Simulated weapon using holographic images

A simulated weapon resembling various other simulated weapons found in the prior art where lighting means or other means are employed to create the appearance of muzzle flashes or laser-type beams or rays or any other type of visual effect associated in the popular imagination with the operation of certain high-tech weapons,

• where those lighting means and other means include light sources appearing to be two dimensional or appearing to be a solid object having a light-emitting surface, solid objects having a light-emitting surface, and objects having a light-emitting surface in rapid motion,
• and where beams or rays associated in the popular imagination with the operation of fantasy weapons such as space guns or
• ray guns are not projected, but,
• unlike those simulated weapons described, comprising:
• (a) diffraction means,
• (b) a device to produce sound effects,
• (c) a device using said diffraction means to produce holographic images and to actuate said device to produce sound effects in conjunction with the production of holographic images,
• (d) structural means to house said device using diffraction means and said diffraction means and to position said device to produce sound effects and to provide the appearance of a high-tech weapon such as might produce rays or beams,
• such that the holographic images produced occupy a region of space in front of the plane including the outer surface of said diffraction means, and such that said device using said diffraction means can be activated and deactivated by the user;
• the images produced by said device using diffraction means resemble beams or rays associated in the popular imagination with the operation of fantasy weapons such as space guns or ray guns, especially as they have been portrayed in motion pictures, televison programs, video games, and comic books in that the images occupy three dimensions, and are not tangible.

A simulated weapon comprising:

• (a) holographic means,
• (b) a device to produce sound effects,
• (c) a device using said holographic means to project three dimensional images and to operate said device to produce sound effects in conjunction with projecting holographic images and having an appearance resembling a weapon and such that operation can be initiated and terminated by the user;
• where the three dimensional images projected are visible in any portion of space including said holographic means and including also adjacent space fore and aft thereof and further including the space adjacent and circumferential to those volumes of space such that some portion of the images is forward of at least one plane tangent to the outer surface of said holographic means;
• the three dimensional images projected resemble rays or beams of space guns or ray guns as they have been portrayed in motion pictures, television programs, video games, and comic books in that they are not tangible objects.