Method to detect impacts for a toy or game

• US 5,029,873 A
• Filed: 08/14/1990
• Issued: 07/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry Lynn Davis
• Original Assignee: Jerry L. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Steven S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US07/567,540
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 273/376, 273/374, 273/372, 310/311
• US Class Current: 273/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0204 Targets therefor for ball games A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/056 Switch actuation by hit-generated mechanical vibration of the target body, e.g. using shock or vibration transducers

Abstract

An improved electronic impact detection method for the detection of an impact upon a toy or game surface. This is accomplished by the use of a plurality of flexible panels which are interconnected, with each individual target panel or region bordered with a flex barrier. The flex barriers allow the target region struck to flex under the impact of a projectile, while insulating the remaining target regions from effects of an impact. Piezo electric elements are attached to the underside of these panels, in this manner the signal produced by an impact will have sufficient strength to directly drive most digital logic integrated circuits, thereby requiring a minimum of electronic components associated with detection. These panels will also not be sufficiently triggered by common shock or sonic waves, from handling or accompanying an impact. Thereby assisting to reduce false triggerings of the target or game surface by external or undersireable elements. This method can easily be integrated into a common injection molded body and easily assembled.

Claims

1. A method of detecting an impact of a game element upon a toy or game target which comprise a flexible target board having an outer surface and an inner surface, a plurality of rigid interconnected barrier panels, said barrier panels perpendicularly attached to said inner surface of said target board, said barrier panels divide said target board into a plurality of flexible target panels, wherein said barrier panels define the boundaries of said target panels, a rigid barrier board perpendicularly attached to said barrier panels and positioned behind or beneath said target board, a plurality of piezo electric sensor elements attached to the inner surface of each of said target panels, and a processing means electrically connected to said sensor elements, said method comprising the steps of:

projecting a game element toward said target board,

said game element impacting the outer surface of a target panel,

said impacted target panel flexing inward in a concave manner as a result of the impact with said game element, the piezo electric sensor element attached to the inner surface of said impacted target panel also flexing inward producing an electronic signal of a specific polarity, simultaneously, said barrier board and said barrier panels remaining rigid while the remaining non-impacted target panels flexing outward in a convex manner as said non-impacted target panels resist the change in motion imparted by said impact, the piezo electric sensor elements attached to the inner surface of each of said non-impacted target panels also flexing outward producing an electronic signal of a polarity opposite to that produced by said impacted target panel'"'"'s piezo electric sensor element,

said processing means receiving and processing said signals for indicating the impact on said impacted target panel.