Abstract:
A system and method for providing a user safe and portable laser beam based device in fitness and recreational fields for individual and group activities in house and outside. The system enables the user full control over the frequency of the laser beam cycle, which is set to increase the difficulty of the activity, and ability to count number of successful laser beam cycles. Additional embodiments are: traffic signal control, vehicle safety system—stopping the car when it&#39;s getting less than predefined distance to the vehicle in front of it, to stop the public at the exact location with optional alarm system, to guide the public to follow laser marked path, to generate attraction to the event location.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of recreation and physical fitness, to a high tech. device that allows participants the activity like jumping “rope”, “limbo” game, “Tennis Laser”, or to play a table game of “interfere the beams” in the absence of other individuals if they so desire. The present invention, in it&#39;s other embodiments, relates to transportation safety related utilities, to a laser beam based device that allows controlling the traffic signal by using the laser beam sensors and allowing to estimate the distance to the vehicle in front of a user and transferring it to electromechanical solenoid or mini-motor movement that stops user&#39;s vehicle. Additional embodiment can be used to stop the public at the exact location, with optional alarm system. Another embodiment is to guide the public by showing laser path to be followed, which the direction can be changed by usage of mirrors in the corners at 45 degrees. Another embodiment can be used to attract attention to event locations, by shooting two rotating beam to the sky.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The systems and the methods of the present invention are particularly useful for enabling users to play a group or individually Laser Beam based fitness or recreational games while having full control over the difficulty level as well the system is useful to control a traffic signal and safety feature in the car.  
         [0005]     A variety of systems and methods have been developed over the years for providing alternatives to individuals for a group fitness and recreational activities which typically include robust to assemble and not easily portable devices that usually require to be connected to the electrical power, which limits the location of the device and introduce a safety issue to the participants. These systems usually include rotating and other mechanically moving parts which creates a serious safety issues, especially to young participants.  
         [0006]     It would be desirable to provide a laser beam based portable device, which will be more efficient, and more enjoyable and will have increased usability, which can be readily assembled and disassembled with modular sections for enhanced expandability, and traffic and safety related features based on the laser beam sensors transferring the signals to electro-mechanically activated solenoids or mini-motors.  
         [0007]     The system and the methods of the present invention are particularly useful for enabling safe, portable, efficient and effective and more enjoyable laser beam based activities, for groups and individuals, the system also useful for traffic and vehicles safety features where laser beam sensors are required.  
         [0008]     Therefore, the present invention provides improved systems and methods for providing an efficient and effective laser beam based fitness and recreational activities as well as traffic and vehicle safety features. The inventions disclosed herein satisfy these and other needs, still further objects and advantages of these inventions will become apparent from a consideration of the drawing and ensuing description.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved system and method for providing the user safe, practical, portable and very enjoyable Laser Beam based activities for groups and individuals that can be played in house and outside as well. In its other embodiments the system is used as traffic and vehicle safety control where laser beam sensors can be used.  
         [0010]     More particularly, for example, in an embodiment of the present invention, a laser beam system is provided for enabling a user safe, portable and enjoyable laser beam activities for individuals and groups as well. In one embodiment, the system includes conventional laser beam device with built in control for manually changing the beam rotating cycle frequency and ability to count and reset the counter of the failing players (the once that beam hits during the activity). Further, the system includes telescopic vertical measurement poll manually adjustable to any height based on the required difficulty level of the activity. The system also includes a beeper that alerts the user on the start of the activity and the buzzer that alerts the user when he interfere the laser beam (can be defined as a failure in one type of activity or success in another, depend on the predefined rules of that activity). In the second embodiment, the system is placed inside the rotating stability based and by rotating the laser device the system provides different, but yet laser beam based, type of enjoyable fitness and recreation activity. The system with the rotating base can be placed on the ground, at the center of the players circle so the players can jump over the rotating laser beam. The second embodiment also can be elevated on top of the table so the players seating around the table must skip the first and interfere the second laser beam, when the beams is passing over their heads, by raising their hands.  
         [0011]     In additional embodiments of the present invention laser beam based sensors can be used to control the traffic signal, more specifically changing the traffic signal by sensing existence of people waiting across the street, laser beam sensor can be used to estimate the distance between the vehicle in front and if the distance is below the predefined one then electromechanical solenoid or mini-motor will stop the car using existing breaks system.  
         [0012]     The above objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as others, are described in greater details in the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of illustrative embodiments.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of preferred embodiment of a Laser Beam Toy.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rotating base which is used in second embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of preferred embodiment inside the rotating base tilted and supported by the foldable legs attached to the rotating base.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment which is used to stop a car based on the distance of the vehicle in front.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for providing a user safe and portable laser beam based device in fitness and recreational fields for individuals and groups activities in house and outside, it even can be set as a seating activity, by placing the laser device on the table. The system doesn&#39;t have any mechanically rotating or moving parts and it doesn&#39;t require connection to electrical power. The system is easily assembled and moved from place to place to provide very enjoyable recreation activity. The system in its other embodiments is directed to an improved methods of laser beam sensors safety features, like changing the traffic signal by sensing and counting waiting people, stopping the car by sensing that the vehicle in front is less than predefined distance. The preferred and other embodiments of the improved system and method are fully and detailed illustrated and described in the following paragraphs.  
         [0018]     In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the drawing figures, and particularly in the preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , for example, a systems  10 ,  12  and  14  is provided for safe, efficient, portable and very enjoyable laser beam based fitness and recreational activities for individuals and groups while providing full control over the frequency of the laser beam cycles to increase the difficulty level of the activity, constituting a Laser Beam Toys. In its other embodiments as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, a system  16  is provided to sense the distance to the vehicle in front and to activate electromechanical solenoid or mini-motor connected to car&#39;s breaks system and by that to stop the car.  
         [0019]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, for example, the system  10  comprises the laser device body  20  with the built in counter  24  to display of successful jumps, beeper  28  which alerts on the start of the activity, buzzer  26  which goes off on laser beam hit. The system  10  further comprises activation switch  42  for single or multiple laser beams to be used in the provided activity, laser beam cycle frequency control  44 , restart or reset the activity and the counter display push button  46 , ON/OFF switch  45 . The body  20  has built in space  36  for the conventional battery. The system  10  further includes telescopic vertical poll  30  which connected to the body  20  by the poll holder  34 . Two slidable laser beam bases  22 , which include the laser beam eye  32  that can be adjusted to any angle, are placed on the vertical poll  30 . The wire  40  provides the connection between the electrical board and the laser beam angle adjustable eyes  32  through holes  38  in the body  20 .  
         [0020]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the system  12  comprises a disk like rotating body  52  which is attached to the stability base  50 . The disk body  52  has a built in cavity  54  to hold the laser beam system and rotating security bracket  56  to secure the laser beam system when it is inserted into the matching cavity  54 .  
         [0021]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , laser beam device, system  10 , is placed inside the rotating base, system  12 , its tilted and supported by multiple foldable legs  60 .  
         [0022]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , system  16  comprises the sensor control box  74 , that include electronic board  76 , wire  72  connecting electronic board  76  and the laser eye  70 , wire  78  connecting electronic board  76  and electromechanical solenoid or mini-motor  82 . Electro-mechanical solenoid or mini-motor  82  is attached to the vehicle by built in plate  80 , screw  84 , which is attached to the end of the solenoid  82 , is provided to control the pressure on the breaks system.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in a method for the use of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, for example, the system  10  enables a user to participate in a laser beam based fitness or recreational activities by shooting periodic laser beams. The system  10  has a manually operated ON/OFF switch  45 , comfortably located on the top of the device body  20 , activity restart push button  46  resets the activity to its initial state and digital counter  24 , multiple laser eyes switch  42  defined how many laser ayes will be used in the activity, laser beam cycle frequency control  44 , to adjust the difficulty level of the activity for increased challenge. The system  10  further includes built in electronic beeper  28  which alerts the participants on the start of the activity, so they can prepare them self to be ready, built in electronic buzzer  26  alerts the user when he interfere the laser beam.  
         [0024]     The laser beam device body  20  has a build in battery place  36 . Telescopic vertical measurement poll  30 , which the high of can be vertically adjusted depends on the type of the activity, is attached to the body  20  by the poll holder  34 . Laser beam bases  22 , that include adjustable to any angle laser eyes  32 , are located on the vertical poll  30  can be manually slidably adjusted to required height, based on the poll&#39;s  30  measurement marks. The wire  40  is connected between the battery and the laser beam bases through device body  20  holes  38 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a method for the use of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the system  12  provides a disk like rotating body  52  which is attached to the stability base  50 . System  12  is used when the participants require rotating laser beam activity on the ground or elevated surface like a table or so. System  12  has a built in matching cavity  54  so the laser beam system  10  can be placed tightly into it and the rotating security bracket  56  to secure the laser device system  10  especially the rotating base  52  is tilted, best shown in  FIG. 3 . Rotating base  52  is electronically rotating, while the stability base  50  is not, about its horizontal axis and by that it rotates the laser beam devise.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in a method for the use of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the system  14 , which is tilted and supported by foldable legs  60 , provides to mark the location of the event, by shooting two laser beams to the sky creating two circles while the source of it marks the location. Laser eyes can be adjusted to any angle and that can achieve different shapes and different diameters of the circles. System  14  is used as a recreational activity so the players must walk thru between two laser beams without interfering any of the laser beams.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a method for the use of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the system  16 , is adjusted to predefined safety distance, so when laser eye  70 , which is located at the front bumper, is sense that the distance to the front vehicle is less than safety distance the proper signal is sent to the electronic control board  76  and from that to the electromechanical solenoid or mini-motor  82 , which in turn apply pressure on the breaks system and by that stopping the car. The system  16 , can include multiple laser eyes, that each of them defined to the same or different sensing distance. Multiple laser eyes that defined to the same distance are used to be placed at the front of the car to cover wider area. Multiple laser eyes that defined to different distance can serve for different timing signals to the electro-mechanical solenoid or mini-motor  82  to apply the pressure to the breaks system at different time for smooth stopping of the car.  
         [0028]     In view of the above, it is apparent that the system and method of the preferred embodiments of the present invention enhance substantially the practicality and effectiveness of enabling a user laser beam based fitness and recreational activity. The system and the method further enable difficulty level adjustability and successful laser beam digital counting. Another embodiment of the present invention presents laser beam based sensor is used for traffic signal control and in the vehicle as a safety feature.  
         [0029]     While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments identified herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein.