Skill-based water gun game

• US 6,012,722 A
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sierra Design Group (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rlt Acquisition Inc.
• Inventors: Oltmann, J. Richard, Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN, JEANETTE E
• Application Number:
  US09/098,446
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 273/349, 273/350, 273/359, 273/366, 273/368, 273/367, 273/140, 273/138.5, 273/457, 446/153, 446/156, 446/157, 472/13, 472/128, 472/129, 463/64
• US Class Current: 273/349
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/0428 being squirted
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/02 Shooting or hurling games throwing-implements for sports or recreational use A63B65/00; throwing or projecting toys per se A63H33/18; gun simulators F41A33/00, e.g. light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; practice apparatus for gun-aiming F41G3/26, e.g. using a light-emitting device F41G3/2616; targets, target ranges, bullet catchers F41J, photo-electric hit-detector systems F41J5/02

Abstract

Disclosed is a skill-based water gun game. In one embodiment, a water gun game apparatus includes a water tub and a water gun. The water tub has an inner chamber and an outer channel that forms a loop around the inner chamber. The inner chamber and the outer channel are in communication through a front aperture formed in the water tub. The water gun is capable of discharging water towards the water tub. The water gun is used to shoot targets that circulate in the outer channel into the inner channel.

Claims

1. A water gun game apparatus comprising:

a water tub having an inner chamber and an outer channel that forms a loop around the inner chamber, the inner chamber and the outer channel being in communication through a front aperture formed in a portion of the water tub disposed between said inner chamber and said outer channel, the water tub including a plurality of drain holes;

a water gun capable of discharging water towards the water tub;

a first pump coupled to the water tub at the first drain holes for drawing water from the water tub through the first drain holes; and

a plurality of jets coupled to the first pump for circulating water along the outer channel in the water tub.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the water gun is capable of moving laterally and vertically.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the water tub includes a second drain hole, the apparatus further comprising a second pump coupled between the water tub at the second drain hole and the water gun for supplying the water gun with water from the water tub.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising a plurality of targets adapted to circulate along the outer channel in response to the jets.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the targets are capable of floating in water.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the water gun is capable of discharging water onto the targets so as to shoot the targets into the inner chamber through the front aperture of the water tub.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of jets are nozzles.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of jets are water pipes.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the first drain holes are formed in the outer channel of the water tub.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the second drain holes are formed in the inner chamber of the water tub.

11. The water gun game apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the water tub includes a wall structure for partitioning the water tub into the inner chamber and the outer channel.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a sensor mounted on the wall structure for detecting the targets in the inner chamber and counting the number of the detected targets in the chamber; and

an indicator coupled to the sensor for indicating the counted targets.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the indicator further comprises:

an indicator object for indicating when a target has been shot into the inner chamber; and

a stepper motor coupled to the indicator object for incrementally lifting the indicator object when the sensor detects a target in the inner chamber.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the inner chamber and the outer channel of the water tub are in communication via a back aperture that is arranged to provide a passageway through the inner chamber.

15. The water gun game apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the portion of water the tub disposed between said inner chamber and said outer channel includes a wall structure for partitioning the water tub into the inner chamber and the outer channel.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a sensor mounted on the wall structure for detecting the targets in the inner chamber and counting the number of the detected targets in the chamber; and

an indicator coupled to the sensor for indicating the counted targets.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the indicator further comprises:

an indicator object for indicating when a target has been shot into the inner chamber; and

a stepper motor coupled to the indicator object for incrementally lifting the indicator object when the sensor detects a target in the inner chamber.

18. A water gun game apparatus comprising:

first and second water tubs, each water tub having an inner chamber and an outer channel that forms a loop around the inner chamber, the inner chamber and the outer channel being in communication through a front aperture formed in a portion of each of the first and second water tubs, disposed between said inner chamber and said outer channel;

the first tub including a plurality of first drain holes and the second tub including a plurality of second drain holes;

first and second water guns capable of discharging water towards the first and second water tub, respectively;

a first pump coupled to the first water tub at the first drain holes for drawing water from the first water tub;

a second pump coupled to the second water tub at the second drain holes for drawing water from the second water tub;

a plurality of first jets coupled to the first pump for circulating water along the outer channel in the first water tub; and

a plurality of second iets coupled to the second pump for circulating water along the outer channel in the second water tub.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the first water tub includes a third drain hole and the second water tub includes a fourth drain hole, the apparatus further comprising:

a third pump coupled between the first water tub at the third drain hole and the first water gun for supplying the first water gun with water from the first water tub; and

a fourth pump coupled between the second water tub at the fourth drain hole and the second water gun for supplying the second water gun with water from the second water tub.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of targets adapted to circulate along the outer channel in the first and second water tubs.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the targets are capable of floating in water.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the first and second water guns are capable of discharging water onto the targets so as to shoot the targets into the inner chambers through the front apertures of the first and second water tubs, respectively.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the first and second drain holes are formed in the outer channels of the first and second water tubs, respectively.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the plurality of jets are nozzles.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the plurality of jets are water pipes.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the third and fourth drain holes are formed in the inner chambers of the first and second water tubs, respectively.

27. The water gun game apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein the portions of each of the first and second water tubs disposed between said inner chamber and said outer channel include a wall structure for partitioning the water first and second water tub into the inner chamber and the outer channel.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

a first sensor mounted on the wall structure of the first water tub for detecting the targets in the inner chamber of the first water tub and counting the number of the detected targets in the inner chamber of the first water tub;

a first indicator coupled to the first sensor for indicating the counted targets in the inner chamber of the first water tub;

a second sensor mounted on the wall structure of the second water tub for detecting the targets in the inner chamber of the second water tub and counting the number of the detected targets in the inner chamber of the second water tub; and

an second indicator coupled to the second sensor for indicating the counted targets in the inner chamber of the second water tub.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein

the first indicator further comprises,

a first indicator object for indicating when a target has been shot into the inner chamber of the first water tub;

and

a first stepper motor coupled to the first indicator object for incrementally lifting the first indicator object when the first sensor detects a target in the inner chamber of the first water tub; and

the second indicator further comprises,

a second indicator object for indicating when a target has been shot into the inner chamber of the second water tub;

a second stepper motor coupled to the second indicator object for incrementally lifting the second indicator object when the second sensor detects a target in the inner chamber of the second water tub.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein each of the first and second water tubs has a back aperture that is arranged to provide a passageway through the inner chamber from the front aperture.

31. The water gun game apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein each of the fist and second water tubs includes a wall structure for partitioning the first and second water tubs into the inner chamber and the outer channel.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

a first sensor mounted on the wall structure of the first water tub for detecting the targets in the inner chamber of the first water tub and counting the number of the detected targets in the inner chamber of the first water tub;

a first indicator coupled to the first sensor for indicating the counted targets in the inner chamber of the first water tub;

a second sensor mounted on the wall structure of the second water tub for detecting the targets in the inner chamber of the second water tub and counting the number of the detected targets in the inner chamber of the second water tub; and

an second indicator coupled to the second sensor for indicating the counted targets in the inner chamber of the second water tub.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the first indicator further comprises,

a first indicator object for indicating when a target has been shot into the inner chamber of the first water tub;

and

a first stepper motor coupled to the first indicator object for incrementally lifting the first indicator object when the first sensor detects a target in the inner chamber of the first water tub; and

the second indicator further comprises,

a second indicator object for indicating when a target has been shot into the inner chamber of the second water tub; and

a second stepper motor coupled to the second indicator object for incrementally lifting the second indicator object when the second sensor detects a target in the inner chamber of the second water tub.

34. A method for operating a game by directing a circulating target into a designated area, the method comprising:

circulating a plurality of targets in an outer channel forming a closed loop around an inner chamber in a water tub; and

aiming a water gun that is discharging water at the targets to direct the targets into the inner chamber of the water tub.

35. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the target circulating further comprises:

circulating a body of water in the outer channel of the water tub.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein the act of circulating a plurality of targets further comprises:

draining a first portion of the body of water from the water tub; and

pumping the first portion of the body of water from the water tub back into the water tub through a plurality of jets, wherein the body of water circulates substantially in the direction of the first portion of the body of water.

37. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the act of discharging water further comprises:

draining a second portion of the body of water from the water tub; and

pumping the second portion of the body of water from the water tub back into the water tub through a plurality of jets, wherein the body of water circulates substantially in the direction of the second body of water.

38. The method as recited in claim 34 further comprising:

detecting the targets in the inner chamber of the water tub; and

displaying a score corresponding to the detected targets.

39. The method as recited in claim 38 wherein the score is displayed by raising a score indicator object incrementally in response to the detected targets.

40. A water gun game apparatus comprising:

a circulating means for circulating a plurality of targets in an outer channel forming a closed loop around an inner chamber in a water tub; and

a water gun for discharging water at the targets so as to direct the targets into the inner chamber of the water tub.

41. The apparatus as recited in claim 40, wherein the circulating means further comprises:

circulating a body of water in the outer channel of the water tub.

42. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein the circulating means further comprises:

a first draining means for draining a first portion of the body of water from the water tub; and

a first pumping means for pumping the first portion of the body of water from the water tub back into the water tub through a plurality of jets, wherein the body of water circulates substantially in the direction of the first portion of the body of water.

43. The apparatus as recited in claim 40 wherein the water discharging further comprises:

a second draining means for draining a second portion of the body of water from the water tub; and

a second pumping means for pumping the second portion of the body of water from the water tub back into the water tub through a plurality of jets, wherein the body of water circulates substantially in the direction of the second body of water.

44. The apparatus as recited in claim 40 further comprising:

a detecting means for detecting the targets in the inner chamber of the water tub; and

a displaying means for displaying a score corresponding to the detected targets.

45. The method as recited in claim 44 wherein the score is displayed by raising a score indicator object incrementally in response to the detected targets.

46. A water gun game apparatus comprising:

a water tub having an inner chamber defined by a wall structure having an aperture and an outer channel that forms a loop around the inner chamber, the inner chamber and the outer channel being in communication through the aperture;

a quantity of water in the water tub;

a floatable target configured with dimensions smaller than the aperture in the wall structure and moving with the circulating water; and

a water gun capable of discharging a stream of water, whereby the water gun can be aimed at the target such that the stream of water may force the target into the inner chamber through the aperture in the wall structure.