Simulated weapon using holographic images

Details Simulated weapon using holographic images Simulated weapon using holographic images

1998-05-04

2001-03-27

Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)

Amusement devices: toys

Having chemiluminescent light source, optic fiber, mirror,...

C446S473000, C446S485000, C472S061000, C359S033000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206748

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to simulated weapons. The use of holographic images and accompanying sound effects allows the invention to replicate the overall effects associated with a variety of simulated weapons. The invention is particularly suited for use as a simulated weapon intended to resemble a laser-type gun, ray gun, or space gun weapon such as portrayed in motion pictures, television programs, and video games.
2. Description of Prior Art
Simulated weapons which employ visual effects, particularly those using vivid lighting, are well known. Devices which replicate conventional firearms have used flashing lights, often in conjunction with other effect to suggest muzzle flashes. Machine gun-type simulated weapons from the 1950s used flashing red lights together with a reciprocating plastic cylinder to imitate muzzle flashes. That visual effect involved both electric lighting and the extension into space of a physical object. Through its very rapid in-and-out motion, the plastic cylinder was intended to lose the appearance of a physical object.
Other simulated weapons have sought to rely on lighting effects alone to create the impression of muzzle flashes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,970 to Aiger discloses a toy gun which relies entirely on a red light, which shows intermittently as the invention's barrel assembly rotates, to provide the impression of muzzle flashes.
While the previous examples have been of toys which resembled actual weapons (conventional firearms), space gun or ray gun-type simulated weapons do not, in general, resemble actual weapons. (Real laser beams are invisible under most circumstances, so such laser weapons as might exist are poor models for toys.) Nevertheless, the popular imagination clearly recognizes such weapons, and toy manufacturers have sought to produce simulated weapons which resemble them to supply the market. Early examples featured exotic body design and sometimes the use of electric lamps. Such devices did not, however, attempt to produce either real or imitative visible rays or beams. More recenly, Playmates carried a simulated weapon called Big Flash which does more to suggest the presence of a ray or beam during operation. A portion of the body of the toy consists of a plastic tube, shaped perhaps as a ray gun beam might be, which becomes lighted in conjunction with a sound effect when the device is operated. The effect achieved suggests the presence of a ray or beam extending into three dimensions. However, although the device emits light, the visible “beam” is part of the toy's body and does not extend beyond that body into space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide simulated weapons for the amusement of children which are capable of producing rays or beams which more closely correspond to to those of ray guns or space guns as portrayed in motion pictures, television programs, and video games than has been commercially available heretofore.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are that:
It produces images which appear to extend into and occupy space in front of the invention itself.
The images can be made to appear in a wide variety of forms; images of beams or rays resembling those of ray guns or space guns as protrayed in the popular media are possible.
These rays or beams have no physical form and are not part of the invention. No physical object is extended into space during the operation of the invention.
Because no mechanical operations are part of the invention's operating cycle, it has no moving parts to manipulate physical objects.
The absence of mechanical parts and the mechanical noises they produce means no interference with the sounds produced by accoustic devices capable of producing exotic sound effects. The illusion that the invention is an exotic weapon is enhanced. Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and description.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is a special effects device intended to function as a simulated weapon. The invention employs an arrangement of optical components for the purpose of producing holographic images and acoustical components to produce sound effects. In addition, the invention has externally mounted electric lamps for producing ancillary visual effects.
In operation the invention is activated when a control unit is itself activated and a sequence of electrical circuits are completed such that ancillary visual effects occur in concert with sound effects and such that after the ancillary visual effects have completed their operation the beams or rays produced by a hologram are activated in concert with sound effects.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1972123 (1934-09-01), Zimmerman
patent: 3561850 (1971-02-01), Shaffer
patent: 3583784 (1971-06-01), Hanna
patent: 4678450 (1987-07-01), Scolari et al.
patent: 5145446 (1992-09-01), Kuo
patent: 5283970 (1994-02-01), Aigner
patent: 5885129 (1999-03-01), Norris
patent: 2199253 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 1240425 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 1331525 (1987-08-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Simulated weapon using holographic images does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Simulated weapon using holographic images, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simulated weapon using holographic images will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2439408