Patent Publication Number: US-2019184272-A1

Title: Enlightened Pong Game System and Method of Use

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/599,985 filed Dec. 18, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains generally to gaming systems and more particularly to an enlightened pong game system and method of use. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Pong is a well-known game. Players place a series of cups on each end of a table, normally in a triangular arrangement. Two players take turns bouncing ping pong balls toward each other&#39;s cups. When a ping pong ball lands in a cup then the player whose cup the ball fell in must take a drink from that cup. 
     The game of pong is limited though in that it is normally only played with plastic cups and balls that are devoid of any additional features. What is needed is a system and method of playing pong that is enhanced with additional functions and features to enhance game play. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The invention is directed toward a gaming system comprising one or more lighting components, one or more plastic cups, and one or more balls. Each of the one or more cups is respectively disposed on a top side of the one or more lighting components. In the preferred embodiment, each lighting component comprises one or more batteries and one or more LEDs. 
     The invention is directed toward a gaming system comprising one or more lighting components, each lighting component further comprising a substrate having a top side and a bottom side; one or more batteries; an activation tab disposed adjacent to one of the one of more batteries and configured to be removed from the lighting component; one or more LEDs; an adhesive disposed on a portion of the top side of the substrate; and a protective film disposed on a portion of the top side of the substrate configured to be removed from the lighting component; one or more plastic cups; one or more balls; and wherein the top side of each of the one or more lighting components is configured to be respectively removably secured to a bottom surface of each of the one or more plastic cups. 
     In another embodiment, each of the one or more lighting components further comprises a sensor. The sensor may be a motion activated sensor or a transceiver. Each of the one or more lighting components may further comprise a power switch. Each of the one or more lighting components may further comprise a mode switch. 
     The invention is also directed toward a method of game play comprising obtaining one or more lighting components; obtaining one or more plastic cups; obtaining one or more balls; removing the activation tab from each of the one or more lighting components; removing the protective film from each of the one or more lighting components; and respectively pressing the adhesive on the top side of each of the one or more lighting components against a bottom surface of each of the one or more plastic cups. 
     The method may further comprise turning on a power switch on each of the one or more lighting components. The method may further comprise selecting a desired lighting mode for each of the one more lighting components. The method may further comprise placing a desired amount of liquid in each of the one or more cups. The method may further comprise placing each of the one or more cups in a desired configuration on a flat surface. The method may further comprise placing one or more balls inside a selected plastic cup. 
     Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described the embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of the best modes suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the lighting component; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the lighting component; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the lighting component; 
         FIG. 4  is side perspective view of the lighting component; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the lighting component; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the lighting component; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the lighting component being attached to the bottom of a cup; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the lighting component attached to the bottom of a cup; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the enlightened cup holding a ball. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a system of lights attachable to the undersides of a plurality of cups is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the cup utilizes one or more LEDs attached to the bottom of the cup. In the preferred embodiment the LEDs are embedded on a paper or plastic layer. The paper/plastic layer has a dry adhesive coating the top portion of the paper layer. The layer may have a peel off plastic strip to prevent the adhesive from sticking to an undesired surface. To use the item a user peels off the protective plastic layer from the paper layer, exposing the adhesive. The user then disposes the adhesive against the bottom of a plastic translucent cup. The user presses the layer to the cup to ensure a tight fit. The user may operate the LEDs in any manner then. The LEDs are preferably disposed between the paper and the cup. The user may turn on the LEDs by pressing a switch. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of the lighting component  100  is illustrated. The lighting component  100  can include any number of elements. In the preferred embodiment the lighting component comprises an activation tab  102 , one or more batteries  104 , a sensor  106 , and an LED  108 . These components are disposed on a substrate  110 . 
     The activation tab  102  is a plastic strip preventing an electrical connection between the battery  104  and the circuit connected to the LED  108 . The activation tab  102  may be made out of any type of nonconductive material and may be any size and shape. The battery  104  may be any type of battery and any size and shape. The sensor  106  may be any type of sensor device. The sensor  106  may be a gyroscopic sensor which detects motion of the lighting component  100 . In other embodiments the sensor  106  may detect radio signals and be a transceiver. The LED  108  is any type of light emitting diode. The LED  108  may be any color. In other embodiments there may be multiple LEDs  108 . The lighting component  100  also has a power switch  116  and a mode switch  118 . The substrate  110  may be any type of material holding the elements of the lighting component  100 . In the preferred embodiment the substrate  110  is a combination of paper and plastic. The substrate  110  may be any size and shape. In the preferred embodiment the substrate  110  is a thin circular device. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-8 , the preferred embodiment of utilizing the lighting component  100  is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a user first removes the activation tab  102 . By removing the activation tab  102 , the electrical circuit between the battery  104  and LED  108  is completed which allows the LED  108  to enlighten. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the user then removes a protective film  112  to uncover an adhesive covered surface  114 . The protective film  112  may be any type of material which is easily removed from an adhesive. The protective film may be plastic, paper, or wax covered paper. The adhesive covered surface  114  may have any type of adhesive. In the preferred embodiment the adhesive covered surface  114  has a dry adhesive. The adhesive may cover the entire adhesive covered surface  114  or only a part of the surface  114 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the user then applies the lighting component  100  to the bottom of a cup  200 . The adhesive on the adhesive covered surface  114  adheres to the surface of the cup  200 . The cup  200  may be any type of cup  200 . In the preferred embodiment, the cup  200  is a transparent plastic cup. In other embodiments the cup  200  is translucent plastic, glass, metal, or any other type of material. The lighting component  100  may be attached to any portion of the cup  200 . In the preferred embodiment the lighting component  100  is attached to the bottom outside surface of the cup  200 . In other embodiments the lighting component  100  may be attached to the inside surface of the cup  200 . 
     The user may turn on the lighting component  100  by a switch (not shown) on the bottom side of the lighting component  100 . The lighting component  100  may have different modes of operation. The lighting component  100  may have a mode switch (not shown) which causes the LED to remain on or to pulse light. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the illustration of the system while in use is illustrated. The total system comprises the lighting component  100 , the cup  200 , and a ball  300 . The ball  300  is preferably a ping pong ball. The ball  300  may be any type of ball which bounces. The ball  300  may be plastic or rubber. 
     After combining the lighting component  100  and the cup  200 , a user can use the cup  200  for a game. The user may partially fill the cup  200  with water or any other desired liquid. A user then bounces a ball  300  and attempts to land the ball  300  in the cup  200 . The system may comprise multiple lighting components  100 , multiple cups  200 , and multiple balls  300 . The user may place the cups  200  on a flat surface in any configuration desired. 
     In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward a pong gaming system comprising illuminated cups and illuminated balls. In the preferred embodiment the system comprises a plurality of plastic cups. The plastic cups may be any size and shape. The plastic utilized to make the cups may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The plastic utilized to make the cups may be any color. In the preferred embodiment each of the cups have one or more LEDs attached to the cups. The LEDs may be attached to any portion of the surface of the cup or may be embedded directly into a cavity in the cup. Attached to the LEDs is a battery power source to provide power to the LEDs. There may also be a switch which allows a user to turn the LEDs on or off. In the preferred embodiment the LEDs are attached to a base of the cup to allow the cup to be illuminated from the bottom. The LEDs may produce any color of light. A cup may only produce one color of light or may produce multiple colors of light. In other embodiments the plastic used to make the cup may be photoluminescent to cause the cups to glow in the dark. 
     In the game system the ping pong ball utilized may be a standard, white, plastic ping pong ball. In other embodiments of the invention the ping pong ball may also have LEDs embedded in the ping pong ball to cause the ping pong ball to enlighten as well. In other embodiments the ping pong ball may be made from photoluminescent plastic so that the ping pong ball glows in the dark. 
     The game system may include additional components to enhance gameplay. For instance the game system may include colored tape to permit users to define areas on a table surface. Additionally, the game system may have one or more stencils for placing on the table surface to define game areas—such as where a ping pong ball must be bounced, where cups must be placed, or amount of points for a particular cup. In other embodiments each of the cups may have a motion sensor or other detection system. The motion sensor is utilized to determine when a ping pong ball enters into the cup. The motion sensor may be a gyroscopic sensor or may be any type of sensor to detect mechanical movement of or within the cup. In other embodiments the sensor within the cup may detect an electrical signal being produced by the ping pong ball. When the ping pong ball enters the cup, the sensor in the cup detects the electrical signal being produced by the ping pong ball. In this manner the game system may be arranged such that users may visually determine when a ball enters a cup. For instance, a cup may be enlightened in a glowing green color by the LEDs. Once a ball enters the cup, the sensor is activated which then causes the LEDs to change to a red color. In some embodiments the sensors may be embedded in a mat on which the cups stand and the LEDs may be embedded in the mat. In that way standard plastic cups may be utilized. 
     In other embodiments, the game system may include one or more transceivers in the cups to send signals to a computer system or smart phone for when a score is made. 
     To utilize the system a group of users turn on the LEDs in the cups. The users then place the cups on a table in a predetermined layout. The users then take turns bouncing ping pong balls toward the cups. When a ball enters a cup the LEDs may change color. When a ball enters a cup the user with the cup on that side takes a drink from the cup. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 
     The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art the order of steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Further, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. 
     The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.