Virtual tug of war
US6620043B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F2300/8005
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention provides a novel form of entertainment in which participants compete in a “tug of war” against opponents who are remotely located, stored in electronic form in memory, or are virtual opponents graphically generated in real-time by a computer. One embodiment implements “tug of war” in a manner compatible with international standards for Tug competitions. The invention consists of a rope attached to a motor to supply a counterforce to the pulling team. A tensiometer is attached to the rope to determine the force being applied to the rope by the pulling team. In one embodiment, there is a corresponding assembly being used by an opposing team and in data communication with the first assembly. The motor applies a counterforce to the rope being pulled by one team based on the force being applied by the other team to their own rope. In this manner, the system works as if the teams were each pulling on the same rope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.