Simulated hunting apparatus and method for using same

Abstract

A simulated hunting application for simulating the firing of a projectile such as an arrow or bullet, and displaying its flight path and that of its impact point on an intended target. In a preferred embodiment, the simulated hunting application includes a hunting instrument, such as an archery bow or gun, capable of launching a projectile such as an arrow or bullet; a data capture unit such as a video camera for capturing video data; a range finder for determining distance to target; a display screen for displaying images; trajectory calculating and video editing software programs; and a recording unit for storing the data captured by the data capture unit and data entered into the trajectory calculating software by the user. The flight path of the projectile, as well as its impact point with respect to the intended target, and interplay with background images, may be viewed by the hunter. Safe dry-firing of the hunting instrument may be provided using a momentum suppression rod which also forms part of the present invention. Interplay between the trajectory calculating software and an appropriate clinometer takes into account uphill or downhill shooting.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the field of simulated hunting. More specifically, the invention is directed to a simulated hunting device which may be used, for example, to dry-fire a gun or bow equipped with a digital recording device, rangefinding equipment, trajectory calculating software, and image editing software capable of displaying the flight of a bullet or arrow and its impact point on a display screen, allowing hunting without the actual firing of a gun or bow and without harming the target animal. [0002] Various factors have fueled an increasing need for simulated hunting. These factors include increasing population; industrial growth and corresponding shrinkage of huntable land; the presence of large tracts of government-owned, no-hunting lands such as the National Parks; the desire for competitive hunting venues including hunting leagues and / or competitions; and activist groups lobbying against the killing of animals. Accordingly, hunters ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] In this manner, the hunting apparatus allows for simulating and superimposing the flight of a projectile and the impact point of that projectile on a target by mock-firing a gun or bow without damaging the target or harming the animal. The software incorporates the variables entered by the hunter into the trajectory calculation, along with the captured video data, to simulate the true path had an actual projectile been fired. The data capturing unit may be used to display and record video data in digital format, record audio, and use laser range finding technology to measure and record distance to targets. The trajectory calculating software may be used to process the video data captured by the data capturing unit and interface with a video editing software program to display a visual simulation of the path of the projectile.

[0034] In yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided allowing a hunter to use a simulated hunting application. The hunter aims a hunting instrument capable of firing a projectile at an intended target. The hunting instrument includes a data capture unit for capturing image data and a range finder for determining distance to target, and a display screen for displaying the image data. A flight path and an impact point for the projectile are calculated based at least in part on variable data entered by the hunter, using trajectory calculating software associated with the hunting instrument. The data captured by the data capture unit and the variable data are captured using a recording unit. The image data may be edited using image editing software to display at least portions of a flight path of the projectile based at least in part on the calculations performed by the trajectory calculating software, so that the flight path of the projectile may be viewed on the display screen and an impact point on or near the intended target may also be viewed. The hunter may also make a pre-shot adjustment by firing an initial, simulated shot, estimating one or more shot parameters based on analysis of the initial, simulated shot and its corresponding flight path, and adjusting one or more of the shot parameters prior to firing of the next simulated shot at the same intended target.

Problems solved by technology

Previous methods of simulated projectile targeting do not include coupling the trajectory software with image editing software to provide a device capable of superimposing the entire flight of a projectile, not just point of impact, on the video recorded by a digital camera.

No known method of integrating these two disparate software applications has been disclosed in combination with hunting apparatus.

However, currently known technology does not take into account the effect degrees of slope have on projectile flight.

However, while it is well known in the archery field that dry-firing (e.g., drawing and releasing the bow without firing an actual arrow) can result in damage to the bow and potential injury to the archer, methods enabling safe dry-firing are unknown.

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