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US-20260126276-A1 - SHOOTING TARGET LAUNCHER

US20260126276A1US 20260126276 A1US20260126276 A1US 20260126276A1US-20260126276-A1

Abstract

A shooting target launcher, associated components and methods. The launcher spins one or more helicopter-like shooting targets to launch the targets. A target connector receives the targets. The target connector is rotated about an axis of rotation to rotate the targets about the axis of rotation. The targets have fan blades that, when rotated, propel the target through the air.

Inventors

  • Michael Lindsay
  • Daniel Jennings
  • Michael Cottrell
  • William A. Planck
  • Kyle Martin

Assignees

  • AOB PRODUCTS COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251219

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target having a central hub and a plurality of fan blades extending radially outward from the central hub, the shooting target launcher comprising: a housing; and a target connector supported by the housing and configured to receive the shooting target, the target connector being configured to be rotated about an axis of rotation to rotate the shooting target about the axis of rotation, the target connector being configured to engage the shooting target at a location on the shooting target that is radially outward of the central hub to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated.
  2. 2 . The shooting target launcher of claim 1 , wherein the target connector is configured to engage one or more of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated.
  3. 3 . The shooting target launcher of claim 2 , wherein the target connector includes a blade engagement surface configured to engage one fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated.
  4. 4 . The shooting target launcher of claim 3 , wherein the blade engagement surface is angled to generally correspond to a pitch angle of said one fan blade.
  5. 5 . The shooting target launcher of claim 3 , wherein the blade engagement surface is a first blade engagement surface and said one fan blade is a first fan blade, and wherein the target connector includes a second blade engagement surface configured to engage a second fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated.
  6. 6 . The shooting target launcher of claim 1 , wherein the target connector is configured to apply a forward axial force to the shooting target to push the shooting target forward off the target connector to launch the shooting target.
  7. 7 . The shooting target launcher of claim 6 , wherein the target connector is configured to engage one or more of the fan blades of the shooting target to apply the forward axial force to the shooting target to push the shooting target forward off the target connector to launch the shooting target.
  8. 8 . The shooting target launcher of claim 7 , wherein the target connector includes a blade launch surface configured to engage one fan blade of the shooting target to apply the forward axial force to the shooting target to push the shooting target forward off the target connector to launch the shooting target.
  9. 9 . The shooting target launcher of claim 8 , wherein the blade launch surface is angled to generally correspond to a pitch of said one fan blade.
  10. 10 . The shooting target launcher of claim 8 , wherein the blade launch surface is a first blade launch surface and said one fan blade is a first fan blade, and wherein the target connector includes a second blade launch surface configured to engage a second fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to apply the forward axial force to the shooting target to push the shooting target forward off the target connector to launch the shooting target.
  11. 11 . The shooting target launcher of claim 1 , wherein the target connector includes a blade engagement surface and a blade launch surface, the blade engagement surface being configured to engage a first fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated, the blade launch surface being configured to engage the first fan blade or a different fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to apply a forward axial force to the shooting target to push the shooting target forward off the target connector to launch the shooting target.
  12. 12 . The shooting target launcher of claim 1 , wherein the target connector includes a plurality of petals circumferentially spaced apart about the axis of rotation, the plurality of petals configured to engage respective fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated.
  13. 13 . The shooting target launcher of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of petals is configured to facilitate retaining the shooting target with the target connector.
  14. 14 . The shooting target launcher of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of petals is configured to facilitate launching the shooting target off the target connector.
  15. 15 . The shooting target launcher of claim 14 , wherein each petal is oriented at an angle to generally correspond to a pitch of the respective fan blades.
  16. 16 . The shooting target launcher of claim 15 , wherein each petal includes a blade engagement surface and a blade launch surface, each blade engagement surface being configured to engage one fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated, each blade launch surface being configured to engage another fan blade of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to apply a forward axial force to the shooting target to push the shooting target forward off the target connector to launch the shooting target.
  17. 17 . The shooting target launcher of claim 12 , wherein the target connector includes a nose portion sized and shaped to be received in a central opening of the central hub of the shooting target, the petals being disposed radially outward of the nose portion.
  18. 18 . The shooting target launcher of claim 12 , wherein the target connector includes a base, each petal of the plurality of petals extending from the base.
  19. 19 . The shooting target launcher of claim 1 , further comprising a target retainer configured to retain the shooting target with the target connector, the target retainer moveable between a retaining configuration where the target retainer is arranged to retain the shooting target with the target connector and a release configuration where the target retainer is arranged to permit the shooting target to fly off the target connector.
  20. 20 . The shooting target launcher of claim 1 , further comprising a prime mover supported by the housing and configured to rotate the target connector about the axis of rotation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/345,178, filed Sep. 30, 2025, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/700,911, filed Sep. 30, 2024, to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/707,939, filed Oct. 16, 2024, to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/710,747, filed Oct. 23, 2024, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/714,248, filed Oct. 31, 2024, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to shooting sports, and more particularly to target launchers for launching or firing shooting targets. BACKGROUND Shooting target launchers launch shooting targets, sometimes called clays or clay pigeons, into the air to be shot by a firearm, such as a shotgun. Shooting target launchers that launch clay pigeons are also called throwers (e.g., shooting target throwers, clay throwers, clay pigeon throwers, etc.). SUMMARY In one aspect, a shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target comprises a housing and a target connector configured to receive the shooting target. The target connector is configured to be rotated about an axis of rotation to rotate the shooting target for launching. A target retainer is configured to retain the shooting target with the target connector. The target retainer is moveable between a retaining configuration where the target retainer is arranged to retain the shooting target with the target connector and a release configuration where the target retainer is arranged to permit the shooting target to launch off the target connector. Wherein at least one of: i) the target retainer is configured to be moveable to the release configuration by rotation of the target connector; ii) the shooting target launcher is free of a prime mover dedicated for moving the target retainer between the retaining configuration and the release configuration; or iii) the target retainer is configured to be free of discrete control to move the target retainer to the release configuration when the target connector is rotating to rotate the shooting target for launching. In another aspect, a shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target having a central hub and a plurality of fan blades extending radially outward from the central hub comprises a housing and a target connector supported by the housing. The target connector is configured to receive the shooting target. The target connector is configured to be rotated about an axis of rotation to rotate the shooting target about the axis of rotation. The target connector is configured to engage the shooting target at a location on the shooting target that is radially outward of the central hub to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated. In another aspect, a shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target having a plurality of fan blades comprises a housing and a target connector supported by the housing. The target connector is configured to receive the shooting target. The target connector is configured to be rotated about an axis of rotation to rotate the shooting target about the axis of rotation. The target connector is configured to engage one or more of the plurality of fan blades of the shooting target to drive rotation of the shooting target with the target connector as the target connector is rotated. In another aspect, a shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target comprises a housing and a motor supported by the housing. A target connector is configured to receive the shooting target. The target connector is configured to be rotated by the motor about an axis of rotation to rotate the shooting target about the axis of rotation. A launch control system is configured for sensorless motor control of the motor to launch the shooting target from the target connector after the target connector and the shooting target reach a desired rotational launch speed. In another aspect, a shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target comprises a housing and a prime mover supported by the housing. A target connector is configured to receive the shooting target. The target connector is configured to be rotated by the prime mover about an axis of rotation to rotate the shooting target about the axis of rotation. A launch control system is configured to operate the prime mover to rotate the target connector and the shooting target about the axis of rotation. The launch control system is configured to launch the shooting target from the target connector by decelerating or slowing the rotation of the target connector. In another aspect, a shooting target launcher for launching a shooting target comprises a housing and a prime mover supported by the housing. A target connector is configured to receive the shooting target. The target connector is configured to be rotated by the prime mover about an axis o