Handheld shooting target thrower

Abstract

A handheld target thrower, components thereof, and associated methods. In some embodiments, the target thrower includes a frame, a thrower, and a target holder that holds the target in position to be thrown by the thrower when the thrower moves relative to the target holder. In some embodiments, the target thrower includes a firing mechanism including a release actuator and a safety spaced apart from one another such that both hands of an operator are required to fire a target. In some embodiments, the target thrower includes one or more debris outlets that allow debris, such as from broken targets, that may enter the target thrower to migrate out of the target thrower so as to not disrupt the operation of the target thrower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld clay thrower assembly for throwing a clay target, the handheld clay thrower assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a throwing arm supported by the frame, the throwing arm being moveable relative to the frame from a first position to a second position to throw the clay target; and   a target holder arranged to hold the clay target relative to the throwing arm and to release the clay target to permit the throwing arm to throw the clay target when the throwing arm moves from the first position toward the second position, the throwing arm being moveable relative to the target holder as the throwing arm moves from the first position toward the second position to throw the clay target.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the target holder is arranged to hold the clay target against the throwing arm or in a position to be contacted by the throwing arm as the throwing arm moves from the first position toward the second position to throw the clay target. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a bed, the bed configured to permit the clay target to slide on the bed as the throwing arm moves from the first position toward the second position to throw the clay target. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the target holder includes a retainer opposing the bed, the retainer being resiliently deflectable away from the bed for gripping the clay target between the retainer and the bed. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the throwing arm is configured to deflect the retainer away from the bed to release the clay target as the throwing arm moves from the first position toward the second position to throw the clay target. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the throwing arm is disposed between the retainer and the bed in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the target holder includes a spring biasing the retainer toward the bed. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the target holder is moveable from an at-rest position to a deflected position by engagement of the clay target with the target holder. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a throwing spring supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the throwing arm for moving the throwing arm from the first position toward the second position to throw the clay target. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a bumper supported by the frame and arranged to be contacted by the throwing arm to position the throwing arm in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the throwing arm includes a throwing arm body configured to permit the clay target to roll along the throwing arm as the throwing arm moves from the first position toward the second position to throw the clay target. 
     
     
         12 . A handheld shooting target launcher assembly for launching a shooting target, the handheld shooting target launcher assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a launcher supported by the frame and moveable relative to the frame to launcher the shooting target;   a release actuator supported by the frame, the release actuator being actuatable to launch the shooting target with the launcher; and   a safety supported by the frame, the safety being actuatable to permit the release actuator to be actuated to launch the shooting target with the launcher, the safety and the release actuator being spaced apart from each other such that one hand of an operator cannot actuate the release actuator and the safety at the same time.   
     
     
         13 . The handheld shooting target launcher assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the release actuator is actuatable to launch the shooting target with the launcher only when the safety is being actuated. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld shooting target launcher assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the release actuator comprises a trigger. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld shooting target launcher assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the frame includes a first hand grip configured to be gripped by a first hand of the operator and a second hand grip configured to be gripped by a second hand of the operator, the release actuator being located relative to the first hand grip to be actuated by the first hand of the operator that grips the first hand grip, the safety being located relative to the second hand grip to be actuated by the second hand of the operator that grips the second hand grip. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld shooting target launcher assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second hand grip is forward of the first hand grip. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld shooting target launcher assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the frame includes a bed, the bed configured to permit the shooting target to slide on the bed as the launcher launches the shooting target, the first and second hand grips being located below the bed. 
     
     
         18 . The handheld shooting target launcher assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a linkage connecting the release actuator and the safety to one another, the linkage including a stop, the stop being positioned to engage the frame when the safety is in a non-actuated position to inhibit the release actuator from being actuated and positioned to permit actuation of the release actuator when the safety is actuated. 
     
     
         19 . A handheld clay thrower assembly for throwing a clay target, the handheld clay thrower assembly comprising:
 a frame including an interior;   a thrower supported by the frame and moveable relative to the frame to throw the clay target;   a release actuator supported by the frame, the release actuator being actuatable to release the thrower to throw the clay target, the release actuator at least partially located in the interior of the frame,   the frame including a debris outlet in fluid communication with the interior, the debris outlet being located at an elevation below the release actuator, the debris outlet arranged to permit debris in the interior to move out of the interior through the debris outlet and into the environment surrounding the handheld clay thrower assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The handheld clay thrower assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the debris outlet is located vertically below the release actuator.