US3927880A - Step on bug game - Google Patents

Abstract

A game is provided comprising a portable semi-rigid circular sheet of plastic material, for example, in which are integrally formed a plurality of randomly oriented bulges projecting upwardly from the surrounding surface of the sheet. A central bulge is provided, under which is placed a battery operated or other electric alarm. Under any of the other bulges may be placed a circuit closing switch, the circuit wires extending between said switch and the alarm. The upper surface of each bulge is provided with a likeness of a bug or bugs to add interest to the game. A contestant, not knowing under which bulge the circuit closing means is placed, attempts to step on as many bulges as he can, without stepping on that bulge having the circuit closing means thereunder, as when he steps on that one the game is over for that contestant.

Description

United States Patent Petrusek Dec. 23, 1975 STEP ON BUG GAME [76] Inventor: Victor Petrusek, 18511 Gottschalk, [57] ABSTRACT Homewood 60430 A game is provided comprising a portable semi-rigid [22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1975 circular sheet of plastic material, for example, in which are integrally formed a plurality of randomly [2]] Appl' 566s22 oriented bulges projecting upwardly from the surrounding surface of the sheet. A central bulge is pro- [52] U.S. CI 273/] E; 273/] A; 273/138 A vided, under which is placed a battery operated or [51] Int. Cl. A63B 67/00 other electric alarm. Under any of the other bulges [58] Field of Search..... 273/] R, l E, l A, 102.1 B, may be placed a circuit closing switch, the circuit 273/ l02.l C, 102.2 R, 130 AB, 138 A wires extending between said switch and the alarm. The upper surface of each bulge is provided with a [56] References Cited likeness of a bug or bugs to add interest to the game.

UNITED STATES PATENTS A contestant, not knowing under which bulge the cir- 3,091,4s4 5/1963 Sam 273/1 A cult Closing means is a attempts to Step as 3,092,390 6/l963 Super.... 273/1 E x many bulges as he stepping bulge 3,468,535 9/l969 Obst 273/1022 R x having the circuit Closing means thereunder, as when 3,503,609 3/1970 \Vojdat 273/1 E h steps on h ne th g me is over for that contes- Primary Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sabin C. Bronson tant.

5 Claims, 4 Dmwing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 3,927,880

STEP ON BUG GAME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY This game is of the order of the well known game of Hopscotch which comprises a series of prearranged bulges to be stepped on in a certain order by a player.

In Applicants game there is no set order of the bulges to be stepped on by the player. To make the game more interesting the bulges are each marked with a representation of a bug so that the player gets the idea he is stepping on a bug each time he steps on a bulge.

Any number of players of any age may play the game. The object of the game is to step on a certain number of the bulges without sounding the alarm. The first player to successfully do this, wins the game.

The players can suggest ways to play the game. For instance, they can specify that a player must step on ten of the fourteen bulges without sounding the alarm. Not knowing which bulge triggers the alarm when stepped on, maka it a very interesting game.

Or the players can state any number of the bulges that must be stepped on without sounding the alarm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circular sheet having the bulges and the alarm indicated therein.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the switch for activating the alarm.

FIG. 4 is an exploded enlarged perspective view of the parts comprising the switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing there is shown a circular sheet or relatively thin plastic material 10, thick enough, however, to be free of wrinkles when placed down on a flat surface, but which may be rolled up without damaging the bulges, and moved to another location when desired.

The bulges or bumps 12 are simply upwardly pressed segmentally shaped portions which are randomly arranged about a central bulge or bump 14. Under the central bulge 14 is an electric alarm 15 capable when activated of emitting a relatively loud noise. The alarm used may be any of various types commonly used in this type of toy. The circuit wires from the alarm are shown at 16, and these wires are long enough to reach from the alarm to any of the bulges 12.

The switch, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the other end of the wires 16, comprises a circular metal base plate 18 of a size to snugly fit under a bulge 12. One of the circuit wires 16 extends to the edge of this plate. A sponge rubber disc 20 is concentrically disposed on the base plate 18, and another circular metal plate 24 the same size as the base plate, is placed on top of the rubber disc, so that the disc holds the plates normally separated. The other circuit wire 16 extends from the edge of this upper circular plate to the alarm mechanism 15, not shown in detail, but common in such installations. The upper surface of the upper plate 24 has a thin layer of sponge rubber material 22 thereon shaped so as to fit underneath one of the raised portions or bulges 12 without distorting same, so that it has the same appearance as the other bulges 12.

A representation of a bug is indicated on the surface of each bulge, so that a contestant has the idea he is stepping on a bug each time he steps on a bulge.

It is thus apparent that the game may be played by any number of players, and to start the game the switch is placed under one of the bumps or bulges 12, as indicated in FIG. 2. The location of this switch is unknown to a contestant when starting the game. The contestant then proceeds to step on the bulges successively until he happens to step on that bulge having the switch thereunder which will immediately cause the plates 24 and 18 to contact each other and actuate the alarm, which ends the game for that contestant.

Then unbeknown to the next contestant, the switch is placed under another bump or bulge l2 and then the next contestant proceeds to try his luck to see how many bulges he can step on before stepping on the bulge having the switch thereunder.

I claim:

1. A game comprising in combination a portable flat sheet, having a plurality of integral bulges randomly formed about the surface of the sheet, an alarm under one of the bulges, circuit closing switch means under another bulge, electrically connected to said alarm, so that when the bulge having the switch thereunder is stepped on by a contestant, the alarm will sound.

2. The structure of claim I, wherein the circuit closing switch comprises a pair of plates, and a resilient material holding the plates slightly separated until stepped on.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein each bulge is provided on its surface with a representation of a bug.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said alarm is under the centermost of said bulges.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said switch means may be placed under any of said bulges other than the centermost one.

Claims (5)

1. A game comprising in combination a portable flat sheet, having a plurality of integral bulges randomly formed about the surface of the sheet, an alarm under one of the bulges, circuit closing switch means under another bulge, electrically connected to said alarm, so that when the bulge having the switch thereunder is stepped on by a contestant, the alarm will sound.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the circuit closing switch comprises a pair of plates, and a resilient material holding the plates slightly separated until stepped on.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein each bulge is provided on its surface with a representation of a bug.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said alarm is under the centermost of said bulges.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said switch means may be placed under any of said bulges other than the centermost one.

Images