GB2188852A - Educational game - Google Patents

Abstract

Educational game apparatus comprises a track shaped like the periphery of a geographical area, an aircraft model suspended from the track, and means for remotely controlling movement of the model round the track. Both the speed and height of the model can be controlled. The height is controlled through an electric motor situated in the model and acting to alter the length of the member suspending the model from the track. Sections of the length of the track correspond to respective parts of the geographical area (e.g. states of the U.S.). The game involves stopping the model on the track section corresponding to a nominated part (state), whereupon the latter is illuminated, whilst having the model at its lowest altitude to represent landing, this being indicated by a light on the model. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toygame We are introducing a toy game for entertainment.

This is a plane that flies around beneath a hanger having the shape ofthe border ofthe United States of America. How does this toy game work? Let us explain the function of each part of the toy in brief description and tell how it works. The first page of drawings shows a cut-away diagram (Figure 1) of hanger with its sides. The hanger has a shape ofthe word C with two bars containing tracks on them (Figure 2), attached through the holes of the walls of hanger C (Figure 3). By hanging on a hookfixed on ceiling or on a pole connected with six cables, the back of hanger C faces ceiling and let players see the map of the United States of America and its states with borders (Figure 9).There are forty four pieces of hanger and they are to be put together by its tracks and a small lock on the backofhangerat its ends (Figure 10). Each piece of hanger has a particular area ofthe shape ofthe United States map. The length of each piece is about 2.20 dm, depending on the shape ofthe map (Figure 7 and Figure 8).

By attaching bars containing tracks to the walls of hanger C, each rear of hanger has its track. As we know, tracks on pieces of hanger are put together at its ends and the shape of tracks also has the shape of the United States map. Tracks made of metal are connected with battery box by electric wires. One track is positive and another is negative.

An axis is used to connect two wheels that run on the rear of hanger. The third wheel is almost in the middle of the axis and has teeth around the rear of that wheel (Figure 11). Inside, next to the wheels are electric wires that are held buy a hand on each side which can beturned around its axis. The drawing also showsthesizes of each part.

These two hands which are used to hold wires are connected with a small motor by a little longer arm on each side (Figure 12). This motor has one end containing teeth that touch teeth ofthe rear ofthe third wheel (Figure 13), when restored electric power, to make this wheel run and also two other wheels run along the rear of the US shaped hanger.

Figure 14 is from Figure 3 and Figure 13 which are put together. We see wires at two hands aretouched two tracks all the time that make electric power be always restored when using. Also, these two hands hold two metal logs, standing up, touching metal pieces on the inside back of hanger which allows electricity to run a small motor put insidethe body of plane. Another end of the top motor is connected with a flat, hollow tube containing a soft, flat plastic string inside (Figure 15). This string also contains electric wires connecting metal logs with motor in the body of plane. This tube is about 3 dm long which is designed to keep the string from swinging around but it can be swung back and forth by a small hookat the ends ofthe tube and the top motor (Figure 16).

This will allow plane easytofly (Figure 19, Figure 20, and Figure 22). The string is about 0.90 meter long including the one inside the tube. Its width is about 0.6 cm. It is made of very flexible and transparent plastic (Figure 17 and Figure 18).

The plane can fly up and down by using an updown-controlled button while plane is flying by using a flight-controlled button (Figure 23 and Figure 27). Plane can fly fast or slow and fly up ordown quickly depending on how player presses fiight button and updown button (Figure 24). How does plane fly up and down? There are fifty metal pieces on each side, one is positive and the next one is negative and it goes on until the fiftieth metal piece (Figure 25). The other side also has fifty pieces creating a pair of metal pieces fixing on the inside back of hanger at a certain distance. But one ofthe pair is positive, the other must be negative, and so on.

When wheels run along the rears of hanger, the metal logs touch each pair while player presses updown button causing each pairofmetal pieces which powers electricity and that makes motor in the body of plane run. When it is running, the end of motor in plane has a small wheel touching another wheel (Figure 21) that rolls a plastic string to make it shorter at this pair and longeratthe next pair and so on, causing plane flies up when the string is shorter and down when it is longer. The highest altitude is reached when lighton thetop of plane is litwhich warns player not to fly higher. Plane reaches a lowest altitude when the light at the bottom of plane is on.

When flying around beneath the map of the United States of America (Figure 26), plane (about 30 centimeters long and wing span 20 centimeters long) will turn on and offthe light of each state showing the name of that state, such as NY, VA, CA, (Figure 28). There are fifty lights forfifty state names which will be on and off at least one time when plane makes one tour along the border of the US map. The light of the name ofthe capital Washington, D.C. will be lit all time.

How is light of each state lit on and off? There are fifty pairs of metal pieces along tracks. Each pair is connected with light of each state by electric wires that go inside small tubes along border of that state.

When the wheels of plane run along outside tracks hitting each pair which lies on the rears and under the wheels causing it touches tracks and that makes each pair restore electricity and that will light on the name of particular state and when wheels pass each pair, light will be off. The maps of Alaska and Hawaii will be connected with mainland by transparent plasticsticksonthe Ieftside (Figure 29).

Aswe know,the hanger in which wheelswill run along the tracks on the rears of hanger has the shape ofthe United States map. Each state has its border by using small tubes which allow electricwires going inside them. These wires go from each pair of metal pieces along tracks to a bulb inside the state name and the small star standing forthe capital ofthat state. The bigger star stands forthe capital ofthe country and the name of the capital will be lit all time.

The length ofthe map is about 2.70 meters and its width is about 1.65 meters. Each pair of electric wires (Figure 23) from tracks and from a pair ofwires lying along on the outside back of hanger, which is connected with pairs of metal pieces on the inside back of hanger (Figure 25), goes to a battery box.

Two pairs of electric wires go to flight button and updown button from battery box (Figure 30).

The control box has two buttons, One forspeed and oneforaltitude (Figure24).

This is not only a toy but also a game showing where the location of each state is and howto land on a chosen state by another player. It is considered awinnerwhocan stop plane ata particularspot which makes light of a chosen state and two other lights, one at the bottom and one on the nose of plane, turn on. The light of state is on that means landing on a right state. The lightatthe bottom is on that means plane reaching a lowest altitude and the light on the nose is on meaning a landing is complete. We think players who participate in playing this game will rememberthe location of every state. Also, time is an important feature.This decisivefactor is the one who has a shortest period oftime is considered a winner, that means a player must fly his plane faster than the others. We would liketo be allowed thatthe size ofthetoy game could be changeable because of the manufacturing cost.

Also, other maps are going to be utilized forthetoy game in this manner and be submitted later.

The toy game Hoang-Turneristhetitle of this invention which is named afterthe inventors of this invention. This is a toy game.

Briefsummary The invention is the strategy of a game and how it is played. The objectofthe game is to fly a plane around the track so it stops at the location of the state which another player or you had chosen. This will trigger a lighton the map and lights on the planeto go on. If playerfails to stop the plane at the correct location he has chosen, then other playerwill go. The toy game includes a map, an airplane, a remote control, a battery-powered box, cables and lights.

Hoang-Turner is a toy game. It is designed to be played by children, teenagers, and also adults. It can be played indoors by hanging on ceiling or outdoors (in garden, on beach,...) by hanging on a pole. The parts ofthe toy game include a large map ofthe United States of America made out of hard material (e.g. Plastic, metal), a plane controlled by a wired remote hand-held box, and cables which connectthe plane to the map, the map to a battery-powered box.

The map has all fifty states identified with all their respective boundaries clearly marked by small tubes. The map has a set of tracks which will go aroundthe mainland along its borders. The map will be designed to hang up on ceiling or on a pole so that the states are facing down towards the floor or the ground. There will be a cable connecting the plane and the tracks. The plane will hang down in the air between the player and the map on the ceiling or on the pole. The plane altitude and speed will be controlled buy a remote boxthe player holds in his hand. There will be one button on the remote for altitude and oneforspeed.

The track will connect with each state electrically.

Each state will have a placeon the track that when the plane passes their point on the track, the light on the state will flash on. So each time the plane passes each state-designated spot on the track, that respective state light will flash on. Washington, D.C.'s light will always remain lit.

The plane will also consist of three lights. Onethat will flash on at maximum altitude, onethatwillflash on at lowest altitude and onethatwill light up every time it passes a state.

Anotherplayerwill choose a state before the player pushes the remote to control the plane flying at least one tour around the map of the United States of America. The players' objective is to stopflying the plane atthe location on the track designated for that state, so the light of that state, the light at bottom and the lightat nose ofthe plane will flash on atthe same time. The one who does this successfully is considered a winner. But time is also an important feature. The player who achieves this in the quickest time will win the game. Ifthe playerfailsto stop flying atthe chosen state or if he lands too high (light at bottom doesn'tflash on) or light at nose doesn't flash on in eitheratime limitora certain amount of tours around the track then he must let the other playertry.

Other map of countries or continents in the world could be utilized for the purpose of this toy game.

The claim here is howthe parts of the game relate to one another to provide for a competitive game.

The map, with its surrounding trackwill hang down from a ceiling or on a pole. The playerwill control by remote a plane that will hang down from this track by electric cables and fly around the borders of the United States of America. The lights are important in this claim. They will signify lowestand highest altitude, correct state, and if the player wins or loses.

This claim is unique. The claim here is that there is no such toy game ever before patented which has this theory or game strategy.

The map also can be hooked upto the ceiling and be kept there and used as learning method of geography for every one to learn the states. Also, it can be played in the garden oron the beach by hanging on a pole.

The strategy and parts of this game will not only apply to the United States, bust a map of England (or the entire United Kingdom), France, Germany, or any other countries, or a map of continent (Europe, America, Asia,...) could also be utilized forthe purpose ofthis game.

Summary 1. Map of a particular country with tracks along its borders is hung from a ceiling ora pole.

2. A plane which hangs from its tracks by electric wire will fly around as a player controls by remote.

3. The lights on the plane and map which will signify altitude, location and if a player wins or loses.

Time is included.

4. Battery-powered box and a remote control are used, all connected by electric wires, to power the whole system.

The name of thins invention is Hoang-Turner. The map should bea hard material and should be hung from the ceiling or pole. Plastic is a good example.

The size ofthe map will I be about the size of a twin-sized bed. One side will be clearly marked byall the states and each state shall have a small bulb where its capital is. Cables that hold the map will stem from the middle device on the ceiling or pole that will act as hook-up between the map and the ceiling orthe end ofthe pole.

The tracks can be made of metal. The plane cable that goes into the tracks will have wheels at the end of it that will turn as it goes along the track. The cables connecting the map, plane, and the hook-up device will all have electricwires running along through them to provide the power in the toy game.

The plane will be made of plastic and beabout30 centimeters long.

The toy game will be powered by batteries. There will be a battery-powered box that will be connected neartheground on thewall oron the pole. It could be also powered by an electrical outlet. The remote control will either connect to a battery-powered box orto an electrically charged box. The plane shall fly fast orslowlyand shall fly up or down depending on how the player presses the flight button and updown button. The winner is the onewho stop flying the plane at a particular spot on the tracks along the border that make the light on a chosen state, light at the bottom and at the nose ofthe plane flash on in the shortest period of time.

Claims (8)

1. Atoygame comprising a small airplaneflied by remote control, hung on at the end of a string which is run in hanger by another end connected with a small motor. Hanger may have the shape of the Unites States of America, orthe shape ofthe United Kingdom in which all states belong to, or any countryintheworld,oranycontinentontheearth.

2. Atoy game as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the string could be itself rolled higheror lower by anothersmall motorin airplanewhich is also controlled by a remote control. It makes airplane fly up and down.

3. Atoy game as claimed in Claim 1,wherein hanger containing tracks which are stored power from batteries makes the motor run and causes wheels running along the hanger.

4. Atoy gameasclaimed in Claim 1 orClaim 2, wherein a small hook at the bottom of the top motor would letthe airplane easilyto start itsflight.

5. Atoy game as claimed in Claim 2orClaim4 wherein a flexible and thin plastic string required is adapted the movement of the bottom motor in airplanewhen it is controlled to run back and forth.

6. Atoy game as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the airplane is required to provide with at least one remote control.

7. Atoy game as claimed in Claim 6, wherein that remote control must have two button, oneforflight and anotherforaltitude.

8. Atoy game substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawing.