Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: Modular shooting range.
Description
The present invention relates to a modular shooting range
comprising a plurality of interconnecting units, each constituted by either a
shipping
container, a construction comprising shipping container parts, or an
engineered
construction.
Known shooting ranges generally comprise permanent facilities
constructed on site. These shooting ranges may be either constructed outdoors
or
indoors. For outdoor shooting ranges permanent shooting stations, target
areas,
bullet stops, etc. are constructed on a large area of land. Although these
outdoor
shooting ranges are construed with safety being the primary consideration,
still
bystanders or participants may be hurt by bullets or the like flying around as
these
bullets may not be captured by a bullet trap system.
Indoor shooting ranges are usually construed inside a building
structure like a bunker or the like. These indoor shooting ranges are
typically closed,
i.e. surrounded by walls capable of withstanding the impact of bullets fired.
A
disadvantage of such indoor shooting ranges is that they are stationary, and
therefore non-flexible.
A known shooting range system is further disclosed in European
patent application EP 2 698 480. Here, two or more pre-engineered shipping
containers are disclosed, wherein each shipping container constitutes a firing
lane.
That is, the length of the elongated shipping container is used as the firing
direction,
wherein a user shoots from one end inside the shipping container towards
targets
.. installed at the other end inside the shipping container. By aligning two
or more pre-
engineered shipping containers next to each other, multiple shooting lanes are
construed such that multiple users are able to target practice at the same
time.
The drawback of such a known shooting range system is that there
is not enough flexibility for creating shooting range systems according to a
variety of
requirements.
As such, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a
modular shooting range system which is flexible and non-stationary such that
the
modular shooting range system may be deployed in a relative short period of
time,
and according to a variety of pre-requirements.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide for
interconnecting units which may be connected to each other to form a single
shooting range.
The object of the present invention is achieved in that there is
provided a modular shooting range comprised of a plurality of interconnecting
units,
said interconnecting units each constituted by an elongated shipping
container, said
interconnecting units comprising:
one front unit being at least substantially open at only one of the
opposite long sides thereof, wherein said front unit comprises a conditioning
system
for providing an air flow in said modular shooting range,
one bullet trap unit comprising a bullet trap system arranged for
trapping bullets fired, said bullet trap unit being at least substantially
open at only
one of the opposite long sides thereof,
a plurality of extension units for extending a length of said shooting
range, each of said plurality of extension units being at least substantially
open at
both of the opposite long sides thereof,
wherein said interconnecting units are connected to each other via
said open long sides, and wherein said plurality of extension units are
arranged
between said front unit and said bullet trap unit thereby forming a
substantially
closed, air-tight shooting range such that said air flow from said
conditioning system
is laminar across said shooting range.
The present invention is based on the insight that a flexible, non-
stationary modular shooting range is provided in case it is construed by a
plurality of
interconnecting units, i.e. one front unit, one bullet trap unit and a
plurality of
extension units. Using these different types of units, a modular shooting
range may
be construed of any length. As such, the modular shooting range is especially
advantageous for situations where temporary or semi-permanent shooting ranges
are desired, or where special trainings facilities are required. Further, the
modular
shooting range may be deployed in situations where an existing, indoor,
shooting
range is being renovated or otherwise cannot be used.
In accordance with the present invention, the interconnecting units
are prefabricated units, meaning that these units merely need to be connected
to
each other for creating said shooting range. As such, in situ, i.e. on the
place where
the shooting range is to be created, each of the interconnecting units do not
need to
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be assembled as such. The interconnecting units merely need to be connected to
each other.
Once the interconnecting units are connected to each other, an air-
tight shooting range is created. The advantage hereof is that the air flow
from the
conditioning system is laminar across the shooting range. This means that the
flow
rate is uniform over the width and the height of the shooting range.
The length of the modular shooting range may be extended or
shortened by adding, or removing, extension units. Typically, the width of
these
shipping containers units are about 2 ¨ 3 meters, such that the length of the
modular
shooting range system may be amended by lengths of these 2 ¨ 3 meters.
The total length of the modular shooting range is usually around 20
¨ 50 meters, such that about 7 ¨ 18 extension units may be interconnected via
their
open long sides to provide for such a total length.
An advantage of the modular shooting range according to the
present invention is that even after the shooting range is installed, the
length thereof
may be amended by removing or adding extension units to the shooting range.
A further advantage of the present invention is that, due to the
modular system and the use of either a shipping container, a construction
comprising
shipping container parts, or an engineered construction, the transport of the
modular
shooting range is made more simple. The units may be transported by ship,
train,
truck or the like.
An even further advantage of the modular shooting range according
to the present invention is that the shooting range may be deployed or removed
within a short period of time.
A yet further example of the present invention is that the shooting
range may be adapted even when the shooting range has already been deployed.
Due to the modularity of the whole system, adding an extension unit, for
example, is
made relatively simple.
In the context of the present application, at least substantially open
at only one of the opposite long sides thereof means, in case of a shipping
container
for example, that one of the long sides of the shipping container is removed.
This so
called open long side is then used for connecting a further interconnecting
unit using
an open long side of that further interconnecting unit. The term at least
substantially
open at only one of the opposite long sides thereof further entails that the
three sides
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which are considered not to be open, i.e. the opposite long side, and the two
short
sides, are substantially closed in such a way that bullets fired can not
penetrate via
these sides to the outdoors.
The so called closed sides of the interconnecting units may, for
example, comprise a door, window, ventilation vent or the like. Such a door,
window,
ventilation vent is arranged to be bullet proof.
In an example, the interconnecting units are interconnected to each
other via said open long sides in an air-tight manner.
Hereto, the interconnecting units may comprise a sealing member,
such as a rubber or the like, along a circumference edge of the open long
sides. In
order to connect two adjacent interconnecting units, one of these two adjacent
interconnecting units may be provided with the sealing member.
In another example, the interconnecting units each comprise
coupling means for provided said air-tight coupling between said
interconnecting
units.
Various types of coupling means may be provided for creating the
air-tight coupling between the interconnecting units, such as a bridge-clamp,
twistlock, stacker, or the like.
In a further example, the front unit comprises an air ventilation
system arranged for providing said shooting range with fresh air.
In yet another example, the air ventilation system is arranged for
providing said fresh air uniformly distributed over a width, and height, of
said
shooting range.
Here, the air ventilation system may be arranged for providing said
fresh air via a plenum space provided in a ceiling or wall of said front unit,
in a
continues flow.
The ventilation system may comprise a heating and/or air
conditioning system and/or an air filtering system, optionally with additional
fans,
which can either cool or heat air that is directed into the interior of the
modular
shooting range via the plenum space. The air, and the gasses and particles
generated through the use of the shooting range, may be removed from the
interior
of the shooting range and filtered using a filter and vents comprised in the
bullet trap
unit or in the back unit at the end of the shooting range. Such a ventilation
system
thus provides the shooting range with fresh air.
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In an even further example, at least a substantial part of inner sides
of two opposite short sides of at least one of said extension units are
arranged with
bullet resistant material and/or bullet proof material. Also the floor and
ceiling of the
extension unit may be arranged with bullet resistant material and/or bullet
proof
5 material.
It is noted that the extension units are always arranged to be bullet
proof, which means that it is not possible for a bullet to penetrate the
closed short
sides to the outside. The advantage of at least a substantial part of inner
sides of the
two opposite short sides of the at least one of the extension units are
arranged with
bullet resistant material and/or bullet proof material is that the modular
shooting
range may be used for advanced shooting training.
For example, traditionally, a person shoots from one side of the
shooting range, i.e. standing within the front unit, towards the bullet
catcher present
at the other side of the shooting range. Using the present example, a training
sequence may be developed in which the person walks around in the shooting
range, and not only shoots bullets towards the bullet catcher, but also to the
side, i.e.
towards the short sides of the extension units. This provides the benefit,
amongst
other, that more realistic real time scenario's may be trained.
As such, also the short sides of the extension units may be
equipped with a bullet catcher.
A bullet resistant material is a material capable of stopping or
considerable slowing down a bullet, a bullet fragment or similar high velocity
projectiles.
A bullet resistant material may, for example, comprise rubber,
synthetic rubber, synthetic materials, synthetic fibers or composite
materials.
A bullet proof material is a material capable of stopping, deforming,
fragmenting and/or deflecting a bullet, a bullet fragment or similar high
velocity
projectiles.
Bullet proof materials may be complex, such as aramid fibers,
.. polyethylene fibers, poly-carbonate, carbon fiber and other composite
materials, or
they may be basic and simple, such as titanium or steel. The latter is, for
example,
already provided by the walls of a shipping container.
It may be advantageous to arrange the above mentioned sides with
bullet proof material as, in practice, the available material does not provide
complete
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protection against all types of bullets or bullet fragments and/or multiple
hits in the
same location. A bullet resistant material may be placed in front of the
bullet proof
material in order to prevent bullets or bullet fragments, caused by bullets
fragmenting
on impact on the bullet proof material, to be bounced back into the shooting
range.
This thus provides for additional safety for the persons using the
shooting range.
The inventors noted that an advanced shooting range is construed
in case a user is able to freely move along the interior of the shooting
range. As
such, the user is not limited to the interior space provided by the one front
unit. This
provides the additional benefit that the user may be trained for situations in
which he
or she is needed to quickly turn, to their left or right, to shoot at targets
not provided
in the direction right in front of the front unit but also at angles varying
from 90
degrees to 180 degrees to even 270 degrees or more in the horizontal plane.
The
shooting range is construed to safely withstand the impact of bullets or
projectiles
fired into the floor or into the ceiling, i.e. the floor and/or the ceiling
may comprise a
bullet catcher or bullet trap system.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide for means to utilize
moveable walls and/or walls that comprise a door opening, a window or the like
with
the purpose of extending the training possibilities and situations in which
the user
needs to practice. The walls are construed to be safely used inside a shooting
range
and may comprise bullet proof and/or bullet resistant materials.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide for means to
install targets systems, for example reactive targets, static targets,
projected targets,
video targets and/or momentary targets in the module shooting range. For the
operating of these target systems a computer system may be provided.
In an example, the bullet trap system comprises a rubber lamella
trap or a steel lamella trap or a rubber block trap for dissipating and
absorbing a
velocity of said bullets fired.
The bullet trap system is arranged to change the forward inertia and
velocity of the fired bullets or projectiles to an extent that allows gravity
or
mechanical deflection to force the bullets or projectiles to drop into a
collecting bin or
to absorb the fired bullets or projectiles.
In a further example, the interconnecting units further comprise a
back unit comprising coupling means for coupling said back unit to said bullet
trap
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unit via a closed long sides of said bullet trap unit, wherein said back unit
comprises
an air suction system arranged for suctioning air having gasses and particles
generated through the use of the shooting range, out of the shooting range.
In another example, the back unit is comprised in the bullet trap unit.
In an example, a utility unit comprises a generator for generating
electrical energy wherein the utility unit comprises coupling means for
coupling the
utility unit to one or more interconnecting units for distributing the
generated
electrical energy over the shooting range. As such, electricity may be
obtained in the
interconnecting units due to the subsequent electrical coupling means.
In an example, the interconnecting units further comprise a utility
unit comprising coupling means for coupling said utility unit to an
interconnecting unit
via a long side of said utility unit, wherein said utility unit comprises an
generator for
generating electrical energy.
Here, the coupling means of said interconnecting units may further
be arranged for distributing said generated electrical energy over said
shooting
range. As such, an electrical connection between the interconnecting units is
made
via the coupling means. As such, electricity may be obtained in the front unit
due to
the subsequent interconnected units via their coupling means.
In a further example, the conditioning system is arranged to provide
a pressure in said shooting range for sucking air out of said shooting range.
In yet another example, at least one of said interconnecting
comprises solar panels for generating electrical energy.
In a further example, the interconnecting unit further comprise an
advanced top unit having a connection cut out in the floor of said advanced
top unit
for connecting said top unit to one of said interconnecting units, wherein
said one of
said interconnecting units having a connection cut in the ceiling of said one
of said
interconnecting unit for connecting to said advanced top unit.
Here, the advanced top unit may be connected aligned with the
interconnecting units, or may be oriented perpendicular to the interconnecting
units.
The modular shooting range may comprise a plurality of advanced
top units.
The advantage of an advanced top unit is that the shooting range
may be used for simulating more advanced situations. As such, as user may
freely
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move along the shooting range, move up to the advanced top unit, and perform
any
sort of target practice.
The advanced top unit may further be connected to any of the
interconnecting units like the extension units, the back unit, the front unit,
the bullet
trap unit such that a modular shooting range is provided, which shooting range
has
two, or more, levels, i.e. floors.
In an example, the interconnecting units are each constituted by
units having a same length, and/or different widths.
In a preferred example, the interconnecting units can be constructed
with outer dimensions resembling an intermodal container.
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box. They
are used to store and move materials and products in the global containerized
intermodal freight transport system efficiently and securely. Intermodal
indicates that
the container can be moved from one mode of transport to another, for example
from
ship, to rail, to truck without unloading and reloading the contents of the
container.
Lengths of such containers may vary from 8 to 56 feet and heights from 8 feet
to 9
feet 6 inches or more.
In a further example, the length of said interconnecting units is
between 8 to 56 feet, preferably around 40 feet and/or the height of the
interconnecting units is between 8 feet to 12, preferably around 9 feet and 6
inches.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an
interconnecting unit being a front unit to be used within a modular shooting
range
according to any of the above provided examples, said front unit being at
least
substantially open at one of the opposite long sides thereof, said front unit
comprising coupling means for coupling one of said interconnecting units to
said
front unit via said open long side.
In a third aspect, there is provided an interconnecting unit being a
bullet trap unit to be used within a modular shooting range according to any
of the
above provided modular shooting range examples, said bullet trap unit
comprising a
bullet trap system arranged for trapping bullets fired, said bullet trap unit
being at
least substantially open at one of the opposite long sides thereof, said
bullet trap unit
comprising coupling means for coupling one of said interconnecting units to
said
bullet trap unit via said open long side.
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In a fourth aspect, there is provided an interconnecting unit being an
extension unit to be used within a modular shooting range according to any of
the
above provided examples of an modular shooting range, said extension unit
arranged for extending a length of said shooting range, each of said plurality
of
extension units being at least substantially open at both of the opposite long
sides
thereof, each extension unit comprising coupling means for coupling two of
said
interconnecting units to each of said extension units via said open opposite
longs
sides.
The extension unit may be provided with a folding or sliding door, in
one of its opposite short sides thereof, wherein a vehicle like a car is able
to enter
said shooting range, via said door.
The advantage hereof is that advanced training schemes can be
deployed using the modular shooting range according to the present invention.
In a fifth aspect, there is provided an interconnecting unit being a
.. back unit to be used within a modular shooting range according to any of
the
example provided above in relation with a modular shooting range comprising
the
back unit, said back unit comprising coupling means for coupling said back
unit to
said bullet trap unit via a closed long sides of said bullet trap unit,
wherein said back
unit comprises an air suction system arranged for suctioning air having gasses
and
.. particles generated through the use of the shooting range, out of said
shooting
range.
In a sixth aspect, there is provided an interconnecting unit being a
utility unit to be used within a modular shooting range comprising the utility
unit,
according to any of the above provided examples, said utility unit comprising
a
generator for generating electrical energy wherein the utility unit comprises
coupling
means for coupling said utility unit to an interconnecting unit via a long
side of said
utility unit and for distributing the generated electrical energy over the
shooting
range. As such, electricity may be obtained in the interconnecting units due
to the
subsequent electrical coupling means.
In a seventh aspect, there is provided an interconnecting unit being
an advanced top unit to be used within a modular shooting range according to
any of
the above provided modular shooting range examples comprising the advanced top
unit, said advanced top unit having a connection cut out in the floor of said
advanced
top unit for connecting said top unit to one of said interconnecting units,
wherein said
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one of said interconnecting units having a connection cut in the ceiling of
said one of
said interconnecting units for connecting to said advanced top unit.
The expressions, i.e. the wording, of the different aspects comprised
5 by the modular shooting range according to the present invention should
not be
taken literally. The wording of the aspects is merely chosen to accurately
express the
rationale behind the actual function of the aspects.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the
invention will be best understood from the following description referring to
the
10 attached drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote
identical parts or
parts performing an identical or comparable function or operation.
The invention is not limited to the particular examples disclosed
below in connection with a particular type of modular shooting range or with a
particular type subsequent interconnecting units.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 is an example of an modular shooting range according to
the present invention.
Figures 2a ¨ 2f disclose each an example of an interconnecting unit
to be used within the modular shooting range according to the present example,
the
interconnecting unit being a front unit, an extension unit, a bullet trap
unit, a back
unit, a utility unit and an advanced top unit.
Detailed description
Figure 1 discloses an example of an modular shooting range 1
comprised of a plurality of interconnecting units 2, 3, 4, said
interconnecting units
each constituted by either an elongated shipping container, a construction
comprising shipping container parts, or an engineered construction. Typically,
the
length 11 of the shipping container is about 12 meters, and the width of the
shipping
container is about 2,4 meters. The length 11 is therefore measured in the
elongated
direction of the shipping container.
11
The modular shooting range 1 comprises a front unit (not shown)
being at least substantially open at only one of the opposite long sides
thereof, one
bullet trap unit 4 comprising a bullet trap system 6 arranged for trapping
bullets fired,
said bullet trap unit being at least substantially open at only one of the
opposite long
sides thereof, and - a plurality of extension units 2 for extending a length
of said
shooting range, i.e. the shooting range length 12, each of said plurality of
extension
units being at least substantially open at both of the opposite long sides
thereof.
Reference numeral 8 indicates one of the open long sides of one of
the extension units 2, in which it is shown that the interconnecting units are
connected to each other via their longer side, i.e. in their elongated
direction.
The shooting range 1 is considered modular as the shooting range
is construed by a plurality of (different) interconnecting units 2, 3, 4. In
the present
example, a single interconnecting unit 2, 3, 4 does not form a shooting range
1. Only
if it is applied in conjunction with the other interconnecting units 2, 3, 4,
a shooting
range 1 is created.
The subsequent order of interconnected units is as followed. The
first interconnecting unit is a front unit (not shown), wherein users 7 may
gather,
meet, and wherein booths may be incorporated, which booths are to be used
during
the target practice. Next, connected to the front unit a plurality of
extension units 2
may be connected to form the effective length 12 of the shooting range 1, by
connecting each extension unit 2 via their long side towards each other. As
such, the
exact length 12 of the shooting range 2 is also determined by the width 10 of
the
extension units 2. Finally, the bullet trap unit 4 is connected to the last
extension unit
2.
The modular shooting range 1 is arranged as a closed area, i.e.
encompassed by the walls of the interconnecting units 2, 3, 4, wherein targets
5 are
places at the end of the bullet trap unit 4. As is shown in figure 1, the
users 7 are
able to freely move inside the interior of the interconnected units 2, 3, 4,
i.e. within
the modular shooting range 1. As such, often the extension units 2 may be
equipped
with a bullet resistant material 13 such that users are also allowed to shoot
sideways, i.e. towards the short sides of the extension unit 2.
An advanced top unit 3 may be included in the modular shooting
range 1, which advanced top unit 3 is to be installed on top of one or more
extension
units 2, the bullet trap unit 4, the front unit, or the like. The advanced top
unit 3 may
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be aligned with these interconnecting units, or may be oriented perpendicular
to
these extension units. A connection cut out 9 may be provided in the floor of
said
advanced top unit for connecting said top unit to one of said interconnecting
units,
wherein said one of said interconnecting units having a connection cut in the
ceiling
of said one of said interconnecting unit for connecting to said advanced top
unit.
As such, the advanced top units 3 may be equipped with a bullet
resistant material 13 such that users are also allowed to shoot sideways, i.e.
towards
the long sides of the advanced top unit 3, or to shoot up or down towards the
ceiling
or the floor of the advanced top unit 3.
Figures 2a ¨ 2f disclose each an example of an interconnecting unit
and a utility unit to be used within the modular shooting range according to
the
present example, the interconnecting unit being a front unit, an extension
unit, a
bullet trap unit, a back unit, a utility unit and an advanced top unit
Figure 2a discloses a front unit 21 having an open long side 22 for
connecting the front unit 21 to a further interconnecting unit. Figure 2b
discloses an
extension unit 2 having an open long side 8. Figure 2c discloses a bullet trap
unit 4
arranged for trapping bullets fired. Figure 2d discloses a back unit 34,
wherein said
back unit comprises an air suction system arranged for suctioning air having
gasses
and particles generated through the use of the shooting range out of said
shooting
range via, for example, a ventilation vent 36. The back unit 34 has an open
long side
35. Figure 2e discloses a utility unit 41 comprising a door 42, a generator
43, a
maintenance room 44 and a storage room 45. Figure 2f discloses an advanced top
unit 3.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments as disclosed
above, and can be modified and enhanced by those skilled in the art beyond the
scope of the present invention as disclosed in the appended claims without
having to
apply inventive skills.
