Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Simulated game
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-20
2001-11-20
Chapman, Jeanette E. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Simulated game
C273S317000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318724
ABSTRACT:
The object of the invention is a competition and entertainment game functioning through activation of an object with three-dimensional freedom of movement. More particularly, the present invention is particularly suitable for sporting competitions between two teams, formed of one or more players depending on the game mode. The teams are situated on opposite sides of the gameboard. The teams shoot a mobile object, preferably spherical in shape, back and forth over the gameboard. The mobile object has three-dimensional freedom of movement and can be moved three-dimensionally over the gameboad until one of the teams fails to repel it, much like the motion of, for example, a tennis ball during a tennis match. The teams then compete by scoring points depending on the rules established for the game mode in use. In this way, for example, points may be scored in a manner consistent with popular sports like tennis, table tennis and volleyball. This may either be, for example, when the mobile game clement touches the gameboard outside the zones permitted by the selected game mode, when the mobile element lands within the permitted zones and the team fails to repel it back to the opposing team, or if the opposing team fails to hit the mobile object before it hits the surface of the gameboard.
Through activation of controls, each team can control the position of a repulsion sector which performs the function of a racquet as well as controlling the direction, effect and strength of the repulsion applied to the mobile game object, thereby allowing a team to control the direction and force with which the object is repelled out of the repulsion sector.
The action of repelling the ball or mobile object is performed by specific electromechanical means that are triggered by controls in a control center. The control center preferably comprises a number of conventional controls such as, for example, buttons that are operable by the user of the device. As the controls are activated by the user, depending on how the aforementioned controls are operated and programmed, the positions of the mobile object and the repulsion sector that performs the function of a racquet are controlled. The user manipulates the controls in the control center, which then trigger the electromechanical elements to operate as programmed to produce controlled impulses directed at the mobile object and, thereby, control the three-dimensional movement of the mobile object.
The electromechanic means detects the position of the mobile object and the manipulation of controls which determine the effect with which the action of repulsion is to be carried out, by using reading means which reads particular data available to the control center and data supplied by other elements with the capacity to detect position. These elements are located in the machine's mechanical system and in the control unit, which governs and manipulates the repulsion zones.
More specifically, the invention concentrates on controlling the position and movement of the element with freedom of three-dimensional movement; selective activation of repulsion zones; controlling the position and the intention of impulse production from each repulsion zone or racquet; the physical system used to perform the aforementioned operations; and the actual constitution of the machine used for the competition, with the arrangement of the elements of which it is composed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sports competition and entertainment machines are known. Such existing sports competition and entertainment machines are usually limited to a few types. For example, some machines consist of a soccer-like or hockey-like gameboard where the two sides compete for an object which can be moved around the field of play by elements situated across the gameboard, wherein the elements are governed by the players through controls. The aim of such games is getting the object into an opposing goal.
Another type of existing machine is designed so that the players shoot a chip or ball to each other from one side of the gameboard to the other, until one of the players scores a point by introducing the chip or ball into the opposing goal.
In theses machines, however, the movement of the ball or chip is two-dimensional. For example, the machine described in PCT/ES94/00024, incorporated herein by reference, is one example of such a machine.
In some types of the aforementioned machines, the gameball is usually able to move completely freely when it, for example, is in a pocket or propelling means and is expelled towards a basket or a goal. However, in these machines, the gameball's three-dimensional freedom of movement is not permanently controllable in terms of movement and position. Thus, for three-dimensional games like tennis, which to be played properly within the limited space of a machine, require total control over the position and movements of the ball, such machines are not suitable.
At present there are no machines for sports competitions like tennis, table-tennis and volleyball, where the ball or object in play has three-dimensional freedom of movement; where the ball or object is mounted on a mechanical apparatus; where a set of controls may be manipulated by a user to signal the mechanical apparatus as to the desired direction and force for moving the ball or object; where the mechanical apparatus receives the signals from the set of controls and responds to the signals by moving the ball or object in accordance with the signals; and the motion of the ball or object is controlled at all times by the mechanical apparatus such that the ball or object is prevented from leaving the gameboard and going out of the players' control.
In contrast to models currently on the market, the machine described herein permits competition through the activation of a mobile object or gameball, where this gameball or mobile element can be moved freely three-dimensionally within a limited volume of game zone; where both the position of this gameball within the limits of the volume of space of free movement determined by the machine's systems, its position in relation to the zones of the filed of play which the player wishes to control and the authorized repulsion sectors which perform the function of racquets, depending on the kind of game, are all controlled at all times.
Construction of the invention described herein produces an automatically-controlled machine. This machine is made all the more attractive by the wide variety of possible operations in a game, the fact that it is possible to play games like tennis and volleyball and the fact that using the machine requires physical exercise, training and use of the reflexes.
For the above reasons, learning to master and enjoy the game will appeal to a very wide sector of the public. Basically, the machine is a new product concept with better commercial prospects than existing machines along the same lines. The new design of the machine allowing new kinds of competition, the easily-understood operation of the games and the accessible production costs result in a product of great commercial potential on both domestic and international markets.
The result of the above is a world novelty with many market options due to the scarcity of novelty products in the sports competition market. Therefore, the creation of manufacturing structures and the generation of these new products is viable. In commercial terms it is necessary to produce a new generation of sports competition and entertainment games using an object with three-dimensional movement. The range of game options presently available in the machines currently on the market can be widened by incorporating new inventions with game possibilities that make machines simpler and more reliable, comfortable, entertaining, educational, and, above all, safe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention centers on a new configuration of machines for competition and entertainment through activation of a mobile object. The object moves with three-dimensional freedom of movement. Its relative position w
Chambers M.
Chapman Jeanette E.
Corless Peter F.
Edwards & Angell LLP
Hazzard Lisa Swiszcz
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