Toy laser gun and laser target system

• US 8,721,460 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblum, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/006,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20080188314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,322 Days
• Field of Search: 463/52, 446/473, 446/219, 273/371
• US Class Current: 463/52
• 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: F41J 5/02 Photo-electric hit-detector systems comprising a light-emitting device for simulating the firing of a gun F41G3/2622; detecting by optical means G01V8/10
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/08 Infrared hit-indicating systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toy gun capable of transmitting a laser beam and/or an infrared (“IR”) beam of light for use in a game. The toy gun also has a detector for detecting a laser and IR signal. A controller within the gun tracks the number of shots fired, the type of light beam fired, the number of hits received by other guns, and permits the user to alternate between firing an IR beam or laser beam. The toy gun also has unique features available through the use of lasers, including detecting the distance to a target. The present invention further relates to an interactive electronic targeting system for use with a toy laser gun. The targeting system includes an electronic multi-colored backlit board with light detecting sensors positioned within the board. The targeting system is programmed with multiple interactive games for use with a toy gun.

Claims

1. A toy gun for transmitting laser and infrared (IR) beams, comprising:

a gun body having a barrel and a handle;

an IR beam generator attached with the gun body to generate and emit an IR beam;

a laser beam generator attached with the gun body to generate and emit a laser beam;

a trigger being functional for actuating at least one of the IR beam generator and the laser beam generator;

a controller for processing the signal from the trigger and causing the gun to generate at least one of the IR beam and the laser beam;

a scope attached with the gun body, wherein the scope comprises multiple lenses;

wherein each of the multiple lenses is a distinct lens that corresponds to a distinct viewing mode;

a viewfinder connected with the scope; and

a switch rotatably connected with the scope, wherein a user rotates the switch to rotate through the multiple lenses to select one of the distinct lenses for alignment with the viewfinder in order to select a viewing mode corresponding to the distinct lens aligned with the viewfinder.

2. The toy gun of claim 1, further comprising a first barrel for transmitting the IR beam and a second barrel for transmitting the laser beam.

3. The toy gun of claim 2, further comprising a switch to permit the user to manually alter a function of the trigger between an IR beam generating function and a laser beam generating function.

4. The toy gun of claim 3, further comprising an IR beam detector connected with the gun body.

5. The to gun of claim 4, further comprising a laser beam detector connected with the gun body.

6. The toy gun of claim 5, wherein the laser beam is generated to include a beam width and further comprising a lens contained within the second barrel and positioned in line with the laser beam to modify the beam width of the laser beam.

7. The toy gun of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to monitor a number of beams emitted by the toy gun and cease beam emission upon emitting a predetermined number of beams, and further comprising a reload mechanism connected with the controller such that upon actuation of the reload mechanism, the controller allows for an additional predetermined number of beam emissions, thereby simulating the reloading of a real gun.

8. The toy gun of claim 7, wherein the reload mechanism is a bolt-action slide mechanism.

9. The to gun of claim 8, further comprising a display screen connected with the gun body to display information relating to the use of the toy gun.

10. The toy gun of claim 9, wherein the display screen is a Liquid Crystal Display (“

LCD”

) screen.

11. The toy gun of claim 10, wherein the scope is detachably attachable to the toy gun body.

12. The toy gun of claim 11, wherein the scope is formed to allow a user to switch between a normal view of a target area, a magnified view of the target area, and a cross-hair view of the target area where cross-hairs are positioned in a line of sight of the target area.

13. The toy gun of claim 1, further comprising a display screen connected with the gun body to display information relating to the use of the toy gun.

14. The toy gun of claim 13, wherein the display screen is a Liquid Crystal Display (“

LCD”

) screen.

15. The toy gun of claim 1, further comprising a scope that is detachably attachable to the toy gun body.

16. The toy gun of claim 15, wherein the scope is formed to allow a user to switch between a normal view of a target area, a magnified view of the target area, and a cross-hair view of the target area where cross-hairs are positioned in a line of sight of the target area.

17. The toy gun of claim 1, further comprising a switch to permit the user to manually alter a function of the trigger between an IR beam generating function and a laser beam generating function.

18. The toy gun of claim 1, further comprising an lift beam detector connected with the gun body.

19. The toy gun of claim 1, further comprising a laser beam detector connected with the gun body.

20. The toy gun of claim 1, wherein the laser beam is generated to include a beam width and further comprising a lens positioned in line with the laser beam to modify the beam width of the laser beam.

21. The toy gun of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor a number of beams emitted by the toy gun and cease beam emission upon emitting a predetermined number of beams, and further comprising a reload mechanism connected with the controller such that upon actuation of the reload mechanism, the controller allows for an additional predetermined number of beam emissions, thereby simulating the reloading of a real gun.