GB2475696A - A bouncy castle with electronic games - Google Patents

Abstract

Play apparatus comprising an inflatable body with an electronic device which indicates a sequence of actions a user is required to perform, has means to record successful completion of the actions and means to provide feedback on a score generated by the completion of the actions. The device may be a bouncy castle and may use sounds or lights to indicate what action is required or to relay the results back. A computer may be provided and the games may require a user to impact a target with the loser being sprayed with water.

Description

The present invention relates to an inflatable apparatus for recreational use, such as a bouncy castle or the like, which includes electronic devices to provide interactive game play.

The use of inflatable structures for recreational use is well known. For example, conventional bouncy castles for children to play on are popular as they allow children to move around, often boisterously, in a padded environment without experiencing injury. Conventional bouncy castle structures are single chamber inflatable structures which are typically manufactured in the shape of a castle and are typically inflated using a compressor which often runs continuously to ensure that the inflatable structure remains fully inflated whilst being used. Other shapes of bouncy apparatus are now becoming common and increasingly large, often incorporating slides, tunnels and obstacles.

Interactive bouncy castles are also becoming more common both for children and adults, these incorporate other forms of physical play such as bungee cords, climbing walls and basketball nets.

Some of these allow for a level of competition between players.

Although these inflatable structures are popular with children and adults alike, interest in such structures quickly wanes after the first few uses as the structures are static, most have no moving parts or electronic components and, in today's modern society, are often seen as old fashioned and quickly become dull to use.

The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art by providing an element of fast paced game-play and competition through an electronic interactive game. A first aspect (1) of the present invention provides for one or more electronic devices (indicators) contained within Velcro sealed or zipped pockets or by other means in the inflatable apparatus that when triggered by a game controller (3) can indicate to a player the area or areas of the inflatable structure they need to hit, touch, go to, move or manipulate next in order to progress the game play. This indication may be by means of a light, a synthesised or recorded voice command, a musical note or other sound, a mechanical movement, an emission of water or other fluid or any combination of these.

A further aspect (2) of the present invention provides one or more sensors contained within pockets in the inflatable apparatus that can detect a pressure or impact upon or a movement of a specific part of the inflatable structure and as a result generate an electronic response in the form of a sound, a light or an electronic impulse or radio frequency communication to a game controller device (3) located within or external to the inflatable structure. These sensors may be part of the same electronic device as the indicators (1) above or they may be collocated with those indicators.

Sensors may be in the form of commercially available devices such as accelerometers, pneumatic pressure differential detectors, pressure mats, reed switches, infra red movement detectors, sound detectors, vibration detectors or any other kind of detector appropriate for the purpose.

A further aspect of the present invention (3) provides a game controller which may be located within or adjacent to the inflatable structure and determines the sequence in which the indicators (1) are activated as well as determining when the sensors (2) are triggered by the player in order to maintain a score, determine when a game is over or when a new game is to begin. The game controller may be in the form of a dedicated electronic device or software on a laptop, PDA, mobile phone or other computing device. The game controller will have attached or inbuilt devices allowing the transmission and receipt of signals through wired or wireless means from and to other components of the electronic game system in order that it may control and if appropriate score the game. This game controller may maintain a score for the last player or for multiple players over a period of time. It may maintain team scores as well or instead of those of individuals. The game controller may control games and maintain scores for one or more pieces of suitably equipped inflatable apparatus. The game controller may display scores on an inbuilt display or relay them to a separate display device (4) or both. The game controller may maintain one or more lists of high scores for a session, a day, or a longer period. In an embodiment of the invention the game controller may include circuitry to allow determination of the identity of a player through an REID tag or other electronically or optically detectable device worn by a player (in the form of a wristband or similar attachment or an item of clothing). In another embodiment of the invention the game controller may include a method whereby the identity of a player may be input manually through a keyboard. In another embodiment of the invention players may be identified only in terms of the team to which they belong and aggregate scores may be kept and displayed for teams rather than individual players.

A further aspect of the present invention (4) is a display device which may be a video screen, LCD, LED or other electronic display which is connected to the game controller (3) through wired or wireless means and displays player, team or high scores from the game or several games connected to the game controller.

In some embodiments of the invention a further aspect (5) is an audio system situated on or near the device designed to give information to the player such as verbal instructions or a musical sequence which must be replicated by triggering sensors 2) each of which may trigger a different musical note either directly or from the audio system as a result. The audio may be provided electronically from the game controller (3) through wired or wireless communication or the audio system and the game controller may be contained in the same device.

A further aspect of the invention (6) is a system for providing physical feedback to players who are unsuccessful in a particular aspect such as an electromechanical valve that controls a water sprinkler causing a player to get wet or to get covered in foam.

A further aspect of the invention (7) is game play designed for use on inflatable devices which may take many different forms but will be controlled by a software programme running on the game controller (3) and which will involve informing the player through the indicator devices (1) what action the player is required to perform next and monitoring the performance of the action through the sensors (2). When no game is running on the inflatable apparatus this will be signalled using a sequence of lights or sounds from the indicators (1) or audio system (5). Games may be started from this inactive state by activating any of the sensors on the inflatable apparatus or by a manual input to the game controller through a button, keyboard, mouse or other controller attached through wires or wirelessly to the game controller. Alternatively a game may be activated by a player wearing an REID tag or other identifying device entering the main play area of the inflatable apparatus. It is anticipated that a number of game play devices will be used such as triggering indicators at an increasing speed until the player fails to activate one or more indicated sensors.

Players would score points for each successful action. Actions may include hitting, kicking, jumping on or otherwise manipulating areas of the inflatable apparatus containing indicators and sensors.

Game play may be divided into rounds each of increasing speed or difficulty giving players a few moments rest and potentially allowing for instructions to be given to the player on the actions required in the next round. For example these might be given through synthesised or recorded voice commands. In certain games players will be given sequences of targets to hit by seeing the sequence through the indicators lighting and then be expected to emulate the sequence and possibly timing by their actions. In certain games players may be asked to replicate a sequence of musical notes by triggering specific sensors through their actions. In some cases game play be similar to that in other common electronic or conventional game types but are differentiated in being played within a flexible environment allowing boisterous high speed movement without danger to the player or bystanders. Several example types of game are described below.

A further aspect of the invention (8) is the inclusion within the structure of the inflatable apparatus of Velcro sealed or zipped pockets to contain sensors and indicators. In some embodiments of the device these pockets may be made of a translucent material such as heavy duty vinyl in order that indicator lights may be visible to players. In some embodiments of the device there may also be included within these pockets translucent or non-translucent padding materials (such as heavy duty bubble wrap) to protect both the player and the device from damage or injury as a result of impact.

These pockets may be part of the initial construction of the inflatable apparatus or they may be added to existing bouncy castles as an upgrade. In some aspects of this invention the apparatus may be manufactured with tubes through the inflated sections allowing for electrical and/or fibre optic cables to be passed through to the pockets containing parts of the system.

Example game play, in both of these examples the "targets" are indicators and sensors contained in the same package. Several of these packages are attached to the bouncy castle either in pockets as described above or attached by zips. In either case the covering of the target is of a see-through material such as heavy duty Vinyl plastic.

These targets may contain a physical shock resistant unit which includes an LED light, an impact sensor, electronic circuitry to communicate wirelessly (through Bluetooth or other wireless protocols) with the game controller and a battery. Alternatively they may include a fibre optic or other lamp powered from a source external to the apparatus, an impact sensor and a cable connection providing signalling and low voltage power to the game control unit external to the apparatus. The targets may be covered except for the light area by an impact absorbing plastic foam material.

Game-play example (a) "Hit it" A simple single player game played on the main activity surface of a bouncy castle. The player is instructed (either through an audio system or visual display) to hit visible targets on the wall of the bouncy castle as they light up. Prior to the game starting all the targets are flashing regularly and the player starts the game by hitting any of the targets. A target will light and the player will have a certain time to get to the lit target and hit it. If the player succeeds a pleasant reinforcing sound is emitted through the sound system under command from the game controller and another target lights up. This will continue with targets lighting up in a random order and the player responding.

Progressively the time allowance for the player to hit the target will be reduced until the player misses hitting the target at which point the game will be over and the players score will be displayed on a display device or screen. In the event the player gets to a certain level there may be breaks in the game-play so that it is in the form of rounds the beginning or end of which may be indicated by an audio announcement. The players name may have been entered into the system through a keyboard or the player may have been identified by the system through wearing an REID tag into the play area. In these instances the players name will be displayed along with the score and possibly in conjunction and ranked against that of other players.

Game-play example (b) "Soaker" A simple two player game designed for warm days played on a bouncy castle with two divided play areas and including safety barriers preventing players from slipping out of the bouncy area. The players are told to hit visible targets on the wall of the bouncy castle as they light up. Prior to the game starting all the targets are flashing regularly and either player starts the game by hitting any of the targets. A target will light and the first player to hit the target wins the round and scores a point.

In addition the game controller sends a signal to an electromechanical valve causing the losing player to be sprayed with water or foam from an overhead sprinkler. This will continue with targets lighting up in a random order and the players responding. Play will go on for a set number of rounds until an audio or visual game over message is given.

The attached drawings show examples of locations in which sensors may be placed within the inflatable apparatus either on the walls, base or within inflatable shapes emanating from the base, walls or top of the inflatable apparatus or a combination of some or all of these locations. Sensors are indicated by a coloured area.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.