Patent Grant
7991492
The present invention relates to racing of remote controlled vehicles and more particularly to a method of conducting competitions therewith at a hierarchy of levels, including determination of winners at each level.
Patents to Namanny et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,254,478 and 6,604,996 show that it is known to provide slotless-micro-race-track systems and remote control motorized racing vehicles thereon for the purpose of conducting a competition in which each, (typically a plurality), of the contestants are provided controls for remotely controlling one of such motorized racing vehicles. The competition per se. involves allowing each contestant to remotely control his or her assigned motorized racing vehicle so that it proceeds around the slotless-micro-race-track. Typically a winner of the competition is identified as the contestant who's motorized racing vehicle completes some selected number of laps in a manner judged comparatively superior amongst the contestants, (eg. the fastest), although points might be awarded for instance, on laps a contestant leads and finish position.
It is noted that functional slotless-micro-race-track systems and remote control motorized racing vehicles appropriate for use in practice of the present invention method, are available from Micro-Reality Motorsports of 1500 S.W 7th St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022. However, it is to be understood that a “track” can comprise any functional system, such as cones set out on a floor, or a carpet of appropriate shape, and that participants can build their own car, such as from kits, or purchase a vehicle pre-assembled. Cars will typically be Micro-Reality 1/10 the scale, but can be any functional size or scale.
Continuing, it is further noted that young people at, for instance, high schools, universities, 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, TSA, YMCA, YWCA, Church Groups and other clubs or the like, are in need of extra-curricular activities and that businessmen are always looking for ways to make the best use of marketing dollars to the end that customers are drawn to their facilities. Thus is identified a potential need for a method of conducting a competition.
With the foregoing insight, the present invention is disclosed as a method of doing business involving a method for conducting a possibly sponsored competition involving a slotless-micro-race-track system and remote control motorized racing vehicles, which, as a side benefit, might lead to beneficial marketing exposure of said sponsor to a relevant public, which might include a television audience.
Known Patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,377 to McVean et al. Said Patent describes a method of conducting a racing event, and a hybrid sporting event and game show based on the sporting event. The sporting event involves mounting robotic jockeys onto live hackney ponies in a racing event made up of one or more races. The robotic jockeys are remote controlled, and players are provided race cards that contain pairings of a race horse identification and an indicium identifying the animal in a corresponding race. Players can win individual races or an entire event depending on the outcome of races and the content of the race cards held, and other factors. Race cards can be distributed in advance of a race event at the race event location, or at a remote location such as supermarkets. The event, said 377 Patent describes, can be broadcast live and winners can be present at a race event or in the broadcast audience.
Another Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,32,293 to Goyette, describes a board game with focus on an auto racing game apparatus and method of play. While said 293 Patent identifies the concept of auto racing, it does not suggest application of a slotless race track and remote control motorized racing vehicles. Another such board game having as its focus a method of playing a racing game, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,605 to Hoffman.
Additional Patents which describe systems and/or methods of playing a game are disclosed because the inventors are aware of them:
Even in view of the identified known prior art there remains need for a method of conducting a competition utilizing a slotless-race-track system and remote control motorized racing vehicles.
Need remains for a system and method of introducing people, typically young people but older people can be involved as well, to the practice of racing remote controlled vehicles in locally to nationally recognized and monitored competition settings.
The present invention, in a basic sense, is a method of conducting a competition comprising, in a functional sequence, the steps of:
practicing steps a, b and c in any order or simultaneously, said steps a, b and c being:
a) approaching a local institution which is attended by young people, and negotiating an arrangement therewith requiring said local institution:
b) requiring at least two young people at said local institution to each procure at least one remote controlled vehicle;
c) providing a central location comprising means for receiving and storing data in machine readable media;
d) at said local institution organizing at least one event comprising having at least two young people thereat operate said remotely controlled vehicles in a race competition on said track or functional equivalent provided or otherwise made available thereat;
e) determining winners of said races and via said means for transmitting data sending data identifying said winner to said central location and storing said data in said central location means for storing data in machine readable media;
f) analyzing data stored at said central location to determine a winner's order amongst said young people who compete, and optionally displaying at least some data and/or analysis results electronically or otherwise.
In a more general sense the present invention is a method of conducting a competition comprising a promoter approaching a plurality of local institutions, each of which are attended by young people, and negotiating arrangements with said institutions requiring:
The method also requires that young people at each local institution procure, (eg. via a young person using his or her own funds or funds provided by an institution or sponsor), at least one remote controlled vehicle; and the providing of a central location comprising means for receiving and storing data in machine readable media. Note, it is also within the scope of the present invention for a sponsor to provide car(s) and/or to provide funds for procuring a track to an institution.
It is noted at this point, and applies to any embodiment of the invention methodology, that when a vehicle is procured by a young person he or she can be required to register it, and/or a serial number and/or number(s) and/or letter(s) which identify a vehicle at a central location, typically via the internet or other communication network.
Typically at least at two local institutions will be involved and the method requires organizing at least one event comprising having at least two young people at each thereof remotely operate said remotely controlled vehicles in a race on said track or functional equivalent, and determining a winner of said race, then via said means for transmitting data sending data identifying said winner to said central location and storing said data in said central location means for storing data in machine readable media, which can be accessible via a website.
Another recital of a method of conducting a competition comprises, in a functional sequence, the steps of:
practicing steps a, b and c in any order or simultaneously, said steps a, b and c being:
a) approaching at least one local establishment which is attended by young or young at heart people, and negotiating an arrangement therewith requiring said local establishment to:
b) requiring at least two young or young at heart people at said local establishment to each procure at least one remote controlled vehicle;
c) providing a location comprising means for receiving and storing data in machine readable media;
d) at said local establishment organizing at least one event comprising having at least two young or young at heart people thereat operate said remotely controlled vehicles in a race competition on said track or functional equivalent provided or otherwise made available thereat;
e) determining at least one winner of a race and via said means for transmitting data sending data identifying said winner to said central location and storing said data in said central location means for storing data in machine readable media;
f) optionally displaying at least some data stored in machine readable media results electronically or otherwise.
Said recital is applicable to practice by the young-at-heart who might meet, for instance, at a bar. The bar would then constitute a “local institution” and events held there would correspond to local events. A national event could then be held in, for instance, Las Vegas.
The method also includes analyzing data stored at said central location to determine a winner's order amongst said young people from a plurality of local institutions, and therefrom selecting the top winners, followed by sponsoring district and/or regional and/or state and/or national competitions therebetween. This is followed by determining a winner of each of said additional race competitions and via said means for transmitting data sending data identifying said winner to said central location and storing said data in said central location means for storing data in machine readable media. Winner's can be determined based on a score based on number of laps lead and/or number of races won. For instance, one point might be awarded for leading a lap in a race, and multiple additional points awarded for last lap position, (eg. winner or other position).
Said method can further comprises at least one of said local institutions obtaining a sponsor to offset the cost of providing the track or functional equivalent, or otherwise making access thereto available.
The local institutions can be high schools, colleges/universities, 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, TSA, Cub or Boy Scout, TSA, YMCA, YWCA, Church Groups, Hobby Shops, Clubs attended by adults or the like, and the people attendees thereof.
The method can, but doesn't require, that at least one young person obtaining support by selling advertising on said at least one procured remotely controlled vehicle. It is noted that the terminology “remotely controlled vehicle” can identify any shape of vehicle—car, truck or even fanciful shape such as a boot. The method provides that the at least one young person can keep the support received.
It is further noted that while the target participants are young people, they can be accompanied by older people.
In more general terms, the present invention is a method of conducting a competition which, in preferred practice, involves a sequence of “qualifying” rounds leading-up to a “championship” round. Institutions will provide contestants access to a slotless-micro-racing-track system and allow said contestants to participate in one or more racing events. Contestants participate by providing and remotely controlling motorized racing vehicles on the slotless-micro-racing-track system. (Note, the remotely controlling motorized racing vehicles can be paid for by sponsors and be within the language “contestants participate by providing . . . ”). Winners of preliminary round events then proceed to additional rounds of competition, (eg. district, regional, state and national), involving other preliminary round event winners. Contestants hope to win their way through some number of such preliminary round events and thereby earn the right to participate in a “championship” round.
In one embodiment then, the present invention is a method of conducting a competition by a local institution which comprises, as a first step, the providing of a slotless-micro-racing-track system. A preferred slotless-micro-racing-track system, it is noted, is available from Micro-Reality Motorsports of 1500 S.W. 7th St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, and has a plurality of functionally interconnectable track sections thereby enabling configuration into a variety of continuous shapes. Said shapes can be selected from the group consisting of: (round, oval, tri-oval, “D” shaped, square, rectangular and possibly even an “8” shape), for instance. Further, slotless-micro-racing-track systems can involve tracks of various widths. Said slotless micro-racing-track system further comprises a plurality of remote control racing vehicles, each including a remote control unit for each of said placed remote control motorized racing vehicles. A next step involves providing such slotless micro-racing-track systems at a plurality of locations, such as at high schools, universities, 4-H, Boy Scouts, FFA, TSA clubs etc., and configuring said tracks into desired shape by functionally interconnecting sections thereof. This is followed by placing at least one remote control motorized racing vehicle(s) thereon, and placing a remote control unit for each of said placed remote control racing vehicles near-thereby. Young people will each obtain a racing vehicle, and the competition will typically involve having a plurality of young people simultaneously race on said track. The competition further involves selecting some criteria as how to determine a winner in said racing event, and conducting said event to the end that a winner is identified. Note, it is possible that a competition can involve time trial events where each young person races his or her vehicle individually against time, perhaps to determine pole and running positions. It is noted that young people are encouraged to obtain a sponsor and sell advertising space on his or her racing vehicle thereto, but are not required to do so.
A preferred racing season might be from January to March each year. During the racing season there might be nine local race events at each local institution, each of which might involve six vehicles on a standard track. District races, each involving three local institutions and including eighteen vehicles on a track comprised of three standard tracks can be practiced. Regional events might be practiced with tracks being appropriate to allow twenty-five to thirty-five contestants, and a State race will typically be practiced on a track constructed to allow forty-three contestants. A national championship race would involve fifty contestants, one from each state, participating on a track designed therefore. It is possible that contestants from Territories could be included.
Another recital of a method of conducting a competition comprises, in a functional sequence, the steps of:
practicing steps a, b and c in any order or simultaneously, said steps a, b and c being:
a) approaching at least one local establishment which is attended by young or young at heart people, and negotiating an arrangement therewith requiring said local establishment to:
b) requiring at least two young or young at heart people at said local establishment to each procure at least one remote controlled vehicle;
c) providing a location comprising means for receiving and storing data in machine readable media;
d) at said local establishment organizing at least one event comprising having at least two young or young at heart people thereat operate said remotely controlled vehicles in a race competition on said track or functional equivalent provided or otherwise made available thereat;
e) determining at least one winner of a race and via said means for transmitting data sending data identifying said winner to said central location and storing said data in said central location means for storing data in machine readable media;
f) optionally displaying at least some data stored in machine readable media results electronically or otherwise.
Said recital is applicable to practice by the young-at-heart who might meet, for instance, at a bar or other location attended by adults. The bar would then constitute a “local institution” and events held there would correspond to local events. A national event could then be held in, for instance, Las Vegas.
It is noted that the racing vehicles can be shaped as at least one selection from the group consisting of:
It is also within the scope of the present invention to, at any level of competition, charge spectators to attend or otherwise watch, and/or televise or webcast the proceedings and award prizes
Finally, it is forseen that the present invention might also provide a vehicle to students in a formal class which allows them to gain hands-on real world experience in topics such as marketing and sales. For instance, a high school class in business might have students therein actually approach and sell track or vehicle sponsorships to local businessmen.
The present invention will be better understood by reference to the Detailed Description Section of this Specification, in conjunction with the Drawings.
a, shows that an alternative track configuration can be essentially triangular shaped.
b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f and 4g further show functional track configurations.
Turning now to the drawings, in
a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f and 4g further show functional configurations.
Continuing,
In use, a contestant is provided control over a Racing Vehicle ((V1), (V2), (V3), (V4), (V5), (V6)), associated Remote Control System, (eg. (RC1), (RC2), (RC3), (RC4), (RC5), (RC6)), and operates the associated Steering Wheel ((SW1), (SW2), (SW3), (SW4), (SW5), (SW6)) and Accelerator ((ACC1), (ACC2), (ACC3), (ACC4), (ACC5), (ACC6)), during a competition. Turning Steering Wheel in one direction causes a motorized racing vehicle to turn in one direction, (and vice-versa), and operating an accelerator causes an associated Racing Vehicle to change speed. At the State or higher level it is conceived that the remote control system be of an advanced design such that three ranges of speed, and reverse, be possible. For instance, at the Regional and State levels where the track is configured to include “Pit” lanes, various speed ranges and reverse capability would be of benefit.
It is noted that an acellerator can be controlled by hand or foot and shifters that allow attaining different ranges of speeds can be included and operate automatically or manually. Further simulators can be applied to automate the operation.
For additional insight it is also noted that the motorized racing vehicles utilized in the preferred slotless-micro-racing-track system (1) are approximately twelve (12) to nineteen (19) inches long and five (5) to nine (9) inches wide, and are preferably covered with a removable/replaceable plastic protective covering that serves to prevent damage to the motorized racing vehicles in collisions. In addition this allows easily changing trademark etc. materials visible on said motorized racing vehicles.
It is further noted that each motorized racing vehicle is equipped with a signal emitting circuit which causes, for instance, a lap counter detector (DET) to activate every time it makes a lap of the slotless-micro-racing-track. This enables keeping accurate count of laps completed by each racing vehicle as each motorized racing vehicle is caused to emit a different signal. The signal from a motorized racing vehicle can be otherwise used. It is possible that a lap counter can determine the outcome of a race.
In addition, it is to be understood that a remote control system can include a robotic drive in a racing vehicle, that there can be a camera mounted in a racing vehicle, that prizes can be awarded to contestants in additional steps of a race event competition, that multiple sponsors can sponsor a race event competition, and that race event competitions can be televised and/or webcast, from, for instance, a television station or from a remote location.
It is also noted that the terminology “Sponsor” is to be interpreted broadly to include the provider of a slotless micro racing track system, institutions, businesses, establishments, and/or individuals who make locations for conducting the competition available, one who pays money to have advertising present on a track or on the racing vehicle thereof, (ie. a “Contingency” Sponsor). Further, the terminology “Sponsor” can refer to an “Anchor” Sponsor who underwrites, for instance, expenses beyond the Local level, or the entire series. Support from an Anchor Sponsor can be supplemented by a “Race” Sponsor who covers expenses on a more focused race by race basis.
It is also noted that the terminology “young people” is to be interpreted to include the “young at heart”. That is, the terminology “young person” and the like is to be interpreted broadly enough to include practicing the methodology with older people who are associated with various local institutions suited therefore. Such “older people” who would take part are to be considered “young at heart” and are “young people” as that terminology is used in this Specification.
It is further disclosed that the methodology can involve charging those who attend an event as spectators, televising or web-casting events, and allowing access to recorded or live events on a pay-for-view basis.
Also, while the terminology “club”, “group”, “team”, “class” “establishment” all convey the meaning of a group of contestants, the terminology “establishment” is more applicable to a group of the “young-at-heart” who gather at an “establishment”, which can be a bar or other adult club. Where said interpretation is applied, the levels of State and National competition can be though of as identifying competitions in, for instance Bars or other location attended by adults, and perhaps a competition in, for instance, Las Vegas, respectively. Further, the terminology “class” can refer to a group of students who are enrolled in a formal class. The present invention might be used as a vehicle to, for instance, teach salesmanship with students being involved in selling sponsorships of vehicles etc.
It is to be understood that the drawings and discussion in this Disclosure show and describe exemplary, not limiting, slotless-micro-racing-track systems, and that any functionally similar slotless-micro-racing-track systems can be utilized in practice of the present invention methodology, which methodology was disclosed in the Disclosure of the Invention Section of this Disclosure.
Having hereby disclosed the subject matter of the present invention, it should be obvious that many modifications, substitutions, and variations of the present invention are possible in view of the teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced, other than as specifically described, and should be limited in its breadth and scope only by the Claims.
This Application Claims Benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/847,080 Filed Sep. 26, 2006.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4781377 | McVean et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
| 4953873 | Jacobson | Sep 1990 | A |
| 5092605 | Hoffman | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5372366 | Gohlke | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5439228 | Pedersen | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5603502 | Nakagawa | Feb 1997 | A |
| 5718429 | Keller, Jr. | Feb 1998 | A |
| 5795226 | Yi | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5800263 | Hayashida et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 6020851 | Busack | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6254478 | Namanny et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6439956 | Ho | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6604996 | Namanny et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
| 6726567 | Khosla | Apr 2004 | B1 |
| 7402106 | Weisel et al. | Jul 2008 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60847080 | Sep 2006 | US |
