Interactive teaching and entertaining system for a spectator

• US 20040005534A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Lee Vickroy
• Original Assignee: Richard Lee Vickroy
• Inventors: Vickroy, Richard Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/188,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20040005534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/247
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0672 using non-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/0051 Indicators of values, e.g. score counters

Abstract

An interactive entertainment system for use during a sporting event to educate a spectator and keep score of the sporting event comprising a substantially planar member having first and second surfaces. Each surface includes indicia. The first surface has a playing portion including indicia having a general shape that resembles the playing surface of a venue where the sporting event is being played, and a second portion including a scorekeeping area having indicia used when scoring is conducted during the sporting event. The second surface can be used to keep various statistics, lineups, notes, autographs, logos, etc. and the scoring and positioning members that are not being used. The system also has a plurality of scoring members for being removably secured to the scorekeeping area of the first surface of the planar member. The scoring members have indicia resembling an object used during the sporting event. Further, the system includes a plurality of position members for being removably secured to the first surface. The position members include a likeness of participants in the sporting event and are moveable along the playing portion of the first surface so that the likeness of the participant can be positioned on the playing surface indicia in a location that corresponds to a position the participant is occupying on the playing surface.

Claims

1. An interactive entertainment system for use during a sporting event to educate a spectator and keep score of the sporting event, said system comprising:

a substantially planar member having first and second surfaces, said first surface having a playing portion including indicia having a general resemblance of the playing surface of a venue where the sporting event is being played and a second portion including a scorekeeping area having indicia generally resembling an article used when scoring is conducted during the sporting event;

a plurality of scoring members for being removably secured to said scorekeeping area of said first surface of said planar member, said scoring members having indicia resembling an object used during the sporting event or an image relating to a team playing in the event; and

a plurality of position members for being removably secured to said planar member, a plurality of said position members each including a likeness of a respective participant in the sporting event and being moveable along the first surface.

2. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 where in said scoring members and said position members are removably secured to said planar member by static.

3. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 2 wherein said planar member, said scoring members and said position members are covered by a laminated vinyl.

4. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said venue comprises a baseball stadium, and said indicia on said playing portion forms a portion of a baseball playing field including an infield diamond.

5. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 4 wherein said indicia on said playing portion includes indicia representing home plate, first base, second base and third base.

6. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 4 wherein the indicia of said scorekeeping area represents a baseball stadium scoreboard.

7. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 4 wherein said scoring members have indicia representing a baseball.

8. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said position members are removably secured to the first surface in positions corresponding to their positions in the field of play when the game begins.

9. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein individual statistics for each participant can be kept on the second surface.

10. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein each position member includes indicia having for a likeness or non-photographic representation of a participant.

11. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said venue comprises a hockey arena, and said indicia on said playing portion is in the shape of a hockey rink.

12. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 11 wherein said scoring members have indicia representing a hockey puck.

13. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said venue comprises a racing stadium, and said indicia on said playing portion is in the shape of a car racing track.

14. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 13 wherein said scoring members have indicia representing members associated with vehicle racing.

15. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 14 wherein the indicia representing members associated with vehicle racing include steering wheels.

16. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 14 wherein the indicia representing members associated with vehicle racing include contest flags.

17. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 further including a marker for recording on the first and second surfaces.

18. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein the second side includes a plurality of rows and columns for recording and displaying information related to the contest.

19. An interactive entertainment system that permits a user to follow along with a competition, said system comprising:

a scoring and teaching device having first and second surfaces, said first surface having a first portion including indicia having the general resemblance of an area on which the competition is contested and a second portion including a scorekeeping region having indicia for recording scoring during the competition;

a plurality of scoring members for being removably secured to said scorekeeping region of said first surface of said scoring and teaching device, said scoring members having indicia resembling an object used during the competition or an image relating to at least one competitor;

a plurality of position members for being removably secured to said first surface of said scoring and teaching device, a plurality of said position members each including a likeness of a respective participant in the competition and being moveable along the first portion of the first surface so that the likeness of the participant can be positioned in the first portion in a location that corresponds to the location the respective participant is occupying in the area where the competition is being contested.

20. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 where in said scoring members and said position members are removably secured to said planar member by static.

21. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 20 wherein scoring members and said position members include a static cling vinyl.

22. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 wherein said venue comprises a facility for playing baseball, and said indicia on said first portion forms a portion of a baseball playing field including an infield diamond.

23. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 22 wherein the indicia of said scorekeeping region represents a baseball stadium scoreboard.

24. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 23 wherein said scoring members have indicia representing a baseball.

25. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 22 wherein said position members are removably secured to the first surface in positions corresponding to their positions in the field of play when a baseball game begins.

26. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 wherein each position member includes a likeness or non-photographic representation of a participant.

27. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 wherein said venue comprises a hockey arena, and said indicia on said playing portion is in the shape of a hockey rink.

28. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 27 wherein said scoring members have indicia representing a hockey puck.

29. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 wherein said venue comprises a racing stadium, and said indicia on said playing portion is in the shape of a vehicular racing track.

30. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 29 wherein said scoring members have indicia representing members associated with vehicle racing.

31. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 30 wherein the indicia representing members associated with vehicle racing include steering wheels.

32. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 30 wherein the indicia representing members associated with vehicle racing include contest flags.

33. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 further including a marker for recording on the first and second surfaces.

34. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 19 wherein the second side includes a plurality of rows and columns for recording and displaying information.

35. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 33 wherein said information includes the name, number or make of a vehicle of the participant.

36. Method for scoring and playing along with a competition as it is being contested, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a scoring and teaching device comprising a first surface having a first section with indicia having a general shape of and resembling a venue where the competition is contested and a second section having indicia resembling a scoring system for the competition;

securely locating a plurality of scoring members at predetermined positions along said second section in response to occurrences in the competition, each said scoring member including indicia that resembles an item used during the competition or an image relating to a team in the competition;

securely locating at least one position member having indicia with the likeness of a contestant participating in the competition in said first section when the contestant moves within the area where the competition is contested.

37. The method according to claim 36 including the step of moving at least one position member as the position of a contestant changes in the venue where the competition is being contested.

38. The method of claim 36 including the step of moving at least one scoring member as the score of the competition changes or a happening occurs in the competition that is recorded by an official scorer for the competition.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the scoring members and the position members are secured to the first surface using static cling vinyl.

40. The method of claim 36 including the step of writing the contestants names on a second surface of the device.

41. An interactive entertainment system that permits a user to follow along with a competition, said system comprising:

a first member having first and second surfaces, said first surface comprising at least a first portion including indicia resembling a surface on which the followed competition is being contested; and

a plurality of members for being removably secured to said first member, said plurality of members each including static cling vinyl and having indicia associated with the competition.

42. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41 wherein said first surface includes a second portion comprising a scorekeeping region that has indicia representing equipment used when recording statistics and scores during the competition.

43. The interactive entertainment system of claim 42 wherein said first surface includes a protective covering extending over said indicia of said first portion and said indicia of said second portion.

44. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41 wherein at least a plurality of said plurality of members include indicia resembling an object used during the competition or an image relating to at least one competitor.

45. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41 wherein said plurality of members include scoring members that are positioned in a second portion of said first surface, and wherein the indicia on said scoring members resemble an article used to perform said competition.

46. The interactive entertainment system of claim 45 further comprising a plurality of position members for being removably secured to said first surface, at least a plurality of said position members each including a likeness of a participant in the competition and being moveable along the first portion of the first surface so that the likeness of the participant can be positioned in the first portion in a location that corresponds to the position the participant is occupying on the surface where the competition is being contested.

47. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41 wherein said plurality of members are each formed of at least one layer of static cling vinyl material.

48. The interactive entertainment system of claim 47 wherein said indicia associated with the competition is carried on said at least one layer of static cling vinyl material.

49. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41wherein said competition is selected from the group consisting of baseball, football, soccer, hockey, vehicle racing and basketball.

50. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41 wherein at least a plurality of said plurality of members has a shape of an article used during the competition.

51. The interactive entertainment system of claim 50 wherein said shape includes a shape of a football.

52. The interactive entertainment system of claim 50 wherein said shape includes a shape of a hockey puck.

53. The interactive entertainment system of claim 50 wherein said shape includes a shape of a ball or a steering wheel.

54. The interactive entertainment system of claim 41 wherein said first surface includes a protective covering extending over said indicia of said first portion.

55. The interactive entertainment system of claim 54 wherein said protective covering includes a vinyl material.

56. The interactive entertainment system of claim 55 wherein said vinyl material includes a static cling vinyl.

57. The interactive entertainment system of claim 48 wherein said static cling vinyl layer and said indicia associated with the competition are covered by a protective coating.

58. The interactive entertainment system of claim 57 wherein said coating includes a UV coating.

59. An interactive entertainment system for use during a sporting event to educate a spectator and keep score of the sporting event, said system comprising:

a substantially planar member having first and second surfaces, said first surface having a playing portion including indicia having a general resemblance of the playing surface of a venue where the sporting event is being played; and

a plurality of members for being removably secured to said first surface of said planar member, said members each having indicia resembling either an object used during the sporting event, an image relating to a team playing in the event or a likeness of a respective participant in the sporting event.

60. The interactive entertainment system according to claim 59 wherein said first surface further comprises a second portion including a scorekeeping area having indicia generally resembling an article used when scoring is conducted during the sporting event.