Executive balls

• US 4,874,165 A
• Filed: 08/29/1988
• Issued: 10/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raphaela Mccabe, Steinberg, Joseph
• Original Assignee: Raphaela Mccabe, Steinberg, Joseph
• Inventors: Steinberg, Joseph, McCabe, Raphaela
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/237,975
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1 GC, 273/1 GD, 273/1 E, 273/1 M, 273/58 E, 273/58 G
• US Class Current: 273/455
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0058 electric A63F7/027, A63F7/3065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0088 using magnetic power A63F7/068 takes precedence; magnetic toys A63H33/26
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A hand held game device consisting of a pair of spheres one of which contains a permanent magnet and the other of which contains a circuit which is actuated upon the two spheres becoming properly oriented with each other. The circuit containing sphere produces audible beeps upon being actuated. The beeps are produced for a predetermined period of time and are then terminated unless a new series of beeps is initiated upon the two spheres again becoming properly oriented with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A sound producing game device for challenging the dexterity and coordination of a player comprising:

a. a first sphere containing means for establishing a magnetic field;

b. a second sphere containing switch means for being actuated by said magnetic field when said first and second spheres come within a predetermined position of each other;

c. circuit means in response to actuation of said switch means for producing an audible signal at a preselected frequency, said audible signal terminating after a predetermined period of time after initiation of said audible signal; and

d. said circuit means including means in response to the repeated actuation of said switch means within said predetermined period of time to initiate another audible signal at a different preselected frequency, the other audible signal terminating after said predetermined time measured from the initiation of said other audible signal unless said switch means is again actuated and initiates a new audible signal at a different frequency.

2. The game device of claim 1 in which said circuit means includes means to produce a series of audible signals at a succession of frequencies rising and dropping in scale as long as said switch means is actuated within said predetermined period of time due to said spheres coming within said predetermined position after each audible signal is initiated.

3. The sound producing game device of claim 2 in which said circuit means includes:

a. oscillator means for being enabled by the actuation of said switch means to produce a constant frequency output;

b. frequency divider means for producing in response to the output of said oscillator means a plurality of different frequency outputs; and

c. means to select which frequency output from said divider means produces an audible signal at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the output selected from said divider means.

4. The sound producing device of claim 3 in which said divider means also produces an output for being gated with the frequency output selected to produce said audible signals in the form of beeps.

5. The sound producing device of claim 4 in which said circuit means includes a piezoelectric crystal device to produce the audible signals.

6. The sound producing game device of claim 1 in which said means for establishing a magnetic field comprises at least one permanent magnet.

7. The sound producing game device of claim 6 in which said switch means is a magnetic reed switch.

8. The sound producing game device of claim 7 in which said spheres are made from material transparent to a magnetic field.

9. The sound producing game device of claim 8 in which said first and second spheres are small enough to fit in the palm of a hand and be manipulated thereby.

10. The sound producing game device of claim 9 in which said circuit means includes a piezoelectric crystal device to produce the audible signals.