GB2299276A

GB2299276A - Games

Info

Publication number: GB2299276A
Application number: GB9506200A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Neil Kennedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-27
Filing date: 1995-03-27
Publication date: 1996-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-27
Also published as: GB2299276B; GB9506200D0

Abstract

A game is provided wherein a first player selects a combination to be guessed by a second player. The combination is selected by switching a chosen combination of switches 1a to 1e into the "down" position. The second player then guesses the combination by inserting one or more pegs into apertures 5a to 5e to activate corresponding switches 7a to 7e. When all of the selected switches, e.g. 1a, 1b and 1c, have pegs inserted in the corresponding apertures 5a, 5b and 5c, a buzzer and/or a flashing light is energised to indicate to the second player that the correct combination has been guessed. The insertion of a peg in one of the apertures causes a switch to be operated, and a circuit is completed when pegs have been inserted into the "correct" apertures. In an alternative embodiment, the apertures are arranged within a circular cylinder to mimic a uranium pile, with the pegs to be inserted constituting moderator rods.

Description

GAMES The present invention relates generally to games and, in particular, to games which enable a first player to select a particular combination which must then be guessed a second player.

Thus, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game comprising an electrical circuit, means operable by a first player for establishing a first condition in said electrical circuit, a plurality of switches operable by a second player so as to establish a second circuit condition and means for providing an indication when the second circuit condition bears a predetermined relationship with the first circuit condition.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game comprising a first plurality of electrical switches selectively operable by a first player so as to establish a first circuit condition, a second plurality of electrical switches selectively operable by a second player so as to establish a second circuit condition and means for providing an indication when the second circuit condition bears a predetermined relationship with the first circuit condition.

The present invention extends to an electrical circuit for such a game, the circuit comprising a plurality of circuit portions connected in series, each circuit portion comprising a first two-way switch connecting an input of said circuit portion selectively to a first or a second contact point and a second two-way switch connecting selectively said first or said second contact point to an output of the circuit portion, a continuous path thereby being established between said input and said output when both said first two-way switch and said second two-way switch are connected to either said first contact point or said second contact point.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1(A) and (B) show representations of a first embodiment of the present invention respectively in the open and closed states; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional representation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figures 3(A) to (D) show a sequence of guesses made by the second player as to the combination selected by the first player; Figure 4 represents circuitry for use with the present invention; and Figure 5 represents a second embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, the first embodiment of the present invention comprises five two-way switches la to le located within a generally elongate box 2. Each of the five switches can be set by a first player into one of two positions, represented in Figure 1(A) as "up" or "down". In the Figure, in can be seen that switches la, lb and lc have been set in the 1,down" position by the first player, with switches id and le remaining in the "up" position.

A lid 3 is attached to the box 2 by means of a hinge 4, and this enables the condition of the switches to obscured from the second player, as in the condition shown in Figure 1(B).

The box is provided with five apertures 5a to 5e into which pegs may be inserted by the second player.

With reference to Figure 2, it can be seen that the insertion of a peg 6 into one of the apertures Sc serves to move the actuator of a corresponding two-way switch 7c from a first position (shown by a solid line) into a second position (shown by a dotted line).

The object of the game is for the second player to insert pegs into those apertures, and only those apertures, whose corresponding switches la to le have been set into the "down" position by the first player. Thus, with the arrangement shown in Figure 1(A), wherein switches la, lb and lc have been set into the "down" position, with switches ld and le remaining in the "up" position, it can be seen that the object of the game is for the second player to insert three pegs 6 into apertures 5a, 5b and 5c.

Figures 3(A) to (D) show four possible guesses made by the second player as to the combination of switches which have been set by the first player. Figure 3(D) indicates the correct combination.

Figure 4 represents a suitable circuit incorporating the two-way switches la to le set by the first player and the two-way switches 7a to 7e activated by insertion of the pegs 6 into the apertures 5a to 5e. In the circuit, it can be seen that switches la, lb and lc have been set into the "down" position by the first player, with switches ld and le remaining in the "up" position. Correspondingly, switches 7a, 7b and 7c have been moved into the lower position shown in Figure 4 by insertion of the pegs 6 in the apertures 5a, 5b and 5c, with switches 7d and 7e remaining in the upper position.

It can seen that, with the two sets of switches la to le and 7a to 7e set in this way, there is a complete circuit connecting a power supply 8, in the form of a battery (not shown) within the box 2, to a closed circuit indicator 9, such as a buzzer and/or light, which optionally may be caused to flash. Thus, once the second player has inserted pegs 6 into the apertures corresponding to the switches la to le which have set into the "up" position by the first player, then an indication is provided that the correct combination has been selected.

It will be appreciated that if any number of switches (from 1 to 5) could be arbitrarily selected by the first player, the number of possible combinations would be excessive. Thus, in order to reduce the number of possible combinations, the first player may inform the second player as to the total number of switches la to le which have been selected, thus reducing the total number of possible combinations.

An indicator (not shown in the drawings) is therefore provided on the box, and this provides an indication of the number of switches the first player has selected. The indicator is manually operable and can be set to indicate any number from 1 to 4. Alternatively, a circuit may be provided which is arranged to provide this indication automatically.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 5. In this arrangement, the box 12 is in the form of a circular cylinder intended to represent a uranium pile, with the corresponding pegs 16 representing moderator rods. Thus when the correct combination of pegs is selected by the second user, a "critical" situation arises, and this is indicated by the buzzer and/or light which may, or may not, be arranged to flash. All the other components are identical to those used in the first embodiment.

Claims

1. A game comprising an electrical circuit, means operable by a first player for establishing a first condition in said electrical circuit, a plurality of switches operable by a second player so as to establish a second circuit condition and means for providing an indication when the second circuit condition bears a predetermined relationship with the first circuit condition.

2. A game comprising a first plurality of electrical switches selectively operable by a first player so as to establish a first circuit condition, a second plurality of electrical switches selective operable by a second player so as to establish a second circuit condition and means for providing an indication when the second circuit condition bears a predetermined relationship with the first circuit condition.

3. A game as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for obscuring the condition of the first plurality of electrical switches.

4. A game as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising means for indicating the number of said first plurality of said electrical switches which have been operated by the first user.

5. A game as claimed in claim 4, wherein said number-indicating means is manually operable.

6. A game as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the first plurality of electrical switches and the second plurality of electrical switches each comprise five switches.

7. A game as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a box having a plurality of apertures therein, each of said plurality of switches operable by the second player being arranged to be actuated by inserting a peg in a corresponding one of said apertures.

8. A game as claimed in claim 7 and arranged in the form of an elongate box, with said apertures been arranged in a sequence along one face of the box.

9. A game as claimed claim in 7, and arranged in the form of a circular cylinder, wherein said apertures are located within one face of the cylinder and extend axially within the cylinder.

10. A game as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the indication-providing means is arranged to provide an audible indication.

11. A game as claimed in claim 10 wherein said indication-providing means comprises a buzzer.

12. A game as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said indication-providing means comprises a light.

13. A game as claimed in claim 12, wherein said light is a flashing light.

14. An electrical circuit for a game as claimed in any preceding claim, the circuit comprising a plurality of circuit portions connected in series, each circuit portion comprising a first two-way switch connecting an input of said circuit portion selectively to a first or a second contact point and a second two-way switch connecting selectively said first or said second contact point to an output of the circuit portion, a continuous path thereby being established between said input and said output when both said first two-way switch and said second two-way switch are connected to either said first contact point or said second contact point.

15. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An electrical circuit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.