U.S. patent number RE32,662 [Application Number 06/580,447] was granted by the patent office on 1988-05-03 for image projecting amusement device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to David R. Capasso. Invention is credited to Hugh S. Pennington.
United States Patent |
RE32,662 |
Pennington |
May 3, 1988 |
Image projecting amusement device
Abstract
A amusement device includes a target in the form of a course
having an obstacle wherein the course is of a predetermined light
intensity and the obstacle is of a differing light intensity. An
image of a moving object is projected on the target and is
controlled by the player who would attempt to move the image over
the course without contacting the obstacle. Light intensity sensing
means are provided movable with the image to detect when the
obstacle has been contacted.
Inventors: |
Pennington; Hugh S.
(Wilmington, DE) |
Assignee: |
Capasso; David R.
(Killingworth, CT)
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Family
ID: |
26830095 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/580,447 |
Filed: |
February 15, 1984 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
132092 |
Mar 20, 1980 |
04322080 |
Mar 30, 1982 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/52; 273/358;
463/34; 463/54; 463/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/0252 (20130101); A63F 9/0291 (20130101); A63F
9/14 (20130101); F41J 5/02 (20130101); A63F
2009/2466 (20130101); A63F 2009/2467 (20130101); A63F
2250/1073 (20130101); A63F 2009/2444 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/02 (20060101); A63F 9/14 (20060101); F41J
5/00 (20060101); F41J 5/02 (20060101); A63F
9/00 (20060101); A63F 009/14 (); F41J 005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/86R,86B,310,311,312,313,316,358,DIG.28 ;434/20,21,22 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An amusement device comprising a target in the form of a course
and at least one obstacle, said course being of a predetermined
light intensity and said obstacles being of predetermined differing
light intensities, means for projecting an image of a moving object
on said target, said image having a recognizable orientation, means
for controlling the movement of said image of said object on said
target whereby a player may attempt to guide said image of said
object over said course by said image of said object being
superimposed over said course and said player may attempt to avoid
said image of said object contacting said obstacles by said image
of said object being superimposed on said obstacles, said movement
controlling means including linear movement control means and
turning movement control means for selectively moving said image on
said course and for permitting the orientation of said image to be
changed while said image is being moved linearly, light intensity
sensing means movable with said image of said object for detecting
when said image of said object has superimposed any of said
obstacles, and indicating means for indicating when said image of
said object has superimposed said obstacles.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said course is a track of dark
color and said obstacles include a lightly colored boundary around
said track.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said target is projected on a
screen.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said image projecting means
includes a barrel mounted in front of said target and having a lens
therein and having its longitudinal axis in line with said target,
a light source in said barrel, and a simulated object in said
barrel between said lens and said light source.
5. The device of claim 4 including a housing, said barrel extending
through an opening in the front face of said housing, universal
mounting means mounting said barrel in said housing, said linear
movement control means including means for pivoting said barrel
along a path, and said turning movement means including means for
rotating said barrel to change the direction of said path.
6. The device of claim 6 wherein said means for pivoting said
barrel includes a linear movement motor mounted to said barrel, a
gear train driven by said linear movement motor, a friction wheel
driven by said gear train, a guide surface in said housing, and
said friction wheel being in contact with said guide surface
whereby actuation of said linear movement motor causes said
friction wheel to move across said guide surface to thereby cause
said barrel to move.
7. The device of claim 6 including resilient means urging said
guide surface into contacct with said friction wheel.
8. The device of claim 6 wherein said guide surface is a spherical
segment plate.
9. The device of claim 6 wherein said turning movement control
means includes a reversible turning movement motor for controlling
the direction of rotation of said barrel, a control wheel mounted
externally of said housing, said control wheel being mounted for
rotation on a shaft extending through said housing, a cam mounted
on said shaft in said housing, at least one resiliently mounted
contact plate in the path of movement of said cam for controlling
the amount of current to said turning motor, a double poled switch
arrangement associated with said cam for controlling the direction
of rotation of the shaft of said turning movement motor, and gear
means mounted to said barrel driven by said turning movement motor
shaft for rotating said barrel.
10. The device of claim 6 wherein said linear movement means
further comprises a control lever mounted externally of said
housing for controlling the amount of current supplied to said
linear movement motor.
11. The device of claim 4 wherein said sensing means is mounted to
said barrel for joint movement therewith.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said simulated object is on an
image plate removably mounted in an image housing on said
barrel.
13. The device of claim 12 including a further object on said image
plate simulating a scene representative of said obstacle being
contacted, and means for moving said further object between said
light source and said lens for projecting its image on said
target.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein said sensing means is a
photocell, and said further object moving means being a solenoid
connected to said image plate and controlled by said photocell.
15. The device of claim 5 wherein said housing includes an external
control panel, said turning movement means including a control
wheel on said control panel, said linear movement means including a
control throttle lever on said control panel, an off/on switch on
said control panel, reset means on said control panel, timing means
on said control panel, and a score indicating counter on said
control panel.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling said
image movement is mounted on a first housing for use by a first
player, and a second housing having movable image projecting means
for use by a second player projecting a respective image on said
target.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein said second housing image
projecting means projects a light beam on said target.
18. The device of claim 16 wherein said second housing image
projecting means is a further image movement means similar to said
image movement means of the first housing whereby each player may
race the other player.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein each of said housings further
includes means for projecting a light beam on said target.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein said light beam is interrupted
for simulating the shooting of a gun. .Iadd.
21. An amusement device comprising:
means providing a viewing surface;
means for projecting a target image onto said viewing surface, said
target image including a background course having a first
predetermined light intensity and at least one obstacle having a
second predetermined light intensity, one of said first and second
light intensities being relatively high and the other thereof being
relatively low;
means for selectively and controllably projecting an object image
onto said viewing surface to be located at any position on said
target image, said object image having a third predetermined light
intensity;
means for sensing the light intensity at any position on said
target image to which said object image is projected and thereby
sensing superimposition of said object image on said background
course by sensing the combined first and third light intensities
and sensing superimposition of said object image on any said
obstacle by sensing the combined second and third light
intensities; and
indicating means connected to said sensing means for detecting a
change in light intensity sensed thereby and for producing an
indication when said sensing means senses said combined second and
third light intensities representing superimposition of said object
image and any said obstacle image but for not producing an
indication when said sensing means senses said combined first and
third light intensities representing superimposition of said object
image and said background course. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein said target image projecting
means provides relative movement between said background course and
said obstacles within said target image. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The
device of claim 21, wherein said object image projecting means is
capable of movement to selectively and controllably project said
object image onto said target image and wherein said sensing means
is mounted for movement coordinated with movement of said object
image projecting means to constantly receive light from said object
image projected onto said target. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The device of
claim 23, wherein said sensing means is mounted on said object
image projecting means for movement therewith. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.
The device of claim 21, wherein said indicating means comprises
means simulating an explosion when said sensing means senses said
combined second and third light intensities. .Iadd.26. The device
of claim 25, wherein said explosion simulating means comprises
means for projectig the image of an explosion to said surface.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The device of claim 21, wherein indicating
means comprises means for producing an alarm signal when said
sensing means senses combined second and third light intensities.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an amusement device such as an electronic
amusement device wherein there is movement of an image of an object
upon a target. With such device it would be highly desirable to
provide the player with control over the movement of the object
image to enhance his enjoyment thereof. Additionally it would be
desirable if effective means could be provided for sensing when the
object image has not been properly moved such as by the object
image contacting an obstacle. It is also desirable to provide such
type of an amusement device which can simultaneously be played by
more than one player.
Various devices exist such as exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,086,711, 2,502,834 and 2,456,828 wherein a player attempts to
project or control an image on a target.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An object of this invention is to .[.project.]. .Iadd.provide
.Iaddend.an amusement device of the above type.
A further object of this invention is to provide such an amusement
device wherein the target may be in the form of a course having an
obstacle which is to be avoided by the moving object image.
A still further object of this invention is to provide such an
amusement device which is capable of simultaneously being played by
more than one player.
In accordance with this invention a target is provided in the form
of a course with an obstacle. The course and obstacle are of a
differing predetermined light intensity. Means are provided for
projecting an image of a moving object on the target so that the
player may control movement of the object image and attempt to
avoid the object image contacting the obstacle. Light intensity
sensing means are provided movable with the image of the object to
detect when the obstacle has been contacted.
In an advantageous form of this invention the course may be, for
example, a track with the obstacle being the boundary around the
track. In such embodiment a suitable image of an object such as a
simulated car may be controlled by the player, and the light
intensity sensing means may detect the change in light intensity of
the boundary when the car image is superimposed over the boundary
because the car image goes off the track.
The above type device may also include means to accommodate a
second player. The second player may have a similar device wherein
the second player likewise controls the movements of a further
object image or car. Either or both players may also have means
such as a simulated gun for attempting to shoot the other player's
object while either or both players moves his object around the
track. Likewise more players can be included with more devices.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view partly broken away and in section of a
portion of an amusement device in accordance with this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken through FIG. 1
along the line 2--2;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the amusement device shown in
FIGS. 1-2;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken through FIG. 2 along
the lines 4--4 and 5--5, respectively;
FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing an alternative
arrangement;
FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a typical target .[.unable.].
.Iadd.usable .Iaddend.with the amusement device of FIGS. 1-5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the amusement device of FIGS.
1-6;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view schematically illustrating an alternative
form of this invention wherein more than one player may
simultaneously play; and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 7 illustrates an amusement device 10 in accordance with this
invention. As indicated therein, a target 12 is projected on a
screen from any suitable means such as a conventional slide
projector 14 or an 8 mm movie camera. Target 12 may even be a
permanent screen rather than a projected target. Amusement device
10 further includes a player control mechanism 16 by means of which
the player may control movement of an image of an object 18 around,
for example, a track 20 on target 12, as also shown in FIG. 6.
FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the details of a player control mechanism 16.
As indicated therein, a housing 22 is provided having a cylinder or
barrel 24 extending outwardly from the front face 26 thereof.
Barrel 24 includes a simulated object 30 on a slide 28 as shown in
FIG. 5. The simulated object 30 may be of any suitable form such
as, for example, a car, a horse or any other simulated object
generally used for racing. It is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to any specific object or, indeed, to
racing but in its broad aspects may be practiced by testing the
skill of a player in moving any type of object on a target and
avoiding obstacles on the target.
Barrel 24 is mounted for rotational movement about its own axis so
as to effect a turning movement of the object, and barrel 24 is
also capable of a pivotal movement as later described which effects
a linear movement of object 18 on target 12. Mechanism 16 also
includes means for controlling the speed of movement of
.[.target.]. .Iadd.object .Iaddend.18. FIG. 17 for example,
illustrates rotation or turning control wheel 34 and linear
direction control lever 32 on the inclined top face 36 of housing
22 for manual control by the player.
Before discussing the combined operation of turning control wheel
34 and linear control lever 32, reference is made to FIGS. 1-2 for
a discussion of how the linear and turning movements are effected
to object 18.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, linear drive motor 54 drives a gear
train 56 having, for example, drive reduction gearing for reducing
the speed input from motor 54. Gear train 56 terminates in and
drives a friction wheel 58. Friction wheel 58 which may be rubber
covered presses against guide surface 60. Actuation of gear train
56 by motor 54 causes friction or drive wheel 58 to rotate and move
against guide surface 60 and move in a linear path in accordance
with the orientation of drive wheel 58.
Cylinder or barrel 24 is universally mounted. As best shown in FIG.
3, for example, a gimbal-type arrangement 62 is used for mounting
the barrel or cylinder assembly which includes the various motors
and gears. Gimbal arrangement 62 includes, for example, a frame 63
mounted for rotation about vertical pivot pins 64 with a pair of
horizontal pivot pins 66 mounted to sleeve 25 around the barrel 24
so that the assembly can pivot about both a vertical axis and a
horizontal axis to thereby achieve the universal mounting. Thus as
friction wheel 58 rolls against guide surface 60, the entire
cylinder assembly is pivoted in the universal mounting. The
movement of friction wheel 58 across guide surface 60 would be
linear and the linear movement would be translated into a linear
movement of the object image 18. The speed of movement is
controlled by the position of lever 32 which controls the current
to motor 54. Lever 32 has associated with it a potentiometer 33 and
thus acts as a throttle for motor 54 to which it is connected by
suitable circuitry through terminal strip 48 which in turn is
electrically connected to commutator 52 for powering motor 54.
As illustrated in the drawings, wheel 34 is mounted on a shaft 38
which extends through face or plate 36 which acts as a control
panel. As best shown in FIG. 4, a cam 40 is mounted on shaft 38 for
jointly rotating with wheel 34. Cam 40 acts as a double poled
switch with its contact member 41 and is disposed between two
electrical contact plates 42 which are spring biased toward each
other by any suitable means such as spring 44. Each contact plate
is associated with a potentiometer 43. The position or degree of
rotation of wheel 34 thus controls the position of cam 40 which in
turn controls the degree of .[.speed.]. .Iadd.spread .Iaddend.of
contact plates 42. FIG. 4, for example, illustrates in solid lines
one position of cam 40 where there is no spread of contact plates
42 in the off position. FIG. 4 also illustrates by phantom lines a
different position during operation. Contact plates 42 are
connected by any suitable electrical leads 46 to a suitable
terminal strip 48 (FIG. 2) connected to the source of power 50 such
as a transformer. Suitable electrical lines also lead from terminal
strip 48 to reversible motor 68 which may be a three volt DC motor.
The position of cam 40 thus controls the amount of current to motor
68 as well as the direction of rotation of motor shaft 67.
FIG. 4A shows an alternative arrangement for controlling the speed
and direction of motor shaft 67. As indicated therein, only a
single contact plate 42A is provided with its associated
potentiometer 43A and is resiliently biassed by spring 44A toward
cam 40A. In this embodiment, cam 40A contacting plate 42A
determines the amount of current to motor 68. The direction of
motor 68, however, is controlled by a double pole triple throw
switch arrangement which includes, for example, a pair of actuating
lugs 47, 49 of opposite polarity with an intermediate lug 51 on
shaft 38. Switch 53 is mounted at a suitable location in housing 22
with its contact arm 55 disposed in the path of movement of lugs
47, 49, 51 as shaft 38 is rotated by wheel 34. If lug 47 is
contacted, motor shaft 67 will rotate in one direction but rotate
in the opposite direction when lug 49 is contacted. The neutral or
off position results when lug 51 is contacted.
Actuation of motor 68 causes its shaft 67 to rotate drive gear 69
which in turn rotates gear 70 on barrel or cylinder 24 so that the
entire cylinder assembly turns or rotates. Such rotation in turn
changes the orientation of friction or drive wheel 58 thereby
changing the direction of the moving object image. The player could
accordingly control the precise path of movement of the object
image by manipulating linear movement lever 32 and rotation control
wheel 34. For example, if a gradual turn is desired, wheel 34 would
be rotated only slightly thereby supplying minimal current to
turning motor 68. A sharp arc could be achieved, however, by a
greater turn of wheel 34 to cause a greater surge of current to
motor 68. Similarly, as previously described, the speed of linear
movement of friction wheel 58 could be altered in accordance with
the positioning of lever 32 between high and low positions.
Although the linear control permits movement in only one direction,
the object could be moved in the reverse direction by manipulation
of the turning control about 180.degree..
Means are provided in order to assure engagement of guide surface
60 and friction or drive wheel 58. FIG. 2, for example, illustrates
guide surface 60 to be mounted to flanges or plates 59 within
housing 22 by means of, for example, conventional threaded
fasteners 57. The mounting, however, is spring loaded through the
utilization of springs 71 mounted on the fasteners to urge guide
surface or plate 60 forwardly toward and in contact with friction
wheel 58. In the preferred illustrated form of this invention,
guide surface 60 is a spherical segment contoured at a radius
corresponding to the length of the barrel assembly from its pivot
point at gimbal 62 to the edge of friction wheel 58. The plate 60
may, however, also be a flat plate or other arcuate plate which is
resiliently urged in contact with friction wheel 58. Guide surface
or plate 60 may also include a peripheral rim 61 which acts as a
stop to prevent friction wheel 58 from riding off the guide surface
60.
The details of projecting the object image are illustrated, for
example, in .[.FIG..]. .Iadd.FIGS. 1 and .Iaddend.2. As indicated
therein, image focusing lens 72 is mounted at the front end of
barrel or cylinder 24 with the actual simulated object being
mounted on slide 28 in image housing 74. A source of light, such as
a bulb 76, is provided in back of image housing 74 so that the
illuminated image is provided through lens 72 on target or screen
12 in a known manner. Advantageously slide 28 is detachably mounted
so that it can be replaced by any simulated object such as a car,
animal, plane, man, etc.
The various Figures illustrate another novel aspect of this
invention, namely the incorporation of a sensor particularly a
photo sensing device such as photocell 78 mounted to barrel 24 so
that sensor 78 moves jointly with the movement of the simulated
object. FIG. 7, for example, illustrates the beam 80 of the image
being projected from control mechanism 16 to target 12 while line
82 indicates the beam or path taken or viewed by sensor 78 so that
both paths generally coincide on target 12. Note FIG. 6 where the
path 82 is shown as superimposed on image 18. Sensor 78 is utilized
to detect, for example, a change in light intensity and thereby
sense the happening of a certain event. For example, in the
illustrated embodiment, target 12 includes a track 20 which may be,
for example, of a relatively dark color with the boundary 84 being,
for example, white or relatively light. While car 18 moves around
track 20, sensor 78 detects or senses the normal light intensity
condition. If, however, the car moves off the track, as indicated
in FIG. 6 by car image 18A, a change in light intensity condition
is detected by sensor 78, and through proper circuitry, this change
in light intensity could be used to actuate any suitable signal.
FIGS. 2 and 5, for example, illustrate slide 28 to be connected to
a solenoid 86 which would be actuated by sensor 78 detecting the
car hitting boundary 84. When solenoid 86 is actuated its arm 87
would move and arm 87 is connected by pin 89 to slide 28 through
slot 90 in housing 74 so that slide 28 would be moved from the
position wherein the object is in line with the lens under normal
conditions to a position where, for example, a simulated explosion
88 would be moved in the line of projection. Sensor 78 could also
be utilized to actuate a signal such as an alarm or flashing light
and, as later described, sensor 78 may be utilized to actuate a
form of scoring.
If desired, track 20 may also include a starting line 91 of a
different light intensity than the track, and an additional sensor
may be permanently focused on starting line 91. Such additional
sensor may be actuated whenever the car passes over starting line
91 at the completion of a cycle which in turn would change the
light intensity. The cycles sensing may be counted as a further
means for keeping score.
It should be appreciated that any type of suitable circuitry may be
used to carry out the concepts of this invention, and similarly any
other ancillary device can be used to enhance the playing of the
amusement device. For example, terminal strip 48 may include
suitable electrical leads which are connected to counter 92 (FIG.
1), a timer 94, a reset control 96 and an off/on switch 98
connected through relay 99 to terminal strip 48 to control the
current to the motors. Thus, for example, the position of off/on
switch 98 would determine whether or not power is provided to
terminal strip 48. For commercial use, the off/on switch may be
coin actuated. Where the device is used for simulating a race, it
would be desirable to begin at the starting line 91, and where a
score is being kept, the score should begin at zero. These starting
conditions would be controlled by reset switch 96. It is within the
concepts of this invention to also utilize amusement device 10 in a
manner where the player is not only concerned with avoiding
obstacles but is also concerned with playing against a time limit,
and this time control function is achieved through timer 94.
As previously indicated, device 10 includes counter 92 which could
count, for example, the number of cycles completed in going around
the track and/or the number of hits or times the simulated object
has contacted an obstacle. Other conventional means of keeping
score may also be used as indicated by counter 62.
The concepts of this invention may also be practiced by employing a
second player. In one such practice of this invention each player
would have an identical control mechanism 16 illustrated in FIG. 8,
and the players could simply race against each other to determine,
for example, which player can complete the course without hitting
the boundary or which player can complete the most cycles without
hitting the boundary.
The invention may also be practiced as in FIG. 9 where a second
player projects a beam of light simulating a gun which would
attempt to strike or shoot the object image racing around the track
by the first player. A strike by the light ray contacting the car
18 would be detected by sensor 78 much the same as sensor 78 senses
the car 18 crashing into the boundary 84. To add more realism, the
light beam from the second player might be an interrupted light
beam with noise simulating the shooting of a gun. Control of the
light beam could be through a control mechanism 100 having a
universally mounted joy stick 102 with an actuating button 104. Any
suitable means could be employed for such control means. Actuation
of button 104 could also result in a shooting type noise.
The invention may also be practiced with each player having his own
gun on the object image control mechanism so that the player would
not only be concerned with safely driving his car around the course
but also with attempting to shoot the opponent's car.
Although the invention has been particularly described with the
object image as a race car, the concepts of this invention lend
themselves to other practices. For example, instead of a light
projector projecting a race track target, a movie projector might
be utilized to project an air scene which could include, for
example, meteors or air obstacles such as planes and the moving
image might be a plane or spaceship.
For realism, target 12 would include typical appropriate scenery.
Additionally while a race track is desirable as a means of playing
the amusement device, the concepts may be practiced with other
goals in mind. For example, the image object might be a man and the
target might be a jungle scene wherein the safe path is of one
predetermined light intensity and obstacles are animals, falling
trees, etc. of differing light intensity and the object would be to
guide the man through the jungle to an area of safety. Similarly
the course or safe path need not be a symmetrical path such as
track 20 but could be a winding or irregular road which a car, or
tank or other type object would have to traverse.
* * * * *