Abstract:
A game comprising a submersible retrieving submarine adapted to receive and interpret RF directional command signals, an RF transmitting remote controller adapted for sending such signals to cause the craft to submerge and then cause the submerged craft to move in selected underwater directions, and targets of assigned values adapted for standing on the underwater bottom. The craft is adapted with a hook for engaging the targets and carrying them to the water&#39;s surface so that the accumulated value of the collected targets can be tallied to provide a score. One or more players can compete to tally the highest score, using either one controller/submarine set consecutively, or two sets simultaneously.

Description:
This Application is a formalization of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/632,189 filed Dec. 1, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a remotely controlled underwater retrieval game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a game having a robotic toy that is controlled by a radio transmitter to collect targets from underwater, such as in a swimming pool. 
     BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Remotely controlled devices for retrieving underwater objects are well known. Miniature submarines, controlled remotely from an above-surface station, have been employed for some time by entities such as the Navy or private salvage companies to retrieve objects that have fallen to the seabed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,333 discloses a remotely controlled retrieval device in the form of a duck, which can be caused to travel about the surface of a lake or pond to an area where a shot game animal has fallen, and which is equipped with a hooking device to engage and retrieve the game animal to the hunter. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a game in which submerged objects may be skillfully retrieved from above the water by such a remotely controlled underwater retriever. 
     It is a further object to provide such a game in which various of the submerged objects are assigned various score values, and the player&#39;s game score is tallied according to the sum of values of the retrieved objects. 
     It is a further object to configure the objects and retriever such that a plurality of objects may be accumulated, and the retriever may carry that plurality simultaneously. 
     It is a further object to provide such a game in which two or more players can participate, either by alternately collecting objects with the same retriever, or by the use of different retrievers, each individually controlled by each player. 
     It is a further object to provide such a game in which the variously submerged objects have upwardly projecting loops for receiving a hooking means of the retriever and the objects are weighted at their bases and buoyed at their tops so that the objects automatically assume a standing position on the underwater floor, whereby the loops are automatically positioned for reception of the hooking means. 
     It is a further object to provide a method for playing such a game in which the players compete alone or against one another according to the total score of all of their retrieved objects. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of the following disclosure thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a remotely controllable submarine craft is provided, comprising battery-powered means for propelling the craft underwater in any direction; right or left, forward or backward, and up or down. The craft is slightly positively buoyant, with weighting near to its bottom and floatation near to its top to keep the craft always oriented in an upright position and cause it to float slowly towards the surface and then float at the surface when it is not energized downwardly. The body portion of the craft comprises a hook, projecting forwardly from its underside. The body portion of the craft contains battery-powered electrical circuitry, which includes a receiver for accepting RF motion commands and means to convert those commands into electrical signals to the propelling means. 
     A plurality of figurines is also provided, to be used as targets for collection by the submarine. Each figurine is slightly negatively buoyant, with weighting at its base and floatation near to its top so that, when dropped into the water, it will sink slowly to the bottom surface and assume a standing position. Each figurine comprises an upwardly projecting loop having a hole there-through, which is adapted to receive the hook of the submarine. Each Figurine bears a particular score value. Each figurine may be colored according to its value so that the player can distinguish the figures from above the water surface. The size of the hole in a figurine&#39;s loop may be inversely proportional to its value, with higher valued figurines having smaller holes to make them more difficult to retrieve. The hook of the submarine may include a barb so that figurines are less apt to accidentally fall off once they have been captured, or may have no barb, increasing the skill that is required to avoid such an accident. 
     An RF transmitting remote control is additionally provided, which is held by the game player above the water surface. The transmitter includes control means for selecting desired movements of the submarine and means for sending the aforementioned commands according to such selections. The control may take the form of a joystick or directional arrow-shaped push-button switches. A Timer may be incorporated in the circuitry of either the joystick of the submarine so that the player&#39;s time for collecting targets can be monitored or limited. For instance, the timer may cause the transmitter to stop sending signals to the submarine so that the submarine floats to the surface after an allotted amount of time has expired. Or the timer might simply cause an audible signal after the allot time has passed. Alternatively, the timer may simply be a clock to track the amount of time that it takes until all of the targets have been retrieved. 
     It is further anticipated that the game may include a plurality of submarine/transmitter pairs for use by a plurality of competing players. 
     In use, a player first drops the target figurines into the water, such as into a swimming pool. Because the figurines are slightly negatively buoyant, they sink slowly to the bottom. Because their bases are more heavily weighted, they assume an upright position as they descend and settle to the bottom in a standing position with their loops aiming upwardly. Preferably, the figurines are scattered randomly about the bottom surface of the pool. 
     The player then turns the retriever submarine on, and places it into the pool. Absent any motion commands, the submarine will float, partially submerged, at the water surface. 
     The player then turns on the remote control transmitter. By actuating the control, desired motion commands are sent out in the form of RF signals. Upon receipt of these signals by the submarine&#39;s receiving circuitry, the submarine moves in the desired direction within the water; forward/descend, left, right or backward. An upward motion is achieved by pausing the commands. The player thus directs the submarine towards a first selected target figurine, aiming to cause the hook which projects from the submarines underside to pass through the loop of the intended figurine. The target is thus “collected”. The player then directs the submarine towards the next selected target figurine and repeats this process until either all of the targets have been collected or the allotted time has expired. 
     In one embodiment of the game, retrieval activities are terminated at the expiration of the allotted time and the player tally&#39;s his score by totaling the values of the targets captured on the hook. The player collecting the highest total target value is the winner. 
     In another embodiment of the game, the game proceeds until all targets are collected, regardless of their values, and the player who has collected all targets in the least amount of time is the winner. 
     In still another embodiment of the game, two players simultaneously operate two individual submarines, which each operate at a different RF frequency, to see who can collect the most targets or most total value of targets. 
     Further applications of the game and more specific advantages and features of the invention may become obvious to those of ordinary skill in game-playing upon perusal of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retrieval game according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, being played in a swimming pool, 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the retrieval submarine of the game of  FIG. 1 , shown at rest at the surface of the water, 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the controller and submarine of  FIG. 1 , demonstrating the performance and result of a “forward/descend” command, 
         FIG. 4A  is a plan view of the controller and submarine of  FIG. 1 , demonstrating the performance and result of a “forward/descend” command, 
         FIG. 4B  is a plan view of the controller and submarine of  FIG. 1 , demonstrating the performance and result of a “right” command, 
         FIG. 4C  is a plan view of the controller and submarine of  FIG. 1 , demonstrating the performance and result of a “left” command, and 
         FIG. 4D  is a plan view of the controller and submarine of  FIG. 1 , demonstrating the performance and result of a “backward” command. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, there is shown a remotely controlled game  100  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention having an RF-receiving retriever submarine  102 , an RF transmitting controller  104 , and several target figurines  106 A through  106 C. In  FIG. 1 , a view is provided during the playing of the game in which the submarine  102  and targets  106 A,  106 B and  106 C, have already been placed into the water  110  of a swimming pool  112 , and a player  114  holds the controller  104  and sends commands to the submarine  102 . 
     The submarine  102  comprises a body  116  having a hook  120  extending downwardly and forwardly from its underbelly. Additionally, the submarine is equipped with a right turbine  122  and a left turbine  124  for providing propulsion in the water. The turbines can be selectively and variably energized for forward or rearward propulsion by battery-powered electrical circuitry contained within body  116 . That circuitry (not shown) also includes means for receiving RF signals from the controller and converting those signals into electrical currents to the turbines. Such circuitry and transmission means are well known in the prior art and the present invention is not dependent on the use of any particular circuitry or transmission means. For instance, in a less preferred embodiment, the submarine and controller could be connected by a long electrical cable and still function within the scope of the invention. Or the signals could be of another type, other than RF, such as IR or audible signals. Or the converted electrical currents could drive some other form or propulsion, such as the swimming tail and fins of a toy creature. All of these alternate embodiments, although less preferred at the present time, still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     The submarine and its internal components all together have a weight and density that render it slightly positively buoyant, so that it naturally tends to float partially submerged at the water surface  126  when the turbines are not active. In the preferred embodiment, this buoyancy is achieved by including an air-filled blow molding in the submarine&#39;s tower  128 , and positioning the heavier-than-water internal components that are within the submarine below the intended water line. In this dormant state, only the submarine&#39;s tower  128  extends above the water surface  126 , as is typical of a real submarine. This allows the player to see the submarine when it is at the surface, to turn it on or off, and makes retrieval of the submarine easy when the game is done. This also has the added benefit that, should the submarine move outside of the controller&#39;s transmitting range, or should the submarine&#39;s batteries die, the submarine will simply float to the water surface for easy retrieval. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the turbines  122  and  124  are manually pivotable into a variety of desired downward directions by the player prior to placing the submarine in the water. The degree to which they are pivoted effects the speed and forward angle at which the submarine  102  descends when commanded to do so, and effects turning ability of the submarine upon left and right commands, but is a matter of each player&#39;s personal preference and skill. There are four distinct downward positions selectable by the player in the preferred embodiment. Initially, prior to the playing of the game as it is depicted in  FIG. 1 , the player manually selects the downward position with which he is has become most comfortable and skillful, and positions the turbines accordingly, then places the submarine in the water  110 . 
     The submarine  102  is energized by manually depressing button  130  on the tower  128 , which activates the circuitry and enables it to receive command signals. 
     The target figurines  106 A,  106 B and  106 C are preferably configured to represent deep sea divers, but might take any applicable form, such as pieces of treasure or some other articles of value, or anything in need of being saved or retrieved. Each Figurine is comprised of a base portion  132 , which is preferably made of or includes PVC, selected for its negative buoyancy. In the preferred embodiment, the base portion is the portion shaped as a deep-sea diver. At the top of each figurine is a loop  134 , preferably comprised of a hollow ABS shell, having a hole  136  there-through. The hole is sufficient in size and shape to accept the hook  120  of the submarine  102 , thereby being captured. The loop may be air-filled or include a donut-shaped float (not shown), made of an air-filled blow-molding or Styrofoam or the like, to provide positive buoyancy only at the top of the figurine, such positive buoyancy being insufficient to overcome the negative buoyancy of the body portion  132  and therefore insufficient to make the target float, but sufficient to cause only the upper portion of the target to rise. It is therefore a feature of the figurines that its total slight negative buoyancy causes the figurine to slowly sink in the water  110  to the pool&#39;s bottom surface  140 , and the heavier lower body portion  132  and lighter upper loop portion  134  together cause the figurine to assume a standing position on the bottom surface  140 , so that the loop  134  and its hole  136  are positioned for easier retrieval by the submarine&#39;s hook  120 . In an alternative configuration, the loop portion could be disposed at the bottom of the target and the body portion could be disposed at the top, with the loop portion would be made of the heavier material and the body portion would include floatation. 
     It should also be obvious that the hook  120  of the submarine could be replaced with some other form of extension and the hole  136  of the target could be replaced with some other form of accepting feature, so long as the extension is capable to serve as a collecting feature, and the accepting feature is adapted to accept and be collected by that collecting feature. 
     Turning again to  FIG. 3  and also to  FIG. 4A , it is shown that when the “forward/descend” button  142  on the controller  104  is pressed, a “forward/descend” command is transmitted from the controller&#39;s antenna  144 , which is received by a corresponding antenna (not shown) in the submarine&#39;s tower  128 , which command is converted into equal electrical currents to both turbines  122  and  124 . This causes the downwardly positioned turbines to propel the submarine down into the depths of the pool in a straight and forward direction. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4B , it is shown that when the “right” button  146  is pressed, a “right” command is transmitted, which instead causes a current to be sent to propel the submarine in a rightward direction. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4C , it is shown that when the “left” button  148  is pressed, a “left” command is transmitted, which instead causes a current to be sent to propel the submarine in a leftward direction. 
     Finally, turning to  FIG. 4D , it is shown that when the “backward” button  152  is pressed, a “reverse” command is transmitted, which causes a reverse current to be sent to both turbines, causing them both to equally spin backwards and propel the submarine in a backwards direction. 
     A unique feature of the circuitry is that each submarine is pre-tuned to recognize only signals of a certain frequency, and that controllers are available for transmitting in that particular frequency. In the preferred embodiment, controller/submarine sets are available in either 27 MHz or 49 MHz. Two players can thereby operate their submarines simultaneously without interference. 
     An additionally feature of the controller is that it is made positively buoyant, so that it will float at the water surface if accidentally dropped into the pool. This not only makes it easier to retrieve, but also avoids water damage. Because the controller includes batteries and electronic circuitry, it is housed in a watertight manner. But the higher pressure that exists at the depths of the pool could inadvertently force water into the housing and cause damage. The buoyancy of the controller avoids this potential problem. 
     To play the game, directional commands are sent to the submarine, aiming the tip  154  of its hook  120  toward the hole  136  of a selected target, in an attempt to thread the hook through the hole and collect the target, then proceeds to do the same to the next selected target. In the preferred embodiment, the tip  154  includes a barb  156 , to keep collected targets from accidentally falling off of the hook after they have been collected, such as might otherwise occur when the submarine is driven backwards or as it floats to the surface. It should be obvious that the barb  156  shown could take numerous alternative forms, so long as the purpose of keeping a captured target from accidentally falling off of the hook is accomplished. 
     Variations of the game, as previously described, may then be played by one or more players. 
     The invention has been described above with respect to the preferred embodiment; however, other changes and modifications may be made which are still contemplated and within the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims.