Patent Application
20210063122
The present disclosure relates generally to fluid presence detection and alerting for entertainment, and more particularly, to a system and method for a toy that senses and/or responds to a water for amusement.
For many decades, children and adults have found amusement in throwing water at each other. Similarly, children and adults enjoy playing the game of tag. One of the primary issues and frustrations with any tag game is discerning whether or not a person has been tagged; tag detection and indication is a problem for tag games/entertainment.
When playing with thrown water, batteries and electronic components are less desirable due to the sealing requirement, replacement, costs, and potential health issues. A non-electronic water tag sensing/indicator/response is desirable.
Safe play is also important; thus, a tag is desired to be soft, light weight, non-toxic, smooth, wearable, and generally non-interfering with running or other actions that a player may take. Players in such high action games often bang into things and even fall; thus, the tag/indicator/response should be tolerant of diverse physical impacts without causing injury or interfering with other player functions.
When playing tag or participating in entertainment events, physically active indicators and responses are desirable to enhance performance and entertainment. Visually noticeable tags that indicate with explosive actions can be observed at longer distances and by more players. It is desirable that players are unmistakably tagged.
If the water tag detector/indicator/response is too cumbersome, players will avoid its use. The water tag detector/indicator/response should be compact and non-obtrusive such that players are not impacted by the presence of the tag. Similarly, if the water detector/indicator/response is utilized in physically interactive displays or entertainment features, then it is desirable that the unactivated apparatus has a minimal appearance in the scene.
Water tag should be easy for the players to use. Ideally, the detector/indicator/response system should be easy and rapid to reset.
Players desire their entertainment to be low cost; thus, the play utility is higher if the tag is simple and less complicated, as well as non-electronic.
If the water is thrown by water balloons, then, when the water balloon play ends, many broken balloon pieces are widely dispersed over an area. Even if the balloons are made of a biodegradable material, these pieces still represent an eyesore or stain to the view, with the possibility of an ingestion and digestion issue for any animals or pets that might cross the play region. Clean up can be quite tedious and time consuming. Thus, it is desirable for any consumable tag components to be as small as possible and as rapidly biodegradable as possible.
Other alternative devices for playing water tag include:
These water tag alternatives possess deficiencies relative to being:
cumbersome, obtrusive to play, requiring specific placement, constraining what to wear and where to place tag, etc.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved amusement apparatus and system for detecting, indicating, and/or responding to the presence of water on a person, or responsive entertainment item.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for detecting and reacting to sensing/indicator/response fluid presence for amusement. The present invention provides a series of improvements over conventional water detection and reaction sensing/indicator/response methods, including: significantly shrinking the apparatus; minimizing interference to a player's actions; mitigating any potential harm to a player; maximizing visibility/observability that water has been detected; ease-of-play; and enablement of rapid and easy resetting.
In an embodiment, the water sensing/indicator/response also is configured to attach to nearly any surface or be placed in any location. This increases the diverse games that can be played with the water sensing/indicator/response, including a combination of water play and tag. The tag can be affixed to clothing, headgear, and even skin (with a sticking bandage).
The present invention eliminates the issues with the prior water tag systems that, can be cumbersome, hard to observe at long distances, uncertain, easily deceived, player interference, or potentially harm a player in the event of a collision or fall.
The present invention also allows for single player games, such as tossing the water at the tag as a targeting game. The tag can be hidden from sight as well, but will still respond to thrown water's impact on the tag.
The water tag and its sensing/indicator/response can be utilized in physically interactive displays or other entertainment scenes to enhance its entertainment and appearance.
The present invention also provides a relatively safer apparatus during use while throwing near others, and/or while carrying (including when one is running during play and could inadvertently fall.) The system also provides for safer water hits at all ranges since an enclosed container (such as a balloon or bag) does not impact the players. The water dispensing provides a soft, rain-like shower, covering a large area. The dispenser floats in air for easy player recovery.
A toy apparatus is disclosed for detecting and reacting to the presence of a fluid. The apparatus includes a chamber with one open end; a cover that fits the open end; the cover can be significantly opened, but also closed over the end of the cover; a springy material which is easily compressed, holds significant spring force without degradation, and is resistant to holding water; a latching mechanism allows the chamber cover to fully open but can latch the cover closed to hold the springy material in place; the latch detaches when wetted; the latch's tensile strength is substantially weakened by water; hooks or other attachments to the chamber provide for placement of the device.
In one embodiment, the chamber has an integrated attached cover that flips open. The chamber may have a box shape with a spring-loaded lid that pops open unless held closed. When hit by water, the latch material weakens, breaks and then the chamber cover flips open due to its spring-loaded lid, allowing the springy material to deploy. The deployed springy material is the primary indicator that water has hit the device. The action of opening the cover is further indication that water has hit the device. This cover opening action can be utilized to trigger further events as well, such as flipping a switch to generate a sound if desired.
In an embodiment, the knobs are covered with, or constructed from, a hydrophobic material to minimize water adherence and lingering. The hydrophobic surface mitigates the potential for adversely wetting a new piece of water-reactive material during the process of resetting the toy device.
In an embodiment, one or both knob can be formed from the water-reactive material. These reactive knobs can be fit into slots, holes, or clips on a the toy device.
In an embodiment, the ends of clips can act as the knobs to hold and latch the water-reactive materials.
In an embodiment, the flexible chamber is filled with springy material and covered by a semi-rigid cover that compresses and holds the spring material inside the chamber; similar knobs protrude from both the cover and an aligned lip of the chamber, such that when the cover is closed, the two knobs are adjacent to one another; a thin, water-reactive material is emplaced to hold the two knobs close to one another such that the cover is held in its closed position. Upon water striking the water-reactive material, the material weakens and the spring force over comes the water-reactive material's tensile strength, causing it to fail; the tensile failure releases the two knobs from one another and allows the cover to be opened by the spring force, popping the springy material out past the chamber opening and cover.
The springy material preferably is highly compressible; can be compressed by the fingers of children; does not hold wetness; when uncompressed, fills a volume that is many times larger than its compressed volume; and is vibrant, highly noticeable. Further preference is that the springy material allows for inserted features such as glitter or even lights.
In an embodiment, springy material is 100% recycled plastic, made into a mesh just like those in a body pouf (synthetic loofah). It could be made from a plant based loofah, but is more expensive, and less springy.
The toy apparatus preferably includes an attached cover for ease in setting and resetting the devices spring-loaded cover. The attachment between the chamber and cover can be created by constructing them as one plastic molded piece with a living hinge of plastic. Alternatively, the cover and chamber could be separate pieces that are attached with a hinge or strap.
In an embodiment, a molded chamber with integrated, flip cover is constructed.
In an embodiment, the flip cover and the chamber rim are latched such that the water reactive-material acts as a knob, as it is inserted into a notch or hole.
The toy apparatus preferably included integrated knobs to form the two ends of a latch, one knob on the cover, and one knob on the rim of the open end of the chamber. The knobs align when the cover is closed over the end of the chamber.
In one embodiment, matching molded knobs protrude from both the chamber cover, as well as the rim of the open end of the chamber. The aligned knobs form the two pieces to be latched.
This apparatus preferably incorporates a water-reactive material to form the latch that holds the two knobs together, as a latch, until the water-reactive material's tensile strength weakens and fails, releasing the knobs (unlatching).
In a preferred embodiment, the water-reactive material is a wood-based, 100% recycled, rapidly biodegrading paper; such paper rapidly loses its tensile strength when significantly wetted. The tensile strength of the wetted biodegradable paper piece, forming the latch, will be overcome by the spring force of springy material, pushing out on the cover. The cover will open, releasing the springy material in a burst. The high released volume of the springy material will fill a large volume and wave in the air.
The toy device may include attachments so that the device can be easily and reliably affixed to buttons, hats, beltloops, skin, remote control vehicles, etc. Since the player or car might be rapidly accelerating and even bumping into other objects, the attachments may be constructed to ensure robust adherence to the player or other targeted items.
In a preferred embodiment, attachments may include Velcro, sticky bandages, hang tab hooks, plastic or wire ties, etc. These attachments may be affixed to the chamber in nearly any location. The orientation of the attachment on the chamber, and the affixed location on the player/car/tag target may impact the efficacy of the water-reactive material.
The toy device may be attached to a remote control vehicle to transform the vehicle into a target. The toy device is capable of stopping the vehicle when it is hit by a fluid, such as water, and the springy material deploys. The springy material gets under the vehicles tires and the vehicle can no longer move under control. Analogously, a remote control aerial vehicle would be significantly impeded by the release of the springy material.
In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is attached to a remotely operated vehicle to be utilized as a vehicle hit indicator, and vehicle stopper. Such a tag game could be played individually, in a timed mode, or in a battle mode where other players are trying to hit and/or stop the vehicles of other players.
In a preferred embodiment, the physical action of the release of the springy material can be utilized to activate a switch to further trigger indications or alerts that are electrical or electronically controlled, such as sounds and lights.
The foregoing and other features of the invention and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show a form of the invention which is presently preferred. However, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.
An example embodiment of fluid presence detection and alerting apparatus 1 includes a chamber 2 that is made from substantially fluid-tight flexible material, for example, a flexible, thin polymer material, and has an open port. A chamber cover 3 is attached to the chamber 2 and covers the port in the chamber; the cover is preferably flexible, pliable (or has limited rigidity). The cover is configured to open when released or unlatched. A springy material 4 is compressed inside the chamber 2, preferably made from a plastic mesh, such as a pouf, and is held in place by the cover 3. Knobs 5 on both the cover 3 and the rim of the chamber 2 are placed such that they align when the cover 3 is closed to compress the springy material 4. The knobs 5 are preferably smooth, hydrophobic, and easily accessible. A water-reactive material component 6 provides the latching to hold the two knobs 5 next to one another, as well as holding the cover in place; the water-reactive material is preferably made from a 100% recycled and rapidly biodegradable paper.
The apparatus and method of the present invention for fluid presence detection and alerting delivers many of the desirable fluid detecting and alerting advantages identified above. Fluid detection is rapid and reliable without any electrical devices or batteries being required. Fluid contact indication is immediate and highly visual with an extremely large indicator volume being deployed and possessing a flowing motion. Further, the flexible components are preferably soft and configured to be safe for players during play and after deployment of the large volume indicator. Only a tiny amount of fluid or water is required to trigger the indication and reaction. Further the apparatus can be easily deployed as wearable devices on players and deployable devices on other systems, including mobile remote control vehicles. For remote control vehicles the deployed indicator, springy material, acts are a vehicle stopping net that opens under the vehicle's tires and impedes the motion of the vehicle. Rapid and easy resetting of the device's detector is critical to the player's entertainment and is enhanced by the present device. Further, the fluid consistently detected when the device is hit due to the construction of the apparatus. These features overcome many of the problems experienced by prior art.
This disclosure describes several example embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the fluid presence detection and alerting for entertainment apparatus and system, including preferred embodiments components, arrangements, and configurations. These examples are provided to simplify the present disclosure. However, these preferred embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
7 illustrates the device being contacted by water 8. In this embodiment, the water-reactive material can be sized for varying play modes to allow either an extremely small or large target of water-reactive material.
9 illustrates the device's response to water contact, wherein the water-reactive material 10 weakens and tears 11, allowing the cover 12 to hinge open.
13 illustrates the explosive reaction of the springy material 14 emerging from the chamber under the hinged cover, to indicate that water has contacted the device.
While the water-reactive material forms a latch in the illustrated between the first and second attachment mounts, it is also contemplated that, instead, one of the attachment mounts could be made from the water-reactive material and the latch could, instead, be made from a plastic material.
The chamber 35 can contain any suitable items, including in addition to or in place of the springy material, confetti, small items (e.g., toys), colored dye, or other visual indicators.
As discussed above, for the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by this specific language, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.
