Laser light projection assembly

Abstract

A light projection assembly includes a laser, particularly a diode laser, positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena, and a trigger pivotally connected to a housing for mounting the laser. The trigger is repeatedly and rapidly moved up and down to oscillate the laser in approximately a five degree arc to cause the laser beam to produce the illusion of a continuous animated line on the game arena surface. Mirrors can be positioned on the arena surface to reflect the light emitting from the laser to create a plurality of continuous visible lines of light on the arena surface. A variety of entertaining games can be played in conjunction with the invention.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A light projection assembly comprising: 
 (a) a laser positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena; and    (b) oscillation means cooperating with said laser for oscillating said laser at a rate sufficient to cause the laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.    
     
     
         2 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said laser comprises a diode laser.  
     
     
         3 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said arena comprises a floor and a side wall extending upward from said floor.  
     
     
         4 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said floor is positioned horizontally, and said laser is positioned on a horizontal plane above said floor.  
     
     
         5 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a mirror positioned on said game arena surface for reflecting the laser beam.  
     
     
         6 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said mirror is positioned perpendicularly to said game arena surface.  
     
     
         7 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said oscillating means oscillates said laser in an arc sufficient to project the laser beam onto said game arena surface and said mirror.  
     
     
         8 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said game arena comprises a metallic surface for positioning a magnetically attractable object thereon.  
     
     
         9 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said magnetically attractable object comprises a game piece for positioning on said floor for use in playing a game in conjunction with the laser.  
     
     
         10 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said magnetically attractable object comprises a mirror for reflecting the laser beam.  
     
     
         11 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second laser positioned and mounted for projecting a second laser beam onto the surface of said game arena, said oscillation means cooperating with said second laser for oscillating said second laser at a rate sufficient to cause the second laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.  
     
     
         12 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a battery power source for powering said laser.  
     
     
         13 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , and further comprising an activating switch in communication with said laser for turning the laser on and off.  
     
     
         14 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said oscillation means comprises a trigger pivotally connected to a housing, said laser mounted on said trigger whereby repeatedly moving said trigger at a sufficient rate oscillates said laser to cause the laser beam to produce the illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.  
     
     
         15 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said trigger is pivotally connected to said housing by a hinge, said hinge permitting a range of movement of said trigger of no more than five degrees, whereby moving said trigger oscillates said laser in an arc of five degrees.  
     
     
         16 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the game arena surface is positioned horizontally, and said trigger is positioned in a horizontal plane above the game arena surface.  
     
     
         17 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein repeatedly moving said trigger at a sufficient rate oscillates the laser in a vertical arc to cause the laser beam to produce the illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.  
     
     
         18 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said oscillation means further comprises a motor and gear train connected to said trigger for repeatedly moving said trigger at a sufficient rate to cause the laser beam to produce the illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.  
     
     
         19 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 18 , and further comprising an activating switch for turning the motor on and off.  
     
     
         20 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 18 , and further comprising means for controlling the speed at which said motor moves said trigger.  
     
     
         21 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 20 , and further comprising a battery power source for powering said motor and said laser.  
     
     
         22 . A light projection assembly comprising: 
 (a) a laser positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena; and    (b) a trigger pivotally connected to a housing for mounting said laser thereon, whereby repeatedly moving said trigger at a sufficient rate oscillates said laser to cause the laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.    
     
     
         23 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said laser is positioned within said housing.  
     
     
         24 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said trigger is pivotally connected to said housing by a hinge, said hinge permitting a range of movement of said trigger of no more than five degrees, whereby moving said trigger oscillates said laser in an arc of five degrees.  
     
     
         25 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 22 , and further comprising a motor and gear train connected to said trigger for repeatedly moving said trigger at a sufficient rate to cause the laser beam to produce the illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface.  
     
     
         26 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said game arena surface is positioned horizontally, and said trigger is positioned in a horizontal plane above said game arena surface.  
     
     
         27 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said game arena comprises a floor and a side wall extending upward from said floor.  
     
     
         28 . A light projection assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said housing is connected to said game arena.  
     
     
         29 . A method for playing a game using a light projection assembly comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a light projection assembly comprising: 
 (i) a laser positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena, and  
 (ii) oscillation means cooperating with said laser for oscillating said laser at a rate sufficient to cause the laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface;  
   (b) positioning a game piece on the game arena surface; and    (c) attempting to position at least two mirrors on the game arena surface to reflect the laser beam so as to enclose the game piece by at continuous animated lines on said game arena surface.    
     
     
         30 . A method for playing a game using a light projection assembly comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a light projection assembly comprising: 
 (i) a laser positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena, and  
 (ii) oscillation means cooperating with said laser for oscillating said laser at a rate sufficient to cause the laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface;  
   (b) positioning a game piece on the game arena surface; and    (c) attempting to position at least two mirrors on the game arena surface to reflect the laser beam so that at least two continuous animated lines on said game arena surface contact the game piece.    
     
     
         31 . A method for playing a game using a light projection assembly comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a light projection assembly comprising: 
 (i) a laser positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena, and  
 (ii) oscillation means cooperating with said laser for oscillating said laser at a rate sufficient to cause the laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface;  
   (b) positioning a game piece on the game arena surface;    (c) randomly determining a number; and    (d) attempting to position at least one mirror on the game arena surface to reflect the laser beam so as to produce a number of continuous animated lines on the game arena surface equal to the randomly determined number and contact the game piece with one of the continuous animated lines.    
     
     
         32 . A method for playing a game according to  claim 31 , wherein the step of randomly determining a number comprises rolling a die.  
     
     
         33 . A method for playing a game using a light projection assembly comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a light projection assembly comprising: 
 (i) a laser positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena,  
 (ii) oscillation means cooperating with said laser for oscillating said laser at a rate sufficient to cause the laser beam projected onto said game arena surface to produce an illusion of a continuous animated line on said game arena surface, and  
 (iv) an activating switch in communication with the laser for turning the laser on and off;  
   (b) positioning a game piece on the game arena surface with said laser turned off; and    (c) attempting to position at least one mirror on the game arena surface in relation to said laser and said game piece so that a continuous animated line reflected off of said mirror and onto the surface contacts the game piece upon activating the light source;    
     
     
         34 . A method for playing a game using a light projection assembly according to  claim 33 , and further comprising the step of activating the laser to determine if the reflected line contacts the game piece.