Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6364771
-
Patent Number
6,364,771
-
Date Filed
Thursday, February 10, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 2, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 273 148 R
- 273 148 B
- 273 454
- 273 460
- 463 30
- 463 36
- 463 37
- 463 38
- 463 46
- 463 47
- 463 43
- 463 44
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A game play apparatus housing supports a joystick post and a plurality of game play input buttons. A miniature surfboard is supported on the upper end of the joystick post. A microprocessor game play circuit and sound circuit together with a controller is supported within the interior of the housing. A simulated shark head is pivotally supported upon the upper end of the housing and forms an upper jaw. A drive mechanism utilizing a reversible motor responds to the controller circuit to either oscillate the head and upper jaw through a narrow range of motion or, alternatively, allow a rapid downward closure of the upper jaw upon the toy surfboard to provide a game play finale.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to handheld game play apparatus and particularly to the game ending feature thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the rapid development of relatively low cost, digital electronic devices including low cost microprocessors and memory devices, a substantial number of different toys and games were developed. One type of electronic game which enjoyed great popularity as low cost digital electronic apparatus continued to develop became generally known in the art as “handheld” games. Such games derive their name from the relatively small size of the housing used to package the game. These devices are, in essence, small enough to be held by the user either in the hand or upon a game play surface such as a table. While various shapes, configurations and sizes of handheld electronic games have been provided, the basic handheld electronic game utilizes a housing, usually small enough to be held, within which a digital electronic circuit including a microprocessor and associated memory is supported together with a plurality of batteries. The housing typically supports a plurality of input buttons or other devices used in game play. Also, within the housing, a sound circuit and sound producing transducer such as a small speaker or piezoelectric device is supported. The typical handheld electronic game also utilizes a small display screen upon which images may be formed. The most frequently used technology for such screens is found in a plurality of liquid crystal display cells or “LCD's”. Some handheld games, however, also utilize light emitting diode or “LED” display screens.
The basic game play rules which are used by the microprocessor in playing the game, controlling the displayed images, and responding to user inputs during game play are typically stored in the microprocessor memory. Handheld electronic games are often configured for play by a single user in which the player is, in essence, playing against the microprocessor within the device. Alternatively, competitive handheld electronic games have been provided which allow two or more players to compete in game play.
In most modern handheld electronic games, interest and amusement is increased by the provision of a dramatic climax at the end of game play indicating either a win or a loss. Such dramatic sequences usually involve the output of dramatic sounds and appropriate images on the display.
With the customary high degree of competition existing between toy manufacturers and toy developers, a continuing effort has been expended to further improve the play value and amusement of handheld electronic games. Notsurprisingly, these efforts have included attempts to expand the play objects and utilities of handheld electronic games. For example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 336,665 issued to Tugendhaft sets forth a COMBINED TOY PLANE AND VIDEO GAME having a housing generally configured to represent a fanciful airplane. The housing includes a support base upon which the airplane fuselage is pivotally supported. The airplane fuselage is pivoted upwardly to expose a display device on the base of the housing and to facilitate game play. With the fuselage closed upon the housing, a toy airplane for conventional play is provided.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 397,729 issued to Schulz, et al. sets forth a HAND HELD ELECTRONIC FISHING GAME having a housing shaped to generally replicate a fish. The housing supports a display element and a plurality of input devices. The housing further supports a rotatable winding handle of the type typical of conventional fishing reels.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 399,268 issued to Liu sets forth a VIDEO GAME having a housing resembling a fish upon which a display device is supported. A plurality of input buttons are supported on the housing about the image device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,798 issued to Stambolic, et al. sets forth HAND-HELD ELECTRONIC GAME DEVICES employing push-buttons and other controls to manipulate game play and action on an electronic display. The device is housed in a cylindrical housing having a facet which supports a display device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,214 issued to Griffin sets forth a DEVICE FOR ENHANCING THE APPEAL OF A VIDEO TERMINAL having the head and feet of a fanciful animal character supported above the monitor and keyboard of a conventional video terminal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,483 issued to Collins, et al. sets forth INTERACTIVE PLAY WITH A COMPUTER having a remote station operable by a child user linked to a computer by a radio transmitter and receiver. The game play commands are transmitted to and from the remote unit by the radio frequency transmission link.
Examples of board games utilizing a surfing or aquatic play pattern are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,566 issued to Scuderi and U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,711 issued to Dresser.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,307 issued to Gabler, et al. sets forth a PUSH TOY VEHICLE WITH OPERABLE MOUTH having a small push toy generally resembling a toy vehicle which supports a pivotally secured mouth at the forward end of the toy vehicle. The mouth is provided with upper and lower jaws and is actuated between open and closed positions by a mechanism within the toy.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and amusing handheld electronic game apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved handheld electronic game apparatus. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved handheld electronic game apparatus which includes a novel and dramatic attacking feature for game play climax.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided game play apparatus comprising: a housing defining an interior cavity and an upper portion; a closure member pivotably supported by the upper portion, the closure member pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a joystick game play switch mechanism supported by the housing and having an upwardly extending joystick post supporting a finger-touch game play element; drive means within the interior cavity coupled to the closure member constructed to pivotally oscillate the closure member at the open position and to rapidly move the closure member from the open position to the closed position in close proximity to the finger-touch game play element; and a game play controller responsive to the joystick game play mechanism to cause the drive means to pivotally oscillate the closure member and thereafter move the closure member to the closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:
FIG. 1
sets forth a perspective view of a handheld electronic game apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
sets forth a partially sectioned side elevation view of the present invention handheld electronic game apparatus; and
FIG. 3
sets forth a partial section view of the operative mechanism of the present invention handheld electronic game apparatus taken along section lines
3
—
3
in FIG.
2
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1
sets forth a perspective view of a game apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral
10
. Game apparatus
10
includes a housing
11
preferably formed of a molded plastic material or the like. Housing
11
includes a simulated lower jaw
12
and mouth interior
13
together with a plurality of simulated lower teeth
14
. Housing
11
further supports a plurality of user input game controls including a button
43
and a pair of side buttons
44
and
45
. Game apparatus
10
further includes a head
22
which is shaped to generally resemble a fierce version of a shark head or the like. Head
22
is pivotally supported upon housing
11
by a pivot
23
in the manner shown in FIG.
2
. Head
22
further defines an upper jaw
20
having a plurality of upper teeth
21
extending downwardly therefrom. A display
30
, which may for example comprise a liquid crystal display combination, is supported within mouth interior
13
and is used to form game play images such as image
31
.
In further accordance with the present invention, housing
11
supports a joystick post
40
having an upper end which supports a miniature toy surfboard
42
. By means set forth below in greater detail, joystick post
40
and toy surfboard
22
are movable in four directions as indicated by arrows
41
.
In operation, the user initiates game play by pressing button
43
and makes game play selections using buttons
44
and
45
. Thereafter, the user places a finger as shown in phantom depiction upon toy surfboard
42
and “surfs” by manipulating toy surfboard
42
. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, image
31
upon display
30
responds to the various control inputs provided by the operation of joystick post
40
and toy surfboard
42
. The operation of the game play apparatus within housing
11
may be fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques to provide a set of game play rules which incorporates the joystick input provided by joystick post
40
described below.
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the mechanism set forth below in
FIGS. 2 and 3
operates during the game play interval to move head
22
about pivot
23
in a small angle oscillation up and down as indicated by arrows
46
. This jaw movement of head
22
provides an interesting and amusing ominous characteristic for the simulated shark provided by head
22
, upper jaw
20
and lower jaw
12
. As the user continues game play, the manipulation of toy surfboard
42
continues. At some point, the game play apparatus within housing
11
(shown in
FIG. 2
) reaches a climax point in which the game play is to end. In accordance with the present invention, the operative mechanism within game apparatus
10
participates in a losing climax under the game rules by rapidly closing upper jaw
20
and head
22
downwardly upon the user's finger and toy surfboard
42
in a full downward movement as indicated by arrow
47
.
In the theme used in the embodiment of the present invention game apparatus shown in
FIG. 1
, it is anticipated and preferred that the game play image upon display
30
as well as the physical appearance of head
22
and upper jaw
20
together with lower jaw
12
are coordinated to accommodate the surfing and shark attack theme of the game apparatus shown in FIG.
1
. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention game apparatus may be suitably themed using other types of game play themes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, different game play themes may be utilized in which toy surfboard
42
is replaced by an alternate pedestal for finger placement and in which lower jaw
12
, head
22
and upper jaw
20
are given a different appearance to be consistent with an alternate theme. For example, head
22
and upper jaw
20
together with lower jaw
12
may be given an appearance which represents a large hand or claw reaching forwardly and closing upon an alternative object replacing surfboard
42
such as jewel, coin, or even a cookie. A variety of alternative themes may be envisioned which utilize the basic elements of the present invention game apparatus to greatly increase the excitement of game play.
FIG. 2
sets forth a partially sectioned side elevation view of game apparatus
10
. As described above, game apparatus
10
includes a housing
11
supporting a plurality of user input buttons such as buttons
43
and
45
and further supporting a joystick post
40
. As is also described above, game apparatus
10
includes a head
22
supporting an upper jaw
20
having a plurality of upper teeth
21
in a pivotal attachment to housing
11
. A lower jaw
12
includes a plurality of lower teeth
14
. A mouth interior
13
is formed upon the upper surface of housing
11
and supports a display device
30
. Joystick post
40
supports a toy surfboard
42
which the user manipulates using a finger as shown in FIG.
2
.
Housing
11
defines an interior cavity
14
within which a plurality of conventional batteries
15
together with conventional connecting terminals and apparatus are supported. A controller circuit
50
includes a conventional printed circuit board
56
supported within interior cavity
14
. While not shown in
FIG. 2
, it will be understood that batteries
15
are coupled to controller circuit
50
utilizing conventional connecting wires. Also supported within interior cavity
15
is a speaker
54
operatively coupled to a sound circuit
57
supported upon printed circuit board
56
using a plurality of connecting wires
55
. A plurality of wires
53
operatively couple buttons
43
,
44
and
45
(button
45
seen in
FIG. 1
) to printed circuit board
56
.
A conventional joystick plate
48
is operatively coupled to the lower end of joystick post
40
. Joystick plate
48
operates a plurality of switches
60
,
61
,
62
and
63
preferably positioned upon circuit board
56
in a front-to-back and side-to-side pair arrangement. In accordance with conventional fabrication techniques, joystick plate
48
is coupled to switches
60
through
63
such that movement side-to-side actuates either of switches
61
and
62
while movement front-to-back actuates either of switches
60
and
63
. Thus, the combination of joystick
40
, joystick plate
48
and switches
60
through
63
will be understood to be fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques.
A drive housing
70
defining an interior cavity
71
is supported within interior cavity
14
of housing
11
. A bidirectional motor
72
is operatively coupled to controller circuit
50
by a plurality of wires
65
. An eccentric cam
74
is rotatably supported by a shaft
73
within drive housing
70
. Housing
70
defines a slot
75
at the upper end thereof. A pivot shaft
76
extends through the upper portion of housing
11
and provides the pivot mechanism shown as pivot
23
in FIG.
1
. Pivot shaft
76
receives a spring
77
having an end
78
fixedly secured to the upper side of drive housing
70
. Spring
77
further includes an elongated end
79
which extends through slot
75
and rests upon the outer surface of cam
74
. The elongation of spring end
79
allows end
79
to function as a cam follower.
By means set forth below in conjunction with
FIG. 3
, motor
72
is operatively coupled to cam
74
to provide rotation thereof during game play activities. The rotation of cam
74
about shaft
73
causes end
79
of spring
77
to move correspondingly in an oscillatory movement. This oscillatory movement of end
79
causes the above-described oscillatory movement of head
22
in the directions indicated by arrows
46
.
During game play, a microprocessor
52
supported in combination with other circuit elements such as circuit element
51
cooperates with an internal stored instruction set to allow microprocessor
52
to initiate and maintain game play activities. Correspondingly, microprocessor
52
controls the operation of sound circuit
57
which operates to provide audible sounds heard through speaker
54
. As the user plays manipulating toy surfboard
42
, joystick post
40
is moved which in turn moves joystick plate
48
actuating various combinations of switches
60
through
63
.
By means set forth below in greater detail and better seen in
FIG. 3
, motor
72
continues to drive cam
74
in its oscillation of head
22
as game play continues. By means also set forth below in greater detail, a losing event at some point may occur during the game play in accordance with the game play rules utilized by microprocessor
52
. Under such condition, controller circuit
50
reverses the direction of operation of motor
72
. By means set forth below in
FIG. 3
, the reversal of motor
72
causes the oscillatory movement of head
22
to cease and causes upper jaw
20
and head
22
to rapidly pivot downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow
47
to impact the user's finger upon toy surfboard
42
. In accordance with safety constraints and safe operation of the present invention game apparatus, the extent of downward travel permitted by the mechanism operative upon head
22
limits the downward fall to a point which avoids injuring the user's finger.
FIG. 3
sets forth a section view of drive housing
70
and the drive mechanism therein taken along section lines
3
—
3
in FIG.
2
. As described above, drive housing
70
includes an interior cavity
71
and a slot
75
. A bidirectional motor
72
is supported within interior cavity
71
and is coupled to controller circuit
50
by a plurality of wires
65
. A shaft
81
is rotatably supported within interior cavity
71
and supports a pulley
91
together with a plurality of gears
93
,
95
and
97
. A shaft
73
is also supported within interior cavity
71
and supports a plurality of gears
94
,
96
and
98
. Shaft
73
further supports a spring
100
and a cam
74
. Cam
74
further includes a chamfered surface
80
and a cylindrical surface
82
.
Gear
98
supports a plurality of teeth such as tooth
110
and tooth
105
. An additional plurality of teeth are formed on gear
98
but omitted from
FIG. 3
to avoid unduly cluttering the figure. The important aspect of the teeth supported upon gear
98
is their shape. Tooth
110
is illustrative of this shape and includes a curved surface
111
and an angled straight edge surface
112
. It will be understood that tooth
105
is similarly shaped as are the remaining teeth supported upon gear
98
.
Correspondingly, cam
74
supports an identical set of extending teeth which are shaped in the same manner as tooth
110
supported upon gear
98
. Thus, by way of illustration, cam
74
is shown supporting a tooth
101
and a tooth
102
. Teeth
101
and
102
are illustrative of the plurality of teeth extending from cam
74
. Once again, however, it will be understood that additional teeth are supported upon cam
74
which are omitted from
FIG. 3
to avoid unduly cluttering the drawing. The essential feature of the teeth extending from cam
74
is the shape thereof. By way of illustration, tooth
102
includes a curved surface
103
and an angled flat surface
104
. Thus, the pluralities of teeth supported upon gear
98
and cam
74
extend sufficient distances to contact each other as gear
98
is rotated.
Cam
74
is slidably movable upon shaft
73
and is biased toward the position shown in
FIG. 3
by the force of spring
100
.
In operation, the rotation of motor
72
in its forward direction rotates pulley
90
and pulley
91
accordingly through the action of belt
92
. The engagement of gears
93
through
98
convert the rotation of pulley
91
to a corresponding rotation of gear
98
. With motor
72
operating in its forward direction of rotation, gear
98
rotates in the direction indicated by arrow
116
. The rotation of gear
98
in the direction indicated by arrow
116
brings the curved surfaces of the teeth upon gear
98
into contact with the curved surfaces of the teeth supported by cam
74
. The contact of each curved surface within a contacting tooth pair couples rotational force between gear
98
and cam
74
causing cam
74
to rotate. In addition, the convex curves of the interacting teeth provide a slight outward force against cam
74
assisting spring
100
in maintaining the position of cam
74
as shown in FIG.
3
. This position maintains the alignment of spring end
79
upon the outer edge of cam
74
and allows the above-described oscillatory motion to be imparted to pivot shaft
76
which is secured to spring
77
.
Conversely, the operation of motor
72
in its reverse direction produces a corresponding reverse direction of rotation of gear
98
. This reverse direction of rotation is indicated by arrow
115
. Of importance with respect to the present invention is the change in the sides of interacting teeth between gear
98
and cam
74
which results from this reversal of direction. More specifically, the reverse direction rotation of gear
98
brings the angled flat surfaces of each tooth into contact with the angled flat surfaces of the teeth supported by cam
74
. The relative angles of interacting edges of the teeth supported by gear
98
and cam
74
imparts rotation of cam
74
in the direction indicated by arrow
115
. However and more importantly, the angled surfaces of the interacting teeth produce an additional force which draws cam
74
toward gear
98
overcoming the force of spring
100
. This inward movement of cam
74
disturbs the alignment of end
79
upon the outer edge of cam
74
and causes it to slip to chamfered surface
80
. The angle of chamfered surface
80
allows end
79
of spring
77
to immediately slip to cylindrical surface
82
. Because cylindrical surface
82
is substantially smaller in diameter than the outer edge of cam
74
, this movement of end
79
results in the above-described rapid mouth closure for game play apparatus
10
. In accordance with safety concerns, the diameter of cylindrical surface
82
is selected to limit the extent of mouth closure to avoid any injury to the user's finger in the game play shown in FIG.
2
.
Once the game play is complete and the mouth closure action has been completed, the user may restore the game to its open mouth configuration by terminating game play and once the operation of motor
72
ceases simply pivoting head
22
(seen in
FIG. 2
) to its upward position. With the termination of operation of motor
72
, spring
100
returns cam
74
to its normal position and end
79
again rests upon the outer edge of cam
74
. At this point, the present invention game play apparatus is ready for another sequence of game play.
What has been shown is a novel game play apparatus which is suitable for playing a variety of electronic games of the type utilizing microprocessor control and conventional image display such as liquid crystal displays. The novel game apparatus utilizes a joystick providing game play inputs to the game controller and microprocessor together with a motor driven mouth moving apparatus supported upon the upper end of the housing. The apparatus provides for oscillatory motion of the upper jaw and the rapid closure thereof in a game play finale.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A game play apparatus comprising:a housing defining an interior cavity and an upper portion; a closure member pivotably supported by said upper portion, said closure member pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a joystick game play switch mechanism supported by said housing and having an upwardly extending joystick post supporting a finger-touch game play element; drive means within said interior cavity coupled to said closure member constructed to pivotally oscillate said closure member at said open position and to rapidly move said closure member from said open position to said closed position in close proximity to said finger-touch game play element; and a game play controller responsive to said joystick game play mechanism to cause said drive means to pivotally oscillate said closure member and thereafter move said closure member to said closed position.
- 2. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a lower jaw having a plurality of lower teeth and wherein said closure member includes a head having an upper jaw having a plurality of upper teeth.
- 3. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said lower jaw includes a mouth interior having an image display.
- 4. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said head, said upper jaw and said lower jaw are constructed to resemble a shark.
- 5. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said finger-touch game play element is a miniature toy surfboard.
- 6. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive means include:a reversible motor; a cam; drive means coupling said motor to said cam; a cam follower coupling said cam to said closure member; and means for displacing said cam follower from said cam to cause said closure member to move to said closed position, said means for displacing being operative in response to a reversal of said motor.
- 7. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means include:a reversible motor; a cam; drive means coupling said motor to said cam; a cam follower coupling said cam to said closure member; and means for displacing said cam follower from said cam to cause said closure member to move to said closed position, said means for displacing being operative in response to a reversal of said motor.
- 8. A game play apparatus for use in combination with a game play controller, said apparatus comprising:a housing having a lower jaw, a mouth portion and a plurality of lower teeth; a head pivotably secured to said housing and having an upper jaw and a plurality of upper teeth; a joystick, supported by said housing, having an upwardly extending joystick post supporting a finger-touch game play element thereon; drive means within said housing for oscillating said head at an open position and rapidly closing said upper jaw upon said finger-touch game play element in response to said game play controller.
- 9. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said finger-touch game play element includes a miniature surfboard.
US Referenced Citations (21)