the switch means 86 and through a limiting resistor 88 to a tap 90 on the battery 74. The tap 90 provides a second predetermined voltage less than the full output of the battery 74 that is applied across the indicating means 72. For example, when utilizing six to eight volt blink lamps as the indicating means 72, the battery 74 may be a nine volt batte y and the tap 90 may be provided to give the equivalent of, for example, three volts to be applied at the trigger terminals 84 on the silicon controlled rectifiers 78. Thus, if the projectile strikes the target 10 as illustrated on FIGURE 1, in the area of the segment 16, then the equivalent of switch 86a is closed and there is provided a circuit be-' tween leads 58 and 54 to provide the trigger voltage at the trigger terminal 84 of silicon controlled rectifier 78a. This application of the trigger voltage turns on silicon controlled rectifier 78a to allow conduction therethrough and; consequently, the first predetermined voltage as determined by the battery 74 is applied across the visual indicator means 72a and this provides a visual signal indicating that the target has been hit in the area defined by the segment 16 of the first electrode 12. After a predetermined time period, as determined by the cycle frequency of the blink lamp utilized as the visual indicator 72a, the lamp goes out and breaks the circuit therethrough. The silicon controlled rectifier 78a then ceases to conductand will not conduct again until another application of trigger voltage is provided at the trigger terminal 84 thereof.

Similarly, for projectile strikes in the areas 18, 20 or 22 of the first electrode 12, the closing of an equivalent switch 86b, 860 or 86d, respectively, will occur. The silicon controlled rectifier 78b, 78c or 78d, respectively, will then be allowed to conduct and lamp 72b, 72c or 72d, re-' spectively, will become illuminated to provide a visual signal indicating the projectile hit in the appropriate area of the first electrode 12.

Therefore, even though the application of the trigger voltage to the silicon controlled rectifiers is momentary, the silicon controlled rectifiers 80, by their nature, continue to conduct even after the removal of the trigger voltage until the circuit therethrough is broken. I v

Unique utilization of the silicon controlled rectifiers 78 in this application allows a low voltage target indicating means to be provided in a scoring target arrangement. With the circuit shown in FIGURE 5, comparatively long life of the battery 74 is achieved since there is virtually no current drain during non-illuminating conditions of the lamps 72.

In the above embodiment of the hit indicating circuitry as illustrated schematically in FIGURE 5, it can be'seen that there is a separate blink lamp for each of the segments in the first electrode. In this embodiment, the blink lamps serve two purposes: that is, the blink lamps are both the means for providing a source of visual signal as well as part of the control means for terminating, automatically, the visual signal after a predetermined time.

In other embodiments of applicants invention, the two functions may be provided by separate elements. .One such arrangement is illustrated in FIGURE 7. As shown on FIGURE 7, there isillustrated schematically the circuitry for one such hit indicating system, designated generally 100. The circuit illustrated on FIGURE 7 is generally similar to the circuit illustrated in FIGURE 5 and com-" prises a source of low voltage such as a battery 102 and a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers 104, such as 104a, b, c and d, in a one-to-one correspondence relationship with the number of segments in the first electrode. Also, the function of momentary contact between electrically conductive portions of the first electrode and the second electrode that occurs during an impingement of a projectile on the target is indicated schematically by the plurality of switches 106a, b, c and d.

A low voltage tap 108 is provided on the battery 102 and is connected through resistor 110 to the lead 58 from the second electrode 32. The leads 54, 52, 50 and 48 are connected, respectively, to a trigger terminal 112 on each of the silicon controlled rectifiers 104a, 104b, 1040 and 104d, respectively. The cathode terminal 114 of each of these silicon controlled rectifiers 104 is connected to one terminal of the battery 102.

A plurality of conventional lamps 1161:, 116b, 1160, and 116d, are connected to the anode terminal 118 of each of the silicon controlled rectifiers 114, respectively, and to the other terminal of the battery 102 through a blink lamp means 12. The lamps 116 may, for example, be conventional flashlight bulbs or other similar low voltage lamps.

The blink lamp 120, the battery 102, the resistor 110, and the silicon controlled rectifiers 104, may all be similar, respectively, to their counterparts illustrated in FIGURE as described above.

In operation of the embodiment shown on FIGURE 7, when a hit is made on one of the segments, such as segment 22 of the first electrode 12 as illustrated on FIG- URES 1 and 2, there is the functional equivalent to the momentary closing of the switch 106b and consequently there is provided a trigger voltage from the low voltage tap 108 through resistor 110 to the trigger terminal 112 on silicon controlled rectifier 104d. Application of this trigger voltage turns on the silicon controlled rectifier 104d to allow conduction therethrough and, consequently, a voltage is supplied through blink lamp 121, lamp 116d and silicon controlled rectifier 104. Lamp 116d is thus illuminated to provide a visual signal indicating a hit in the section 22 of the target. However, after a predetermined time, the blink lamp 121 blinks oif and terminates circuit continuity to the lamp 116d. Consequently lamp 116d is extinguished and is not illuminated again until there is another hit in the section 22.

It will be appreciated that a similar control is applied to the lamps 1160, 116b, 116a, depending upon the location of the hit upon the target.

In this embodiment of'applicants invention herein, the blink lamp 121 has a timing mechanism to automatically extinguish the visual indicating lamps 116 after a predetermined time. The blink lamp 121 need not, if desired, be visible to the person firing the projectile to the target though, of course, in other applications it may be desirable to have the blink lamp 121 provide a visual signal to indicate a hit and the individual lamps 116 provide the visual information signal as to a hit at a specific location.

The resistors 123a, 123b, 1230 and 123d provide a discharge path for charge build-up on the terminals 112 of the silicon controlled rectifiers 104.

For convenience in understanding the operation of applicants improved control circuitry herein, applicant provides a brief description of a typical blink lamp as utilized in the above-mentioned circuits illustrated schematically in FIGURES 5 and 7 hereof. As shown on FIGURE 8, there is illustrated a blink lamp 180 that may be similar, for example, to the blink lamps manufactured by the General Electric Company, No. GE405, as mentioned above. The blink lamp 180 is contained within a glass or otherwise transparent envelope 182 and is provided, on the inside of the glass envelope 182, with a filament 184 and a bi-metallic strip 186. Leads 188 are connected to one end of the filament 184 and to one end of the bimetallic strip 186. When voltage is applied across the leads 188 the filament is illuminated and current flows through the filament 184 and bi-metallic strip 186. This heats both the filament 184 and bi-metallic strip 186 and as the bi-metallic strip 186 heats above a predetermined point it moves in a direction indicated by the arrow 188 to break contact with the filament 184 which terminates the flow of electrical energy through the filament 184 and thus extinguishes the blink lamp 180. Since, in the abovedescribed embodiment of applicants invention as shown on FIGURES 5 and 7, the blink lamp is in series with a silicon controlled rectifier, the silicon controlled rectifiers are also turned off when the bi-metallic strip 186 moves away from the filament 184 to the blink lamp 180.

The above-described embodiment of the circuitry of applicants invention herein may be utilized with the target structure illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 above, or with other target structures, such as that described below in connection with the structure shown in FIGURE 6. It will be appreciated, though that applicant has utilized the lead nomenclature shown on FIGURE 1 for the circuitry illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 7, but this nomenclature is not to be construed as a limitation upon the particular target structure with which applicants invention herein may be utilized.

In theactual structure comprising one embodiment of applicants improved target arrangement, applicant has found that the dielectric layer 24 and the resilient layer 30 may be fabricated from materials such as tetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), monochlorotrifluoroethylene (Kel-F), Mylar, Saran, rubber, waxed paper, or the like. Similarly, the electrically conductive layers 26 and 28 may be metal foil such as aluminum foil on the order of 0.001 to 0.007 inch thick. As noted above, the energy absorbing material 36 may be any desired thickness of cork, glass fibre, card-board or the like. The outer layer 38 of energy absorbing layer 34 may be heavy paper, or any other material upon which a suitable target may be imprinted.

As noted in the above-mentioned patent application, Ser. No. 479,409, the second electrode 32 may be supplied, along with the dielectric layer 24, in many different configurations in front of the first electrode 12. FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention showing another arrangement for providing applicants improved target arrangement. As shown on FIG- URE 6, there is an energy absorbing layer 120, which, for example, may be comprised of an outer layer 122 and an energy absorbing substance 12-4 and in general be similar to the energy absorbing layer 34 shown on FIGURE 1. A suitable target diagram 126 is provided on the outside surface of the outer layer 122.

A first electrode 128 which, for example, may be divided into a plurality of segments 130, 132, 134 and 136, all electrically insulated from each other, is mounted on a back-up sheet 138 and in general may be similar to the first electrode 12 and the back-up sheet 14 shown on FIGURE 1. Similarly, in FIGURE 6, a plurality of leads 140, 142, 144 and 146 are individually connected to each one of the segments 132, 134, and 136, in a manner similar to that described above in connection with leads 48, 50, 52 and 54, and segments 22, 20, 18 and 16 in FIGURE 1.

A second electrode 150 is provided and, in this embodiment of applicants invention, may include a first electrically conductive layer 152 and a second electrically conductive layer 154, separated by a resilient layer 156, which layers may be similar to the electrically conductive layers 26 and 28 and the resilient layer 30 of FIGURE 1. These three layers may be considered to comprise the second electrode 150. 1

The second electrode 150, together with a dielectric layer 158 that is intermediate the electrically conductive layer 154 and the first electrode 128, are wound upon a spindle means 160 a preselected number of turns and extend between the energy absorbing layer 120 and the first electrode 128 to a take-up spindle 162.

A spring clip means 164 may be provided for electrical connection to the electrically conductive layers 152 and 154 to the lead 166.

Operation of this embodiment of applicants invention is the same as that shown for the embodiment on FIG- URE 1, except that as a second electrode 150 and the dielectric layer 158 become worn or provide permanent shorts between the segments of the first electrode 128 and the electrically conductive layers 152 and/or 154, fresh portions second electrode 150 may be unwound from the spindle 160 and the used portions of the first electrode 150, together with the used portions of dielectric layer 158 may be wound up on the take-up spindle 162. Applicant has found that in many applications, the energy absorbing layer 120 has a longer life than the first electrode 150, and/or the dielectric layer 158, and therefore only these layers need be replaced at comparatively frequent intervals, as compared to the replacement time for the energy absorbing layer 120.

This concludes the description of applicants invention of an improved target system. From the above, it can be seen that applicant has provided an indicating target arrangement that provides a positive indication not only when a hit has been made, but where there are a plurality of discrete target areas, an indication of which particular target area has been hit. Such hit information is provided even though the projectile striking the target is a dielectric material.

The hit indicating arrangement for applicants improved toy target of this invention utilizes in the preferred embodiment thereof a low voltage system that for a condition of momentary contact between the first electrode and second electrode provides a visual signal for a given period of time and then automatically terminates.

What is claimed is new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a toy target arrangement, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive,

substantially rigid, planar-like means remaining intact after subjection to impact by preselected projectiles;

a second electrode comprising a laminate having at least one electrically conductive layer, another electrically conductive layer, and a resilient layer intermediate said at least one electrically conductive layer and said another electrically conductive layer;

a dielectric layer intermediate said first and said second electrodes and in intimate contact therewith and penetrated by said projectiles for allowing said at least one electrically conductive layer of said second electrode to at least momentarily contact said first electrode for the condition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile, and said dielectric layer being movable with respect to said first electrode for providing relative motion between said first electrode and shorting portions of said at least one electrically conductive layer of said second electrode for the condition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile; and

electricallly operated indicating means connected between said first electrode and said second electrode for indicating said at least momentary contact of said at least one electrically conductive layer of said second electrode with said first electrode;

a visual indicator means for emitting a visual signal for the condition of said at least momentary contact between said first and said second electrodes, and said visual indicator means comprising a blink lamp; and

control means for automatically terminating said visual signal a predetermined time period after said at least momentary contact between said first and said second electrodes, and said control means comprising:

a silicon controlled rectifier having anode, cathode and trigger terminals thereon; and

a source of low voltage'electrical energy for aplying a first predetermined voltage to said visual indicator means for the condition of said at least momentary contact between said first and second electrodes to cause said visual indicator means to emit said visual signal.

2. In a toy target arrangement, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive, substantially rigid, planar-like means having a plurfality of electrically conductive segments and each of said electrically conductive segments electrically insulated from each other of said segments, and said first electrode remaining intact after subjection to impact by preselected projectiles;

a second electrode comprising a laminate having at least one electrically conductive layer, another electrically conductive layer, and a resilient layer intermediate said at least one electrically conductive layer and said another electrically conductive layer;

a dielectric layer intermediate said first and said second electrodes and in intimate contact therewith and penetrated by said projectiles for allowing said at least one electrically conductive layer of said second elec trode to at least momentarily contact said first electrode for the condition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile, and said dielectric layer being movable with respect to said first electrode for providing relative motion between said first electrode and shorting portions of said at least one electrically conductive layer of said second electrode for the condition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile;

electrically operated indicating means connected between said first electrode and said second electrode for indicating said at least momentary contact of said at least one electrically conductive layer ofsaid second electrode with said first electrode and selectively indicating which of said plurality of electrically conductive segments of said first electrode is contacted by said at least one electrically conductive layer of said second electrode for the condition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile, and said electrically operated indicating means comprising:

a visual indicator means for emitting a visual signal for the condition of said at least momentary contact between said first and said second electrodes, and said visual indicator means comprising a plurality of blink lamp means in oneto-one relationship with said plurality of segments of said first electrode, and each of said blink lamps having a first terminal and a second terminal;

control means for automatically terminating said visual signal a predetermined time period after said at least momentary contact between said first and said second electrodes, and said control means comprising a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers in one-to-one relationship with each of said blink lamps and each of said silicon controlled rectifiers having an anode, a cathode and a trigger terminal, and said second terminal of said blink lamps connected to said anode terminals of said silicon controlled rectifier;

lead means for connecting each of said plurality of electrically insulated segments of said first electrode to one of said trigger terminals of said silicon controlled rectifier; and

21 source of low voltage electrical energy connected across said first terminal of each of said indicating means and said cathode terminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers to provide a first predetermined voltage across said blink lamps for the condition of said at least momentary contact between said first electrode and said second electrode for providing a trigger voltage at said trigger terminal of said silicon controlled rectifiers to cause said silicon controlled rectifiers to conduct; and T an energy absorbing layer having a first surface adjacent said second electrode, whereby said second electrode is intermediate said firstsurface of said energy absorbing layer and said dielectric layer, and said 15 energy absorbing layer having a second surface spaced apart from said first surface and said second 5. In a toy target arrangement, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive,

surface having a preselected target diagram thereon andsaid target diagram corresponding to said plurality of segments, and an energy absorbing material intermediate said first surface and said second surface of said energy absorbing layer.

substantially rigid, planar-like means having a plurality of electrically conductive segments and each of said electrically conductive segments electrically insulated from each other of said segments, and said first electrode remaining intact after subjection to im- 3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 and further compact by preselected projectiles; prising: a second electrode comprising a laminate having at lead means for Connectlng d second electrode to a least one electrically conductive layer, another elecsource of low voltage electrical energy to provide a trigger predetermined voltage, less than said first predetermined voltage, to said trigger terminals on said silicon controlled rectifiers for the condition of said at least momentary contact between said first electrically conductive layer, and a resilient layer intermediate said at least one electrically conductive layer and said another electrically conductive layer;

a dielectric layer intermediate said first and said second electrodes and in intimate contact therewith and trode and said second electrode, and said blink lamps penetrated by said projectiles for allowin said at terminating Said first predetermined voltage to said least one electrically conductive layer of said second blink lamps and toysaid Silicon controlled fectifiel's electrode to at least momentarily contact said first after a pl'edetefmined time Period 0f Visual Signal electrode for the condition of said second electrode g q i and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile,

by 531d appllcatloll of f f trlggel' Voltage to sald and said dielectric layer being movable with respect trigger terminals of said 51116011 controlled rectifiel's to said first electrode for providing relative motion causes said silicon controlled rectifiers to conduct to between said fi t electrode and shorting portions f F X fiPP y Said first predetermined voltage acr said at least one electrically conductive layer of said 581d 'bllllk lamps t0 PTOVIde sald vlsual slgnal' 40 second electrode for the condition of said second f In y f i arrangement the Improvement electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said prising, in combination: projectile;

' first elecfrode FQ P electrically P P Y electrically operated indicating means connected be- Substantlany 3 Plana r'hke means remammg tween said first electrode and said second electrode l after sublectloll t0 Impact y preselected P for indicatingsaid at least momentary contact of said lectlles; at least one electrically conductive layer of said sec- Second electrole a lammate havmg at 0nd electrode with said first electrode and selectively one elecm ca1ly conductlve another indicating which of said plurality of electrically conmcany conductlve layer and a reslhent layer Inter ductive segments of said first electrode is contacted a? said at least electrically cfmductive layer by said at least one electrically conductive layer of P salfi anothe? Enducnve layer} said second electrode for the condition of said second dlelecmc layer f F l sald first and l electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said 0nd electrodes m i a Contact thqrewlfll and projectile, and said electrically operated indicating penetrated by said pro ectiles for allowing said at means comprises. least one electrically conductive layer of said second a visual indica'tor means for emitting a visual Si electrode to at least momentarily contact said first nal for the condition of Said at 16 ast mom 6 electrode for the condition of said second electrode Contact between Said first and Said second and said dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile, trodes and Said visual Si nal indicator means and said dielectric layer being movable with respect com risin g to said first electrode for providing relative motion -i ofl t 1 between said first electrode and shorting portions of a g g gg iigzfi? 33: 2:: :2 said at least one electrically conductive layer of said Said g e1 ectro de d g 2. g g lam second electrode for the condition of said second means havin a first terminal nd g electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by said terminal g a a Sec projectile; and

electrically operated indicating means connected beconlrollmfaanslfor gi l i z Sald tween said first electrode and said second electrode ig sllgna a pre 6 ermme tlmebpeno i for indicating said at least momentary contact of said if 5 momgmflry Contact d etvyeen Sal at least one electrically conductive layer of said secrst an Sal 9 e ectrodes an sald control ond electrode with said first electrode, and said elecmeans i trically operated indicating means comprising: a Plurahty of f i recufiers i a visual indicator means for emitting a visual one'to'one relatlonshlp w1th f of Sald signal for the condition of said momentary conm means and each of sald slhcon tact between said first and said second electrodes, trolled fectifiers having all a a Cathode and said visual indicator means comprising a and a trigger terminal, and Said Second lamp means for emitting a visual signal; terminals of said lamp means connected in 15 a one-to-one relationship with said anode terminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers, and a blink lamp means having a first terminal and a second terminal, and said and said target diagram corresponding to said plurality of segments, and an energy absorbing material intermediate said first surface and said second surface of said energy absorbing layer.

6. The arrangement defined in claim Sand further comprising:

lead means for connecting said second electrode to a first terminal of said blink lamp means connected to a source of low voltage electrical energy and said second terminal of said blink lamp means connected to a first termi nal of said lamp means, whereby said source of low voltage electrical energy, said blink lamp means, said lamp means and said silicon controlled rectifiers are connected in series for each of said plurality of segments of said first electrode;

source of low voltage electrical energy to provide a trigger voltage less than said first predetermined voltage to said trigger terminals on said silicon controlled rectifiers for the condition of said at least momentary contact between said first electrode and said second electrode to cause said silicon controlled rectifiers to conduct to thereby apply said first predetermined lead means for connecting each of the pluralities of electrically insulated segments of said first electrode to one of said trigger terminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers; and

said cathode terminals of said silicon control rectifiers are connected to said second terminal of 20 said low voltage electrical source; whereby said momentary contact between said second electrode and at least one of said segments of said first electrode provides a trigger voltage to said trigger terminal of at least one silicon controlled rectifier to turn on said silicon controlled recti- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS fier and provide a voltage across on of said 7, 71 11/1949 Havey 273102.2 lamp means to generate a visual signal there- 2,576,960 12/1951 Y- from; 2,749,125 6/1956 Ream. an energy absorbing layer having a first surface ad- 2,319,085 11/1958 Brown et a1. jacent said second electrode, whereby said second 3,112,110 11/1963 clw man. electrode is intermediate said first surface of said en- 3,147,464 9/ 1964 splelmafl 340-332 X ergy absorbing layer and said dielectric layer, and said energy absorbing layer having a second surface ANTON OECHSLE Pnmary Exammer spaced apart from said first surface and said second M R PAGE, Assistant E i surface having a preselected target diagram thereon

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