US20090001667A1

US20090001667A1 - Game apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20090001667A1
Application number: US12/214,993
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen Philip Buchanan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-24
Publication date: 2009-01-01
Also published as: GB2450481A; GB0712159D0; GB2450481B

Abstract

A game apparatus, for example for use in sexual foreplay, comprises a flexible non-transparent sheet (4) having a plurality of apertures (6-10) therethrough, the apertures being spaced apart from each other and dimensioned to permit a person to extend an arm therethrough, and suspension means (1, 2) for holding the sheet upright across a doorway or like room opening. The sheet is preferably elastic, and at least some of the apertures comprise closures, for example slide fasteners, controllable from only one side of the sheet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a game apparatus, and especially, but not exclusively, to apparatus for use in sexual foreplay.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Various ways are employed by people to stimulate or enhance sexual foreplay, for example clothing. However, imagination and anticipation have proved to be important factors, and teasing, by at least initially limiting accessibility of one participant to the other, can be strongly stimulating. The present invention provides apparatus which facilitates sexual teasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided game apparatus comprising a flexible non-transparent sheet having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the apertures being spaced apart from each other and dimensioned to permit a person to extend an arm therethrough, and suspension means for holding the sheet upright across a doorway or like room opening.
The apparatus serves temporarily to separate the participants in foreplay one from the other, the apertures permitting limited views of each participant by the other, and limited access for a participant's hand or arm to permit touching of the other participant. The flexibility of the sheet may serve to enhance the experience.
Preferably, the sheet is elastic, for example being formed of a membrane of elastomeric material such as latex, or from a woven or knitted sheet containing elastic filaments such as Lycra®. The use of an elastic sheet permits one or other participant to press against the sheet to reveal body form provocatively or to permit limited touching through the sheet.
At least some of the apertures, which are preferably slits so as to provide limited or no visual access therethrough when in their normal state, may be provided with a closure means operable only from one side, or even from both sides independently of the other. Such closure means could include zip fasteners, or any other temporary fastening, such as buttons, Velcro®, press studs, non-toothed plastics slide fasteners, and even lace-and-eye fastenings.
The suspension means preferably comprises at least upper and lower supports respectively extending across the top and bottom of the doorway or opening. For example, the supports may be detachably mounted by means of brackets mounted in the doorway or opening, or they may be telescopically extensible under the influence of a spring so as to engage the sides of the doorway or opening, holding in place by friction.
Alternatively, the support means may be in the form of a frame temporarily engaged in the doorway or opening.
Additionally, at least one non-openable viewing window may be provided. Each window may be formed from a colour filter material, or adapted to provide some other visual effect.
The apparatus may be provided on one or both sides with loops in which ‘vibrating bullets’ or ‘vibrators’ can be placed without having to hold them, allowing free movement and free range to extend and touch.
The apparatus may be used in conjunction with game cards, drawn randomly or in accordance with pre-determined rules, suggesting actions by one or both participants, for example the removal of an item of clothing, or access through a designated aperture in the screen for viewing or for touching.
Because access is controlled, both by the proximity of a participant to the sheet and, in the preferred embodiment, by the ability of one or both participants to control access through the apertures, the teasing aspect of the game is enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus temporarily mounted in a doorway; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus comprises a pair of telescopically spring-extensible supporting bars 1 and 2 having resilient end stops 1 a and 2 a respectively to grip in, and avoid damage to, an internal door frame 3 of a building. A sheet 4 of an elastic fabric, for example including Lycra® yarn, is formed with a tubular sleeve 5 at each end thereof through which a respective one of the supporting bars 1 and 2 passes. The sheet 4 is dimensioned such that, when the bars 1 and 2 are positioned close to the top and bottom of the door frame respectively, the sheet is held under slight tension so as to keep it substantially flat, obscuring the doorway.
The sheet 4 is preferably opaque so that a person on one side thereof cannot see a person on the other side of the sheet.
Five apertures 6-10 are provided in the sheet as illustrated, although it will be appreciated that the number and relative locations of the apertures may be varied. Each aperture is provided with a plastics slide fastener of the type used to close plastics bags, providing a zip-fastener type of closing action using mutually-engaging deformable tracks without the use of teeth. Each fastener is provided with a pull tag 11 to permit easy opening and closing of the aperture.
The uppermost aperture 6 is located at an average eyeline position for a standing adult to permit peeping or viewing of the person on the other side of the sheet, and may be labelled “peep”. Other apertures 7 to 9 extend vertically at different intermediate locations, identified by labels such as “please” and “tease”, while the lowermost aperture is again horizontal and is labelled “play”.
In use, a person on one side of the sheet may temporarily provide the person on the other side of the sheet with visual or tactile access through one or more of the apertures by opening the appropriate fastener. By one person pressing against the elastic screen with a semi-clad or naked body, the screen conforms closely with at least the part of the body pressing against it and so the other person may be presented with provocative views of the first person's body.
FIG. 2 illustrates a variation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in which the uppermost aperture is replaced with a peephole in the form of a window formed of a colour filter material, for example red or blue Perspex®, providing an alternative view of the person on the other side. The colour change may provide a more stimulating view. It will be appreciated that other colours, or indeed other visual effects, may be provided by the window, and that more than one such window may be provided.
The apparatus may be used as part of a game, with actions being suggested by, for example, game cards drawn randomly or in accordance with pre-determined rules, for example controlling which of the apertures should be opened, and suggesting viewing or other actions by one or other of the persons playing the game, the intention being, for example, to stimulate foreplay prior to removal of the screen to bring the persons together.
While the game apparatus has been described with reference to adult sexual play, it will be appreciated that other forms of game may also be played with this type of apparatus, for example guessing a person's identity by means of touch only through the sheet.

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising a flexible non-transparent sheet having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the apertures being spaced apart from each other and dimensioned to permit a person to extend an arm therethrough, and suspension means for holding the sheet upright across a doorway or like room opening.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is elastic.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is a membrane of elastomeric material.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is formed from a woven or knitted sheet containing elastic filaments.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apertures are formed as slits.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the apertures are provided with closure means operable from only one side of the sheet.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said closure means comprise zip fasteners.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said closure means comprise hook and eye textile fasteners.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suspension means comprises at least upper and lower supports respectively extending across the top and bottom of the doorway or opening.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the supports co-operate with brackets mounted in said doorway or opening.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the supports are telescopically extensible under the influence of a spring so as to engage the doorway or opening.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one transparent window therethrough.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each window is formed from a colour filter material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, provided with at least one loop or pocket on the surface thereof for holding additional objects.