RU2774465C1 - Balanced positional game device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: balanced positional games.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to balanced positional games, where weighted game pieces (chess, checkers) are used as game elements, placed by players, by agreement, alternately or simultaneously on a balancing playing surface for playing with balance in accordance with established rules. The device consists of a gaming table with a playing field, a base, an axisymmetric support unit, the axis of which passes through the center of gravity of the gaming table, having a lower support mounted on a base having an axisymmetric recess facing the gaming table; an upper support fixed on the underside of the gaming table, having an axisymmetric recess facing the base, a supporting element installed in the axisymmetric recesses of the lower and upper supports, while the axisymmetric recess in the lower support has surfaces with a linear generatrix; axisymmetric recess in the upper support has one or more surfaces converging upward at an angle; the supporting element has a Central zone, the lower ledge, the shape and dimensions of which correspond to the shape and dimensions of the axisymmetric recess in the lower support; the upper protrusion converges upward at a predetermined angle less than the angle of convergence of the axisymmetric recess in the upper support. To prevent the gaming table from tilting to an angle smaller than the angle of friction of the game pieces on the surface of the gaming table, the angle of convergence of the upper ledge is made according to the condition:

where α - one-sided angle between the surface of the upper axisymmetric recess and the surface of the upper protrusion of the support element; ƒ_sf - coefficient of sliding friction between the game pieces and the game table.

EFFECT: balanced positional game creation.

13 cl, 18 dwg

Description

The invention relates to balanced positional games, where weighted game pieces (for example, chess or checkers) are used as game elements.

A balance game device is known (patent US No. 4589664 dated December 20, 1983) having a rectangular board, a central balance axis dividing the board into two equal parts; a plurality of game pieces of various weights differing in shape, located on the allotted places on the board, means for supporting the game board with the possibility of balancing relative to the axis and tilting with the difference in moments created by the weight of the pieces.

A balance game device is known (GB patent No. 2052273 dated 06/18/1979), consisting of a plurality of balancing beams with game figures. Each beam has a rounded groove in the middle part and is installed on the rounded top of the longitudinal support with inclined side surfaces entering the groove. In this case, all balancing beams are mounted on a longitudinal support. The concept of the game is prescribed in the invention based on the design of the gaming device.

A device for balancing games is known (patent US No. 4358110 dated 10/16/1980), having a base with a reference point at the top, a balancing element having a plurality of arms evenly spaced at an angle of approximately 30° to the horizontal plane, a plurality of steps on each arm; a lot of weights suspended on the steps of each shoulder, an indicator of the level of unbalance. The device has electrical controls for exceeding the predetermined imbalance level, including light or sound alarms.

The disadvantage of the above devices for balanced games is that their designs do not provide for games of checkers, chess, go.

Known vending machine with a tilting platform (patent RU No. 166534 A1 dated 07/01/2016), containing a set of electric drives that provide a change in the slope of the platform. The machine is equipped with a computer control device connected to the control panel and drives. The machine is designed to select game items in terms of their movement on an inclined gaming platform.

A gaming machine with a balance control device is known (CN patent No. 202342836 U dated 10/31/2011), containing an upper movable plate, a lower plate, an upper plate drive tilted relative to the lower plate and a sensor located in the center of the upper plate inclination relative to the lower plate in any direction.

A device and method for a balanced positional game are known (patent RU No. 2719105 dated 29.08.2019, prototype). The device consists of a game table with a game field, the area of which exceeds the area of the game field, on the upper surface of which game figures are positioned, possibly differing in mass; fixed on the lower surface of the gaming table ball bearing node having the upper ball cavity; a base with a lower ball bearing fixed on it, having a lower ball recess; a ball installed in the ball recesses of the upper and lower ball bearings, at least three stops that limit the angle of inclination of the gaming table relative to the horizontal plane; means of giving the table a horizontal position in the absence of imbalance, and stops, consisting of four weights connected to the lower surface of the table; the game table has cells free or assigned to each player for placing figures removed from the playing field in order to maintain balance on the surface of the game table outside the playing field.

The disadvantage of the known device lies in the duration of setting the limiting angle of the game board relative to the horizontal plane, as well as adjusting the angle of the game board relative to the horizontal plane during the game.

The technical problem solved by the invention is to reduce the time required to set the limiting angle of inclination of the gaming table (IT) relative to the horizontal plane, as well as to provide the possibility of adjusting the angle of inclination of the IS relative to the horizontal plane during the game by agreement between the players.

The technical problem is solved in a device consisting of an IC with a playing field (FS) on its upper surface with an area larger than the area of the FS, on which the game pieces are positioned, the base and the axial support unit (OSA), the axis of which passes through the center of gravity of the IC, with the upper support of the OOU fixed on the lower surface of the IC with a recess in it; fixed on the basis of the lower support; a support element, the upper part of which is in contact with the upper part of the recess in the upper support, which allows rotation of the IP in a horizontal plane; IS weighting agents that ensure the position of the CG IS below the upper contact surface of the upper spherical part of the support element with a spherical recess in the upper support, while the lower support of the OOU has a support platform (OP) with at least one pair of additional support nodes (ADS) with additional support elements (DOE), which are installed at the OP remotely from the OOU; and each DOE has means for adjusting its position in height.

To exclude any of the two degrees of freedom of rotation of the IS OP, it has at least two pairs of DOEs located in mutually perpendicular directions at an equal distance from the TOS, while the position of each DOE is adjustable in height, while the means for regulating each DOE in height have movable screw connection with DOE, providing only rotational movement of the screw.

To increase the convenience of device control, the screw of the movable screw connection with the DOE has a pulley for manually adjusting the position of each DOE in height.

To increase the possibility of measuring and controlling the angular position of the IS, the means of regulation of each DOE have a stepper motor (SHED), the shaft of each of which is connected to a screw, while the device has a SHED control system with a control unit and a control panel.

To increase the possibility of measuring and controlling the angular position of the IC, the device has sensors of the angular position of the IC relative to the horizontal plane, connected to the control unit of the SHED through an analog-to-digital converter connected to the controller; a control panel with indicators of the angular position of the IS relative to the horizontal plane and a means of setting the angular position of the IS to the limit for a specific game relative to the horizontal plane.

To limit the angular displacement in two degrees of freedom of rotational movement, the device has four DOEs with a DOE drive from the SHED and four DOEs with manual height adjustment of the position of each DOE.

The solution of the technical problem - reducing the time required to set the limit angle of inclination of the IS relative to the horizontal plane, as well as providing the possibility of adjusting the angle of inclination of the IS relative to the horizontal plane during the game by agreement between the players - is provided by the following set of distinguishing features of the device: the lower support of the OOU has a support platform (OP), with at least one pair of DOW with DOE, which are installed on the OP remotely from the OOU; and each DOE has means for adjusting its position in height.

This set of distinguishing features of the device was not found in the process of patent information research, therefore, the claimed device satisfies the criterion of "novelty". It also does not follow explicitly from the prior art, therefore, the technical solution satisfies the criterion of "inventive step".

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of a device for a balanced positional game with regulation of the limit angle of the gaming table.

In FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a device with two manual screw controls for the limit angle of the gaming table.

In FIG. 3 - view A of Fig. 2.

In FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a device with two manual screw controls for the limiting angle of the gaming table with linear movement of the supporting elements.

In FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a device having two screw regulators for the limit angle of the gaming table with linear movement of the support elements driven by screws from stepper motors.

In FIG. 6 - view B of Fig 5.

In FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a device having two manual screw controls for the limit angle of the gaming table and two controls driven by screws from stepper motors.

In FIG. 8 - view B of Fig 5.

In FIG. 9 - a device with four manual screw controls for the limit angle of the gaming table and four controls driven by screws from stepper motors.

In FIG. 10 - view D of FIG. 9.

In FIG. 11 is a diagram of the control system of the balanced positional game device.

In FIG. 12 - base with control unit and control panel.

In FIG. 13 - design of the axial support unit.

In FIG. 14, 15 - support element with a pseudosphere.

In FIG. 16 shows the structure of the support assembly, which includes a support element with a curved dome-shaped periodic profile with teeth, and a corresponding upper support.

In FIG. 17, 18 - upper support with a curved domed periodic profile with teeth.

The designations adopted in Fig. 1-18:

1 - game table (IS);

2 - playing field (IP);

3 - the upper surface of the gaming table 1;

4 - game piece (IF);

5 - base;

6 - axial support unit (OOU);

7 - lower surface of the gaming table 1;

8 - the upper support of the OOU;

9 - recess in the upper support of the OOU;

10 - lower support;

11 - supporting element;

12 - the upper part of the support element (OE);

13 - upper part of recess 9;

14 - weighting agents;

15 - support platform (OP);

16 - additional reference node (DOU);

17 - additional support element (DOE);

18 - means for regulating the DOE in height;

19 - screw;

20 - pulley;

21 - stepper motor (SHED);

22 - SHED shaft;

23 - control unit;

24 - control panel;

25 - sensors of the angular position of the table;

26 - analog-to-digital converter;

26a - analog signal module;

27 - controller of the control unit 23;

28 - indicators of the angular position of the gaming table 1;

29 - display panel;

30 - diagnostic unit;

31 - module of discrete signals;

32 - memory;

33 - counter of moves and errors of players;

34a - curvilinear dome-shaped periodic profile of the surface of the upper part of the supporting element;

34b - curvilinear dome-shaped periodic profile of the surface of the top of the recess of the upper support of the OOU;

35 - protrusion of the pseudosphere;

36 - cavity of pseudospheres;

37a - the surface of the truncated cone of the support element;

37b - surface of the truncated cone of the recess in the upper support of the OOU;

38 - teeth of a periodic profile;

39 - a ball in the upper support of the OOU.

The device of a balanced positional game (Fig. 1-8) consists of a game table (IP) 1 with a playing field (IP) 2 on its upper surface 3 with an area larger than the area of IP 2, on which game pieces (IF) 4 are positioned, the base 5 and the axial support unit (OSA) 6, the axis of which passes through the center of gravity (CG) IS 1, fixed on the lower surface 7 IS 1 upper support 8 OOU 6 with a recess 9 in it; fixed on the base 5 the lower support 10; support element 11, the upper part 12 (Fig. 4) of which is in contact with the upper part 13 (Fig. 5) of the recess 9 in the upper support 8, which allows rotation of the IC 1 in a horizontal plane; weighting agents 14 IS 1, providing the position of the CG IS 1 below the upper contact surface of the upper spherical part 12 of the support element 11 with the spherical part 13 of the recess 9 in the upper support 8, while the lower support 10 OOU 6 has a support platform (OP) 15, at least , with one pair of additional support nodes (DOU) 16 with additional support elements (DOE) 17, which are installed on the OP 15 remotely from the OOU6; each DOE 17 has means 18 for regulating its position in height.

To exclude any of the two degrees of freedom of rotation of the IS 1 OP 15 has at least two pairs of DOU 16 located in mutually perpendicular directions at an equal distance from the OOU 6, while the position of each DOE 17 is adjustable in height, and the control means 18 each DOE 17 in height has a movable screw connection with DOE 17 (Fig. 1, 2, 4), which provides only rotational movement of the screw 19 and regulation of the angular position of the IS 1 relative to the horizontal plane, which is limiting for the current game.

To improve the convenience of controlling the device, the screw 19 of the movable screw connection with the DOE 17 (Fig. 1, 4) has a pulley 20 for manually adjusting the position of each DOE 17 in height.

To increase the possibility of measuring and controlling the angular position of the IC 1, the control means 18 of each DOE 17 have a stepper motor (SHED) 21, the shaft 22 of each of which is connected to the screw 19, while the device has a control system for the SHED with a control unit 23 and a control panel 24 .

To increase the possibility of measuring and controlling the angular position of the IC 1, the device has sensors 25 of the angular position of the IC 1 relative to the horizontal plane, connected to the control unit 23 of the SHED with an analog-to-digital converter included in the module 26 of analog signals connected to the controller 27 of the control unit 23; control panel 24 with indicators 28 (Fig. 9, 12) of the angular position of the IC 1 relative to the horizontal plane, duplicate signals on the display panel 29, placed in the support platform 15, and means 18 (Fig. 2, 4, 5) for regulating each DOE 17 and setting for a particular game the limiting angular position of the IP 1 relative to the horizontal plane.

To limit the angular movement in two degrees of freedom of rotational movement, the device has four DOE 16 with a DOE 17 drive from the ShED 21 and four DOE 16 with manual height adjustment of the position of each DOE 17.

The controller is electrically connected to the diagnostic unit 30, which receives electrical signals from the module 26a (Fig. 11) of analog signals with an analog-to-digital converter 26.

The controller 27 issues commands in the form of electrical signals through the discrete signal module 31 to the SHED 21.

The operating program of the control unit 23 is stored in the memory 32, which is electrically connected to the controller 27 and the diagnostic unit 30.

To the controller 27 and the control panel 24 is connected to the counter 33 moves and errors of the players.

To exclude the rotation of the IC 1 relative to the support element 11 in the horizontal plane when the IC 1 is tilted relative to the vertical axis under the action of an imbalance that occurs when the game figure 4 is removed from the IC 2 and installed on the IC 1, the upper part 12 (Fig. 14) of the surface of the support element 11 has (Fig. 13, 16) curvilinear dome-shaped periodic profile 34a in the form of a pseudosphere with protrusions 35 and depressions 36 (Fig. 15, 17, 18) with an even number of protrusions 35 of at least four, turning into a truncated cone, and the surface of the top of the recess 10 in the upper support 8 OOU 6 has a curved dome-shaped periodic profile 34b corresponding to the periodic profile 34a of the upper part 12 of the support element 11, turning into a truncated cone.

To limit the angle of rotation of the IS 1 relative to the horizontal plane, the angle α between the surface 37a (Fig. 16) of the truncated cone of the support element 11 and the surface 37b of the truncated cone of the recess 9 in the upper support 8 of the OOU 6 is determined by the formula:

where ƒ _tr is the coefficient of sliding friction IF 4 according to IP 2.

To exclude the possibility of free rotation of the IS 1 about the vertical axis in the event of a moment of force when removing or installing the IF 4 in the plane of the IS 1, the periodic profile 34a and 34b (Fig. 13) of the upper part 12 of the support element 11 has the form:

- pseudospheres (Fig. 13-15) with cycloidal protrusions 35 and depressions 36 with an even number of protrusions 35 of at least four,

- teeth 38 (Fig. 17-18) with an angle at the top of 90° or more, with the number of teeth 38 not less than four or a multiple of four.

To reduce the moment of friction when balancing IS 1 relative to the support element 11, a ball 39 is installed between the upper parts of the recess 9 in the upper support 8 of the OOU 6 and the support element 11, the diameter of which is 0.1 ... 0.2 of the height of the periodic profile 34a (34b).

The method of a balanced positional game on the described device includes the arrangement of game pieces 4, which ensures the horizontal position of the IC 1; setting the maximum angle of inclination of IS 1 relative to the horizontal plane, conducting a game session while balancing IS 1 relative to the horizontal plane until the end of this game session according to the rules adopted for this positional game, conducting the next game session while balancing IS 1 relative to the horizontal plane, conducting a game session with balancing IP 1 on the support element 11 OOU6; summing up the results of the game and the announcement of the winner. Management of the setting of the maximum angle of inclination of the IC 1 relative to the horizontal plane using the SHED 21 can be performed before the start of the game or during the game session according to the rules established for the game or by agreement between the players.

Claims (15)

1. A device for a balanced positional game, consisting of a game table (IS) with a playing field (IP) on its upper surface with an area greater than the area of the IP on which the game pieces are positioned, bases with lower and upper surfaces; an axial support unit (OSA), the axis of which passes through the center of gravity of the IP, having an upper support of the OSA fixed on the lower surface of the IP with a recess in it and a bottom support; a support element, the upper part of which is in contact with the upper part of the recess in the upper support, which allows rotation of the IP relative to the horizontal plane, and the lower part is in contact with the lower support; weighting agents of the IS, providing the position of the CG of the IS below the upper contact surface of the upper spherical part of the support element with a spherical recess in the upper support, characterized in that between the lower support of the OOU and the upper surface of the base there is a support platform (OP) with at least one pair of additional support nodes (DOE) with additional supporting elements (DOE), which are installed at the OP remotely from the OOU; and each DOE has means for adjusting its position in height. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the OP has two pairs of DOEs located in mutually perpendicular directions at an equal distance from the TOS, while the position of each DOE is adjustable in height. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the height adjustment means for each DOE have a movable screw connection that provides only rotational movement of the screw. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the screw of the movable screw connection has a pulley for manually adjusting the position of each DOE in height. 5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means of regulation of each DOE have a stepper motor (SHED), the shaft of which is connected to the screw, while the device has a SHED control system with a control unit and a control panel. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that it has sensors of the angular position of the IS relative to the horizontal plane, connected to the control unit of the SHED. 7. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control system has an analog-to-digital converter, while the sensors of the angular position of the IS relative to the horizontal plane are connected to an analog-to-digital converter connected to the controller. 8. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control panel has indicators of the angular position of the IP relative to the horizontal plane and means for setting the angular position of the IP relative to the horizontal plane, which is the limit for a particular game. 9. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that it has four DOEs with a DOE drive from the SHED and four DOEs with manual height adjustment of the position of each DOE. 10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper part of the surface of the support element (HF OE) has a curved domed periodic profile with protrusions and cavities with an even number of protrusions of at least four, turning into a truncated cone, and the surface of the top of the recess in the upper support the reference node has a curvilinear dome-shaped periodic profile corresponding to the periodic profile of the HF OE, turning into a truncated cone. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the curvilinear dome-shaped periodic profile has the shape of a pseudosphere with cycloidal protrusions and depressions. 12. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the curvilinear dome-shaped periodic profile of the upper part of the OE has the shape of teeth. 13. The device according to any one of paragraphs. 1-12, characterized in that the angle α between the surface of the truncated cone of the OE and the surface of the truncated cone of the recess in the upper support is determined by the formula:

where ƒ _tr is the coefficient of sliding friction of game pieces along the IP.

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