Obstacle Course Game
OwnerRyan K. Moodyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable, configurable obstacle course game is provided for creating an interactive, entertaining game in a small space. The game is arranged along or above a path for a rolling ball, and obstacles move into and out of the ball's path, creating challenges for the players to roll or hit the ball through the path. Players can interact with each other and set difficulty levels in various play modes. The game is portable and configurable, so that it can be arranged on different playing surfaces, with different obstacles and even environmental interactions. The game can also communicate with wireless devices such as an application on a user's mobile phone, for additional game features.
Claims25
An obstacle course game unit for a ball, comprising:
- a portable console that is movable to position the console above first and second different playing surfaces each in contact with a rolling ball moving along a path;
- a spacer underneath the console, the spacer sized to lift the console above the first playing surface by a distance that allows the ball to pass on the first playing surface underneath the console;
- a first physical obstacle supported by the console and movable downwardly into the path, and upwardly out of the path and into the console, wherein the first obstacle comprises a barrier, or a flipper;
- and
- a microcontroller, inside the console, in wired or wireless communication with the first obstacle, the microcontroller programmed with instructions for:
- operating in a first game mode;
- operating in a second game mode different from the first game mode;
- receiving, from a user, a selection of the first or second game mode;
- and
- deploying the first obstacle in accordance with the selected game mode.
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A game unit for a ball rolling along a path in contact with a playing surface, comprising:
- a console movable with respect to the playing surface and comprising first and second separable housings;
- a barrier movable down into the path and up through an opening into a recess in the first housing, the opening being formed in a bottom face of the first housing facing downward toward the playing surface;
- a first actuator coupled to the barrier to translate the barrier up and down;
- a rotor rotatable, by a second actuator, downwardly into and upwardly out of the path, the rotor removably mounted on the second housing;
- and
- a microcontroller, located inside the console, in wired or wireless communication with the first and second actuators.
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An obstacle game system for a ball to move through a path, comprising:
- first, second, third, and fourth housings stacked together and movable with respect to a separate playing surface in contact with the ball, wherein each housing comprises a thickness measured parallel to the playing surface and a height measured perpendicular to the playing surface, the height of each housing being greater than the thickness of that housing;
- a proximity sensor supported by the first housing;
- a barrier translatable upwardly into a pocket formed by the second housing, between the first and third housings;
- a motor, coupled to the barrier, and supported by the third housing;
- a rotor movable downwardly into and upwardly out of the path, the rotor supported by the fourth housing;
- and
- a microcontroller in wired or wireless communication with the proximity sensor and the motor, the microcontroller located inside one of the housings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.