US20190184272A1

US20190184272A1 - Enlightened Pong Game System and Method of Use

Info

Publication number: US20190184272A1
Application number: US15/953,482
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey Cunningham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-12-18
Filing date: 2018-04-15
Publication date: 2019-06-20

Abstract

A novel game system and method are disclosed. The system comprises one or more lighting components which may be removably secured to the bottom of one or more cups. The lighting components comprise a battery, an LED, and substrate having an adhesive. A user attaches the lighting component to the bottom of a cup using the adhesive. The user can then turn on the lighting component to cause the cup to glow a certain color. The user places liquid within the cup. The user then attempts to bounce or throw a ball into the cup. The user may use a plurality of lighting components and cups to create a configuration of enlightened cups.

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'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.

Claims

1) A gaming system comprising

a) a plurality of circular lighting components, wherein each circular lighting component is physically separated from other circular lighting components, each circular lighting component comprising

i) a substrate having a top side and a bottom side;

ii) one or more batteries;

iii) one or more LEDs;

b) one or more plastic cups; and

c) one or more balls; and

d) wherein a top side of each of said plurality of circular lighting components is respectively disposed under only one of said one or more cups.

2) (canceled)

3) The gaming system as in claim 1 each of said plurality of circular lighting components further comprises an adhesive disposed on an outer ring portion of said top side of said substrate.

4) The gaming system as in claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of circular lighting components further comprises a protective film disposed on said outer ring portion of said top side of said substrate and configured to be removed from said lighting component.

5) The gaming system as in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of circular lighting components further comprises an activation tab disposed adjacent to one of said one of more batteries and configured to be removed from said lighting component and wherein said substrate is made from paper and wherein said one or more LEDs are disposed in a central portion of said top side of said substrate.

6) The gaming system as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of circular lighting components further comprises a sensor.

7) The gaming system as in claim 6 wherein said sensor is a motion activated sensor.

8) The gaming system as in claim 6 wherein said sensor is a transceiver.

9) The gaming system as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of circular lighting components further comprises a power switch.

10) The gaming system as in claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of circular lighting components further comprises a mode switch.

11) A method of game play comprising

a) obtaining one or more lighting components, wherein each lighting component further comprises

i) one or more batteries;

ii) one or more LEDs;

b) obtaining one or more plastic cups;

c) obtaining one or more balls; and

d) placing each of said one or more plastic cups respectively on each of said one or more lighting components.

12) The method as in claim 11 wherein each of said one or more lighting components further comprises a power switch, said method further comprising turning on a power switch on each of said one or more lighting components.

13) The method as in claim 11 wherein each of said one or more lighting components further comprises a mode switch, said method further comprising selecting a desired lighting mode for each of said one more lighting components.

14) The method as in claim 11 further comprising placing a desired amount of liquid in each of said one or more cups.

15) The method as in claim 11 further comprising placing each of said one or more cups in a desired configuration on a flat surface.

16) The method as in claim 11 further comprising bouncing or throwing one or more balls until at least one of said one or more balls lands inside a selected plastic cup.

17) The method as in claim 11 wherein each of said one or more lighting components further comprises a substrate having a top side and a bottom side, an adhesive disposed on a portion of said top side of said substrate, and wherein said method further comprises

a) respectively securing a bottom side of each of said one or more cups to said top side of said substrate of each of said one or more lighting components.

18) The method as in claim 17 wherein each of said one or more lighting components further comprises a power switch, said method further comprising turning on a power switch on each of said one or more lighting components.

19) The method as in claim 18 wherein each of said one or more lighting components further comprises a mode switch, said method further comprising selecting a desired lighting mode for each of said one more lighting components.

20) A method for playing a game comprising

a) providing a game system comprising

i) one or more lighting components, each lighting component further comprising

(1) one or more batteries;

(2) one or more LEDs;

ii) one or more plastic cups; and

iii) one or more balls; and

iv) wherein each of said one or more cups is respectively disposed on a top side of said one or more lighting components.