Amusement devices: games – Simulated-projectile game – target therefor – or accessory – Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-29
2001-10-16
Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Simulated-projectile game, target therefor, or accessory
Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path, or...
C463S053000, C446S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302796
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention disclosed herein relates to a portable, player programmable, interactive toy for a shooting game played by radiating energy, e.g., light, and detecting appropriately directed radiated energy. The programmability and interactivity include selection by a player or players, prior to the start of a game and/or during a game, of game functions and features including game modes, some or all of which are selected using preprogrammed codes entered by the player(s). The interactivity includes at least two players interacting other than by detection of a hit, i.e., detection by one player of light shot by another player.
In shooting games played by shooting some form of light and detecting when the shot light strikes a target, toys used in such games typically include a light emitter and a light detector. The light detector may be located with the target and detect light impinging on the target, or the light detector may be provided with the light emitter to detect light projected from a target. The target may be passive and simply reflect light impinging thereon, or active and incorporate a light emitter. Many remote control applications, including remote control of consumer electronics devices and toys, use transmitted and detected light. Some of the above toys and remote control devices pulse, modulate and/or code the light, which may be infrared (“IR”) light.
The “Photon” toy of Entertech includes a gun having an IR emitter, a vest having a speaker and hit indicators and a helmet having an IR detector and electronic sound transmitters, all tethered together. This toy also has a computerized target with an adjustable skill level.
The “Survivor Shot” toy of Hasbro includes a gun with an IR emitter and a head unit with an IR detector and a vibrator which vibrates when the head unit registers a hit. The gun and head unit are tethered. The gun is adjustable to project light for long range, short range, single shot and multiple shot.
The “Laser Challenge” toy of Toymax Inc. of Plainview, N. Y. has been on sale in the United States more than one year before the filing of this application. application Ser. No. 08/795,895 generally describes the “Laser Challenge” toy.
The following U.S. Pat. Nos. disclose light toys or remote control devices: 2,119,005, 2,404,653, 2,957,693, 3,202,425, 3,499,650, 3,508,751, 3,549,147, 3,870,305, 3,960,380, 3,995,376, 4,164,081, 4,171,811, 4,266,776, 4,267,606, 4,375,106, 4,426,662, 4,533,144, 4,586,715, 4,629,427, 4,718,593, 4,754,133, 4,802,675, 4,844,475, 4,898,391, 4,931,028, 5,029,872, 5,253,068, 5,375,847, 5,401,025, 5,437,463, 5,552,917, 5,656,907, 5,672,108 and 5,577,962.
There is a need for a portable, toy for use in a shooting game which provides for more interactivity, both between and among players and between a player and his equipment, than such toys provided in the past.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention disclosed herein to increase the play value of toys used in shooting games by making them more interactive, and/or by providing them with more player selectable features, and/or by making them player programmable, and/or by linking them to cooperate, for example to transfer information which affects game play between or among players.
It is another object of the invention to provide novel features for toys used in shooting games, particularly features that can be programmed or selected by a player at the start of or during a game.
It is another object of the invention to provide toys for a shooting game in which the players may interact in ways in addition to shooting at an opposing player and registering and processing hits.
It is another object of the invention to provide toys for a shooting game in which interactivity between players is increased by the ability of one player to interact with another player other than by firing and registering hits.
It is another object of the invention to enable players in a shooting game to transfer information from one player's equipment to another player's toy equipment, preferably through a wireless link.
A toy for a shooting game which incorporates the invention includes at least one radiation emitter which may be configured as some type of toy gun and at least one radiation detector which may be incorporated into the toy gun or into another toy item carried by a player, or even into a self-propelled or stationary toy item. Preferred embodiments of toys incorporating the invention provide audio and/or visual effects, including sound effects and speech phrases, associated with one or more of the following: selection and/or activation of game functions and features; radiation of energy; and detection of radiated energy (“hits”) from another player's radiation emitter. In the preferred embodiment, the toy is comprises at least one light emitter, at least one light detector, and at least one audio device and/or visual device.
The at least one light emitter, light detector and audio and/or visual device may be combined into a player set which may comprise a single item of player toy equipment, or in two or more items coupled together. These items may be coupled by a wired or wireless link. “Wired link” is used herein in a broad sense and encompasses a link or coupling achieved through a tether (e.g., a cable which conducts electricity, light, sound, etc.). Similarly, “wireless link” is used herein in a broad sense and encompasses a link or coupling that does not require a tether, and includes links achieved through electromagnetic, optical (including IR), electrostatic, and acoustical (including ultrasonic) coupling.
A detector typically includes some type of sensor which senses wave energy and assists in detection thereof, although the terms detector and sensor are frequently used interchangeably. Typically a detector includes some type of circuitry which receives the output of a sensor.
An embodiment of a player set incorporating the invention disclosed herein is currently available from Toymax Inc. of Plainview, N.Y. under the mark “Laser Challenge Pro”.
The invention disclosed herein provides a portable, programmed toy for a shooting game responsive to player input to select game features and functions from a relatively large number thereof prior to and/or during a shooting game. The invention provides for player input of coded information into a toy which allows a shooting game to include a large number of selectable features and functions, many of which are unique.
The invention also provides for information transfer between players (and other equipment) to transfer or remotely activate features and functions or to remotely control another player's equipment. The invention thus provides for remote control of many features and functions. In the preferred embodiment, such transfer is activated by player input of coded information, but may be preprogrammed to be activated by controls, time, sequences, or to respond to events, etc.
Play value is enhanced in two basic ways. The large number of features and functions which may be selected or used during a shooting game adds excitement because game play is less predictable. The ability to select features and functions prior to a game adds versatility so that over time the shooting game will not become repetitive and boring. Whether playing with only the same players time after time, or with one or more changing players, game features and functions may be selected to suit the particular players, play area, play time, etc., that are selected or used during any particular game. Further, the ability to transfer information adds another dimension to shooting games played with portable toys.
Player input may be achieved in any suitable way consistent with the large number of possible selections. Keypad entry is presently preferred, which may be wired or wirelessly coupled. Although keypad switches are typically momentary contact switches responsive to a pressing or push force, the switches may be a number of two position switches which together define a code. Also, pl
Chan John Ping
Ki Kwan David Chu
Landi Frank
Lebensfeld Steven
Russo Carmine
Brown & Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP
Sager Mark
Toymax Inc.
LandOfFree
Player programmable, interactive toy for a shooting game does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Player programmable, interactive toy for a shooting game, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Player programmable, interactive toy for a shooting game will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2563553