Amusement devices: games – Simulated-projectile game – target therefor – or accessory – Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path – or...
Patent
1996-12-30
1999-05-25
Grieb, William H.
Amusement devices: games
Simulated-projectile game, target therefor, or accessory
Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path, or...
F41J 500
Patent
active
059065427
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to amusement apparatus.
A range of games have become popular in recent times in which a player is equipped with a handset which contains a source of laser light (or other signal generating means). The handset is normally shaped as a gun and the laser is activated by a gun-like trigger. Each player is also equipped with detectors, typically mounted on his or her back and chest, which contain apparatus to detect laser light emitted from another player's gun. The game is played by a number of players in an arena and a player scores points by striking another player's detectors with laser light from his or her gun. Such games will be referred to herein as "laser target games".
The standard technology used for the various laser target games, is that of infra-red detectors and sources. The guns emitting an infra-red beam and a harmless, visible laser beam for aesthetic purposes.
Despite their enormous popularity, laser target games rely, at least partly, on novelty for their appeal, and it is inevitable that the popularity of such games will eventually wane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aim of the present invention to provide amusement apparatus which allows players to play a game which has at least some of the appealing features of laser target games and which further has new aspects to maintain the interest of players who have played laser target games in the past.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided amusement apparatus comprising a vehicle adapted for control by a game player, a signal source carried on the vehicle adapted for control by a game player, and detection means carried on the vehicle and operative to detect a signal emitted by a signal source of a competing player.
Most typically, the signal will comprise a laser beam. Thus, the invention enhances the known laser target games by providing the additional challenge and novelty of vehicle control. The signal may have a visible laser component and an infra-red component, the detection means being an infra-red detector. The signal source may be mounted on the vehicle under directional control of the player or is carried by a player riding on the vehicle.
The vehicle may be self-propelled, for example, it may be electrically powered by batteries carried by the vehicle.
Each vehicle may be adapted to carry more than one player. Preferably, the vehicle is arranged for control by a first player and to carry a second player to operate the signal source. This arrangement ensures that each player can give full concentration to his or her particular task, and may be safer than operation by one player.
Preferably, the laser light of the signal is emitted, at least partially, as visible light. The players may thereby see directly the results of their operation of the laser source. Such apparatus may be used in an arena which is suitably darkened and, if required, containing artificial smoke to enhance the visibility of the laser beam. Additionally, the vehicle may be illuminated externally, by lights or by luminous coatings or luminous objects fixed thereto.
The apparatus may further comprise signal detection means adapted to be carried on the body of a player.
The vehicle may be operative to react to detection of a signal emitted by a signal source under the control of a competing player in various ways. For example, motive power to the vehicle may be reduced or removed, or the signal source may be rendered temporarily inoperative. The vehicle may additionally comprise apparatus for causing a part of the vehicle to vibrate such as may be felt by players carried thereon, apparatus to generate noise (for example, a simulated explosion), or apparatus to generate light visible externally of the vehicle, each being activated on detection of a signal emitted from another player's signal source. These arrangements provide physical feedback to players in confirmation of a successful "hit" on a vehicle.
Preferably, the detection means is not responsive to signals directed from a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4487583 (1984-12-01), Brucker
patent: 4586715 (1986-05-01), Scolari et al.
patent: 4898362 (1990-02-01), Lamanna
patent: 5127658 (1992-07-01), Openiano
Grieb William H.
Rapidville Limited
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