Mechanical guns and projectors – Element – Trigger or releasing mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-06-12
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Mechanical guns and projectors
Element
Trigger or releasing mechanism
C124S006000, C124S032000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244260
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an interactive projectile-discharging toy.
BACKGROUND
Projectile-discharging toys are well known. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,967, a toy in the shape of a pistol discharges a disc when a player presses a trigger on the toy.
SUMMARY
In one general aspect, the invention provides an electronic game that includes a housing and device that is held or worn by a player. The device includes an emitter that emits a signal. Moreover, 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 device when the controller determines that the detector has detected a signal from the emitter.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the device may include a speaker that emits one or more audio signals in response to player input. The emitter also may emit the signal in response to player input.
The emitter may include a light emitting diode, and the signal emitted from the emitter may be an electromagnetic signal. The emitter may be configured to emit the electromagnetic signal in the infrared wavelength region, and the detector may be configured to detect the electromagnetic signal emitted in the infrared wavelength region. To this end, the detector may include a photodiode detector. The detector also may be configured to detect a signal based on characteristics of the signal.
The electronic game may further include a supporting post on which the housing is mounted. When this is the case, the housing may include a mechanical rotator that is electrically controlled by the controller and is coupled to the post. The controller may determine that the emitted signal has been detected by causing the rotator to rotate the housing relative to the post and toward the signal. The controller may further determine whether a value of the electrical signal remains above a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time. When the controller determines that the detector has detected an emitted signal from the emitter, the controller may cause a speaker in the housing to emit an acoustic warning signal. The acoustic warning signal may be based on input from the player.
The housing may include a speaker controlled by the controller to emit an acoustic signal. The controller may thus cause the speaker to emit an acoustic game over signal when the controller determines that a predetermined number of objects have been fired from the magazine.
The object may be a sponge-like material and shaped in the form of a disc.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings, and from the claims.
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Ferraro Peter C.
Foster Bruce E.
Ragoza Mark
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Hasbro Inc.
Ricci John A.
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