The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2000
Michael Lichodziejewski, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Seum Lim Gan, Villa Park, IL (US);
Craig Dennis Sellers, Chicago, IL (US);
John Wildman, Wilmette, IL (US);
Scott S. Clark, Manchester, CT (US);
Karl R. Meyer, Gloucester, MA (US);
Hasbro, Inc., Pawtucket, RI (US);
Abstract
An animated toy bowling game includes a plurality of pins, a base having a plurality of pin sockets therein, and a toy bowling ball. The pins have fanciful character faces that give the pins the appearance of live characters. Each of the pins is receivable in a respective pin socket for locating the pins in a specified pin arrangement. Each of the pin sockets includes a pin sensor for determining whether a pin is received therein and an actuator element engageable with the respective pin received therein to move, or wobble, the respective pin when the actuator element is moved into and out of engagement with the pin. The game further includes a drive device to effect movement of the actuator elements, and an audio unit operative for producing audible sounds. The sensors, drive device, and audio unit are coupled to a control unit operative for selectively controlling the drive device and the audio unit responsive to detection of the states of the pin sensors. During game play, the pins are wobbled to simulate apparent live movement of the pin characters and the game produces audible sounds including announcements of the player's score and taunting phrases.