STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to target shooting, and more particularly to a target that dispenses target disks.

BACKGROUND

Target shooting is a popular pastime, and targets that break or crumble are particularly enjoyable for sportsmen. As such, standard clay pigeons or “clays” are popular not just for shooting with a shotgun but also for setting up downrange on a hill or other support for use as target. One drawback to setting-up targets in this manner is that the target clays, once shot, do not replenish themselves. This requires the sportsman to frequently trek downrange to replace the target clays and then repeat the process.

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus that would store a plurality of the clay targets and, as each target is hit, replace the target with one in a clay target supply. Such a needed invention would not require electricity, would be simple to set-up and use, and would collapse for compact storage and transport. The needed invention would allow for multiple different target overlays for variety, and could use clay targets of various sizes for changing the level of skill required to hit the targets. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a target stand for supporting a plurality of target disks above a ground surface for a target shooter. Such a target shooter might be shooting the target disks with a rifle, arrow, baseball, or the like. The target disks are preferably standard clay pigeons, but may also be larger or smaller disks made from clay, plastic, paper, or other suitable materials that will substantially crack and break when struck by a projectile such as a bullet, arrow, sports ball, or the like.

The target stand includes a rigid support stand that comprises two side members each having a top end, a bottom end, and a central area. Each side member may further include a rigid foot fixed with the bottom end thereof, the foot adapted for contacting the ground surface. A rigid cross bar has two opposing ends each of which are adapted for fixing with the central area of one of the side members.

A target supply mechanism comprises at least a front plate and a rear plate. The target supply mechanism has a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges. The front plate and rear plate define a target disk track therebetween from the top edge to the bottom edge between the front plate and the rear plate. Each side edge of the target supply mechanism is fixed to the top end of one of the side members, preferably rotationally, so that the target supply mechanism is rotationally attached to the support stand. A target holder is fixed proximate the bottom edge of the target supply mechanism proximate the target disk track, such that the target holder can receive one or more of the target disks from the target supply mechanism and present the target disk to the target shooter.

As such, in use, with the target stand supported on the ground surface and the target disk track of the target supply mechanism filled from the top edge with the target disks, the target disks traverse the target disk track by gravity from the top edge of the target supply mechanism to the bottom edge of the target supply mechanism to the target holder. One of the target disks in the target holder is then presented to the target shooter who, by shooting the target disk removes the target disk from the target holder to allow a next target disk in the target disk track to drop down into the target holder.

In some embodiments the target holder further includes a target overlay holder adapted to hold a target overlay at a front side of the target holder. Such a target overlay may be a printed piece of paper, cardboard, or the like that includes a printed “Bull's-Eye” or other printed target image, for example.

The present invention is an apparatus that stores a plurality of the target disks and, as each target disk is hit, replaces the target disk with another target disk from the target disk supply. The present invention does not require electricity, and is simple to set-up and use. Further, the present invention collapses for compact storage and transport. The present apparatus further allows for multiple different target overlays for variety, and can use target disks of various sizes for changing the level of skill required to hit the target disks. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

