Game mat apparatus

• US 5,839,976 A
• Filed: 10/09/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elsie A. Darr
• Original Assignee: Elsie A. Darr
• Inventors: Darr, Elsie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoll, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/731,065
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 473/414, 473/4.131, 473/480, 273/238, 273/237, 273/286
• US Class Current: 473/414
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/22 Foot obstacles for skipping , e.g. horizontally-rotating obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00662 with an electric sensor for playing pieces A63F2009/2444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2448 Output devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/215 Hop-scotch
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/326 Bean bag

Abstract

A firm, flexible game mat has tapered edges, art work, and transparent portions defining sections of sufficient size and spaced to enable a player to place a foot on and hop from one to the jothers. The trasparent portions also provide areas through which images and lights are visible. The apparatus includes an electronic control unit, including a variety of function buttons, a score display screen, and a speaker device, which along with multiple lights and sensors and other electronic componentes located throughout the game mat provide a variety of functions allowing a player to interact on the game mat whereby movements are detected by sensors and activate changes in the electronic control unit, components, and devices for computing players'"'"'progress, displaying scores, activating various lights and images, and producing multiple sound and music for entertaining players and to direct the playing of a game. When the actuator button is pressed lights and music are generated. A scotch included with the game is tossed upon the mat lighting a player identification indicator. A player hops from the first block to the last block, turns, and hops back picking up the scotch on the return journey. This process is repeated by each player. Each player'"'"'s score is displayed on a score display screen. Pressing the reset button clear prior game information in the electronic control. The electronic control unit deactivates after a predetermined period of time if no activity on a game apparatus is sensed or detected.

Claims

1. An electronic game apparatus comprising;

Two layers of flexible, moisture resistant material affixed together forming a mat, said mat having a tapered edge and being of sufficient thickness as to lie flat, said mat comprising an upper surface having graphics and art work forming a game playing pattern;

a plurality of lights on the surface of the mat including at least some of said lights located around the surface of the mat;

an electronic control unit for selecting and performing different game functions secured to the mat, said electronic control unit including means for selectively operating and changing said lights for predetermined periods of time in response to different functions selected and performed by the electronic control unit, and an actuator button for causing the control unit to selectively operate said lights to indicate the game mat is activated;

said electronic control unit including a sound generating means for generating sounds and music in response to the different functions selected and performed by the electronic control unit;

said electronic control unit including means for input, analyzing, and reporting information received in the electronic control unit in response to different functions selected and performed by the electronic control unit; and

said electronic control unit including means for indicating players and player'"'"'s scores in response to different functions selected and performed by the electronic control unit.

2. The game mat of claim 1 wherein said plurality of lights are single lights or groups of lights, and said means for selectively operating and changing said lights comprises an electronic circuit.

3. The game mat of claim 2 wherein said electronic circuit includes a switch operable in response to activation of said actuator button to turn the lights located around the surface of the mat on and off in sequence, thereby producing a chaser motion around the surface of said mat, and simultaneously turn on other of said lights to light in a steady pattern, flash, blink, or have a random pattern of illumination, each for a predetermined time period thereby providing a visual display.

4. The game mat of claim 2 wherein said electronic circuit includes a sound generating device for generating multiple sounds including sounds in response to operation of said actuation button.

5. The game mat of claim 4 wherein said sound generating device for generating multiple sounds includes a speaker secured to a surface of the mat whereby the sounds are audible.

6. The game mat of claim 4 wherein said game playing pattern is divided into blocks defined by edges, each block being of such size as to enable the players to place a foot on the block within the edges, said mat includes force sensors for producing signals located under said upper surface and positioned to detect and distinguish between movement on each of said blocks, the edges of each block, and the area of said mat outside the blocks, and said sound generating device for generating multiple sounds generates sound in response to detection of movement on an edge of a block by a sensor positioned to detect movement on that edge or in response to detection of movement on the area outside the blocks by a sensor positioned to detect movement on that area.

7. The game mat of claim 6 wherein said electronic circuit includes an attempt detection means to detect and count signals from said movement sensors.

8. The game mat of claim 2 wherein said electronic circuit includes an electronic mechanism operable in response to functions of said electronic control unit for input, analyzing, and reporting information received in said electronic circuit.

9. The game mat of claim 1 wherein said game playing pattern is divided into blocks defined by edges, each block being of such size as to enable the players to place a foot on the block within the edges, the material of the mat within each block being of transparent material, and said plurality of lights including lights for illuminating each block and a plurality of lights forming an image, a number, or both, at each block.

10. The game mat of claim 9 wherein each block includes a plurality of player identification indicators, each identification indicator being a group of lights forming a different shape and each being a different color.

11. The game mat of claim 1 wherein said game playing pattern is divided into blocks defined by edges, each block being of such size as to enable the players to place a foot on the block within the edges, and said mat includes element detection sensors for producing signals located under said upper surface and positioned to detect and distinguish between contact on each of said blocks, the edges of each block, and the area of said mat outside the blocks.

12. The game mat of claim 11 wherein said electronic circuit includes an attempt detection means to detect and count signals from said sensor means.

13. The game mat of claim 11 and further including a playing piece or Scotch, said playing piece including an element detectable by said sensor means when said playing object is tossed upon the surface of said mat to trigger said sensor means.

14. The game mat of claim 11 wherein said electronic circuit includes a sound generating device for generating multiple sounds including sounds in response to detection of movement on a block by said sensor means.

15. The game mat of claim 1 wherein said upper surface includes a plurality of openings varying in size and situated in various locations on the surface of said mat forming windows through which lights and images are displayed.

16. The game mat of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit includes a plurality of player selector buttons each being a different color, and activation of any of said buttons triggers said control unit, and a number, a color code, and a player identification indicator corresponding to each said button is assigned in said control unit.

17. The game mat of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit includes an electronic mechanism for determining the score of each player and a score display screen for displaying players and player'"'"'s scores.

18. The game mat of claim 17 wherein said electronic control unit includes a reset button which when pressed causes the electronic circuit to clear information in said electronic mechanism and on said score display screen, and said electronic mechanism is also cleared by predetermined sets of changes in said electronic circuit, and said electronic control unit deactivates after a predetermined time period of no game activity.