Electrically Operated Bingo Device for Sighted and Sight Disadvantaged People

This invention relates to apparatus adapted for the playing of games such as BINGO and in particular to facilitate the participation of sight disadvantaged persons as players of such games.

The concept of adapting games such as BINGO for the blind by use of raised lettering and braille on game boards or cards, is well known as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,464,146. Electrically operated BINGO game boards whereby winning games are electrically registered by indicators are also known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,591,869 and 3,194,560. In the latter type of game board, game pieces are plugged into the board in order to register a called number. The latter type of game boards are, however, unsuitable for sight handicapped persons because of the problems associated with plugging in game pieces and locating plug in zones corresponding to called numbers.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a BINGO type game board through which winning games are audibly registered and designed to enable game participation of sight handicapped players, blind and sighted players at the same time.

In accordance with the present invention, a game board is provided for each bingo player, having a display panel on which zone registering switches are mounted so that the player may manually register a called number on a corresponding zone of the game board without placement or insertion of a game piece. A winning game is indicated by an audible indication when the player actuated switches complete one of a plurality of parallel pattern establishing circuits corresponding to different predetermined zone patterns such as columns, rows and crossing diagonals. The zone identifying numbers assigned to each zone are changeable under control of a manual, position indicating wheel assembly fixed through gearing to a plurality of drums having peripherally mounted indicia exposed at each of the zones through window openings on the display panel. The indicia is in the form of visual and touch perceived numbers arranged in sequential order on the drums.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Therefore, this game can be used electrically and non-electrically by use of the slides and pre-determined numbers in sequential order.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a game board constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 2--2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section lines 3--3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of the game board shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the portion of the game board shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram illustrating the wiring associated with the game board shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates one of the register switches associated with the game board of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates one of many game boards 10 serving as BINGO cards and constructed in accordance with the present invention. The game board assembly is of a generally rectangular box-like structure formed by an outer housing on which a front display panel, generally denoted by reference numeral 14 is mounted and adapted to be read by both sighted and sight disadvantaged persons. The housing walls and front panel may be made of any suitable material such as wood, metal and plastics. The front panel 14 is of a design arranged for the playing of the familiar game of "BINGO" with certain modifications as will be explained hereinafter. Thus, a top horizontal portion of the front panel 14 is divided into five sections 16 enclosing raised lettering 18 spelling the word "BINGO." The panel is divided into twenty-four numbered zones 20 and a central "free play" zone 22 below the top sections 16. The zones 20 and 22 are arranged in columns of five aligned below each lettered section 16 as in the case of any "BINGO" game card. Raised dividers 23 separate the sections 16, 20 and 22 from each other so that they may be readily recognized by sight disadvantaged persons. A bottom portion 24 of the top panel has legend and game information thereon and mounts three game selection switches 26, 28 and 30, respectively, labelled "X," "H" and "V" referring to cross-diagonal, horizontal and vertical row types of game patterns that may be rendered operative or disabled by placing the appropriately labeled selection switch in the "on" or "off" position. The numbering associated with each of the zones 20 may be changed by manual rotation of a side wheel assembly 32 as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Each of the playing zones 20 is the same except for the associated game number exposed through a window opening 34 as shown in FIG. 1. The opening 34 may be closed by an opaque door 36 having a knob 38 as shown in FIG. 4. The door is slidably mounted on the zone 20 below a manual switch operator 40 adapted to be displaced between "on" and "off" positions labeled by raised lettering. As shown in FIG. 2, each switch operator 40 is connected to a six-terminal register switch 42 enclosed within the housing 12 behind the front panel 14 and above an indicia-bearing drum 44 on which number indicia 46 is peripherally mounted for exposure through the window opening 34. The number indicia includes both visual numbers and corresponding braille for recognition by sight disadvantaged persons.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drums 44 are mounted for alignment with the twenty-four openings 34 associated with the playing zones 20 by means of five parallel spaced shafts 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54. The shafts are journaled by spaced bearings attached to the side walls 56 and 58 of the housing 12 and the drum 44 are fixed both axially and rotationally to the shafts by set-screw fastened collars 60. The uppermost shaft 46 is extended through the side wall 56 for attachment to the hub portion 62 of the wheel assemmbly 32. Numbered flag elements 64 extend radially from the hub portion 62 to identify the angular position of the wheel assembly and the five drums 44 rotationally fixed thereto by shaft 46. The angular position of the wheel assembly also determines the angular position of all of the other drums attached to shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54 because they are geared to shaft 46. Thus, bearing brackets 66 and 68 mounted on the back wall 70 of the housing adjacent side walls 58 and 56 rotatably mount gears 72 intermeshed with gears 74 fixed to each of the shafts. All shafts are thereby rotated in the same direction and by the same amount by the wheel assembly 32 in order to simultaneously change the angular positions of all drums 44 and the numbering indicia exposed through the openings 34.

As shown in FIG. 6, the twenty-four register switches 42, respectively, associated with the zones 20 of the front panel, are wired through the selection switches 26, 28 and 30 to a low voltage source, such as battery 76, in order to complete an energizing circuit for an audible indicator device such as buzzer 78 when the player achieves a winning game upon closing of all switches 42 connected in a predetermined pattern associated with a closed one of the game selection switches 26, 28 and 30. As shown in FIG. 7, when a switch 42 is displaced from its "off" or open position to the "on" or active position, terminals 1 and 2, 5 and 6, 4 and 3 are bridged to establish three parallel conductive paths capable of being extended through three parallel circuits by closure of all other switches 42 in any vertical column pattern, in any horizontal row pattern or through a crossing diagonal pattern. It will, however, be noted from FIG. 6, that some of the switches 42 do not have any wiring connected to terminals 3 and 4 since such switches cannot form part of the crossing diagonal circuit. One or more of such three parallel circuits may be completed or disabled by one or more of the game selection switches.

The numbering arrangement associated with each game board assembly 10 may be changed by angular positioning of the wheel assembly 32 as aforementioned. Accordingly, each player may hold the same game-card as herein described, adjusted to a different numbering arrangement fom all other game cards. All of the register switch operators 40 are placed in the "off" position to start the game. On instruction from the game manager, the appropriate game selection switch or switches 26, 28 and 30 may be closed by each player holding a game card. Playing of the game may then proceed in a conventional manner by the game manger selecting and calling out letters and number combinations. Each time the called letter and number combination corresponds to the indicia 46 exposed in one of the zones 20 of a game-card, the player closes the corresponding zone switch 42 through operator 40. When closure of a switch 42 completes a circuit, the buzzer 78 operates to signify a winning game.

The numbering arrangements available for each game card 10 is limited to fifteen, with the numbers in each vertical letter column being exposed on the drums 44 in sequence since a number sequence may be more readily remembered by the sight disadvantaged player. Fifteen angular positions are therefore labeled on the flag elements of the wheel assembly 32 as more clearly seen in FIG. 5.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.