Toy bowling game

US6283872A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hasbro, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Michael Lichodziejewski · Schaumburg, US
• Seum Lim Gan · Villa Park, US
• Craig Dennis Sellers · Chicago, US
• John R. Wildman · North Riverside, US
• Scott Clark · Manchester, US
• Karl R. Meyer · Hampden, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 14, 2000
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 14, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A63D5/04
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

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.