Electronic game apparatus

• US 4,895,364 A
• Filed: 06/17/1988
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Great Games Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Great Games Pty Limited
• Inventors: Bishop, Thomas G., Martel, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/208,897
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1 E, 273/1 GE, 273/237, 273/284, 273/285, 273/287, 434/352, 446/487
• US Class Current: 273/237
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1073 Time-out devices sandglasses A63F2250/1068; A63F2250/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric

Abstract

An electronic game apparatus having a central body from which rigid arms extend to remote switches. The arms are pivotally connected to the central body and the remote switches to allow the apparatus to be folded for storage in an upright, free-standing position. Each arm has as member a sequence of numbers by which the players can keep score.

Claims

1. An electronic game apparatus comprising:

electronic circuitry;

a main body enclosing the electronic circuitry;

a plurality of remote switching devices electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and

a plurality of rigid arms pivotally connected to and extending from the main body to respective ones of the remote switching devices and arranged to carry the electrical connections between the electronic circuitry and respective ones of the remote switching devices;

wherein the electronic circuitry is operable to sense operation of the remote switching devices and to indicate which device was first operated.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further operable to randomly select a switching device to be indicated on operation of a switching device regardless of which switching device is actually operated.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further operable to time out predetermined time periods and to give an indication that the period has expired, the time periods being dependent upon which one of the switching devices is operated.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the connection between the arms and the main body are snap-in type connections.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the arms are pivotally connected to respective ones of the switching devices.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the switching device end of each arm is formed with a T-shaped projection held pivotably captive in a groove formed in a respective switching device by a cover fitted to the switching device.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each remote switching device comprises a switch housing enclosing a switch.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each arm is fitted with scoring means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said scoring means comprises a marker arranged to be slidable along the arm.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each arm has a series of detents for holding the marker at predetermined position along the arm.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the arm has a series of numbers displayed thereon and the marker has a cutout for revealing one number at a time.