Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Call system for bingo players
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a call system for bingo
players
BACKGROZJND OF THE INVENTION
Call systems for bingo players were developed due to the
l0fact that bingo players sometime experience difficulties in
attracting attention when they have a bingo. United States
Patent 4,572,510 provides an example of a hand held bingo
indicator. A drawback of a hand held bingo indicator is that
the bingo player must keep his or her hand in the air, and
l5this can be quite tiring. United States Patent 5,124,683
provides an alternative to hand held bingo indicators in the
form of a light which can be illuminated to indicate a bingo.
United States Patents 5,358,246 and 5,655,772 provide
another alternative to hand held bingo indicators in the form
20of extendible antenna-like structures which can be raised to
an extended position to indicate a bingo.
It is an unfortunate reality that during the course of
an evening playing bingo, relatively few bingo players
25actually get a bingo. In fact, getting a bingo is such a
rare occurrence for many players that, even if they had one
of the above described bingo indicators, it is unlikely they
would get an opportunity to use it. However, almost every
bingo player during the course of the evening gets hungry or
30thirsty and must try to attract the attention of the person
operating the refreshment cart. Similarly, almost every
bingo player during the course of the evening wishes to
purchase game cards for other games of chance and must
attract the attention of the vendor selling the game card for
35the desired game of chance. These games of chance are
described by different names in different localities. Some
common names used for such games of chance are "bonanzas" and
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"satellites".
SUL~ARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a call system for bingo players
5which better meets the needs of the average bingo player.
According to the present invention there is provided a
call system for bingo players which includes a body and at
least three signal indicia mounted on the body. A first ' of
the at least three signal indicia is dedicated to signalling
BINGO. A second of the at least three signal indicia is
dedicated to signalling for CONCESSIONS. A third of the at
least three signal indicia is dedicated to signalling for
GAME CARDS. Means is provided to selectively activate a
desired signal indicia.
With the call system, as described above, a bingo player
can send signals throughout the evening. Upon viewing each
signal, the personnel at the bingo hall will have a clear
20understanding as to what the bingo player requires and the
appropriate person from concessions, games cards, or
monitoring the bingo will attend upon the bingo player.
There are different ways in which a signal can be sent.
The signal indicia can be three lights capable of being
selectively illuminated as a signal. The signal indicia can
be extendible members capable of being selectively raised as
a signal. The signal indicia can be a combination which
includes extendible members capable of being selectively
30raised as a signal, each having a remote upper extremity on
which is positioned a light capable of being illuminated as a
' further signal.
In order to ensure that there is no confusion as to what
35message is being send there must be differentiation between
the signal indicia. The signal indicia can each bear a
different alpha-numeric character in order to differentiate
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as to a message conveyed. The signal indicia can bear a
different colour coding in order to differentiate as to a
message conveyed.
This call system, as described above, can be provided by
the bingo halls as a convenience to their patrons and a
supplementary source of revenue. It is envisaged that the
signal indicia would be coin activated, whereby a coin must
be inserted into a coin activation box attached to the body
loin order to selectively activate the signal indicia.
Depending upon the weight of the body, it may be
desirable to secure it to the table, so it is not
inadvertently knocked over. The body could have a clamp to
clamp the body onto a table. The body could, either in
addition or in the alternative, have suction cups to secure
the body onto a table. If suction cups are employed, it is
preferred that a pivoting lever is provided, to release the
suction cups.
It is generally considered that Bonanzas and Satellites
are so well know across North America that an additional
signal indicia should be provided dedicated to signalling for
BONANZAS and an additional signal indicia be provided
dedicated to signalling for SATELLITES.
In some installations it may be desirable to provide a
motor in the body connected by at least one gear box and
winch assembly to each of the at least three extendible
30members. This would enable the extendible members to be
raised mechanically.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become
35more apparent from the following description in which
reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are
for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to
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in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular
embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
the call system for bingo players constructed in accordance
5with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of
the call system for bingo players constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of
l0the call system for bingo players constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of
the call system for bingo players constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention.
15 FIGURE 5 is a detailed perspective view of the suction
cup release lever.
FIGURE 6 is a detailed perspective view of the motor
with gear box and winch assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EL~ODI~NT
Several preferred embodiments of, a call system for
bingo players will now be described. A first embodiment,
generally identified as call system 100 will be described
25with reference to FIGURE 1. A second embodiment, generally
identified as call system 200 will be described with
reference to FIGURE 2. A third embodiment, generally
identified as call system 300 will be described with
reference to FIGURE 3. A fourth embodiment, generally
30identified as call system 400 will be described with
reference to FIGURES 4 through 6.
Structure and Relationship of Parts of call system 100:
Referring to FIGURE 1. call system 100 includes a body
35112 with five extendible members 114 mounted on body 112.
Extendible members 114 are capable of being selectively
raised as signal indicia. In the illustrated embodiment, a
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first of extendible members 116 is dedicated to signalling
BINGO, a second extendible member 118 is dedicated to
signalling for CONCESSIONS, and a third 120 is dedicated to
signalling for GAME CARDS. A forth extendible member 122 is
5provided that is dedicated to signalling for BONANZAS, and a
fifth extendible member 124 is provided that dedicated to
signalling for SATELLITES. It will be appreciated that there
could be as few as two extendible members 114 or more than
five extendible members 114 depending on what signalling
requirements are necessary.
A bulbous body 126 is positioned at a remote extremity
128 of a telescopic support 130 of each extendible member
114. Bulbous body 126 provides a handle for manipulation of a
l5selected one of extendible members 114 whereby selected one
of extendible members 114 is manually raised. A different
alpha-numeric character 132 is positioned on each bulbous
body 126 in order to differentiate as to a message conveyed.
Referring to FIGURE 5. suction cups 134 are provided to
20secure body 112 onto a table 136. A pivoting lever 138 is
provided, to release suction cups 134. Referring to FIGURE 1,
as a backup, an adjustable L shaped clamp 140 depends from a
bottom 142 of body 112 to also clamp body 112 onto table 136
illustrated in FIGURE 5. A rotatable handle 144 is provided
25in a sidewall 146 of body 112 which permits the adjustment of
L shaped table clamp 140.
A clear plastic cover 148 is provided for covering
extendible members 114 when they are collapsed into body 112.
Plastic cover 148 is adapted to secure to a top 150 of body
3 0 112 .
Operation of call system 100:
Referring to FIGURE 1, with call system 100, as
35 described above, a bingo player can send different signals
depending on what items a bingo player requires. To use call
system 100, body 112 is secured to table 136 by suction cups
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134 illustrated in FIGURE 5 and by L shaped clamp 140
illustrated in FIGURE l, so it is not inadvertently knocked
over. Referring to FIGURE 1. to signal, selected one of
extendible members 114 can be manually moved to the extended
5position. As bulbous bodies 126 each bear a different alpha-
numeric character 132, upon viewing alpha-numeric character
132 on bulbous body 126 of select extendible member 114, the
personnel at the bingo hall will have a clear understanding
as to what the bingb player requires and the appropriate
lOperson from concessions, games cards, or monitoring the bingo
will attend upon the bingo player. Referring to FIGURE 5. if
necessary, pivoting lever 138 can be used to release suction
cups 134 in order to move call system 100 to another table or
for storage. Referring to FIGURE l~ during transportation or
15 storage, plastic cover 148 is placed on top 150 of body 112
to prevent damage to extendible members 114.
Structure and Relationship of Parts of call system 200:
Referring to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a second
20embodiment of a call system which is generally identified by
reference numeral 200. The components of this version and
subsequent versions detailed below of call system will be
identified by the same reference numerals as used in the
description above, so that only the differences need to be
25identified and specifically described. Second embodiment 200
is similar to first embodiment 100 except instead of bulbous
body 126 being positioned at remote upper extremity 128 of
each extendible members 114, a light 250 is positioned at
remote upper extremity 128 of each extendible member 114.
30Light 250 is capable of being illuminated as a further signal
indicia. Each of lights 250 bears a different colour coding
in order to differentiate as to a message conveyed. Referring
to FIGURE 5. switches 252 are provided to selectively
activate desired lights 250 illustrated in FIGURE 2- Switches
35252 are coupled to extendible members 114 such that when a
selected one of extendible members 114 is raised, switch 252
is activated to illuminate light 250 illustrated in FIGURE 2
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at remote extremity 128 of telescopic support 130 of selected
one of extendible members 114. Referring to FIGURE 2. a
battery pack 254 is provided on body 112 to supply power to
lights 250, although it will be appreciated that other
5sources of power can also be used. Each of lights 250 also
bear different alpha-numeric characters 132 in order to
further differentiate as to a message conveyed.
Operation of call system 200:
Referring to FIGURE 2, call system 200 operates in
a similar manner to first embodiment of call system 200.
With call system 200, as described above, a bingo player can
send signals what items a bingo player requires. In order to
signal, selected one of extendible members 114 can be
l5manually moved to the extended position. As switches 252
illustrated in FIGURE 5 are coupled to extendible members
114, when a selected one of extendible members 114 is raised,
switch 252 activates to illuminate light 250 illustrated in
FIGURE 2. Illuminated lights 250 are more noticeable than
20bulbous bodies 126 of first embodiment 100, and upon noticing
illuminated light 250 with alpha-numeric character 132, the
personnel at the bingo hall will have a clear understanding
as to what the bingo player requires and the appropriate
person from concessions, game cards, or monitoring the bingo
25wi11 attend upon the bingo player.
Structure and Relationship of Parts of call system 300:
Referring to FIGURE 3. call system 300 is similar to
second embodiment 200 except that lights 250 can be manually
30activated. With third embodiment 300, each of lights 250 bear
a different colour coding in order to differentiate as to a
message conveyed. Switches 252 illustrated in FIGURE 5. are
manually activated by selectively depressing buttons 356
provided on top 150 of body 112 which in turn activates
35desired light 250. Body 112 also has a voice chip 358 which
emits an audible tone when first 116 of extendible members
114 with light 250 dedicated to signalling BINGO is selected.
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Operation of call system 300:
Referring to FIGURE 3~ third embodiment of calling
system 300 operates in a similar manner to second embodiment
5200, except that when desired, switches 252 illustrated in
FIGURE 5~ can be manually activated by pushing buttons 356 to
illuminate light 250. Furthermore when first 116 of
extendible members 114 with light 250 dedicated to signalling
BINGO is selected, voice chip 358 will emit an audible tone.
lOThis provides added convenience for bingo players as they no
longer have to shout out bingo, or continually tire by
holding up a hand to indicate bingo.
15 Structure and Relationship of Parts of call system 400:
Referring to FIGURE 6. call system 400 is similar to
third embodiment 300 except that a motor 460 is positioned in
body 112 and is connected by a gear box and winch assembly
462 to each of extendible members 114, whereby upon
20activation extendible members 114 are raised mechanically.
Referring to FIGURE 4, a coin activation box 464 is attached
to body 112 to selectively activate motor 460 illustrated in
FIGURE 6. Referring to FIGURE 6. a selection switch 466 is
coupled to motor 460. Referring to FIGURE 4~ upon a coin 468
25being inserted into coin activation box 464, motor 460 raises
one of extendible members 114 with light 250 as determined by
selection switch 466 illustrated in FIGURE 6. A power supply
cord 470 is provided for supplying power to motor 460.
30 Operation of call system 400:
Referring to FIGURE 4~ fourth embodiment 400 of call
system operates in a similar manner to third embodiment 300
except that extendible members 114 are raised mechanically.
To do so, coin 468 is inserted into coin activation box 464
35so that motor 460 mechanically raises one of extendible
members 114 with light 250 as determined by selection switch
466 illustrated in FIGURE 6. It is envisaged the fourth
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embodiment 400 will be a permanent installation in a bingo
hall, intended to generate additional revenue.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used
in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the
word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are
not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite
article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than
l0one of the element is present, unless the context clearly
requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment
l5without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
