Patent US4898391A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4898391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Target shooting game
Assignee: Sierra Design Group Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-14
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Granted: 1990-02-06
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Expires: 2008-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A target shooting apparatus utilizes a plurality of light beam emitting guns or rifles to shoot at a plurality of targets, the individual light beam guns being identified by frequency encoding the light beam emitted by each rifle. The first rifle to "hit" a target deactivates the target and is credited with a score. Light and sound effects are generated when a target is "hit" to simulate reality. The number of rifles and targets is limited only by the physical size of the apparatus that would be practical to accommodate the players.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan M. Kelly
- 👤 Jorge M. Fernandes
- 👤 Matthew F. Kelly
- 👤 Mark R. Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:31
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A33/00; F41A33/02; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/26; F41G3/2616; F41G3/2622; F41G3/2655; F41G3/2666; A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2436; A63F2009/2442; A63F2009/2444
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A target shooting apparatus comprising a plurality of rifles, each rifle comprising means for generating a beam of light having a wavelength generally visible to the human eye, means for frequency encoding said beam of light comprising means for pulse modulating said beam of light using a combination of at least two different frequencies, a plurality of targets, each target comprising means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a target first light source adapted to illuminate said target, a target second light source adapted to indicate when a frequency encoded beam of light has been detected by said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a central controller comprising means for activating said plurality of target first light sources, means for activating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, means for deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light detects a frequency encoded beam of light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A target shooting apparatus comprising a plurality of rifles, each rifle comprising means for generating a beam of light having a wavelength generally visible to the human eye, means for frequency encoding said beam of light comprising means for pulse modulating said beam of light using a combination of at least two different frequencies, a plurality of targets, each target comprising means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a target first light source adapted to illuminate said target, a target second light source adapted to indicate when a frequency encoded beam of light has been detected by said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a central controller comprising means for activating said plurality of target first light sources, means for activating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, means for deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light detects a frequency encoded beam of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
210 words
A target shooting apparatus comprising a plurality of rifles, each rifle comprising means for generating a beam of light having a wavelength generally visible to the human eye, means for frequency encoding said beam of light comprising means for amplitude modulating said beam of light using a combination of at least two different frequencies, a plurality of targets, each target comprising means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a target first light source adapted to illuminate said target, a target second light source adapted to indicate when a frequency encoded beam of light has been detected by said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a central controller comprising means for activating said plurality of target first light sources, means for activating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, means for deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light detects a frequency encoded beam of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
210 words
A target shooting apparatus comprising a plurality of rifles, each rifle comprising means for generating a beam of light having a wavelength generally visible to the human eye, means for frequency encoding said beam of light comprising means for amplitude modulating said beam of light using a combination of at least two different frequencies, a plurality of targets, each target comprising means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a target first light source adapted to illuminate said target, a target second light source adapted to indicate when a frequency encoded beam of light has been detected by said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, a central controller comprising means for activating said plurality of target first light sources, means for activating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, means for deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light detects a frequency encoded beam of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
223 words
A target shooting apparatus comprising a plurality of rifles, each rifle comprising means for generating a first beam of light having a wavelength generally visible to the human eye, means for generating a second beam of light having a wavelength generally invisible to the human eye, means for frequency encoding said second beam of light, a plurality of targets, each target comprising means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, a target first light source adapted to illuminate said target, a target second light source adapted to indicate when a frequency encoded second beam of light has been detected by said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, means for activating said plurality of target first light sources and said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, means for simultaneously deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded second beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded second beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light detects a frequency encoded beam of light, means for reactivating said target first light source and detectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
223 words
A target shooting apparatus comprising a plurality of rifles, each rifle comprising means for generating a first beam of light having a wavelength generally visible to the human eye, means for generating a second beam of light having a wavelength generally invisible to the human eye, means for frequency encoding said second beam of light, a plurality of targets, each target comprising means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, a target first light source adapted to illuminate said target, a target second light source adapted to indicate when a frequency encoded second beam of light has been detected by said means for detecting said frequency encoded beam of light, means for activating said plurality of target first light sources and said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, means for simultaneously deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded second beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded second beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light detects a frequency encoded beam of light, means for reactivating said target first light source and detectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
The target shooting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for simultaneously deactivating said target first light source, actuating said target second light source, decoding said frequency encoded second beam of light to obtain a decoded signal, deactivating said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light, and allocating a score to the rifle represented by the decoded signal of said frequency encoded second beam of light when said means for detecting said frequency encoded second beam of light detects a frequency encoded second beam of light, further comprises means for simultaneously actuating a first sound effects display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The target shooting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for frequency encoding said second beam of light comprises means for amplitude modulating said second beam of light using a combination of at least two different frequencies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The target shooting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising means for creating a background sound effects display during activation of target shooting apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The target shooting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for frequency encoding said second beam of light comprises means for pulse modulating said second beam of light using a combination of at least two different frequencies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4487583A
Cited
US4662845A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-05 | 1993-08-07 | 1994-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-05 | 1997-08-07 | 1998-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-05 | 2001-08-07 | 2002-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |