Apparatus For Target Mounting

This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 111 patent application that claims the benefit of priority and is entitled to the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of GB Patent Application 2407706.7, filed May 30, 2024, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to mounting targets to be shot at using pellets, in particular Airsoft pellets.

Airsoft guns (sometimes known as realistic imitation firearms or RIFs) are recreational, replica toy guns that use, and hence shoot, pellets. The guns are realistic and designed to look like real guns. The pellets are typically plastic but, importantly, are non-metallic. Again, importantly, Airsoft pellets are distinct from metallic spherical pellets used by BB guns.

Airsoft guns can have spring-loaded air pistons or be powered by compressed gas cartridges. Airsoft guns further differ from BB guns by their different power limits; Airsoft guns generally fire pellets at higher velocity than BB guns. Airsoft guns can fire pellets from a maximum distance of around 90 m; they typically fire pellets from around 35 to 55 m away from the target but they can also be used to fire pellets at point blank range.

Airsoft competitions often involve setting up a series of targets and shooting at each target in sequence as quickly as possible. Therefore, competitions and training drills are often held indoors and occasionally in confined spaces (e.g. including stairwells). Accordingly, there is a need for safe target backstops which prevent pellets from ricocheting or passing through the targets and causing damage to either the building or spectators standing by.

An existing backstop is a mesh catcher, having a mesh cage with an open front, with the target placed in or in front of the mesh. Mesh catchers are typically small and intended to be positioned on a flat surface, for example a tabletop.

Whilst mesh catchers are satisfactory for indoor use when shooting with small toy guns (e.g. a lower powered children's gun), they are not safe for shooting at a point-blank range, nor are they safe for indoor use when shooting with an Airsoft gun. This is because Airsoft guns are much more powerful and therefore the mesh is not strong enough to stop the pellet (i.e. the pellets can penetrate the mesh). Also, the more powerful shot from an Airsoft gun might cause a mesh catcher to topple over or move from its position, since these are not secured in place.

Another disadvantage of known mesh catchers is that they are intended to be used for stationary shooting only. They therefore cannot be used for “assault course” training, i.e. they are not safe to use when positioning an assortment of targets around a room and practicing shooting multiple targets positioned apart from each other in a short space of time.

Similar to mesh catchers are cardboard targets of the type known from US 2019/0178612, which describes a cardboard box for use as a firearm target, designed to catch the pellets within the box. Also known are apparatus made from corrugated materials, such as the frame assembly disclosed in US 2011/0062667. These types of targets encounter the same limitations as mesh catchers.

Other existing backstops include frames akin to those described in US 2013/0187336 and GB 2409892, having either only one panel or a front panel with an aperture and thus there exists a high risk of pellets ricocheting.

Another type of existing backstop is the ATTACKSENSE® electronic target system. This is an advanced reactive target system designed for use with air guns. The target system comprises pads which electronically track each hit. However, the targets themselves are small and therefore they are not safe for use in small indoor spaces. Due to its electronic nature, the system is also very expensive, requires regular charging and can malfunction.

Other systems for trapping bullets from conventional weapons are known but these are not practical for use in Airsoft-type competitions.

Thus, there exists a need for improved backstops for shooting Airsoft pellets from point blank range and/or for indoor use (i.e. in training for competition shooting), preferably one that is both safe and inexpensive.

An aim of the present invention is to provide alternative, preferably improved, apparatus for Airsoft target shooting activities, especially for indoor use. An aim of specific embodiments of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for holding Airsoft targets and managing or controlling pellets fired at the targets.

The present invention provides apparatus for mounting a target for Airsoft pellets, comprising: a front panel and a rear panel, spaced apart wherein the target can be mounted on the front panel, the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, the rear panel is not penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, and the front panel is not penetrable by a pellet that rebounds off the rear panel, wherein the front panel is or comprises a first fabric panel on which the target can be mounted, and the rear panel is or comprises a second fabric panel, made of a different fabric than the first.

Also provided by the invention is a kit for Airsoft shooting, comprising the apparatus, optionally, one or more targets, and an aperture panel comprising openings through which a user can shoot at a target attached to the apparatus.

Further provided by the invention is a method of Airsoft shooting, using the apparatus or kit, wherein the method comprises shooting an Airsoft pellet at a target attached to the apparatus and trapping the pellet between the front panel and rear panel.

Apparatus of the invention, for mounting a target for Airsoft pellets, comprises: a front panel and a rear panel, spaced apart wherein the target can be mounted on the front panel, the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, the rear panel is not penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range, and the front panel is not penetrable by a pellet that rebounds off the rear panel, wherein the front panel is or comprises a first fabric panel on which the target can be mounted, and the rear panel is or comprises a second fabric panel, made of a different fabric than the first.

In use the apparatus traps pellets between the panels, preventing ricochets, as rebounding pellets do not have the energy to pass back through the front panel into a shooting area, and enabling easy collection of pellets.

The second fabric panel is preferably denser than the first fabric panel. The panels are preferably not made of cardboard.

The target is for Airsoft pellets, and the apparatus is for use with Airsoft pellets fired by an Airsoft gun. Apparatus of the invention may be used with Airsoft pellets having a diameter of 4.5 to 8 mm; typically the pellets will be about 6 mm in diameter. Suitable Airsoft pellets range from 0.12 to 0.40 g in weight, or up to 0.60 g in weight for larger guns, with common weights being 0.12 g, 0.20 g, 0.25 g, 0.28 g, 0.30 g and 0.40 g; preferably the pellets will weigh about 0.25 g.

Herein, reference to Airsoft pellets preferably does not include metallic pellets and in particular does not include metallic 4.5 mm diameter pellets (or similar ‘bb’-sized, metallic pellets).

Apparatus of the invention may be suitably used for shooting with an Airsoft gun and Airsoft pellets from a point blank distance up to a distance of 55 m away from the target. Preferably apparatus of the invention will be used for shooting with an Airsoft gun from a distance of up to 45 m away from the target.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet, 6 mm in diameter, made of plastic, fired at a distance between point blank range and up to 55 m away, and at this distance the rear panel is not penetrable by said Airsoft pellet, and the front panel is not penetrable by said Airsoft pellet that rebounds off the rear panel. Suitable plastics from which said Airsoft pellets may be made are polymers, for example polylactic acid (PLA) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

As described in more detail below, the apparatus preferably comprises a frame, with both panels being mounted on the frame, wherein the frame holds the panels spaced apart with a gap between the panels. Usually, the frame holds panels spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other. The apparatus can thus present a flat surface or larger area onto which one or more targets can be attached.

Spacing between the panels is preferably such that the gap between the front and rear panel is at least 10 mm, more preferably at least 15 mm. In particular, a gap of about 30-35 mm is found to work well. In the specific examples described below and shown in the figures, the air gap is about 32 mm. The apparatus is intended to be easily portable so the gap is preferably not so wide as to make the whole apparatus awkward to carry and store, so the gap is suitably not more than 200 mm, preferably not more than 100 mm or more preferably not more than 50 mm.

Typically, the panels are approximately square when viewed from the front (with optional side and/or top/bottom tabs or flaps, etc. to attach them to the frame). In general, the panels may be 0.5 m-1.5 m×0.5 m-1.5 m, suitably 0.7 m-1.2 m×0.7 m-1.2 m; in an example below the panels are about 95 cm by 95 cm.

When mounted on the frame, the panels forming the pellet backstop may extend across the entire width of the frame so that there is no gap between the edges of the panels and the frame, meaning pellets cannot not escape through the sides.

The frame is sized to hold the targets on the front panel and may be between 1 m to 2 m tall and between 0.5 m to 1.5 m wide. The frame is typically made from rigid wooden, metal and/or plastic poles or tubes. Preferably, the frame is made from plastic tubing, such that it is lightweight and easily portable. Suitably, the frame can easily be lifted and transported by one person. Hence, it may be less than 5 kg in weight, or preferably less than 2 kg in weight, or even less than 1 kg in weight.

The panels are held on the frame, and the panels may be the same dimensions in width as the frame, as the panels preferably extend to the full width of the frame. Frame and panel dimensions are not critical to the invention and thus can be a range of shapes and sizes, though preferred frames are around 150 cm tall and 95 cm wide, with the panels being about 95 cm squared. Preferred panels are square or rectangular in shape, primarily for ease of fixing the panels on to the frame, however other shapes, e.g. circular panels, are also suitable.

The apparatus is for supporting one or more targets on its front surface and is wide enough and deep enough to support at least one conventional Airsoft target, preferably with areas of the front panel above, below and to the sides of the target. Examples of dimensions for the apparatus are discussed below.

Pellets hitting the target (which is easily penetrated) or missing the target but nevertheless hitting the front panel pass through the front panel, rebound off the rear panel and then do not pass back through the front panel, being as a result trapped between the panels. The apparatus further suitably comprises a receptacle, e.g. a trough, for collecting pellets trapped between the panels. Pellets do not ricochet into the shooting area. Instead, pellets that are trapped or retained between the front and rear panel can then fall into the receptacle for later recovery and reuse or disposal. A trough can be formed from a lower portion of the rear panel looped forwards and upwards into a “U” shape. For example, there may be a rigid bar extended across the lower end of the rear panel. The rigid bar may be stitched or otherwise fastened into place. The rigid bar may be pulled forwards and upwards such that the bottom section of the rear panel loops in front of the front panel to form a trough. The rigid bar may define the front of the trough and connect to a forwardly extending cross bar on either side of the frame to secure the trough in place. Alternatively, there may be no rigid bar across the front of the trough and, instead, the trough may be held in place by two small reinforcement bars or props extending across the width of the trough at either end. The reinforcement bars or props may be comparable to the props used in tents to hold the air vents open. In this case, the number of rigid metallic/plastic components exposed for pellets to hit is reduced, thus reducing the risk of pellets ricochetting. The reinforcement bars may be covered with the same material used for the back panel and they may optionally also be padded to further reduce the risk of ricochet. The reinforcement bars or props may be inserted into the trough and held in place by suitable fastening means, such as hook and loop fastenings, inside the trough. The receptacle may also be a separate component of the apparatus.

Optionally, the trough may be provided with a baffle. This is a structure or object used to restrain pellets that are trapped within the panels of the backstop and fall into the trough and ensure they remain within the trough as opposed to bouncing out and falling on the floor. The baffle may be part of or fixed to the trough or, alternatively, it may be a separate component which can be slotted into the trough. Suitably, the baffle is long and thin in shape. Preferably, the shape of the baffle mimics the shape of the trough such that it slots inside the trough comfortably. In other words, the baffle is dimensioned to fit inside the trough and fill the majority of the space inside the trough. The baffle may be made from a rigid foam, such as polystyrene, PVC or cardboard. Preferably, the baffle is made from foam.

The apparatus is optionally adapted for attachment to a wall. In embodiments, it comprises support structure for attachment to a wall, with the rear panel spaced from the wall. The support may include one or more brackets, suitably at or towards both the upper and lower portions of its frame to hold the apparatus firm with respect to and spaced away from the wall—this allows the rear panel to move backwards towards the wall when absorbing pellet impact. In these embodiments the rear panel can be held at least 10 mm away from the wall.

The apparatus is optionally adapted for use on a flat surface, e.g. on the ground. In embodiments, it comprises support legs and/or support feet, so the apparatus is free-standing. Conveniently, the legs and/or feet can be folded to lie in the plane of the frame for ease of storage and transportation. Preferred apparatus is portable and free-standing and convenient for indoor use and to be quickly set up and taken down.

For example, the frame may comprise a top bar extending between adjacent left-hand and right-hand support legs, each of which is connected to a left-hand and right-hand support foot, respectively. Optionally, the end of each support leg may be connected to the center of the corresponding support foot, such that in use the support feet extend outwards in front of and behind the apparatus at right angles to the plane of the frame and panels, to keep the frame stable when pellets are fired at it and prevent it from toppling over under the force. For storage, the legs and feet may be easily rotated such that the feet lie in the plane of the frame and panels.

Alternatively, the end of each support leg may be connected to one end of the corresponding foot and the feet may extend backwards behind the apparatus to provide support, such that when the apparatus is hit with pellets from in front it does not topple over backwards under the force. There may also be provided a cross bar extending across the ground between the two feet for further support. In this case, the feet may rotate or fold upwards for storage, such that they sit flat against the legs.

The front and back panels are both made from fabric or woven material. In order to meet the requirement that the front panel is penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range and the rear panel is not penetrable by an Airsoft pellet fired at point blank range. The front and back panel are made from different materials. Hence, in embodiments, the front panel is or comprises a first fabric panel on which the target can be mounted, and the rear panel is or comprises a second fabric panel, made of a different fabric than the first. The denier of the material for the rear panel may be 50 denier or more, or 100 denier or more or 300 denier or more higher in denier than the front panel. Fabric panels are generally flexible, readily available and inexpensive; they are readily replaced in full or in part-see below for more details. Targets can easily be hung or otherwise attached to fabric, e.g. using clips.

The back or rear panel is suitably made from material which will not be penetrated by an Airsoft pellet fired at the distances specified. Typically, the back panel comprises or is made from materials having a linear density of 300 or greater, preferably 500 or greater and more preferably 1000 or greater denier. Typically, the material used to make the back panel is woven, with a basket weave. Specific suitable materials for the back panel include ballistic nylon, terrycloth towelling, canvas, PVC backed nylon, CORDURA®, a synthetic fiber fabric, KEVLAR®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, TWARON®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, TECHNORA®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, HERACRON®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric, and ALKEX®, an aromatic polyamide synthetic fiber fabric. For less powerful guns, typically nylon is suitable. Preferably, particularly for more powerful guns, the back panel is made from ballistic nylon, used successfully in an example described below. Known ballistic nylon can have denier of about 840 and 1680 denier. Other materials having the penetration-resistance properties set out herein are also suitable for the rear panel.

The front panel is suitably made from material which allows the Airsoft pellet to penetrate it but does not allow the pellet to pass back through it after hitting and bouncing off the rear panel. In use, the rear panel absorbs pellet impact, and may move backwards slightly on impact, slowing the pellet such that if the pellet rebounds to any extent its energy is significantly reduced and so much so that it cannot penetrate the front panel on the rebound. Generally, the front panel is made from fabric with lower density than the rear panel, usually of 500 denier or below or 300 denier or below. Typically, the front panel is made from a plastic mesh material, such as construction grade netting. Preferably, the material is UV resistant. Suitable materials for the front panel include nylon mesh, polyester mesh, polyethylene and polypropylene mesh. Suitably, the density of the front panel is between 50 and 150 grams per square meter (gsm), or between 60 and 100 gsm. Preferably, the density of the front panel is around 70 gsm.

Preferably the front panel is made from debris netting, used and described in more detail in the example below. Debris netting is durable and heavy-duty. It is a 1.59 mm ( 1/16 inch) knitted mesh material commonly used for safety purposes, e.g. for scaffolding enclosures and guardrail debris protection. Debris netting is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and is reinforced with UV inhibitors to maximize life expectancy. It typically has a density of around 50 gsm and is around 70% air permeable. A known debris netting is made from HDPE monofilament of 250 denier (available from STARK Building Materials UK Limited, UK, trading as JEWSON®). Again, other materials having the penetration-resistance properties set out herein are also suitable for the front panel.

Typically, the front panel will be under tension, such that when a pellet hits the front panel its material will not notably be forced backwards and, importantly, it will not move backwards so far as to contact the back panel. This ensures that pellets penetrate the front panel, and a small amount of tension also keeps the front panel flatter for ease of mounting targets. The tension in the front panel may be maintained by one or more weights, e.g. a weighted front bar, fixed at or towards the bottom of the front panel to hold it down. Alternatively, the tension may be maintained by attaching the panel to the sides of the frame, with a slight stretch to impart tension and then secured under this slight tension by the rigidity of the frame. Hook and loop strips on either side of the front panel can be used, which secure the right- and left-hand edges of the front panel to the frame sides or to corresponding edges of the back panel. In use, although not quickly damaged, the front panel generally accumulates some damage over time by the action of multiple pellets passing through it, and so the front panel may be replaced regularly once it is beginning to fail to trap rebounding pellets.

The back panel may optionally be loose or slack or alternatively it may also be under slight tension. It is preferred, however, that there is some give in the mounting of the rear panel material, allowing some movement and a cushioning effect when hit by pellets. Suitably, portions of the back panel can move backwards by around 5 cm or more when hit by a pellet. The back panel suitably has enough give to ensure that it will always stop the pellet and not allow the pellet to penetrate it; the back panel should absorb pellet impact and not be under such high tension that pellets bounce off with enough energy to penetrate back through the front panel. This balance is achieved in examples of the invention, as described below.

In one embodiment, the front and back panels are joined together along one or more of their edges, for example they may be stitched together. Suitably, the front and back panel may be joined together along three edges to form a sock-like pouch or sack which can be passed over the top of the frame. In this embodiment, there is no need for a weighted bar or other means to keep the tension in the front panel because both panels are held taut as a result of being (slightly) stretched over the frame. As mentioned above, the front panel may become damaged over time and need replacing. In this embodiment, rather than replacing the whole pouch or sack (i.e. both panels), a new front panel may be placed over the top of the existing, damaged front panel. The new front panel may be slightly larger in width than the frame, such that the edges of the new front panel are able to fold around the frame and contact the rear surface of the back panel. The new front panel may be held in place and under tension by hook and loop fastenings connecting the left-hand and right-hand edges of the new front panel to the left-hand and right-hand edges of the back panel respectively.

A kit for Airsoft shooting is also provided by the invention, comprising the apparatus of the invention and an aperture panel comprising openings through which a user can shoot at a target attached to the apparatus.

The aperture panel is conventional and comprises opaque sections that obscure the target for the shooter with one or more, usually two or more, apertures through which the shooter can see the target and shoot at the target. In preferred kits there is an apparatus of the invention having the front and rear panels mounted on a frame and an aperture panel mounted on a similar frame. Kits also preferably include one or more targets. Kits also preferably comprise one or more replacement front panels. Suitable replacement front panels include single panels, e.g. a single layer of mesh, and double panels, e.g. two layers of mesh stitched together on one or more (preferably three) sides to form a sock-like structure. Single replacement panels may be held in place by fastenings, such as hook and loop fastenings, to the existing front panel, the frame or the back panel. Preferably, a single replacement panel is held in place by hook and loop fastenings which connect it to the back panel. Double replacement panels may be slid over the top of the frame and existing front and back panels. Preferably, the replacement panel is a double replacement panel as these can be turned over or reversed and reused, i.e. there is two replacement pieces of mesh in one panel, so the panel is longer lasting.

A method of Airsoft shooting is further provided by the invention, using the apparatus or kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises shooting an Airsoft pellet at a target attached to the apparatus and trapping the pellet between the front panel and rear panel. Trapped pellets are preferably then caught in the receptacle, e.g. trough.

Apparatus of the invention may be suitably used with Airsoft competition targets of a wide range of sizes. Typically, they are used with targets which are 46 cm by 76 cm. Suitable targets include official UK competition targets and official US competition targets. Typically, the invention is used with printed targets, such targets include paper and cardboard targets. Paper targets are preferred, particularly for use with less powerful guns, because there is less risk of pellets ricocheting off a paper target. Targets can be 0.05 mm to 5 mm thick, commonly 2 mm to 5 mm thick.

Apparatus of the invention are suitably used for shooting with Airsoft guns having a power of 25 Joules or less; typically they will be used with Airsoft guns having a power of about 4 Joules or less, preferably they will be used with Airsoft guns having a power of 2.5 Joules or less. Generally, they will be used with Airsoft guns having a power of between 0.5-2.5 Joules, or preferably 1-1.8 Joules.

There are options for attaching targets to the apparatus.