US4320901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microprocessor controlled game
Assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
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Filing: 1980-02-08
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Granted: 1982-03-23
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Expires: 2000-02-08
Abstract
Abstract The game is characterized by a complicated and dangerous looking bomb-like housing which is equipped with a four-by-six keyboard under a hinged transparent cover. A pair of alternately flashing red incandescent lamps illuminate the keyboard. When the cover is opened, exposing the keyboard, the lamps may begin to flash or pulsate and the rate of flashing of the lamps may be increased and a fuse sound is produced which starts out at a relatively low pitch and gradually over a preselected time period increases in pitch to the point where it is obvious that an inevitable "blowup" will occur. The object of the game is to prevent the bomb from "exploding". If the bomb does explode, the fuse sound is terminated and a loud "boom" sound is produced which decays slowly and simulates the explosion of a bomb.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard J. Morrison
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Breslow
- 👤 Rex M. Harper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:52
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2402; A63F2009/2404; A63F2009/2436; A63F2009/2439; A63F2009/2448; A63F2009/245; A63F2009/2451; A63F2009/2452; A63F2009/247; A63F2009/2483; A63F2009/2492; A63F2009/2494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of, means for establishing a predetermined time period during which a game is to be played, said time period establishing means including means for determining the expiration of said time period, means for generating a sensorially perceptible event at the end of said time period, a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard of predetermined configuration for activation by the players one at a time, means for storing representations corresponding to each of said keys as they are actuated by the players, and means responsive to a second actuation of one of said keys by one of the players for generating said sensorially perceptible event prior to the expiration of said predetermined time period, said game further including a housing for said keyboard, a cover movably mounted in said housing and normally covering said keyboard, and means responsive to movement of said cover to an open position for initiating said predetermined time period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of, means for establishing a predetermined time period during which a game is to be played, said time period establishing means including means for determining the expiration of said time period, means for generating a sensorially perceptible event at the end of said time period, a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard of predetermined configuration for activation by the players one at a time, means for storing representations corresponding to each of said keys as they are actuated by the players, and means responsive to a second actuation of one of said keys by one of the players for generating said sensorially perceptible event prior to the expiration of said predetermined time period, said game further including a housing for said keyboard, a cover movably mounted in said housing and normally covering said keyboard, and means responsive to movement of said cover to an open position for initiating said predetermined time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 1, wherein said sensorially perceptible event is an audible event simulating the detonation of a bomb.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 1, which includes a source of flashing light, and means for increasing the frequency of light flashes from said source during said predetermined time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 3, wherein said sensorially perceptible event comprises means for causing said flashing light source to emit light continuously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 1, wherein said housing simulates a bomb and said predetermined time period represents a fuse length prior to explosion of the bomb.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 5, which includes means for varying said predetermined time period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 5, which includes means for generating an audible signal of gradually increasing amplitude during said predetermined time period, said audible signal simulating the burning of a fuse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 7, wherein said sensorially perceptible event generating means includes means for generating an audible sound simulating the detonation of a bomb.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 1, which includes means for varying said predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 1, which includes means responsive to the selection of all of said keys one at a time and prior to the double selection of any one key for disabling said sensorially perceptible event generating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 1, which includes means for generating an audible signal of gradually increasing amplitude during said predetermined time period, and means for discontinuing said audible signal at the end of said predetermined time period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of, means for establishing a predetermined time period during which a game is to be played, means for determining the end of said predetermined time period, means for generating a sensorially perceptible event at the end of said time period, a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard of predetermined configuration for activation by a player one at a time, means for randomly sequentially selecting different ones of said keys as a target key, means for developing an audible signal in response to the initial actuation of a target key by a player, and means responsive to a second actuation of a target key by a player for generating said sensorially perceptible event prior to the expiration of said predetermined time period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of, means for establishing a predetermined time period during which a game is to be played, means for determining the end of said predetermined time period, means for generating a sensorially perceptible event at the end of said time period, a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard of predetermined configuration for activation by a player one at a time, means for randomly sequentially selecting different ones of said keys as a target key, means for developing an audible signal in response to the initial actuation of a target key by a player, and means responsive to a second actuation of a target key by a player for generating said sensorially perceptible event prior to the expiration of said predetermined time period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 12, which includes means responsive to the single actuation of all of said target keys in said sequence prior to the double actuation of any one thereof for disabling said sensorially perceptible event generating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of, means for establishing a predetermined time period during which a game is to be played, means for generating light flashes the frequency of occurrence of which increases during said time period, a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard of predetermined configuration for actuation by a player one at a time, means for storing representations corresponding to each of said keys as they are actuated by a player, and means responsive to a second actuation of one of said keys by a player prior to the expiration of said time period for generating a sensorially perceptible event including a continuous light in place of said flashes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of, means for establishing a predetermined time period during which a game is to be played, means for generating light flashes the frequency of occurrence of which increases during said time period, a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard of predetermined configuration for actuation by a player one at a time, means for storing representations corresponding to each of said keys as they are actuated by a player, and means responsive to a second actuation of one of said keys by a player prior to the expiration of said time period for generating a sensorially perceptible event including a continuous light in place of said flashes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 14, which includes means responsive to the single actuation of each of said keys prior to double actuation of any one thereof and prior to the expiration of said time period for discontinuing generation of said light flashes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electronic keyboard game of claim 14, wherein the frequency of said light flashes at the end of said time period is sufficiently high that said light flashes appear to be continuous due to the persistence of vision of the player.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of a housing constructed to simulate a bomb, a keyboard positioned within said housing, closure means on said housing and movable from a first position which prevents access to said keyboard to a second position which permits access to said keyboard, means for selecting one of a number of different time periods during which the game is to be played, means controlled by said time period selection means for producing a ticking sound simulating an armed bomb, and means responsive to movement of said closure means from said first position to said second position for terminating said ticking sound and producing a sound which simulates the burning of a fuse and indicates the start of said selected time period.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an electronic keyboard game, the combination of a housing constructed to simulate a bomb, a keyboard positioned within said housing, closure means on said housing and movable from a first position which prevents access to said keyboard to a second position which permits access to said keyboard, means for selecting one of a number of different time periods during which the game is to be played, means controlled by said time period selection means for producing a ticking sound simulating an armed bomb, and means responsive to movement of said closure means from said first position to said second position for terminating said ticking sound and producing a sound which simulates the burning of a fuse and indicates the start of said selected time period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 17, which includes means for generating a slowly flashing red light when said ticking sound is produced.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 18, wherein said means for generating a slowly flashing red light includes a lamp bulb positioned within said housing and including means for making said bulb visible through said closure means when in said first position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 17, including means for causing said fuse sound to increase in frequency during the selected time period.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 17, which includes means for storing representations corresponding to each of said keys as they are actuated by a player, and means responsive to a second actuation of one of said keys by a player prior to the expiration of said selected time period for terminating said fuse sound and producing a sound simulating the explosion of a bomb.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of claim 17, which includes means for selecting one of the keys of said keyboard as a defuse key, means for selecting a predetermined number of other keys, and means for terminating said fuse sound and producing a sound simulating the explosion of a bomb in the event that said defuse key is pressed before a predetermined number of other keys have been pressed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination of claim 22, which includes means for determining whether said defuse key lies along horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines which intersect at said depressed key and means operative when any one of the keys of said keyboard other than said defuse key is pressed to produce an audible signal in the event that said defuse key lies along horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines which intersect at said depressed key.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of claim 17, which includes means for selecting one of the keys of said keyboard as a defuse key, and means for terminating said fuse sound and producing a sound simulating the explosion of a bomb in the event that said defuse key is not pressed after a predetermined number of other keys have been pressed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 24, including means for determining the expiration of a time period wherein said explosion sound is also produced in the event that said defuse key is not pressed prior to the expiration of said selected time period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 25, wherein said explosion sound is also produced in the event that said defuse key is not pressed prior to the expiration of said selected time period.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 17, which includes means for preselecting one of the keys of said keyboard as a defuse key, means for determining the end of a predetermined time period, and means for producing a sound simulating the explosion of a bomb in the event said defuse key is not pressed prior to the expiration of said selected time period.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination of claim 17, which indcludes means for selecting one of the keys of said keyboard as a defuse key, means for determining whether said defuse key lies along horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines which intersect at said depressed key, and means operative when any one of the keys of said keyboard other than said defuse key is pressed to produce an audible signal in the event that said defuse key lies along horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines which intersect at said depressed key.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 17, which includes means for storing representations corresponding to different groups of keys selected by the players, and means for delaying production of said fuse sound until after all of said groups of keys have been selected by the players.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 29, which includes means for producing a sound simulating the explosion of a bomb in the event that the keys selected by each player are not located by the opponent within said selected time period.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-03-22 | 1985-09-21 | 1986-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-03-22 | 1989-09-21 | 1990-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-03-22 | 1993-09-21 | 1994-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |