Patent Application
20080116643
The present invention relates to a gaming piece and more particularly a gaming piece equipped to signal an impacting force and the method of its use.
The present invention provides a game piece equipped for signaling an impacting blow against the game piece. The game piece comprises a body sized for manually impacting and propelling the game piece when struck with a finger blow from a cocked finger, an electronic signaling circuitry centrally disposed within said body so as to permit a substantially uniform propulsion of said piece when struck with the finger blow, an electronic sensing switch for switching the electronic signaling circuitry and generating an electronic signal upon sensing the finger blow and a signaling unit for electronically signaling the electronic signal generated by said electronic signaling circuitry upon sensing the finger blow to the playing piece.
The playing piece is most desirably of a triangular configuration such as commonly used in the game of table top football or finger football. The playing piece in its more limited embodiments includes a body of light weight construction such as of a plastic material, an electronic impacting sensing unit and a signaling unit housed within said body for sensing and signaling an impacting blow struck against the playing piece.
The signaling unit for sensing the impacting blow may include a switching mechanism designed to switch “on” an electronic signaling circuitry housed within the game piece when an impacting force is struck against the game piece. The body of the playing piece may be channeled to house the electronic circuitry for the electronic impact sensing unit and the signaling unit. Since the electronic circuitry will generally be of a different density or weight than the body within which it is housed, the electronic circuitry should be desirably housed at a substantially disposed centrally or balanced gravitational position so that it will not adversely affect the flight of the game piece. The electronic circuitry necessarily includes a circuitry which is capable of detecting an impacting blow which detection can be effectively incorporated into the switching mechanism. The electronic sensing member or unit may be comprised of an electronic conductive spring attached at one pole or post of the sensing switch and open at an opposite pole or post of the switch. Thus, when an impacting force is struck against the game piece, the spring will tend to be initially sprung or compressed in an opposite direction of the impacting force followed by decompression causing a springing motion (e.g. forward or side motion) of the switching spring so that the unattached spring end makes contact with the oppositely positioned switching post or pole and thereby switches to an “on” position so as to cause an electronic current to flow towards the electronic signaling member and thereby signal that the impacting blow has been struck against the playing piece.
Since the spring switch without any ancillary circuitry components will undergo a repetitive series of swinging or compression and decompression stages to switch “on” and “off” the current flow, the electronic signal member itself will undergo intermittent “on” and “off” signaling positions so as to correspond with the positioning of the spring between the switching posts. The signaling unit may comprise a signaling unit capable of generating a detectable signal such as a light or sound signal. If desired, the electronic circuitry may be provided in the form of a printed circuit board which upon activation by an impacting blow can convert the resulting electronic signal into random signals at a predetermined set of sequential signals as predetermined by the printed circuit board circuitry. In one embodiment, an LED light connected to switching mechanism and a printed circuit board power source provides an electronic signaling member.
The invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, a more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the figures and:
With reference to the drawings and following descriptive materials, there is provided a game piece 1 equipped for detecting and signaling an impacting blow struck against the game piece 1. The game piece 1 includes an electronic circuitry or assembly 3 having a detecting or sensing unit 2 for sensing or detecting an impacting blow and a signaling unit 5 for signaling the impacting blow such as shown in
As may be observed from the Figures, the electronic circuitry assembly 3 may be manufactured as an insertable circuitry assembly 3 (e.g. a printed circuit board) as depicted by
After the detecting of an impacting blow against the game piece 1 by the sensing unit 2, the signaling unit 5 is thereby electronically activated to signal the impact. The signaling unit 5 may in its most basic form be simply responsive to the mechanical switching of switch 2 or alternatively may rely upon a more exotic electronic circuitry 3 to conduct a more complex signaling operation.
As may be observed from the electronic circuitry of
A switching member 2 generally serves as a sensing unit 2 for detecting an impacting force struck against the game piece 1 and switching “on” a flow of electrical current for relaying onto the signaling unit 5 and thereby signaling the fact that an impacting blow has been struck against the game piece 1. A variety of switching members 2S may be effectively utilized to switch “on” the flow of current through the electronic circuitry 3. In one embodiment, switching members 2S are those switches capable of detecting and switching “on” the current flow upon encountering an impacting force such as a finger blow struck against the game piece 1 as disclosed in more detail by
In one embodiment, the spring 2C will sequentially compress and decompress and oscillate between an “open” and “closed” position until the free energy of the activated spring 2C is spent. This switching “on” and “off” of the electronic circuitry 3 may be itself be used to switch the signaling unit 5. Thus, as switch 2 sequentially oscillates from an “open” to a “closed” position, the signaling unit 5 will correspondingly respond to the positioning of the spring switch 2C. This mechanical switching will create a random sequence of signals as opposed to a pre-arranged sequence of signals which may be created through a programmable circuit board 3B such as depicted by the electronic circuitry of
In another embodiment, the switch 2 will produce a signal to enable an electronic circuit that will produce a random signal to light at least one light emitting diode (“LED”).
The switching member 2S depicted by
The spring 2C and housing 2H may be operationally integrated into the circuit board 3B as depicted by the circuitry of
Now turning to the schematic circuitry drawing of
The switch 2 functions on the principle that the mass of the spring 2C on the contact is inertially coupled or decoupled (i.e. switched) from the circuit board 3B by the course pitch section 2R and fine pitch section 2F of spring 2C. If the circuit board 3B receives sufficient impact (acceleration) from the bottom side of the board 3B then the acceleration of the free end of the spring 2C will lag sufficiently to make contact with unattached contact pad 2+. When the impact is in the opposite direction, the gap between the spring 2C and the board 3B will increase temporarily but when the impact event is terminated, the spring 2C will then begin to swing towards the circuit board 3 and contact upon unattached contacting pad 2+. The switch housing 2H serves to limit the decoupling of the free end of the spring 2C so as to minimize energy stored in the spring 2C during lateral impacts. Limiting this energy helps prevent triggering on lateral impact as the motion of the spring 2C is otherwise positioned to be somewhat orbital (due to various complexities of elasticity related to the helical construction of the spring).
The spring as depicted by
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a motion activated playing piece 1 equipped with a signaling unit 5 which illuminates or emits a lighted signal upon receiving an impacting force against the piece 1. The playing piece 1 comprises an electronic circuitry 3 including a power source 9 (e.g. a small battery), a motion-activated switch 2 (e.g. a pressure sensitive switch) and a light source 5 (e.g. a low emission diode commonly referred to as a LED light) activated to emit light when activated by said motion-activated switch 2 by the impacting force, with said electronic circuitry 3 being embedded within a body which visibly displays the light emitted by the light source 5. In one embodiment, the body may be transparent. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the body may be translucent or transparent.
The electronic circuitry 3 is most appropriately provided in the form of a printed circuit board assembly 3B incorporating the impacting sensing unit 2 and the impact signaling unit 5 powered by an appropriate power source 9. The printed circuit board assembly should be adapted to be responsive to an intermittent contact created by the pressure switch 2 switching the flow of current “on” or “off” (e.g. by the whipping action of spring 2C) or alternatively a switch 2 integrated onto a more complex circuitry 3 equipped with a switch opening detector for detecting the opening of the switch after it has been closed and an electronic flasher or sequencer. The motion activated switch 2 as used in the playing piece 1 herein may, if desired, be integrated into a printed circuit board 3B equipped with an oscillator, clock generator, edge detector, variable counter and sequence control to provide various illuminating patterns.
In another embodiment, the circuitry can include a sounding member for producing a tone of a favorite team. In another embodiment, a set of prerecorded tones is stored. Different prerecorded tones may be played at random or sounded in response to the severity of the blow imparted against the playing piece 1.
The detecting unit 2 may be compactly integrated onto a printed circuit board assembly 3B (such as depicted in the Figures) for emplacement within the small confines of the football playing piece 1. Although the printed circuit board assembly 3B may be replaced with a similar mechanical switching mechanism 2 connected to a suitable power source 9 for relaying an electronic signal (e.g. current) to a signaling member 5, the printed circuit board assembly 3B affords the most compact, dynamically balanced, and most effective manner of providing the necessary electronic circuitry 3 for the game piece 1. As shown in
The depicted assembled circuitry 3 of
The spring switch 2C depicted by
The electronic current switched by switch 2 flows onto circuit board 3B then respectively through paired resistors R1, R2, R3, of a type such as vended by Digi-Key Corporation under part no. 410-0033-20, PS, Resistor, 0603, 1/16W, 1%, 20.0 Ohm, P20.OHCT-ND manufactured by Panasonic under manufacturing part no. ERJ-3EKF20R0V. The circuit board 3B may include a programmable chip U1 which can be programmed before insertion into a board vended under part no. 548-0026 by Digi-Key Corporation, referenced as PIC10F202, FLASH, 4 MHz, SOT23-6 and manufactured by Microchip Technology, Inc., 2355 West Chandler Blvd, Chandler, Ariz., 85224-6199, under manufacture reference part number PIC10F202T-1/OTCT-ND. In one embodiment the integrated circuitry 3 further includes a 25 volt ceramic capacitor C1 vended by Digi-Key Corporation as part number 432-0018-25V-0.1UF further referenced as Cap, Ceramic, 0603, 25 volt, 0.1 UF, Y5V, PCC1794TR-ND manufactured by Panasonic bearing a manufacturer part no. ECJ-IVF1E104Z, and a resistor R4, vended by Digi-Key Corporation Resistor, 0603, 1/16 W, 1%, 10.OK, P10.0KHTR-ND manufactured by Panasonic referenced as part number ERJ-3EKF1002V bridging between a 3 phase PCB flasher 3V. Upon activation by the motion detecting switch 2, the programmed circuit board 3B activates the appropriate electrical current flow to generate the desired flashing signals by LED lights 5A, 5B, & 5C. The insertable electronic circuitry assembly 3 may be fabricated upon printed circuit board 3B and encased in a polyurethane sized plug (not shown) to fit body cavity 7H and plugged into the game piece body 5 to provide the game piece 1 as depicted in
The motion-activated switch 2, the circuitry 3 may, if desired, include circuitry sized to fit into the body 7 of the playing piece 1 and equipped with a mono-stable multi-vibrator (not shown) triggered by a positive pulse, a switch connected to the multi-vibrator through a differentiator circuit and an inverter. A mono-stable multi-vibrator which drives a low frequency oscillator or flasher, such as a National Semi Conductor LM 2909, sized to fit within the body, will allow the LED to flash simultaneously for a low rate for the predetermined time set by mono-stable multi-vibrator. If desired, the mono-stable and/or flasher can be replaced with smaller sized electronic components similar to VH215 LED flasher made by Vitelic Ltd., of Hong Kong, capable of producing both predetermine and random flashes. As evident from the aforementioned, various different types of signals ranging from a mechanical contact to preprogrammed signals may be emitted by the signaling unit 5 upon activation of the electronic circuitry by the motion activated switch 2.
The depicted playing piece 1 relies upon a motion activated switch 2 as the impact sensing unit 2 which activates the electronic circuitry 3 to emit a signal when the playing piece 1 receives an impacting blow. In other embodiments other motion sensitive switches 2 such as a mercury, ball, laser, etc., pressure switches, a conductive multi-pitched spring comprised of a course spring section 2R a fine spring end section 2F such as depicted in the
As illustrated in
If desired the unconnected end of spring 2C may be positioned so as to extend upwardly and forwardly from circuit board 3B at a position slightly above the surface of battery 9 which in turn constitutes the negative terminal of battery 9. Since the positive terminal lead 2+ is soldered to the positive circuit board pad 2+, extension of spring 2C so as to come into contact upon the negative battery terminal 9 side may then be used to activate the printed circuit board circuitry 3 and light by the LED lights 5A, 5B, & 5C. Although light emitting diodes (i.e. LEDs) are shown, other light sources including incandescent, eletrolumineacent, infra red or ultraviolet may be used when switched “on” by circuitry 3.
The end of the spring 2C connected to the printed circuit board 3B will desirably be constructed of a courser pitched spring section 2R possessing sufficient springed rigidity to maintain the finer pitched spring section 2F in an open or “off” position. Upon impact, the course pitched spring section 2R will generally retain its inclined position while the finer pitched spring section 2F will tend to extend and drift onto a closed or “on” switching position by contacting onto the unattached pad contact 2− or terminal side for the printed circuit board 3B. As previously pointed out, upon contacting the unconnected pad site 2+, the printed circuit board 3B is enabled to conduct a preprogrammed signaling or lighting pattern.
The playing piece body 7 depicted by
The body 7 of the playing piece 1 as depicted by
In one embodiment, the body 7 for housing a light emitting signaling unit 5 of
The PVC plastisol body 7 such as depicted in
When a PVC plastisol is used in the manufacture, the cured playing piece body 7 will desirably have a shore hardness durometer index of less than 15 with a shore hardness index ranging from about 12 to about 14 in softer bodied embodiment of the playing piece 1.
The PVC plastisols as conventionally used to produce artificial lures such as artificial worms will generally require more added plastisol to soften the cure to desired body 7. A typical fish lure designed to provide a shore hardness index of 15 which may be made softer or less hard by adding an extra plasticizer to the normal number 93 plastisol as sold and distributed by AR Products, 111807 7/8 Slavson Ave, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. 90670.
Another PVC plastisol product that produces a clear body 7 is a PVC plastisol identified as product 370CV15202, referenced as a clear PVC lure compound having a viscosity #3 Spindle @ 20 RPM 50-300 CPS/Actual: 100 CPS, a durometer of 35 +/−2/actual: 35 and a weight of 8.76±0.1 pounds per gallon, distributed and sold by Chemionics Corporation, 390 Munroe Falls Road, Tallmadge, Ohio 44278. The uncured PVC plastisol product 370CX15202 is cured by heating to a molten temperature at about 200 degrees F. until it becomes clear (about 10 minutes) and fluid enough for pouring into a mold. A mold (e.g. a splittable metal mold) for forming the body 7 with a housing 7H to house printed circuit board 3B such as shown in more detail in
The PVC plastisol mixture used to manufacture football piece body 7 will typically be heated to a molten temperature of about 200 degree F. to about 250 degree F. until clear (e.g. typically for about a ten minute period) and then poured directly into the playing piece body mold for molding the body 7 under ambient conditions. Excessive thermal treatment (i.e. temperature or time) can lead to thermal decomposition of the plastic mass. After the molten mass ambiently cools to a solid body, the molded body 7 may be appropriately removed from the mold. As may be observed from the Figures, the housing 7H for housing the electronic circuitry 3 is centrally positioned within the body 7 so as to substantially maintain a balanced center of gravity for the playing piece 1. Thus, when the playing piece 1 is struck, the playing piece 1 center of gravity will not adversely affect the propelling motion or direction of the impacted playing piece 1. The positioning of the circuitry 3 within the body 7 provides for a substantially balanced playing piece 1 that can be propelled in a substantially uniform unidirectional propelling motion. Placing the housing 7H at center of gravity point of the playing piece 1 thus balances the projectile flight of the playing piece 1 and prevents lop-sided or wobbly travel.
After plugging electronic housing 7H with plug 7P, a transparent adhesively backed label 7L covering printed circuit board 3B and the top side panel section covering the playing body 7 except for about a ¼ inch peripheral margin was adhesively applied onto top panel section as illustrated in
In another example embodiment, a playing football piece 1 of an identical dimensional size with the rounded corners as illustrated in
With particular reference to
c reveal further embodiments of the invention depicting a playing piece 1 housing an impact sensing switch 2 for switching a signaling unit 5 to signal an impacting blow. An inertia sensitive switch 2 housed in playing piece body 7 composed of prefabricated layers of materials protectively housing a printed circuit board 3B programmed to emit an electronic signal upon being impacted servers as the playing piece 1.
In cross-referencing the designed components parts to the drawings and graphic illustration so
In operation, the playing piece 1 depicted by
As may be observed from FIGS. 10 and 20-22, the playing piece 1 includes a circuit board 3B of an undersized playing piece configuration and biaxially aligned along the major planar axis of the playing piece assembly and sandwich within the playing piece 1 at a position in substantial alignment with the gravitational center of the playing piece 1. This may be effectively accomplished by configuring the circuit board 3B as illustrated by FIGS. 10 & 20-22 in a triangular configuration of a slightly reduced size and configuration from the playing piece 1 so as to be protectively sandwiched within the playing piece 1. Since the triangularly shaped circuit board 3B is placed within the playing piece 1 so that it bisects the bisecting major plane of the playing piece 1 and centered therein so that the circuit board 3B is positioned substantially equidistant from the outer playing piece surface, substantial gravitational centering of circuit board 3B within the playing piece 1 may thus be achieved. Since the relatively flat triangular shaped circuit board 3B may be effectively designed so as to provide a substantially uniform distribution of gravitational weight within the piece 1, sandwiching of the completed and gravitational balanced circuit board 3B within the fabricated plastic body 7 results in a substantially uniformly balanced playing piece 1 which exhibit's a substantially balanced rotational flight when struck by an impacting blow such as in a football table top game.
With particular reference to the printed circuit board depictions of
It may be further observed from
Surface mounted four volt, forty-seven microfarad tantalum capacitors (generally prefixed by C), of a standard 3216 size, placed around the circumference of the battery 9 form a complete battery retention system. Capacitors C1 & C2 may be positioned opposite from the clip 9C while capacitors C3 & C4 may be positioned on the same side as the clip 9C. The capacitors C1 & C2 are connected to the common pole of the sensor 2. When the common pole of the sensor S1 makes contact with the conductor that is connected to the negative side of the battery B1, the capacitors will then charge up to the maximum amount of potential energy in a very short time interval. The capacitors C1 & C2 are connected in parallel creating a total capacitance of approximately ninety-four microfarad. If desired, the capacitors C3 & C4 may also be added in parallel by adding a zero ohm resistor R1. This effectively provides a total capacitance of approximately one hundred and eighty-eight microfarads thereby effectively doubling the amount of energy potential for subsequent discharge across the LEDs 5.
The discharge of current from the capacitors C will occur when the common pole of the sensor S1 makes contact with a conductor connected to the light emitting diodes 5A, 5B & 5C. This short burst of energy will cause the LEDs to flash. The light emitting diodes 5A, 5B & 5C are located at each triangular corner of the printed circuit board 3B while the LEDs 5D, 5E & 5F are located between the corners along the outer edge of the printed circuit board 3B. Small notches may be fabricated under LEDs 5D, 5E, & 5F to allow for better disbursement of light. The light emitting diodes 5D, 5E, & 5F can be added to LEDs 5A, 5B & 5C by adding the zero ohm resistor R2. If desired, the printed circuit board 3B depicted by the
The overall sensor or sensory unit 2 consists essentially two parts. The manner in which the printed circuit board 3B is fabricated becomes a part of the two way sensing or switching member 2. During the printed circuit board 3B fabrication, holes are drilled and slots are cut into printed circuit board material Pm for plating. The slotted hole 2H depicted by
Referring now to
Other methods and switching components may be suitable substituted for the mechanical pole part of the sensor switch 2. For example, in one embodiment shown in
As may be observed from the printed circuit (pc) material Pm depicted in
It is usually desirable to emplace board material Pm for making the component parts on a panel of printed circuit boards.
With particular reference to
As may be observed from
The completed printed circuit board 3B, as depicted by FIGS. 10 and 20-21, lends itself to the ability to mass produce playing pieces 1 inexpensively while also maintaining exceptional quality control in the finished game piece 1 product. As mentioned, the printed circuit board 3B is sized and configured to be sandwiched within the playing piece body 7. With particular reference to the exploded elevational side view of
Alternatively, a football playing piece 1 including the circuit board 3B embodiments and dimensional size as depicted in
Splitable triangular shaped mold shells (e.g. two mating shells) equipped with a molten plastic injection port and a vacuum port of a size and configuration as depicted in
The hot clear lure PVC plastisol is then injected into the mold cavity at a molten 225 degrees F. and allowed to cool sufficiently to solidify and form an appropriate playing piece body 1 encasing the circuit board 3B with the light emitting LEDs 5 firmly anchored thereto and open to emit the signaling light therefrom. The resultant playing piece 1 exhibits excellent aerodynamic balance and uniquely emits a signaling light when struck with an impacting blow.
The stickers 7L (referred to as an epoxy dome sticker) are fabricated from a 100% soft PVC film. In potential manufacturing technique of the playing piece 1, one of the sticker 7L will include the circuit board 3B embedded onto a foam layer 712 and the other a PVC film sticker layer 7 held in place along the outer triangular plane within the mold by applied vacuum. The sticker layers 7L retain the circuit board 3B in a suitable position for uniformly encasing the circuit board within the PVC plastisol body 7. The PVC plastisol is then injected into the mold and rapidly cooled to provide the desired playing piece 1 which may then be removed from the mold.
In an alternative molding process, the circuit board 3B may be centrally disposed within the molding cavity with the LEDs 5 being suitably covered with a removable covering to protect the LEDs 5 against molten PVC. The cavity is then injected molded with PVC, rapidly cooled, followed by removal of the molded playing piece 1 from the mold. The plastic sticker layers 7L with the desired team logo is then adhesively applied upon each of the flat triangular playing sides to provide a smooth playing surface for playing table top football.
The use of foamed separators 7I2 (e.g. foamed rubber, polyurethane, etc) in combination with the enshrouding polymeric sheath 7B1 serves to protect the printed circuit board 3B while also providing a somewhat springy, resilient body to enhance the playing efficacy upon manual contact of the game piece. This combination minimizes potential injury or pain while enhancing the impacting blow and propulsion of the impacting playing piece 1.
As may be further observed, the light emitting diodes 5 are positioned at the triangular corners of the playing piece 1. Any plastic material (thermoset or thermoplastic) may be effectively used to provide the encasing body 7 for the light emitting playing piece 1. The entire encasing body 7 need not be translucent or transparent for light emitting signaling units 5 but advantageously at least the cornering edges will possess sufficient transparency so as to allow for the transmittal of light therethrough.
The encasing body may be fabricated from a wide range of suitable materials. The more commonly available plastic material such as the ethylenically unsaturated olefins (e.g. such as ethylene and/or propylene polymers) rubbers (e.g. synthetic and natural), the vinyl halide and chloride polymers (e.g. PVC), styrene polymers and any other appropriate thermoplastic or thermoset material are illustrative materials for fabricating body 7.
Position aligning and sealing pins 7S & 7T to align and maintain the circuit board 3B within the playing piece serves as a sealing site to heat seal the two split bodies 7A & 7B together so as to protectively house the circuitry 3 within the protective body 7.
The main body half section 7A comprises a recessed cavity section 7H circumscribed or walled by main body half section walls 7M, 7N & 70 within which the circuit board 3B is designed to nestle therewithin. Heat sealing pins 7S & 7T serve to align onto alignment ports of circuit board 3B and properly position the circuit board within the cavity 7H. The cavity 7H of a triangular configuration with body half 7A may illustratively measures approximately 0.175 inch thick which is formed within the confines of body walls 7M, 7N, 70 of main body section 7A and mating body walls 7P, 7Q & 7R of body half 7B. It will be further observed that the injection mold for main body cavity 7H includes a battery well 9W and contact switch wells 7HS which respectively serve to house battery 9 and sensory switches S1 & S2.
As may be further observed from
Before installing the electronic circuitry 3 onto main body half section 7A and heat sealing the mating body half section 7B thereto, the peripheral bumper 7U is advantageously injection molded onto the molded perforated flange 7F. As in the injection molding manufacture of body sections 7A & 7B, an injection mold of a mold configuration suitable for molding peripheral bumper 7U may be effectively used to impregnate and mold a resilient plastic material bumper 7U such as a polyurethane having 32 Durometer reading thereto.
The internal portions of molded body section 7A includes cavities or wells for housing LEDs (5A, 5B, & 5C), sensing switches 2 (S1 & S2), and battery 9. Thus, cavity portion 7H of molded body section 7B may be used to house and maintain the aforementioned components in proper alignment during the construction and subsequent use of the football playing piece 1.
The injection molded playing piece body section 7A includes a peripheral triangular walled section comprised of main body half section walls 7P, 7Q & 7R which matingly fits inside the triangular shaped side rail walls 7M, 7N & 7O of mating body half section 7B. The main body half section 7A also includes two alignment apertures or ports which mate onto the positioning and sealing pins 7S & 7T of playing body section 3A. After the component parts of the internal circuitry 3 (namely the battery 9, battery activating strip 9T, and remaining electronic circuitry 3 components) have been appropriately positioned upon playing piece section 7A, the aligning ports 7K of playing piece section 7A may be aligned and inserted onto the aligning and sealing pins of mating half section 7B and then heat sealed together by heating sealing pins 7S & 7T to a heat sealing temperature so as to fill heat sealing port wells 7Q with molten plastic and thereby heat seal body half sections 7A & 7B together with the circuit board 3 being protectively housed therewithin.
Since the heat sealed body section 7A & 7B with the internal motion sensing activating and signaling circuitry 3 will be susceptible to premature power drain while in transit and storage before its ultimate consumer usage, an electrically insulative tape 9T externally protruding from the playing piece 1 through an tape portal 7Z molded into body section 7B blocks the electrical contact circuitry of battery 9. Simply by pulling the insulative tape 9T outwardly and away from the blocking or insulative position, the circuitry 3 may then be activated for use when desired.
The molded body 7 comprised of the main body half section piece 7A and the mating body half section piece 7B have injection molded in a form adapted to accept the printed circuit board circuitry 3 including the battery 9, activating tape 9T and dual sensing switches S1 & S2 of the
A clear commercial grade of polystyrene may, in one embodiment, serve as an injected molded plastic material in the fabrication of molded body half sections 7A & 7B while attractively printed plastic covers 7L may be glued or heat sealed or adhesively attached to the exterior of the body to display a favorite team logo or advertiser such as the stickers or dome layers 7L mentioned herein before. The plastic cover or label 7L may be affixed to a half section piece 7A & 7B on a major surface or side of the half.
Injection molds for the main half body section 7A and the mating half section body 7B were fabricated in accordance with the dimensional specifications set forth in
In the manufacture of the molded body half sections 7A & 7B, an injection moldable clear grade of polystyrene may be heated to a molten mass and injected molded into the main body half section mold and the mating body half section mold. The resultant cooled and solidified main body half section 7A and mating body half section 7B pieces may then be removed from the molds. An elastic peripheral bumper 7U may be molded onto the main body section flange 7F which corresponds to the periphery of the body. In one embodiment, the bumper 7U is fabricated from a clear plastisol having a volume of 0.2214, a specific gravity of 0.98 and weight of about 0.00784 pounds.
The prefabricated circuit board 3, battery 9 with battery activating tape 9T may then appropriately placed within the main body half section 7A followed by inserting the mating body half section aligning pegs or pins 7S & 7T onto the main body half section aligning ports 7X. With the mating body half section 7B resting firmly onto the main body half section 7A, the projecting aligning pegs 7S & 7T may be then subjected to a localized heating source to melt the projecting pegs or pins 7S & 7T so as to uniformly fill the external cavities of the heat sealing port wells 7Q so as to provide a finished smooth surface.
The clear molded polystyrene body 7 provides a clear see through vision of the LEDs, the capacitors, battery 9 and activating battery tape 9T. If desired, a decorative sticker may be applied to the external surfaces of the main body half section 7A and the mating body half section 7B.
A game piece is equipped for signaling an impacting blow against the game piece. The game piece includes a body sized for manually impacting the body with a human finger, an electronic impact sensing unit for generating an electronic signal in response to an impacting blow struck against the body, a relay for relaying the electronic signal, and a signaling unit which produces a second signal in response to receipt of the electronic signal from the relay. In one embodiment, the signaling unit includes a light emitting diode. In another embodiment, the signaling unit includes a chip for making sound. One embodiment of the game piece includes a printed circuit board having the relay, the impact sensing unit, and a power source communicatively coupled to said sensing unit and the signaling unit. The game piece has a center of gravity that substantially corresponds to the center of the game piece. In one embodiment, the body further includes a first half and a second half. In still another embodiment, game piece includes a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes or carries the electronic impact sensing unit, the relay for relaying the electronic signal, and the signaling unit. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first half and the second half. In still another embodiment, a bumper is formed about the periphery of the game piece.
A game piece includes a substantially triangularly-shaped housing, an impact detection apparatus which generates a signal in response to an impacting blow to the housing, and a signaling apparatus which produces an audio or visual signal in response to the signal produced by the impact detection apparatus. One such signaling apparatus includes a 3 light or 6 light LED IC Controller, with CDS controller available from Bowin Electronics of Hong Kong as part no. CDT-3269.doc. In one embodiment, the game piece includes at least one light emitting diode. The signaling apparatus produces signals that light the light emitting diode. In one embodiment, the signaling apparatus produces random signals that light the light emitting diode. The game piece also includes a battery carried within the housing and communicatively coupled the at least one light emitting diode, the impact detection apparatus and the signaling apparatus. In yet another embodiment, the game piece includes a bumper positioned at the periphery of the game piece. The game piece has a weight in the range of 0.50 ounces to 6 ounces. In another embodiment, the weight range may be 1 ounce to 4 ounces. The game piece also has a first major surface, a second major surface, and a label sized to substantially cover one of the first major surface and the second major surface. In still another embodiment, game piece includes at least one sound emitting device. The sound emitting device produces audible signals in response to a signal from the impact sensing apparatus.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments reveals the general nature of the invention sufficiently that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt it for various applications without departing from the generic concept, and therefore such adaptations and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.
It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
This application is a non-provisional application of earlier filed provisional application No. 60/832,536 entitled “Football Playing Piece”, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60832536 | Jul 2006 | US |
