Safe radio control system

• US 5,734,968 A
• Filed: 03/22/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dean Lay
• Original Assignee: Dean Lay
• Inventors: Lay, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARMSTRONG, DARNELL R
• Application Number:
  US08/621,807
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 455/4.1, 455/38.2, 455/95, 455/101, 455/103, 455/104, 455/227, 455/228, 455/229, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 455/352, 455/132, 455/140, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 340/825.74, 340/825.75, 380/10, 380/20, 446/475, 446/176, 446/211
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/00 Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A remote control system for actuating special effects theatrical devices is disclosed in which a transmitter generates and transmits two different signals, and a receiver includes first and second receiver circuits such that the first signal arms the receiver but does not actuate the special effects theatrical device unless and until said second signal is also received.

Claims

1. A remote radio control system for actuating special effects devices comprising:

(a) a special effects device mounted in a first location;

(b) first and second radio receiver circuits mounted adjacent said special effects device, said first and second receiver circuits being tuned to receive first and second radio signals, respectively;

(c) said first receiver circuit being connected to said second receiver circuit so as to activate said second receiver circuit only when said first signal is received by said first receiver circuit;

(d) a radio transmitter, said transmitter including means for generating and transmitting said first and second radio signals to said first and second receiver circuits; and

(e) circuit means connected between said second receiver circuit and said special effects device for actuating said device when said first and second signals are simultaneously received by said first and second receiver circuits, respectively.

2. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said special effects device comprises a cannon containing confetti and compressed gas source means for launching said confetti from said cannon.

3. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said special effects device comprises means for producing a pyrotechnic display.

4. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said special effects device comprises special effects lights.

5. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said first and second radio receiver circuits are powered by a battery positioned adjacent said receiver circuits.

6. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is a hand-held battery operated transmitter.

7. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said means for generating and transmitting said first and second radio signals generates and transmits said first signal with a first frequency and said second signal with a different frequency from said first frequency.

8. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said means for generating and transmitting said first and second radio signals generates and transmits said first signal of a first waveform and said second signal of a different waveform from said first waveform.

9. The remote radio control system of claim 1 wherein said second receiver circuit includes a plurality of second receiver circuits, and means for tuning each of said plurality of second receiver circuits to different frequencies for actuating a multiplicity of special effects devices only after said first receiver circuit activates said plurality of second receiver circuits.

10. A remote radio control system for actuating theatrical special effects devices comprising:

(a) a special visual effects device mounted in a remote location;

first and second radio receiver circuits mounted adjacent said special effects device, said first and second receiver circuits being tuned to receive first and second radio signals, respectively;

(c) battery means connected to power said first and second radio receiver circuits;

(d) said first receiver circuit being connected to said second receiver circuit so as to activate said second receiver circuit only when said first signal is received by said first receiver circuit;

(e) a radio transmitter, said transmitter including means for generating and transmitting said first and second radio signals to said first and second receiver circuits; and

(f) circuit means connected between said second receiver circuit and said theatrical special effects device for actuating said device when said first and second signals are simultaneously received by said first and second receiver circuits, respectively.

11. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said special effects device comprises a cannon containing confetti and compressed gas source means for launching said confetti from said cannon.

12. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said special effects device comprises means for producing a pyrotechnic display.

13. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said special effects device comprises special effects lights.

14. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said transmitter is a hand-held battery operated transmitter.

15. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said means for generating and transmitting said first and second radio signals generates and transmits said first signal with a first frequency and said second signal with a different frequency from said first frequency.

16. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said means for generating and transmitting said first and second radio signals generates and transmits said first signal of a first waveform and said second signal of a different waveform from said first waveform.

17. The remote radio control system of claim 10 wherein said second receiver circuit includes a plurality of second receiver circuits, and means for tuning each of said plurality of second receiver circuits to different frequencies for actuating a multiplicity of special effects devices only after said first receiver circuit activates said plurality of second receiver circuits.

18. A remote control system for actuating theatrical special effects devices comprising:

(a) at least one theatrical special effects device selected from the group comprising a confetti-filled device, a lighting device, and a pyrotechnic device;

(b) a transmitter, said transmitter including means for generating and transmitting first and second signals;

(c) means mounting said theatrical special effects device at a location remote from said transmitter;

(d) first and second receiver circuit means mounted adjacent said theatrical special effects device at said remote location;

(e) said first and second receiver circuit means being receptive to only said first and second signals, respectively;

(f) said first receiver circuit means being connected to said second receiver circuit means for activating said second circuit means only upon receipt of said first signal; and

(g) said second receiver circuit means including means for activating said theatrical special effects device only when said second circuit means has been activated by said first receiver circuit means and said second receiver circuit means receives said second signal.

19. The remote control system for actuating theatrical special effects devices of claim 18 including battery means mounted adjacent said first and second receiver circuits for powering said first and second receiver circuits.

20. The remote control system of claim 19 wherein said second receiver circuit means include a plurality of different receiver circuits, and means for tuning each of said different second receiver circuits to different second signals, and means for connecting said different second receiver circuits to different theatrical special effects devices.