Balancing Skill Game

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to games of skill and more particularly to a toy comprising an elongated hollow member simulating a snake, such as a cobra, or the like, which contains an electrical circuit for illuminating portions of the toy during a balancing act.

2. Description of the Prior Art

I do not know of any patents disclosing a game or toy which is illuminated in a sequence determined by time lapse while the toy is balanced by a user.

An elongated substantially cylindrical hollow toy, having a base end, simulates at its other end the configuration of a snake, such as a cobra, having a neck portion, laterally projecting hood portions and a head including eyes. The toy is preferably formed of translucent plastic material such as high impact styrene. The hollow interior of the toy contains an electrical circuit including a source of electrical energy disposed adjacent the base end, a lamp located in the throat area, a lamp or a pair of lamps located in the hood and a lamp illuminating the eyes. Time delay means in the circuit successively illuminates the lamps and de-energizes them in sequence during such time as the toy remains balanced in an upright position while supported by the user's hand. In the event balance of the toy is lost by a player during a game, one or more of a plurality of gravity actuated mercury switches, or of one or more gravity activated magnetic reed switches, opens the circuit and interrupts the lamps illuminating sequence.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a game toy for improving the balancing skill of users wherein portions of the toy are illuminated in sequence by a plurality of lamps during a predetermined period of time during which balance of the toy must be maintained.

Another object is to provide a novel display device suitable for display by a fireplace, in a living room or the like.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the toy according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the toy.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the toy.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the toy.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit.

The reference numeral 10 indicates the toy, as a whole, which is preferably formed of translucent plastic material, such as high impact styrene, elongated cylindrical in general configuration, which can be molded in a top half and a bottom half with parting line 12 between the halves, which extends along the sides and terminates at the mouth at 11. The body can be so constructed that it can be easily taken apart along the parting line 12 to service the electrical circuit. The other end portion simulates a snake, such as a cobra, having opposing longitudinally extending laterally projecting hoods 16 defining a throat portion 18 and terminating in a snake head shape 20 including a pair of eyes 22. It has tongue 25 fixed to the mouth. The toy is provided with a hollow interior, indicated at 24, which extends upwardly from its base end 14 to at least the position of the eyes 22. The base end 14 is normally closed by a base member or cap 26 which may be pressed into the hollow body at 12. This hollow interior 24 contains an electrical circuit shown in FIG. 7. The circuit principally consists of three interconnected similar time delay configurations or sections employed to illuminate a plurality of different lamps L1, L2 and L3 in a predetermined sequence, each for a predetermined time interval, for example, thirty seconds each for the lamp L1, the lamp or pair of lamps L2, and a shorter interval of time, for example, fifteen seconds for the lamp L3, total of 3 to 30 seconds sequences. The lamp L1 is preferably located in the body area 19 while the lamp or pair of lamps L2 are located in the respective hoods 16. The lamp L3 is located adjacent the eyes 22.

The circuitry consists of a source of power or battery B1, a gravity actuated switch or switches S1, such as mercury switches, a number of timing circuits that may be similar to each other, and a number of lamps to provide illumination.

The source of power B1 may consist of four 1.5 volts size "D" flashlight cells connected in series.

The gravity actuated switch S1, in the preferred example, consists of one or more mercury switches, or of one or more magnetic reed switches, arranged to complete the circuit when and only when the toy is balanced in a vertical position.

The timing circuits each consists of an integrated circuit and a number of discrete resistors and capacitors.

One or more lamps are connected to each timing circuit to illuminate the toy in a predetermined sequence.

The timing circuit consisting of D1, R1, C1 is arranged so that when the toy is balanced, lamp L1 lights. Lamp L1 remains lit for a time period determined by the values of R1 and C1. Specifically, the time in seconds is equal to 1.1 times the value of R1 in ohms, times the value of C1 in farads. At the end of this time period, the circuit through L1 is broken and lamp L1 extinguishes and the next timing circuit is triggered.

The next timing circuit consists of 1C2, R2 and D2. This timing circuit is arranged so that when lamp L1 is extinguished, lamp L2 illuminates. Lamp L2 remains lit for an amount of time determined by the values of R2 and C2. Specifically, the time in seconds is equal to 1.1 times the value of R2 in ohms times the value of C2 in farads. At the end of this time period, lamp L2 extinguishes and the next timing circuit is triggered.

The next timing circuit consists of C3, R3 and D3. This timing circuit is arranged so that when lamp L2 is extinguished, lamp L3 illuminates. Lamp L3 remains lit for an amount of time determined by the values of C3 and R3. Specifically, the time in seconds is equal to 1.1 times the value of R3 in ohms times the value of C3 in farads. At the end of this time period, lamp L3 extinguishes.

The general operation of the circuitry is such that lamps L1, L2, and L3 are illuminated and extinguished in sequence. All lamps remain unlit until the toy is balanced in a vertical position; at that time, lamp L1 lights, and assuming that balance is maintained, after a time lamp L1 extinguishes and lamp L2 lights. Assuming that balance is still maintained, after a time, lamp L2 extinguishes and lamp L3 lights. If balance is further maintained for a time, lamp L3 extinguishes.

If balance of the toy is lost by the person holding it, all lamps extinguish immediately. The lighting sequence will only restart when the toy is again held in the vertical position.

The above operation of the circuitry is general only and may be modified to include different time delays and more individual time delay circuits.

Since the battery drain of this circuitry is zero unless vertical position is maintained, and negligible once the timing sequence is completed, even though vertical balance is maintained, an on-off switch is unnecessary.

Since the timing sequence is started as soon as vertical balance is attained, a reset switch is unnecessary.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating its practicability, therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein.