US20100259002A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20100259002A1
Application number: US12/422,755
Authority: US
Inventors: Carolyn England
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Hasbro Inc
Priority date: 2009-04-13
Filing date: 2009-04-13
Publication date: 2010-10-14

Abstract

A device operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players is defined. An animated character has an appendage that automatically distributes two-dimensional objects, such as card or tiles, from a bin next to the animated character. The animated character is supported by a base above a horizontal surface. The animated character and the bin rotates about the base as the two-dimensional objects are distributed about the horizontal surface. The device uses audio and visual indicators to communicate with game players.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a game device, and more particularly to a table or floor game that uses an animated character with an appendage to distribute tiles about a horizontal surface for use during game play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board games or table games for children are well known and very popular. Often in the prior art, manufacturers of such games have used animals as part of the theme of the game to make the game more interesting and more exciting for children. For example, HUNGRY HIPPOS™, ANTS IN THE PANTS™, BARREL OF MONKEYS™, and CROCODILE DENTIST™, which are manufactured by Hasbro, and KING TOAD™ and DUCK, DUCK, BRUCE™, which are manufactured by Gamewright, all employ animals in the games' themes to make the game more attractive to children.

Many of these games, such as KING TOAD™ and DUCK, DUCK, BRUCE™ use playing cards as part of the game. The card games for children that use animated characters in the prior art, however, involve manually dealing or flipping the cards.

Also known in the prior art, are machines that automatically deal or distribute cards. For example, a 1911 patent, U.S. Pat. No. 999,670, issued to Murch, for “Machine for Dealing Playing Cards” discloses “a rotary card dealer-carrier, a card holder or box carried thereby, and devices acting in the rotation of the said dealer-carrier to deliver cards at predetermined points in the said rotation.” A patent issued in 1931, U.S. Pat. No. 1,824,542, to Hangerud, for an “Automatic Card Distributing Device” discloses a machine “for the distributing of a number of cards, one at a time, at a plurality of spaces disposed about a fixed point, the same being done automatically and continuously until the total number of cards to be distributed have been exhausted” and employs “a base and a housing disposed centrally of the base and superposed thereabove” with “[a]utomatic means . . . provided in the housing for the distributing of the cards one at a time”. A patent issued in 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,153, to Rosenwinkel et al., for “Mechanical Card Dispenser and Method of Playing a Card Game” discloses a machine that “is concerned with providing a game that mechanically dispenses additional cards to a player in a dramatic manner”, and “a chance element in operation of the device may still permit the player to escape receiving any additional cards” wherein “[d]epression of a button in accordance with card play, indexes a disc having variously spaced apart detents for actuating a battery motor driven eccentric wheel that expels the cards from a reservoir”.

A device combining an animated character that is used in a children's table game with an automatic card dealing machine is unknown in the prior art. Accordingly, it would be desirable to create this type of combination, which will increase children's interest and excitement during game play. The invention discussed in connection with the described embodiment addresses these and other deficiencies of the prior art.

The features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in or apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment considered together with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the prior art of board games and table games for children that use animated characters and cards, tiles, or other two-dimensional objects as well as the deficiencies of the prior art of automatic card dealing machines by combining the two.

More particularly, a described embodiment of the invention provides a device operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects, such as tiles or cards, about a plurality of game players. The device comprises an animated character with an appendage, such as a wing, an arm, or a leg, wherein the appendage is used to distribute the two-dimensional objects. The device also comprises a base for supporting the animated character above a horizontal surface with a panel for covering the base and providing one or more compartments associated with the base. In relation to the character and the base is a bin for holding a supply of the two-dimensional objects. An input mechanism, such as a beak or a nose to squeeze, is used for activating the appendage, which, in turn, flips the two-dimensional objects from the bin. A power source, such as a battery powered motor or a spring, is used in response to the input mechanism. In the present described embodiment, a rotating mechanism is operable with the power source for moving the character relative to the base for distributing the two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface. Additionally, an indicator may be provided, such as a plurality of colored lights or an audio source, operable with the power source for communicating information to the game players. Finally, the two-dimensional objects may be cards or tiles containing graphics or text that are used as part of the game playing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the claims. The invention itself, as well as the preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, are best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the front of the present described embodiment;

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the back thereof;

FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the side thereof illustrated with the appendage as described;

FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of the side thereof opposite the side with the appendage;

FIG. 1E shows a perspective view of the top thereof;

FIG. 1F shows a perspective view of the bottom thereof;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the complete assembly thereof;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the front of the animated character of the described embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the gear mechanism and lights of a present described embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the back of the animated character thereof;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the top of the base assembly thereof;

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the bottom of the base assembly thereof;

FIG. 8 shows a high-level schematic of the described embodiments;

FIG. 9 shows an example of a two-dimensional object containing graphics; and

FIG. 10 shows an example of a two-dimensional object containing text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A-1F show perspective views of the front, back, sides, top, and bottom, respectively, of a present described embodiment of the animated character two-dimensionalobject distributor device10. Thedevice10 may be used by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects22 about a plurality of game players. Thedevice10 is operable by the game player for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players is defined. Thedevice10 has an animated character with an appendage that automatically distributes the two-dimensional objects, such as cards or tiles, from a bin next to the animated character. The animated character is supported by a base above a horizontal surface. The animated character and the bin rotate about the base as the two-dimensional objects are distributed about the horizontal surface. The device uses audio and visual indicators to communicate with game players.

In the present described embodiment, thedevice10 is shown as a penguin being theanimated character11 perched atop an iceberg. Theanimated character11 has anappendage12 for distributing, or flipping, two-dimensional objects22, such as cards or tiles. InFIGS. 1A-1F, theappendage12 is shown as the penguin's wing. In other described embodiments, a different animated character may be used with an appendage being an arm or a leg. The iceberg comprises abase14 for supporting theanimated character11 above a horizontal surface, arotating mechanism15 for moving thecharacter11 relative to thebase14 for distributing two-dimensional objects22 about the horizontal surface, and abin16 for holding a supply of the two-dimensional objects22 in relation to thecharacter11 and thebase14. In other described embodiments, the animated character may rest upon a support other than an iceberg that relates to the animated character.

Thedevice10 has aninput mechanism18 for activating theappendage12 for outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects22 from thebin16. In the described embodiment, theinput mechanism18 is the penguin's beak, where one squeezes the beak to activate rotation of the penguin's wing. In other described embodiments, the input mechanism may be another body part, such as a nose, that when squeezed, or pulled or activated in some other way, will cause movement in a character's arm or leg.

Thedevice10 has apower source20, shown inFIG. 1B as a battery compartment, for operating theappendage12 in response to theinput mechanism18. Thepower source20 may also be used to cause movement in therotating mechanism15. Thepower source20 may be used to power a motor or spring or some other similar mechanism, which, in turn, causes the movement in theappendage12 and therotating mechanism15.

Thedevice10 further has one or more indicators operable with thepower source20 for communicating information to game players using thedevice10.FIG. 1E shows alight indicator24 that may use a plurality of different colored lights to signal game players of certain events or situations. Although the described embodiment uses different colored lights, other means of using lights, such as flashing at different rates may be used.FIG. 1A shows anaudio source26 for communicating audio information to game players via a speaker or other means.

Lastly in referring to the perspective diagrams,FIG. 1F shows apanel28 for covering thebase14 and providing one or more compartments associated with thebase14.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the whole assembly of thedevice10.FIGS. 3-7 show exploded views of various sections of the whole assembly shown inFIG. 2, and the whole assembly shown inFIG. 2 will be described with reference toFIGS. 3-7.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the front of theanimated character11 in the present described embodiment. InFIG. 3, a frontouter housing30 or shell, which makes up the front outer portion of the penguin or other animated character, supports theinput mechanism18, theaudio source26, a driveassembly housing front48, anappendage leaf switch48, and the penguin'sstationary wing50.

Theinput mechanism18 comprises abeak32 or mouth portion, alever34, alever support36, and aninput leaf switch38. Thebeak32 is composed of rubber, although other squeezable materials may be used, and fits through an opening on the frontouter housing30. Thelever34 fits into thebeak32 on one end and through an opening in thelever support36 such that the end of thelever34 through thelever support36 rests below the contact of aninput leaf switch38. Theinput mechanism18 is engaged by a game player squeezing thebeak32 and causing the end of thelever34 through thelever support36 to rise and press the contact on theinput leaf switch38, thus activating the electronic circuitry of thedevice10. Although a leaf switch is shown, other microswitches may be used. Furthermore, although a squeezable beak is shown, other common input mechanisms may be used, such as buttons or switches.

Theaudio source26 comprises aspeaker40, aspeaker grill42, and aspeaker mounting support44. Thespeaker40 is mounted on thespeaker mounting support44 and pressed into thespeaker grill42 so that the audio sound will emanate from the front of theanimated character11. Once the electronic circuitry of thedevice10 is activated, thepower source20 provides power to theaudio source26. Although audio communication is shown using a speaker in the described embodiment, other methods of communicating auditory information may be used, such as bells or whistles.

FIG. 3 also shows astationary wing50, which fits into a crevice on the outer side of thespeaker grill42 and is purely decorative.

FIG. 3 further shows a driveassembly housing front46 and anappendage leaf switch48, which are mounted inside the frontouter housing30. The use and operation of the driveassembly housing front46 and theappendage leaf switch48 will be described with reference toFIG. 4. Although a leaf switch is shown, other microswitches may be used.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a gear mechanism and lights of the described embodiment. As described earlier, once theinput mechanism18 is engaged, the electronic circuitry of thedevice10 is activated. When the electronic circuitry is activated, thepower source20 provides power to amotor52 and to thelight indicator24.FIG. 4 shows the effect of providing power to these components.

Once power is provided to themotor52, themotor52 causes agear assembly54 to turn. As shown inFIG. 4, thegear assembly54 is created to withstand manual manipulation so that thedevice10 will be well suited for children to use and be difficult to break by using a clutching mechanism or other similar means. Once thegear assembly54 begins to turn, it causes anaxle56 or shaft to turn. Theaxle56 is supported on one end by anaxle mount58, and, on the other end, theaxle56 fits into acam shaft60. Thecam shaft60 further fits into theappendage12. As themotor52 causes thegear assembly54 to turn, it causes theaxle56 to turn thecam shaft60 and theappendage12. Thus, as will be shown below, theappendage12 may then be used to make contact with two-dimensional objects22 and distribute or flip those objects about a horizontal surface. Also, as thecam shaft60 turns, a cam makes contact with theappendage leaf switch48 once per rotation. For each contact made, theappendage leaf switch48 sends signals to the integrated circuitry on the printedcircuit board68, which contains the microprocessor or other similar integrated circuit that controls the logical operation of thedevice10. Although a leaf switch is shown, other microswitches may be used. Counters and timers in the integrated circuitry on the printed circuit board may then be used to control thelight indicator24, theaudio source26, and the number of rotations of theappendage12.

Thegear assembly54 is also used to turn astandard pinion gear62, which, as will be shown inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 rotates theanimated character11, thebin16, and therotating mechanism15 about thebase14.

The components of thelight indicator24 are also shown inFIG. 4 and consist of alight assembly64 and alight housing66, the light assembly being mounted on the printedcircuit board68. In the described embodiment, colored lights are used to provide visual communications to game players, however, other means of using the lights, such as different rates of flashing, may be used.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the back of theanimated character11 in the described embodiment. A drive assembly housing back70 couples with the driveassembly housing front46 to fully enclose themotor52 and thegear assembly54 and leave theaxle56 and theaxle mount58 protruding from the coupled drive assembly housing.FIG. 5 also shows a rearouter housing72 of theanimated character11, which couples with the frontouter housing30.FIG. 5 further shows the various support components of thepower source20, which include an on/off/mode switch74, and on/off/mode switch window76, abattery compartment78, and abattery compartment cover80. Although the present described is shown as battery powered, an embodiment thereof may use mechanical power, such as springs, or other means of electrical power, such as powering with a plug into a wall outlet.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the top of the base assembly of the described embodiment. The penguin'sright foot82 and leftfoot82 are each supported on an animatedcharacter mounting platform92 by afoot mounting boss84. Theanimated character11 fits behind the feet into a circular depression in the mountingplatform92 and is supported by an animatedcharacter mounting boss86. When theanimated character11 is mounted on the mountingplatform92, thestandard pinion gear62 is positioned through the standardpinion gear aperture88. The effect of this positioning will be apparent with reference toFIG. 7.

FIG. 6 also shows abiased tile platform90, which fits into thebin16 and is used to support the two-dimensional objects22.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the bottom of the base assembly of the described embodiment, which rests directly below what is shown inFIG. 6. Aturntable96 has the same shape as the combined animatedcharacter mounting platform92 and thebin16 and is attached directly below it. Awheel assembly94 is mounted onto a wheelassembly mounting boss98 such that the wheel protrudes through theturntable96 and rests on thebase14, thus providing easy rotation of theturntable96 about thebase14. Thestandard pinion gear62 that is positioned through the standardpinion gear aperture88, as described with reference toFIG. 6, fits into the aperture for aturntable gear100 and provides the means for rotation of theturntable96 about the base14 once theturntable96 is positioned atop aturntable mounting boss106.

Also shown inFIG. 7 is aspring102 positioned in aspring mount104. Thebiased tile platform90 is placed into thebin16 such that it rests atop thespring102. Thus, thespring102 provides an upward tension into thebiased tile platform90, which, when the two-dimensional objects22 are placed into thebin16, provides tension between the two-dimensional objects22 and theappendage12 to allow proper flipping and distribution.

Further shown inFIG. 7 is thepanel28 for covering thebase14. The one ormore compartments108 are shown and may be used to store the two-dimensional objects22 and other parts of the game such as instructions.

FIG. 8 shows a high-level schematic of the described embodiment. As shown inFIG. 8, the coordination of input signals from theinput mechanism18 and output signals to amotor driver circuitry112, the rotatingmechanism15, aflipping mechanism118, asound effects circuitry114, theaudio source26, an indicator lightscircuitry116, and thelight assembly64 is controlled by amicroprocessor110, which may be provided as a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller as electronic control circuitry that controls the described movement and sensory input and output of thedevice10.

In the present described embodiment, themicroprocessor110 is operable with thepower source20 and receives input signals from theinput mechanism18 by a game player squeezing thebeak32 of theanimated character11. This squeezing motion causes the interaction between thelever34 and theinput leaf switch38 as previously described, which sends an electronic signal to themicroprocessor110 indicating that thebeak32 has been squeezed. Upon receiving this input, themicroprocessor110 sends output signals to themotor driver circuitry112 operable with thepower source20, which simultaneously causes theflipping mechanism118 to move theappendage12 and causes therotating mechanism15, which is also operable with the power source, to rotate the upper portion of thedevice10 about thebase14. Themicroprocessor110 or themotor driver circuitry112 uses counters to control the number of flips and the number of rotations. Also upon receiving an input signal, themicroprocessor110 sends output signals to thesound effects circuitry114, which controls theaudio source26 and is operable with thepower source20, and to the indicator lights circuitry, which controls the light assembly and is also operable with the power source. Themicroprocessor110 uses timers to control both the audio and light indicators.

The remainder of this section describes the use of thedevice10 in terms of using it during game play and provides an example of the operation of thedevice10.

The contents of the game include thedevice10, sixty-four double-sided picture tiles, such as are shown inFIG. 9, and sixteen double-sided tiles with text, known as “mission tiles”, as shown inFIG. 10. Each mission tile has two missions on it, one green and one red. The game is designed for two or more players age six or older.

To prepare for the game, a player must load thebin16 with forty-eight picture tiles, shuffle the mission tiles, and place the mission tiles next to thedevice10.

To begin the game, a player must squeeze the penguin'sbeak32. The penguin will say “uh-oh” and begin flipping the picture tiles about the horizontal surface as all portions above the base14 rotate. The penguin will flip up to twelve picture tiles about the horizontal surface. When the penguin stops flipping and spinning, a player must flip over the top mission tile. The players must then look at the color of thelight indicator24 to see if the light is green or red. If the light is red, the players must look at the red mission on the mission tile. If the light is green, the players must look at the green mission on the mission tile. To complete a mission, a player must find a picture on one of the picture tiles that matches the text on the mission tile. During play, the penguin may say “wat wat”, in which case thelight indicator24 will change colors and the mission changes to match the color of the light. If a player spots a picture that matches the mission, that player must shout “Pictureka!”, point at the picture and say what that player saw. If the other players disagree, the current mission continues. If nobody disagrees, the player removes the picture tile from the game and keeps it. Play then continues with the mission matching the color of the light on thelight indicator24. Once players have performed both missions on one side of a mission tile, one player must turn the mission tile over and perform the missions on the other side. Eventually, the penguin will begin flipping tiles again and everyone should take a break until the penguin finishes. Then, a new mission tile is used. If all players get cannot complete a mission, they may discard the current mission tile and use a new one. Play continues until the penguin makes a noise that sounds like someone “blowing a raspberry” on a baby's stomach. The player with the most picture tiles wins the game.

It should be noted that the game just described may be played with or without using thedevice10, and, it should also be noted that other games may be played using the above-described tiles both with or without thedevice10.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been set forth in considerable detail, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications to the foregoing preferred embodiments may be made in various aspects. It is deemed that the spirit and scope of the invention encompass such variations to be preferred embodiments as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and familiar with the teachings of the present application.

Claims

1. A device operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players, the device comprising:

an animated character;

an appendage on the animated character for distributing the two-dimensional objects;

a base for supporting the animated character above a horizontal surface;

an input mechanism for activating the appendage for outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects;

a power source for operating the appendage in response to the input mechanism; and

a rotating mechanism operable with the power source for moving the character relative to the base for distributing the two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface.

2. The device recited inclaim 1 further comprising an indicator operable with the power source for communicating information to the game players.

3. The device recited inclaim 2 wherein said indicator comprises a light source.

4. The device recited inclaim 3 wherein said light source provides a plurality of different colored lights.

5. The device recited inclaim 2 wherein said indicator comprises an audio source.

6. The device recited inclaim 1 further comprising a bin for holding a supply of the two-dimensional objects in relation to character and the base, wherein said input mechanism activates the appendage for outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin.

7. The device recited inclaim 6 further comprising an indicator operable with the power source for communicating information to the game players.

8. The device recited inclaim 1 further comprising a panel for covering the base and providing one or more compartments associated with the base.

9. The device recited inclaim 1 wherein said power source comprises a motor.

10. The device recited inclaim 1 wherein said power source comprises a spring.

11. The device recited inclaim 1 wherein said appendage comprises one of an arm, a leg, and a wing of said animated character.

12. The device recited inclaim 1 wherein said input mechanism comprises one of a nose and a beak of said animated character.

13. The device recited inclaim 1 further comprising a set of two-dimensional objects including text or graphics.

14. A method for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players comprising:

providing an animated character;

providing an appendage on the animated character for distributing the two-dimensional objects;

supporting the animated character above a horizontal surface with a base;

activating the appendage with an input mechanism, operating the appendage in response to the input mechanism using a power source, and outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects; and

moving the character relative to the base with a rotating mechanism operable with the power source and distributing the two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface.

15. The method recited inclaim 14 further comprising the steps of holding a supply of the two-dimensional objects in relation to the character and the base with a bin, and activating the appendage and outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin with an input mechanism.

16. The method recited inclaim 14 further comprising the steps of providing an indicator on the animated character and communicating information to the game players using the indicator operable with the power source.

17. The method recited inclaim 14 further comprising the steps of covering the base with a panel and providing one or more compartments associated with the base.

18. A method for playing a game using a device operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players, the device having an animated character, an appendage on the animated character for distributing the two-dimensional objects, a base for supporting the animated character above a horizontal surface, a bin for holding a supply of the two-dimensional objects in relation to character and the base, an input mechanism for activating the appendage for outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin, a power source for operating the appendage in response to the input mechanism, a rotating mechanism operable with the power source for moving the character relative to the base for distributing the two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface, a first set of two-dimensional objects containing graphics, and a second set of two-dimensional objects containing text, the method comprising:

placing the first set of two-dimensional objects in the bin;

engaging the input mechanism on the animated character;

allowing the device to automatically distribute the first set of two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface;

placing the second set of two-dimensional objects near the device;

reading text from the second set of two-dimensional objects; and

matching graphics from the first set of two-dimensional objects to the text from the second set of two-dimensional objects.

19. The method recited inclaim 18 further comprising the steps of activating the appendage with the input mechanism, and outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin with the appendage to automatically distribute the first set of two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface.

20. The method recited inclaim 18 further comprising the steps of providing an indicator on the animated character operable with the power source, and communicating information to the game players using the indicator.