Interactive projectile-discharging toy

• US 6,244,260 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Foster, Bruce E., Ferraro, Peter C., Ragoza, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/493,095
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 124/6, 124/32, 124/34, 124/78, 473/451
• US Class Current: 124/34
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen

Abstract

An electronic game includes a device that is held or worn by a player, and a housing. The device includes an emitter that emits a signal in response to player input. The housing includes a controller and a detector that detects the signal from the emitter and provides an electrical signal to the controller indicating the location of the emitter. The housing further includes a magazine for storing objects, and a fire mechanism coupled to the magazine and controlled by the controller to fire a stored object at the implement when the controller determines that the detector has detected an emitted signal from the emitter.

Claims

1. An electronic game comprising:

a device that is held or worn by a player, the device including an emitter that emits a signal; and

a housing that includes;

a controller,

a detector that detects the signal from the emitter and provides an electrical signal to the controller indicating the location of the emitter,

a magazine for storing objects,

a fire mechanism coupled to the magazine and controlled by the controller to fire a stored object at the device when the controller determines that the detector has detected an emitted signal from the emitter.

2. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the device includes a speaker that emits one or more audio signals in response to player input.

3. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the emitter emits the signal in response to player input.

4. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the emitter includes a light emitting diode.

5. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the signal emitted from the emitter is an electromagnetic signal.

6. The electronic game of claim 5, wherein the emitter is configured to emit the electromagnetic signal in the infrared wavelength region.

7. The electronic game of claim 6, wherein the detector is configured to detect the electromagnetic signal emitted in the infrared wavelength region.

8. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the detector includes a photodiode detector.

9. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect a signal based on characteristics of the signal.

10. The electronic game of claim 1, further comprising a post, wherein the housing includes a mechanical rotator that is electrically controlled by the controller and is coupled to the post.

11. The electronic game of claim 10, wherein the controller determination that the emitted signal has been detected includes causing the rotator to rotate the housing relative to the post and toward a signal source.

12. The electronic game of claim 11, wherein the controller determination that the emitted signal has been detected further includes determining whether a value of the electrical signal remains above a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time.

13. The electronic game of claim 12, wherein the controller causes a speaker in the housing to emit an acoustic warning signal when the controller determines that the detector has detected an emitted signal from the emitter.

14. The electronic game of claim 13, wherein the acoustic warning signal is predetermined and configured by the player.

15. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a speaker controlled by the controller to emit an acoustic signal.

16. The electronic game of claim 15, wherein the controller causes the speaker to emit an acoustic game over signal when the controller determines that a predetermined number of objects have been fired.

17. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the object is made of a sponge-like material and is disc-shaped.

18. An electronic game comprising:

a device that is held or worn by a player, the device including an emitter that emits an electromagnetic signal in response to player input;

a post;

a housing mounted on the post and including;

a controller,

a mechanical rotator coupled to the post and controlled by the controller to rotate the housing relative to the post and toward the emitter;

a detector that detects the electromagnetic signal from the emitter and provides an electrical signal to the controller indicating the location of the emitter,

a magazine for storing objects,

a fire mechanism coupled to the magazine and controlled by the controller to fire a stored object at the device when the controller determines that the detector has detected an emitted signal from the emitter;

wherein the controller determines that the detector has detected an emitted signal by determining whether a value of the electrical signal remains above a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time.