US3851875A - Electrical game apparatus using a human body as part of the circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric game apparatus which includes an incomplete circuit. A sound signal mechanism and an electrical power source are connected to the incomplete circuit. The incomplete circuit, which defines a partial conductive path for electricity, includes two spaced apart terminals and a plurality of switches, one for each player. Each switch selectively connects one portion of the circuit with another portion of the circuit in at least two different ways. The incomplete circuit comprises part of a complete electrical circuit whenever the terminals are electrically connected and whenever the switches connect the circuit together in an electrically complete manner. The power source is of sufficient strength to actuate the sound signal mechanism but not powerful enough to harm a player of the game so that the terminals can be electrically connected by a human body. The circuit is located in a heart shaped housing and the switches are located on the underside of the head and tail portions of an arrow piercing the heart. A chance spinner is mounted to the housing and is used to determine which body parts players are to connect to complete the circuit.

Description

Dec. 3, 1974 plete circuit. A sound signal mechanism and an electrical power source are connected to the incomplete circuit. The incomplete circuit, which defines a partial conductive path for electricity, includes two spaced apart terminals and a plurality of switches, one for each player. Each switch selectively connects one portion of the circuit with another portion of the circuit in at least two different ways. The incomplete circuit comprises part of a complete electrical circuit whenever the terminals are electrically connected and whenever the switches connect the circuit together in an electrically complete manner. The power source is of sufficient strength to actuate the sound signal mechanism but not powerful enough to harm a player 'of the game so that the terminals can be electrically connected by a human body. The circuit is located in a heart shaped housing and the switches are located on the underside of the head and tail portions of an arrow piercing the heart. A chance spinner is mounted to the housing and is used to determine which body parts players are to connect to complete the circuit.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Minted States Patent Breslow et al.

[ ELECTRICAL GAME APPARATUS USING A HUMAN BODY AS PART OF THE CIRCUIT [75] Inventors: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago;

Norman Kramer, Skokie, both of Ill.

Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 215,782

AWLR XXX Ono m2 RER 2H2 M 5 mum 7MA 323 y 2 8 an e 9 n n E B m m 1 a m w E m m w 7 l. W O 2 y d H .7 M m P@% NW C m hf u 3m" cs m nu er. u WT w e M H n mn al U a hu n n r b W a C a m u h e l n C D n r. E 82 rr a 667 W60 m a www "mt m Q usmg m; d xEA Std E U o o% ym IF m m 1]] l M mam 2 8 6 %4 nmU H 2 33 PAA PAIENTEL 559 3 74 SHEET 1 or 2 ELECTRICAL GAME APPARATUS USING A HUMAN BODY AS PART OF THE CIRCUIT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to toy or game devices and in particular to a new and improved electronic game.

Various games are available which use electronic means as an integral part thereof and, in certain instances, to effect a signal when a certain condition occurs during the playing of the game or when a solution to the game is accomplished. Usually, this is effected by making and breaking an electrical circuit, usually through a battery type power source. Certain known games also use as part of the equipment therefor a thermistor-containing element having a resistance change temperature substantially that of human skin to close a circuit portion of the game or effect a meter type reading.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved game of the character described and particu larly to provide a novel electronic game.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elec-' tronic game having circuit means adapted for incorporating portions of the players bodies as part of the circuit.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, circuit means is provided with two terminal portions. A battery type power source is connected in the circuit, the batteries having a degree of power insufficient to harm a player of the game so that the terminal portions of the circuit may be conductively connected through parts of one or more players bodies and thereby complete the circuit. Indicating means such as a motorized bell device is connected in the circuit and is actuatable by the battery type power source when the circuit is closed. A housing is provided for the device, and a pair of handles protrude outwardly from the housing for grasping by players of the game. The handles have conductive portions connected to the circuit terminal portions. Two switches are mounted on the housing, one adjacent each of the handles and connected in the circuit to selectively open and close the circuit. The switches each have a plurality of conditions such that the circuit can be closed only when the conditions of the switches match, along with the terminal portions of the circuit being conductively connected by one or more players grasping the handles and touching one another.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch of one player is hidden from the view of the other player so that the switches may be used to provide secret answers to questions used in connection with the playing of the game..In other words, if each switch has two different conditions for closing the circuit, matching the conditions of the other switch, yes and no type questions may be asked. If the answers of the two players of the game match, by setting the switches, and the terminal portions of the circuit are connected by the two players grasping the handles and touching each other, the indicating means, such as the bell, will be actuated to indicate matching answers.

The housing shown herein is formed in the shape of a heart and the handles are formed in the shape of opposite ends of an arrow diametrically disposed on opposite sides of the heart-shaped housing. The switches are hidden from view beneath the ends of the handles. Portions of the handles arefabricated of metal which are conductively connected to the terminal portions of the circuit. A further feature of the invention is the provision of a spinner mounted on the housing and having indicia thereon for directing which parts. of a players body should be touched by another player, as well as the resulting award if the answers, as indicated by the switch conditions, match.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5. is a vertical section, partially broken away,

taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the motorized bell type indicating means, with portions of the housing broken away to facilitate the illustration; and

FIG.- 7 is a circuit diagram of the circuit means incorporated in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION'OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown herein as incorporating a housing 10, shown in the shape of a heart, and a pair of handles, generally designated 12a and l2b,protruding outwardly from the housing 10 generally on diametrically opposite sides thereof. The handles 12a and 12b are formed in the shape of opposite ends of an arrow to give the affect of passing through the heart. A spinner, generally designated 14 and described in greater detail hereinafter, is mounted on top of the heart-shaped housing.

As seen best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, a power source is provided in the form of batteries 16 mounted on the underside of the housing by wall means 18. Indicating means in the form of a motorized bell apparatus, generally designated 20 (FIGS. 2 and 6), also is mounted on the underside of the'housing 10. More particularly, the motorized bell includes a motor M mounted within a bracket 22 and having a rotatable drive shaft 24. A propeller type arm 26 is fixed to the drive shaft 24 and has washer-like members 28 loosely mounted on the ends thereof for striking a bell member 30 mounted on the interior walls of the housing.

Beneath each end of the handles 12a and 12b are switches, generally designated 32a and 32b, respectively (see FIGS. 2 and 5). In addition, a pair of metal conductive U-shaped plates 34a and 34bare clamped over the neck portions of the handles 12a andl2b, respectively (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

The circuitry for the game apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7 andwill be described in relation to the operative structural componentsv dc scribed above and as numbered in FIG. 7. More particularly, switches 32a and 32b are shown in FIG. 7 each with a conductive slide member 40a and 40b, respectively. Each switch has three contact portions X, Y and Z establishing two conditions therefor. The conductive slide members 400 and 40b are in constant engagement with their respective center contacts Y and can be moved back and forth for alternate engagement with their respective contacts X and Z. The X contact of each switch is conductively connected by lines 42 to the Z contact of the opposite switch. The Y contacts of switches 32a and 32b are connected through terminal portions 44a and 44b, respectively, of the circuit to the conductive plate members 34a and 34b, respectively, of the handles 12a and 12!), respectively. The X contacts of the two switches are connected through leads 46, 47 and 48 to each other and to the motor M, with a transistor T in series with the motor. The batteries 16 are connected in series with the transistor T and motor M by leads S and 52. The transistor T is important in that it acts as a power switch in the circuit and is turned on by the conductivity of the players when touching the handle conductive plates 34a and 34b of the terminal portions 44a and 44b, respectively. More particularly, the transistor normally is in a nonconductive or cutoff state, with its positive or collector side 49 connected to the motor M. When players of the game conductively connect the terminal portions 44a and 44b through. their bodies by touching the handle conductive plates 34a and 34b, microamps are passed through the circuit sufficient to turn on the transistor T and actuate the motor M through the power of batteries 16. Without the transistor, a power switch would be placed in the circuit. However such a power switch would be independent of the conductivity of the players bodies. The sensitivity of the transistor provides for integrated or cooperative switching in the circuit responsive to current through the players bodies.

With the above circuit, it is apparent that with the slide members 40a and 40b of the switches 32a and 32b, respectively, both moved to the left as viewed and as shown in FIG. 7, a circuit is closed from one terminal portion 440 to the other terminal portion 44b through the switches, the motor and transistor, and the batteries 16. As stated above, the terminal portions 440 and 44b are connected to the handle conductive plates 34a and 34b, respectively. Thus, if the handle conductive portions 34a and 341) are conductively connected, as through parts of players bodies, the batteries will actuate the motor which, in return, will ring the bell 30. The same set of operative circumstances would be presented if the slide members 400 and 40b both are moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 7, to establish a closed circuit from one terminal portion 440 to the other terminal portion 44b of the circuit. However, should either one of the switches be moved to the right and the other switch remains to the left, the circuit would be broken and the transistor would not close to actuate the motor even though the terminal portions 440 and 44b of the circuit were closed by players conductively connecting the handle portions 340 and 34b.

The leads 42, 46, 47, 48, 50 and 52 of the circuit shown in FIG. 7 are shown in FIG. 2 connecting the operative components of the apparatus, as described above.

With the game apparatus of the present invention, various schemes or methods of playing the game are made available. Preferably, yes and no type questions are asked by the players, with an attempt to match their secret answers which are represented by the conditions of the switches 32a and 32b hidden on the underside of the handles 12a and 125, respectively. If a questioning player guesses correctly by moving his respective switch to match the condition of the answering player's switch, when the two players touch each other while grasping the conductive portions 34a and 34b of the handles 12a and 12b, respectively, the magic electronic heart" will ring as the motor causes the rotating arm 26 to strike the bell 30.

A desirable game can be played with six players, for instance, and using chips 54 (FIG. 1) or other appropriate scoring means. The chips would be divided equally among the players with player A, for instance, se lected to start the game. Play continues until each player has one or more turns to operate the heart." At the end of play, the player with the most chips is the winner of the game.

A feature of the invention is the provision of spinner 14 mounted on top of the housing 10. The spinner, as shown in FIG. 1, has the area of a players body which must be touched by another player, as well as the number of chips to be awarded for guessing the other players answer (for example, touch his nose for two chips). Player A spins the spinner l4 and then picks another player 8" to whom he asks a question. Any type of question can be asked as long as it can be answered yes or no or has multiple answers equalling the number of conditions of the switches 32a and 32b (as shown herein, two). Player B does not answer the question aloud but secretly slides the switch under his end of the simulated arrow to the yes or no side of the switch. Player A" secretly sets his switch to the answer which he believes player *B has set. Player A then holds onto his conductive handle portion 340 (or 34b) at his end of the arrow while player "B" does the same at his end of the arrow. Player A then uses his free hand to touch the nose of player B." If the hidden answers set by the switches are the same, the bell will ring, as described above, and player A collects the indicated number of chips from player Depending on the rules, player A" then may take another turn, spinning again and asking another player a question. Once player A does not match the question of his selected player, he must pay that player the indicated number of chips and his turn is ended.

An interesting scheme would be to select one player to answer a question but select a plurality of persons to join hands or other portions of their body to close the circuit. if the answers match, player A collects chips from everyone in the circuit and ends his turn; or, if player A" fails to match the answer he may be required to pay everyone in the circuit the designated number of chips.

in actual practice, the tighter the players hold each other and the tighter the players hold the conductive portions 34a, 34b of the handles, the more current will pass through the circuit and the louder the bell will ring. It has been found that current from three standard *flashlight" batteries will pass through eight players.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim: 1. A game apparatus comprising: a housing;

a pair of handles protruding from said housing for grasping by players of the game, said handles having a conductive portion mounted thereon;

an incomplete circuit defining a partial conductive path for electricity, said incomplete circuit including two spaced apart terminals connected to the conductive portions of the handles and a plurality of switches, one for each player, for selectively connecting one portion of the incomplete circuit with another portion of the incomplete circuit in at least two different ways, whereby said incomplete circuit comprises part of a complete electrical circuit whenever the terminals are electrically connected and the switches connect the incomplete circuit together in an electrically complete manner;

signal means mounted within the housing and connected to said incomplete circuit and actuatable in response to said power source whenever the circuit is successfully completed;

an electrical power source connectedto said circuit of insufficient power to harm a player of the game who touches the conductive portions of said handles; and

a spinner mounted on said housing having indicia thereon directing which parts of a players body should be touched by another player.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal means is a motorized bell.

3. The game apparatus of claim 1 including means to visually obstruct one player from observing the condition of any other players switch means.

4. The game apparatus of claim 3 wherein said switch means are mounted on the underside of said handles.

5. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is formed in the shape of a heart and said handles are formed in the shape of opposite ends of an arrow diametrically disposed on opposite sides of the heartshaped housing.

6. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a transistor connected in series with said power means and said indicating means so that the collector terminal thereof is connected to a terminal of one switch and the base terminal thereof is connected to a terminal of another switch, said transistor having sufficient sensitivity so as to be biased into an on" or conducting state in response to a moderately conductive path through the bodies of the players between the collector and the base terminals of the transistor.

7. A game apparatus comprising:

a housing having a pair of handles protruding therefrom on which contact means are disposed; circuit means including two terminal portions conductively connected to said contact means;

a power source connected in said circuit means;

indicating means actuable by said power source when said circuit is closed; and

a plurality of switch means connected in said circuit to selectively open and close the circuit, one switch means for each player of the game, said switch means each being mounted on the underside of each of said handles and having a plurality of conditions such that said circuit means can be closed only when the conditions of all the switch means match and said terminal portions are conductively connected, said power source having insufficient power to harm a player of the game so that said ter minal portions may be conductively connected by touching with a players hands or the like and complete the circuit through one or more players bodies or parts thereof.

8. A game apparatus comprising:

incomplete circuit means defining a partial conduc tive path for electricity, said incomplete circuit means including two spacedapart terminals to be touched by players hands or other portions of the human body in an attempt to complete the circuit, a plurality of manually operable switch means, one for each player, connected in circuit between said terminals for selectively connecting one portion of the incomplete circuit means with another portion of the incomplete circuit means in at least two different ways, and automatic switch means connected in circuit between said switch means and actuatable for allowing the flow of electricity in response to completion of the circuit whereby said incomplete circuit means comprises part of a complete electrical circuit whenever the terminals are electrically connected and said manually operable switch means connects said incomplete circuit means in an electrically complete manner;

an electrical power source connected to said circuit means of insufficientpower to harm a player of the game who touches the terminals; and

indicating means connected to said circuit means actuatable in response to said power source whenever the circuit means is successfully completed.

9. The game apparatus of claim 8 wherein said automatic switch means is a transistor having its collector connected to one switch means and its base connected to another switch means, said transistor being of sufficient sensitivity to be biased into an on or conducting state by providing a moderately conductive path through the bodies of the players between the collector of the transistor and the base of the transistor.

10. The game apparatus of claim 8 including means to visually obstruct one player from observing the condition of any players switch means.

11. The game apparatus of claim 8 wherein said indicating means is a motorized bell.

12. The game apparatus of claim 8 including a housing for containing said circuit means, said housing having two handles protruding therefrom for grasping by the players of the game, said handles having conductive portions connected to said terminals and having said manually operable switch means mounted thereon.

Claims (12)

1. A game apparatus comprising: a housing; a pair of handles protruding from said housing for grasping by players of the game, said handles having a conductive portion mounted thereon; an incomplete circuit defining a partial conductive path for electricity, said incomplete circuit including two spaced apaRt terminals connected to the conductive portions of the handles and a plurality of switches, one for each player, for selectively connecting one portion of the incomplete circuit with another portion of the incomplete circuit in at least two different ways, whereby said incomplete circuit comprises part of a complete electrical circuit whenever the terminals are electrically connected and the switches connect the incomplete circuit together in an electrically complete manner; signal means mounted within the housing and connected to said incomplete circuit and actuatable in response to said power source whenever the circuit is successfully completed; an electrical power source connected to said circuit of insufficient power to harm a player of the game who touches the conductive portions of said handles; and a spinner mounted on said housing having indicia thereon directing which parts of a player''s body should be touched by another player.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal means is a motorized bell.

3. The game apparatus of claim 1 including means to visually obstruct one player from observing the condition of any other player''s switch means.

4. The game apparatus of claim 3 wherein said switch means are mounted on the underside of said handles.

5. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is formed in the shape of a heart and said handles are formed in the shape of opposite ends of an arrow diametrically disposed on opposite sides of the heart-shaped housing.

6. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a transistor connected in series with said power means and said indicating means so that the collector terminal thereof is connected to a terminal of one switch and the base terminal thereof is connected to a terminal of another switch, said transistor having sufficient sensitivity so as to be biased into an ''''on'''' or conducting state in response to a moderately conductive path through the bodies of the players between the collector and the base terminals of the transistor.

7. A game apparatus comprising: a housing having a pair of handles protruding therefrom on which contact means are disposed; circuit means including two terminal portions conductively connected to said contact means; a power source connected in said circuit means; indicating means actuable by said power source when said circuit is closed; and a plurality of switch means connected in said circuit to selectively open and close the circuit, one switch means for each player of the game, said switch means each being mounted on the underside of each of said handles and having a plurality of conditions such that said circuit means can be closed only when the conditions of all the switch means match and said terminal portions are conductively connected, said power source having insufficient power to harm a player of the game so that said terminal portions may be conductively connected by touching with a players'' hands or the like and complete the circuit through one or more players'' bodies or parts thereof.

8. A game apparatus comprising: incomplete circuit means defining a partial conductive path for electricity, said incomplete circuit means including two spaced apart terminals to be touched by players'' hands or other portions of the human body in an attempt to complete the circuit, a plurality of manually operable switch means, one for each player, connected in circuit between said terminals for selectively connecting one portion of the incomplete circuit means with another portion of the incomplete circuit means in at least two different ways, and automatic switch means connected in circuit between said switch means and actuatable for allowing the flow of electricity in response to completion of the circuit whereby said incomplete circuit means comprises part of a complete electrical circuit whenever the terminals are electrically connected and said manually operaBle switch means connects said incomplete circuit means in an electrically complete manner; an electrical power source connected to said circuit means of insufficient power to harm a player of the game who touches the terminals; and indicating means connected to said circuit means actuatable in response to said power source whenever the circuit means is successfully completed.

9. The game apparatus of claim 8 wherein said automatic switch means is a transistor having its collector connected to one switch means and its base connected to another switch means, said transistor being of sufficient sensitivity to be biased into an ''''on'''' or conducting state by providing a moderately conductive path through the bodies of the players between the collector of the transistor and the base of the transistor.

10. The game apparatus of claim 8 including means to visually obstruct one player from observing the condition of any player''s switch means.

11. The game apparatus of claim 8 wherein said indicating means is a motorized bell.

12. The game apparatus of claim 8 including a housing for containing said circuit means, said housing having two handles protruding therefrom for grasping by the players of the game, said handles having conductive portions connected to said terminals and having said manually operable switch means mounted thereon.

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