Target apparatus

A target in which projectiles may be embedded, said target including a target face, the target face being divided into a plurality of beds, the beds being formed from substantially parallel fibers that are, or have been, treated to be conductive at least on the outer surfaces of said fibers adjacent the face of said target, said fibers in each bed extending substantially normal to the target face and being insulated from the fibers in the adjacent beds by a plastic insulating web, a backing means is provided for mounting said fibers substantially normal to said backing member, each of said fibers having a free end, where the free end of the fibers define said target face wherein conductive means are provided to each of said beds to enable a separate signal to be applied to each bed, aerial means are provided to respond to a signal radiated from a dart protruding from any bed, said aerial means comprising a wire framework mounted on the target face and lying directly above the insulating web, means are provided for securing said framework directly to said insulating web, said means for securing said wire framework to the web being resistant against breakage due to repeated hitting by metal tipped darts.

A target apparatus including:

• a target in which projectiles may be embedded, said target including a target face, said target face being divided into a plurality of beds, the beds being conductive at least on the outer surfaces and being insulated from adjacent beds by an insulating web, conductive means are provided connected to each of said beds to enable a separate signal to be applied to each bed, aerial means are provided to respond to a signal from a dart protruding from any bed, said aerial means comprising a wire framework mounted on said target face and being in superimposed alignment with said web, and means for securing said wire framework to said insulating web such that said wire framework remains in superimposed alignment with said web, said means for securing said wire framework to the web being resistant against breakage due to repeated hitting by metal tipped darts,
• at least one transmitting/receiving projectile, said beds comprising means for passing electromagnetically transmitted signals between a bed and said at least one transmitting/receiving projectile embedded in said bed.

A method of making a target having target face, said target face being divided into a plurality of beds, the beds being conductive at least on the outer surfaces and being insulated from adjacent beds by an plastic insulating web, conductive means are provided connected to each of said beds to enable a separate signal to be applied to each bed, aerial means are provided to respond to a signal from a dart protruding from any bed, said aerial means comprising a wire framework mounted on said target face and being in superimposed alignment with said web, and a plurality of ties for securing said wire framework to said insulating web such that said wire framework remains in superimposed alignment with said web, comprising the steps of:

• heating the web at the location at which said ties are to be secured to the web;
• crimping the ties on said web so as to deform the web such that the tie will remain securely in place.

A target in which projectiles may be embedded, said target including a target face, said target face being divided into a plurality of beds, the beds being conductive at least on the outer surfaces and being insulated from adjacent beds by an insulating web, conductive means are provided connected to each of said beds to enable a separate signal to be applied to each bed, aerial means are provided to respond to a signal from a dart protruding from any bed, said aerial means comprising a wire framework mounted on said target face and being in superimposed alignment with said web, means are provided for securing said wire framework to said insulating web such that said wire framework remains in superimposed alignment with said web, said means having a hard durable metallic outer surface which is resistant to breakage due to repeated hitting by metal tipped darts.

A target in which projectiles may be embedded, said target including a target face, said target face being divided into a plurality of beds, the beds being conductive at least on the outer surfaces and being insulated from adjacent beds by an insulating web, conductive means are provided connected to each of said beds to enable a separate signal to be applied to each bed, aerial means are provided to respond to a signal from a dart protruding from any bed, said aerial means comprising a wire framework mounted on said target face and being in superimposed alignment with said web, means are provided for securing said wire framework to said insulating web such that said wire framework remains in superimposed alignment with said web, a pair of concentrically spaced circular beds are provided in the central portion of the target, an insulating ring is provided adjacent each circular bed, a protective ring is disposed adjacent each circular bed and associated insulating ring, each of said protective rings having an upper end which extends above the adjacent insulating ring, the upper surface of at least one of the protective rings extending past the adjacent insulating ring.