Sword device with retractable, internally illuminated blade

Number: 10065127
Published: 2018-09-04
Filed: 2017-03-16
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Honeck; Michael R.; Smoot; Lanny S.; Smithwick; Quinn Y.; Romaire; Eli Joseph; McCall; David J.; Sandin; Terry O.; Forster; Adam B.; Chevako; Peter Anastasios
CPC: A63H33/26; A63H33/22; A63J7/00; A63J5/00; A63H33/009
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Forster sword device w/ retractable illuminated blade (granted 10065127).

Abstract

A special effects device for providing an energy sword effect. The device includes two long plastic semi-cylinders, and these two blade body members are rolled perpendicular to their length, which creates compact cylinders of material of small volume that can be provided on a pair of spools in a hilt. To extend the blade, a motor provided in the hilt unrolls the blade body members from the spools. Each blade body member passes through a blade forming guideway that nests the semi-cylindrical blade body members together as they leave the hilt. To retract the blade, the process is reversed. The lighting of the blade is achieved with a flexible strip of light sources. The light source strip is attached to a blade end cap and positioned in the center of the two blade body members such that it is pulled up along with the blade body members during their extension.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to theatrical props and toys simulating fictional energy swords or lightsabers and, more particularly, to a special effects device for use as a toy, theatrical prop, or collector's item that accurately simulates fictional operations of an energy sword or “lightsaber” found in many popular films.2. Relevant Background(2) There are many fictional characters whose weapon of choice is an energy sword, and many films have been produced depicting these characters doing battle with their fantastical energy swords. In some stories, these energy swords are called lightsabers, and a typical lightsaber in a film is depicted as including a metal hilt that allows the lightsaber to be a handheld weapon. The hilt is activated by the character in the film to project a brightly lit energy blade that is two to four or more feet long (e.g., an average of 3 feet in length but that is generally proportionate to the operator) and that in the films can cut, burn, and melt through most substances with little resistance. In the films, an active lightsaber makes a distinctive humming, which rises in pitch and volume as the blade of the lightsaber is moved rapidly through the air, and contact between another lightsaber's blade produces a loud crackling noise.(3) To provide energy swords in films, many post-production techniques such as computer-generated imagery (CGI) exist that can be used to realistically extend and

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing an energy sword special effect, comprising: a hilt assembly including a drive assembly within a hilt body; and a blade including a flexible strip with a plurality of light sources arranged in a linear pattern and an anisotropic diffuser diffusing light output from the plurality of light sources, wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to extend the blade outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to retract the blade into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body, wherein the blade comprises an end cap and a pair of blade body members each attached at a first end to the end cap and having a semicircular cross section in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the blade body member, wherein the pair of blade body members are at least partially nested to define a hollow cylindrical body of the blade, and wherein the flexible strip with the plurality of light sources is attached at an end to the end cap and is positioned within the hollow cylindrical body of the blade. 9. A special effects device, comprising: a hilt body; a drive assembly positioned within the hilt body; an end cap; a pair of blade body members each attached at a first end to the end cap; a flexible strip with a plurality of light sources arranged in a linear pattern, wherein the flexible strip is attached at an end to the end cap and is positioned between the pair of blade body members, wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to extend the blade body members outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to retract the blade body members into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body. 15. An apparatus for producing an energy sword special effect, comprising: a hilt assembly including a drive assembly within a hilt body; and a blade comprising an end cap and a pair of blade body members each attached at a first end to the end cap and, when the blade is extended out from the hilt body, having a semicircular cross section in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the blade body member, wherein the pair of blade body members are at least partially nested to define a hollow cylindrical body of the blade, wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to extend the blade outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to retract the blade into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body, and wherein the blade has a uniform outer diameter along its length when extended out from the hilt body. 20. An apparatus for producing an energy sword special effect, comprising: a hilt assembly including a drive assembly within a hilt body; and a blade including a flexible strip with a plurality of light sources arranged in a linear pattern and an anisotropic diffuser diffusing light output from the plurality of light sources, wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to extend the blade outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to retract the blade into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body, wherein the blade has a uniform outer diameter along its length when extended out from the hilt body, and wherein the blade width is in the range of 0.5 to 2 inches.