BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to radio controlled flying toys and, more particularly, to a flying duck toy adapted to be shot down with an infra-red (IR) beam gun.

Description of related art

The prior art suggests flying toy devices that are adapted to be radio controlled

(RC) by the remote controllers. These devices typically control the flapping rate of the wings of the flying toy devices/ornithopters to facilitate climbing, descending, takeoff and landing motions and control the position of the tail for turning. For example. U.S.

Pat. No. 6.550,716 describes the use of RC means for ornithopter motion control.

However, it has been observed that the prior art flying toy devices/ornithopters have substantially failed to suggest or disclose the use of infra-red systems and/or devices in conjunction with these RC control systems. The use of toy guns in conjunction with prior art flying objects is well known in the art. However, the use of such guns is principally directed in launching these objects.

One such launching gun can be seen in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,356. However, the use of IR toy guns is not seen in the art for performing the acts such as shooting the flying toy objects. In addition, the use of such guns for charging the flying objects is also not seen in the art as the prior art flying toy devices typically use external charging systems for the flying toy devices.

A radio controlled ornithopter toy device is needed that uses an IR gun means adapted to be operated in conjunction with a RC controller means. The IR gun means is further needed that includes a first charging means adapted to facilitate charging to the flying toy. The RC controller means is further needed that includes a second charging means adapted to facilitate an additional charging to the flying toy. The RC controller means is further needed that can alter left/right directions of the flying toy in addition to altering the speed of the flying toy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A radio controlled ornithopter flying toy device is described that includes a flying toy duck, an RC controller and an IR beam gun. The ornithopter flying object has a shape and configuration of a duck. The RC controller facilitates radio controllable control of the ornithopter object. The IR beam gun is adapted to shoot the flying ornithopter duck and the RC controller is adapted to prevent the flying object from being hit by the gun.

The RC controller includes a speed control unit adapted to control speed characteristics of the ornithopter. The controller includes an ON/OFF switch which turns the controller on or off. The controller includes an extendable antenna that is adapted to preferably send the radio signals to the toy duck. However, the RC controller also can be configured to receive the radio signals to the toy duck in other alternative embodiments. The RC controller allows the flying object to act as a continuously moving target of a vai ymg ti ajectory that encouidges the user to acciii ately practice or master his/hers shooting skills

The RC controller can include a direction control unit adapted to preferably control the left/right turns or directions of the flying toy object The flying toy object includes a control means that changes left/right flight turns of the flying toy object in response to the control signals fi om the RC controller

I he flying ob|ect is mounted on the gun on a foldable shaft that is leceived in a socket that is defined in a bottom portion of the flying object The flying object is charged by inserting the shaft in the socket for iecharging The flying object is also chargeable through a charging adapter positioned on a covei body of the RC controller Duπng the fil ing cycle when the flying object is hit for the first or second time, the ti a]ectoi y of the flying object may be changed Piedefincd audio sounds are produced bv the speakei when the gun is loaded bv moving a loader to a second position and when an emitter produces a beam of infra-red radiation when the trigger is pressed for firing The firing cycle includes a first successful hit where the flying object pauses a little, and then moves again When there is a second successful hit. the flying object pauses a little, and then moves again Finally when there is a third successful hit, the fly ing object stops pennanentl} and falls down In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least three successful hits are requπed to complete a firing cycle and to stop the flying toy object from flying BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornithopter duck toy device that includes a RC controller and an IR beam gun that are constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the flying object of FIG. 1 mounted on the gun for charging in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the infra-red beam gun of FIG. 1 that shows the internal details of the gun;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the flying toy object of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the flying toy object of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the flying toy object of FIG. 1 ; FlG. 7 is an enlarged front view of a portion of a transmission assembly of the flying object of FIG. 1 ;

FlG. 8 is an enlarged front view of a portion of a rear tether connector of the flying object 5 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the flying object showing an alternative embodiment of the rear tether connector of FIG. 8;

I O FlG. 10 is a perspective view of the RC controller of FlG. 1 ;

FlG. 1 1 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the RC controller of FIG. 1 1 ; and

15 FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the toy device of FIG. 1 showing an operational use of the toy device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, 0 these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention. Rcfeπ ing initially to FlG 1 , a radio controlled ornithopter duck toy device 10 is shown that includes an IR beam gun 12, an omithopter flying object 14, and a RC controllei 15 The toy device 10, in one embodiment, is preferably adapted to be used by two users wherein one of the users controls RC controller 15 and the other user operates the IR gun 12 The flying ob|ect 14, in this one preferred embodiment, is configured to teceive infia-ied signals from IR gun 12 However, it is understood that in othei alternative embodiments, the flying object 14 also can be configured to send infra-red signals back to IR gun 12 in addition to receiving the signals

Referring to FIGS 2 and 3, flying toy object 14 is adapted to be positioned on the gun 12 with a predefined aπangement The flying object 14 has at least two positions In a first position the fl> ing object 14 is mounted on the gun 12 In a second position, the Hying object 14 is separated fiom the gun 12 The flying object 14 is electrically charged in tht first position

The gun 12, in a pi eferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a housing that is prefeiably configured by joining a pair of shell sections along a predefined common boundary The gun 12 can be configured in any shape, for example, a pistol, rifle, or a machine gun The gun 12 is pieferably made of materials such as plastic, fiber, oi wood The gun has <J tπggei 16, a trigger switch (Not shown) a handle 18, a barrel 20, a foldable shaft 22, a loader unit 24A, and a battery lid 27 Again, refeiπng to FIGS 2 and 3, the flying object 14 is mounted on the gun 12 with an adapter oi a shaft 22 that is received in a socket 24B (See FIG 5), which is defined in a bottom portion of the flying toy object 14 A first end 25 of the shaft 22 is pivoted inside a pocket 28 that is defined in a front end portion 30 of the barrel 20 The second end 32 is preferably a plug that is adapted for insertion in the socket 24B with a snap The shaft 22 has two positions In a first position, the shaft 22 is folded in the pocket 28 approximately along the axis of the barrel 20 In a second position, the shaft 22 is unfolded along an axis that is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the barrel 20

^' I he gun 12 also includes an indicatoi light 34 a microcontrollei 36, an emitter 38, an audio chip 40, a speaker 42, and a plurality of batteries 44 that are positioned in a predefined pocket in a rear end portion 46 of the ban el 20 It is understood that the microconti oiler 36 can be configured to include inbuilt audio chip 40. hence, chip 40 might be substantially absent in other alternative embodiments of gun 12 The emitter 38 is positioned at a front end portion 30 of the barrel 20 to emit the IR beam The loadei unit 24 A is pi efeiably movable along a predefined path along the axis of the barrel 20 to load the trigger Battery lid 27 in the reai end portion 46 of the barrel 20 is removably assembled foi ieplacing the batteπes 44 The audio chip 40 and the speaker 42, to emit sounds, are positioned in the bottom end portion of the handle 18 The miciocontroller 36 is positioned in the barrel 20 The trigger 16. emitter 38. indicator light 34 batteries 44, audio chip 40 and speaker 42 form an electronic circuit that is contiolled by the microcontroller 36 The circuit operates the IR beam, the light, and the sound In one embodiment, the loader unit 24A is displaced in a predefined path along the axis of the bairel 20 fiom a default first position to a second position to load the gun The loader 24A is pieferably positioned to the fust default position with a spring 48 The loader unit 24A is manually movable to the second position to load the gun 12 for firing by applying an external force towards trigger 16 as indicated by arrow P The loader 24A activates a switch 50 when the second position is reached The loader 24A will be displaced back immediately by the spring reversal force in a direction indicated by arrow Q to the first position as soon as it is ieleased Now referring to the components of the flying toy object 14 as shown in FIGS 4,

5 and 6, the flying toy object 14, which is prefeiably an ornithopter, includes a body/housing 60 that is mounted on a frame 62 having a predefined configuration of 6 struts Frame 62 is an arrangement of a straight and curved strips or struts that are coupled togethei to define a structure that is adapted to support the body 60 of the flying object 14 In addition frame 62 securely holds various internal components of the flying object 14 at piedefined positions Frame 62 is approximately centially positioned in the flying object 14 and is preferably made of light weight matenals such as plastic or fiber

The bod> 60 is preferably configured with a pair of half shell sections that are mounted on frame 62 The flying object 14 further includes a wing assembly 64, a tail 66, a chargable powei stoiage 68. a transmission assembly 70, a speed control motor 72 and a microconti oiler 74 The bottom end portion 26 of the flying object 14 defines a socket 24B that leceives shaft 22, a rcccptoi/sensor/ieceivei unit 78 that receives signals fiom the emitter 38 (See FIG 2) and controller 15 and a switch 76

The wing assembly 64 includes a pair of wings 80 that are mounted on the bod> 60 with a fust wing connector link 82 a second wing connector link 84 (See FIGs 4 and 7), and iear tether connector 86 The first connector link 82 and second connectoi link 84 are positioned at piedefined positions on the front end of the flying object 14, and the rear tether connector 86 is coupled with frame 62 at a predefined position approximately in the rear end portion of the flying object 14 The Happing wings 80 are adapted to facilitate lift, tliiust and flight to the flying object 14 along with giving it directional contiol

Now ieien ing to the transmission assembly 70 as shown in FIGS 6 and 7, the transmission assembly 70 mounted on frame 62 at a piedefined position in close proximity with the front end of flying object 14 includes a pinion 90 mounted on the shaft of the speed control motor 72, a first gear 92 including a second pinion, a second gear 94 having a crank 96 and a connecting rod 98 The rotary motion of the pinion 90 is transmitted to the fust geai 92, via the second pinion to the second gear 94 and finally through crank 96 to the connecting rod 98 The rotary motion is thereby, via crank 96 and connecting iod 98 ti ansformed into a tianslatoiy motion

An end point of the connector rod 98 defines a rotary joint 100 that translates motion along an axis-Z between two predefined points when the crank 96 i otates about a center of the gear 94 The first wing connectoi 82 is pivoted on the frame at a fust point 102 and the second wing connectoi 84 is pivoted at a second point 104 The ends of the first connector 82 and second connector 84 are connected with the end of connecting rod 98 to foim iotaiy joint 100 The rotary joint 100 is movable along the Z-axis iefen ing to FIGS 4. 6. 7 and 8, the rotaiy joint 100 transmits power to the wings 80 thiough respective connector links 82 and 84 One side edge of the wing 80A is lemovably coupled to the first connector link 82 and a rear end of the first wing 80A is lemovably coupled with a first hinge 1 10 of the icar tether connector 86 to facilitate replacement of the wing One side edge ol second wing 80B is remo\ ably coupled to the second connector link 84 and a rear end of the second wing 80B is removably coupled with a second hinge 1 12 of the rear tether connector 86 to facilitate replacement of the wing The tether connector 86 is mounted on the frame 62 at a predefined position so that the tether connector 86 is positioned on the rear end of the body 60

The tether connector 86 can tilt left/right about a pivot point 1 1 1 defined along an axis-F that is approximately centrally positioned between the first and second hinges 1 10 and 1 12 The pivot point 1 1 1 is preferably supported on the frame 62 The connector 86 defines a direction control lever 1 13 that preferably extends vertically along an axis-F A lower arcuate portion ot connector 86 defines internal teeth 1 14 (see FIG 8) The left/right position of the tether connector 86 may be changed by manually pushing the direction contiol lever 1 13 fiom side to side as indicated by the arrows G and H The desired position of the ieai tether connector 86 is maintained by a stationary downwaidly facing edge 1 15 (see FlG 6) defined on the frame 62 The edge 1 15 is adapted to interact or engage with teeth 1 14 I he connector 86 is made of a flexible material such as plastic, to allow teeth 1 14 to ]ump ovei the edge 1 15 when the tether connector 86 is manually moved sideways by the direction control lever 1 13

The pair of wings 80 may be made out of but not limited to, a flexible material The flexible mateπal may be cut out to give the wings a tapeied shaped with a straight leading edge and a cuived ti ailing edge Because the wings 80 are flexible, the incidence angles will vaiy ovei the wingspan and during the wing-strokes During flight the flapping of the wings 80 produces thrust that in turn pushes the ornithopter/flying object 14 foiward Even if the incidence angles var> during the wing-stiokes they produce sufficient lift to sustain flight The left/right direction of the flying object 14 is controlled based on drag differences on the wings 80 The difference in drag is in turn a result of a difference in the average incidence angle on wing 8OA with respect to the opposite wing 80B When the iear tether connector 86 is kept in a tilted position the first and second hinges 1 10/1 12 will have different vertical positions and because the rear part of the wings 80A and 80B aie connected to first and second hinges 1 10/1 12 respectively, they will also have diffeient average incidence angels The wing with the greater average incidence angle also has the largest drag The flying object 14 will turn in the direction of the wing having the higher average incidence angle and diag Refeiπng to FIG 9. an alternative embodiment of the tether connector 86 of the present invention is shown wherein the edge 1 1 5 (see FIGS 6 and 8) can be replaced with a pinion 1 16 mounted on the shaft 1 17 of a direction control motor 1 1 8 The pinion 1 16 inteuiLls with the upwaidly facing teeth 1 14 The direction control motoi 72A in this alternative embodiment, is configured to icceive direction control iadio signals from a RC contioller having an additional contiol unit adapted to control the left/right turning of the flying toy object Thus, an altematn e embodiment of the movement of the tether connector 86 is thei ebv enabled that uses the diiection control motor 72A to rotate the pinion 1 16 to (acilitale left/right turn to ob)ect 14 However, it is undeistood that the above mentioned pi inciple of left/right dπection contiol based on drag differences of wing 80 facilitated by tilting of tether connectoi 86 is also applicable in this one alternatn e embodiment

Now referring again to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and to FlG 10 the RC Controller 15 includes a speed contiol unit 120 adapted to control speed characteristics of ornithopter flying object 14. In this preferred embodiment, the speed control unit 120 is adapted to launch and/or land the flying object 14 by varying the speed of speed control motor 72 (See FIG. 6). The controller 15 includes a light indicator 122 adapted to indicate the on or off position of controller 15 from a long distance. The light indicator 122 preferably works in coordination with the speed unit 120 in order to prevent accidental launch of object 14. For example, the light indicator 122 turns ON only after arming the speed unit 120. The arming of speed unit 120 includes the steps of cycling the speed unit 120 from a full OFF position to a full ON position and again back to a full OFF position. The ON position of the light indicator 122 is adapted to indicate that the speed unit 120 is armed and operable with the flying object 14.

The controller 15 includes an ON/OFF switch 124 that switches controller 15 on or off. The controller 15 includes an extendable antenna 126 adapted to send radio signals to the flying object 14. The controller 1 5, in this one embodiment, includes ^; AA ^: sized rechargeable batteries as a power source, however, it is understood that the quantity and specification of the batteries may vary in other alternative embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 1. an alternative embodiment of controller 15 is shown. In this alternative embodiment, controller 15 includes a charging adapter 200 preferably adapted to charge object 14. The controller 1 5 in this alternative embodiment, includes a speed control unit 202 and a direction control unit 204 that are respectively adapted to control speed and left/right directions of object 14.

The adapter 200 defines a resting position and an operating position. Adapter 200, in this one preferred embodiment, is movable from the resting position to the operating position. In the resting position, adapter 200 preferably remains concealed within a controller body 206 In the operating position, adapter 200 preferably stands upright with respect to controller body 206 In the operating position, adapter 200 has a configuration adapted to be comfortably positioned within chaiging socket 24 (Refer FIG 5) to facilitate additional charging to object 14 Speed control unit 202, in this alternative embodiment is adapted to control speed characteristics of flying object 14 In this pieferred embodiment, the speed control unit 120 is adapted to launch and/or land the flying object 14 by vaiying the speed of speed control motor 72 (See FlG 6) The controller 15 includes a light indicator 208 adapted to indicate the on or off position of controller 15 from a long distance The light indicator 208 preferably works in cooidination with the speed unit 202 in order to prevent accidental launch of object 14 For example, the light indicator 208 turns ON only after arming the speed unit 202 The arming of speed unit 202 includes the steps of c> chng the speed unit 202 horn a full OFF position to a full ON position and again back to a lull OFF position The ON position of the light indicatoi 208 is adapted to indicate that the speed unit 202 is aimed and controllei 15 is opeiable with the flying object 14

The direction control unit 204 in this alternative embodiment of controller 15 is adapted to work in coordination direction contiol motor 72-A such that the direction control motor 72-A moves object 14 preferably in the left and right directions however, it is understood that the direction control unit 72A can facilitate the flight in any othei direction in other alternative embodiments

The controller 1 5, in this alternative embodiment includes an extendable antenna 210 adapted to send the radio signals to object 14 The controller 15, in this one embodiment, includes Six 'AA sized rechargeable batteries as a power source, howevei , it is understood that the quantity and specification of the batteries may vary in other alternative embodiments. The controller 15 includes an ON/OFF switch 212 that switches controller 15 on or off. The controller 15 may include a second light indicator 214 adapted to work in coordination with ON/OFF switch 212 to indicate on or off position of controller 15.

In operation, as shown in FlG. 12. IR beam gun 12, flying object 14, and RC controller 15 together advantageously allow device 10 to facilitate a shooting game environment preferably playable by two users, wherein a first user 300 operates a RC controller 15 and a second user 302 operates the IR beam gun 12. Referring to FIGS. 3, 5. 6 and 7, the shaft 32 is inserted in charging socket 24B to charge flying object 14. After charging flying object 14. the ON/OFF switch 76 on flying object 14 is turned ON. This activates the controller unit 74 of flying object 14. The controller unit 74 uses electrical energy from the source 68 and runs speed control motor 72. The speed control motor 72 transmits motion to the wings 80 through transmission assembly 70 so that flying object 14 flies in the air by flapping the wings 80.

Again referring to FlG. 12, the first user 300. in operation, arms the speed control unit 202 (See FIG. 1 1 ) on controller 1 5 and then uses speed control unit 202 to increase or decrease the flapping speed of the wings 80. The speed control unit 202 sends radio signals to an receiving antenna (Not shown) in the flying object 14 that further transmits signals to controller 74 to increase or decrease the flapping speed of wings 80 by respectively increasing or decreasing the speed of speed control motor 72(see FIG. 6) . The first user 300, in operation, also operates direction control unit 204 (see FIG. 1 1) on the controller 15 to change/tilt the position of tether connector 86 (see FlG. 8). The direction control unit 204 sends radio signals to the receiving antenna in the flying object 14 that further transmits signals to controller 74 to change/control left/right directions of wings 80 by controlling the speed of direction control motor 72A. The radio signals from speed control unit 202 and direction control unit 204 are indicated by an arrow ^ς A'. The second user 302, in operation, initially loads loader unit 24A (Sec FlG. 3) of gun 12 to enable an IR beam to be fired towards IR receptor 78 of flying object 14. After loading gun 12, the second user 302 aims the gun 12 and fires an IR beam towards the duck in the direction indicated by an arrow 'B'. The first user 300, in operation, uses RC controller 15 to prevent the IR receptor 78 of flying object 14 from being hit by the IR beam fired from gun 12. In contrast, the second user 302 tries to hit the receptor 78. The second user 302 repetitively reloads and shoots his/her gun 12 until flying object 14 is shot successfully on the first occasion.

IR receptor 78 transmits a signal to controller unit 74 of flying object 14 as the IR beam is received on the first occasion by IR receptor 78. The controller unit 74 records it as a first hit and accordingly transmits signals to speed control motor 72 to pause for a first predefined time interval. Wings 80 stop their function in the first time interval and flying object 14 descends, for example, in a direction indicated by arrow 'C to indicate to the first and second users 300, 302 that the flying object 14 has been shot for the first occasion. Controller unit 74 signals to speed control motor 72 and wings 80 to resume functioning after completion of the first predefined time interval.

The first user 300. in operation, continues the use of RC controller 1 5 for preventing IR receptor 78 from being hit by the IR beam of gun 12 on a second occasion. In contrast, the second user 302 continues attempting to hit the IR receptor 78 for the second occasion The second usei 302 repetitively reloads aims and fires gun 16 until the IR beam hits IR receptor 78 on the second occasion

The receptor 78 again transmits a signal to controller unit 74 as the IR beam is received by IR receptor 78 on the second occasion. The controller unit 74 records it as a second hit and accordingly transmits signals to speed control motoi 72 to stop foi a second time The wings 80 stop then function for a second time interval that descends object 14, foi example, in the direction indicated by arrow 'D' to indicate to the first and second useis 300. 302 that object 14 has been hit for the second occasion Controller unit 74 signals to speed control motor 72 and wmgs 80 to resume function after completion of the second predefined time interval

The fu st usei 300, in opeiation, continues the use of RC controller 15 for pi eventing IR ieceptoi 78 from being hit by the IR beam of gun 12 on a third occasion In contiast the second user 302 continues attempts of hitting the IR receptoi 78 foi the third occasion The second user 302 repetitivel) reloads, aims and fires gun 12 until the IR beam hits IR receptor 78 of object 14 on the thud occasion

On the thud occasion, the IR ieceptor 78 transmits a signal to controller unit 74 as the IR beam is received T he contioller unit 74 iecords it as a third hit and accordingly stops function of speed control motor 72 and wings 80 to achieve an OFF state that makes the living object 14 fall down on the ground in the direction, for example, indicated by arrow "E ^" to indicate to the first and second users 300, 302 that the flying object 14 has been hit foi the third and final occasion

The contioller 74 is configured to switch OFF object 14 after recording three consecutive hits Object 14 can be restarted using ON/OFF switch 76 wherein the control unit 74 is again reconfigured to receive the next three consecutive hits through gun 12 The RC controller 15. in operation, advantageously provides a continuously moving target in the form of the flying object 14, which encourages the second user 302 to accurately practice or master his/het shooting skills The microcontrollei 74 in the flymg object 14 includes a program having at least three piedefined states According to a first state, the speed of speed control motor 72 vanes according to radio signal input from the RC controller 15 According to a second state, the microcontiollei 74 is programmed to stop the speed control motor 72 for a while and then restart the speed control motor 72 According to a third state, the speed contiol motor 72 stops permanently In this one preferred embodiment, the microcontroller 74 is programmed foi a filing cycle with thiee successful hits A firing cycle includes at least three firing rounds from the gun 12 to complete the cycle Before the Hying ob]ect 14 is hit. the first state is active and the speed of speed control motor 72 varies accoiding to radio signal input from the RC controller 15 The first time the flying object 14 is hit. the second state of the piogram in conti oiler 74 activates and flying object 14 pauses for a little, and then moves again when the program goes back to the fust state The second time the flying object 14 is shot the second state is again activated and the flying object 14 pauses a little, then moves again but does not fall down as the pi ogi am goes back to the first state When the object 14 is shot for the third time, the thud state of the program of controller 74 activates such that the object 14 is switch OFF, stops flying and falls down At least thi ee successful hits aie required to complete the firing cycle and stop the flying toy object 14 from flying Also in operation, flying toy object 14 is mounted on the shaft 22 for charging. The toy object 14 can also be charged through a charging adapter 200 provided on the cover body 206 of the RC controller 1 5. The flying object 14 is switched on and thrown into flight. The gun 12 is loaded by shifting the loader 24A to the second position as indicated by arrow P (See FIG. 3). In response to the loader 24A movement, the switch 50 activates the microcontroller 36 that in turn sends a signal to the audio chip 40 that further sends a signal to the speaker 42 to produce the predefined audio sound for loading the gun 12. It is understood here that the microcontroller 36 directly sends a signal to speaker 42 in the alternative embodiment where the chip 40 is inbuilt in the microcontroller 36. The audio sound indicates that the gun 12 is ready for firing.

The user directs the gun 12 towards the flying object 14 and hits the target flying object 14 by pressing the trigger 16. On pressing the trigger 16, a trigger switch (Not shown) is switched on that sends a signal to the microcontroller 36. The microcontroller 36 in turn activates the audio chip 40 to produce the predefined sound for firing and directs the emitter 38 to emit infrared radiation (IR beam). The emitter 38 emits an IR beam in a direction along the axis of the barrel 20. If the object 14 is hit correctly, the signals are received by IR receptor 78 and are further received by the controller 74.

If the trigger 16 is pressed without prior loading of the gun 12 with the loader unit 24A, then the gun is not fired even after pressing the trigger 16. In summary, the toy duck 14. the RC controller 15 and the IR beam gun 12 together facilitate a shooting game environment that is playable by two users, wherein a first user 300 can operate the RC controller 15 and the second user 302 can operate the IR beam gun 12. The duck object 14 is initially charged through the IR beam gun 12 and/or RC controller 15 before being used. The duck object 14 is adapted to fly in the air by flapping its wings 80 wherein the speed characteristics of the duck 14 are controlled by the speed control unit 202 of the RC controller 15. The duck object 14 is also adapted to change the left/right directions wherein the directional characteristics of duck 14 are controlled by direction control unit 204 of RC controller 15. The IR beam gun 12 includes the sequential steps of loading and firing respectively through a loader unit 24A and a trigger unit 16. The gun 12 is adapted to shoot an IR beam towards the duck object 14. The RC controller 15 is adapted to prevent the duck object 14 from being hit by the IR beam emitted from the gun 12. The duck object 14 is configured and programmed to fly after pausing and descending when shot for two successive occasions by the beam gun 12. The duck object 14 is configured and programmed to switch OFF and fall down when shot for the third successive occasion by the IR beam gun 12.

The embodiments of the invention shown and discussed herein are merely illustrative of modes of application of the present invention. Reference to details in this discussion is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to these details, or to the figures used to illustrate the invention.