US5226822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive electronic game book
Assignee: Readers Digest Childrens Publishing Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-21
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2012-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An interactive electronic game book is disclosed in which the pages of the book form game boards for educational or amusement-type games. An electronic randomizer unit is affixed to the back cover of the game book for providing randomly-selected instructions directing the games and allowing the player to interact with the game board pages. The randomizer unit may sequentially operate and randomly select one of a plurality of lights, which correspond to one of a set of game instructions provided on a page adjacent to the randomizer. Several different types of game boards may be contained within a single volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:54
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00643; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/38; G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An interactive game book comprising: a support member; a plurality of pages secured to the support member, said plurality of pages forming a game board for a game and including graphic information and a set of instructions for directing how to play the game represented on the game board; and an electronic randomizer secured to the support member for randomly indicating one of said set of instructions to be followed for playing the game, wherein said randomizer includes an actuator, a series of indicators having two different states, with each indicator being associated with one of said set of instructions, and means for randomly changing the state of one of said indicators for a predetermined time period in response to operation of said actuator, thereby, indicating that the instruction adjacent the indicator having the changed state is to be followed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
An interactive game book comprising: a support member; a plurality of pages secured to the support member, said plurality of pages forming a game board for a game and including graphic information and a set of instructions for directing how to play the game represented on the game board; and an electronic randomizer secured to the support member for randomly indicating one of said set of instructions to be followed for playing the game, wherein said randomizer includes an actuator, a series of indicators having two different states, with each indicator being associated with one of said set of instructions, and means for randomly changing the state of one of said indicators for a predetermined time period in response to operation of said actuator, thereby, indicating that the instruction adjacent the indicator having the changed state is to be followed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The game book of claim 1 wherein said indicators are lights having on and off conditions and said means for randomly changing the state of one of the lights comprises an electronic circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The game book of claim 2 wherein said electronic circuit includes a switch operable in response to activation of said actuator to sequentially turn on and then off each of said lights and then repeatedly turn on and off only one of said lights, thereby indicating that the instructions adjacent said one light are to be followed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The game book of claim 3 wherein said electronic circuit includes means for generating first sounds in response to operation of said actuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The game book of claim 4 wherein said sound generating means produces second sounds different from said first sounds during the time period said one light is repeatedly turned on and off.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The game book of claim 2 wherein said electronic circuit includes a switch operable in response to activation of said actuator to sequentially turn on and then off each of said lights for a first time period and then turn on only one of said lights for a second time period greater than said first time period, thereby indicating that the instructions adjacent said one light are to be followed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The game book of claim 6 wherein said electronic circuit includes means for generating first sounds in response to operation of said actuator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The game book of claim 7 wherein said sound generating means produces second sounds different from said first sounds during the second time period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The game book of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pages comprises a plurality of pages defining different game boards for a plurality of different games.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The game book of claim 9 further comprising a front cover, a back cover defining said support member, and a binding disposed between said front and back covers permitting folding of at least one of said covers to open and close the game book, and wherein said binding secures the pages to the game book and said randomizer is disposed on said back cover in a position freely permitting opening and closing of the game book and turning of the pages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
The game book of claim 10 wherein at least one of the games includes a game board defined by two adjacent pages of the game book when the game book is in an open position, with one of said two adjacent pages lying over the front cover and the other of said two adjacent pages lying over the back cover, said other page having a first edge adjacent the binding and a second edge adjacent the randomizer, said randomizer being spaced from said second edge, and said set of instructions being located on said other page adjacent said second edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The game book of claim 10 wherein said randomizer comprises a circular housing, said set of instructions is disposed in a ring-like fashion around the circular housing, and said plurality of pages has a hole through which the circular housing may extend.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The game book of claim 1 wherein the game is selected from the group consisting of an educational game and a board game.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |