Standard and method for quick draw contest simulation

Abstract

A system and method for a quick draw contest simulation involves two players using weapons to fire non-lethal projectiles or infrared signals at each other. Optional draw sensors, such as pressure sensors, contact sensors or switches, may be used to determine draw times based on when the players touch their weapons or remove them from their holstered positions. Firing sensors, such as motion detectors, pressure sensors, or infrared receivers, are used to determine firing times when the weapons are fired and optionally, also whether the projectiles or infrared signals hit the opposing players. The firing sensors and optional draw sensors communicate with a processor which executes program instructions stored on a memory component to determine a contest winner based on firing times and whether the opposing player was hit. The processor also causes an output device to indicate the contest winner and performance metrics of the players.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for a quick draw contest simulation between at least two players including a first player and a second player, the system comprising:
 (a) a first weapon operable by the first player to fire a first non-lethal projectile or signal in a first firing direction;   (b) a second weapon operably by the second player to fire a second non-lethal projectile or signal in a second firing direction;   (c) a player prompt for providing a prompt signal to prompt the first and second players to draw and fire their respective weapons;   (d) a first firing sensor for detecting when the first weapon is fired, and a second firing sensor for detecting when the second weapon is fired;   (e) an output device for outputting an audible or visual contest result; and   (f) a processor, operatively connected to the player prompt, the first and second firing sensors, the output device, and at least one memory component, wherein the memory stores a set of program instructions, wherein the processor comprises components responsive to the program instructions to implement a method comprising the steps of:
 (i) determining the from the first and second firing sensors which of the first and second weapons is fired first after provision of the prompt signal, and 
 (ii) causing the output device to output the contest result based wholly or in part on the determination in step (i), above. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second weapons comprises a paintball gun or a powderball gun that fires a non-lethal projectile. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the first firing sensor comprises a first motion sensor that detects movement or passage of the first projectile through a first imaginary vertical plane in front of the first weapon in the first firing direction; and 
 (b) the second firing sensor comprises a second motion sensor that detects movement or passage of the second projectile through a second imaginary vertical plane in front of the second weapon in the second firing direction. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the first motion sensor comprises a first passive infrared motion detector that detects a disturbance in an infrared spectrum caused by the first projectile; and 
 (b) the second motion sensor comprises a second passive infrared motion detector that detects a disturbance in an infrared spectrum caused by the second projectile. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the first motion sensor comprises an first infrared transmitter and a first infrared receiver, wherein firing of the first weapon is detected upon the first projectile obstructing a first infrared beam between the transmitter and receiver; and 
 (b) the second motion sensor comprises a second infrared transmitter and a second infrared receiver, wherein firing of the second weapon is upon the second projectile obstructing a second infrared beam between the second transmitter and the second receiver. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the first motion sensor comprises a first optical sensor that detects the passage of the first projectile; and 
 (b) the second motion sensor comprises a second optical sensor that detects the passage of the second projectile. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the first firing sensor comprises a pressure or contact sensor wearable by the first player for detecting the second projectile hitting the first player; and 
 (b) the second firing sensor comprises a second pressure or contact sensor wearable by the second player for detecting the first projectile hitting the second player. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the method comprises the further step of determining from the first pressure or contact sensor whether the second projectile hit the first pressure or contact sensor, and determining from the second pressure sensor whether the first projectile hit the second pressure or contact sensor, and wherein the contest result is further based on this determination. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising an enclosure that internally accommodates the first and second players, that is impenetrable to the non-lethal projectiles when fired from the first and second weapons, and externally transparent. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second weapons comprises a laser gun that fires an infrared signal, and wherein:
 (a) the first firing sensor comprises a first infrared receiver that detects the first infrared signal at a first location in front of the first weapon in the first firing direction; and 
 (b) the second firing sensor comprises a second infrared receiver that detects the second infrared signal at a second location in front of the second weapon in the second firing direction. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the first infrared receiver is wearable by the first player, and the second infrared receiver is wearable by the second player, wherein the method further comprises the further step of determining from the first infrared receiver whether the second infrared signal hit the first player, and determining from the second infrared receiver whether the first infrared signal hit the second player, and wherein the contest result is further based on this determination. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises:
 (a) a first draw sensor for detecting when the first weapon is either touched by the first player or removed from a first holstered position; and 
 (b) a second draw sensor for detecting when the second weapon is either touched by the second player or removed from a second holstered position; and 
 wherein: 
 (c) the processor is further operatively connected to the first draw sensor and the second draw sensor, and the method further comprises the step of determining from the first and second draw sensors which of the first and second weapons is first drawn after provision of the prompt signal, and wherein the contest result is further based on this determination. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the first draw sensor comprises a first pressure or contact sensor that detects contact between the first weapon and the first player; and 
 (b) the second draw sensor comprises a second pressure or contact sensor that detects contact between the second weapon and the second player. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the first draw sensor comprises a first inertial sensor that detects movement of the first weapon from the first holstered position; and 
 (b) the second draw sensor comprises a second inertial sensor that detects movement of the second weapon from the second holstered position. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein:
 (a) the first draw sensor comprises a first switch that is actuated by the movement of first weapon from the first holstered position; and 
 (b) the second draw sensor comprises a second switch that is actuated by the movement of second weapon from the second holstered position. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method for playing a quick draw simulation game for a first player and a second player, comprising the steps of:
 (a) equipping the first player with a first weapon actuable by the first player to fire a first non-lethal projectile or a first infrared signal in a first firing direction;   (b) equipping the second player with a second weapon actuable by the second player to fire a second non-lethal projectile or a second infrared signal in a second firing direction;   (c) prompting the first and second players at the same time to draw and fire the first and second weapons, respectively;   (d) determining which of the first and second weapons is fired first after the players are prompted to draw and fire their respective weapons; and   (e) determining whether the projectile or infrared signal fired from each of the weapons hit the player equipped with the other weapon.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 (a) determining which of the first and second weapons is either touched by their respective players or drawn from their respective holstered positions after the players are prompted to draw and fire their respective weapons. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein each of the weapons fires a non-lethal projectile, and in step (e), the determination of whether a projectile hits a player is based on the projectile hitting a pressure or contact sensor worn by the player. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein each of the weapons fires an infrared signal, and in step (e), the determination of whether an infrared hits a player is based on the infrared signal being detected by an infrared receiver worn by the player.