Ballistic impact deflection element for hanging a metal target at a practice shooting range

Abstract

An assembly useful for hanging metal shooting targets from a hanging strap for home practice use or in a target or practice range. The assembly includes a metal target with a body having a hole extending through it from a front planar surface to a rear planar surface. The assembly includes mounting bolt including a head with a body extending from a front surface to a rear surface. The bolt includes a shank extending from the rear surface to a threaded section. The front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered from a sidewall of the body of the bolt head to a central point to have a conical shape. Particularly, the front surface of the body of the bolt head can be tapered at a taper angle in the range of 40 to 80 degrees such as with the taper angle being about 60 degrees.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An assembly for hanging metal shooting targets from a hanging strap, comprising:
 a metal target with a body having a hole extending through from a front planar surface to a rear planar surface;   a mounting bolt including a head with a body extending from a front surface to a rear surface and further including a shank extending from the rear surface to a threaded section; and   a nut mating with the threaded section after insertion of the shank of the bolt through the hole in the metal target and through the hanging strap,   wherein the front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered from a sidewall of the body of the bolt head to a central point to have a conical shape.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered at a taper angle in the range of 40 to 80 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the taper angle is about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the body is cylindrical in shape with a height in the range of 0.25 to 2.0 inches and with an outer diameter in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting bolt is formed of a metal with a Rockwell hardness in the range of 48 to 60 HRC. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting bolt is formed of a steel alloy that has been heat treated using localized selective depth induction hardening. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shank includes a blank section proximate to the threaded section and a section with three or more sides proximate to the bolt head and wherein the hole in the body of the metal target has a cross sectional shape configured for receiving the section with three or more sides of the shank. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a washer, wherein the rear surface of the body of the bolt head includes a centrally located counterbored surface configured for receiving the washer and wherein the counterbored surface has a depth less than a thickness of the washer. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the bolt head is cylindrical in shape and includes a tool access hole or recessed surface located between the front and rear surfaces, the tool access hole or recessed surface being shaped and sized to receive a portion of a tool used to restrain rotation of the mounting bolt while concurrently tightening the nut on the threaded section. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein, after assembling of the assembly is completed, the bolt head is oriented with the tool access hole or recessed surface proximate to a corner of the body of the metal target. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly for hanging metal shooting targets from a hanging strap, comprising:
 a metal target with a body having a hole extending through from a front surface to a rear surface; and   a mounting bolt including a head with a body extending from a front surface to a rear surface and further including a shank extending from the rear surface to a threaded section, the shank being configured for insertion in the hole of the metal target,   wherein the front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered from a sidewall of the body of the bolt head, and   wherein the front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered at a taper angle in the range of 40 to 80 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the taper angle is about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body is cylindrical in shape with a height in the range of 0.25 to 2.0 inches and with an outer diameter in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting bolt is formed of a metal with a Rockwell hardness in the range of 48 to 60 HRC. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting bolt is formed of a steel alloy that has been heat treated using localized selective depth induction hardening. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the shank includes a blank section proximate to the threaded section and a section with three or more sides proximate to the bolt head and wherein the hole in the body of the metal target has a cross sectional shape configured for receiving the section with three or more sides of the shank. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further including a washer, wherein the rear surface of the body of the bolt head includes a centrally located counterbored surface configured for receiving the washer and wherein the counterbored surface has a depth less than a thickness of the washer. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body of the bolt head is cylindrical in shape and includes a tool access hole or recessed surface located between the front and rear surfaces, the tool access hole or recessed surface being shaped and sized to receive a portion of a tool used to restrain rotation of the mounting bolt while concurrently tightening of a nut on the threaded section. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein, after assembling of the assembly is completed, the bolt head is oriented with the tool access hole or recessed surface proximate to a corner of the body of the metal target. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly for hanging a metal target from a hanging strap, comprising:
 a mounting bolt including a head with a body extending from a front surface to a rear surface and further including a shank extending from the rear surface to a threaded section; and   a nut mating with the threaded section after insertion of the shank of the bolt through a hole in the metal target and through the hanging strap,   wherein the front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered from a sidewall of the body of the bolt head to a central point to have a conical shape, and   wherein the front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered at a taper angle in the range of 40 to 80 degrees.   
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the taper angle is about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the body is cylindrical in shape with a height in the range of 0.25 to 2.0 inches and with an outer diameter in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the mounting bolt is formed of a metal with a Rockwell hardness in the range of 48 to 60 HRC. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the mounting bolt is formed of a steel alloy that has been heat treated using localized selective depth induction hardening. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the shank includes a blank section proximate to the threaded section and a section with three or more sides proximate to the bolt head and wherein the hole in the body of the metal target has a cross sectional shape configured for receiving the section with three or more sides of the shank. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 20 , further including a washer, wherein the rear surface of the body of the bolt head includes a centrally located counterbored surface configured for receiving the washer and wherein the counterbored surface has a depth less than a thickness of the washer. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the body of the bolt head is cylindrical in shape and includes a tool access hole or recessed surface located between the front and rear surfaces, the tool access hole or recessed surface being shaped and sized to receive a portion of a tool used to restrain rotation of the mounting bolt while concurrently tightening a nut on the threaded section.