Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for virtual shooting practice comprises a displayed shooting practice image including a target portion and a simulated gun. As the target portion of the image moves relative to the remainder thereof, the simulated gun is moved relative to the displayed image and relative to the moving target portion. Movement of the simulated gun is compared with the movement of the target portion of the displayed image resulting in a determination of whether a “shot” from the gun is a “hit” or a “miss”.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/698,768 filed Jul. 12, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to a method of and apparatus for virtual shooting practice, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for practicing bird shooting, artificial target shooting, and police and military combat shooting which does not require the actual discharge of firearms.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Like participants in all other sports, persons wishing to excel in the sport of bird shooting must practice between hunting activities. Long ago live birds, particularly pigeons, were used to simulate actual hunting situations. Due to the expense and inconvenience involved in gathering a sufficient number of live birds to facilitate worthwhile practice, artificial targets, commonly referred to as a “clay pigeons”, were substituted for live birds. Today, shooters frequently use facilitates known as skeet, trap, sporting clays, etc. to hone their bird shooting skills. Also, many shooters engage in skeet, trap, sporting clays, etc. as sports in and of themselves to the exclusion of actual bird shooting.  
         [0004]     Regardless of whether artificial targets are utilized to practice for bird shooting or for targeting shooting competitions, finding a venue suitable for artificial target shooting can be problematic. Real or imagined problems such as danger to people and property from arrant projectiles, air and water pollution, noise pollution, etc. virtually rule out artificial target shooting in heavily populated urban areas. Parcels of land of sufficient size and suitable location to facilitate artificial target shooting activities are often prohibitably expensive even when located  100  miles or more from centers of urban areas. For these reasons fewer and fewer shooters are able to find artificial target shooting facilities that they can afford.  
         [0005]     A similar circumstance presents itself to police and military personnel. Obviously, such individuals must practice on a continuous basis in order to be prepared when an armed combat situation arises. Because the handguns and long guns used in police and military combat have much longer ranges as compared with shotguns, projectile containment is an absolute necessity. This fact together with real or imagined concerns over air and water pollution and noise pollution virtually rule out police and military shooting practice in areas that are even remotely close to civilian populations.  
         [0006]     In accordance with the broader aspects of the present invention simulated live bird targets, simulated artificial targets, and simulated police and military targets are generated electronically. Sportsmen and women, police personnel, and military personnel are provided with simulated weapons which are matched as closely as possible to the actual weapons that will be used in the field, on the range, or in combat situations. However, rather than discharging actual projectiles, the simulated weapons generate an electronic signal which interacts with the simulated target to score a “hit” or a “miss” depending upon how the simulated weapon is manipulated relative to the simulated target. An important feature of the invention comprises the fact that in the case of a “miss” the “shot” can be replayed thereby providing instant feedback as to why the “miss” occurred and the correction that is necessary in order to avoid another “miss”.  
         [0007]     In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention virtual target practice activities utilizing the present invention may take place in full dome, half dome, or cylindrical practice arenas. Simulated live bird shooting is facilitated utilizing a full dome practice arena which allows simulated birds to “fly” from and toward all directions; at any and all conceivable angles and speeds; and in front of, over, or behind the individual that is trying to “shoot” them. Simulated artificial target sports can be successfully practiced in half dome arenas which are easily adapted to simulate actual skeet, trap, or and sporting clays ranges as well as the facilities utilized in other artificial target games. The cylindrical arena lends itself to practice by police and military personnel in that it simulates actual combat situations in which opponents utilize readily available objects for concealment and protection.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a break out of part of  FIG. 1  illustrating a particular feature of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a first version of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a second version of the second embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, there is shown a method of and an apparatus for virtual shooting practice incorporating a first embodiment of the invention. In accordance therewith a shooting practice venue  10  comprises a full dome  12  which completely encloses a shooter  14 . That is, the full dome  12  extends entirely around and over the shooter  14 .  
         [0015]     The interior surface  16  of the dome  12  comprises a display service upon which a simulated hunting venue  18  is displayed. The simulated hunting venue  18  may be displayed on the interior surface  16  utilizing conventional display techniques of the type utilized in movie theaters, projection television systems, and the like. In such instances the display may emanate from one or more devices  20  situated within the dome  12 . Alternatively, the venue  18  may comprise an LED display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, etc. utilizing well known technologies.  
         [0016]     The shooter  14  is provided with a simulated shotgun  24  which is matched as closely as possible in weight and physical dimensions to the actual shotgun that the shooter  14  will use when hunting live birds. The simulated shotgun  24  does not discharge actual projectiles, but instead discharges an electronic beam  26  which interacts with the simulated hunting venue  18  displayed on the interior surface  16  of the full dome  12 . Depending upon how the shooter  14  manipulates the simulated shotgun  24  relative to one or more “birds”  20  which “fly” across the interior surface  16  of the full dome  12 , each “shot” made by the shooter  14  is calculated and recorded as a “hit” or as a “miss”.  
         [0017]     An important feature of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1A . In attempting to “kill” the “birds”  28  the shooter  14  moves the simulated shotgun  24  at a speed equal to or slightly greater than the simulated flight of the “birds”  28  across the simulated hunting venue  18  and in so doing established a lead relative to the “birds”  28  as indicated by the point X. However, in order to “kill” the “birds”  28 , it was necessary for the shooter  14  to move the simulated shotgun  24  in such a manner as to establish a lead as indicated by the point Y. In accordance with the present invention any or all previous “shots” can be replayed together with a verbal or visual explanation of why the “miss” occurred, thereby allowing the shooter  14  to learn from the mistake and in so doing enhance his or her shooting skills.  
         [0018]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the shooting practice venue  10  further includes a data input device  30  which can be used for a variety of purposes one of which is to allow the shooter  14  to select a particular simulated bird species that will be utilized in the simulated hunting venue  18 . For example, the shooter  14  may select any of a variety of dove species, quail species, partridge species, ringneck or other pheasant species, any of a variety of duck species, geese species, etc. Depending upon the particular simulated bird species selected by the hunter  14 , the images comprising remainder of the simulated hunting venue  18  will change dramatically. In this manner the hunter  14  is provided with a simulated hunting situation that is as realistic as possible. The data input device  30  may also be used to vary the simulated flight speed and the simulated flight path of the “birds”  28  as they “fly” across the venue  18 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a simulated skeet field or range comprising a first version of a second embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a simulated trap field or range  38  comprising a second version of the second embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the simulated skeet field or range  36  and of the simulated trap field or range  38  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the shooting practice venue  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  with the same reference numerals utilized in the foregoing description of the shooting practice venue  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0020]     In lieu of the full dome  12  of the shooting practice venue  10  of  FIG. 1 , both the simulated skeet field or range  36  and the simulated trap field or range  38  utilize a half dome  40 . As is well known to those skilled in the art, neither skeet nor trap employs targets which fly behind or above the shooter  14 ′. Therefore, a half dome is adequate for simulating the games of skeet and trap. However, other simulated artificial target games may require different dome configurations.  
         [0021]     As is well known, when participating in artificial target games such as a skeet and trap, the shooter  14 ′ calls for a target by speaking the word “pull” or a similar word in a loud, clear voice. When participating in a simulated artificial target game incorporating the present invention, the shooter  14 ′ likewise calls for a target whereupon one or more simulated artificial targets  42  travel along flight paths  44  emulating the actual flight paths of real artificial targets. Movement of the simulated gun relative to the simulated artificial targets  42  is compared and calculated to determine whether the target has been “hit” or “missed”.  
         [0022]     The shooter  14 ′ sequentially stands on a plurality of stations  46  which are dimensioned and positioned to match as closely as possible the shooting stations of actual artificial target shooting games. Likewise, scoring is identical to the scoring of the actual artificial target game that is being simulated with the only exception being that a “shot” can be replayed in order to provide positive feedback to the shooter  14 ′, thereby allowing the shooter to make corrections which will hopefully eliminate a “miss” on a subsequent “shot”.  
         [0023]     The data input device  30 ′ may be employed to introduce variables into the play of the simulated artificial target shooting games comprising the second embodiment of the invention which are not possible in the play of actual artificial target shooting games. For example, in the case of novice shooters the data input device  30 ′ can be employed to cause the simulated artificial targets  42  to “fly” more slowly along the flight paths  44  than would be possible in the case of actual artificial targets. Conversely, in the case of experienced shooters the data input device  30 ′ can be used to randomly vary the period of time that elapses after the shooter  14 ′ calls for a target until the simulated artificial target is actually “released”, to randomly vary the speed at which the artificial targets “fly” along their respective flight paths, to randomly vary the angles of the flight paths, etc. None of these possibilities is available in the case of conventional artificial target shooting games utilizing real artificial targets.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a police/military combat practice venue  46  comprising a third embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the police/military combat practice venue  46  are substantially identical to construction and function to component parts of the shooting practice venue  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 4  with the same reference numerals utilizing the foregoing description of the shooting practice venue  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a double prime (″) designation.  
         [0025]     The police/military combat practice venue  46  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  as comprising a semi-cylindrical enclosure  48 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the police/military combat practice venue  46  may also comprise a full dome enclosure of the type illustrated in  FIG. 1  or a half dome enclosure of the type illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The use of a semi-cylindrical enclosure of the type illustrated in  FIG. 4  is preferable in some instances because it allows the venue  46  to be incorporated into a conventional office building or warehouse.  
         [0026]     The venue  46  differs from the venue  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith in that the venue  46  employs a plurality of props such as a real or simulated automobile  50 , one or more real or simulated containers  52 , a real or simulated trash receptacle  54 , etc. The purpose of incorporating one or more props into the venue  46  is to provide the shooter  14 ″ with a plurality of simulated concealment and protection opportunities.  
         [0027]     The venue  46  further differs from the venue  10  of  FIG. 1  in that rather than displaying one or more birds engaged in simulated flight or other movement across the display surface of the venue, the venue  46  displays a plurality of simulated human beings  56  some or all of which may be engaged in simulated combat with the shooter  14 ″ at any given time. Additionally, some or all of the simulated human beings  56  of the venue  46  may be engaged in simulated evasion and/or flight at any given time. In this manner the venue  46  simulates as closely as possible the real life combat situations which may be encountered by police and/or military personnel, and thereby allows police and military personnel utilizing the present invention to experience a very realistic practice session.  
         [0028]     The data input device  30 ″ may be utilized to vary the particular combat practice scenario that is displayed on the interior surface  16 ″ of the cylindrical enclosure  48  comprising the venue  46 . For example, the data input device  30 ″ may be used to display a jungle scenario, an arctic scenario, a robbery scenario, a terrorist scenario, a military scenario in which the human beings  56  are uniformed soldiers, etc. The data input device  30 ″ may also be used to vary the number of human beings  56  and the aggressiveness thereof dependent upon the skill level of the shooter  14 ″.  
         [0029]     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.