US20090215356A1

US20090215356A1 - Bingo buddy

Info

Publication number: US20090215356A1
Application number: US12/072,544
Authority: US
Inventors: Jami Josephine Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-26
Filing date: 2008-02-26
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

What I am bringing new to the Bingo industry is my invention I named “The Bingo Buddy”, which is a 5″ plush toy with a signature belly that looks like and is in the shape of a bingo ball and sits at the base of an accompanying money-holding stand, which the top part has either a mini strobe or police beacon light with a functional money clip located just underneath, or just a simple spiral holder; the mid-section is a plastic or a metal retractable antenna-like rod that extends approximately 3 feet high; and the base is approximately a 6″×4″×2″ plastic box with an on/off switch and a button in the front on top of the box that activates the light and the intercom speaker that yells out “bingo!” which is located on the top of the base on the left side.

The Bingo Buddy is what every serious bingo player needs—an adorable good luck charm that displays a bingo ball belly (perhaps of the player's winning number). Its accompanying stand assists the player in two ways. First, it holds money up high enough in the air in order to flag down a passing “runner,” instead of continually holding up their arms, and second, by signaling the “caller” of a possible bingo, which can be quite difficult in a crowded bingo hall. With a push of a button, the bingo buddy lets out a clearly audible “Bingo!” while displaying a flashing red strobe light or a turning police beacon. There is a standard version of the stand in place of the mechanical one that acts simply as a money holder.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the U.S., the game of bingo is primarily staged by churches or charity organizations. Commercial bingo games in the U.S. are primarily offered by casinos (and then only in the state of Nevada), and by Native American bingo halls, which are often housed in the same location as Indian run casinos.
Bingo is a table game that is played in rounds, which can be pretty long.
There are many games played when you play bingo. Usually there are 15 or 20 regular games in a pack. Also, there are warm-up games, specials, bonanzas, jackpots, and getaways.
Bingo is a fast paced environment. Players play multiple cards for each game; thirty is not an unusual number. Because of the large numbers of the cards played by each player, most halls have the players sit at tables which they often fasten their cards with adhesive tape. To mark cards faster the players use special ink markers called daubers or dabbers. After the bingo number is drawn it is displayed on a television monitor for approximately 15-20 seconds then read aloud by the caller. Bingo cannot be called until that number is called aloud. The numbers already called and the patterns being played are also displayed on electric signs. Bingo games can lasts 4 hours. Bingo tournaments can lasts for 8 hours or even days.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

During bingo players have the option of buying extra game sheets for any upcoming game on the program. Players remain in their seats while raising money above their heads as they wait for a runner to come by, which can become tiring for the player. Sometimes when a player puts their arm down for a brief rest, they can get easily be dismissed by a runner resulting in a longer waiting period.
The “Bingo Buddy” is a plush toy that sits at the base of an accompanying money-holding stand and acts as the player's side-kick or good luck charm. The Bingo Buddy comes in various forms. But the common trait of all the bingo buddies is that their mid-sections are derived from bingo balls.
There are two types of stands that come with the Bingo Buddy—a standard stand, and a mechanical stand. The standard stand has three basic parts—the top of the product is a clip or a spiral holder for money; the mid-section is an antenna-like rod that extends and retracts; the base of the invention is a paperweight type object that can be rectangular, a sphere, square, pyramid, or figurine. The mechanical stand, at the top, has a mini strobe working light or a mini police beacon light with a functional money clip located just underneath. The mid-section, like the standard version, is an antenna-like rod that extends and retracts, and the base of the product is a rectangular box that has a single button that calls out “bingo!” when pushed and activates the beacon, which allows the player to use as a signal to let the caller know that he or she has made a bingo. The intercom has a volume control for the player to adjust depending on the distance the player is away from the caller.
“The Bingo Buddy” stands hold the money for the player. Their general purpose is to allow players to concentrate on their game without having to constantly hold their arms in the air. The bingo stands will also make it easier for a runner to spot a player that needs papers. With a siren light at the top of the stand, the Bingo Buddy can triple as a way for a caller to easily spot a player at the back of a bingo hall that has won a game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A shows the frontal view of a plush bingo buddy. The entire mid-section is in the shape and form of a bingo ball. Within the upper left limb is a clip that attaches to the bingo stand.

FIG. 1B shows the side view of the plush bingo buddy.

FIG. 2A shows a standard bingo buddy stand. At the top is a spiral money holder that attaches to a retractable rod and is held up by a pyramid shaped base.

FIG. 2B shows the spiral holder holding the dollar bill.

FIG. 3A shows the base of the mechanical stand. On the four corners of the inner perimeter are button feet with felt scratch pads. On the left side is the on/off switch; and in the middle is the speaker.

FIG. 3B shows a police beacon and money clip are attached to a retractable rod mounted on a base. On top of the base is the action button; and on the right side is the volume control. The shaded area on top of the base is a space for an interchangeable bingo buddy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention called “The Bingo Buddy” is a plush toy that holds on to the base of the rod of its money-holding stand. It has a signature belly in the shape and look of a bingo ball. The “bingo buddy” is approximately 5″ tall and it is made out of all fabric or fabric and thermoset polymers, polycarbonate, or synthetic plastics. Each bingo buddy comes in various forms—human, animal, or creature.
The stands consist of three main parts—the base, middle, and top.
The standard stand's base is made of thermoset polymers, polycarbonate, synthetic plastics or stone. The base can come in different shapes and sizes. The rectangular shape is approximately 4″×1″; the sphere shape is approximately 2¾″ in diameter; the square shape is approximately 2½″×2½″; the pyramid shape is approximately 2½″×2½″×2½″, and the figurines are approximately 2½″, all weighing approximately 1.5 lbs each.
The mid-section is a retractable antenna-like rod that extends to approximately 3 feet high. It is made out of stainless steel or plastic.
The top piece of the invention is the money holder which is a thin round metal wire that starts from the bottom of the top middle piece and circulates clockwise in a wide circular motion going one and a half rotation smaller into the inside.
The mechanical stand's base is rectangular shaped and is approximately 6″ l×4″ w×2″ h. It is made of plastic material. On the top of the base is the button that activates the working light or beacon and the voice command that yells, “bingo!” On the right side is the volume control. And underneath the base is the on/off switch; and the speaker. Also, on the bottom four corners are button feet with felt scratch pads.
The mid-section is a retractable antenna-like rod that extends to approximately 3 feet high. It is made out of plastic material.
The top has a mini strobe working light or a mini police beacon light with a functional money clip located just underneath.

Claims

1. A plush toy with a bingo signaling device comprising: A) a fabric figure and incorporating a synthetic plastic bingo ball; and B) a mini police style beacon light mounted on a metal or plastic antenna type rod with an attached money clip, and a voice box component; and C) a spiral money holder mounted on a metal antenna which is attached to a base.

2. The plush toy according to claim 1, wherein said the mid-section is derived from bingo balls.

3. The plush toy according to claim 1, wherein said the upper left limb clips to the stand.

4. The plush toy according to claim 1, wherein said is approximately 5″ tall.

5. The plush toy according to claim 1, wherein said comes in various forms—human, animal, and creature.

6. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said has various forms of bases.

7. The bingo signaling device according to claim 6, wherein said the base can be rectangular, sphere, square, pyramid, of figurine.

8. The bingo signaling device according to claim 7, wherein said the particular rectangular base is mechanical.

9. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1 and 8, wherein said the base has a button to activate the mini type police beacon and the voice alert when pushed.

10. The bingo signaling device according to claim 9, wherein said has a voice alert that yells out, “Bingo!”

11. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1 and 8, wherein said has a speaker and a volume control switch.

12. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1 and 8, wherein said has an on/off switch.

13. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1 and 8, wherein said had button feet with felt with felt scratch pads.

14. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said has an elongated metal or plastic antenna-like rod that is retractable.

15. The bingo signaling device according to claim 13, wherein said the rod is approximately 3 feet high.

16. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said the money clip is attached to the top piece of the rod.

17. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said on top, attached to the rod is a mini style police beacon or a working light unit.

18. The bingo signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said the top is a money holder that is made of a thin round metal wire that starts from the bottom of the top of the rod and circulates clockwise in a wide circular motion going in a 1½ rotation smaller to the inside.