Projected image target shooting toy

• US 6,328,651 B1
• Filed: 02/03/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toymax, Inc. (Jakks Pacific, Inc.)
• Inventors: John Ping, Chan, Waldman, Brian, Dowd, Paul, Lebensfeld, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/243,912
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 463/49, 463/50, 463/51, 463/52, 463/53, 463/54, 463/56, 463/57, 463/43, 463/44, 434/21, 434/22
• US Class Current: 463/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2633 using a TV type screen, e.g. a CRT, displaying a simulated target

Abstract

A target shooting toy which optically projects an image of a target which can be aimed at and hit. The toy includes an image projector that projects an optical image onto a wall or screen and a toy gun which is aimed at the target. The toy detects hits by detecting light received by the gun reflected from the target. The toy has a removable electronics cartridge which has circuitry that customizes image motion, sequences and game play to the particular image being displayed. The toy also has a removable image module that contains the image or images of one type of target. The image modules and the electronics cartridges are matched so the toy may be used with many types of target images and yet be customized for use with each type of target. The projector is driven relative to two coordinates axes to provide more realistic motion and motion sequences. The toy gun has a pump action reload and trigger cocking mechanism, and provides a simulated recoil when fired.

Claims

1. In a target shooting toy which includes an image projector that projects a light beam therefrom that defines an image upon impinging a display surface, a drive system for the image projector which moves the light beam, a light detector which provides electrical signals in response to light received by the light detector, a hit determining electrical circuit coupled to the light detector which determines a hit from the electrical signals provided by the light detector when light received by the light detector is reflected from an image projected by the image projector on the display surface, and a user movable device which when pointed at the display surface directs light from the display surface to the light detector, the improvement comprising:

the drive system moving the light beam to project an image which moves in at least two coordinate axes and including at least one electrical motor coupled to the image projector, a first electrical circuit coupled to the at least one motor, a second electrical circuit having motion-defining parameters which define the motion of the light beam from the image projector, at least one connector having a first part carried by the image projector removably connectable to a second part connected to the second circuit to removably couple the second electrical circuit to the first electrical circuit such that the second electrical circuit can be removed and replaced by another second electrical circuit having motion-defining parameters different from those of the second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits cooperating to supply electrical power to the at least one motor in accordance with the motion-defining parameters of the second electrical circuit.

2. The target shooting toy of claim 1 wherein the motion-defining parameters of the second electrical circuit define at least seemingly unpredictable motion of the light beam.

3. The target shooting toy of claim 1 wherein the motion-defining parameters of the second electrical circuit define varying speed motion of the light beam.

4. The target shooting toy of claim 1 wherein the second electrical circuit has first and second motion-defining parameters and responsive to the hit detecting circuit defines the motion of the light beam in accordance with the first motion-defining parameters when no hit is detected and in accordance with the second motion-defining parameters when a hit is detected.

5. The target shooting toy of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the second electrical circuit includes a memory storing at least some of the motion-defining parameters and logic circuitry responsive to the memory which controls the first electrical circuit.

6. The target shooting toy of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the second electrical circuit comprises a computer and memory storing at least some of the motion-defining parameters, the computer controlling the first electrical circuit.

7. The target shooting toy of claim 4 including a computer including the second electrical circuit and the hit determining circuit, and a memory storing at least some of the first and second motion-defining parameters.

8. The target shooting toy of claim 1 wherein the second electrical circuit has a plurality of sets of motion-defining parameters, and a selector coupled to the at least one connector, the second electrical circuit being responsive to the selector to select a set of motion-defining parameters.

9. The target shooting toy of claim 1 wherein the hit-determining circuit is coupled to the at least one connector and is removable as a unit with the second electrical circuit, the toy comprising a display coupled to the at least one connector, the second circuit controlling the display to display the number of hits determined by the hit determining circuit.

10. A target shooting toy including:

a) a projection assembly including a base portion, a turret, and a projector, the base portion being arrayed for housing a control circuit, the base portion further including at least one user actuable button, and a status display means;

b) the turret being arrayed for seating in an aperture of the base portion;

the turret being selectively powered by a first powering means for pivotal movement thereof about a vertical axis of the base member, the turret further including a pair of spaced support arms

c) the projector being mounted in trunnion fashion between a free end of each of the spaced support arms, the projector being arrayed for selective powered and pivotal movement about a horizontal axis of the turret by a second powering means, the projector further including a first projection unit and a second projection unit integrally mounted therein, the first projection unit having a first image associated therewith, the second projection unit having a second image associated therewith;

d) at least one toy gun assembly arrayed for providing at least one input signal to the microprocessor, the gun assembly further including a sighting means, a photocell, and a trigger, the photocell being adapted for responding only to the first image as and when the first image is projected on a display surface by the first projection unit;

e) a pre-programmed cartridge being removably connected to the control circuit, the pre-programmed cartridge housing a programmed processor and further including at least two distinct programs for controlling at least the pivotal movement of the turret, the pivotal movement of the projector, the illumination of the first projection unit and the illumination of the second projection unit, each of the distinct programs being user selectable by actuation of the actuable button, the status display means providing an indication of the distinct program selected; and

wherein the first image being projected on the display surface by the actuation of the first projection unit in combination with the pivotal movement of the turret and the pivotal movement of the projector subsequent to an initiation of a shooting period, the sighting means providing a visual indication that the photocell is being aimed at the first image, the first projection unit being extinguished simultaneously with the illumination of the second projection unit only after the photocell is aligned with the first image and the trigger depressed, the second projection unit illuminating a second image thereby giving a distinct indication of a hit.

11. A toy target shooting simulator including:

a) a projection assembly being arrayed for illuminating and projecting at least a first image onto an image displaying surface;

b) a program cartridge being arrayed for removable insertion into the projection assembly, the program cartridge housing a programmed processor therein, the programmed processor being pre-programmed for controlling a timed period for illuminating and projecting the image;

while simultaneously controlling an instantaneous X coordinate placement and an instantaneous Y coordinate placement of the illuminated image on the image displaying surface;

c) an image module being arrayed for removable insertion and seating in a mating receptacle of the projection assembly, the image module further including at least one view of the first image;

d) a simulated gun including a sighting means, an image sensing means, and a trigger, the gun being further arrayed for providing an input signal to the cartridge when and as the image sensing means is aligned with the first image on the image display surface while simultaneously actuating the trigger; and

wherein the cartridge provides an output signal to an indication means that a simulated hit has occurred.

12. The target shooting toy of claim 11 wherein the program cartridge and its mating socket in the projection assembly further include a keying means for providing a preferred alignment and relationship of the program cartridge with the mating socket.

13. The target shooting toy of claim 11 wherein the programmed processor is arrayed and programmed for simultaneous connection to a second simulated gun for providing a competitive shooting simulation and the projection assembly further includes a pair of disconnect means for selective connection of each toy simulated gun thereto.

14. The target shooting toy of claim 11 wherein the projection assembly further includes a first sound means, the control circuit including a first sound output means for providing the first sound means with a sound associated with the first image contained in the image module that is inserted in the projection assembly and only while the first image is being illuminated.

15. The target shooting toy of claim 14 wherein the simulated gun further includes a second sound means and the control circuit including a second sound output means for providing a simulated sound of a firing gun when and as the trigger has been actuated.