The present disclosure relates generally to game components used in an interactive game of electronic tag and more specifically to game components used in a game of tag where players compete with one another to score points. The disclosure also includes various rules and apparatuses for playing a game of tag, including games played with multiple users utilizing multiple types of weapons.
In an exemplary embodiment, the game components include a toy light projector and a toy light receiver. In addition, the exemplary embodiment may include game components that may be handheld or worn on a player's body and which have a number of capabilities.
Examples of related games with transmitters and receivers are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,533,144, 4,844,475, 5,253,068, 5,672,108, 5,741,185, 5,904,621, 6,261,180, 6,293,869, and 6,302,796. Each of the disclosures of the aforementioned patents is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
The present disclosure relates to game components usable by players playing a shooting game. In the described embodiment, a first player may compete to score points by using a toy light projector to cause the toy light receiver of a second player to receive electromagnetic energy. The player who first scores a pre-determined number of points through accurate shooting may be declared the winner of the game. Alternatively, a game may proceed for a predetermined period of time or for a predetermined number of accumulated points. During the course of a game, a goal of a first player may be to score points against a second player while simultaneously keeping the second player from scoring points. Although the toy device of the disclosure is shown as being implemented as separate projector and receiver bodies, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the two components, the toy light projector and the toy light receiver, could be housed within a single toy body.
A toy light projector 1 may have a body 10 that may provide a supporting structure for many components that make the toy light projector functional in a game using the disclosed game components.
Effect location 22 may house a light emitting device that projects a visible light beam. Though shown as including two apertures and LEDs, the barrel of the toy gun may include more apertures and LEDs, or fewer, according to various design preferences, while still holding true to the present disclosure. Also, although the effect location 22 of the present disclosure houses a visible LED that is used to visually signify when infrared LED 23 is activated, the effect location may house another type of visual signifier, or the aperture may not be present at all if no visual effect from the front of the toy light projector is desired. The effect location may also be placed at a different position on the toy body.
In addition to integral controls 35 in the toy light projector, the projector may also be configured to respond to a modification device that could be attached removably to a modification slot 50 on the toy light projector. Modification slot 50 may house electronic connections that allow an inserted modification device to alter the performance of the toy device. For example, modification slot 50 may house connections for internal electrical circuitry of the toy device, such that a modification device could alter an electrical characteristic (e.g. the overall resistance of the circuit) and thereby alter an operational characteristic of the toy device. Such capacity for modification of the toy device might also be implemented on the toy light receiver (see
Batteries housed within the toy light projector may provide needed electrical energy to power an electromagnetic transmitter of the toy light projector (below). Electronics associated with the toy light projector may provide for internal connections or for feedback to a game player. For example, internal electronics may connect one or more batteries to the LEDs or to an associated activation device (such as the trigger). In addition, internal electronics may connect one or more batteries to various feedback mechanisms in the toy light projector. For example, the toy light projector may contain one or more of light devices, sound producers, etc., that may be activated when a first game player uses the toy light projector to send an electromagnetic energy beam toward the toy light receiver of a second player.
Activation of the feedback mechanisms of the toy light projector may be altered based on the performance characteristics of the toy light projector. For example, a game player may insert or remove modification cards into reversible connection slots 50 provided on body 10 of the toy light projector. Similar reversible connection slots may be available on toy light receiver body 40 (below). Modification cards may be reversibly inserted into the connection slots of the game components as a way of providing game-to-game variation when those components are used. Modification cards may alter various functions of the toy light projector and toy light receiver. For example, some modification cards may provide more “power” to the toy light projector, such that a given hit on a toy light receiver of a second player provides a first player with more points. Other modification cards may “reload” a toy light projector. Some modification cards may make a target “stronger” by requiring more hits to activate the toy light receiver. Alternatively, modification cards may alter the performance of a toy light projector. For example, one type of modification card may cause a toy light projector to shoot more slowly, while another type of modification card may cause a toy light projector to assume a “rapid-fire” mode. Other types of modification cards are possible.
Each toy light projector may be operated to activate a toy light receiver 2.
Body 40 of the toy light receiver may include a shell 41 that has at least a forward surface 42 and a back surface 43. As the toy light receiver may be a target moving with a player during game play, the toy light receiver may be equipped with a series of straps 44 and attachment slots 45 that provide a way for a player to fasten the toy light receiver to their body during game play. Typically, a user would wear the target on their chest area, though other locations are possible. To hold a toy light receiver firmly to a body part of a player, straps 44 may be provided on a main body 40 of the toy light receiver. The straps of the toy light receiver may be of any suitable number to provide secure attachment to a body part of a player. Straps 44 may be constructed of any appropriate material or fastening system. For example, straps may be constructed of nylon webbing, or a fastening system may include hook-and-loop fasteners. Alternatively, straps may be constructed of rubber or plastic material, or may include a buckle or clip fastener. Many strapping options are possible.
A forward surface 42 of the toy light receiver may include a number of LEDs 46 and a light receiver 47. In the illustrated embodiment, LEDs 46 present a visually cognizable signal to a user when a light receiver 47 detects a specific type of light signal. For example, when LED 23 is an infrared LED, light receiver 47 may be configured to receive infrared light having the characteristics of infrared light sent from LED 23. A light receiver may interconnect with associated electronics within the toy light receiver. In this configuration, each time the toy light receiver receives electromagnetic energy from a toy light projector, electronics within the toy light receiver may signify that reception by activating one or more of a light response, a sound response, a combination of those or other responses, etc. Effects, including activation of LEDs 46, may also be activated after light receiver 47 receives a predetermined number of the appropriate light signals, or at any other preferred time.
As noted above for the toy light projector, and shown in
Toy light projector 1 may include a controller 100, a trigger 102 (an example of a toy interface 35), a sensory output device (one example of which is an LED 22), and a light source 23 (such as, but not only, an infrared LED) that projects light through an aperture 21. Optionally, the toy light projector 1 may receive an input from a modification device 106 that may interact with the toy light projector at a modification slot 50 (seen in
When the electrical signal containing the toy light projector's code is sent from the controller to the light source, the controller may also activate a sensory output device 104. Activation of the sensory output device (such as, for example, a visible-light LED) may serve to notify a game player that the toy light projector has successfully “fired” the light source. Alternatively, the sensory output device may provide feedback to a game player regarding other game activities. For example, if a toy light receiver is integrated into the toy light projector, the sensory output may provide feedback to the game player that the toy light projector received a coded light signal from another toy light projector. In any case, the sensory feedback could be visual feedback (as noted above) or it could be haptic feedback or electrical feedback, or any other suitable type of feedback to be sensed by a game player.
As noted earlier, another input into the operation of the toy light projector, or of the toy light receiver, may be a modification device 106. Modification device 106 may interact with the toy light projector or with the toy light receiver via a modification slot 50 on the body of either of those two devices. A modification device, as one example, could be an electrical component that alters an electrical characteristic of a circuit operating either the toy light projector or the toy light receiver. Alternatively, the modification device could be a self-contained information module that contains information usable by the controller 100 in determining the operation of the toy light projector or the toy light receiver. Many constructions of a modification device are possible, including both devices that interact operatively with the controller and those that modify a physical characteristic of the toy light projector or the toy light receiver. As an example of this latter type of modification device, it is possible that a diffuser-type of device could be placed in operative contact with, for example, an aperture on a toy light projector to make a light beam less-focused, perhaps making it easier to send a coded light beam to a toy light receiver. A modification device could be used to alter any one or more of many characteristics of the toy light projector, including the aiming characteristics of the projector, or the point value associated with each hit from the toy light projector, or the speed with which the toy light projector will fire, etc.
The toy light receiver may receive a coded light signal from the toy light projector at a compatible light receiver 47. For example, if the light source 23 of the toy light projector sends a beam substantially containing infrared light, then the light receiver will optimally be an infrared light sensor. Coded light detected by the light receiver may be converted into an electrical signal that is received by controller 200. The controller of a toy light projector may be configured such that it can discriminate a received coded light signal from a background light signal and it may discriminate one coded light signal from a second coded light signal. In this way, the controller of a first player may be able to differentiate a hit signal from background radiation and may be able to respond appropriately if the controller determines that the hit signal came from the toy light projector of a second player and that second player is on a different team.
When a controller receives a coded light signal that it determines should be a “hit” (i.e. that the coded light signal came from an opponent's gun, rather than the player's), it may perform a number of different actions. First, the controller may record the hit in an ongoing tally of the total number of hits received, or of the total number of hits received since the reset button (
Having described game components in the present disclosure, there follows an exemplary use of the game components. The game components may be used by a plurality of players in a competitive game of tag, wherein each player is assigned a toy light projector and a toy light receiver. Each player may wear a toy light receiver such that its electromagnetic receiver is amenable to receiving the electromagnetic energy beam projected from the toy light projector of each other player. For example, a player may wear a toy light receiver on his or her chest, with an electromagnetic receiver facing outward. Each player may also have a toy light projector that they carry as desired. For example, a toy light projector may be designed so that it may be carried in one hand of a player. Alternatively, a larger toy light projector may be designed to be carried in two hands of a player.
Each player, once assigned a toy light projector and a toy light receiver, may choose any special capabilities that they desire for those devices. Recalling the aforementioned modification cards, each player may choose a modification card for each of their toy light projector and toy light receiver. For example, a player may wish to use a card giving a toy light projector a higher “power” value, and a toy light receiver a higher “protection” value. Alternatively, a player may desire that a toy light projector be modified to fire rapidly and a toy light receiver be modified so that at periodic times it is unavailable to receive electromagnetic energy. These different possibilities may be assigned randomly among the players, or they may be assigned based on a player's capabilities. For example, a younger or less-experienced player may use a higher-powered toy light projector and/or a higher-protection toy light receiver, while an older or more-experienced player may use a weaker-powered toy light projector and/or a lower-protection toy light receiver. In this manner, the disclosed game components may be adapted to accommodate players of various skill levels and provide for a more enjoyable game-playing experience.
In addition to accommodating different player skill levels, modification cards or an inherent feature of the toy light projectors or toy light receivers could alter game play. One possibility may be that one or more modification cards, or other game components, could allow team formation during game play. Another possibility may be that one or more modification cards, or other game components, could provide a countdown function to measure progress of a game.
Grouping of players into teams could be accomplished through use of modification cards or through use of devices integral with one or more of a toy light projector and a toy light receiver. For example, a toy light projector or toy light receiver may have a depressible switch on its body, or within an aperture, allowing teams to be chosen. Alternatively, one or more modification cards may be used to assemble groups of players into teams. For team play, modification cards or integral devices may alter performance of game components in a defined way. For example, toy light projectors may provide for transmission of electromagnetic beams coded in a team-specific manner. In addition, or alternatively, the toy light receivers may verify, and respond to, the reception of electromagnetic beams containing an appropriate team code. In the illustrated embodiment, two teams may be formed with a set of two toy light projectors and toy light receivers, with each team employing toy light projectors capable of emitting an electromagnetic beam with a different code. A first team may be equipped with toy light receivers able to receive and respond to a code projected by toy light projectors of a second team.
A counting function may be enabled within a toy light projector and/or toy light receiver to measure the length of an exemplary game. A counting function may be implemented through use of modification cards or through use of settings inherent in a toy light projector and/or in a toy light receiver. A counting function may be based on time progression or on accumulation of points or on any other appropriate measure. For example, a game may begin with activation of either or both of toy light projectors and toy light receivers. A counting device, in a game based on time, may count from a beginning time to an ending time, upon which occurrence game play will terminate. Progress of a game may be based on incremental accumulation of time or decremental loss of time. Alternatively, in a game based on points, a counting device may track accumulation of points until a set point value is reached, resulting in termination of the game. As above, progress of a game may be based on incremental accumulation of points or decremental loss of points. The end of a game may be signified by inactivation of a toy light projector and/or toy light receiver, or it may be signified by an emission of light and/or sound from one or more of toy light projectors and toy light receivers. In the illustrated embodiment, the toy light receiver may be configured to receive coded light signals from a compatible toy light projector a total of six times. Upon the sixth reception, the toy light receiver may respond with a sound and light effect and may need to be reset by depression of a reset button before a new game can begin.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein.
Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to a same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to any original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,376, filed Jun. 3, 2005. U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,376 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60687376 | Jun 2005 | US |