Handheld electronic game apparatus having attacking feature

• US 6,364,771 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Sam Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/501,870
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/454, 273/460, 463/30, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/46, 463/47, 463/43, 463/44
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/30 Capturing games for grabbing or trapping objects, e.g. fishing games

Abstract

A game play apparatus housing supports a joystick post and a plurality of game play input buttons. A miniature surfboard is supported on the upper end of the joystick post. A microprocessor game play circuit and sound circuit together with a controller is supported within the interior of the housing. A simulated shark head is pivotally supported upon the upper end of the housing and forms an upper jaw. A drive mechanism utilizing a reversible motor responds to the controller circuit to either oscillate the head and upper jaw through a narrow range of motion or, alternatively, allow a rapid downward closure of the upper jaw upon the toy surfboard to provide a game play finale.

Claims

1. A game play apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity and an upper portion;

a closure member pivotably supported by said upper portion, said closure member pivotable between an open position and a closed position;

a joystick game play switch mechanism supported by said housing and having an upwardly extending joystick post supporting a finger-touch game play element;

drive means within said interior cavity coupled to said closure member constructed to pivotally oscillate said closure member at said open position and to rapidly move said closure member from said open position to said closed position in close proximity to said finger-touch game play element; and

a game play controller responsive to said joystick game play mechanism to cause said drive means to pivotally oscillate said closure member and thereafter move said closure member to said closed position.

2. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a lower jaw having a plurality of lower teeth and wherein said closure member includes a head having an upper jaw having a plurality of upper teeth.

3. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said lower jaw includes a mouth interior having an image display.

4. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said head, said upper jaw and said lower jaw are constructed to resemble a shark.

5. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said finger-touch game play element is a miniature toy surfboard.

6. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive means include:

a reversible motor;

a cam;

drive means coupling said motor to said cam;

a cam follower coupling said cam to said closure member; and

means for displacing said cam follower from said cam to cause said closure member to move to said closed position, said means for displacing being operative in response to a reversal of said motor.

7. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means include:

a reversible motor;

a cam;

drive means coupling said motor to said cam;

a cam follower coupling said cam to said closure member; and

means for displacing said cam follower from said cam to cause said closure member to move to said closed position, said means for displacing being operative in response to a reversal of said motor.

8. A game play apparatus for use in combination with a game play controller, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having a lower jaw, a mouth portion and a plurality of lower teeth;

a head pivotably secured to said housing and having an upper jaw and a plurality of upper teeth;

a joystick, supported by said housing, having an upwardly extending joystick post supporting a finger-touch game play element thereon;

drive means within said housing for oscillating said head at an open position and rapidly closing said upper jaw upon said finger-touch game play element in response to said game play controller.

9. The game play apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said finger-touch game play element includes a miniature surfboard.