Portable Structure For Entertainment And Recreation

Abstract

A portable structure for use as an escape room is disclosed. The structure include a plurality of portable side walls defining an interior space with an entrance way and an exit. The interior space is adapted for hosting a plurality of escape room challenges and allowing an escape room participant to exit said interior space when said challenges have all been meet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the field of devices and methods for leisure activities and more particularly, is directed to a portable structure that can easily be transported from one location to another and then assembled as a temporary venue for recreation, entertainment and amusement. After use, the structure can be disassembled for transport to another location.

BACKGROUND

The prior art is aware of various games, puzzles and activities which provide entertainment, recreation and/or means to challenge one's skill and experience.

Many forms of these activities are enjoyed by spectators, for example the watching of football, baseball and hockey games. Others find entertainment and recreation by viewing theatrical productions, such as plays, movies, concerts and the like. Entertainment, enjoyment and challenge can also be derived from participating in an activity, such as a sporting event or theatrical performance.

One such form of a participation-type event for entertainment and challenge is known as an escape room. In general, an escape room is an adventure game in which participants are placed in a confined space, such as a room, and are required to solve a series of puzzles or problems in order to achieve an objective, such as escaping from the room or uncovering a secret plot, usually within a defined period of time.

Escape room scenarios are as varied as plot masters can devise and can include false clues, subtle hints, blind alleys and the urgency of completing a mission within a certain period of time. The solving of one riddle or puzzle may provide a clue to solving the next riddle or puzzle and so on and so forth until the objective of the escape room scenario is achieved, or the time expires.

While escape room games can be played by a single individual, most games involve a group of participants working together. Typically, the game begins with the game master briefing the group on a suspense-type storyline or puzzle that is to be solved by entering the room and proceeding through various challenges to a predetermined end point. The end point may well be to successfully escape from the room. There usually is, but is not required, a time limit that the group is working against.

Escape rooms rely on the desire of participants for social and physical interaction while at the same time forcing participants to think logically and intellectually as a group in order to complete the mission.

As known in the art, escape rooms are set up in permanent physical structures, such as in vacant spaces in buildings. However, there is a need in the art for a portable structure which can easily be moved from one location to another and used as an escape room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the present invention are set out with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention will be understood more fully and clearly from the following detailed description of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the exterior of one embodiment of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the exterior of a further embodiment of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is one example of the interior of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the interior is not petitioned;

FIGS. 4 is a further example of the interior of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the side walls of the interior are decorated in accordance with a desired theme of an escape room;

FIGS. 5 is a further example of the interior of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the ceiling of the interior is decorated in accordance with a desired theme of an escape room;

FIGS. 6 is a further example of the interior of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the interior is divided into spaces for locating various pieces of escape room equipment and features;

FIGS. 7 is a further example of the interior of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the interior is divided into spaces for locating various pieces of escape room equipment and features using overhead lighting;

FIG. 8 is a further example of the interior of a portable structure for entertainment and recreation as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the interior is divided into a plurality of rooms for locating various pieces of escape room equipment and features; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the present inventions wherein a plurality structures are used for entertainment and recreation in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a portable entertainment and recreation structure 1 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the structure is tent-like in construction with a plurality of connected panels.

Front panel 2 includes door 3 which allows entrance and exit to the interior of structure 1. A corresponding real panel 4, as defined in part by dashed line 5, is of generally the same size and shape as front panel 2. Real panel 4 may also include a door similar in construction to door 3.

Top panel 6 and corresponding top panel 7 complete the top or roof of structure 1.

Side panel 8 and corresponding side panel 9 complete the enclosure of structure 1.

The panels depicted in FIG. 1 may be fabricated out of materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such material should be light weight for portability purposes and be flexible to allow for collapsing and folding or rolling the panels into a compact form for storage and/or transporting of structure 1.

Materials for these purposes include plastic, canvas, nylon, polyester, vinyl and cotton. Depending on the location where structure 1 will be erected, a water proof material may be required.

Panels 2 and 3-9 may be separately formed and then each one connected to its adjacent panel using a number of methods know in the art, such as glue, sewing and Velcro. Use of Velcro allows the panels which comprise structure 1 to be assembled on location, which in some circumstance might be advantageous. A quick release method of attaching the panels allows structure 1 to be easily and conveniently reconfigured in accordance with the requirements of a particular circumstance.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of structure lformed to resemble a circus tent.

The present invention envisions various designs and configurations of a structure 1.

With reference again to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a floor plan of structure 1, wherein sides 302 and 304 correspond to front panel 2 and rear panel 4 as shown in FIG. 1. Doorway 303 and sides 308 and 309 correspond to panels 8 and 9 and doors 3 as shown in FIG. 1.

One use of portable structure 1, in accordance with the present invention, is to serve as a portable escape room. With that in mind, the various features and objects that are customarily found in escaped rooms are strategically placed inside of structure 1.

With reference again to FIG. 3, as an alternative approach the interior sides of the panels forming structure 1, can be decorated or painted to enhance the escape room experience or help set the mood for a particular escape room scenario as pointed to by references number 401-404 in FIG. 4. For example, if the escape room scenario is designed to take place in the dessert, the interior of all of the panels forming structure 1 can be painted to depict a desert scene.

Moreover, a plurality of differently decorated panels may be fabricated and then appropriate panels chosen for structure 1 as the occasion and escape room scenario requires.

The interior sides of the panels may also be a white, neutral or other color and a desired escape room scene, or a series of sequential background scenes, projected onto the wall and ceiling panels. Projecting the scenes onto the walls and ceiling panels allows a large number of scenes to easily be developed using readily available computerized media production tools for many different escape room scenarios.

FIG. 5 illustrates projection of an escape room background scenario onto the ceiling panel of structure 1 as represented by dotted pattern 501.

For use as an escape room, the interior of structure 1 is outfitted with a variety of games, puzzles and problems. The escape room accoutrements and structure 1 in its collapsed or compressed form are transported to the use location. After structure 1 is assembled, game room puzzles and other embellishments are placed inside.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plurality of stations or challenges 602-604 which the escape room participants must successfully navigate through in order to complete the mission. Each station or challenge includes a unique number of games, puzzles and problems which must be solved before the participants can proceed to the next station.

Thus, the escape room mission might be for the participants to enter structure 1 though doorway 605 and proceeds though each station or challenge by solving each station's games, puzzles or problems and escape out of the room through doorway 607. There may well be a time requirement that the participants must meet in order to successfully complete the mission. Alternatively, the time needed to successfully navigate through all of the stations and exit the escape room through doorway 607 might be recorded for comparison to earlier and future participant times.

In another embodiment of structure 1 as shown in FIG. 7, a certain ambiance might be projected from above onto each station or challenge in order to complement the particular games, puzzles and problems for that particular station as represented by dotted patterns 701-704.

In order to further accommodate an escape room experience; the interior of structure 1 can be partitioned into individual rooms or spaces though which participants pass as they successfully solve the various challenges of the escape room scenarios as illustrated in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the interior is divided into a plurality of rooms 801- 806. Each room has connecting doorways 809-814 and games, puzzles and problems which the participants must solve before they can move from one room to the next. Thus, participants enter structure 1 through doorway 807 and proceed from room to room as indicated by arrow 815 and exiting structure 1 through doorway 808.

The portable structure for use as an escape room can take on the form of a tent as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The structure may also be formed in other ways. For example, PVC and other type pipes and fittings and drapery may be used to fashion a portable structure for use as an escape room in accordance with the present invention. The invention is not limited to the particular manner in which the structure is formed.

Moreover, a plurality of structures, such as the tent illustrated in FIG. 1 may be arranged so that exit doorway 303 of one leads to entry doorway 303 of another tent. Thus each tent serves as an individual room in the greater context of the escape room experience. In this context, successfully escaping the “escape room” can only be achieved by the participants progressing through each of the tents through exit doorway 303 of the last tent.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the above mentioned embodiment wherein a plurality of structures 901-903 are arranged adjacent to each other, wherein each structure has entrance and exit doors 904. Participants enter the first structure and proceeds through the escape room challenges within each structure as indicated by arrow 905.

The interior of structure 1 may also be petitioned by zippered panels that separate the interior into discernable spaces.

While the foregoing specification teaches the principles of the present invention, with examples provided for the purpose of illustration, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art from reading this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable structure for use as an escape room, said structure comprising: a plurality of portable side walls defining an interior space;an entrance way in at least one side wall and an exit in another of said side walls, wherein said entrance way is adapted for allowing an escape room participant to enter said interior space and said exit is adapted for allowing an escape room participant to leave said interior space;wherein said interior space is adapted for hosting at least one escape room challenge and allowing an escape room participant to exit said interior space when said challenge has been meet.

2. A portable structure according to claim 1, wherein said interior space is divided into a plurality of challenge areas, each of said areas hosting an escape room challenge.

3. A portable structure according to claim 2, wherein said structure includes a ceiling over said interior space.

4. A portable structure according to claim 3, wherein said ceiling is adapted to define said plurality of challenge areas.

5. A portable structure according to claim 3, wherein said challenge areas are defined by overhead lighting.

6. A portable structure according to claim 1, wherein said side walls are decorated to enhance a desired escape room scenario.

7. A portable structure according to claim 6, wherein said structure includes a ceiling over said interior space, said ceiling being decorated to enhance a desired escape room scenario.

8. A portable structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes a ceiling over said interior space, said ceiling being decorated to enhance a desired escape room scenario.

9. A portable structure according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of challenge areas is enclosed and includes an entrance and an exit.