115results about "Conjuring appliances" patented technology

Embodiments of the invention provide a unique interactive game that includes multiple dynamic layers in which a participant may complete a variety of challenges and / or tasks. For example, the participant may obtain a toy “wand” from a retail phase that is usable in an interactive entertainment phase. The interactive entertainment phase may include multiple interrelated layers such that progress in one or more layers may affect the participant's experience in one or more other layers. The participant may also receive training on how to use the wand and / or complete one or more special effects, adventures and / or quests. During or following the interactive entertainment phase, the participant may use accumulated points and / or powers to redeem prizes and / or compete against other participants, such as in a duel.

A playmate toy or similar children's toy is provided having associated wireless, batteryless ID tag that can be read from and / or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol. The tag is mounted internally within a cavity of the toy and thereby provides wireless communication of stored information without requiring removal and reinsertion of the tag. In this manner, a stuffed animal or other toy can be quickly and easily identified non-invasively, without damaging the toy. Additional information (e.g., unique personality traits, special powers, skill levels, etc.) can also be stored on the ID tag, thus providing further personality enhancement, input / output programming, simulated intelligence and / or interactive gaming possibilities.

The invention provides a unique interactive play experience carried out utilizing a toy “wand” and / or other actuation / tracking device. In one embodiment the wand incorporates a wireless transmitter and motion-sensitive circuitry adapted to actuate the transmitter in response to particular learned wand motions. The wand allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment simply by pointing, touching and / or using their wands in a particular manner to achieve desired goals or produce desired effects. Various wireless receivers or actuators are distributed throughout the play facility to support such wireless interaction and to facilitate full immersion in a fantasy experience in which participants can enjoy the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic.

Embodiments of the invention provide a unique interactive game that includes multiple dynamic layers in which a participant may complete a variety of challenges and / or tasks. For example, the participant may obtain a toy “wand” from a retail phase that is usable in an interactive entertainment phase. The interactive entertainment phase may include multiple interrelated layers such that progress in one or more layers may affect the participant's experience in one or more other layers. The participant may also receive training on how to use the wand and / or complete one or more special effects, adventures and / or quests. During or following the interactive entertainment phase, the participant may use accumulated points and / or powers to redeem prizes and / or compete against other participants, such as in a duel.

The invention provides a unique interactive play experience carried out utilizing a toy “wand” and / or other actuation / tracking device. In one embodiment the wand incorporates a wireless transmitter and motion-sensitive circuitry adapted to actuate the transmitter in response to particular learned wand motions. The wand allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment simply by pointing, touching and / or using their wands in a particular manner to achieve desired goals or produce desired effects. Various wireless receivers or actuators are distributed throughout the play facility to support such wireless interaction and to facilitate full immersion in a fantasy experience in which participants can enjoy the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic.

A playmate toy or similar children's toy is provided having associated wireless, batteryless ID tag that can be read from and / or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol. The tag is mounted internally within a cavity of the toy and thereby provides wireless communication of stored information without requiring removal and reinsertion of the tag. In this manner, a stuffed animal or other toy can be quickly and easily identified non-invasively, without damaging the toy. Additional information (e.g., unique personality traits, special powers, skill levels, etc.) can also be stored on the ID tag, thus providing further personality enhancement, input / output programming, simulated intelligence and / or interactive gaming possibilities.

A vertical wind tunnel flight simulator comprises a flight chamber wherein a flier may experience a freefall simulation. Airflow to support the flier is induced by fans connected above the flight chamber through a duct. A staging area having openings to the flight chamber is adjacent to the flight chamber. One or two return air ducts are used to return air from the fans outlet to the fans inlet. Opposed louvers are included on at least one duct segment thereby regulating the temperature via forcing ambient air into the simulator. The use of many duct segments having diverging walls adds commercial value to the system by lowering the height. Mounting components on the roof and behind walls creates a spectacular pedestrian viewing scene of people in flight.

A method and apparatus for vending magic, pranks, and gags through a vending machine is described. Through use of a video display, a vending machine may demonstrate performance of a magic trick, prank, or gag, enticing customers to purchase items from the machine. A user interface is provided for selecting the item by its advertised indicia, and a method is provided to allow ordering catalogs or items through mail-order delivery. Further, a method is provided to demonstrate confidential performance information through video displays or secure web interfaces, in a manner that educates the purchaser but protects the secrecy of the magic trick.

A method and apparatus for a motion ride that creates the illusion of teleportation on passengers in a passenger vehicle. This is accomplished in four steps of the method. Multiple embodiments of varying apparatus are presented for completing the four steps of the method. Passengers in the first step view a primary environment, in the second step passengers are surrounded by a secondary environment, in the third step passengers experience Galilean invariance by viewing the velocity of multiple of images of motion of the secondary environment being relative to the velocity of the passenger vehicle as selected from a group consisting of equal magnitude and same direction, equal magnitude and opposite direction, greater magnitude and same direction, greater magnitude and opposite direction, lesser magnitude and same direction, and lesser magnitude and opposite direction, and in the fourth step passengers again view the primary environment.

An entertainment and educational center based on human anatomy has a major unit corresponding to a major organ, or group of closely spaced and related organs, surrounded by related organs. The major unit, for example the heart, will be of adequate dimensions to allow movement by children and even adults through the several chambers and experience the architecture of the organ as well as its function. The major unit would be connected to associated organs, in this example lungs, by slides or bridges representing the arteries and other anatomical connections. The center may be provided with simulations of blood flow and beating and can be associated with nearby interactive teaching games.

An invention is provided for concealing an object. The invention includes a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources that generate an electromagnetic radiation spectrum, and a controller in communication with the plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources. The controller includes logic that compares the electromagnetic radiation spectrum generated from the plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources with an electromagnetic radiation spectrum from an environment surrounding the object. In operation, the controller adjusts the plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources to generate an electromagnetic radiation spectrum that matches the electromagnetic radiation spectrum of the environment surrounding the object.

A method and apparatus for a motion ride that creates the illusion of teleportation on passengers in a passenger vehicle. This is accomplished in four steps of the method. Multiple embodiments of varying apparatus are presented for completing the four steps of the method. Passengers in the first step view a primary environment, in the second step passengers are surrounded by a secondary environment, in the third step passengers experience Galilean invariance by viewing the velocity of multiple of images of motion of the secondary environment being relative to the velocity of the passenger vehicle as selected from a group consisting of equal magnitude and same direction, equal magnitude and opposite direction, greater magnitude and same direction, greater magnitude and opposite direction, lesser magnitude and same direction, and lesser magnitude and opposite direction, and in the fourth step passengers again view the primary environment.

A mirror-display is taught for use in a destination such as a theme park or hotel that allows a guest to move an article such as a wand in front of the mirror-display, where the movements are tracked and interpreted as commands. Visual movement feedback of the article is provided to help train the guests. The mirror-display can act as a full mirror, but then switch into a half-mirror mode where the guest sees their partial reflection along with output from the display, or a transparent mode where the guest does not see their reflection. Output includes secret messages only viewable to guests wearing glasses that are controllably detected and synchronized with the display output. The mirror-display comprises means for automatically determining guest identity and for exchanging commands and information with either or both of a local or global eco-system.

A small animal restraining device for the veterinarian treatment of small animals provides an enclosure having an opaque integrated front panel having a plurality of access panels, a rear panel, a floor panel and a cover lid forming a rectangular box defining an interior cavity, a first door panel attached to the rear panel and a second door attached to the rear panel, each door having a head engaging apparatus within a head opening, and a central interior squeeze panel pivotally and adjustably anchored within the interior cavity to the floor panel, the central interior squeeze panel urged towards the front panel to secure a body portion of the small animal between the central interior panel and the front panel while securing a head portion of the small animal within the head opening of either the first door or the second door, the head openings of the first door and second door providing the only light to the interior cavity, except for when one or more of the access panels are open to access the body portion of the restrained small animal.

Systems and methods herein are directed to creating a holographic image (e.g., in line with Pepper's Ghost Illusion) with a panel display (e.g., Plasma, liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED), etc.) as the light source for the holographic image. As described herein, such displays may include any size display, such as ranging from personal electronic equipment (e.g., watches, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, monitors, televisions, etc.) through to stage-sized displays for larger venues (e.g., concerts, stage shows, etc.). In addition, a diffusion layer may be provided in order to reduce or generally eliminate a “Moiré effect” that occurs due to physical properties of the interaction between the panel display and transparent screen.

A system and method are provided for mimicking a bioluminescent signal from an animal or an insect, such as a firefly. A first version includes a controller, an electrical energy battery, a solar energy collector and a light emitting device. The solar energy collector receives sunlight and converts the sunlight to electrical energy that is stored in the battery. The electrical energy battery provides electrical energy to the light emitting device under management by the controller, and may comprise two or more battery cells or circuits. A time sequence for energizing the light emitting device may be applied to cause the light emitting device to mimic a bioluminescent lighting pattern generally exhibited by a selected species of insect or animal. A light emitting diode may be used with a voltage source and a voltmeter to detect the approximate intensity of light of an ambient environment surrounding the device.

A novelty dog toy includes an elongated substantially flat surface portion having a first end and a second end and a substantially spherical portion disposed at the first end of the elongated substantially flat surface portion. The substantially spherical portion is modeled after a dog fetch ball and rests comfortably in a dog's mouth. The elongated portion is shaped, textured, and colored to resemble an oversized human or animal tongue, such that it provides a novel and comical appearance to a pet when the pet holds the spherical portion in his mouth.

Described is a levitating disk for performing illusions of levitation. The disk includes a disk-shaped housing, with a circuit board, microprocessor, and batteries encased within the housing. A series of LEDs are connected with the housing and are activated via a centrifugal force switch. The circuit board and batteries are positioned within the housing such that they distribute the weight evenly from a central axis toward the periphery of the housing. A micro-thread is included for attaching with the disk. Thus, in operation, a user can hang the disk with the micro-thread and spin the disk about the central axis to cause the lights to illuminate and cause the disk to appear as if it is levitating.

Interactive entertainment devices including a toy magic wand with integrated electronics for, among other things, detecting wand motion and responding accordingly, such as illuminating one or more LEDs, displaying images on one or more LCD displays, playing sound effects or character speech, emitting infrared (IR) signals via one or more IR emitters, or some combination thereof. An exemplary device may include a “fairy house” or “wizard tower” playset with integrated electronics for receiving one or more received IR signals and responding or reacting accordingly. For example, depending on the nature of the received IR signals, the electronics may illuminate one or more LEDs, display images on one or more LCD displays, play sound effects or character speech, emit IR signals via one or more IR emitters, or some combination thereof.

A child novelty toy device is provided for use spreading “fairy dust” in the form of granular salt or sand particles from the device interior. The device comprises a toy wand or sword structure having a salt dispensing means and a two-part, hollow construction wherein a first member is slidably engaged within a second member. The first member comprises an open interior and a sidewall structure having a plurality of apertures therealong for dispensing salt stored therewithin. The second member slides over the first member and shrouds the apertures until salt dispensing is desired. The sliding members form either a wand-like structure or a sword-like structure having a handle and a pointed end. The device is utilized to act out narratives wherein a child is capable spreading magical “dust” from the device during play time or prior to bed time.

A mirror-display is taught for use in a destination such as a theme park or hotel that allows a guest to move an article such as a wand in front of the mirror-display, where the movements are tracked and interpreted as commands. Visual movement feedback of the article is provided to help train the guests. The mirror-display can act as a full mirror, but then switch into a half-mirror mode where the guest sees their partial reflection along with output from the display, or a transparent mode where the guest does not see their reflection. Output includes secret messages only viewable to guests wearing glasses that are controllably detected and synchronized with the display output. The mirror-display comprises means for automatically determining guest identity and for exchanging commands and information with either or both of a local or global eco-system.