Mind-control toys and methods of interaction therewith

• US 8,157,609 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Hallaian, Stephen C., Redlawsk, Kam Young-eun Kim, Lau, Stephen P. K., Franke, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/589,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 446/173, 436/36, 273/460
• US Class Current: 446/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0087 with means for producing an air current
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/243 with other kinds of input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2488 Remotely playable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1047 for electrical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/497 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/52 with a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0058 electric A63F7/027, A63F7/3065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/2472 Projecting devices with actuating mechanisms, e.g. triggers, not being connected to the playfield
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/249 projecting the playing bodies through the air, e.g. with a jump
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/3603 Rolling boards with special surface, e.g. air cushion boards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0079 Games using compressed air, e.g. with air blowers, balloons, vacuum A63F7/066 and A63F7/3603 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/02 Shooting or hurling games throwing-implements for sports or recreational use A63B65/00; throwing or projecting toys per se A63H33/18; gun simulators F41A33/00, e.g. light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; practice apparatus for gun-aiming F41G3/26, e.g. using a light-emitting device F41G3/2616; targets, target ranges, bullet catchers F41J, photo-electric hit-detector systems F41J5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/143 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A mind-control toy is provided, comprising one or more biosensors configured to detect brainwave activity and generate signals based on the detected brainwave activity. A controller may be responsive to the signals to direct a member to effect movement of one or more objects. In some embodiments, the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device, and the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object. In some such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes an obstacle course defining an aerial path. In other such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a track along which players can compete or cooperate. In other embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a maze, a portion of which may be rotated using mind control to maneuver the object from a start zone to an end zone.

Claims

1. A mind-control toy, comprising:

a base structure;

an obstacle course that is removably mountable to the base structure to define an aerial path;

a biosensor configured to detect brainwave activity and generate a first signal based on the detected brainwave activity; and

a controller responsive to the first signal to direct a member to effect movement of an object;

wherein the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device,

wherein the device is mounted to the base structure so that it is movable along a pathway below the aerial path; and

wherein the controller is configured to vary the output of the device to suspend the object within the aerial path and the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object.

2. The mind-control toy of claim 1, wherein the obstacle course includes:

a launch obstacle defining first and second openings at opposite ends and a passageway in between, the passageway being shaped to expel the object through the second opening when the device is positioned below the first opening; and

a receiving obstacle shaped to catch the object after it is expelled from the launch obstacle.

3. The mind-control toy of claim 1, wherein the obstacle course includes a see-saw obstacle that is pivotable along an axis substantially parallel to a top surface of the base structure, the see-saw obstacle including two openings at opposite ends with diameters that are smaller than the object so that when the object is lowered into a first opening of the two openings that is pivoted upwards, an end of the see-saw with the first opening pivots downwards and an opposite end of the see-saw obstacle pivots upwards.

4. The mind-control toy of claim 1, further comprising:

a second biosensor configured to detect second brainwave activity and generate a second signal based on the detected second brainwave activity;

wherein the controller is responsive to the second signal to move the device along the pathway below the aerial path.

5. The mind-control toy of claim 1, further comprising:

a maze having a start zone and an end zone;

wherein the member includes a device configured to rotate at least a portion of the maze to maneuver the object from the start zone to the end zone using a gravitational force.

6. The mind-control toy of claim 5, wherein the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a rate of rotation of the portion of the maze.

7. The mind-control toy of claim 5, further comprising:

a chamber configured to enclose the maze; and

a base structure configured to moveably hold the chamber;

wherein the device is configured to rotate the chamber on the base structure about a substantially horizontal axis such that at least a portion of a path between the start zone and the end zone is substantially aligned with the gravitational force.

8. The mind-control toy of claim 7, wherein the chamber is further configured to hold fluid, and wherein the object is configured to float in the fluid to transit the maze using the gravitational force.

9. The mind-control toy of claim 5, further comprising a manually-operated switch mounted on the base structure and operable to cause the device to reverse a direction of rotation of the portion of the maze.

10. The mind-control toy of claim 5, further comprising:

a second biosensor configured to detect second brainwave activity and generate a second signal based on the detected second brainwave activity;

a second maze having a second start zone and a second end zone;

a second member that includes a second device configured to rotate at least a portion of the second maze to maneuver a second object between the second start zone and the second end zone using a gravitational force.

11. The mind-control toy of claim 5, wherein the maze further comprises a plurality of rotatable discs each having at least a first face and an edge, the first face configured as a portion of the maze and the edge juxtaposed with an edge of one or more other rotatable discs, such that rotation of one or more rotatable discs varies a path between the start zone and the end zone;

and the device is configured to rotate one or more of the rotatable discs.

12. The mind-control toy of claim 11, wherein one or more rotatable discs rotate in opposite directions.

13. The mind-control toy of claim 11, wherein the plurality of rotatable discs include a range of diameters.

14. The mind-control toy of claim 1, further comprising a second biosensor configured to detect second brainwave activity and generate a second signal based on the detected second brainwave activity.

15. The mind-control toy of claim 14, wherein the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device, and the controller is responsive to at least one of the signals to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object.

16. A mind-control toy comprising:

a biosensor configured to detect brainwave activity and generate a first signal based on the detected brainwave activity;

a second biosensor configured to detect second brainwave activity and generate a second signal based on the detected second brainwave activity;

a controller responsive to the first signal to direct a member to effect movement of an object; and

a track,

wherein the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device,

wherein the controller is responsive to at least one of the signals to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object; and

wherein the controller is further configured to move the device along the track in response to at least one of the signals.

17. The mind-control toy of claim 16, further comprising:

an obstacle that is removably mountable to the track to define an aerial path;

wherein the controller is responsive to at least one of the signals to vary the output of the device to suspend the object within the aerial path.

18. The mind-control toy of claim 16, further comprising:

a second member including a second device for suspending a second object in midair above the second device;

wherein the controller is configured to move the second device along the track in response to at least on of the signals.

19. The mind-control toy of claim 16, wherein the biosensors are associated with opposite ends of the track, and the controller is further configured to move the device towards an end of the track associated with the biosensor that is detecting the strongest brainwave activity.

20. The mind-control toy of claim 16, further comprising:

a launcher mounted to the track and including a fan that is responsive to at least one of the signals to expel the object; and

a receiver that is movable along the track and that is shaped to catch the object after it is expelled from the launcher.

21. A mind-control toy, comprising:

a first biosensor configured to detect first brainwave activity and generate a first signal based on the detected first brainwave activity;

a second biosensor configured to detect second brainwave activity and generate a second signal based on the detected second brainwave activity;

a device for suspending an object in midair above the device; and

a controller responsive to at least one of the first and second signals to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object.

22. A mind-control toy, comprising:

a biosensor configured to detect brainwave activity and generate a first signal based on the detected brainwave activity;

a controller responsive to the first signal to direct a member to effect movement of an object;

a chamber enclosing a maze having a start zone and an end zone; and

a base structure configured to moveably hold the chamber;

wherein the member includes a device configured to rotate at least a portion of the maze to maneuver the object from the start zone to the end zone;

wherein the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a rate of rotation of the portion of the maze;

wherein the device is configured to rotate the chamber on the base structure about a substantially horizontal axis such that at least a portion of a path between the start zone and the end zone is substantially aligned with the gravitational force.