Patent Application
20200282301
Some implementations relate generally to gaming apparatus coupled to a piece of fabric or garment.
In the case of fashion, there are fairly limited options that incorporate aspects of gaming with garments and other wearable articles. In many cases, these garments only possess the functionality of being able to be worn. Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus that can integrate aspects of gaming with wearable garments.
Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the disclosure. Certain embodiments of the disclosure can include a gaming apparatus coupled to a fabric or garment. An embodiment of the gaming apparatus can include a garment, an anchor member, a bearing device and a spinner. The anchor member can be coupled to the garment mechanically or using an adhesive. The anchor member can include a base portion and a neck portion. Further, the base portion can include a magnet. The bearing device can be mechanically coupled to the anchor member. The bearing device is configured to rotate with respect to an axis of rotation passing through the anchor member the bearing device. The spinner is mechanically coupled to the bearing device.
A method for utilizing the gaming apparatus can include rotating a spinner with respect to an anchor member that is coupled to the garment. The method can also include identifying an activity based on the location of the spinner with respect to the plurality of sections, upon the ended rotation of the spinner element. The method can further include completing the task as that is indicated by the spinner.
Other embodiments, features, and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure. Other embodiments, features, and aspects can be understood with reference to the following detailed description, accompanying drawings and claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.
Whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular also will include the plural and vice versa. The use of “a” herein means “one or more” unless stated otherwise or where the use of “one or more” is clearly inappropriate. The use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. The use of “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and “including” are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. The term “such as” also is not intended to be limiting. For example, the term “including” shall mean “including, but not limited to.”
The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of the disclosed articles, systems, and methods in their best, currently known embodiments. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the articles, systems, and methods described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof.
As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a gasket” can include two or more such gaskets unless the context indicates otherwise.
As used throughout, “substantially” with respect to a measure can refer to a range of values comprising +/−10 degrees. For example, substantially orthogonal, normal, or parallel can include embodiments, where the referenced components are oriented +/−10 degrees of being classified as orthogonal, normal or parallel respectively.
Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
The word “or” as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, the garment 102 can be any garment wearable by a user. For example, the garment 102 can be a sweatshirt, jacket, shawl, blanket, pants or even a pair of shoes. In another aspect of the garment 102, the garment can be a hat. In yet another aspect of the environment the garment 102 can also be a satchel, a purse, a backpack, a fanny pack, or other element that can be worn by a person or pet, such as a doggie sweater.
The garment 102 can further comprise an indicia, 104, on the surface of the garment 102. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The anchor member 113 can comprise a plurality of components. In one aspect, the anchor member 113 can comprise a base portion 114 and a neck portion 115. In a further aspect, the base portion 114 can be comprised of a cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the base portion 114 comprises a prism shape, such as a cube, rectangular prism or other geometric prism. The base portion 114 can also define a cavity 116 at the external surface in proximity to the garment 102. Within the cavity 116, a magnet 117 can be placed by adhesive or mechanically coupling to the base portion 114. In another embodiment, the magnet 117 can coupled on a top surface of the base portion 114, diametrically opposite the surface facing the garment 102. In yet another embodiment, the base portion can be magnetized in the absence of a magnet 117. In yet another option embodiment, the magnet 117 can circumscribe the base portion 114. In each of the previous orientations, the magnet placement will have an impact on the rotation of a bearing device 125. The magnet 117 attracts to the plate 134 to aid in securing the gaming apparatus to the garment.
The anchor member 113 can also comprise a neck portion 115. In a further aspect, the neck portion 115 can comprise a bottom region 118, a middle region 119, and a top region 120. The bottom region 118 of the neck portion 115 can be coupled to a top surface of the base portion 114. The neck portion 115 can extend distally away from the base portion 114. The neck portion 115 can extend through a middle region 119 and terminate at a top region 120. In a further aspect, the neck portion 114 can have a cylindrical shape as shown in
To aid in the full coupling of the gaming apparatus 100, the neck portion 115 can define a channel 121. The channel 121 in one aspect can span the length L of neck portion 115 and in other aspects the channel 121 can span a portion of the length L. In yet another aspect, the neck portion 115 can have a plurality of channels 121. In such a configuration, the plurality of channels 121 can be oriented such that the channels are orthogonal to each other. However, additional orientations of channels exist. The channels 121 in the neck portion 115 can serve the purpose of allowing the neck portion 115 to have some pliability when the anchor member 113 is coupled to the bearing device 122. To minimize wobbling during rotation, spatial clearance between the outer surface of the middle region 119 of the anchor member 113 and the surfaces of in the interior ring 127 of the bearing device 122 can also be minimized. To facilitate coupling of the channeled neck portion allows the circumference C1 of the top region 120 to be reduced. Accordingly, the top region 120 can fit through the interior ring 127 of the bearing device during construction of the gaming apparatus 100. Further, the greater dimension C1 of the top region 120 than the dimension C2 of middle region 119 also can serve the purpose of creating a locking mechanism between the anchor 113 and the bearing device 122.
As shown in
The balls 126 can further be coupled to contact an outer surface of the interior ring 127. In a further aspect, to for further facilitate the uniform rotation, the outer surface of the inner ring 127 can comprise an inner groove 128. In a further aspect, an inner surface of the exterior ring 123 can also be in contact with the bearings 122. Further, the inner surface of the exterior ring 123 can also define a groove 124, allowing the balls 126 to contact the inner surface as well as have a path of uniform rotation around the axis A1. In a further aspect, components of the bearing device 122 can be magnetized. Magnetization of the bearings will allow the magnetic field of the magnet 117 located in proximity to the anchor 113 to impact the rotation of the bearing device 122. For example, the balls 126 may be magnetized or made of a metallic material, while the additional components including the exterior ring 123, the interior ring 127 and the retainer 125 are non-magnetized or are made out of non-metallic materials. A plurality of combinations are possible regarding the material composition of the bearing device 122 to facilitate interaction or non-interaction with the magnet 117.
As shown in
The spinner can comprise a plurality of shapes. In one aspect is shown in
The spinner can comprise a polymer, plastic, silicone or metallic material. They can comprise magnetized plastic, such that the weight of the spinner 106 is not increased dramatically. In another aspect, the spinner 106 can be hollow, while in another aspect the spinner can be solid. In yet another aspect the spinner 106 is filled with a material such as a liquid or a plurality of solid materials for such as beads, wherein the addition of these materials can also impact the rotation speed and subsequent stopping point of the spinner.
While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
This written description uses examples to disclose certain embodiments of the disclosure, including the best modes, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice certain embodiments of the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of certain embodiments of the disclosure is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
