Apr 21, 2026

US12607436 - System and method for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets

A system and method for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets at shooting ranges includes a net positioned horizontally above ground level to cover a target fall zone. The net has mesh openings sized to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged targets to pass through. The net forms a closed loop around parallel elongated front and rear rollers supported above ground by a plurality of fixed caster assemblies. A motor operatively coupled to at least one roller drives the net in a conveyor-like motion. Undamaged targets landing on the net are transported by the net to a collection area positioned adjacent to the front roller. The system may include friction strips on the rollers to enhance traction and a protective barrier shielding the collection area from stray shotgun pellets, thereby enabling recovery and reuse of targets that would otherwise break upon ground impact.

Inventors: Jimmy Brooks Tyner
Filing date: 2025-07-21

target_recoveryshooting_rangefrangible_targets

The patent describes a system for recovering undamaged frangible aerial targets at shooting ranges using a net that retains intact targets while allowing damaged ones to fall through. It features a conveyor-like mechanism with rollers and a collection area, designed to enhance target recovery and minimize breakage upon impact.

Claim 1

1 . A system for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets at a shooting range comprising: a net having mesh openings to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged frangible aerial targets to pass therethrough, the net positioned above ground level to cover at least a portion of a target fall zone; an elongated front roller and an elongated rear roller positioned substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein the net forms a closed loop around both elongated rollers; a plurality of support structures spaced along each respective elongated roller at predetermined intervals for supporting the respective elongated roller above ground level, wherein each of the plurality of support structures comprises a caster assembly, each caster assembly comprising a pair of fixed lower casters and a fixed upper caster, wherein the respective elongated roller is positioned between the pair of fixed lower casters and the fixed upper caster, wherein the predetermined intervals are approximately five feet along a length of each elongated roller; a motor operatively coupled at least to one of the elongated rollers to impart rotational motion; a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller for receiving undamaged frangible aerial targets from the net; and a plurality of elongated friction strips positioned longitudinally along a length of the elongated front roller and spaced approximately 120 degrees apart about a circumference of the elongated front roller. a net having mesh openings to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged frangible aerial targets to pass therethrough, the net positioned above ground level to cover at least a portion of a target fall zone; an elongated front roller and an elongated rear roller positioned substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein the net forms a closed loop around both elongated rollers; a plurality of support structures spaced along each respective elongated roller at predetermined intervals for supporting the respective elongated roller above ground level, wherein each of the plurality of support structures comprises a caster assembly, each caster assembly comprising a pair of fixed lower casters and a fixed upper caster, wherein the respective elongated roller is positioned between the pair of fixed lower casters and the fixed upper caster, wherein the predetermined intervals are approximately five feet along a length of each elongated roller; a motor operatively coupled at least to one of the elongated rollers to impart rotational motion; a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller for receiving undamaged frangible aerial targets from the net; and a plurality of elongated friction strips positioned longitudinally along a length of the elongated front roller and spaced approximately 120 degrees apart about a circumference of the elongated front roller.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12607436

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12607436