Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Perceptible output or display
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-04-03
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Perceptible output or display
C463S007000, C463S037000, C463S046000, C273S273000, C273S440000, C273S445000, C273S446000, C273S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210278
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of games. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a hand-held voice game of elimination played by a single player or by multiple players.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatuses are known for playing a game that generates voice instructions or sound prompts by the game apparatus. A player listens to a voice or sound prompt produced by the game apparatus and performs a predetermined operation in accordance with the voice or sound prompt.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,416 to Shimizu et al. discloses a vocal game device in which players record voice commands corresponding to selected operations that are to be performed by the players. The Shimizu et al. device includes four input switches that are each a different color and contain a lamp for lighting. Players respond to the voice commands generated by the device and the lighting of the lamps during the course of play.
Another device, disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,627 to Russell e al., provides audible sounds indicating particular targets that are active for a player to strike. The targets are spatially located around a player and when a target becomes active, a sound prompt is generated and the target is lighted so that the player can quickly identify and strike the active target.
While both of the devices provide sound prompts for instructing a player to perform a specified action, the player does not need to decide between actions of a different nature during the course of play. For the Shimizu et al. device a player presses a specific key or sequence of keys. For the Russell et al. device, a player strikes an active target. Neither game device requires a player to select between different operations depending upon the sound prompt. Consequently, what is needed is a game that requires a player to select between different operations depending on the sound prompt generated by the game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a game that requires a player to select between different operations depending on the sound prompt generated by the game. In that regard, the present invention provides a hand-held game that includes a plurality of input devices, an audible output device, and a controller coupled to each of the input devices and to the audible output device. Preferably, each of the input devices require a different mechanical action for action, such as a pressure switch, a pull switch or a rotational switch. The controller outputs a first command signal to the audible output device that relates to a first selected input device. The controller then outputs a second command signal to the audible output device relating to a second selected input device when the first selected input device is actuated within a predetermined period of time. When the first selected input device is not actuated within the predetermined period of time, or when an input device other than the selected input device is actuated in response to the first command signal, the controller outputs an error command signal to the audible output device. The controller then ceases to output command signals to the audible output device after outputting the error command signal. According to the invention, the second command can relate to a second selected input device or can be an audible indication such as a voice message, for a user to pass the game apparatus to another user.
Preferably, the audible output device outputs a different voice message corresponding to each respective command signal. For example, the voice message corresponding to a command signal relating to the pressure switch instructs a user to press the pressure switch. Similarly, the voice message corresponding to a command signal relating to the pull switch instructs the user to pull the pull switch, and the voice message corresponding to a command signal relating to the rotational switch instructs the user to rotate the rotational switch.
The audible output device also can output a different musical sound or prompt corresponding to each respective command signal. For example, the music sound corresponding to a command signal relating to the pressure switch indicates for a user to press the pressure switch, while the musical sound corresponding to a command signal relating to the pull switch indicates for the user to pull the pull switch, and the musical sound corresponding to a command signal relating to the rotational switch indicates for the user to rotate the rotational switch.
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Harrison Jessica J.
Klitsner Industrial Design, LLC
Morgan & Finnegan L.L.P.
Nguyen Binh-An D.
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