AU609821B2 - Electronic game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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3.6 4 0 2, 1'1.25 16 II I I I I T I I I I I I II I I I~jjj_ 111111 -~1oil~ Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALLD PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: PI 2543 18th June 1987 00 0 0 0o 0 o 0 0 00 000 00 0 0 0 0 ry- n m*nt g rc s~,1C O Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: GREAT GAMES PTY. LTD.

1 Elouera Road, Avalon, N.S.W. 2107, Australia ROBERT JOHN MARTEL and THOMAS GEORGE BISHOP GRIFFITH HASSEL FRAZER 71 YORK STREET SYDNEY N.S.W. 2000

AUSTRALIA

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "ELECTRONIC GAME APPARATUS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 4830A/elm TO: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS -V "r SUB7oIrcE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 1 dUN -7 8733A/es This invention relates to an electronic game apparatus.

i In prior electronic game apparatus, for example such as that described in Australian patent specification Number AU 61676/86 by R. J. Martel and T. G. Bishop, the apparatus has been associated with a board on which there is indicia relating to the game to be played and on which the players place their tokens for progression around the board as the game progresses. This necessitates the apparatus to be fitted to the board in a manner to ensure that the board and apparatus function as a single unit. The inclusion of the board and apparatus in the game results in an expensive packaging arrangement that requires a large box to store both the board and the apparatus for bath sale of the game and storage during periods of non-use. Therefore, a need has arisen for developing an electronic game apparatus which does not require interaction with a board for the playing of the game and the keeping of game scores.

The present invention may be defined as providing an 0. electronic game apparatus comprising: electronic circuitry; oo a main body enclosing the electronic circuitry; 0 a plurality of remote switching devices electrically 'o connected to the electronic circuitry; and 00°o a plurality of rigid arms pivotally connected to and extending from the main body to respective ones of the o remote switching devices and arranged to carry the electrical connections between the electronic circuitry and respective ones of the remote switching devices; wherein each arm is fitted with scoring means which comprises a marker moveable along the arm, and the electronic circuitry is operable to sense operation of the remote switching devices and to indicate which device was first operated.

5156S/AU/em 2 Ibl^ i r GRIFFITH HASSEL FRAZER, SYDNEY,

AUSTRALIA

8733A/es S I It I i Preferably, the electronic circuitry is further operable to randomly select a switching device to be indicated, on operation of any one of the switching devices, regardless of which switching device is actually operated.

Preferably, the electronic circuitry is further operable to time out pre-determined time periods and to give an indication that the period has expired, the time periods being dependant upon which one of the switching devices is operated.

Preferably, the connections between the arms and the o o 0 main body are snap-in type connections.

0000 Preferably, each remote switching device comprises a switch housing enclosing a switch.

o 000 Preferably, the connections between the arms and their 0 0 associated switch housings are snap-in type connections.

Preferably, the connections are non-releasable o connections.

00 0 o 25 Preferably, the markers are slidable along their 0 00°00: respective arms, the arms having a series of numbers displayed thereon and the markers having a cut-out for o revealing one number at a time.

0 I i 5156S/AU/em 3 Vti ir Preferably, each arm has a series of detents for holding the marker at desired positions along the arm.

Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, one preferred form of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of an electronic game apparatus according to the present invention when arranged ready for use in a first configuration and having a main body, six arms and six remote switching devices; O OO Figure 2 depicts the apparatus of Figure 1, Sillustrating how the apparatus folds into a second configuration for use and/or storage; o o Figure 3 depicts a sectional view of the main body 0, showing upper and lower portions; Figure 4 depicts the lower portion of the main body of osaa S the apparatus in Figure 1 when viewed from above; Figure 5 is a sectional view of a remote switching 0 0 device; 0 .0 Figures 6 and 7 illustrate one arm of the apparatus; Figure 8 illustrates the preferred method of 00 connecting the arms to the main body; ooo Figure 9 illustrates a preferred method of connecting the arms to the remote switching devices; Figure 10 depicts a perspective view from above of a 4 t marker used to indicate a player's score; and Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the marker of Figure As can be seen from Figure 1 the apparatus of the preferred embodiment comprises a main body 20 in the form of a hexagonal prism with its upper surface slightly pointed. To each of its six sides is attached an arm Attached to the distal end of each arm 30 is a remote switching device in the form of a switch inside a housing The main body 20 houses the electronic circuitry of 5156SAU/el 4 5156S/AU/elm 4

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the apparatus (not shown). The switch housing 50 houses a remote switch 54 operable by depressing the top of the switch housing. Each arm 30 has an electrical cable extending therealong to electrically connect the remote switch to the electronic circuitry of the apparatus.

The main body 20 comprises three main segments, namely a cover 21, a base 22 and a lid 23 for a battery compartment 24 formed in the base 22. The battery compartment 24 is arranged to contain batteries used to power the electronic circuitry. The upper surface of the cover 21 is divided into six sections and each section is provided with a hole 25a to accommodate a light emitting 0. 0 So diode (LED) 25 used as part of the indication means of the oti~o apparatus. The cover 21 is also provided with a series of holes for the transmission of sound from a speaker 0a1.

o0O connected to the electronic circuitry and located within 0o the main body. An opening allowing access to an on/off 0o o0 0switch 26 is provided in the cover 21.

000000 The switch housing 50 also comprises two main o segments, a switch cover 51 and a switch base 52. The S switch cover 51 is domed shaped and has a spigot 53 o projecting downwardly from the dome apex and is arranged so that depressing the switch cover 51 operates a switch 54 disposed within the switch housing. The switch cover 51 is o0 secured to the switch base 52 by a plurality of prongs with outwardly facing shoulders, extending from the cover and passing through holes in the switch base such that the shoulders bear against the base to prevent withdrawal of the prongs from the holes.

Each arm 30 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises a flat elongate body 31. Displayed on the upper surface 32 of the body 31 is a sequential series of numbers used for indicating a player's score with the aid of a marker to be described hereinafter. The lower surface 33 has a series 5156S/AU/elm 5 m I I II In of detents 34 which cooperate with the marker to prevent accidental movement of the marker. A channel 35 is also formed in the lower surface by two raised ridges. This channel is arranged to accommodate and support the electrical cable 45 which extends along the arm 30 and connects the remote switch to the electronic circuitry.

The cable 45 is a "figure 8" type cable and the channel is sized so that the cable is an interference fit in the channel, thus supporting and protecting the cable.

The connection of the arm 30 to the main body 20 is illustrated in Figure 8 in which the cover 21, base 22 and arm 30 are shown in section for clarity. The main body end o o 36 of the arm 30 has two spigots 37 extending transversely 0 o°5 0 and in opposite directions of an axially extending neck -00 0.0 38. The spigots 37 are arranged to locate in grooves 27 o 000 formed in the base 22. The base has a cutout portion 29 a0 through which the neck 38 of the arm may pass so that the 0o00o arm 30 may pivot with respect to the main body. Two fingers 28 extend from the base and hold the spigots 37 in 0 their respective grooves 27. The fingers 28 are able to be S sprung to allow the spigots 37 to be installed. The 0 0 0 oo surface of the fingers 28 which bears against the spigots S 37 and the surface of the spigots against which the fingers bear are formed with a series of flat areas co-operating to provide a positive positioning of the arms in the "first" a and "second" configurations. The cover 21 is arranged to fit over the arm with cutouts as required to accommodate the neck 38 of the arm and prevents the spigots 37 from being withdrawn from the main housing. The cable 45 enters the main body by way of the cutout 29.

Connection of the arm 30 to the switch housing 50 is similar and is as shown in Figure 9 in which the switch base 52 is shown in partial section. The switch housing end 39 of the arm has an axially extending neck terminating with two spigots 41 to form a T-shaped 5156S/AU/elm 6 5156S/AU/elm 6- L projection 42. Projection 42 is arranged to be located in a groove 56 formed in an extension 57 of the base 52 of the switch housing. The groove 56 and the projection 42 cooperate to allow the arm to pivot with respect to the switch housing. The cable 45 enters the switch housing by way of the an entry hole formed in the base extension 57. The projection 42 is held in the groove 56 by a cover 58 which slides over the base extension 57 and closes the groove 56 thus capturing the projection 42.

In a different embodiment, (not illustrated) the switch housing 50 may be rigidly connected to the arm Alternatively, the arm 30 and the switch housing 52 may be S moulded as one piece. The remote switch itself may be either a mechanical or electronic type switch e.g. a touch 0400 sensitive switch but the preferred embodiment uses a 0 mechanical type switch.

o~o 0 00 Thle marker 60 is depicted in Figures 10 and 11. The marker has a main portion 61 in the shape of a triangle or o arrowhead. The marker 60 is arranged to slide along the oo oo upper surface of the arm 30 and guides 62, formed on the oo o 0o00 underside of the marker, guide the marker along the arm and 0 to hold the marker to the arm. A small raised portion 63 0 oo 025 is cantilevered from each guide and these raised portions 63 cooperate with the detents 34 on the lower surface of 0 the arm to positively locate the marker at desired 004 locations along the arm. The main portion 61 has a hole 64 extending therethrough to enable the numbers displayed on the arm to be visible, one at a time, through the marker.

The markings and detents are arranged so that at each desired location one number is visible through the hole 64.

During use of the apparatus, the apparatus may be spread out in the first configuration as indicated in Figure i, in which the main body, arms and secondary bodies all lie on a flat surface e.g. a table top. After use, the 5156S/AU/elm 7 L- apparatus can be folded to the second configuration as shown in Figure 2 for storage. Alternatively, the apparatus may be played in the second configuration in which case, a smaller playing area is required. The arms are pivoted downwardly from the main body and the remote switches 50 are pivoted upwardly with respect to the arms to reduce the space required for storage while allowing the apparatus to be self-supporting.

A typical use of the apparatus is for quiz-type games such as when one person asks a question and the first person to press their remote switch wins the right to answer. The first operation of any remote switch being indicated by the LED 25 associated with that remote switch. Each correctly answered question advances that 0004 ooo player's score by one or more and the score is indicated by 0°o moving the marker along the arm, one number at a time until the top score is reached or all the answers for that particular game are exhausted. In the embodiment described up to six players may participate in the game at one time.

o0 C, o 0o0 The electronic circuitry used in the apparatus may be arranged to be operable in many different ways and in o 00 particular in the manner described in Australian Patent 0000 Specification No. AU-61676/86.

0o The method of selecting different modes of operation 0000 is not important but in the preferred embodiment the selection is determined by which remote switch is depressed when the apparatus is turned on. The switches are colour coded for quick identification.

The premier mode of operation is the "Umpire Mode" This mode and 2 other modes, the "Dice Mode" and the "Time Mode" will now be described as examples of possible modes in which the electronic circuitry may operate.

5156S/AU/elm 8 In the Umpire Mode, the electronic circuitry is activated when any one of the remote switches is operated.

The electronic circuitry senses which switch was the first to be operated and initially illuminates all of the LED's either individually or simultaneously. At the same time it initiates an audible output from a miniture speaker within the main body. Thereafter, the electronic circuitry causes one LED to remain illuminated for a short period of time to indicate which of the switches was first to be actuated.

Until this short period has expired the electronic circuitry cannot be re-activated.

In the Dice Mode, the electronic circuitry is actuated by operating any one of the switches. The electronic circuitry then selects LED's in a random fashion until one LED is selected and held on for a short period. After this short period has expired the LED is turned off and the electronic circuitry is re-set awaiting the next switch to be operated. The final LED is selected randomly having no apparent relationship with the switch being actuated or the S penultimate LED to be illuminated. Each LED may be ascribed a value from 1 to 6.

O° o The Timer Mode actually consists of six different sequences controlled by the individual switches. The Timer Mode counts down a pre-set period. The electronic circuitry is again activated by operation of one of the switches. The time period to be time out is dependent on which switch is operated. For example, the following time periods may be used brown: 75s, blue: 60s, red: purple: 20s, yellow: 12s and green: 8s. During the timing out period, the LED associated with the operated switch will flash to indicate which time period is being timed. During the last moment of the period, say the last five seconds, the LED will flash faster and the speaker will beep to signify the approaching end of the period. At the end of the period, the LED will light up for an 5156S/AU/elm 9 extended flash and the speaker will give an extended beep of say one to two seconds to indicate the end of the period. At any time during the timing period the sequence may be stopped by operating the same switch that started the timing sequence.

In all modes if any one of the remote switches is held closed when a sequence finishes, the LED associated with that switch will flash to indicate that the switch is being held in the closed state and the sequence is prevented from being reinitiated.

020 0 0 o 0 0 00 4 S o 0o0 o o o 0 00 0 0 0 5156S/AU/elm 10

Claims (11)

1. An electronic game apparatus comprising: electronic circuitry; a main body enclosing the electronic circuitry; a plurality of remote switching devices electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and a plurality of rigid arms pivotally connected to and extending from the main body to respective ones of the remote switching devices and arranged to carry the electrical connections between the electronic circuitry and respective ones of the remote switching devices; wherein each arm is fitted with scoring means which comprises a marker moveable along the arm, and the electronic circuitry is operable to sense operation of the remote switching devices and to indicate which device was first operated.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further operable to randomly select 0 a switching device to be indicated on operation of a o switching device regardless of which switching device is S actually operated. o

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 or in claim 2, wherein 0o the electronic circuitry is further operable to time out 0 uacl S predetermined time periods and to give an indication that o o the period has expired, the time periods being dependant upon which one of the switching devices is operated.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the connection between the arms and the main body are snap-in type connections.

5. Apparatus as defined in any preceding claim wherein the arms are pivotally connected to respective ones of the switching devices. 5156S/AU/em 11

6. Apparatus as defined in Claim 5 wherein the switching device end of each arm is is formed with a T-shaped projection held pivotably captive in a groove formed in a respective switching device by a cover fitted to the switching device.

7. Apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein each remote switching device comprises a switch housing enclosing a switch.

8. Apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the markers are arranged to be slidable along their respective arms. 0 o 0ooo s 15

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein each arm has a o0oo series of detents for holding the marker at predetermined 0000 position along the arm. S00 ooo o

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein each arm has a series of numbers displayed thereon and the marker has a cutout for revealing one number at a time. 0

11. An electronic game apparatus substantially as o t:o hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying o 25 drawings. ooaoo 000000 o o DATED this 7th day of January 1991 o GREAT GAMES PTY LIMITED 0 0 by their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. 5156S/AU/em 12