US3147664A - Variable elevation target projection system with rotary mirror assembly - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1964 N. M. GELFAND 3,147,664

VARIABLE ELEVATION TARGET PROJECTION SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MIRROR ASSEMBLY Original Filed June 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR. A Ar/MM M 622 r/m a Sept. 8, 1964 N. M. GELFAND 3,147,664

VARIABLE ELEVATION TARGET PROJECTION SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MIRROR ASSEMBLY Original Filed June 29. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mi /{41v M 6152;44 0

United States Patento VARIABLE ELEVATION TARGET PROJECTION SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MOR ASSEMBLY Nathan M. Gelfand, North Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, Long Island, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application June 29, 1959, Ser. No. 823,474. Divided and this application May 8, 1961, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) This invention relates to an optical device for use in a toy simulating the cockpit of a miliary airplane, and more particularly to a system for projecting a moving image of a simiulated target at differing elevations on a wall or like projection surface. This application is a division of the application of Nathan M. Gelfand, Serial No. 823,474, filed June 29, 1959, now abandoned, entitled Toy Cockpit.

Various projection devices exist for providing a target image on a projection surface. Through the use of this projection device it is now possible to provide increased play value by producing wide sweeps of various shapes and sizes of targets along a projection surface such as a wall or the like. Each successive sweep is at a different level or elevation rendering the tracking of the target a greater challenge thus increasing the enjoyment derived from this projection device.

An object of this invention is to provide a system for projecting an image of a simulated target on the wall in a realistic manner, with the target moving along the wall successively at different elevations thereby affording a toy of very great play value.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a projection system which employs means for projecting images of different sizes and shapes simulating aircraft, missiles, spaceships, and various other airborne targets.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple means for reflecting light rays onto a wall or other similar surface at different elevations to' render the tracking of a target more difficult and more interesting to the user of the toy.

The construction of this invention features an arr-angement including a mirror assembly which is rotated and which has a plurality of mirrors extending at differing angles to the axis of rotation so that a target image is reflected on a wall or other similar surface at different elevations dependent upon the angular relationship of the mirror with respect to the light rays and the surface onto which the target is reflected. I

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a system for projecting a moving image of a simulated target that is simple in construction, easy for even a child to use and enjoy, and which is capable of being manufactured out of readily available materials thereby permitting mass production for wide scale distribution.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the mirror assembly incorporated in the embodiment includes a plurality of planar mirrors disposed at different angles to the vertical. A beam of light from a light source is intercepted by suitable means for forming a target image and is directed on the mirror assembly as it is turning. The position of each mirror will determine the position of the target image reflected on a wall or other projection surface and wide sweep of the target across the projection surface will be consecutively reflected by the difierent mirrors with each succesive sweep of the target being at different elevation or level.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this 3,147,664 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 "ice projection system, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the projection system;

FIG. 2 is'a partial vertical sectional view of the invention particularly illustrating the construction of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the projection system; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 2 illustrating details of construction of the image forming means.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the projection system comprising the present invention. This projection system 10 is an optical device adapted to be used in a Toy Cockpit disclosed in the application of Nathan M. Gelfand, Serial No. 823,474, filed June 29, 1959, now abandoned.

The projection system 10 is suitably mounted within the toy cockpit and includes a source 12 for a beam of light image forming means 14, a lens assembly 16 for focusing light rays passing through the image forming means 14, and a mirror assembly 18 for reflecting the focused light rays onto a suitable surface such as a wall or the like. Drive means 20 are provided for rotating the mirror assembly 18 to sequentially bring the portions of the mirror assembly into alignment with the focused light rays from the lens assembly 16 whereby a moving simulated target is projected on a wall or like surface at different elevations.

The projection system 10 is adapted to be mounted within a housing (not shown) of any convenient or desired size or shape and on any convenient support 21. Within the housing the light source 12 is suitably mounted and may include an incandescent lamp 22 suitably con nected to a source of electrical power and controlled by convention switch mechanism (not shown). The lamp 22 may be mounted in a suitable socket 24 provided with a reflector 26.

The image forming means 14 include a target plate 30 having a plurality of apertures 32 therethrough of varying sizes and shapes corresponding to simulated targets. Each of the apertures serve to shape the light rays passing therethrough from the lamp 22. Below the apertures 32 are a series of holes 34. A detent spring 35 mounted on the support 21 holds the plate 30 in a selected position by engagement in a selected hole 34. Each hole 34 corresponds to an aperture 32 so that the detent spring 35 serves to hold the plate 30 in accurate aligned position relative to the lamp 22.

The plate 30 is pivoted by means of a pin or bolt 36 to the support 21. A link 38 is pivoted at 40 to the plate 30 and is mounted for movement relative to the support 21. Operating lever 42 having a handle 44 is pivoted at 46 to the support 21. The end 48 of lever 42 is pivotally connected to link 38 so that handle 44 may be manipulated to select the position of the plate 30.

Light rays passing through the selected aperture 32 in plate 30 are directed through the lens assembly 16. The lens assembly 16 may include a lens mount in the form of a tray 60 slidably movable in guides 62 and 64. Rising up from the tray 60 is a lens frame 66 in which a focusing lens 68 is mounted.

A lever 70 provided with a handle 72 is connected to the tray 60 and is pivoted at 74 to the support 21. The rear end portion 76 of the lever 70 is upwardly inclined and extends into an opening 78 in tray 60. This permits movement of the handle 72 to position the tray 60 and hence move the lens 68 to focus light rays passing there- 3 through so that a discrete image is focused on the mirror assembly 18 for reflection thereby.

The mirror assembly 18 is shown in greatest detail in FIG. 2. The mirror assembly 18 includes a drum 80 turnably mounted on the upper end of a shaft 82. A bottom wall 84 is fixedly secured to the drum 80 and has a projection 86 provided with a recess 88 which rests upon and receives pin 90 therein for rotating the drum 80. A plurality of mirrors 92, 94, 96, etc. are fixed to the drum in any suitable manner. These mirrors are planar and it is noted that these mirrors extend at different angular relationship to the shaft 82 which forms the axis of rotation of the mirror assembly 18. The mirror 96 is shown as extending vertically while mirror 92 is shown as being upwardly inwardly inclined. The mirrors are disposed about the periphery of drum 82 in angular relationship to each other.

The bottom wall 84 is provided with cam surfaces 98 and 100 whose function is not related to this projection system.

The drive means 20 includes an electric motor 102 supported on a shelf 104 or like portion of the housing (not shown). The motor 102 has an output vertical shaft 106 with a pinion 108 fixedly mounted thereon. Journalled in the shelf 104 is vertical shaft 110 which is fixed against vertical movement. Another vertical shaft 112 is fixedly secured to the shelf 104. A gear 114 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 110 and meshes with pinion 108 and is rotated thereby. Pinion 116 is fixedly mounted on shaft 110 and rotates therewith and meshes in turn with gear 118 turnably mounted on shaft 112. Fastened to gear 118 is another pinion 120 which meshes with gear 122 which is turnably mounted on shaft 110 and which has pinion 124 fixed thereto which in turn meshes with a further gear 126 carrying pin 90. The various gears and pinions form a gear reduction assembly and the motor therefor drives gear 126 and the mirror assembly 18 at a reduced speed.

In operation, with the motor 102 and lamp 22 operatively electrically connected to a source of electrical power, light rays emitted by lamp 22 pass through a selected one of the apertures 32 to form an image foscused by lens 68 on the mirrors 92, 94, 96, etc. of the mirror assembly 18. The mirrors 92, 94, 96 because they are arranged at various angles will reflect the focused image on a Wall or like surface at various elevations. Handle 72 may be manipulated to adjust the lens 68 for ideal focus while the particular target image is selected by adjusting handle 44. The spring detent 34 which will serve to hold plate 30 is adjusted position so that the selected one of the apertures 32 is in alignment with the lamp 22 and lens 68.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

1. A projection system comprising a light source, a lens, a plate between said light source and said lens, said plate having a plurality of through apertures of different sizes and shapes, means for moving said plate so that a selected aperture is positioned in the light path between said light source and said lens, a mirror assembly disposed on the opposite side of said lens from said plate, said mirror assembly including a drum having an axis of rotation, a plurality of mirrors secured on said drum at differing angular relationships to said axis so as to reflect light rays at differing elevations, and means connected to said drum for rotating said mirror assembly so that a moving image is reflected by said mirrors at differing elevations.

2. In a toy target device, a projection system for flashing moving targets on a remote surface at a plurality of locations on said surface comprising, in combination, a support, a light source fixedly mounted on said support, a lens mounted on said support for movement toward and away from said light source, said light source and said lens defining a light beam path, a target image-forming shield mounted on said support between said lens and said light source for movement transverse to said light beam path, said target image-forming screen being opaque and having formed therein a plurality of openings in the shape of targets, the light beam emanating from the light source being shaped to form a target image by said shield, means for selectively moving said target image-forming shield for bringing different ones of said openings into said light beam path for selectively shaping the light beam into differing target images, a shaft mounted for rotation on said support, a plurality of mirrors secured to said shaft at various small angles from parallel thereto, said shaft being adjacent but spaced from said light beam path on the side of said lens removed from said light source such that said mirrors successively intercept the shaped light beam as said shaft is rotated, and drive means for said shaft to drive same and said mirrors for reflecting successive target images onto the remote surface at different 10- cations on the surface and for moving said target images across the surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,491 Smith Jan. 27, 1931 1,895,239 Venzie Jan. 24, 1933 1,935,084 Edwards Nov. 14, 1933 1,937,378 Alexanderson Nov. 28, 1933 2,285,915 Dutton June 9, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,602 Germany Oct. 17, 1919 283,203 Great Britain July 5, 1928

Claims (1)

1. A PROJECTION SYSTEM COMPRISING A LIGHT SOURCE, A LENS, A PLATE BETWEEN SAID LIGHT SOURCE AND SAID LENS, SAID PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF THROUGH APERTURES OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLATE SO THAT A SELECTED APERTURE IS POSITIONED IN THE LIGHT PATH BETWEEN SAID LIGHT SOURCE AND SAID LENS, A MIRROR ASSEMBLY DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID LENS FROM SAID PLATE, SAID MIRROR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A DRUM HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION, A PLURALITY OF MIRRORS SECURED ON SAID DRUM AT DIFFERING ANGULAR RELATIONSHIPS TO SAID AXIS SO AS TO REFLECT LIGHT RAYS AT DIFFERING ELEVATIONS, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID DRUM FOR ROTATING SAID MIRROR ASSEMBLY SO THAT A MOVING IMAGE IS REFLECTED BY SAID MIRRORS AT DIFFERING ELEVATIONS.

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