U.S. patent number 3,838,858 [Application Number 05/242,991] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-01 for random-lighting publicity or game apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Interbeg AG. Invention is credited to Henner Tummescheit.
United States Patent |
3,838,858 |
Tummescheit |
October 1, 1974 |
RANDOM-LIGHTING PUBLICITY OR GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
This publicity or game apparatus adapted to illuminate a series
of tell-tales on surface portions of a screen, said combination
being constantly randomly modified at a very fast rate during the
periods of operation of the apparatus which are released for
example by the insertion of a suitable card between a light source
and photoresistor, whereby the final combination of illuminated
tell-tales obtained when the apparatus becomes inoperative after a
time delay constitutes an unforeseeable result, the apparatus
including if desired a loudspeaker responsive to a relaxation
oscillator having its output frequency switched at the rate of one
of the series of tell-tales of the apparatus through a power
amplifier.
Inventors: |
Tummescheit; Henner (Hamburg,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Interbeg AG (Luxembourg,
LU)
|
Family
ID: |
22916917 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/242,991 |
Filed: |
April 11, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/22; 463/31;
40/442 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/24 (20130101); A63F 2009/2477 (20130101); A63F
2009/2451 (20130101); A63F 9/001 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/00 (20060101); A63f 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/8D,8P,8N,8R,10
;273/138A,1E ;40/106.52 ;84/464 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Publicity or game apparatus, of the type adapted to display
random combinations of illuminated tell-tales on a screen at the
end of a relatively short operating time, which comprises
essentially a body formed with a screen divided into a plurality of
translucent surface portions each constituting a tell-tale, said
tell-tales being grouped into separate series, light sources
disposed under said screen in said body and corresponding each to
one of said tell-tales, circuit means comprising another light
source and a photoresistor, control means adapted to be inserted
between said other light source and said photoresistor for blocking
the light beam emitted by the former towards the latter, a relay
control circuit responsive to said photoresistor when said
photoresistor is blocked by said control means, a time-lag relay
actuated by said last-named circuit and comprising a plurality of
front contacts each associated with one of a plurality of
assemblies each comprising a noise generator connected to pulse
shaping means adapted to shape the pulses delivered by said
generator, whereby said front contact can connect its respective
pulse shaping means with a separate divider associated with a
corresponding decoder upon actuation of said relay, each decoder
controlling the lighting of the respective light sources associated
with a given series of tell-tales, said time-lag relay at the end
of its timing interval deactivating said front contacts whereby the
last illuminated tell-tale in each series remains illuminated.
2. Publicity or game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
switching sequence applied to said tell-tales are controlled by
introducing said control means comprising a suitable card into a
slot formed in the body of the apparatus so as to block the light
beam emitted by said other light source towards said
photoresistor.
3. Publicity or game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
switching sequence applied to said tell-tales are controlled by
inserting said control means consisting of a suitable card into a
slot formed in the body of the apparatus so as to block the light
beam emitted by said other light source towards said photoresistor,
the apparatus further comprising a loudspeaker responsive through a
power stage to a relaxation oscillator having its output frequency
switched by the lighting of the bulbs of one series of tell-tales.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to publicity or game
apparatus of the type adapted to light up a random combination of
lamps. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus of
the type hereinabove referred to, adapted to light up a random
combination of lamps which is constantly modified at a very high
rate during a period of operation started for example by the
insertion of a card into the apparatus, whereby the final
combination obtained when the apparatus is stopped constitutes an
unforeseeable result of chance, somewhat as in a lottery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus according to this invention is characterised
essentially in that it comprises a generally box-shaped body having
one face consisting of a screen divided into several series of
tell-tales or signal lamps of which only one lights up at a time in
each series during the operation of the apparatus, so as to provide
a variable combination of data, the tell-tales of each series being
adapted to be lighted up at random under the control of electronic
means during the period of operation of the apparatus which is
started for example by introducing a suitable card into the body of
the apparatus.
This random control of the lamps in each series is obtained by
using a noise source of erratic frequency, consisting of a Zener
diode in the emitter-base circuit of a transistor connected to a
monostable multivibrator in order to deliver constant-width pulses
to a divider, then fed to a decoder controlling the switching of
the power stage causing the lighting of the bulbs corresponding to
the tell-tales or lamps of the energized series.
The period of operation producing a sequence of changes in the
switching on of the tell-tales is advantageously started by
introducing a card intersecting a light beam illuminating a
photoresistor in a control circuit of a delay-action relay, whereby
this relay will close the circuits controlling the series of lamps
and re-open these circuits after a time period determined by the
time constant of the relay, this time period being for example of
the order of 1 to 10 seconds. When the random control circuit is
stopped or re-opened, in each series one lamp remains lighted and
the combination of lamps thus obtained is a random combination,
i.e., obtained by chance.
A loudspeaker controlled by a relaxation oscillator having its
output frequency adapted to be switched at the rate of a series of
lamps may be associated with the above-described apparatus, this
control circuit comprising preferably a power stage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus as seen from the
front side;
FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating diagrammatically the signal
lamp control circuit, and
FIG. 4 is the diagram of a loudspeaker control circuit associated
with the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the exemplary form of embodiment illustrated in the drawing the
apparatus according to this invention comprises a body 1 having for
example substantially the shape of a sphere from which one cap
portion has been removed, adapted to be supported by the floor or
by a base member 2, said body 1 having therefore a flat face
constituting a circular screen 3 divided into three concentric
annular portions 4, 5 and 6 each divided in turn by radii spaced
60.degree. apart into six circular or annular sectors constituting
tell-tales or lamps consisting of translucent portions of materials
having different colours. Each tell-tale or lamp (of which 18 are
provided in this specific form of embodiment) is illuminated by a
bulb denoted 7, 8 and 9 respectively in FIG. 3 in the case of the
three annular portions 4, 5 and 6, respectively.
In each one of the three series of bulbs 7, 8 and 9 only one bulb
is lighted at a time, so that at any time a combination of three
illuminated tell-tales pertaining to the three annular portions 4,
5 and 6 is obtained. In the typical example shown herein, which
comprises three annular portions each divided into six tell-tales,
the number of combinations thus obtainable is 6.sup.3 = 216.
The body 1 has formed therein, in its upper portion and behind the
screen 3, a slot 10 adapted to receive a card 11 (FIG. 3) for
producing a sequence of switching actions leading to a novel
combination of tell-tales at the end of this sequence, i.e., when
the apparatus resumes its inoperative condition while displaying a
fixed combination of tell-tales at the end of the switching
sequence.
When the card 11 is introduced into the slot 10, it blocks the
light beam emitted from a light source 12 illuminating a
photoresistor 13 associated with a control circuit 14 of a time-lag
relay 15. This relay 15 will thus close the three circuits
controlling the bulbs 7, 8 and 9 via the movable contacts 16, 17
and 18 which are re-opened at the end of the operative period of
this relay.
Each circuit controlling a series of bulbs 7, 8, 9 comprises a
noise generator 19 of which the output signal constitutes the
random function of the system. This signal is shaped in a circuit
20 comprising a monostable multivibrator and delivering
constant-width pulses fed to a divider 21 for controlling one of
the six circuits connected to the decoders 22 each comprising a
power stage adapted to light up one bulb at a time in each series
7, 8 and 9.
During the operative period of relay 15 the switchings take place
at a very high rate, thus constantly modifying the combination of
illuminated tell-tales, so that in each one of the three annular
portions 4, 5, 6 the light appears as jumping continuously from one
sector to another, with a continuous change in colour if the
tell-tales have different colours as assumed hereinabove. When the
relay 15 resumes its inoperative condition the switchings cease and
the apparatus displays a fixed combination, obtained at random, of
three stationary illuminated tell-tales.
It is obvious that the distribution and the number of the
tell-tales in each series (i.e., in each annular portion in the
example illustrated) as well as the number of series of such
tell-tales could be changed without departing from the scope of the
invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically an ancillary sound circuit
comprising a relaxation oscillator 23 having an output frequency
switched at the rate of one row of bulbs by the six inputs 24. This
ancillary circuit is connected to a loudspeaker 25 via a power
amplifier 26, whereby the sequence of switchings of the tell-tales
will be attended by the emission of sounds, for example in a
musical form.
This apparatus may be used for any desired publicity purpose, on
account of its attractive character and of the surprising effects
that can be obtained therewith. Moreover, since it produces a final
result obtained only by chance, it can be used for example for the
selective allocation of bonuses or premiums of any desired nature
according to the combination displayed after a period of
operation.
On the other hand, in comparison with all known lottery and chance
apparatus, the apparatus of this invention is attended by
considerable advantages deriving from its fully automatic and very
fast operation, while remaining particularly attractive.
It is clear that the tell-tales, in lieu of displaying simple
coloured lights may display figures, characters, symbols or any
desired inscriptions.
Furthermore, the sequences of switchings could be released through
means other than the insertion of a card, as will readily occur to
those conversant with the art.
* * * * *