Upright ball womb-like chessboard game

Abstract

An apparatus including a game for maintaining user's interest to extend the use of the game while developing fine motion control of the user. The game includes a removable maze placed upright adjacent the tailgate such that a gap is created between the maze and the tailgate. A transparent cover is placed on the upright maze, creating a second gap between the upright maze and the cover. A control member is located within the second gap and is used to guide the ball along a labyrinth path of the game. If a user fails, the ball drops from the upright maze and from a first gap between the maze and the tailgate. The first and second ball return devices may optionally be present at the top and bottom of the apparatus. The upright maze can be removed from the device and replaced with a different upright maze having a different maze path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a board and arcade game and system for entertainment. Background Art

[0002] Physical activities stimulate the development of motor skills, which are very useful for the purposes of physical health and physical therapy rehabilitation. While many physical activities (e.g., baseball or soccer) enhance gross motor skills, the nature of these physical activities does not stimulate the development of fine motor skills. In addition, while there are activities that enhance fine motor skills, these activities are often boring and thus do not encourage children and other users to regularly participate in fine motor skill development activities. Examples of these fine motor control activities are ball-maze devices that stimulate fine motor control when the user of the device guides a ball through a maze.

[0003] However, existing ball-mazes have severe limitations in that the user of the device can quickly learn and master the actions required to complete the maze, resulting in the maze no longer being a fine motor challenge for the user, thus causing the user to become bored. This induced boredom impairs the fine motor control characteristics of existing ball-mazes because a bored user will not use the device as long or as willingly as an entertainment game user (and thus a bored user will generally not develop as much fine motor control as an entertained user).

[0004] Accordingly, the inventors of the claimed device have developed a game that trains the user's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while prolonging the user's use of the game by maintaining the entertainment value of the game for the user. This prolonged entertainment is achieved by the ability of the device to change the shape of its maze to continuously challenge and entertain the user of the game. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The device includes a removable upright maze adjacent to a backplate. At least a portion of the path of the maze is cut out from the remainder of the maze, thereby creating at least a portion of the maze surrounded by gaps into which the ball may fall. The maze includes an entrance at its bottom and an exit at its top. A control member extends across the width of the entire maze and is positioned below the entrance at the bottom of the maze. The ball is then placed on the control member, and a transparent cover is placed over the entire device such that the upright maze is located between the transparent cover and the backplate. The relative positioning of the upright maze to the backplate creates a gap having a width equal to or greater than the diameter of the ball, and the relative positioning of the transparent cover to the upright maze creates a gap having a width greater than the diameter of the ball. A first ball return device is located at the bottom of the device, while a second ball return device is located at the top of the device.

[0006] When a user of the claim game (hereinafter referred to as the "player" of the game) moves and tilts the control member to guide the ball along the path of the upright maze, the device operates and develops the user's fine motor skills. The player tilts the control member so that the ball moves horizontally in the maze, raises the control member so that the ball rises upward toward the top of the maze, and lowers the control member so that the ball descends downward toward the bottom of the maze.

[0007] As the ball travels through the maze, the player must carefully guide the ball through the maze path without allowing the ball to fall off the edge of the maze path. If the ball falls off the path edge, the ball will fall through the gap between the upright maze and the backstop into the ball return device at the bottom of the game, and then the device will return the ball to the user to restart the game at the starting point of the maze.

[0008] Numerous turns and sharp bends in the maze require the player to use fine motor skills to guide the ball to the exit at the top of the maze without allowing the ball to fall off the maze path. Once the ball reaches the channel exit, the ball will enter the second ball return device and be sent back to the player for restarting the game. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the game device.

[0010] Figure 2 is a left elevation view of the game device.

[0011] Figure 3 is a right elevation view of the game device.

[0012] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the game device showing the game process, where the ball is guided along the upright maze via the control member.

[0013] Figure 5 is a left side sectional view of the internal design of the game device.

[0014] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the device, showing the "housing", the replaceable upright maze, the control member, the ball, and the transparent cover of the device.

[0015] Figure 7 is a left front elevation view of the device, showing another method of inserting the replaceable upright maze into the game.

[0016] Figure 8 shows possible alternative configurations of the replaceable upright maze.

[0017] Figure 9 shows a left side view of the foldable game device in an unfolded and open configuration.

[0018] Figure 10 A left side view of the folding game device in a folded and closed configuration is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring to the accompanying drawings, and in particular Figures 1 to 3 , the present invention is an upright maze game which is designed to develop the fine motor muscles and skills of a game player. In a preferred embodiment of the device, the game includes a rear baffle 1, wherein the rear baffle 1 has a bottom end, an opposite top end, a left side, and a right side opposite the left side; a first ball return device 2 located at the bottom end of the rear baffle 1; a second ball return device 3 located at the top end of the rear baffle 1; a removable upright maze 4 adjacent to the rear baffle 1, wherein there is a first gap 5 between the removable upright maze 4 and the rear baffle 1, and wherein the starting point of the maze 6 is located at the bottom end of the rear baffle 1 and the end point of the maze 7 is located at the top end of the rear baffle 1; a transparent cover material sheet 8 adjacent to the removable upright maze 4, wherein there is a second gap 9 between the removable upright maze and the transparent cover material sheet 8; a control member 10 configured to move through the second gap 9 between the removable upright maze 4 and the transparent cover 8; and a ball 11 having a diameter smaller than the width of the first device gap 5 or the second device gap 9.

[0020] In summary, all parts of the device other than the removable upright maze, the control member, the ball, and the transparent cover are referred to as the "housing" of the device because these parts house the upright maze, the control member, the ball, and the transparent cover during game operation. The housing is divided into two parts, a top housing part and a bottom housing part. The top housing part contains all upright components (including any of the following components: the rear baffle, the retaining member of the removable upright maze, the gasket, the first and second gaps, one or more sensors, one or more visual and / or audio indicators, one or more tracks, the second ball return device, and the second ramp). The bottom housing part contains all lower components below the rear baffle (including any of the following components: the first ramp, the first ball return device, and the holding container).

[0021] The rear baffle 1 of the game provides shape and support for the rest of the device. The rear baffle 1 can preferably stand at an angle non-vertically (relative to any surface on which the game is located) such that the ball 11 on the game maze 4 is affected by gravity and can fall through the first gap 5 if the ball 11 leaves the path of the maze 4.

[0022] Alternatively, the rear baffle 1 can be vertical relative to the surface on which the game is located, and the control member 10 can be configured to create an angle towards the rear baffle 1 from which the ball 11 will roll if the ball leaves the path of the maze 4.

[0023] Now referring to Figure 5, the rear baffle 1 may optionally include, at the bottom of the rear baffle 1, a retaining member 13 for a removable upright maze that holds the maze away from the rear baffle 1, thereby creating a first gap 5 between the rear baffle 1 and the maze 4. The rear baffle may also optionally include, at the top corners of the device, spacers 12 that hold the transparent cover away from the maze 4, thereby creating a second gap 9 between the upright maze 4 and the transparent cover 8. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sizes of the first and second gaps 5, 9 may be greater than or equal to the diameter of the ball 11.

[0024] The removable upright maze 4 is inserted into the device such that the maze 4 is adjacent to the rear baffle 1. Preferably, the removable upright vertical maze is held or supported in position by a retaining member 13 for the removable upright maze and a second ramp 20. The combination of such a retaining member 13 for the removable upright maze and the second ramp 20 is preferably configured to position the plane in which the upright maze 4 lies parallel to the plane in which the rear baffle 1 lies. However, as long as the width of the first gap 5 is greater than or equal to the width of the ball 11, the plane in which the upright maze 4 lies may optionally not be placed parallel to the plane of the rear baffle 1.

[0025] If the retaining member 13 for the removable upright maze and the second ramp 20 position the upright maze such that it is parallel to the rear baffle, the removable upright maze and the rear baffle are at the same angle relative to the surface on which the game is played.

[0026] However, if the retaining member 13 for the removable upright maze and the second ramp 20 position the upright maze such that it is not parallel to the rear baffle, the upright maze may have any non-horizontal angle relative to the surface on which the game is played. If the game user makes a mistake during the game, an angled control member 10 may optionally be used to cause the ball to drop out of the maze.

[0027] The retaining member 13 for the removable upright maze and the second ramp 20 may space the maze 4 from the rear baffle 1, thereby creating a first gap 5 between the maze 4 and the rear baffle 1, the width of which may be greater than or equal to the width of the ball 11 used in the game. The removable maze 4 has an entrance 6 aligned with the bottom edge of the rear stop 1 and an exit 7 aligned with the top edge of the rear baffle 1.

[0028] The removable upright maze 4 is preferably cut from a single flat material plane such that the spaces between the maze paths are gaps large enough for the ball to pass through. The height of the maze paths may optionally be different from the plane in which the maze 4 lies. Thus, the maze 4 may have ridges, ramps, pits, slopes, or other such geometric structures that change the height of the maze relative to the plane in which the maze 4 lies (thereby creating a partially three-dimensional maze).

[0029] Now refer to Figure 4, the player operates the game by placing the ball 11 on the control member 10 at the bottom and the entrance 6 of the upright maze 4. Then, the player lifts the control member 10 and tilts it from side to side to guide the ball along the upright maze 4. If the player makes a mistake, the angle of the maze 4 or the angle of the control member 10 will cause the ball 11 to fall from the edge of the maze 4 and into the first gap 5 beside or behind the maze. Then, the ball falls into the first ball return device 2 attached to the bottom of the game.

[0030] The first ball return device 2 is a device that collects the balls 11 that fall from the maze 4 and returns them to the player to restart the game. Although any device that holds the ball and returns it to the user can be used, a preferred embodiment of the device includes a first ramp 19 that slopes downward toward the player and leads into a first holding container or a first ball holding device. When the ball 11 falls from the maze 4, the ball 11 lands on the first ramp 19 and then may roll into the holding container to wait to be collected by the player.

[0031] The second ball return device 3 is attached to the top of the device to collect the balls 11 that successfully pass through the maze 4 and return them to the game user. Although any device that holds the ball and returns it to the user can be used, a preferred embodiment of the device uses a second ramp 20 that extends from one side of the maze and slopes toward the other side. Then, the sloping ramp leads into a passage that guides the ball downward into a second holding container or a second ball holding device. The second ball holding device can optionally replace the first holding container or the first ball holding device. The second ramp can optionally extend beyond the backstop.

[0032] A sensor can optionally be attached to the first or second ball return device and can then optionally be configured to activate a visual and / or audio indicator 17. If the sensor is attached to the first ball return device, the sensor can detect the presence of the ball and then activate the associated visual and / or audio indicator 17. The visual and / or audio indicator 17 associated with the first ball return device can indicate that the player has not completed the game. Thus, the visual and / or audio associated with the first ball return device may produce a red light, may produce a beeping sound, or may produce any other combination of visual and audio signals indicating that the maze has not been completed. The visual and / or audio indicator 17 can be any device that produces light or sound, including but not limited to: lights, speakers, clickers, buzzers, bells, screens, monitors, and noise makers.

[0033] Conversely, if the sensor is attached to the second ball return device, the sensor can detect the presence of the ball and subsequently activate the associated visual and / or audio indicator 17. The visual and / or audio indicator 17 associated with the second ball return device can indicate that the player has successfully completed the game. Thus, the visual and / or audio indicator associated with the second ball return device can produce a green light, can produce a ringing sound, or can produce any other combination of visual and audio signals indicating successful completion of the maze. The visual and / or audio indicator 17 can be any device that produces light or sound, including but not limited to: lights, speakers, clickers, buzzers, bells, screens, displays, and noise makers.

[0034] Referring Figure 6 , the maze 4 is configured to be removable from the game device so that the maze 4 can be replaced with a different maze 4 containing a different combination of maze paths. This interchangeability of the maze 4 provides great versatility to the game device: different fine motor control movements can be trained and diversity can be provided to the game user so that the game user does not get bored repeating the same maze 4 paths over and over again.

[0035] The game can be sold to consumers as a kit containing the game device (including the game housing, the upright maze, the control member, and the transparent cover) and a plurality of replaceable upright mazes 4. Optionally, the alternative upright mazes 4 can be sold separately to supplement the game device that the consumer already owns.

[0036] Due to the fact that the direction, angle, and turns of the path can be changed to produce a new configuration of the maze 4, the removable upright maze 4 has a variety of path configurations. The upright maze 4 can have only one path from the starting point to the ending point, or it can have multiple different parallel paths from the starting point to the ending point. The path can follow a series of sharp acute, right, or obtuse angles that turn and bend sharply from top to bottom, or the path can follow gentle angles with slow turns and no acute angles, or the path can use a combination of acute and gentle angles. Figure 8 Examples of possible maze configurations are provided, although the mazes shown do not comprehensively cover all possible maze structures. Sharp maze angles are preferred because they provide a higher level of difficulty, thus maximizing the development of the user's fine motor control. However, other softer, more gentle angles are also suitable for the removable upright mazes with lower difficulty.

[0037] Although any method can be used to remove and replace the maze 4 in the device, there are two preferred embodiments. In the first preferred embodiment, there is a case where the transparent cover is removable or openable. Then, removing or opening the transparent cover allows the game user to directly access the original upright maze 4 located within the game device. Then, the original upright maze 4 is removed from the device, and a new game maze 4 is inserted into the position where the original maze was located before. Optional retaining tools (such as, but not limited to: clamps, screws, latches, or fasteners) can be used to fix the maze 4 in its position within the device. In a preferred embodiment of this device, these retaining tools can be the second ramp 20 and the retaining member 13 of the removable upright maze. When the new maze 4 is placed in the game, the retaining tools can rest on the second ramp 20 at the top of the back panel and the retaining member 13 of the removable upright maze at the bottom of the back panel. The second ramp 20 and the retaining member 13 of the removable upright maze can be configured to separate the upright maze 4 from the back panel 2, thereby creating a first gap 5. Once the new game maze 4 is inserted, the transparent cover 8 is put back into the game, where the transparent cover 8 can rest on the first set of spacers 12, which can create a second gap 9 that is greater than or equal to the diameter of the ball 11.

[0038] Now referring Figure 7 , there is another preferred embodiment of maze removal, where the original maze 4 slides out through the edge 14 of the device, and the replacement maze slides in through the edge of the maze 4. In this embodiment, the transparent cover 8 can be removable or openable, and optional retaining tools (such as, but not limited to: clamps, screws, latches, or fasteners) can be used to hold the maze in place within the device.

[0039] The transparent cover 8 is a solid transparent object placed on the device such that the maze 4 is located between the cover and the back panel 1. The transparent cover is configured such that the second gap 9 existing between the cover 8 and the maze 4 is wider than the diameter of the ball 11. The transparent cover 8 can be made of a polymer, glass, or any other substance that can be seen through by the player.

[0040] The control member 10 is located between the transparent cover 8 and the upright maze 4. The control member 10 is an elongated object that extends through the game device. The length of the extension 10 of this control member is preferably at least as wide as the width of the upright maze, and more preferably long enough to extend beyond the sides of the transparent cover.

[0041] The control member can optionally have at least one handle 15 attached to at least one end of the control member to assist the player in manipulating the control member to guide the ball 11 upward through the upright maze 4. Tracks can exist along at least one side in the device to more easily guide the control member 10 onto the game device.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment of the claimed apparatus, there is no second ball return device 3. When the ball 11 exits the top of the maze 7, the ball 11 falls from the top of the maze 7 and through the first gap 5 between the maze 4 and the rear baffle 1 such that the first ball return device 2 collects the ball.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the rear baffle 1 replaces the open frame, which is configured to contain the removable upright maze 4, the control member 10, and the transparent cover 8. In this embodiment, the transparent cover 8, as well as the first ball return device 2 and the second ball return device 3, can be optionally omitted to reduce the weight of the apparatus and improve its portability. However, if the first ball return device 2 is included in this embodiment, the first ball return device can be configured to capture both the ball 11 falling from the maze 4 and the ball 11 reaching the top of the maze 4 and falling from the exit 7 of the maze.

[0044] Now referring Figures 9 to 10 , in another alternative embodiment of the claimed apparatus, the apparatus is configured to fold such that the upper housing portion of the apparatus can fold substantially flat relative to the lower housing portion of the apparatus. This folding configuration can be achieved by a hinge or a connector 18 that attaches the upper housing portion of the apparatus to the lower housing portion.

Claims

1. A game, comprising: A backboard, wherein the backboard defines a plane having a bottom end and an opposite top end; A first ball return device located at the bottom end of the backboard; A second ball return device located at the top end of the backboard; A removable upright maze adjacent to the backboard, wherein there is a first gap between the removable upright maze and the backboard, wherein the upright maze has at least one entrance on a maze side corresponding to the bottom end of the backboard, and wherein the upright maze has at least one exit on a maze side corresponding to the top end of the backboard; A transparent covering sheet placed along the removable upright maze, wherein there is a second gap between the removable upright maze and the transparent covering sheet; A control member configured to move through the second gap between the removable upright maze and the transparent covering; and A ball having a diameter smaller than the width of the first gap or the width of the second gap.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The first ball return device includes a first ramp located at the bottom of the backboard, the first ramp descending in a direction away from the backboard, wherein the first ramp is configured to receive a ball that falls through the first gap or the second gap; and The second ball return device includes a second ramp located at the top end of the backboard, the second ramp extending along the width of the backboard and inclining towards the bottom end of the backboard, wherein the second ball return device further includes a tube extending from the top end of the backboard to the bottom end of the backboard, wherein the second ball return ramp is configured to convey any ball that reaches the end of the upright maze into the tube.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein The game further includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, wherein the upper housing portion is operably connected to the lower housing portion via a connecting member or a hinge, and wherein the connecting member or the hinge is operably configured to allow the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion to fold substantially relative to each other.

4. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a ball holding device placed at the bottom of the first ramp to catch the ball when the ball rolls down the first ramp.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control member has at least one handle configured to assist in manipulating the control member.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: A sensor that detects when a ball passes through the first ball return device or the second ball return device and is operably configured to subsequently or simultaneously activate an output device configured to output visual and / or audio signals.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein The transparent cover is removable.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The transparent cover is fixedly placed, and the upright maze is replaced via one side of the device.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The path of the upright maze lies in a second plane parallel to a first plane of the backboard, and the path does not extend out of the second plane.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The path of the upright maze lies in a second plane parallel to a first plane of the backboard, and portions of the path include ridges or valleys that extend out of the second plane.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The upright maze is formed from a single piece of material, wherein the space between the edges of the maze paths is cut from the single piece of material.

12. A method of using the apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: Obtaining the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a first upright maze; Obtaining a ball having a diameter less than or equal to the width of the first apparatus gap or the width of the second apparatus gap; Moving the control member to a side of the upright maze corresponding to the bottom end of the rear baffle; Placing the ball on the control member at the starting position of the maze; Moving and tilting the control member to guide the ball along the path of the maze until the ball moves to the end of the maze; Causing the ball to enter the second ball return device; Using the ball return device to return the ball to the apparatus user.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: Removing the first upright maze located between the transparent cover and the rear baffle of the apparatus according to claim 1; Obtaining a second upright maze having a maze shape different from the removed upright maze; Placing the second upright maze between the transparent cover and the rear baffle; Placing the ball at the bottom of the second upright maze; Using the control member to guide the ball along the path of the maze until the ball moves to the end of the maze.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: Moving and tilting the control member using the hand of the apparatus user.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: Removing the transparent cover from the apparatus before replacing the original upright maze with the second upright maze.

16. The method according to claim 12, causing the ball to interact with a sensor configured to activate a visual and / or audio indicator that can emit a signal when the ball passes the sensor.

17. A game, comprising: A frame configured to hold a removable upright maze having a bottom side and a top side, Wherein the removable upright maze has at least one entrance at the bottom of the maze and at least one exit at the top of the maze, Wherein the upright maze has at least one path connecting the at least one entrance to the at least one exit, and Wherein the upright maze is formed from a single piece of material, Wherein the space between the edges of the maze paths is cut from the single piece of material; A ball having a diameter equal to or less than the width of the path of the upright maze; A control member configured to move the ball through the maze.

18. The game according to claim 17, further comprising a first ball return device.

19. The game according to claim 18, wherein, The removable upright maze is configured such that: if the ball drops from the edge of the maze or exits one end of the maze, the ball can drop from the maze and fall into the first ball return device.

20. The game according to claim 17, wherein The frame is covered by a transparent cover configured to have a gap between the transparent cover and the removable maze, wherein the gap is greater than or equal to the diameter of the ball.

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