Virtual tug of war

• US 6,620,043 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Poor, Kyle W., Sogge, John W., Haseltine, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/493,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/1, 463/8, 463/29, 463/30, 463/31, 463/34, 463/35, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43, 463/46, 463/47, 463/59, 463/64, 463/66, 463/67, 700/90, 700/91, 700/92, 273/317.1, 273/358, 273/129.V, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/440.1, 273/444, 273/451, 273/452, 273/453
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0652 Visualisation or indication relating to symmetrical exercise, e.g. right-left performance related to spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/151 Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/28 Devices for two persons operating in opposition or in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 : Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 : Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 : automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 : Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 : being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel form of entertainment in which participants compete in a “tug of war” against opponents who are remotely located, stored in electronic form in memory, or are virtual opponents graphically generated in real-time by a computer. One embodiment implements “tug of war” in a manner compatible with international standards for Tug competitions. The invention consists of a rope attached to a motor to supply a counterforce to the pulling team. A tensiometer is attached to the rope to determine the force being applied to the rope by the pulling team. In one embodiment, there is a corresponding assembly being used by an opposing team and in data communication with the first assembly. The motor applies a counterforce to the rope being pulled by one team based on the force being applied by the other team to their own rope. In this manner, the system works as if the teams were each pulling on the same rope.

Claims

1. A device for playing a game of tug of war comprising:

a first rope for gripping by one or more first opponents;

a first force application mechanism adapted to apply a counter-force to said first rope dependent upon an opposing force applied by one or more second opponents;

a first display for displaying said one or more second opponents to said one or more first opponents, said first rope extending through said first display;

a first camera for obtaining images of said one or more first opponents;

a first tensiometer for measuring a force applied by said one or more first opponents;

a second rope located at a location remote to said first rope, said second rope for gripping by said one or more second opponents;

a second force application mechanism adapted to apply a counter-force to said second rope dependent upon an opposing force applied by said one or more first opponents;

a second display for displaying said one or more first opponents to said one or more second opponents, said second rope extending through said second display;

a second camera for obtaining images of said one or more second opponents;

a second tensiometer for measuring a force applied by said one or more second opponents;

a communications link for transmitting information representing images of said one or more first and second opponents obtained by said first camera for display by said second display and by said second camera for display by said first display, and for transmitting information representing said opposing force applied by said one or more second opponents and said opposing force applied by said one or more first opponents, wherein said opposing force applied by said second opponents comprises said counterforce to be applied to said first rope, and wherein said force applied by said first opponents comprises said counter-force to be applied to said second rope.