US3526972A - Marksman's practicing device - Google Patents

Description

H. C. SUMPF Sewn.

' S PRACTICING DEVICE MARKSMAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1968 HANS C. SUMF INVENTC ATmRNE Sept 9 R970 H. c. SUMPF MARKSMAN'S PRACTICING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 18, 1968 m NS c. SUMPF IN [/5 N TOR ATTORNEYS 3,526,972 MARKSMANS PRACTICIN G DEVICE Hans C. Sumpf, 2393 W. Bar-stow,

ABSTCT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marksmans practicing device for use as an attachment on a shotgun or the like providing a casing adapted to be borne by the barrel of the shotgun having a light source disposed therein including a trigger-actuated switch to energize the light source momentarily to produce a light beam within the casing, and beam directing means disposed within the casing for projecting said light beam coaxially outwardly from the barrel of the gun, said attachment being susceptible to use by a marksman with a gun, to which he is accustomed and with which he wishes to become more proficient, without substantially changing the weight or balance of the gun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Target practice with live ammunition at moving targets such as clay pigeons and the like during trap and skeet shooting has become increasingly popular both as a practice aid and as a sport in itself. Heretofore, such sport has only been practiced at specially constructed shooting ranges or in the field by using portable target launching devices. These practicing mechanisms cannot, of course, be used in urban areas where it is unlawful and exceedingly dangerous to discharge firearms of any kind. Furthermore, the sport is prohibitively costly for many sportsmen because of the substantial number of targets and shells required for a normal practice session.

While other practicing devices have been devised for marksmen, they have involved the utilization of simulated guns which have not matched the weight, balance, size, shape or proportions of the marksmens own guns. Thus, there has been little transfer of the skill or learning acquired by use of the practicing devices to the marksmens own guns. This has not only minimized the effectiveness of such practice but has seriously restricted the enjoyment of it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a marksmans practicing device which may be used in the home or in the field.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which is adapted to be used as an attachment on the sportsmans own gun to which he desires to become more thoroughly accustomed and expert in use.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which permits a marksman to practice simulated firing with a gun he subsequently intends to use with live ammunication.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device that can be utilized by a marksman with a gun, with which he is accustomed and with which he desires to become more proficient, without substantially impairing or modifying the weight or balance of the gun.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which is readily adapted to any gauge shotgun with a minimum of modification.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which alfords a virtually inexhaustible number of firing simulations or sequences without requiring the usual reloading operation and which firing sequences are not 3,526,972 Patented Sept. 8, lll'l'll limited to the cartridge capacity of the particular gun on which the practicing device is mounted.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which utilizes an electrically energized strobe light disposed within an elongated tubular casing which is easily and conveniently mounted within the barrel of a shotgun.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing revice in which said strobe light is energized by actuation of the trigger of the gun to project a light beam from the gun toward a light sensitive target.

Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which includes light beam directing means spaced from the strobe light in the casing to project the light beam precisely coaxially from the gun barrel.

' Another object is to provide a marksmans practicing device which utilizes a lightweight self-contained power pack for the strobe light which is easily and conveniently carried around the waist of a marksman for portable use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a shotgun equipped with the marksmans practicing device of the present invention together with a light sensitive target.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged central longitudinal section through the barrel of the shotgun of FIG. 1, showing the casing tube of the marksmans practicing device mounted within the barrel.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the muzzle end of the gun barrel and casing tube, taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the breach end of the gun barrel and casing tube, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged substantially horizontal section through the trigger and guard of the shotgun showing a microswitch disposed thereon for energizing the strobe light within the barrel.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of a compressibleexpandable adapter for the breach end of the casing tube.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the casing tube removed from the barrel of the gun.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical power and control circuit for the strobe light Within the casing tube.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT :Referring more particularly to the drawings, a marksmans practicing device embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 installed upon a conventional shotgun 11. The shotgun and marksmans practicing device are frequently employed in connection with a light sensitive target, generally indicated by the reference numeral 12, having a bulls-eye 14 formed by a selenium cell or the like which may be installed in a stationary position or constructed for movement in a random or flight imitating path, as may be desired. The selenium cell is connected by a pair of electrical lead lines 15 and 16 to an audio visual signal device 18 to indicate a hit upon the target 12.

The marksmans practicing device 10 provides an elongated barrel 21. The barrel has a bore 23 therein having opposite breach and muzzle ends 24 and 25, respectively. It is noted that the muzzle end of the bore is normally constricted to provide a somewhat smaller diameter than the diameter of the bore at the opposite breach end to provide a choke for confining the shot discharged therefrom in the usual manner. The shotgun further includes a firing trigger 27 protected by a trigger guard 28.

The marksmans practicing device provides an elongated cylindrical casing tube 30 of a somewhat smaller diameter than the bore 23 of the barrel 21. The casing tube is constructed of a suitable rigid dielectric material and includes opposite forward and rearward ends 32 and 33, respectively. The casing tube is constrained in substantially concentric relation within the bore 23 of the barrel 21 by an annular adapted ring 35 disposed in circumscribing relation about the forward end 32 in slidably fitted relation to the muzzle end 25 of the bore. An adapter ring 36 is mounted on the rearward end 33 of the casing tube and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced involutely formed leaves 37 extended therefrom which, as best shown in FIG. 4, engage the bore 23 precisely to hold the casing tube in the described concentrically centered relation therein. The leaves are manually collapsible during insertion of the casing tube within the bore so as to pass through the constricted muzzle end 25 thereof.

A strobe light bulb 40 is disposed within the casing tube 30 intermediate its ends and provides a filament 41 and a mounting base 42. The base is mounted on the forward end of an elongated cylindrical bulb-charging cartridge 45 disposed within the casing tube adjacent to its rearward end 33 and the breach end 24 of the bore 23. The bulb-charging cartridge is indicated by the dashed lines on the right-hand side of FIG. 8 and contains a conventional capacitor circuit of well-known construction. The strobe light and the bulb-charging cartridge are supplied electrical current from a portable power pack, generally indicated by the reference numeral 50, which is represented by dashed lines in FIG. 8 at the left-hand side of the drawing. The bulbwharging cartridge and the power pack are interconnected by three electrically conductive lines 52, 53 and 54. As best shown in FIG. 2, these lines are embedded in the casing tube 30 for longitudinal extension therethrough from the bulb-charging cartridge to a five-way receptacle 57 mounted in the forward end 32 of the casing tube. A five-pronged male plug 58 is releasably connected to the five-way receptacle and an elongated cable sheath 60 extended therefrom for housing continuances of the lead lines for their connection with the power pack 50.

The cable sheath 60 has a branch tube 61 containing a pair of leads 62 and 63 connected to the bulb-charging cartridge through the five-way receptacle 57 and male plug 58. The leads 62 and 63 are connected to a microswitch 64 which is mounted on the trigger guard 28 behind the trigger 27 by a V-shaped magnetic clip or bracket 65 for engagement by the trigger when actuated to a firing position.

The power pack 50 includes a housing 66 which has a belt 67 for mounting the pack on the waist of the marksman. An elongated electrical cord 68 having a male plug 69 on the end thereof is extended from the housing for connection to a conventional house circuit receptacle, not shown, for supplying 117 volt AC current to the power pack for operating and battery-charging purposes. The power pack further includes an on-off switch 70 and a signal light 72 for visually determining when the power pack is in operation by either the employment of the house current plug 67 or a battery 75 alternatively provided in the circuit of the power pack.

A plurality of light beam directing baflles are mounted within the casing tube 30 in axially spaced relation between the strobe light bulb 40 and the forward end 32 of the tube. The baflles individually include a relatively small diameter hole 82 therethrough. The holes are precisely aligned and are disposed in precise concentric relation about the longitudinal axis of the casing tube and of the bore 23 of the barrel 21.

4 OPERATION The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. In order to adapt the shotgun 11 for target practice within the home or other area where the use of conventional firearms is prohibited, the flexible leaves 37 of the adapter ring 36 are manually collapsed and inserted into the muzzle end 25 of the bore 23 of the shotgun barrel 21. As the casing tube is moved relatively rearwardly through the bore, the flexible leaves automatically expand in continuous engagement with the inside diameter of the bore. As the casing tube reaches its fully inserted position, the adapter ring 35 on the forward end of the casing tube is slidably received within the muzzle end of the bore and the adapter ring 36 is disposed at the breach end 24 of the bore with the rings precisely locating the casing tube in concentric coaxial relation with the bore of the barrel. It is noted that adapter rings of various sizes can be provided to fit different gauges of shotguns. The male plug 58 on the cable sheath 60 is connected to the five-way receptacle 57 at the end of the casing tube and the microswitch 64 is mounted on the trigger guard 28 of the gun behind the trigger 27. This is accomplished by sliding the magnetic clamp over the trigger guard so as dependably to hold the microswitch in position to be engaged by the trigger during rearward movement to its usual firing position.

The power pack 50 can be rested upon a suitable support surface when the use of the shotgun 11 is confined to a particularly small area or to a single firing station. Alternatively, the power pack may be carried on the waist of the marksman by utilization of the belt 67 when ,the practicing device is used in the field to permit firing from different locations or from widely spaced firing stations. In such situation, where no external power supply is available, the battery is automatically utilized by the circuit to supply the necessary power for operating the strobe light bulb 40.

Prior to use, the on-otf switch 70 is moved to its on position to light the signal lamp 72 to indicate that the gun is in condition for firing. The target 12 is assembled in any convenient location and is powered independently of the marksmans practicing device from a source, not shown. During use, the shotgun 11 is held in the identical manner as it would if live ammunition were being used during a practice session on a shooting range or during a game in the field. The trigger 27 is actuated rearwardly to engage the microswitch 64 to complete the circuit through the lead lines 62 and 63 to energize the strobe light bulb 40. Upon such energization, the strobe light bulb provides a momentary light beam projected forwardly through the casing tube 30. Such light beam is confined for projection through the small holes 82 in the bafiles 80 precisely aligning the light beam and projecting it coaxially outwardly from the barrel toward the target 12. If aimed correctly, the light beam will strike the selenium cell 14 which energizes the audio visual signal 18 to indicate a bulls-eye. Upon release of the trigger 27, the bulb-charging system within the cartridge 45 immediately develops another charge which is available for the next firing sequence. Accordingly, a continuous supply of power is available for each successive firing sequence without any restriction or limitation imposed by the usual cartridge capacity of the particular shotgun being used.

When the shotgun 11 is used within the home or other confined practice site, the target 12 can be replaced by utilizing a simple light source such as a flashlight or the like to shine a target spot upon the walls of a room. The flashlight would be manipulated by another person to remove the target spot in a random or flight imitating track upon the walls. The marksman trains the shotgun 11 in tracking relation on the target spot and by pulling the trigger 27 actuates the strobe light bulb 40 within the barrel 21 to project a spot of light on the wall intended to coincide with the target spot. Any deviation from the target spot is, of course, immediately discernible. As will also be apparent, a moving picture can be utilized to provide a surprise target, such a flying bird of a running animal, and the attachment of the present invention employed to illuminate the point of simulated bullet impact.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention provides an improved marksmans practicing device which can be used in the home or in the field and which precisely simulates the firing of live ammunition at a target. The device provides a virtually unlimited number of firing sequences at practically no expense other than the initial cost of the practicing device. It is easily and conveniently adapted to virtually any size or gauge of shotgun so that the sportsmans own gun can be utilized whereby he may become more thoroughly accustomed and expert in its use.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom wtihin the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A marksmans practicing device, for use as an attachment on a shotgun or the like having a trigger mechanism and a barrel with a bore having a breech end of a predetermined diameter and an opposite constricted choked muzzle end of a somewhat reduced diameter, comprising a casing providing an elongated cylindrical tube adapted to be received within the bore of the barrel of such a shotgun; a light source disposed within said casing; an electrical system providing a power source connected to said light source and including switch means mounted on the gun actuatable by said trigger mechanism to energize said light source momentarily to produce a light beam within the casing; beam directing means disposed within said casing contraining said light beam to projection longitudinally from said barrel of the gun, said casing tube having an outer diameter smaller than said muzzle end of the bore in the barrel and including opposite ends individually disposed at said breach and muzzle ends of the bore when fully inserted therein; and adapter means on said opposite ends of the casing tube slidably fitted to their respective ends of the bore in the barrel with said adapter means at said breach end being manually collapsible to slide through the muzzle end during assembly and automatically expandable during movement toward said breach end to hold the casing tube substantially concentrically within the bore of the barrel.

2. The marksmans practicing device of claim 11 in which said adapter means at said breach end of the barrel bore comprises an annular ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced involutely formed leaves extended therefrom for radially flexing between said collapsed and expanded positions.

3. A marksmans practicing device, adapted as an attachment for mounting within the bore of the barrel of a shotgun or the like having a trigger and guard assembly with said bore having a breach end of a predetermined diameter and an opposite constricted choked muzzle end of a somewhat reduced diameter, comprising an elongated cylindrical casing tube having an outer diameter smaller than said muzzle end of the bore and including opposite end individually corresponding to said breach and muzzle ends of the bore; a pair of adapter rings individually mounted in circumscribing relation on said ends of the casing tube being slidably fitted within their respective ends of the bore, said adapter ring at said breach end of the bore having a plurality of circumferentially spaced involutely formed integral leaves extended therefrom manually collapsible to slide through said muzzle end of the bore and being automatically expandable during movement toward said breach end substantially precisely concentrically to hold the casing tube within the bore; a strobe light bulb mounted within said casing tube adjacent to said breach end of the bore; an electrical system providing a power source connected to said strobe light bulb and including a microswitch for energizing said strobe light bulb momentarily to produce a light beam within the casing tube; means mounting said microswitch on said trigger guard behind the trigger for engagement thereby upon actuation of the trigger; and beam directing means disposed within said casing tube in axially spaced relation to said strobe light adjacent to said muzzle end of the bore for projecting said light beam coaxially outwardly from said barrel of the gun toward said light sensitive target.

4. The marksmans practicing device of claim 3 in which said beam directing means comprises a plurality of bafile plates individually having aligned beam projecting holes formed therethrough in precisely coaxial relation to the bore of the barrel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,383 4/1937 Foisy 35-25 X 2,894,117 7/1959 Koskey 273-101.1 X 2,928,190 3/1960 Evans 35-25 2,968,877 1/1961 Becher 35-25 3,214,173 10/1965 Vidal 273--101.1 3,240,924 3/1966 Darby 27310l.1 X

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner P. V. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 240--6.41; 273101.1

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