Patent ID: 7985137
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. A hand-held game apparatus for one or more users, comprising: a center element; a first outwardly-extended arm connected to the center element, wherein the first arm is stationary with respect to the center element; a second outwardly-extending arm movably connected to the center element, wherein the second arm is movable relative to the center element between a first position and a second position; a first input device on the first arm, the first input device being movable relative to the first arm by a first mechanical action; a first switch on the first arm operatively connected to the first input device so that the first switch is actuated by movement of the first input device by the first mechanical action; a second input device on the second arm, the second input device being movable relative to the second arm by a second mechanical action, wherein the second mechanical action is different than the first mechanical action; a second switch on the second arm operatively connected to the second input device so that the second switch is actuated by the movement of the second input device by the second mechanical action, and wherein movement of the second arm does not actuate the second switch; a first race input device on the center element, the first race input device being movable relative to the center element by a race mechanical action, wherein the race mechanical action is different than the first and second mechanical actions; a first race switch on the center element operatively connected to the first race input device so that the first race switch is actuated by the movement of the first race input device by the race mechanical action; a second race input device on the center element, the second race input device being movable relative to the center element by the race mechanical action; a second race switch on the center element operatively connected to the second race input device so that the second race switch is actuated by the movement of the second race input device by the race mechanical action, wherein a first subset of input devices includes the first input device and the first race input device, and a second subset of input devices includes the second input device and the second race input device; an output device; and a controller operatively connected to each of the switches and to the output device, the controller being programmed to cause the output device to output a second race-winner signal corresponding to the second race input device and a second command signal specific to one of the mechanical actions of the input devices in response to determining that the second race switch was actuated within the predetermined time period and before the first race switch if the first command signal is specific to the race input devices.