Patent Publication Number: US-2022212095-A1

Title: Inflation timer and game

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/986,192 filed on Mar. 6, 2020. The disclosure and entire teachings of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/986,192 are hereby incorporated by reference 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an inflation timer generally, and more particularly to an inflation device used when timing activities like, but not limited to games, by controlling the amount of time required for a balloon to rupture, creating an excitable noise that signifies a certain amount of time has passed, specifically, the end of the game. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some of the most successful games in the world are the ones that draw reactions from players. In some cases, individual participants don&#39;t even need to do anything other than participate to feel the rush and excitement of the game. 
     Certain games utilize a timing element or aspect of some type in order to control the length of a round and/or the game as a whole. Limiting the amount of time not only creates necessary competition and gamification, but also manageable timeframes for the participants involved. In certain games, these timeframes are useful so that a definitive winner(s) can be selected. 
     For decades the timing instruments of a game have remained archaic, and typically are sand timers or mechanical “egg” timers which either emit no noise, or simply emit a buzzing sound, which is anti-climactic. Consumers are yearning for more of an excitable experience which also optimizes gameplay. There is a need, therefore, for a timing device that provides a more excitable experience for the participants. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of an inflation timer and game comprises an inflation device, inflatable objects to be inflated by the inflation device, and game cards or the like to be completed during inflation of the inflatable objects. In one embodiment, the inflatable objects are balloons that pop to signify the end of game play. In one embodiment, a game participant attaches a balloon to the inflation device and then starts inflating the balloon to signify the beginning of game play. The inflation of the balloon is controlled by the inflation device and signifies the game play such that the game play terminates upon the balloon rupturing, which creates a startling and exciting experience for participants. In one embodiment, the players would spin a spin wheel to determine which letter is used for that round. In one embodiment, balloons may feature single letters of the alphabet imprinted on them, which are either known in advance by game participants or only become legible upon the balloon inflating, which adds further excitement and intrigue to the game play. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a game in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of an inflation device and inflatable object used in the game of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of an inflation device used in the game of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a game pad used in the game of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a game card used in the game of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of instruction materials used in the game of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a spin wheel used in a game of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of a game in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the invention as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a game  500  comprising an inflation device  200 , a plurality of inflatable objects  300 , such as balloons  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340 , to be inflated by the inflation device  200 , and a plurality of game cards  400  (including cards  410  and  420 ). In one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the inflation device  200  further preferably comprises a power switch  210 , a control system  220 , a power element  230  such as a battery or the like, a nozzle  240  for receiving the inflatable objects  300  and through which air is forced during operation of the inflation device  200 , and a fixation device  250  for retaining the inflatable objects  300  on the nozzle  240  during inflation. The fixation device  250 , such as a spring clamp or the like, may be attached to and integrated into the inflation device  200  or it may be separate therefrom as shown. Alternatively, the nozzle  240  may be constructed to retain the inflatable objects  300  so that a fixation device  250  becomes unnecessary. The inflation device  200  further comprise an air intake  260 , and air compressor  270 , wherein the air compressor  270 , when powered by the power element  230 , delivers air drawn in through the air intake  260  to the nozzle  240 . The power element  230  may be a replaceable battery or other type of power element such as a power cord that may be plugged into a home-based power source (i.e. the wall), or a combination thereof. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  further illustrate at least one indicia  350  associated with the inflatable objects  300 , wherein the at least one indicia preferably comprises a letter or other alphanumeric element, although such indicia may comprise other elements including, but not limited to, numbers, shapes, patterns, animals, icons or logos, or combinations of the same.  FIG. 2  illustrates an inflated balloon  300  ( 340  in  FIG. 1 ) attached to nozzle  240  of inflation device  200  by clamp  250 . As will be described below, the indicia  350  is used by game participants during game play to complete the game cards  400 ,  420 . Further, the inflatable objects  300  may include indicia  350  as part of the game  100 , or the indicia may be added to generic inflatable objects not already bearing indicia. 
       FIGS. 1, 4 and 5  illustrate one embodiment of a plurality of game cards  400  that may comprise a single game card  410  and a pad  420  of multiple game cards, each game card preferably comprising a plurality of blank spaces  430  for completion by game participants (not shown). While the figures illustrate twelve blank spaces  430  on the pad  420  for each game, the number of blank spaces may vary and be more or less as desired. Further, while the game pad  420  shows three games, the number of games on a pad may vary and may be more or less as desired. 
     In one embodiment, operation of the game  100  preferably requires at least two, and preferably three participants, although any number of participants can play at the same time. Further, while it is preferable, it is not necessary for such participants to be in the same room as the inflation device, such as if the game is played through a computer network and the participants remotely participate through the network. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, game participants receive a game sheet from the pad  420 , which sheet preferably features blank spaces  430  for one possible game as shown in  FIG. 4 . Game participants should have writing instruments to write their answers in the blank spaces  430 , where the sheets may be paper-based for use with traditional writing instruments such as pencils, pens, markers or the like, or the sheets may be dry-erase for use with dry-erase pens or the like, or a combination of the same. Participants are then provided, in the illustrated embodiment, with a game card  410  which features twelve categories, it being understood that any number of categories is contemplated.  FIG. 5  illustrates a game card  410  completed with twelve categories that are either selected by game participants or are pre-selected and pre-completed by the game designer. Similarly, the category-based game card  410  may be paper-based for use with traditional writing instruments such as pencils, pens, markers or the like, or the card may be dry-erase for use with dry-erase pens or the like, or a combination of the same. While the balloon is inflating, game participants complete the blank spaces  430  on their game sheets with things that are representative of the categories from the game card  410 , wherein such things are associated with the indicia  350  featured on the balloon, or in the illustrated embodiment should start with the indicia/letter that is shown on the balloon. In certain embodiments of game play, the indicia is known to the game participants prior to inflation, while in other embodiments of game play the indicia is only apparent to game participants upon inflation, which elevates the excitement of the game. 
     In the present embodiment, the inflation device  200  functions as a game timer such that the game begins when the inflation device is started and the balloon inflates, and ends when the balloon attached to the inflation device ruptures or bursts. Thus, the bursting of the balloon signals the end of game play. The inflation device  200  balloon timer is set up by attaching a balloon  300  to the nozzle  240  and, if desired, securing the balloon  300  to the nozzle  240  by a fixation device or clamp  250  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Once the balloon is secured to the nozzle  240 , the power switch  210  is activated to power the inflation device  200 , causing the balloon  300  to inflate in a controlled fashion until it pops. 
     The control system  220  may be used to control the power of the air compressor  270 . More specifically, the control system is driven by a controller that runs the air compressor  270  for an appropriate amount of time to ensure that the balloon pops at an appropriate time. Thus, the control system  220  controls the air delivery from the air intake  260  to the nozzle  240  using pulse wave modulation on the control board, for example, so that the control board is preferably controlling both the time and speed of the air compressor  270 . Each balloon will undoubtedly pop at slightly different times, as it&#39;s essentially impossible to truly control the time at which a balloon pops taking into account the compressor air pressure, ambient conditions and material properties of the balloon, but that will also be part of the excitement of the game. In one embodiment, depressing the power switch  210  initiates a controlled inflation cycle that should result in the popping of the balloon, while in another embodiment the inflation occurs while the power switch  210  is depressed and is stopped once the power switch is released. Various ways of operating the inflation device are contemplated. 
     In one embodiment of game play, once the balloon pops, the game participants take turns reading what they wrote to fill in certain categories. For example, if the balloon featured indicia of the letter “M”, and one category was “Things that make parties fun”, someone could answer with “Music”. However, if any of the other players put the same answer down, neither of the players with the same answer would receive points. So, the answer has to be unique—no others can share in order to receive points. Players then tally points for the first game, second game, third game and so on, until the game participant with the most points wins. The game can then be repeated with different balloons bearing different indicia with the same or different categories, or combinations of the same. While one embodiment of game play and game rules are contemplated, it will be understood that other game play and game rules are contemplated within the framework of a balloon timer. 
     In another embodiment of game play, the balloon may feature indicia that is other than a letter “M”, such as a number, or a shape, and categories and answers could be associated with such indicia. For example, if the category was “Round objects in this room” and the indicia on the balloon was “ 2 ,” then the game participant would have to list two round objects in the room. In another embodiment of game play, the balloon may feature indicia that is other than a letter or number, such as a color, and categories and answers could be associated with such indicia. For example, if the category was “Round objects in this room” and the indicia on the balloon was “Blue” then the game participant would have to list a blue round object in the room. While certain category and indicia combinations are described, it will be appreciated that there are a variety of different combinations and permutations for exciting game play. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a spin wheel used in a game of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of a game in accordance with the present disclosure. In a further embodiment, the balloon may feature no indicia, and the inflation device would be acting only as the timer for the game. The letter, for example, “M”, would be chosen using a spin wheel  600  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, game participants receive a game sheet from the pad  420 , which sheet preferably features blank spaces  430  for one possible game as shown in  FIG. 4 . Game participants should have writing instruments to write their answers in the blank spaces  430 , where the sheets may be paper-based for use with traditional writing instruments such as pencils, pens, markers or the like, or the sheets may be dry-erase for use with dry-erase pens or the like, or a combination of the same. Participants are then provided, in the illustrated embodiment, with a game card  410  which features twelve categories, it being understood that any number of categories is contemplated.  FIG. 5  illustrates a game card  410  completed with twelve categories that are either selected by game participants or are pre-selected and pre-completed by the game designer. Similarly, the category-based game card  410  may be paper-based for use with traditional writing instruments such as pencils, pens, markers or the like, or the card may be dry-erase for use with dry-erase pens or the like, or a combination of the same. While the balloon is inflating, game participants complete the blank spaces  430  on their game sheets with things that are representative of the categories from the game card  410 , wherein such things are associated with the letter chosen using the spin wheel  600 , or in the illustrated embodiment should start with the indicia/letter that is shown on the spin wheel  600 . 
     While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.