Abstract:
A an interactive play city is disclosed. The play city can act as an educational play or be played as a game. In either case, the play city is formed of connectable members used to form streets and building foundations. Buildings are then connectable to the certain connectable members to form the city. A control unit (e.g., processor) controls city activities including stop lights and building lights, emergency alarms, fires with smoke, day and night, city sound effects, storm sounds, etc. The control unit may control the city activities wirelessly or in a wired configuration and may be housed in one of the city buildings or may be remotely located. Card readers on certain buildings (e.g., bank) provide a mechanism for players to purchase goods and services within the city. The play city provides a realistic forum for children to become associated with everyday life and its ups and downs. A play city game further provides valuable lessons for the players.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic play designed to entertain and educate children. More particularly, the electronic play city is modular and is controlled by a central processor such that children are able to build and run interactive cities. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Plays have matured from conventional physical types (e.g., erector sets or tinker plays) to video games and similar pure electronic games. Unfortunately, many experts believe that video games provide no educational benefit and encourage anti-social or violent behavior. Accordingly, many parents are hesitant to purchase such games. On the other hand, most educational games tend to bore children and therefore do not provide a desired level of teaching. 
     Thus, there is a need for an interactive, modern play that educates and entertains children. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, one system embodiment of the present invention comprising: a control unit; a series of planar connectable members having connectable devices, said connectable members operable to connect to one another to form a city foundation; a series of buildings having connector means for connecting the buildings to certain of the connectable members; and wherein the control unit is operable to control certain activities within the city. 
     In a practical embodiment, children are able to construct scaled cities using modular components. The one or more central processors control different features, including emergencies, payroll and gas distributions, of the constructed city. The children interactively control different features of the city as well. In the process, the children learn the responsibilities that face adults in everyday life. Besides providing valuable educational experience with respect to day-to-day life situations, it also enables children, at a young age, to appreciate and respect the day-to-day efforts of their parents. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overhead view of an assembled city; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an overhead view of a base member for receiving play city components; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an overhead view of multiple disconnected modules used to assemble a city; 
         FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  illustrate a bank building; 
         FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  illustrate a card reader and corresponding cards; 
         FIGS. 6   a - 6   e  illustrate an automobile and corresponding fuel indicator; 
         FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  illustrate a drive system of the automobile of  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e;    
         FIGS. 8   a - 8   d  illustrate a tow truck; 
         FIGS. 9   a - 9   c  illustrate a gas station; 
         FIGS. 10   a - 10   d  illustrate a fire station; 
         FIGS. 11   a - 11   f  illustrate a fire station and a first method of extinguishing a fire; 
         FIGS. 12   a - 12   c  illustrate the fire station and a second method of extinguishing a fire; 
         FIGS. 13   a - 13   d  illustrate a indoor movie theatre; 
         FIGS. 14   a - 14   e  illustrate a front view, back view, side view and multiple top views, respectively, of a candy dispenser; and 
         FIGS. 15   a - 15   d  show a front view, back view, side view and top view, respectively, of an emergency building. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to a person skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
     As described in much greater detail below, the embodiments of the present invention are facilitated by one or more processors, microprocessors or controllers linked to various city components. The processors or microprocessors are of a conventional type configured and programmed to provide an interactive experience via the various city components. The processors or microprocessors may be fully pre-programmed or may allow users to coordinate certain city activities to the user&#39;s desires. The city may be wired or wireless or a combination thereof. 
     The embodiments of the present invention may facilitate entertainment, education and/or competition in a game format. A play city provides a game or play for children whereby the children are initiated to the “real world.” For example, earned monies are used to purchase goods and services. The play city, like a real city, includes homes, businesses, vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, people and numerous other items. The microprocessors control, among other things, city actions like street lights, stop lights, emergency warnings, day and night and weather effects. 
     Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout.  FIG. 1  shows an overhead view of an assembled play or play city generally designated by reference numeral  100 . As shown, the assembled city  100  includes a city hall building  110 , airport  120 , fire station  130 , bank building  140 , gas stations  150  and roads  160 . In this configuration, the city hall building  110  serves as the city&#39;s hub and incorporates one or more central processors or controllers for controlling the activities of the city. Multiple card readers  170  provide means for users to access money and pay for items for reasons described in greater detail below. Each card reader  170  communicates with the one or more processors and/or memory or storage capability linked thereto. The memory or storage may be embedded in the one or more processors as well. 
     The city hall processors control night and day by turning on and off lights at regular intervals (e.g. two minutes). Day and night is dictated by turning on and off street lights and building lights. For example, a day in the play city  100  may last four minutes such that a week lasts 28 minutes. In one embodiment, an audible announcement, “Its Payday” is triggered by the processor. The announcement reminds businesses to pay employees and also reminds players to pay their rent or other bills such a tickets. The audible messages may include other announcements, such as storm sounds, other city sounds, burglar alarms and notices of emergency. In a game embodiment detailed below, the audible messages are game related (e.g., “roll the dice”). 
     The main controller also controls city features such as traffic lights and creation of smoke indicating a fire. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any play city member or building may integrate the main controller. Alternatively, the main controller may be remote from all city buildings. 
       FIG. 2  shows a group of individual connectable members  201  through  209  connected to one another to form a portion of the assembled city  100 . As shown, the base member  200  supports the city hall building  110  situated thereon. Certain connectable members  201  and  203  also include building connectors  210  for linking buildings to the central controller or processor. The city hall building  110  is connected to connectable member  209  (concealed in  FIG. 2 ) as described hereinafter. As shown, the connectors  210  are female multi-pin receivers which accept male multi-pin extensions  220  on undersides of said buildings. The connections permit the main controller to communicate with the buildings and vice versa. Optionally, other buildings may incorporate processors and/or controllers as well. In addition to the building connectors  210 , dual female ports  230 ,  240  are strategically positioned to receive dual male ports (not shown) of individual traffic or stop lights  250  and street lights  260 , respectively. A traffic light  250  is shown in place. As set forth above, the main controller is responsible for controlling the stoplights  250 , street lights  260 , storm sounds, building lights, emergency calls, audible alarms, smoke and audible messages. 
       FIG. 3  shows individual connectable members  211  through  215  unconnected. Each unconnected member  211  through  215  includes multiple expansion connectors  300 . The connectors  300  snap together with one another to securely join the connectable members  211  through  215  and others. Connectable members  212  through  214  are street members including street light connectors or ports  240  for receipt of street lights  270 . Traffic light connectors or ports  230  are integrated into connectable members  211  (City Hall) and  215  (Fire Station). 
     While horizontal elongated connectors  300  are shown, any type of suitable connector may be used to join the connectable members  211  through  215  and others. In a wired system, the connectors  300  include contacts which facilitate communications between the various connectable members, street lights  260 , traffic lights  250  and other items with the main controller. The communications may also be facilitated by a wireless system using transmitters and receivers with infrared, radio, Bluetooth or similar technology. 
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  show a bank building  400  of the present invention. The bank building  400  includes an interactive top surface  410  supporting a credit or bank card reader  420 , cash deposit slot  430  and touch pad  440  operable to manage a user&#39;s account. The card reader  420  is operable to read bank and credit type cards issued to users, display balances and confirm deposit and withdraw amounts. The cash deposit slot  430  accepts cash deposits and the touch pad  440  allows users to type in deposit and withdraw amounts and use a PIN to deposit or withdraw cash. The top surface  410  can be opened, with a key, to withdraw cash or conduct maintenance on the bank building  400 . Opening the top surface without a key triggers an alarm. Any and all buildings may have a similar feature whereby the building is secured. The objective of the bank building  400  is to teach players respect for money and to encourage money savings. Interest accumulates on maintained balances again teaching younger individuals the benefits of saving money. While the bank building  400  is shown with the card reader  420 , any building may be fitted with a card reader  420 . The card reader  420  operates in a conventional fashion as known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  show multiple unique card types which may be used with said card reader  420  and similar readers placed throughout the play city  100 .  FIG. 5   a  shows a card  450  having a magnetic strip  455  that retains user data.  FIG. 5   b  shows a card  460  having a series of punches or openings  465  which, based on their pattern, store user data.  FIGS. 5   c  and  5   d  show cards  470 ,  475  having different colors, indicating different types of cards such as credit and debit and/or to allow players to keep track of which card belongs to which player. 
       FIGS. 6   a - 6   e  show an exemplary automobile  500  of the present invention.  FIG. 6   a  shows a rear portion of the automobile  500  having a fuel intake opening  510 .  FIG. 6   b  shows an upper portion of the automobile  500  with a fuel indicator  520  visible. The fuel indicator  520  is formed of a series of LED or LCD panels  530 . The fuel intake opening  510  does not accept liquid fuel but rather accepts an unlocking tool  540 . As shown, the fuel indicator  520  includes five panels  530  indicating the amount of power remaining prior to the automobile  500  running out.  FIGS. 6   c  and  6   d  show the fuel intake opening  510  accepting an unlocking tool  540  in the shape of a gas nozzle  550 . The tool  540  unlocks the rear wheels  545 , which as shown in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d , are locked when the charge indicator  520  reads empty.  FIG. 6   e  shows the fuel indicator  520  at a full charge after the tool is used. The automobiles  500 , may have working headlights as well and positions for the placement of human figures (not shown). As shown in  FIGS. 9   a - 9   c , a card reader connected to a fuel station is used to pay for the new charge. 
     Optional charging bays accommodate and provide a means for charging the automobiles  500 . The charging bays include charging contacts which correspond to charging contacts on the automobiles  500 . Ideally, the automobiles  500  sit on the charging bays and charge over time. 
       FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  show a drive system  560  of the automobile  500 . The drive system  560  comprises a translatable member  565  connected to a rear axle  570 . The translatable member  565  translates from a central position outward as the car is manually maneuvered around the city  100 . The translatable member  565  includes an articulating arm  575 . As the charge is shown to decrease, the articulating member  575  continues to move toward a rear wheel  545 - 1  preventing one or both rear wheels  545  from rotating thereby stalling the automobile  500  at that location representing no fuel. It is also conceivable that the automobiles  500  may be electrically powered or powered with conventional batteries or rechargeable batteries. In such a system, the automobiles  500  may be controlled by a hand-held steering and speed unit. Human figures (not shown) can be placed in the automobiles  500 . 
       FIGS. 8   a - 8   d  show a tow truck  600  of the present invention. The tow truck  600  includes a hook  610  for engaging an opening  620  beneath a rear bumper  630  of the automobile  500 .  FIG. 8   c  shows a tow truck  600  having a flat bed  640  for transporting the automobile  600 . Utilizing the tow truck  600  requires use of a card reader and corresponding card to pay for the tow service. The tow truck  600  operates in the same manner as the automobiles  500 . 
       FIGS. 9   a - 9   c  show a gas station  650  and integrated card reader  660 . The card reader  660  is, like the others, linked to the bank building  400  via a wireless or wired connection. The link allows monies to be deducted from a bank account associated with the card used to pay for the fuel. 
       FIGS. 10   a - 10   d  show a fire station  700  neighboring several houses  710 - 730 . One or more of the houses  710 - 730  are linked to the fire station  700  via a wireless or wired connection. Via a random program or manual method, a building alarm sounds and a smoke  735  indicating a fire is dispensed from a building, in this instance, building  710 . Simultaneously, a signal is transmitted to the fire station  700  causing an audible message corresponding to the fire to be played. By moving a fire truck  740  to the vicinity of the fire, the fire is extinguished based on a signal  750  transmitted from the fire truck  740  to the house  710 . In this case, as the fire truck  740  was late in arriving to the scene, building  730  was also on fire. Accordingly, the signal  750  causes both building fires to be extinguished. 
       FIGS. 11   a - 11   f  shows the fire station  700  neighboring several houses  710 - 730 . In this configuration, a card  725  retained by the fire truck  740  is used to extinguish the fires by swiping the card  725  through card readers  735  located on the houses  710 - 730 . The read data causes the fire to extinguish. 
       FIGS. 12   a - 12   c  show a garage  770  and a method for opening a garage door  775 . As shown, the automobile  780  includes a button  785  for opening the garage door  775 . A second button  790  is positioned near the garage door  775  in the driveway  795 . 
       FIGS. 13   a - 13   d  show a indoor movie theatre  800  and method of operation. Inside the movie theater  800  audience members  810  may be positioned. Playing a movie comprises the use of a DVD player  820  built into the movie theater  800 .  FIG. 13   d  shows an outdoor drive-in style movie theater  830  having an integrated DVD player  840 . 
       FIGS. 14   a - 14   e  show a front view, back view, side view and multiple top views, respectively, of a candy dispenser  850 . The candy dispenser  850  includes a carousel  860  having multiple compartments  870  operable to retain a piece of candy  875 . By turning the carousel  860  with arm  880 , candy is exposed to an open area  885  from the top where it can be retrieved by an interested party. The release of the candy may require payment via the cards and card readers  420  or may be programmed by an adult to release on a pre-established schedule. 
       FIGS. 15   a - 15   d  show a front view, back view, side view and top view, respectively, of an emergency building  900  having emergency buttons  910 ,  920 . The emergency buttons  910 ,  920  correspond to a police button and fire button, respectively. 
     The buildings and features set forth above are exemplary and not intended to be exhaustive. Other buildings and features include a jail requiring payment of bail, courthouse to resolve disputes with other players, clothing store, hospital, post office, construction trailer, grocery store, dance club, restaurants, barber salon, motel and hotel high rise, airport, school, flower shop, boat dock, train station, car dealership, bakery and apartment buildings. Other vehicles include police cars, ambulances, mail trucks, snow plow, bulldozer, dump truck, trash truck, cement truck, school bus, tour bus, city bus, street sweeper, sports cars, sedans, trucks and limousine. 
     Besides acting as a play, the play city  100  facilitates a game as detailed below. In general, the objective of a game facilitated by the play city  100  is to collect the most wealth via rents, property sales, including residences and businesses, and the operation of businesses. In one embodiment, during game play, the play city  100  comprises the city hall building, the bank building, airport, car dealership, boat dock, homes, stores, hotel, motel, apartment building, vehicles, human figures, play money, bankcards, dice, title cards, lucky cards and unlucky cards. 
     Lucky cards include cards dedicated to opportunities to purchase buildings, businesses or homes at a discounted price; free buildings, businesses or homes; bonus monies; police ticket or bail credit; safe credits; opportunities to purchase vehicles, watercrafts, or aircrafts at a discounted price; and free vehicles, watercrafts, planes or helicopters. 
     Unlucky cards include tax payments on real and personal property or savings; forfeit ticket or bail credit; donating money to other players; and requiring players to pay bank fees. 
     To start play, buildings are turned to an automatic mode and twenty lucky and twenty unlucky cards are placed face down in their respective tray. Each player first selects a game piece and begins with a pre-established cash fund (e.g., $50,000). The game can end in one of two ways as determined by the players. First, the game is played for a set time limit and the wealthiest player at the end of the time limit is declared the winner. Second, the game is played until everyone, except one player, is bankrupt as defined by the game. Bankruptcy occurs when all player assets are encumbered in full by bank loans, the player is unable to pay tickets or bail, debt from a lost court case, rent or their employees. 
     A player is designated to start the game based on a highest roll of two dice. Two six-sided game dice include a “U” (unlucky), “L” (Lucky) or a blank. A roll comprising two Us require the player to select an unlucky card while two Ls require the player to select a lucky card. All other combinations have no game impact. Random opportunities presented during a player&#39;s roll may be seized by the player, offered for sale or forfeited. Opportunities are only available to the player currently rolling the game dice. Players may seek to sell assets at any time. Players may borrow money from the bank but it must be secured by collateral such as a house, watercraft, business or other property. Game rules are flexible and may be amended to better suit the players&#39; desires and age groups. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.