Pyrotechnic Target and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

An impact initiated pyrotechnic target is shown in the form of a thin metal disc. The disc is manufactured using a shell casing in the form of a metal disk having a flat, round exposed disc surface and a circumscribing cylindrical lip. The lip extends upwardly past the exposed disc surface and is turned in on a radius. The exposed surface of the disk inside the periphery of the cylindrical lip is coated with a pyrotechnic composition coating layer which can be initiated by the impact of an inert projectile. A cardboard lid is snapped into place over the exposed disc surface and is held in place by the turned-in periphery of the cylindrical lip of the disc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an impact initiated pyrotechnic target in the form of a shell casing made from a thin metal disc, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a thin metal disc, the disc having a flat, round exposed disc surface and a peripherally circumscribing cylindrical lip, the lip extending upwardly past the exposed disc surface a predetermined height;   the disc lip also being turned-over and turned-in upon itself on a given radius;   wherein the exposed surface of the disk inside the periphery of the cylindrical lip has applied thereto a pyrotechnic composition coating layer which can be initiated by the impact of an inert projectile;   and wherein a circular protective lid is snapped into place over the exposed disc surface and is held in place by the turned over and turned-in periphery of the cylindrical lip of the disc to thereby form a completed shell casing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic layer is applied as a coating to the exposed surface of the disc and wherein the pyrotechnic composition which is used as the coating layer is made up of pyrotechnic agents in a binder composition, the binder composition being initially flowed by gravity over the exposed disc surface and then dried. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cardboard lid is laminated with a plastic layer so that it is water repellant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cardboard lid has a thickness which is selected to allow the lid to be easily penetrated by the inert projectile. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flat, round exposed disc surface has a given diameter which ranges from about 35 mm to about 70 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical turned-over and turned-in lip has a vertical height, as measured from the exposed disc surface in the range from about 3 mm to about 8 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cylindrical turned-over and turned-in lip has a vertical height in the range from about 6.60 to about 6.66 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the flat, exposed disc surface is on the order of 1 to 3 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thin metal disc has a rear surface and wherein an adhesive patch is applied to the rear surface to allow the disc to be temporarily stuck to a target background surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal disc is formed of a ferrous metal and wherein the target disc is held within an accompanying disc receiving holder, the disc receiving holder having a magnetic region for attracting and retaining the metal disc within the holder. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the disc receiving holder is a cylindrically shaped body having a disc receiving recess for receiving the metal disc, the holder being sufficiently stiff to support the metal disc and also being re-usable.