Abstract:
A toy includes a housing with pressure sensitive sensors on each face of the housing. The toy instructs players as to which parts of their body they should use in pressing one or more of the sensors on the toy. A number of games can be played with the toy. Players can pass the toy from one player to another using the body parts the toy calls out and try to set records for the number of passes possible without mistake, or can try to set records for the number of passes that can be made within a two minute time period. A third game involves three or four players trying to cover five or six of the sensors in accordance with the toy&#39;s instructions. The players maneuver their bodies to maintain pressure on the sensors being held while pressing holding a new sensor called out by the toy. The voice used in the toy also tries to challenge the players to improve on their previous scores.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to toys and games. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The well-known game of Twister™ includes a spinner and a mat on which are arranged differently colored circles. A player spins the spinner and attempts to put his hand or foot on a circle having the color indicated by the spinner. This continues until a player is unable to reach a circle of the indicated color or a player loses his balance, causing him to remove a hand or a foot from the mat. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one general aspect, a toy that implements a body-bending game comparable to the Twister™ game includes a housing, sensors, such as buttons, located on the exterior of the housing, and a processor positioned in the housing and connected to the sensors. The processor is configured to instruct players to press particular sensors and to use particular parts of the body (e.g., hand or foot) when doing so, and is further configured to evaluate whether the players have pressed the particular sensors. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the sensors may be implemented as buttons, and the housing may be a multisided housing (e.g., a cube) having cushioned corners and different colored, pressure sensitive, convex, circular buttons on each side. The pressure on each of the buttons is sensed by the processor which provides the players with instructions through a speaker and evaluates the player&#39;s compliance with the instructions. The players&#39; game performance is also critiqued by the toy at the conclusion of the game. The buttons are also used by the players to configure the toy (i.e., to select game type, skill level, and numbers of players) by pressing opposing buttons. The players&#39; initial selection of a skill level determines the speed or the difficulty at which the game is started. The skill level can be adjusted by the processor during game play to make the game more challenging. 
     The sensors are uniquely identified. For example, the sensors may have different colors or different shapes. 
     Cushioned comers on the toy prevent damage to the toy and injury to the players during game play. The compliance of the cushioned comers also helps players to hold the toy without dropping it, as the cushioned comers tend to center the player&#39;s body parts on the sensors, which may be recessed relative to the cushioned comers. 
     In another general aspect, a toy includes a housing in the shape of a cube. Sensors located on each side of the cube are connected to a processor in the cube. The processor may use a speaker and speech to present the player with options and applicable instructions. A number of games may be played using the toy. The first game involves passing the toy from player to player, within a specified time period, while using the parts of the body designated by the toy to press and hold buttons called out by the toy. The object of the game is to increase the number of passes made between players without a mistake. While the selection of the skill level set by the players determines the initial time period allowed for each transfer of the toy between players, the time period is adjusted during game play to make the game more challenging and interesting. 
     A second variation of this game employs an overall time limit for the duration of the game. The objective of the game is to increase the number of passes of the toy completed, without a mistake, within the designated time period. As game play continues, the game is made more challenging by the introduction of additional parts of the body to be used in passing the toy from one player to the next. 
     A third game which can be played with the toy involves three or four players cooperatively covering the buttons as instructed by the toy. The objective of this game is for the players to maneuver their bodies to press and hold the buttons without releasing previously pressed buttons. The difficulty of the game is increased by increasing the number of parts of the body used in pressing and holding the buttons. 
     Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic toy. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating a battery compartment of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the internal components of toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating activation of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the toy of FIG. 1 to play a game. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating game play according to a first set of rules. 
     FIGS.  8 A- 8 D illustrate game play according to FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating game play according to a second set of rules. 
     FIGS.  10 A- 10 F illustrate game play according to FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The toy  100  illustrated in FIG. 1 provides a new version of the well-known Twister™ game. The toy permits two basic variations of the game to be played. The first variation is played by two or more players who pass the toy between them. The toy instructs the players to press colored buttons  105  with particular body parts. Parts of the body that the toy may instruct the players to use include the head, shoulder, elbow, hand, butt, hip, knee, ankle, and foot. The toy may refer to the parts specifically (e.g., left hand) or generally (e.g., foot). 
     In playing the first variation, the first player holds the toy by pressing the indicated colored buttons using the indicated body parts. Without releasing these colored buttons, the first player then passes the toy to the next player, who presses a new pair of colored buttons indicated by the toy with body parts identified by the toy. After the second player presses the indicated buttons, the first player releases the toy. In this manner, the toy is passed from player to player until the game is ended. 
     There are two versions of this variation, referred to as “Pass It” and “Turbo Pass.” In “Pass It,” play continues until a colored button is pressed or released at an inappropriate time, or until the players do not pass the toy from one player to another within a designated time. The designated time is initially set by selecting a skill level, and is gradually reduced as game play continues. The time limit is communicated audibly by a musical, countdown or tick-tock timer. The rate of the timer increases as the game progresses. For example, in “Pass It”, a musical score that sets the tempo and rhythm of the game includes a certain number of bars at its conclusion, during which a move must be completed. This musical score may be implemented using a loop having a playback speed that increases over time. 
     In “Turbo Pass,” play continues until a colored button is pressed or released at an inappropriate time, or a two minute timer runs out. The selected skill level controls the number of parts of the body that the game initially uses. This number increases to increase the difficulty of the game as play continues. 
     The second variation is played by three or four players and requires the players to cooperatively press buttons indicated by the toy using body parts indicated by the toy. The game continues until a colored button is pressed or released at an inappropriate time. This variation is referred to as “Megatwist.” As in “Turbo Pass,” the skill level in “Megatwist” determines the number of body parts the game uses initially. This number increases to increase the game&#39;s difficulty as game play continues. In each of these games the toy evaluates the players&#39; performance and verbally challenges the players to improve their previous performance. 
     The toy  100  is in the form of a cube. Each of the eight comers of the cube includes a soft rubber cover  110  that extends above the surface of the cube and acts as a cushion. These covers serve to reduce the risk that an injury could occur to the players, or that the toy could be damaged, during game play. The deformable, convex, rubber covers also help the players to hold the toy without dropping it. 
     Each of the six sides of the cube includes a centrally-located button  105 . The buttons are circular, convex, and pressure sensitive. Each button is a different color. For example, in one implementation, the buttons are colored, respectively, blue, orange, purple, yellow, green and red. In some implementations, a lamp may be positioned beneath each button. In other implementations, the buttons may be replaced by other types of sensors, such as strips of pressure-sensitive materials. 
     Referring also to FIG. 2, a battery cover  200  and a battery compartment  205  are located under one of the buttons  105 . The battery compartment is exposed by pressing and turning the button counterclockwise to release the button. The button then is lifted off to expose the battery cover  200 , which is removed by loosening the three screws  210  and lifting the battery cover. As shown in FIG. 3, the toy  100  is powered by three AAA batteries  300  that fit within slots  305 . After installing the batteries, the battery cover is replaced and the screws are tightened. The button then is replaced by aligning an arrow  215  inside the bottom with an arrow  220  on the battery cover, pressing the button down, and turning the button clockwise. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a processor  400  is positioned inside the toy  100 . The processor receives inputs from the buttons  105  through pressure switches  405 - 430 . The processor provides outputs through a voice synthesizer  435  (or other speech generation device) and a connected speaker  440 . In general, the processor monitors the states of the switches, compares the states to expected states, and generates a spoken response through the synthesizer  435  and the speaker  440 . In some implementations, the speech generation device may be implemented as a component of the processor. 
     The processor could also provide outputs through lamps in the cube or in each of the colored switches. The lamps could be used in conjunction with, or instead of, the speech output. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the toy  100  is activated by simultaneously pressing a predetermined pair of the buttons  110  (for example, opposing yellow and green buttons). The toy does not respond if the wrong buttons are pressed, or if a third button is pressed with the predetermined pair. The game corresponding to each pair of buttons may be identified by labels on the buttons or by prompting from the game. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates operation of the toy  100  to select and play a game. First, a player activates the game by simultaneously pressing both the yellow and the green buttons (step  600 ). The toy then asks the player to select the game to be played by pressing two opposing buttons (step  605 ). Each opposing pair of buttons corresponds to a different game. As described above, the three games provided are called “Pass It,” “MegaTwist” and “Turbo Pass.” 
     If the player does not press two opposing buttons within one minute to select a game, the toy automatically shuts off (step  610 ). 
     If a game is selected (step  605 ), the toy asks the player to select a skill level by pressing an opposing pair of buttons (step  615 ). The skill level selected is used to determine the amount of time the toy allows for compliance with its instructions in “Pass It” or the number of body parts the toy will use in “Megatwist” and “Turbo Pass.” The toy increases the skill level during game play by reducing the length of time permitted for passing the toy or increasing the number of parts of the body used in the game. Once the skill level is accepted, and, if the game selected was “MegaTwist,” the toy asks the player whether three or four players will be playing  620 ). At this point, using the information collected, the toy provides the instructions for game play (step  625 ). 
     After the game is concluded (step  630 ), the toy  100  evaluates the outcome of the game (step  635 ) and asks the player to play again (step  640 ). If the red and the blue buttons are pressed in response to this question, the player is asked to select a skill level (step  615 ). If the player does not respond to the “Play again” question, the player is returned to the “Select Game” question (step  605 ). If no response is received by the toy after approximately one minute, the game shuts off (step  610 ). 
     FIGS.  7  and  8 A- 8 D show play of the “Pass It” and “Turbo Pass” games. As noted above, in the “Pass It” game, play continues until a mistake is made, or too much time is taken to follow instructions. As also noted, in the “Turbo Pass” game, play continues for two minutes or until a mistake is made. 
     Initially, the toy gives the player instructions (step  700 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the game says “Hand red, knee blue.” Once the instructions are given, the first player responds appropriately. Either hand may be used to press the red button, and either knee may be used to press the blue button. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8A, the player presses the red button with his left hand and the blue button with his right knee. The toy  100  determines whether the correct buttons are being pressed (step  705 ) and within the appropriate time (step  710 ). If they are not, the game is over (step  715 ). 
     Once the toy  100  determines that the correct buttons are being pressed (step  705 ), and that this is the first player (step  720 ), the toy gives the next player instructions (step  700 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the game says “Hip purple, elbow orange.” The next player then uses his right elbow to press the orange button, and his right hip to press the purple button, as shown in FIG.  8 B. If the first player releases either or both of his buttons before the second player has pressed the appropriate buttons (step  725 ), the game is over. The game is also over if the players take too much time in passing the toy from one player to the other (step  710 ). Once the second player presses the purple and orange buttons, the game continues and the first player can release the red and blue buttons. 
     Once the toy  100  determines that the correct buttons are being pressed, and the other buttons have been released, the game continues, with additional instructions (step  700 ) given to the next player to receive the game. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8C, the game says “Knee green, foot yellow.” Once the toy is successfully passed to this player, as shown in FIG. 8C, the players may reposition themselves without ending the game, as long as they keep the corresponding buttons pressed, as shown in FIG.  8 D. Each time the toy is successfully passed between players, the toy can adjust the skill level (step  730 ). 
     In “Pass It”, the game continues until a button is pressed or released at an inappropriate time, or the time limit for passing the toy from one player to another is exceeded. In “Turbo Pass”, the game continues until a button is pressed or released at an inappropriate time, or the two minute game limit is exceeded (step  715 ). 
     The toy is programmed to eliminate impossible or overly difficult combinations, such as, for example, “head” and “foot”. To this end, the toy may employ a table of appropriate combinations from which the toy selects. 
     FIGS.  9  and  10 A- 10 F show play of the “Megatwist” game. As noted above the “Megatwist” game continues until the instructions are not followed or pressure is released from one of the buttons at an inappropriate time. 
     Initially, the toy gives the players instructions (step  900 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the game says “Player 1: Hand, green. Player 2: Butt, yellow.” Once the instructions are given, the first two players respond appropriately. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10A, the first player uses his right hand to press the green button, and the second player uses his butt to press the yellow button. The toy  100  determines whether the correct buttons are being pressed (step  905 ). If they are not correct, the game is over (step  910 ). The players may determine that the game is over if the wrong body parts are used to press the buttons. 
     If the correct buttons are being pressed (step  905 ), the toy gives the next player instructions (step  900 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the game says “Player 3, Knee, blue.” Once the instructions are given, the third player presses the blue button with her knee as show in FIG.  10 B. 
     The toy determines that the correct buttons are being pressed (step  905 ) and gives instructions (step  900 ) to the fourth player. For example, as shown in FIG. 10C, the toy says “Player 4, Head, red.” If pressure is released from one of the buttons at an inappropriate time the game is ended (step  905 ). 
     Once the fourth player presses the red button, as shown in FIG. 10C, the toy determines whether the correct buttons are being pressed (step  905 ). If all of the correct buttons are being pressed, the toy gives further instructions (step  900 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 10D the toy says “Player 1: Shoulder, orange.” 
     As noted above, the toy also knows the human body&#39;s limitations. For example, the toy will never ask the same player to press one button with his head and another button with his butt. 
     As shown in FIG. 10D, player 1 now has his right hand on the green button, and his shoulder on the orange button. The toy determines that the correct buttons are being pressed (step  905 ) and gives player 2 additional instructions (step  900 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 10E, the toy says “Player 2: Hand, purple.” While maintaining the pressure on the yellow button with his butt, player two now presses the purple button with his hand. To this point, if the toy sensed the release of any of the buttons (step  905 ), the game would be over (step  910 ). 
     Once all of the colored buttons are covered (step  915 ), a player may, by following the toy&#39;s instructions, release a colored button, without ending the game. For example, the toy says “Player 3: Elbow, green.” As shown in FIG. 10F, player 1 may now take his right hand off of the green button, and player three presses the green button with her elbow. Since the toy anticipated the release of the green button by player 1 to allow player 3 to press the button, the toy correctly monitored the pressure changes (step  920 ) and the game continues until pressure is released from a button at an inappropriate time (step  925 ). In general, a four player game uses all six buttons, while a three player game may use only five of the six colored buttons. Additionally, each time the players follow the toy&#39;s instructions, the skill level may be adjusted to make the game more challenging (step  930 ). 
     Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the buttons may be lighted so that, in addition to, or instead of, speech, the processor may use light activation to notify the players of the buttons to press. Similarly, the buttons could be of different shapes rather than of different colors.