Firearm target

Abstract

A firearm target assembly includes a mounting base, upright support and forwardly tilted target surface. The target surface has a plurality of target zones or openings which are covered on the backside by hingedly or pivotally connected target plates that pivot between open and closed positions when struck by a round of ammunition. Each pivotally connected target plate pivots between one position in which it covers the target opening and may be struck by a round of ammunition and a second position in which it becomes a visible target outside the periphery of the main target surface.

1 . A reactive target for use in firearm training comprising:
 a main target support body having a front surface, rear surface and outer periphery, and defining a target opening;   a movable target mounted to the rear surface of the main target support body in a location proximate to the target opening so as to cover the target opening when the movable target is in a closed position, wherein the movable target comprises a single metal plate, the metal plate comprising a pivot arm extension portion and a main target body portion; and   a mounting component to mount the movable target for pivoting movement between the closed position and an open position in which the movable target projects beyond the outer periphery of the main target support body to present a visible target.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The target of  claim 1  wherein the main target support body includes plural target openings and the target comprises plural movable targets pivotally mounted to the main target support body, each movable target in proximity to a respective one of the target openings. 
     
     
         5 . The target of  claim 1  wherein the mounting component includes a pivot tube fixedly secured to the main target support body proximate to the target opening, the pivot arm extension portion being detachably slidable into the pivot tube to permit pivoting movement of the movable target. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A target system for use in firearm training comprising:
 a support body having a front surface, a rear surface, an outer periphery, and an opening, the support body being inclined at a forward tilt angle relative to a vertical plane; and   a target pivotally mounted to the rear surface of the support body so the target can pivot between a closed position, in which the target substantially covers the opening, and an open position, in which the target substantially extends beyond the outer periphery of the support body, wherein the target comprises a pivot arm extension portion and a main target body portion, the pivot arm extension portion defining a pivot axis and having a non-circular cross sectional shape perpendicular to the pivot axis.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the target is mounted at the forward tilt angle relative to the vertical plane such that the pivot axis of the pivot arm extension is not parallel to longitudinal center axis of the support body. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the closed position is displaced both vertically and horizontally from the open position. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a plurality of openings in the support body; and 
 a plurality of targets, each pivotally mounted to the rear surface of the support body at a mounting location off-center from a longitudinal center axis of the support body and on a pivot axis which is not parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the support body, such that each target can pivot between a closed position, in which the target substantially covers one of the openings, and an open position, in which the target substantially extends beyond the outer periphery of the support body, thereby defining a path between the open position and the closed position of the target. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the mounting locations, the pivot axis orientations, and a dimension of each of the targets are configured such that the paths between the open position and the closed position of each of the targets do not intersect. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the support body includes a pivot tube into which the pivot arm extension portion can be removably inserted. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8  further including plural targets, each having a pivot arm extension portion, and plural pivot tubes secured to the support body, the pivot tubes each being configured to receive a respective one of the pivot arm extension portions to removably support the targets for pivotal movement. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The target of  claim 4  wherein:
 the main target support body includes three target openings and the target comprises three movable targets pivotally mounted to the main target support body, each movable target in proximity to a respective one of the target openings; and 
 each of the movable targets comprises a single steel plate, the steel plate comprising a pivot arm extension portion and a main target body portion. 
 
     
     
         22 . The target of  claim 21 , wherein the three target openings comprise a T-shaped target opening, a circular target opening, and a generally triangular target opening, respectively. 
     
     
         23 . The target of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot arm extension portion has a non-circular cross-sectional shape and the interior of the pivot tube has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         24 . The target of  claim 23 , wherein the pivot arm extension portion has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         25 . The target of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the pivot arm extension portion has a planar first arm surface and a planar second arm surface, wherein the first arm surface and the second arm surface are substantially parallel and have an arm thickness defined therebetween;   the main target body portion has a planar first body surface and a planar second body surface, wherein the first body surface and the second body surface are substantially parallel and have a body thickness defined therebetween;   the first arm surface and the first body surface are substantially coplanar;   the second arm surface and the second body surface are substantially coplanar; and   the arm thickness and the body thickness are substantially the same.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the pivot arm extension portion has a non-circular cross-sectional shape and the interior of the pivot tube has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the pivot arm extension portion has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the pivot arm extension portion has a planar first arm surface and a planar second arm surface, wherein the first arm surface and the second arm surface are substantially parallel and have an arm thickness defined therebetween;   the main target body portion has a planar first body surface and a planar second body surface, wherein the first body surface and the second body surface are substantially parallel and have a body thickness defined therebetween;   the first arm surface and the first body surface are substantially coplanar;   the second arm surface and the second body surface are substantially coplanar; and   the arm thickness and the body thickness are substantially the same.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 18  wherein:
 the support body includes three openings and the system comprises three targets pivotally mounted to the support body, each target in proximity to a respective one of the openings; and 
 each of the targets comprises a respective pivot arm extension portion and a respective main target body portion, each pivot arm extension portion defining a respective pivot axis and having a respective non-circular cross sectional shape perpendicular to the respective pivot axis. 
 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the three openings comprise a T-shaped opening, a circular opening, and a generally triangular opening, respectively.