Three dimensional archery target with replaceable target elements

1. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture and a chamber, the body segment extending around a portion of a perimeter of the chamber, wherein the target aperture is connected to the chamber within the body segment;

a cover secured to the body segment and substantially completing the perimeter of the chamber, the cover acting as a tension and compression member in combination with the body segment to reinforce the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture;

one or more bands surrounding a plurality of the planar target elements located in the chamber; and

a rigid or semi-rigid compression member distributing a compressive force generally across major surfaces of the planar target elements.

2. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the chamber applies at least a portion of the compressive force to the planar target elements.

3. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the cover applies at least a portion of the compressive force to the major surfaces of the planar target elements.

4. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the compression member comprises a surface on the cover.

5. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the body segment.

6. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the compression member comprises a non-planar surface compressively engaged with the major surfaces of the planar target elements.

7. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the compression member is located in the chamber.

8. The archery target of claim 1 comprising one or more displacement mechanisms adapted to displace the compression member into compressive engagement with the planar target elements located in the chamber.

9. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the compression member comprises a wedge shape.

10. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the cover is integrally formed with the body segment.

11. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the target face is substantially unobstructed by the cover.

12. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises at least one surface adapted to mechanically couple with the planar target elements.

13. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises first and second opposing surfaces adapted to frictionally engaged with the planar target elements.

14. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the one or more planar target elements comprise a replaceable target assembly.

15. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the side edges of the planar target elements are arranged generally horizontally within the chamber.

16. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the side edges of the planar target elements are arranged generally vertically within the chamber.

17. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the planar target elements comprise a foam.

18. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the one or more planar target elements comprises a plurality of discrete planar target elements.

19. The archery target of claim 1 comprising a pair of target apertures located on opposite sides of the body segment, wherein each of the target apertures are connected to the chamber.

20. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the body segment comprises at least three target apertures each connected to the chamber.

21. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the body segment comprises two generally perpendicular target apertures each connected to the chamber.

22. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the target face is generally coplanar with a portion of the outer surface adjacent to the target aperture.

23. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the body segment comprises a plurality of interconnected body segments.

24. The archery target of claim 1 comprising reinforcing members extending through the cover.

25. The archery target of claim 1 comprising reinforcing members extending substantially around the chamber.

26. The archery target of claim 1 wherein the body segment comprises foam.

27. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture, wherein the target aperture is connected to a chamber within the body segment, the body segment extending completely around a perimeter of the chamber to provide tension and compression reinforcement to the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chambers the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture, wherein a rigid or semi-rigid portion of the three-dimensional archery target distributes a compressive force generally across major surfaces of the planar target elements; and

one or more bands surrounding a plurality of the planar target elements located in the chamber providing at least a portion of the compressive force.

28. The archery target of claim 27 wherein the planar target elements comprise a shape that mechanically couples with the chamber.

29. The archery target of claim 27 wherein the body segment comprises a cover that distributes at least a portion of the compressive force.

30. The archery target of claim 29 comprising a compression member located in the chamber providing at least a portion of the compressive force.

31. The archery target of claim 30 wherein at least one of the bands surrounds the compression member and the plurality of planar target elements.

32. The archery target of claim 27 wherein the one or more planar target elements comprise a replaceable target assembly.

33. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture chamber, wherein the target aperture is connected to a chamber within the body segment, the body segment extending completely around a perimeter of the chamber to provide tension and compression reinforcement to the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber and subject to a compressive force on major surfaces thereof, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture;

a rigid or semi-rigid compression member distributing the compressive force generally across the major surfaces of the planar target elements; and

reinforcing members adapted to operate in tension and compression extending substantially around the perimeter of the chamber.

34. The archery target of claim 33 wherein a portion of the reinforcing members are located in a cover that extends along a portion of a perimeter of the chamber.

35. The archery target of claim 33 wherein the reinforcing members transmit at least a portion of the compressive force to the planar target elements.

36. The archery target of claim 33 comprising one or more bands surrounding a plurality of the planar target elements located in the chamber.

37. The archery target of claim 36 wherein at least one of the bands surrounds the compression member.

38. The archery target of claim 34 wherein the compression member comprises a surface on the cover.

39. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture, wherein the target aperture is connected to a chamber within the body segment, the body segment extending completely around a perimeter of the chamber to provide tension and compression reinforcement to the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture; and

a moveable rigid or semi-rigid displacement mechanism having a non-planar surface applying a compressive force generally across the major surfaces of the planar target elements.

40. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture and a chamber, the body segment extending around a portion of a perimeter of the chamber, wherein the target aperture is connected to the chamber within the body segment;

a cover pivotally attached to the body segment and substantially completing the perimeter of the chamber, the cover acting as a tension and compression member in combination with the body segment to reinforce the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture, wherein the target face is substantially unobstructed by the cover; and

a rigid or semi-rigid mechanism applying a compressive force generally across the major surfaces of the planar target elements.

41. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture, wherein the target aperture is connected to a chamber within the body segment, the body segment extending completely around a perimeter of the chamber to provide tension and compression reinforcement to the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber; and

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture, wherein a rigid or semi-rigid portion of the three-dimensional archery target comprising a non-planar surface applies a compressive force generally across major surfaces of the planar target elements.

42. The archery target of claim 41 wherein the body segment comprises a cover completing a portion of the perimeter of the chamber, the cover acting as a tension and compression member in combination with the body segment to reinforce the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber.

43. The archery target of claim 41 wherein at least a portion of the non-planarity of the rigid or semi-rigid portion arises from the compressive force.

44. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture chamber, wherein the target aperture is connected to a chamber within the body segment, the body segment extending completely around a perimeter of the chamber to provide tension and compression reinforcement to the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber and subject to a compressive force on major surfaces thereof, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture;

a rigid or semi-rigid compression member distributing the compressive force generally across the major surfaces of the planar target elements; and

reinforcing members molded in the body segment simulating an animal adapted to operate in tension and compression extending along at least a portion of the perimeter of the chamber.

45. The archery target of claim 44 wherein a portion of the reinforcing members comprise a cover that extends along a portion of a perimeter of the chamber.

46. The archery target of claim 44 comprising one or more bands surrounding a plurality of the planar target elements located in the chamber.

47. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture and a chamber, the body segment extending around a portion of a perimeter of the chamber, wherein the target aperture is connected to the chamber within the body segment;

a cover pivotally attached to the body segment and substantially completing the perimeter of the chamber, the cover acting as a tension and compression member in combination with the body segment to reinforce the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture; and

a rigid or semi-rigid compression member distributing a compressive force generally across major surfaces of the planar target elements.

48. A three-dimensional archery target comprising:

at least one three-dimensional body segment simulating an animal comprising an outer surface having at least one target aperture and a chamber, the body segment extending around a portion of a perimeter of the chamber, wherein the target aperture is connected to the chamber within the body segment;

a cover secured to the body segment and substantially completing the perimeter of the chamber, the cover acting as a tension and compression member in combination with the body segment to reinforce the three-dimensional archery target adjacent to the chamber;

one or more planar target elements located in the chamber, the planar target elements comprising a plurality of side edges forming a target face accessible through the target aperture; and

a rigid or semi-rigid compression member comprising a non-planar surface compressively engaged generally across major surfaces of the planar target elements.