US4807887A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Missed hit and player proximity detection system for electronic projectile game
Assignee: Kidde Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-01
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A novel missed-hit detection and player proximity detection system for an electronic, automatically scored projectile target game apparatus wherein the scoring system thereof is automatically deactivated whenever a player comes within a proscribed distance range from the game and wherein the impact of a projectile which misses the target, yet strikes the front of the game registers as a non-scoring "missed-hit" and is deducted from the number of remaining throws in that round.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald P. DeVale
- 👤 Douglas W. Adams
- 👤 Robert W. Van Naarden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:44
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41J; F41J5/00; F41J5/04; F41J5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A missed-hit detection system for an electronic, automatically scored projectile target game apparatus wherein a selected number of projectiles are thrown by the users of said game at a target portion means in order to activate scoring means therein, said system comprising: cabinet means enclosing said game apparatus and having a front wall; said cabinet means having projectile impact means positioned along said front wall; said projectile impact means having a front face portion means and said target portion means including hit detection means for detecting and registering only the impact of any of said projectiles on said target portion means; said front face portion means being positioned so as to substantially surround said target portion means and provide a missed-hit impact area for at least a portion of the projectiles which fail to impact upon said target portion means; missed-hit detection means independent of said hit detection means operably and electronically associated with said projectile impact means, so as to detect and register only the impact of any projectiles which miss said target portion means and impact instead upon said front face portion; scoring means operably and electronically associated with said target portion means and said missed-hit detection means so as to detect and count said preselected number of thrown projectiles and indicate the impact of said projectiles that impact upon said projectile impact means; and control means operably and electronically associated with said scoring means so as to compute scores generated by said scoring means, display said score and deactivate said scoring means when desired.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A missed-hit detection system for an electronic, automatically scored projectile target game apparatus wherein a selected number of projectiles are thrown by the users of said game at a target portion means in order to activate scoring means therein, said system comprising: cabinet means enclosing said game apparatus and having a front wall; said cabinet means having projectile impact means positioned along said front wall; said projectile impact means having a front face portion means and said target portion means including hit detection means for detecting and registering only the impact of any of said projectiles on said target portion means; said front face portion means being positioned so as to substantially surround said target portion means and provide a missed-hit impact area for at least a portion of the projectiles which fail to impact upon said target portion means; missed-hit detection means independent of said hit detection means operably and electronically associated with said projectile impact means, so as to detect and register only the impact of any projectiles which miss said target portion means and impact instead upon said front face portion; scoring means operably and electronically associated with said target portion means and said missed-hit detection means so as to detect and count said preselected number of thrown projectiles and indicate the impact of said projectiles that impact upon said projectile impact means; and control means operably and electronically associated with said scoring means so as to compute scores generated by said scoring means, display said score and deactivate said scoring means when desired.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises proximity detection means operably and electronically associated with said control means so as to deactivate said scoring means whenever one or more persons approach said cabinet means within a proscribed distance therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said proximity detection means further includes: proximity signal generation means operably and electronically associated with said control means; said proximity signal generation means being operably affixed to said cabinet means so as to generate a signal radiating substantially outwardly from said cabinet means and striking any objects proximate to said cabinet means and thereby being reflected back towards said cabinet means; proximity signal receiving means operably and electronically associated with said proximity signal generation means so as to receive said reflected signal and compute the time interval between said generated signal and said reflected signal, in the form of analog output; and said proximity signal receiving means further being operably and electronically associated with said control means so as to use said output to determine whether said object is within said predetermined distance from said cabinet means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention according to claim 3 wherein said proximity signal generating means and proximity signal receiving means comprise an ultrasonic transducer which emits regular pulses of sound serving as said radiating signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 4 wherein said proximity signal receiving means further includes electronic analog to digital conversion circuitry which converts said output to digital form, prior to its receipt by said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control means further includes: cumulative score retention means operably and electronically associated with said projectile impact means and said scoring means so as to cumulatively store and display a numerical score based upon said impacts of projectiles upon said target portion means; and said cumulative score retention means further including means to reduce the number of remaining projectiles, from said initial preselected amount, upon impact of any projectile upon said projectile impact means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said front face portion of said projectile impact means comprises: a substantially flat, vertical plate operably affixed to the front of said cabinet means; and said front face portion means serving to emit a signal upon impact by said projectiles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said missed-hit detection means further includes: impact signal receiver means operably and electronically associated with said projectile impact means; said impact signal receiver means being activated by said signal emitted by said front face portion means upon impact; and said impact receiver means being further operably and electronically associated with said control means so as to indicate one of said projectiles as having been thrown, when said impact signal receiver means is so activated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said impact signal receiver means comprises: microphonic means operably and electronically associated with said front face portion means so as to receive said emitted signal from said front face portion means upon impact of a projectile thereon; said impact signal receiver means further including signal filtering means operably and electronically associated with said microphonic means so as to filter out extraneous, ambient signals; and said microphonic means being mounted substantially behind said front face portion means in an abutting fashion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said microphonic means comprises a crystal microphone operably mounted behind said front face portion of said projectile impact means so as to receive and electronically transmit said impact signal to said signal filtering means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said signal filtering means comprises a high-pass operational type filter circuit interposed between said microphonic means and said control means so as to filter out extraneous ambient signals, thereby preventing said extraneous ambient signals from activating said control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said substantially flat vertical plate is of a material such as plexiglass, so as to emit a distinct sound serving as said impact signal upon impact by a projectile.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |