Portable, compactible armed competition arena and apparatus

• US 5,219,316 A
• Filed: 08/02/1991
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PDT Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Huffman, Rick
• Inventors: Huffman, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/739,745
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 472/62, 52/71, 52/239, 52/64, 160/351, 160/135
• US Class Current: 472/62
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 11/00 Labyrinths
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 11/00 Target ranges timetables, lists or forms for shooter enlistment B42D15/0066

Abstract

A portable self-supporting, compactible armed competition arena and associated apparatus which is readily manually dismantled after use at one site, stacked and transported, and manually assembled for use at another site. The arena comprises a floor covering comprising markings which layout a plan for the arena and upon which the arena is assembled. The markings comprise indicia which alpha-numerically or otherwise identify wall and other arena construction parts to be assembled at the marked locations. Wall parts and other arena parts identified by the floor covering markings likewise bear tags comprising identifiers which correlate with the markings such that each identified part has a predefined unique location on the floor covering and in the arena structure. Each vertical edge of each wall part which is manually assembled, is releasibly affixed to another part by a joint which is light tight. In some cases, hinges are used to connect two adjacent wall parts for easier assembly. The hinged connectors are also light tight. The arena is alternately used in-doors and out-of-doors. When totally assembled, the arena comprises a unitized structure which withstands wind and body loads. When used out-of-doors, tie-downs provide additional stability against wind load. Garb for participants includes headgear, coveralls, gloves, and boots. Headgear comprises a mask having full face, ear, temple and throat area protection for use with and without eye glasses.

Claims

1. A compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena assembly for armed competition, the assembly comprising subassemblies which are manually disassembled from each other at one site for stacking and transportation to another site and facilely, manually assembled for use at the other site, said arena, comprising:

exterior wall subassemblies for the arena;

interior wall subassemblies for the arena;

visual openings within at least selected ones of the interior wall means of the arena;

the visual openings comprising means for providing competitive participant travel and projectile routes through selected interior wall subassemblies within the arena;

removable connector means for selectively interconnecting at least some of the exterior wall subassemblies to other exterior wall subassemblies, at least some of the exterior wall subassemblies to predetermined interior wall subassemblies and at least some of the interior wall subassemblies to selected other interior wall assemblies;

bracing means for bracing at least some of the exterior and interior wall subassemblies to withstand loads expected to be imposed thereon.

2. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the exterior wall subassemblies comprise means for observer viewing the interior of the arena from the exterior of the arena.

3. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 2 wherein the viewing means comprise mesh means which provide for visual observation therethrough and inhibition of passage of liquid from a liquid containing projectile therethrough.

4. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the exterior wall subassemblies comprise doorway means whereby competitive participants enter the arena.

5. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the exterior wall subassemblies comprise doorway means which comprise at least two doorways whereby at least two competitive participants respectively enter the facility from opposing sides of the arena.

6. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the exterior wall subassemblies comprise visual obstructing means whereby movements of a competitive participant prior to entry into the arena are hidden from view.

7. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein the removable connector means comprise releasible connecting means.

8. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 7 wherein the releasible connecting means comprise bolt and nut means.

9. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 8 wherein the bolt and nut means comprise eyebolts used to secure the exterior wall subassemblies to interior wall subassemblies in erect condition and used to attach tie-downs to stakes to secure exterior wall subassemblies to the ground in an erect condition in the out-of-doors against movement due to wind load.

10. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 8 wherein the bolt and nut means comprise wing nuts.

11. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein the removable connector means comprise hinged connector means.

12. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein the removable connector means comprise vision barrier means whereby visual observation along the length of the removable connector means are impeded.

13. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 further comprising subassembly identifying means.

14. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 further comprising position demarcating means which comprise means for covering the ground or floor where the subassemblies of the arena are assembled into the arena.

15. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 14 wherein the covering means comprise position identification indicia.

16. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 14 wherein the covering means comprise carpet means.

17. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 13 wherein the identifying means comprise tags or plates bearing component identification indicia and the position demarcating means comprise position identification indicia.

18. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 17 wherein the part identification indicia and the position identification indicia are common.

19. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein the bracing means comprise stabilizer means.

20. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein the bracing means comprise cross braces.

21. The compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena according to claim 1 wherein the bracing means comprise floor supports.

22. A system for armed competition comprising:

a compactible, portable, indoor/outdoor arena, components of which are manually disassembled from each other for stacking and transportation to another site and facilely, manually assembled to each other into the arena for use at the other site, said arena comprising;

means defining exterior walls for the arena;

means defining interior walls for the arena to simulate rooms;

means defining visual pathways across interior walls within the arena;

the means defining visual pathways comprising means providing for travel by a competitive participant within and between simulated rooms within the arena;

stabilizing means spanning across at least some of the visual pathways to strengthen the same;

means for structurally bracing between exterior and interior walls;

protective clothing means for covering a competitive participant whereby the competitive participant remains mobile but safely protected from injury caused by a projectile used in the competition.

23. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the exterior walls comprise viewing means for observing the interior of the arena from the exterior of the arena.

24. The system for armed competition according to claim 23 wherein the viewing means comprise mesh means which accommodate visual observation and substantially prevent injury or damage to an exterior observer due to liquid from a projectile.

25. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the exterior walls comprise doorway means whereby at least one competitive participant enters the arena.

26. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the exterior walls comprise at least two doorways whereby at least two competitive participants separately enter the facility from different sides of the arena.

27. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the exterior walls comprise visual pathway obstructing mean whereby movements of a competitive participant prior to entry into the arena are hidden from view along otherwise visual pathways within and without the arena.

28. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the stabilizing interconnecting means comprise releasible connecting means.

29. The system for armed competition according to claim 28 wherein the releasible connecting means comprise bolt and nut means.

30. The system for armed competition according to claim 29 wherein the bolt and nut means comprise wing nuts.

31. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the stabilizing interconnecting means comprise hinged connector means.

32. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the stabilizing interconnecting means comprise vision impairing means whereby visual pathways along the length of the interconnecting means are obstructed.

33. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 further comprising component identifying means.

34. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 further comprising position demarcating means for covering the ground or floor whereupon the arena is assembled.

35. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 further comprising position demarcating means which comprise visual position identification indicia.

36. The system for armed competition according to claim 34 wherein the position demarcating covering means comprise carpet means.

37. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 further comprising component identifying means comprising part identification indicia and position identification indicia.

38. The system for armed competition according to claim 37 wherein part identification indicia and the position identification indicia are common.

39. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the structurally bracing means comprise stabilizer means.

40. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the structural bracing means comprise cross braces interposed between adjacent walls.

41. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the structurally bracing means comprise brackets.

42. The system for armed competition according to claim 22 wherein the protective clothing means comprise means for masking the face of the participant.

43. The system for armed competition according to claim 42 wherein the protective clothing means comprise full face, ear, temple, and throat area protection means.

44. The system for armed competition according to claim 42 wherein the protective clothing means comprise headband means which separate the masking means from the face of the participant, thereby providing an offset which permits a participant to wear glasses while using the masking means.

45. A method of erecting and using an arena for simulated armed combat comprising the steps of:

erecting an exterior wall in vertically directed orientation to define a perimeter of the arena having at least one opening for ingress and egress of a combatant;

erecting interior walls in vertically directed orientation to define a plurality of simulated rooms comprising openings between a maze of simulated rooms and barrier regions which obstruct lines of sight between adjacent simulated rooms;

joining the interior and exterior walls together with structural connectors into a stable, unified maze assembly;

causing at least two combatants to enter the interior of the maze arena and to engage in simulated combat on a room-to-room basis within the maze arena.

46. A method according to claim 45 further comprising the step of placing openings in interior walls for ingress and egress of combatants between rooms and at least one combatant observation opening in interior walls.

47. A method according to claim 45 further comprising the step of placing at least one observation opening in the exterior wall for observation by non-combatants.

48. A method according to claim 47 further comprising the step of placing mesh over the non-combatant observation opening.

49. A method of removably erecting and using an arena for simulated armed combat comprising the steps of:

removably erecting exterior wall panels in vertically directed orientation to define a perimeter of the arena having at least one opening for ingress and egress of a combatant;

removably erecting interior wall panels in vertically directed orientation to define a plurality of simulated rooms comprising openings between a maze of simulated rooms and barrier regions which obstruct lines of sight between adjacent simulated rooms;

joining the interior and exterior walls together with removable structural connectors into a stable, unified maze assembly;

causing at least two combatants to enter the interior of the maze arena and to engage in simulated combat on a room-to-room basis within the maze arena.

50. A method according to claim 49 further comprising the step of disassembling the structural connectors, the interior wall panels and the exterior wall panels for storage or use elsewhere.

51. A maze arena assembly for simulated armed combat comprising:

an erect exterior wall disposed in vertically directed orientation defining the perimeter of the maze arena, the exterior wall comprising at least one opening for ingress and egress of combatants;

erect interior walls disposed in a vertically directed orientation defining a maze of simulated rooms comprising openings between simulated rooms and barrier regions which obstruct lines of sight between adjacent simulated rooms;

structural connectors spanning between the exterior and the interior walls holding said walls in stable, unified relation.

52. A maze arena assembly for simulated armed combat comprising:

an erect exterior wall panels removably disposed end-to-end in vertically directed orientation defining the perimeter of the maze arena, at least one of the exterior wall panels defining at least one opening for ingress and egress of combatants;

erect interior wall panels removably disposed in a vertically directed orientation defining a maze of simulated rooms comprising opening between simulated rooms and barrier regions which obstruct lines of sight between adjacent simulated rooms;

removable structural connectors spanning between the exterior and the interior wall panels holding said wall panels in stable, unified, erect, disassemble relation.