Abstract:
A toy vehicle is disclosed. It has a main vehicle body portion and a display device rotatably mounted to the main body portion, the display device being configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect. A mechanism is also present for rotating said display device. An actuator is included and is attached to a sensor for determining when the actuator is depressed. A microcontroller is in operable communication with the sensor and the display device; the microcontroller changing the appearance of at least one of the plurality of images when the sensor determines the actuator has been depressed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/106,548, filed Oct. 17, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a toy, in particular, a toy that stimulates the senses of a user. Games and toys that involve launching objects into the air or at a target are perennially popular games with all users, be they a child or an adult. Both children and adults also enjoy toys that stimulate other senses and have changing visual appearances and/or sound effects. Typical toy projectile launchers utilize foam darts or disks that are expelled from the launcher by any number of mechanisms. Other popular toys are housed in facsimiles of real objects. These might include, ships or planes or other police or military inspired objects. Such games are sometimes capable of launching or throwing objects or projectiles. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a toy that utilizes a projectile launcher while stimulating the senses of the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the invention a toy vehicle having a main vehicle body portion and a display device rotatably mounted to the main body portion is provided. The display device is configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect. A mechanism is also present for rotating the display device. An actuator is included and is attached to a sensor for determining when the actuator is depressed. A controller is in operable communication with the sensor and the display device; the controller changes the appearance of at least one of the plurality of images when the sensor determines the actuator has been depressed. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect of the invention, an amusement device is provided. It comprises a main body portion having a projectile launcher and a display device rotatably mounted to the main body portion, the display device being configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect. The amusement device includes a mechanism for rotating the display device, an actuator and a sensor for determining when the actuator is depressed. A controller is in operable communication with the sensor and the display device. The controller changes the appearance of at least one of the plurality of images when the sensor determines the actuator has been depressed. 
         [0006]    These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A-1D  show multiple illustrations of an amusement device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of one aspect of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view taken along section A-A of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are side views of one aspect of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  are side, top and front views of another element of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  are top and side views, respectively, of one aspect of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  are top and side views, respectively, of another aspect of the invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a schematic illustration of yet another aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-1D , where the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, an amusement toy in the shape of a miniature helicopter  10  is shown. As seen in  FIGS. 1A-1D , helicopter  10  includes a main body portion  11  and a display device  12  mounted to the main body portion  11 , rotational display system or display device  12  being included on individual rotors  14  and  15  of a propeller  16 . Miniature helicopter  10  includes a compartment  21  in the main fuselage  22  to house an action  FIG. 23 , compartment  21  being accessed through helicopter windscreen  25 , which is pivotably mounted to main fuselage  22 . 
         [0021]    Helicopter  10  is capable of firing in the exemplary embodiment shown, foam disc projectiles  24  from a firing portion  26  that is below fuselage  22  in main body portion  11 . It is of course, understood that the projectiles  24  may be configured to have any shape suitable for firing and the projectiles may be formed from any suitable material such as plastic, foam, etc and equivalents thereof. Helicopter  10  is held at a pistol grip  31  having a trigger  32  at a tail end  33  of main body portion  11 . In the embodiment shown, depressing trigger  32  activates both propeller  16  and firing portion  26  to launch projectiles  24 . It will be appreciated that a separate motor  222  can also drive propeller  16 . Individual rotors  14  and  15  include an electric LED display  201 , which will be described in detail herein. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 7 , where like numerals will be used for like elements, an alternative embodiment of helicopter  110  is shown. Main body portion  11  of helicopter  110  includes a landing gear  141  that is pivotably connected to main fuselage  22  at a pivot point  142 . Landing gear  141  includes a resting surface  143  and an upturned tip  144  to form a ski shaped surface when miniature helicopter  110  is in a display position. When it is desired to use miniature helicopter  110 , landing gear  141  as shown in  FIG. 8  to a rotated position, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Landing gear  141  is locked into the rotated position of  FIG. 9  in order to form a support handle.  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  include additional features of landing gear  141 . It will be appreciated that landing gear  141  may take any one of a number shapes and may include a trigger to activate or launch projectiles  24 . 
         [0023]    Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 3 and 7  details of firing portion  26  are shown. Projectiles  24  are generally launched forward from firing portion  26  above landing gear  142 . Projectiles  24  are loaded and kept in a firing position via a spring biased detent  39 , shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13A-13B ,  14 A- 14 B and  15 , an electric LED system  201  is fixed to display device  12 . The display device  12  is capable of creating a plurality of images  210  or  211  or any number of variants via a persistence of vision effect. The effect is created by a rotating display device  12 , in this instance propeller  16  of miniature helicopter  10 . LED electric elements  214  are intermittently illuminated while located on individual rotors  14  and  15  of propeller  16 . The rotation of the display device  12 , combined with rapidly changing illuminated segments on rotors  14  and  15  produces a series of flashing frames that blend together to form a recognizable image, as seen by the human eye, or series of animated images  210 ,  211  that may move around the display area. Devices that utilize persistence of vision technology receive electronic information about an image to be displayed and the information is used to synchronize the illumination of individual illuminating elements  214  at specific positions during rotation of the assembly or device  12 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , propeller  16  is rotated with the plurality of LEDs  214  disposed on the individual rotors  14  and  15 . As the propeller  16  rotates, the blur perceived by the eye makes the propeller appear to be a flat, virtual circle  216 , as seen in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . This virtual circle  216  formed by the rotating propeller  16  forms visual images  210  and  211 , when brightness and timing of the LEDs  214  on sections of rotors  14  and  15  are properly synchronized. 
         [0026]    As best seen in  FIG. 15 , in order to provide a rotational force to the rotational display system and in order to provide visual images, a motor  222  is provided. Motor  222  is contained within main body portion  11  or at the base of rotating display device  12  to supply the rotational force to the display device  12 . 
         [0027]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, the display device comprises a flexible circuit  224  with a plurality of electric LED illuminating devices  214  coupled to a power supply  227 . A controller or microcontroller  228  is in operable communication with the sensor and the plurality of illuminating devices  214 . This creates a plurality of images  210  and  211  as the rotors  14  and  15  are rotated, by microcontroller  228  selectively illuminating a plurality of illuminating devices  214  disposed on the display device  12 . The power supply  227  also provides the necessary power to motor  222  and any of the other devices requiring power, including microcontrollers  228 , a sound system  232 , illuminating devices  214  or other device add-ons. 
         [0028]    As used herein, the term “controller” or “microcontroller” refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs/algorithms, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
         [0029]    For all general purposes, the term “signal” as used herein is defined as any electrical signal or any stored or transmitted value. For example, a signal can comprise a voltage, or a current. Further, a signal can comprise any stored or transmitted value such as binary values, scalar, values, or the like. 
         [0030]    As further illustrated, display device  12  also comprises a sound system  232  for playing a plurality of sound effects through a speaker  239 . In the embodiment shown, each of the plurality of sound effects correspond to at least one of the plurality of images  210 ,  211 . For example, the sound effects may simulate that of a missile launched from helicopter  10 . The sound system is controlled by the microcontroller  228 . 
         [0031]    In one exemplary embodiment, a sensor  221  is positioned to detect the presence of a source  223  secured to helicopter  10 . Sensor  221  senses a rotational speed of the device and provides a digital or analog signal as the source  223  is sensed by the sensor  221 . Controller  228  receives the signal or frequency of sensor  226  Controller  228  then determines and/or regulates a rotational speed of the display device  12 . In the non-limiting embodiment of  FIG. 15 , the sensor  221  is a hall effect sensor and source  223  is a magnet. The digital or analog signal is activated, engaged or triggered by magnet  223  and the signal or frequency thereof is used to determine and/or regulate a rotational speed of the display device  12 . Alternatively, other equivalent sensing devices are contemplated, including optical sensors, inductive sensors, etc. 
         [0032]    As further shown in  FIG. 15 , controller  228  also receives signals from a second hall effect sensor  221   a , which is positioned to detect the presence of magnet  223   a  fixedly mounted to the structure, in order to determine the rotational speed of the display system  12  and for purposes of illuminating the light devices  214  in sequence to provide the desired visual effect. 
         [0033]    In accordance with known principles, the hall effect sensor  221   a  will provide a digital or analog signal to the microcontroller  228  as the magnet  223   a  is detected by the sensor  221   a  in a full rotation. An algorithm contained within the controller  228  is adapted to determine the rotational speed of the display device  12 . Thus, the sequence of the illuminating devices  214  can be operated (e.g., turned off and on) to provide the desired visual effect. Of course, any non-hall effect sensor or device capable of registering equivalent positional feedback and any light source, including the LEDs illustrated, is considered to be within the scope of embodiments of this invention. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, the helicopter  10  may further comprise a second controller  250 . Controller  250  is in operable communication with the first microcontroller  228  via a transmitter  252  and a receiver  254  to provide signals to the display device  12  which, in the embodiment illustrated, instructs display device  12  to provide certain images in accordance with the invention. 
         [0035]    A sensor  221  detects source  223  and provides a signal to the second microcontroller  250 , which detects the rotational speed of the display device  12  by counting sensor input pulses compared to an internal timer of micro controller  250 . Sensor  221   a  on the display device  12  detects source  223   a  and provides a signal to the first microcontroller  228 , which detects the sensor input and uses it as a position reference to begin outputting image data to the LEDs  214  to create a correctly timed display. 
         [0036]    The sound system  232  is also operated by signals received from the second microcontroller  250 . The images displayed by the rotational display system  12  are controlled by the first microcontroller  228  in response to the signals received from the receiver  254 . In other words, the microcontroller  228  of the display device  12  illuminates the light in illuminating devices  214  in response to the rotational speed to provide images via a persistence of vision effect. At about the same time, the second microcontroller  250  provides signals to the controller  228  indicating what images controller  228  is to provide to display device  12 . In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, transmitter  252  and receiver  254  are infrared (IR) devices. Of course, other equivalent transmitting devices are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    With further reference to  FIG. 15 , a sensor or microswitch  270  is positioned to be actuated by depressing the trigger  32 , thereby providing a signal indicative of the movement of trigger  32  and when projectiles  24  have been launched. As shown, schematically in  FIG. 15 , sensor  270  and the movement of trigger  32  are coupled to microcontroller  250  which is adapted to provide a signal indicative of when, and in what direction, the projectiles  24  are being launched. Furthermore, controller  250  will have information pertaining to the location of the target image via operational protocols resident upon the controller  250 . This information is transmitted to microcontroller  228  via transmitter  252  and receiver  254  or any other equivalent device. Accordingly, an image is displayed on display device  12  which is indicia of projectile  24 , as seen in image  210 , can correspond to the direction of projectile  24 , as seen in images  210  and  211  or can simply indicate the direction of projectile  24 , with any indicia, as seen in image  211  all created by the persistence of vision effect. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.