IP Library Granted Patent US 10,619,979
Granted Patent B2
US 10,619,979 · App. 16/441,890 · Granted Apr 14, 2020

Flying target throwing equipment

Inventor: Stephen Edward Francez (Lafayette, LA)
F41J9/18F41J9/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,619,979
App. No.
16/441,890
Granted
Apr 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for launching a target having an arm motor a gear motor shaft coupled to the arm motor configured to rotate right and left rotating arms, and right and left target loading arms each having (1) a cam assembly coupled to a corresponding rotating arm and (2) and arm extension. The device includes a horizontal linear loader configured to hold a plurality of targets and a backstop, where one of the plurality of targets sits against the backstop, where the right and left loading arms via the corresponding arm extensions lift a target up from the backstop. The device includes an oscillation motor coupled to a throwing motor, the throwing motor being connected to a beak assembly configured to hold the lifted target, the oscillation motor turns the throwing motor, and the turning of the throwing motor spins the lifted target held on the beak assembly.

Claims (39)

1. A device for launching a target, comprising:

an elongated base having a front section, a mid-section, and a rear section and a left side and a right side;

an arm motor disposed at the front section of the base;

a gear motor shaft extending horizontally and being coupled to the arm motor, a right side of the gear motor shaft being connected to a right rotating arm extending vertically down from the gear motor shaft, and a left side of the gear motor shaft being connected to a left rotating arm extending vertically down from the gear motor shaft, wherein the arm motor is configured to rotate the gear motor shaft, and the gear motor shaft is configured to rotate the right and left rotating arms;

a right target loading aim and a left target loading arm, each loading arm extending above the front section of the base to above the mid-section of the base, each loading arm having a cam assembly coupled to a corresponding rotating arm, wherein an end of each loading aim closer to the mid-section of the base includes a corresponding arm extension;

a horizontal linear loader extending above the mid-section of the base to the rear section of the base, wherein the horizontal linear load is configured to hold a plurality of targets;

a backstop disposed near a first end of the linear loader near the mid-section of the base, wherein one of the plurality of targets is configured to sit against the backstop, wherein the right and left loading arms via the corresponding arm extensions are configured to lift a target up from the backstop;

an oscillation motor coupled to a bracket extending above the oscillation motor; and

a throwing motor coupled to the bracket and extending above the bracket, the throwing motor being connected to a beak assembly configured to hold the lifted target, wherein the oscillation motor is configured to turn the throwing motor, wherein the turning of the throwing motor is configured to spin the lifted target held on the beak assembly.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the linear loader comprises a pushing plate and a spring mechanism configured to push the plurality of targets up against the backstop, wherein responsive to the lifting of a target up from the backstop, the pushing plate and the spring mechanism pushes a next target in the plurality of targets against the backstop.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the loading arms each include corresponding slots, each of the loading arms is coupled to the base via the corresponding slot; wherein each of the slots includes a pivot point from which the corresponding loading arms pivots when raised and lowered.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein each arm extension comprises a hook configured to lift a target.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein each hook is configured to lift the target by hooking blades on the target.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the throwing motor is configured to spin the lifted target on the beak assembly via a linear actuator.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the throwing motor is configured to spin the target up to about 10,000 rotations per minute.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to release the spinning target from the beak assembly.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to release the spinning target responsive to a voice activation.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to release the spinning target responsive to a manual switch.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the throwing motor spins the lifted target on the beak assembly after the loading arms are lowered from a lifted position.

12. The device of claim 6 , wherein the loading arms lower to a starting point after the lifted target is disposed on the beak assembly.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the targets are helice targets.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the targets are clay targets.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the targets are plastic targets.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the linear loader uses an all thread to move targets to set against the backstop.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the beak assembly includes at least one stop configured to contact the lifted target.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the stop includes elastomeric material.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein a cover extends from and over the midsection of the base.

20. A method of operating a device for launching a target, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an elongated base having a front section, a mid-section, and a rear section and a left side and a right side; an arm motor disposed at the front section of the base; a gear motor shaft extending horizontally and being coupled to the arm motor, a right side of the gear motor shaft being connected to a right rotating arm extending vertically down from the gear motor shaft, and a left side of the gear motor shaft being connected to a left rotating arm extending vertically down from the gear motor shaft, wherein the aim motor is configured to rotate the gear motor shaft, and the gear motor shaft is configured to rotate the right and left rotating arms; a right target loading arm and a left target loading arm, each loading arm extending above the front section of the base to above the mid-section of the base, each loading arm having a cam assembly coupled to a corresponding rotating arm, wherein an end of each loading arm closer to the mid-section of the base includes a corresponding arm extension; a horizontal linear loader extending above the mid-section of the base to the rear section of the base, wherein the horizontal linear load is configured to hold a plurality of targets; a backstop disposed near a first end of the linear loader near the mid-section of the base, wherein one of the plurality of targets is configured to sit against the backstop, wherein the right and left loading arms via the corresponding arm extensions are configured to lift a target up from the backstop; an oscillation motor coupled to a bracket extending above the oscillation motor; and a throwing motor coupled to the bracket and extending above the bracket, the throwing motor being connected to a beak assembly configured to hold the lifted target, wherein the oscillation motor is configured to turn the throwing motor, wherein the turning of the throwing motor is configured to spin the lifted target held on the beak assembly;

(b) lifting the one of the plurality of targets with the left and right lifting arms;

(c) disposing the lifted target on the beak assembly; and

(d) spinning the lifted target via the throwing motor.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

(e) operating the linear actuator to release the spinning target from the beak assembly.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

(f) lifting a second of the plurality of targets with the left and right lifting arms;

(g) disposing the lifted second target on the beak assembly; and

(h) spinning the lifted second target via the throwing motor.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the throwing motor spins the lifted target on the beak assembly after lowering the loading arms from a lifted position.

Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62807450 · Feb 19, 2019
Provisional Application 62685109 · Jun 14, 2018
Related Publication 20190383587A1 · Dec 19, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,624,930