Ball-shaped play equipment

• US 20050043125A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Makoto
• Application Number:
  US10/499,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/571
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

A ball-shaped play equipment is provided that outputs voice in response to a shock and can be played in more diversified ways than ever. The play equipment comprises a conversion section 30 for converting external voice into first voice data, a first recording section 54 for recording the first voice data, a detection section 58 for detecting a shock applied to the equipment, and a reproduction section 40 for outputting voice based on the first voice data recorded in the first recording section 54 when the detection section 58 detects a shock. At least one of the conversion section 30 and the first recording section 54 is activated on condition that it receives a command signal. The equipment may further comprise an operation section 20 which is externally operable and a signal transmission section 52 which transmits a command signal to at least one of the conversion section and the first recording section according to an operation applied to the operation section 20.

Claims

1. A ball-shaped play equipment which outputs voice in response to a shock comprising:

a conversion section for converting external voice into an electronic signal;

a recording section for recording voice data based on said electronic signal;

a detection section for detecting a shock applied to said ball-shaped play equipment; and

a reproduction section for outputting voice based on said voice data recorded in said recording section when said detection section detects said shock.

2. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 1 further comprising an operation section externally operable and a signal transmission section;

wherein at least one of said conversion section and said recording section is activated on condition that it receives a command signal, and

wherein said signal transmission section transmits said command signal to at least one of said conversion section and said recording section according to an operation applied to said operation section.

3. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2 further comprising a prohibition section for prohibiting at least one of said conversion section and said recording section from being activated irrespective of said operation applied to said operation section.

4. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 3,

wherein said recording section includes a first recording section for storing voice data based on said electronic signal as first voice data and a second recording section for pre-retaining second voice data, and

wherein said reproduction section retrieves the second voice data stored in said second recording section and outputs voice based on said second voice data when said detection section detects said shock while said changeover switch is prohibiting said signal transmission section from being activated.

5. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2 further comprising a casing for receiving therein said conversion section, said recording section, said detection section, and said reproduction section,

wherein said casing has a recess, and said operation section is provided at said recess.

6. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2,

wherein at least one of said conversion section and said recording section is activated on condition that it continuously receives said command signal for a predetermined period of time or longer.

7. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2 having a plurality of said operation sections,

wherein said signal transmission section transmits said command signal when one of said operation sections is operated and at least another operation section is subsequently operated within a predetermined period of time.

8. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2 further comprising a covering member, which is detachable or movable, for disabling an operation portion of said signal transmission section to be externally operated by covering the operation portion.

9. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 1 further comprising a command section externally operable,

wherein said recording section stores a plurality of voice data in such a manner that the data can be individually identified, and based on an external operation, said command section gives said reproduction section an indication of which of the plurality of said voice data to retrieve.

10. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2 further comprising a casing, at least part of which is made of an elastic member, for receiving said operation section therein,

wherein said operation section is a push switch and is arranged at a position which allows the switch to be pushed down through the elastic member of said casing with an external operation.

11. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 1 further comprising a selection section,

wherein said recording section stores a plurality of voice data, and said selection section randomly selects any of the plurality of said voice data with every processing by said reproduction section, and

wherein said reproduction section outputs voice based on said voice data selected by said selection section.

12. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 11,

wherein said selection section selects at least two of the plurality of said voice data at different probabilities.

13. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 1,

wherein said reproduction section outputs voice based on said voice data after a predetermined period of time has passed since said detection section detects said shock.

14. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 13,

wherein said predetermined period of time is 0.1 second to 1 second.

15. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 2 further comprising a casing for receiving therein said conversion section, said recording section, said detection section, said reproduction section, and said battery;

wherein said casing has a voice pickup hole for facilitating said conversion section to pick up voice, and a diffusion hole for helping the voice from said reproduction section to be externally diffused, and

wherein said operation section is arranged at a position almost along a line connecting said voice pickup hole and said diffusion hole.

16. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 15,

wherein said diffusion hole is positioned between said voice pickup hole and said operation section.

17. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 15,

wherein said voice pickup hole is positioned 1 cm or more apart from said operation section on said casing.

18. A ball-shaped play equipment which records external voice and reproduces said recorded voice when a shock is applied.

19. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 18,

wherein said external voice is recorded according to an operation of a user.

20. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 18,

wherein said external voice is being recorded while said user is operating the equipment.

21. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 18,

wherein recording of said external voice can selectively be prohibited.

22. The ball-shaped play equipment as defined in claim 18,

wherein said recorded voice is reproduced after a predetermined delay in time since said shock is applied.